[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Happy’s Place, Season 1 Episode 10, “The Macallister Girls.”]
Glad’s Place made approach for the introduction of one other member of Bobbie’s (Reba McEntire) household as her daughter Gracie (Emma Kenney) returned house for a go to.
A member of the navy, Gracie had been stationed at a base in Qatar and made the lengthy journey house to reunite with Bobbie, Abby (Melissa Peterman), and extra, however not essentially the brand new aunt she by no means noticed coming, Isabella (Belissa Escobedo). Upon her arrival, Gracie is pressured to attach with Isabella who couldn’t be anymore totally different from her in persona, at the very least when Bobbie is placing the stress on them.
Desperate to attempt to make it work, the self-professed psychology skilled Isabella finds an in with Gracie after they relate over having overbearing mothers. Whereas this revelation doesn’t please Bobbie, it brings Gracie and Isabella nearer collectively and forces Bobbie and Gracie to confront the grief that tore their household aside.
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As Gracie admits within the episode, her father’s dying was one of many issues that drove her away from house, and Bobbie lastly will get some closure over that concept, permitting the mom and daughter to reconnect in a approach they hadn’t in a very long time. General, it’s a really touching and uniting episode stuffed with hope for the longer term. Beneath, Kenney opens up about Gracie’s introduction, hopes for her return, reveals what it was like following within the footsteps of her former Shameless castmate on the NBC comedy, and the expertise of taking up a multi-camera comedy apart from ABC‘s The Conners.
What was it like stepping onto the Glad’s Place stage although?
Emma Kenney: Stepping onto the Glad’s Place set at Common was so welcoming. Everyone was so type and wished to verify I used to be snug and felt I had all the things I wanted, and I used to be actually fortunate for that. I’m not used to going to a set because the beginner coming onto an already established solid. So I used to be somewhat nervous going into it, however as quickly as I met everybody, my nerves have been actually made relaxed.
Your Shameless costar Steve Howey already guest-starred this season. Did you get to attach earlier than your arrival as Gracie?
Yeah, we did. I like Steve. We communicate steadily. He simply instructed me how great the solid was and the way a lot enjoyable he had on that set. He has recognized Reba for years and has all the time spoken so extremely of her. So I undoubtedly knew I used to be going right into a protected area, however as soon as I really stepped foot there, I used to be like, “Okay, it is a actually heat, good setting. I really feel very snug and completely satisfied right here.” No pun meant.
Would you wish to reconnect with him on this present by guesting on the identical time?
In fact. I imply, I like Steve. I like him on and off digital camera. He’s a lot enjoyable to work with and hang around with generally, particularly on set. So yeah, that’d be a dream. I’d find it irresistible.
Casey Durkin / NBC
Bobbie actually desires her daughter to get together with Isabella, however the niece and aunt have a tricky time connecting. What was it like discovering widespread floor in Isabella and Gracie’s dynamic with Belissa Escobedo?
I undoubtedly felt there was a giant character development on this one episode. After I learn the script, I might see it, however I wished to verify it was obtained. Gracie begins at one notice, her relationship with every character sort of evolves a bit, particularly with Reba and Belissa’s characters, and I wished to just remember to might see some coronary heart in her and see the expansion, which I had a extremely good time creating with Reba and Belissa.
Contemplating Gracie’s function as Bobbie’s daughter, did you method the character with the concept that you would possibly return down the road? Would you wish to?
Yeah, undoubtedly. We wished to ascertain the power between my character Gracie and everyone in Glad’s Place. So I wished to guarantee that was very a lot within the forefront of my thoughts and her toughness contrasts along with her moments of vulnerability, which I really feel makes her relatable and a multidimensional character.
Bobbie and Gracie deal with the hurdles between them by going through their shared grief over the lack of a husband and father. Would you wish to discover that story extra onscreen? Maybe there’s room for a flashback episode to introduce their household patriarch?
That might be an awesome concept and would deliver loads of clarification to who Gracie is and who Bobbie is now as effectively. [That] scene I felt was so stunning on digital camera with Reba and an emotional one. It was one of many first scenes I shot that week along with her, and it was rewarding. And I felt beginning with that scene gave me a stronger perspective on my character, particularly after doing it with Reba versus simply making ready it on paper with my performing coach.
You star in The Conners, how did your expertise on this multi-camera comedy differ from that?
Yeah, I undoubtedly perceive the multi-camera world fairly effectively. However I discovered rather a lot from every performer and the way heat the setting was, and we do our stay exhibits on totally different nights, which additionally I assumed was attention-grabbing to see the distinction doing a present on a Tuesday versus a Friday.
Glad’s Place, Fridays, 8/7c, NBC