Josh Charles Looks Back on "The Good Wife" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 08-13-2015, 12:04 AM

Josh Charles on "The Good Wife"
by Dan Snierson
8/12/15

Fans certainly had no objection to his portrayal of romantic pragmatist lawyer Will Gardner in this legal drama starring Julianna Margulies; Charles would earn two Emmy nominations for his performance.

What a great gift it was to be able to work on that show for five years. I’m just so thankful to have had that experience – as a television experience that succeeded.

Going into "In Treatment", part of the allure was we knew we were going to work really hard but it was going to be this short period of time. But to have this classic run on television with "The Good Wife" was fantastic. I learned a lot working on that show. I got to direct a few times, and that really helped me as an actor – opened me up and realize what’s important in scenes.

Julianna and my darling Christine Baranski made going to work fun every day.

At the time, I wasn’t really looking to do a TV show. I got a call from Julianna, she said, "We’re making this show, we’re going to shoot the pilot somewhere else, but if the show goes, is going to shoot in New York. There’s this great role for you. Are you interested in it?" And Mark Saks, our casting director, reached out to me at the same time.

I really liked the script, and I liked the fact that it was going to shoot in NY, which is where I live. Will didn’t have a ton to do in the pilot, but I was told his character was going to be an important character in the run of the show. The writing was smart, but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would keep eclipsing itself. You have no way of knowing that.

Pretty soon, I realized the brilliance of creators Robert and Michelle King and "Wow, I’m very lucky to be a part of this." Any TV show is a leap of faith. So you take it, and I’m really glad I did.

Knowing that I was leaving, the choice they made to make it more of a concrete ending [with Will being fatally shot] was a much more dramatic and ballsier choice – and one that I fully supported. The tougher part than that, actually, was just keeping it a secret. The fact that we were able to do that is something that is impressive, because we live in a world today where everybody knows everything before something’s even been released, how much this movie cost, and how they shot this scene.

Speaking personally, as an audience member, as a fan, I don’t want to know everything. I like to just go in and be surprised. So it was nice we were able to do that. Dramatically, that was part of the effect of it – and part of the idea.

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/07...e-career-roles

08-13-2015, 12:04 AM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,026	Josh Charles Looks Back on "The Good Wife" *Josh Charles on "The Good Wife"* by Dan Snierson 8/12/15 Fans certainly had no objection to his portrayal of romantic pragmatist lawyer Will Gardner in this legal drama starring Julianna Margulies; Charles would earn two Emmy nominations for his performance. What a great gift it was to be able to work on that show for five years. I’m just so thankful to have had that experience – as a television experience that succeeded. Going into "In Treatment", part of the allure was we knew we were going to work really hard but it was going to be this short period of time. But to have this classic run on television with "The Good Wife" was fantastic. I learned a lot working on that show. I got to direct a few times, and that really helped me as an actor – opened me up and realize what’s important in scenes. Julianna and my darling Christine Baranski made going to work fun every day. At the time, I wasn’t really looking to do a TV show. I got a call from Julianna, she said, "We’re making this show, we’re going to shoot the pilot somewhere else, but if the show goes, is going to shoot in New York. There’s this great role for you. Are you interested in it?" And Mark Saks, our casting director, reached out to me at the same time. I really liked the script, and I liked the fact that it was going to shoot in NY, which is where I live. Will didn’t have a ton to do in the pilot, but I was told his character was going to be an important character in the run of the show. The writing was smart, but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would keep eclipsing itself. You have no way of knowing that. Pretty soon, I realized the brilliance of creators Robert and Michelle King and "Wow, I’m very lucky to be a part of this." Any TV show is a leap of faith. So you take it, and I’m really glad I did. Knowing that I was leaving, the choice they made to make it more of a concrete ending [with Will being fatally shot] was a much more dramatic and ballsier choice – and one that I fully supported. The tougher part than that, actually, was just keeping it a secret. The fact that we were able to do that is something that is impressive, because we live in a world today where everybody knows everything before something’s even been released, how much this movie cost, and how they shot this scene. Speaking personally, as an audience member, as a fan, I don’t want to know everything. I like to just go in and be surprised. So it was nice we were able to do that. Dramatically, that was part of the effect of it – and part of the idea. http://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/07...e-career-roles