The cast and creator of Cougar Town took the stage at the TV Academy in Los Angeles earlier tonight to talk about their now fan favorite comedy series. Admittedly, the show about a woman in her early forties with a teenage son starting over after a divorce began very much as a Courteney Cox-led ensemble vehicle, but as the episodes went on, it very much became a straight ensemble. Sure Cox is still front and center, most notably because everyone is always hanging out at her house, but it is the energy the cast has together that drives the show and causes such a raucous response.
And such a response was certainly in attendance last night! Fans lined up outside the theater to get autographs and photos with their favorite castmembers, often yelling “Penny Can!” at them as they were pulled away to take photos on the red carpet. Fans also expressed their deep feelings about the couples on the show, and showrunner Bill Lawrence even went so far as to use those in the audience as an impromptu focus group, asking if they thought it was “icky” if Laurie (Busy Philipps) and Travis (Dan Byrd) ended up dating next season. For the record, though the actors are pretty close in age, their characters are a decade apart. Still the overwhelming response was that it was fine, which was something series star Cox was thrilled to hear.
But before Lawrence can think too far ahead to season three, we must first get through the current (second season) on-air! The remaining episodes have all been shot already, with the season finale taking the characters to Hawaii, so what can we expect from our favorite wine-swilling cul-de-sac crew?
SPOILER ALERT!
Well, first and foremost the kids issue is going to come up for Grayson (Josh Hopkins) and Jules (Cox). Babysitting Stan did not satisfy his paternal cravings, even if it may have put a pin in the discussion for a little while. But Jules is so focused on her son, who is about to make a big decision of his own, that she may not have much energy to argue with Grayson about becoming a mother again right now. Travis is about to propose to his girlfriend, something his mother isn’t happy about but will end up coming around on in part. Unfortunately her unsure energy may bleed over into her son’s relationship because his question does not receive the answer one might hope.
As if that isn’t heartbreaking enough, the usually level-headed, “fifty year old in a nineteen year old’s body” (as Lawrence put it) snaps and begins to spiral, running away to Hawaii to work in a surf shop. In many ways, the kid who always emulated his mother’s strong work ethic begins to follow in his father’s shoes a little bit more, much to his dismay, because Bobby (Brian Van Holt) just wants his kid to finish school and succeed.
Hence the need for the rest of the gang to take a vacation. While there, of course some are more invested in getting Travis to come home, while others just want to drink and have a good time.
Also going down in Hawaii? Some bromance bonding for Andy (Ian Gomez), Sam Lloyd reprising his role as Ted Buckman, an original Grayson Ellis tune strummed on the ukulele, and a rival for Big Carl!
You can hear the cast tease more about Cougar Town’s final season two episodes in the video to the left!
But before we have the season finale, there will be quite a few adventures in between, including guest appearances by Nia Vardalos, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Barry Boswick, the latter of whom plays a new love interest for Barb (Carolyn Hennesy) who wants her to be more demure.
Cougar Town airs on ABC, Wednesday nights at 9:30pm.
