Although it didn’t get a pickup when UPN announced its fall lineup last week, Nikki & Nora, a series about two lesbian private detectives, is the first lesbian-themed drama series in serious consideration for a network TV slot. Nancylee Myatt, the Creator and Executive Producer of Nikki & Nora, tells us about her inspiration for creating the show, how the network responded to it, and how viewers can help convince UPN to pick it up for a mid-season slot.
AfterEllen.com: How would you describe Nikki & Nora? Nancylee Myatt:It’s a cop show with a twist, a procedural show which also let’s us take a break from the crime-of-the-week to spend time with a complicated and sexy couple. Crime, action, romance and the Big Easy, what more could you want?
AE: What inspired you to create the series? And why now? NM: I had developed several projects with Regency TV and they came to me with the idea of a modern Nick & Nora only they’re a lesbian couple, Nikki & Nora. And that was all they gave me. I had a reputation with them for creating strong female characters and voices. And they knew that I could write this from a personal POV, as well. I then began developing the show, the characters, their backstory, and put them in New Orleans – a great city where nothing is what it seems. Very layered, full of secrets, not unlike Nikki and Nora themselves.
When Maggie Murphy, the Sr. Vice President of Drama Development, left Regency to become the head of Drama at UPN, she took several projects with her that she had developed at the studio. Fortunately, Nikki & Nora was one of those projects. Regency then released the project and Warner Bros. studio picked it up. So that’s how a project that began at Regency studio for FOX, eventually ended up at UPN with Warner Bros. as the new studio.
I’ve been with the project for what will be 2 years this coming August – and have also been through two other writing partners along the way. In its early stages it was much more light-hearted, more comedy, more like Nick & Nora — a retro kind of feel, a la Moonlighting. But when it moved to UPN and they wanted a more procedural show, their CSI or NYPD Blue, if you will, the show took a more serious tone.
But now it’s back to just me and Nikki & Nora – hoping to get on the air. Usually, projects and pilots come and go and we writers move onto the next one. But this project has survived and I’ve become very attached to these characters and their voices. And now, the cast and amazing team of people who put the pilot together. I hope we can continue in series. And I believe this show has some important ground to break and stories to tell while it entertains.AE: How did the network and production company react to a series with two lesbian lead characters? NM:Nikki & Nora were always a lesbian couple. I never heard anyone say, do they have to be lesbians? Or can’t they be aliens? Or let’s make them men who are just best friends? The discussions were usually about the balance of character beats vs. the procedural beats in the script. And how intimate do we get with the characters when we go home with them. And again, it’s network TV not cable, so we do have some rules and standards to adhere to, beyond the discussions about making the main-stream audience feel comfortable with the couple. And at the end of the day we all believed that if you could relate to the situation and the characters and cared about them, no matter what their sexual orientation, you would watch the show.
We ended up with quite a bit of gay-themed conversations and conflict in the story about the couple – Nikki is out with her family, Nora is not. And they are both keeping their relationship a secret from the police force at this time. And there are some intimate moments in the pilot, as well. There is a bath-tub scene that is not only beautiful but sexy for network TV.
With regard to the procedural side of the show – let’s face it, there are only three crime stories to tell. It’s all about how you tell the story. What is your show’s unique voice, how can you tell the same story in a way that can only be done on your show. And in our case it’s with a New Orleans POV as well as through the eyes of this couple who live and work together.
AE: Did you encounter any resistance from actresses who auditioned to the idea of playing lesbians? NM:We had an amazing casting director, Megan Branman, who was incredibly bold and clear with the agents in town. We didn’t want to see anyone who would have difficulty playing a gay character. And the script was available for everyone to read, there were three kissing scenes, and the infamous bathtub scene, so it was pretty clear that we were going to be showing them as a couple.
There were a number of women who passed on the project before they ever came in the door, and we were never really told if it was because of the gay content, or whether they wanted to do a half-hour instead of a drama, or didn’t want to do TV at all, etc. Pilot season is a cluster-fuck with so many projects and everyone fighting for the same talent. It’s a wonder that anything ever gets cast and on the air.
What ever the case, we didn’t really get the feeling that playing a gay character was a issue, and honestly, the amazing amount of talent that walked through the door was awesome. People really responded to the script. I think The L Word may have helped us with that. Those women have been on the cover of every magazine and newspaper across North America. And it sure helped that we were shooting in New Orleans and not Canada.
AE: Was there much concern from the actresses about kissing another woman? NM:During the early casting sessions we never asked the actors to kiss, although it was always the topic of conversation and a good ice-breaker. And some women were actually disappointed that they weren’t going to be making out at the session – some had even been sizing up the other women in the waiting room. And several actresses said that their boyfriends had begged to come to the audition just to “watch.” But when we got down to the tests where the actors have to audition in front of the studio executives and then the network executives – we had them do a scene where they kissed. Everyone was very comfortable doing the scene.
The truth of the matter is that the studio and network cared about the chemistry the women had together, but more importantly how credible they would appear as cops and detectives.
And Liz and Christina hit it out of the park, chemistry and credibility. You believe them as a couple and as cops. In fact, Liz and Christina ended up doing most of their own stunts. They are such studs!
AE: What convinced you to cast Liz Vassey and Christina Cox? NM: Liz Vassey was on the top of our list from day one. Everyone at the studio and network were big fans. And she had read the script and really like it. But early in the process she was testing for another show and had to pass on our project. But when the other project went away, we circled back to Liz and begged her to re-consider.
By that time, we had already narrowed our “Nora” search to Christina Cox. From the moment she walked in the door, she was my Nora. She became the watermark for all others who read the role. She went through a studio and network test with 3 other actors as Nikki. A trooper, for sure. And she was great every time. Studio and Network tests are really tough, a lot of pressure. I’ve seen actors completely tank at the network after being great in the room ten times before that. I so respect actors, it’s an insane way to make a living.
When Liz and Christina met at the network and read together for the first time, it was magic. Everyone could see them as a couple. They were fantastic together. I saw my Nikki & Nora. I’ve been known to cry at moments like that…I will be forever in their debt for making these characters come alive above and beyond my imagination.
AE: How did the pilot turn out? NM:Great! Christina Cox and Liz Vassey were amazing as lovers and cops, and the city of New Orleans was a fabulous location to shoot: production-friendly and gay-friendly. The network has been very supportive of the show. There were very few things that they asked us to tame down, and most of those discussions happened during the script development process and long before we ever went on location.
In fact, most everything we ended up putting in the final shooting draft got shot and ended up in the pilot. So the rumors about a tamer version of the show are really not true.
We did some testing during our post process and ultimately decided not to include one kiss we shot for the opening of the show, but only because it was not appropriate for the scene, not because it was too racy. I am very happy with this intimate look at a lesbian couple – after all, it is a prime-time network show, and this is ground-breaking on all fronts. Gotta start somewhere.
At any rate, it was a great experience. The show is fun and sexy and has something to say. We explore universal themes like love and relationships, family, careers, empowered women working in a man’s world, couples working together, etc.All while letting America know that there is nothing scary or different about same sex relationships.
Come on, it’s just a couple of girls living together with a bunch of pets.
AE: Why do you think UPN didn’t pick it up for their fall schedule? What are the chances it will get a mid-season pickup? NM:So many things beyond making a good show come into play when a network is setting their fall schedule. Advertising dollars, marketing, affiliate stations, cost per episode, research testing, demographics, international sales, not to mention what space or real estate is available on a network schedule to place dramas, comedies, reality, etc. You really just have to make the best show you can and bless it and pass it.
The good news about developing with UPN this season is that the odds of getting on the air were better than at any other network. They shot 7 pilots and put 2 on the fall schedule, and may pick up another one for mid-season. I like to play the ponies, and that’s damn fine odds anyway you handicap it.
Nikki & Nora may be a long-shot, but the race ain’t over yet. Either way, at the end of the day, bravo to UPN for rolling the dice on Nikki & Nora.
AE: If UPN passes on it, can another network pick it up? NM:I really haven’t gotten into the possibility of the show going elsewhere at this point in time. Trying to stay focused. Shows getting picked up by other networks does happen, but it’s rare. Lots of players, contracts and money involved. It’s not like selling your great used car to a friend.
AE: Do you think America is ready for a prime time network TV show with two lesbian lead characters? NM:Yes! Thanks to successful shows with gay characters on cable and prime time, the door has been opened. I don’t take any responsibility of representing the lesbian community or any agenda with this show. I’m just trying to entertain and tell stories about one couple. But hey, if along the way it tears down some walls and dispels some fears, right on.
On the show, our fabulous costumer Janie Bryant (Deadwood) gave Nikki and Nora matching St. Christopher medals to wear. Liz wore hers around her wrist and Christina wore hers around her neck in the pilot. It was their secret “were going steady” jewelry. After we wrapped the show, Janie gave St. Christopher necklaces to the team that put Nikki & Nora together. We are all wearing them for good luck until we hear about the pick-up.
Guess we’re all going steady with Nikki & Nora until we absolutely have to break up.
June 2005 Update: Nikki and Nora was not picked up by UPN for a fall or mid-season slot, and the actors were officially released from their contract for the series. Myatt has moved on to other projects, including devloping a sequel to Wave Babes called Babes Go West, and co-producing the upcoming series South of Nowhere, which features a lesbian teen.
