Since 2015, I have always made it a point to see the cast of my favorite TV shows at the PaleyFest in Los Angeles. PaleyFest brings fans together to see the talent behind those hit television shows. Attendees enjoy back-stories of the shows, the characters, and the actors’ personal experiences. But the highlights of PaleyFest are the audience Q&A and photo-ops with the actors. Unfortunately, this year the photo-ops didn’t happen due to the pandemic.
After two years of absence, I’m so glad PaleyFest is back in person at the Dolby Theatre. This time I went to see one of my favorite Netflix series Emily in Paris. The hit series was released on October 2, 2020, during the height of the pandemic. Movie theaters were closed, concerts postponed, and we were all practicing social distancing. But what better way to be entertained in the tumultuous era than to watch TV. Emily in Paris brought laughter and lots of colors to my living room. I loved the stories about friendship, relationships, careers and most of all “the fashion”. Overall it was just plain fun and positive which we all needed during these uncertain times.
For those of you who haven’t seen “Emily in Paris” it’s about a young motivated twenty-something Chicago marketing executive who surprisingly lands a job in Paris when her company acquires a high-end French marketing company, Savoir. As she embarks on a new life in Paris, Emily embraces adventures, challenges in her career, friendships, and her romantic life. The hit series was created by Darren Star and earned two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program.
The panel discussion includes:
People Magazine’s Janine Rubenstein (Moderator)
Darren Star (Executive Producer),
Lucas Bravo (Gabriel, Emily’s love interest and Camille’s boyfriend)
Camille Razat (Camille, Emily’s new friend and Gabriel’s on and off) girlfriend
Lily Collins (Emily Cooper)
Ashley Park (Mindy Chen, former nanny/aspiring/Emily’s bestie)
Lucien Laviscount (Alfie, English banker in Emily’s French class who developed a relationship with Emily)
Andrew Fleming (Screenwriter)
During the discussion, when the moderator asked what Lily loved about Emily, she mentioned that Emily is constantly seeking out advice for help and is not afraid to admit it. Lily also stressed that it’s important to showcase that trait, “When you need help and ask for help is not a weakness but a strength.”
Ashley Park described the friendship between Emily and Mindy as a genuine warm connection. “Their friendship is the kind of friendship I value a lot,” she remarked. During the discussion, Ashley also mentioned when Darren approached her with the idea of an original song for the character. She thought it was amazing because it is rare to have an original song for a character in the show. Mon Soleil came up together over Zoom meetings and Facetimes.
After the discussion, it was time for a Q&A from the audience. I caught up with Amy Seto from Orange County who was the first audience member to ask the panel a question. She remarked “I loved watching the cast in person at Paleyfest because it allowed me to see the chemistry they obviously have off-screen. You can tell they have a lot of fun on set since they were all mercilessly teasing each other during the panel. My favorite moment involved Lucien Laviscount, who plays Alfie on the show. He was a surprise guest at Paleyfest, much to my delight. I loved how Darren Star surprised him by announcing he would now be a series regular for next season.”
And speaking of next season, we can’t wait to find out about Emily’s love triangle between Camille and Lucas, and will Emily accept the job offer from Sylvie (Emily’s tough and bitter boss).
A la saison prochaine (see you next season)!
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