An Interview with the Brilliant Mr. Jim Piddock of “Family Tree”

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One of the most unique and original television shows to premier in the last decade has been Christopher Guest’s (This is Spinal Tap, Best in Show) new series “Family Tree.” Debuting on HBO on May 14, 2013, “Family Tree” is the story of how one man, Tom Chadwick (Chris O’Dowd), strives to learn more about his family and traces his genealogy from England back to America after losing his job and girlfriend. Along the eight-episode ride, we are introduced to his quirky sister Bea (Nina Conti) who lives with a monkey puppet on her hand (Conti also provides the voice for Monkey); his inventor and entrepreneurially-minded father Keith (Michael McKean); Ketih’s new wife, Luba (Lisa Palfrey); Tom’s best friend Pete (Tom Bennett); Mr. Pfister (Jim Piddock), a gentleman who owns an antique shop below Tom’s apartment; his American relatives (Ed Begley, Jr., Carrie Aizley, Christopher Guest) and a host of other brilliant, humorous, and insane characters (including Fred Willard). Some moments were hilarious, some were awkward, some were as true to life as, well, reality. All in all, “Family Tree” is a show that must be watched from beginning to end to be appreciated, and should be watched several times for extra laughter.

Recently, HBO Watch was honored to be able to speak with Jim Piddock, aka Mr. Pfister, who also wrote most of the series along with Guest. We were very curious – naturally! – about different goings on with the cast, crew, storyline, and if “Family Tree” will grow into a second season on HBO.

Here’s our conversation with Jim:

HBO Watch: What are the chances of seeing a Family Tree season 2? Is everyone down for another season or would it be difficult to make happen? Out of 10, what are the chances of a Family Tree season 2?! If there is a second season, where do you see it going?

Jim Piddock: I think it mostly depends on the suits at NBC Universal International, HBO, and the BBC figuring something out. Certainly, Chris and I would love to develop and live in the “Family Tree” world some more. It has a fanatical fan base, much like “Arrested Development” had, and I honestly think that fan base — which passionately believes it’s the best and most original tv show in recent memory — would expand exponentially in time. Despite its off-beat quirkiness, “Family Tree” is actually a very mainstream and universally relatable show at its core and heart. You just have to get on its wavelength first. In terms of a number out of 10 whether there will be a season 2, both Chris and I hate quantifying creative endeavors like a sports competition, so I’d give it an 11.

HBOW: What was it like working for HBO? A lot of other writers, directors, and show-runners seem to really enjoy it. What were your experiences?

JP: It was a great experience. They left us alone to do what we wanted to do and were incredibly supportive. I think the first series first-run viewing numbers weren’t as big as they’d have liked, but if you’re in the Christopher Guest business, it’s not about speed, it’s about endurance. None of the movies were big box office hits when they were released but, you know what, people are still quoting them and re-watching them and talking about them 10, 20, 25 years later. The series has similarly proven to be a slow burn. It passed a little bit under the radar initially, but a lot of people are just discovering it and seem to be happy when they do so.

HBOW: There seem to be a lot of really inventive characters on the show. Will we get to see more inventions (Kitty’s invented flavored enemas, Keith’s shoe warming and cooling device, even the glass used to tell if someone is still breathing) in the future? What are some of the inspirations behind your incredibly original ideas (The back end of a pantomime horse, Ezra Schmellf, the Jewish cowboy, “The Chadwick Chuck,” David Chadwick and his hereditary vestigial tail, the “landmarks in a bottle”)? Do you and Christopher Guest ever draw from life experiences, when writing the series?

JP: Inventive or inventing? Either way, yes. And thank you. In Keith’s case, it’s delusions of entrepreneurial grandeur. In Kitty’s case, it’s misplaced faith in the powers of anal healing. And in the case of the glass or mirror to see if an old person is still breathing, well, that’s just plain common sense. Are you honestly saying you’ve never done than with an elderly relative?

To answer the second part of your question, I think Chris and I write what makes us laugh, whether it’s drawn from our own life experiences or what we’d like them to be. I’m delighted if someone thinks they’re original or creative.

HBOW: Christopher Guest is known for improvising scenes, lines, etc., in other projects. How much of your dialogue was scripted, or was most of it unscripted?

JP: The story lines and scene beats are written in detail, and some of the lines and jokes are suggested, but the dialogue is almost all improvised. Except in the “fake tv” shows. They were all scripted.

HBOW: How have the show and the actors changed you? Would you call this a great experience? How does it compare
to other projects in your career?

JP: It was a great experience, I know, for Christopher and myself. And unless everyone’s just bullshitting us, it seemed like it was for everybody else. Compared to other projects in my career, I’d say it was at least in the top 100. Maybe, like 88th or something. And, yes, it’s changed me. I’m gluten-free now thanks to “Family Tree.”

HBOW: What is it like working with Christopher Guest, Fred Willard, Chris O’Dowd, and all of the other amazing cast members? Which ones were incredible and which were a pain?

JP: Well, compared to Monkey, working with Satan would seem like a picnic. So, despite the fact that Guest, O’Dowd, and Willard are all egomaniacal monsters who’d strangle their own grandmothers to get a laugh, I’d have to say they were all pretty much okay. At best.

HBOW: Can you tell us a little bit about what it’s like to have Monkey on set? Is he difficult to work with at all? Has he got his own dressing room?

JP: Difficult is the understatement of the century. Monkey is a living nightmare in fur. His agent not only got him a better trailer than any other actor, he also insisted on having monkey “escorts” to “visit” him every day as part of his deal.

Hopefully we will be receiving news in the near future on “Family Tree” being renewed for a second season. If you can’t wait until then or are needing some Chadwick humor to brighten your day, the DVDs for season 1 will be available on Oct. 29th or you can [amazon_link id=”B00DQEHKZ0″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]pre-order it from Amazon[/amazon_link] today.

If you want a bit more Jim check out this series of interviews he did with Spinal Tap’s Nifel Tufnel to promote a National Geographic special on Stonehenge.  A hilarious man and what a great friendship those two have!  We hope to see more moments like these in a new season of Family Tree on HBO some day soon.

 

Special thanks to MJ Snow and Jacob Klein for contributing questions for the interview.

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