Jon Robin Baitz Blogs About New ABC Show "Brothers & Sisters" for TV Guide | Playbill

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News Jon Robin Baitz Blogs About New ABC Show "Brothers & Sisters" for TV Guide Playwright Jon Robin Baitz — who pens the new ABC television series "Brothers & Sisters" starring Calista Flockhart, Sally Field, Ron Rifkin and more — is offering fans some behind-the-scenes insight on TVGuide.com.
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Jon Robin Baitz Photo by Aubrey Reuben

In the Celebrity Blog section of the popular television magazine's website, Baitz offers "Robbie's Brothers & Sisters Blog" (launched on Oct. 4) which will appear on the web every other week, Playbill.com has learned.

In his first chronicle, titled "Week 3," Baitz writes of his foray into the world of television writing and the daunting task of creating entertainment on a weekly basis as opposed to his more lax playwriting schedule. He also addresses being labeled the "troubled show" before debuting.

"The transition from mounting a play in New York once every couple of years to putting on a large ensemble drama for a gigantic network week after week is exhilarating and harrowing," Baitz offers to TVGuide readers. "This is what I've learned so far from the process: Every day, admit you don’t know what you’re doing, but do not apologize for it. And that’s it. Write well, write quickly, write shorter scenes. And don't forget why you’re there."

He notes his ensemble cast (notably Field, Flockhart and Rachel Griffiths), his creative partners Ken Olin and Greg Berlanti as well as his writing staff — among which are fellow stage brethren Craig Wright (Recent Tragic Events) and David Marshall Grant (Pen, Snakebit).

* Baitz is known for his work as a playwright with such plays as The Paris Letter, Ten Unknowns, Mizlansky/Zilinsky or Schmucks, A Fair Country, The Film Society, The Substance of Fire, The End of the Day and Three Hotels. He has also written the screenplays for "The Substance of Fire" and "People I Know" as well as for TV's "The West Wing" and "Alias."

Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths, Balthazar Getty, Dave Annable and Matthew Rhys star as the titular Walker clan whose family secrets "threaten to either tear the family apart or bring them closer together."

Ron Rifkin (Cabaret) also appears in the series starring Flockhart (The Glass Menagerie) with Patricia Wettig (The Paris Letter - L.A.). John Pyper Ferguson, Sarah Morris and Jimmy Pinchak round out the ensemble. Tom Skeritt (Our Town - Intiman Theatre) appears as the patriarch.

Two-time Academy Award winner Field ("Norma Rae" and "Places in the Heart") made her Broadway debut in 2002 in Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? She also appeared on stage at the Kennedy Center in The Glass Menagerie. Many remember her previous TV turns as "Gidget" and "The Flying Nun;" she also earned Emmy Awards for her turn as "Sybil" and for her guest star work on "ER."

"Brothers & Sisters" is airs on Sundays at 10 PM (ET) on ABC. (Check your local listings). For more information, visit abc.com.

 
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