‘The Good Place’ is an upcoming fantasy-comedy set in the afterlife. And if that sounds crazy, wait until you here Ted Danson describe his character.
We spoke with him at an exclusive cocktail party hosted by NBC last week.
What attracted you to get involved with this show?
Ted Danson: Mike Schur. Everyone respects him so much from Parks and Rec and The Office and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. So I met with him, I heard Kristen Bell was interested in this project. He talked to me for an hour and a half and it was a very interesting out of this world story. It took a long time to wrap my brain around it. We signed on in the room without even seeing the script.
Tell us more about the show.
TD: It takes place in the afterlife. I play an architect of this particular neighborhood– life is divided into neighborhoods in our story. 322 people in this neighborhood. Every blade of grass has been specifically designed by me to be amazing to these people who have just arrived to the afterlife. Kristen Bell’s character got there by a clerical mistake. She doesn’t belong in the good place.
Ted was just telling me about your vision and how he signed on in the room.
Mike Schur: Legally, that’s true. [laughs].
Speak about collaborating with a legend.
MS: The term he prefers is national treasure. He prefers to be called National Treasure Ted Danson on set. It was a life-long dream. I know that sounds corny but it’s true. Cheers is my favorite show. Cheers is the best show up to this moment. I think Sam Malone is the greatest character and I think Ted is the greatest TV actor of our lives.
TD: After he said that to me in the room I really didn’t hear anything else he had.
MS: I could have pitched you anything.
Tell me about this world and what you love about it.
TD: There’s so many ways to describe this show that I have to be careful. What’s wonderful about what Mike has created is at the end of every episode it almost feels like what Mike has created is a cliffhanger or the end of a season finale. So I don’t want to ruin surprises. I will tell you the show is about what it means to be good and what it means to be bad. I love that we are hanging our humor on that.
What was it like working with Kristen?
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TD: A dream. I’ve known her for six years. We were both in the same movie, ended up being called Big Miracle. John Krasinski, Kristen Bell and myself just hung out for a while. Then I met her husband Dax Shepard, who is an amazing actor and director, and they went to our home and we just hung out. It was an amazing weekend and we really enjoyed each other. She’s one of the reasons after Mike that I said yes. She’s so good, so smart, so fast. Cares about the work and then wants to go home and care for her kids.
Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC
