Collider: When this came your way, what was the thing that you found most appealing about it?
Had you been looking for a comedy series?
Did you find yourself immediately connecting to the characters?
What was the thing that really made you want to sign on?
NICO SANTOS: For me, it was the material.
I am a very silly person.
Image via Tubi
Im not a serious person at all.
I love ridiculous and absurdist humor.
When I read the script, I was like, This is crazy.
LAUREN GRAHAM: I just like to be surprised.
Im so delighted when anybody envisions me as the boss of anything.
I thought that was cool.
Image via Warner Bros. TV
Thats a big part of decision-making for me now.
Is my day gonna be collaborative and enjoyable?
Lauren, what would Monica fromThe Z-Suitethink of Joan fromZoes Extraordinary Playlist?
Would they get along?
What would they think of each other?
Would each one think theyre better than the other?
Image via Tubi
Would they ever work together?
Youre right to bring that up.
Theyre definitely related, though.
You guys have both spent quite a bit of time making the same TV series.
Lauren, you did over 150 episodes ofGilmore Girlsand over 100 episodes ofParenthood.
Nico, you did over 100 episodes ofSuperstore.
When did you feel that groove with this?
Have you felt it?
SANTOS: Im used to sets where youre allowed to improvise a lot.
The people are great.
GRAHAM: I didnt know Nico, but I knew of him and we have friends in common.
I knew our producing director, Tristram [Shapeero], and Katie became a friend fairly quickly.
In all those ways, it felt like something we could do for a long time.
It felt like a really safe, collaborative show.
We werent fighting anything.
We werent fighting executives.
All the stuff you want to feel that says we could do this for a while was there.
It felt like everyone was on the same page.
After closing the door on playing Lorelai Gilmore, this actress is ready to lead another TV show.
What do you guys most enjoy about working together and playing with this relationship between your characters?
What was it like to find that rhythm together?
SANTOS: It happened pretty fast.
It really helps thatwe have mutual friends and the love of shopping and sushi.
GRAHAM: Yeah, we do have some basic things were both interested in.
Most of my friends are people whove been in my life for a really long time.
I also have such respect for Nico and his work.
SANTOS: It was great.
I love character relationships that just feel totally lived in.
That gives me an idea for an episode, which would be a flashback to how they came together.
Well work some CGI filters and age ourselves back.
It would be fun to see where it started.
Did you pose for others?
Do you have a favorite?
How many did we not get to see?
SANTOS: That was a really fun day.
GRAHAM: I think we both got the level of silliness that we could get away with.
I just loved that.
And I think we used them all.
I dont think there were any that we didnt use.
‘The Z-Suite’ premieres on Tubi on February 6.
Nico, could you ever have imagined that youd be adapting aRentsong for burgers?
SANTOS: That was not the original.
Its not gonna clear.
So, I was very happy when that line cleared and made it to the episode.
GRAHAM: I loved it.
Thats the brain of our beloved writer.
Sometimes Id be like, Really?!
And everyone was like, Yeah.
And I was like, All right.
But at the time the show ended, did people try?
GRAHAM: Even besides things coming to me, that style of that show began to have an impact.
I felt like, in general, TV shows started talking faster and there was a bantery style.
Very few writers have such a strong voice.
That wasParenthoodas well, butParenthoodwas such a different style of show.
Thats why it was such a delight to get to do something so different.
Its fun to do.
SANTOS: Half-hours are the best.
GRAHAM: They really are.
And its where I started, by the way.
I started in a four-camera audience show.
Thats all people were making in the late 90s, and I loved that.
The Lorelai Gilmore star also talks about her new comedy ‘The Z-Suite.’
How was that experience?
Had you been a fan of the Muppets prior to working with them?
And Lauren, what was it like to do an episode ofSesame Street?
GRAHAM: I was such a fan.
My dad used to take me when Jim Henson had a puppet show in some park in D.C.
I was like, I love this job.
SANTOS: Oh, my God!
GRAHAM: I was like, I have range.
SANTOS: I really loved it too.
It was really surreal to see the puppets.
GRAHAM: Theyre not puppets.
SANTOS: What is the correct term for them?
GRAHAM: No, youre correct.
SANTOS: It was really surreal to watch them being puppeted, It was really, really neat.
I also lovedSesame Street.
I remember sobbing as a kid, watching theSesame Streetmovie.
IsThe Z-Suitea TV series that youre hoping will go for a bit?
Have you heard ideas for a possible Season 2 yet?
Have they spoken to you about the bigger picture of what this show could be?
GRAHAM: With the first season of something, youre always thinking about Season 2.
I would love for it to continue.
If we were stuck together for six seasons, Id be very happy.
GRAHAM: Me too.
Check out the trailer:
