I am guessing you have most likely had numerous conversations with Quinta and the writers concerning the, “will they, will not they” concept, and attempting to excellent precisely tips on how to stroll that line on the subject of the storytelling. What are these conversations like within the room? How do you guys strategy that dynamic?

Halpern: Our philosophy is, we work from character arcs first. So, earlier than we determine how they’ll work together with one another, we attempt to plot out the arc of the character itself. “The place’s Janine this season? The place can we need to take Janine by the top of the season?” After which, as soon as we determine that out, we go, “Okay, effectively then, would Janine be in a spot the place she can be prepared for a relationship, or not prepared for relationship, or how would she react if any person mentioned this to her?” We’re doing the identical factor with Gregory and all of the characters. We’re saying, “Okay, what’s Gregory’s arc over this season?” I do know they’re fictional characters, however we attempt to enable them to be human beings which are on their very own path. Then as writers, we will say, “Okay, are these paths now right here [lifts hand] or are they right here [lifts hand to different height]? As a result of in the event that they’re right here, nice, we will play into that. In the event that they’re right here, then perhaps they’re prepared. Or perhaps they by no means get right here.”

So when Quinta says, “I do not know when they’ll get collectively or if they’ll get collectively,” she’s being trustworthy. She actually thinks about it with us and the writing workers. All of us sit down and discuss — these are most likely our greatest, meatiest conversations the place folks actually get fired up and begin arguing for someway when it comes to the character. We by no means discuss it as, “When ought to they get collectively?” We solely discuss it as, “The place’s this character? Would that character be prepared? Would I purchase that?” As a result of I believe our nightmare is, you are sitting at house, and also you see one thing occur on our present and also you go, “Effectively, that wasn’t earned. They might by no means have achieved that.”

That is like we’re betraying the belief of the viewers. A superb TV present is like any person else is driving the automobile and you may simply sit and calm down. there’s good palms on the wheel. After which, as quickly as you are feeling that first bump or they swerve, then you definately’re like, “F***, do I’ve to concentrate? Do I belief this one who’s driving the automobile?” So we by no means need that to occur. We would like you to simply sit again and calm down and benefit from the journey. In order that’s why we speak a lot about whether or not or not we have earned no matter we’re doing.

Schumacker: Yeah. I believe that is crucial factor. And in addition realizing that Goldilocks storyline: You are by no means going to fairly fulfill everyone. Audiences are going to be — in the event that they get collectively, perhaps it is too quickly. Possibly it is too late. If they do not get collectively … you are by no means going to please everyone else. So I believe we have achieved sufficient tv the place we’re content material figuring out that we’re not going to have the ability to please 100% of the viewers. However no matter seems like probably the most truthful for us is nice sufficient.

I will use this as a bridge into “Harley Quinn” territory, however one of many stuff you guys have mentioned about that present is that Harley and Ivy won’t ever break up. And I am curious, A, what prompted you to attract that line within the sand? As a result of you did not have to say that. After which, B, does your place about Harley and Ivy’s endurance additionally lengthen to Janine and Gregory, assuming that they could really get collectively someday?

Halpern: I believe for us, for “Harley,” it was like, these two characters have been by means of so much, they usually’ve by no means actually gotten an opportunity to be in a relationship with somebody who cherished them unconditionally. So we simply felt like, a lot of Harley’s historical past has been this contentious relationship with the Joker. It is poisonous. It is abusive. And numerous the drama was in how he handled her and the way she existed inside the context of that relationship. So we simply determined it is extra attention-grabbing to us to see a relationship that’s wholesome, however goes by means of the identical struggles that everyone else goes by means of.

That seems like extra fertile floor that hasn’t been tapped into with Harley than the, “will they, will not they, they break up, they arrive again collectively.” We have seen that s***. We have seen it with Harley. Clearly, it might be totally different as a result of it might be Ivy, however now let’s have a look at these two people who find themselves genuinely dedicated to creating it work at the entire struggles that come. It is arduous to make any relationship work, however these are two tremendous villains, so there’s loads of stuff to play with. That is form of how I really feel.

Schumacker: I echo all the pieces that Justin mentioned. Then, on prime of that, I believe for me, I simply discover them extra attention-grabbing collectively. I need them to be joyful. And in addition, it is actually necessary to everybody who works on the present to painting a queer relationship as a contented one. That is so necessary for us.

Halpern: Sure.

Schumacker: Possibly greater than something. Yeah. So, that is why I can truthfully say that, so long as we’re in control of the present, which, knock on wooden, will probably be during the present, that we’ll have the ultimate say with this kind of factor. They’ll by no means break up.

Halpern: We did not attempt to do that, however I really feel like now, at this level, we put it in a poison tablet that, even when we had been faraway from the present, we have made this promise to the viewers, so that they most likely need to hold doing it anyway. [laughs]

Regarding the Janine and Gregory facet of that, it appears like what you guys are saying is that is your strategy for Harley and Ivy particularly. But in addition, I’ve heard little feedback all through this dialog of you not essentially eager to repeat the identical issues that audiences totally anticipate — these tropes and histories which were established for thus a few years, you do not essentially need to simply do your model of that. I apologize for talking when it comes to issues that will or could not occur, or have not occurred but, however the concept of these two characters getting collectively, does which have an identical draw for you guys? That concept of, “Okay, they’re collectively. Let’s have a look at what fertile story floor outcomes from them staying collectively for a very long time, relatively than that very same splitting and coming again collectively that we have seen a bunch of occasions in different sitcoms”?

Halpern: Numerous what occurs in writers’ rooms on TV reveals is, what’s getting the writers excited? As a result of as you begin making a number of episodes of a present, and also you begin to get within the second, and the third, and the fourth season, to be able to make these seasons, the writers need to get enthusiastic about one thing. So I believe at “Abbott,” we’re actually enthusiastic about what we’re writing proper now. There isn’t any scarcity of tales being pitched. And I believe Quinta is masterful at understanding audiences, and the push and pull of audiences. So I all the time finish on this place of, I belief her. That if she seems like now’s the time, then we’ll construct to it and that would be the proper time. And if she’s like, “No, it is not the proper time,” or, “it should not occur for that reason, or it ought to occur this fashion.” Then, I consider it to be so.

We all the time mentioned from day one once we had been working together with her and breaking the pilot and doing all these items together with her, I mentioned, “Pat and I are all the time going to offer you our opinion, and we could argue our opinion very passionately. However, on the finish of the day, we’re attempting to provide the finest information that you may need to decide, as a result of we belief you, and we would like you to have this present to be your voice.” And that is labored very well for us. A advantage of her is, she is going to hear it out. And if she hears an concept that’s higher than her concept, she’ll go along with that concept. She does not care. It is best concept wins. There isn’t any, “It is bought to be mine.”

In order that’s how we have all the time operated, and that is how we function with Janine and Gregory’s stuff. We’re always checking in together with her. We’re speaking to her about it. She’s speaking to us. If she has an concept, she’ll fireplace it off, generally in the midst of the night time, and ship it to one in every of us. For these two characters, I really feel like in the event that they get collectively, it’s going to be on the proper time. If they do not get collectively, it’s going to be for a motive that I believe the viewers will discover actually satisfying. That is what we put our belief in.