07-01-2017, 07:11 PM
DAVID GREENWALT RESPONDS: The showrunners were humbled by the mad love and kind words, especially about the casting and the characters. Because who knew and when was a constant battle in the writers’ room, and there was always concern that they didn’t get it right. Greenwalt remembered: “In my opinion, we had too many characters to begin with, and they just kept adding more, because it’s hard to service that many people. We were so fortunate we got really great, talented people. Jim and I sat in a room casting all day, every day for a month. Dave Giuntoli was one of the lesser-experienced actors, but, boy, was he good. Russell Hornsby was such a good partner with him. Reggie Lee actually read for Hank, but we liked Reggie so much we made up a character for him. Bitsie [Tulloch] was so amazing we couldn’t kill her off. Sasha Roiz came in to read for a character that was originally written as elderly and African-American. We were gonna do the classic gruff captain with a heart of gold, but who in our show would turn out to have a heart of evil. He said he came to the wrong audition, but he got that part because he was so good. Claire Coffee was virtually a walk-on in the pilot, and she just grew. Bree Turner came for possibly one episode around 15, and [ended up] doing the next 108 or whatever were left.”
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
A number of the regulars had their roles expanded and extended because the show runner's really liked them and wanted to keep all of them. This probably explains the inconsistencies with some of the characters and the 'issues'. The roles of the two most talked about characters kept expanding past the original intent as their stay kept getting extended.
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
A number of the regulars had their roles expanded and extended because the show runner's really liked them and wanted to keep all of them. This probably explains the inconsistencies with some of the characters and the 'issues'. The roles of the two most talked about characters kept expanding past the original intent as their stay kept getting extended.