September 18, 2005
Highlights from the Clancy Brown Chat

Thanks go to Allison for this summary

ClancyBrown Logs in

LexxiSmiles: Hey Clancy!

CBFCBeth: how ya doin?

ClancyBrown: Howdy All! - I'm good...

ClancyBrown: Just Let me get set up here...

ClancyBrown: What episode was on tonight?

Aprilsong: Hot and bothered

ClancyBrown: Good one...

ClancyBrown: Who's coming to CARNYCON LIVE!?

Aprilsong: I am !!!!!

BensBritches: ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

twinb80: I am and bringing the twin sister!!

irisfan: Me!

Diane: Ooohh me! Me!

Wilusa: Me too!

ClancyBrown: OKAY! CAN'T WAIT!!! It's going to be a blast!

ClancyBrown: I'm ready to answer questions now. Should we do "red light Green Light"?

CBFCBeth: if'n you want to, sure!

ClancyBrown: READY

Diane: Clancy, Did Bro. J know how he was going to use Tommy Dolan at this point in the story?

ClancyBrown: Diane - Nope. I think he's just beginning to understanf the possibility of media, but right now he's just trying to figure out who Tommy is and what he might mean to his sister.

Marionj2: When Justin came back into the church and hugs Norman , does Norman recognize the evil in Justin?

ClancyBrown: Marion - Nope. Balthus is surprized to see him... and relieved. But his suspicion isn't aroused until he sees the blood on his forehead.

BensBritches: Any clue why Ben said, regarding Scudder- "even before I met him" when as far as we know he hadn't met him yet (being the daddy aside) Does that question even make sense? This line has always bugged me big time

ClancyBrown: Ben - there are lot'sof lines that bug me too. I got nothin' on that one. Sorry.

Allison_CarnyCon: Was justin really the Left Hand Of God? Or was this a conclusion he came to in order to justify/rationalize his evil acts?

ClancyBrown: Allison - It's his effort to explain his state. Sounds good in the context he decides to use. But at this point he's just operating on instinct. He doesn't realize his full destiny yet.

irisfan: Was there ever any intention of doing a triangle of sorts between Justin, Iris and Tommy?

Vorona: Do you think the Tommy/Iris/Justin triangle should've gotten more play? It seemed to shuffle into professionalism awful quickly.

ClancyBrown: Iris & Vrona - I think perhaps there was some inkling to do something like that ... but ...

Aprilsong: I am sure this has been asked but I was wondering how much research you did for the show on templars avatars etc you did?

ClancyBrown: April - the Templar angle took me totally by surprise. I loved it but HBO didn't ultimately. When it was first introduced, I begged Dan to put me in a dream sequence as somekind of medieval character. At this point he hadn't decided if they were on the side of light or darkness...although I'm sure they would have been good
guys...

Jalaine: Sorry, to ask. Any hopes for a third season... I haven't been in for a while.

ClancyBrown: Jalaine - Nope. Not a chance. These folks don't like to admit they were wrong.

ClancyBrown: They may someday admit it was premature, but so what.

ClancyBrown: Unless of course they get a HUGE subscription bounce when we re-broadcast....

JustinCrowe1138: Mr. Brown, was there supposed to be more Templar- based material in Season 2 that was dropped due to the network's attitudes towards that plot?

ClancyBrown: Justin - I don't know...

Kate: I'm sure you've answered this before, but at what point did Justin decide to frame Tommy? Was it before the conversation regarding "hanging women in CA" or sometime along the way before that...it's very nebulous...and so has nothing to do with Hot & Bothered.

ClancyBrown: Kate - I am not sure. I think it was sooner...part of a grander plan. But noone made it clear to me and I think they wanted it that way. I will say this...

ClancyBrown: There was a script in which Dolan was murdered by the mob...er..the "faithful...

ClancyBrown: But I begged them not to do it. Rob is a friend of mine and I LOVED his character. I thought there was alotmore to do with him. If only there were another season....alas.

FanofBN: In which scenes was your stunt double used?

ClancyBrown: FAN - When Iris stabbed me in the crotch...

Allison_CarnyCon: Was there a possibility that we'd see Stroud and/or Celeste, again, had there been future seasons?

ClancyBrown: Allison - probably Stroud - I doubt Celeste

Michelle: clancy, there has been much discussion in here about the dreams avatara have, and where they come from. Do you think they are innate, or they are being "sent" by the previous generation, in your case Scudder?

ClancyBrown: Michelle - probably a combination ... or something else entirely...where DO dreams come from...?

CBFCBeth: So, what was with Justin and his "appetites" -- both food and women? What were they trying to say?

ClancyBrown: Beth - Who the hell knows... I think those scenes had more to do with Executive appetites. I wanted Justin to be more like Hitler that way... Totally disciplined. That, I think would have been even more scary....

Kate: Good call....it was like a frying pan over the head--he's
getting evil, folks!

ClancyBrown: That's right Kate...pissed me off...

Jalaine: I don't know if this question has been answered before, sorry if it has, but, what would've happened with Jonesy, Sofie, Ben, and Justin if a third season would've been made?

ClancyBrown: at would've happened with Jonesy, Sophie, Ben, and Justin? Why do you ask? Isn't it clear? HBO thought it had come to a rational conclusion. Whaddya want? A bow on it? JEEZ!...

ClancyBrown: Seriously Jalaine, I don't know...but I'm sure we all would have been included in the next season...

Diane: When Justin goes home from the asylum in tonight's ep, he says to Iris, "you knew the pain I was in." What pain exactly? Guilt from breaking that guy's neck as a child, or were there more instances?

ClancyBrown: Diane - You hit the nail on the head...that and
confusion...spiritual crisis etc.

Michelle: Clancy, about the asylum...why was Brother Justin the only one to wear pants? and the other asylum folk only had gowns...

ClancyBrown: Michelle - I wanted pants. And Justin could've worn a teddy if he wanted too.

Diane: Thanks for the image...:)

CBFCBeth: A whole new way of looking at Brother Justin... thanks

clancyfancier: Clancy, did you have any idea which way the scenes with Iris would go ? Sexual or platonic.? Or were we kept guessing because the script could have gone in either direction.

ClancyBrown: Clancyf...- Amy and I always wanted to twist it up with little moments of inappropriateness... but we started getting notes .. and CUTS.. that how do I say this...

ClancyBrown: Wern't consistent with the history Amy and I understood our characters to have and were um... timid....

ClancyBrown: There was a movement in the backrooms to make IRIS a hero. An idea Amy couldn't quite rationalize. Fortunately they were scared of her and she was smart enough to turn the scenes around on them...

ClancyBrown: But it's one of the things that disappointed me about season 2.

BensBritches: What is Clancy?

ClancyBrown: Bens - The marginalizing of the Iris/Justin
relationship. The perversion was the best thing about it.

irisfan: Are there any scenes between Justin and Iris that were cut that you wish hadn't been?

ClancyBrown: iris - yeah a couple. most never made it to film. Some were just changed in editing. It was frustrating and cowardly.

Susan_CarnyChat: Clancy, have you been asked to do any of the commentary on the Season 2 DVD's?

ClancyBrown: Susan - yes Dan and Scott and I did the final episode.

CBFCBeth: Any new projects on the horizon?

ClancyBrown: Yes, Beth.

CBFCBeth: ANyhing you can talk about?

ClancyBrown: Beth - You and I will talk and you can put it up on the website. Right now, I'm all about CARNIVALE.

Allison_CarnyCon: Clancy, at the end of the season finale, was Justin truly dead or just badly wounded when Sofie began to heal him?

ClancyBrown: Allison - I don't know. But I had a whole pitch I was going to make to whomever I had to about how to get out of the particular pickle they built.

Allison_CarnyCon: and this pitch was.. (if you don't mind sharing it)

ClancyBrown: Nope can't share it. Too painful. And pointless. Let's see if Dan gets the chance to tell his own story for once...

BensBritches: Clancy, do you know if Ben was supposed to be healed in the very last scene of the finale?

ClancyBrown: Interesting thing about that last shot of Ben...

ClancyBrown: It was added by TPTB. Why? I don't know. The ORIGINAL last shot was of Iris watching the corn die.

BensBritches: Um... so the last we were supposed to see of Ben was being carried off in the "pose?"

ClancyBrown: Right , Bens

CBFCBeth: did they think we wouldn't get he was alive from his breath on the flask?

Kate: Again, it was the frying pan effect....look, Ben's healing...

irisfan: we are a slow lot

CBFCBeth: or did they wanna drive the crucifixion/savior theme home?

BensBritches: Yeah... too bad the phrase, "he's alive" goes over our heads!

ClancyBrown: It probably was a stupider reason than any of those...

ClancyBrown: Some kind of executive whine about the last shot being of a supporting character or some idiotic ... oh well...

Wilusa: I think they may have wanted to create some doubt as to whether Ben was STILL alive.

ClancyBrown: or maybe it's what Wilu said...

Jalaine: Well, guys, I have to get going. But, I promise that I'll come back whenever I have to spare from school, but I have to get up early tomorrow for school.

ClancyBrown: Good night , Jalain, Drink your milk.

Aprilsong: Clancy-Does the treatment of Carnivale taint you towards doing other HBO projects?

ClancyBrown: April - Nah. Studios come and go. Executives are like the weather. All I ever care about is material. If I like it, I want to do it. I don't care who signs the checks.

Allison_CarnyCon: In Season One, when Justin was sitting in the burned out Dignity Ministry, what was that thing that floats to the ground right before Justin gets his Moment Of Clarity and leaves. Was it indeed in the shape of an ax?

ClancyBrown: Allison - It was just some bit of flotsam that Justin then hallucinates into an angel that gives him a vision or points him to that particular passage of scripture. Who knows really. At this point Justin is severly unbalanced.

ClancyBrown: Don't remeber any reference to an axe per se...

Aprilsong: I have one more if you will be so kind-has there been anything you've done and then saw the finished product and hated it and then had to go to the press circut and say how great it is? You don't have to name it

ClancyBrown: April - I'm never invited to do the press thing.
Hmmmm...

Kate: If you don't have something nice to say...:)

ClancyBrown: Who needs it anyway? I got broadband!

twinb80: I was wondering something. Is it up to the Executives of a studio to renew a show. Or is it up to the President of said studio? Just wondering.

ClancyBrown: twin - Usually the ultimate decision is in the hands of the broadcasting network. In HBO's case they were both the producing entity and the distribution entity so....

ClancyBrown: Is it a "committee of Executives or the President" ? In our case, I don't know. i don't know (or want to know) what their decision process and protocols are. Not interested in that job even slightly. But, as in most things, I'm sure the "boss' is the greater amoung equals.

ClancyBrown: And Mr. Albrecht was never a big fan of the show. Would've tolerated it if we had numbers on our side.

wickedvox: clancy, end a debate between my husband and me, is it or is it not you doing the voice over for the new home depot commercials

ClancyBrown: Vox - that's me! So go buy a Ridgeline and stop by Home Depot for some doors or flooring or paint or...

Allison_CarnyCon: In the first ep. of the second season, Justin comes home late and attempts to turn the knob of Iris' bedroom door. This may be a stupid question, but what were his intentions? Was he going to talk/confide in her? Perhaps leer at her for the hundredth time? (I was under the impression that J & I weren't, er, intimate, at least at that point in their lives).

ClancyBrown: Allison - another good question. I'm not sure. It meant something though...

Kate: When Iris asks Justin why he had to "Open this door..." ion reference to his alligience with Tommy, I'm confused...does she think Justin is feeding Tommy info now that he knows she led the orphan roast?

Kate: It's the first bit of exchange we see about what is to come...

Susan_CarnyChat: I imagined it meant he was feeling guilty about what he was going to do to Tommy, but that she, Iris had to be punished.

Kate: But I think it's interesting that Iris' imminent loss of faith in her brother to protect her coincides with his decision to do just that...it's like, if she hadn't gotten so bitchy, would he have continued to disagree with Dolan?

Susan_CarnyChat: okay, then guilty about hurting her with his decision to use Tommy and then throw away the jey

Susan_CarnyChat: Powers of explanation are lacking at this time of day! :)

ClancyBrown: My motivation was the fellowship...she is his only advocate. And He does love her in every way. But I thought at htat point he just needed his sister to hold him, comfort him, reassure him, believe in him. He needed her to be Iris for him. But...

ClancyBrown: being an avatar is lonely work...

DanSalisbury: Clancy, forgive me if it's already been asked, but I saw on imdb.com that you're doing voicework for a Spawn series. Anything you can tell us about that?

ClancyBrown: Dans - Todd is attempting to ressurect the animated SPAWN. It's a good projet. All MacFArlane. If a network doesn't want to do it, he'll make it a series on DVD. He can just about anything he wants.

Allison_CarnyCon: I hope that this doesn't come across as rude, but the Scudder plot (and subsequent death) felt a little rushed toward the end. Was this another example of HBO stepping in and tampering with pacing/character direction?

ClancyBrown: Allison - Probably. I was dissatified as well.

CBFCBeth: Justin's "spells"... Do you think he was having them at every important point in ben's life? And why do you think Iris kept them from him?

ClancyBrown: Beth - Your guess is as good as mine. I was always annoyed that Justin felt Ben's power but Ben was immune to Justin's. Seemed inconsistent and convenient to me. There was definitely more than a little "Justin Hatin'" going on. But at that point I think folks were not convinced that being ambiguous was a good thing. So their answer was to bust Justin as much as possible, I guess.

ClancyBrown: Dan probably has a saner explanation than that rant I just wrote.

Susan_CarnyChat: gotta say, I like Justin ambiguous too

Kate: I GREATLY appreciate the fact that you did your best to keep it as off kilter as possible till the end....kudos.

voodoochild: Yeah, I always wondered about that - why Ben couldn't feel Justin's powers but Justin got whapped with Ben's a few times.

BensBritches: I like ambiguous Justin and conflicted Ben... didn't care too much for superavatar Ben

Natasha: Maybe it was to make Justin seem a little more vulnerable then we would otherwise think. I mean he's a hulking, brimstone weilding demigogue...and Ben's a messy, nervous kid.

ClancyBrown: I like that idea,Natasha. And I think that's ultimately what stuff like that does. But the intention was probaly the opposite. Moments like that never work for me.

ClancyBrown: Like when Norman chuckles at Justin's fit. That always seemed beneath a good pure soul like Normans.

Kate: It did seem strange...

ClancyBrown: But I guess even the best characters have hate in them.

Allison_CarnyCon: In the very first episode of Season One, all of the images in the first vision were eventually shown in future episodes except for the clock (if it appeared, I missed it). Was the clock meant to signify anything specific or was it a general warning that time was running out?

ClancyBrown: Allison - it was probably just tyhe literal visual
allusion to "The clock is ticking, Brothers and Sisters..."

DanSalisbury: Clancy, was there ever music played on the set during or between takes to give any kind of mood/feeling/etc. to a scene?

ClancyBrown: Dans - yeah...hymns.

ClancyBrown: Okay ... time for me to hit the hay...

ClancyBrown: Great to see y'all again...

ClancyBrown: Look for the CARNYCON LIVE! auction site soon. We need more people to attend as well so find a way to celebrate with us in April. The more the merrier! Thanks for putting up with us...

quest: Just a quick question will Clancy be doing anything like commentary for the second season DVD

BensBritches: I wonder if Nick did any commentary...

BensBritches: That would have been great to have Clancy and Nick talking at the same time

ClancyBrown: See ya - and yes... Nick - Clea - Tim - and ? are all supposed to do a commentary track on the Season 2 DVD!

ClancyBrown: Night...

ClancyBrown Logs Out

© CarnyCon2005

     the top-ten things YOU can
     do right now and more

     the latest news & events

     a ferris wheel full of Carnivale
     links and resources