
Our first (and only) Woman Seeking Man episode this season was a refreshing change of pace. I’m not saying I don’t enjoy the horror that is Josh’s dating life — because I do — but it was really fun to see Liz have some serious trouble in the dating department.
I have to be honest, I did not expect Liz’s relationship to end. Did we even get a reason? Whatever the impetus, it’s fun to see Liz so off balance and unable to control her surroundings. There were more than a few memorable moments from the episode. My favorite scene, though, has to be the tea party with the married 7 year-olds. I asked Britt Lower and creator/EP Simon Rich about it.
TV GOODNESS: I love that tea party scene. How did that idea even enter someone’s mind? It’s brilliant.
Simon: “Thank you. We probably spent more time on episode 9 than we did on any other episode ‘cause we knew going into the season that we were only going to do one Woman Seeking Man and we wanted to make sure that it was something we were all psyched about. We went through all sorts of different premises and then we found these that we all loved. It was really important for us to have a scene that caused Liz to feel vulnerable because Liz is such a strong character. She doesn’t admit to any vulnerability, even when she’s in the process of breaking up with someone she’s been with for four years. So we needed to come up with a device to convince Liz that she needed to go off on this search for a man. And that’s the premise we ended up with.â€

Britt: “I think it’s a very relatable situation, to feel like you’re missing out on something. I don’t think it’s a female-specific fear that you’re behind, which is so nice about the scene. And I must say the young women in that scene are amongst the most brilliant tiny human’s I’ve ever worked with.â€
Simon: “They were unbelievable. The other amazing thing that happened was we were getting terrible weather that whole month and Sofia [Alvarez] always envisioned the tea party scene, of course, as taking place outside ‘cause it’s just sunnier and more festive. We were convinced we would have to do it indoors, but at the last minute the heavens changed on a dime and gave us all that sunshine so we got to do it outside as scripted. The weather really cooperated for us on that one.â€
Britt: “It was beautiful.â€
Simon:†But when Britt was digging up that graveyard, though, it was unbelievably cold.â€

TV GOODNESS: It’s funny to see all the guys Liz rejects and then to watch her make this perfect man. Simon, can you talk about being in the writer’s room for that episode and Britt can you talk about filming it?
Simon Rich: “That was super collaborative and I believe that Britt improvised some of the best lines we did on set. The writers were there pitching in as well. That list of dudes that Liz rejects, that was definitely a group effort.â€
Britt Lower: “Yes, Liz is picky, but she’s really just not ready to be dating yet, so I think she’s finding every excuse to not connect with these guys.â€

TV GOODNESS: Matt Lucas and Josh Meyers are in this episode. Simon, can you talk about casting them and Britt, can you talk about working with them?
Simon: “I’ve been a huge fan of both of theirs for years and years. Josh I got to work with a long time ago on a web series and I’ve been a Little Britain fan for a long time, as well. So, it was really thrilling to get them on board. Their scenes with Britt are among my favorite scenes in the entire season. I’m so happy we got a chance to work with them.â€
Britt: “Yeah, they were both such a delight, plus we’re incredibly heightened in those scenes, so getting to play with those guys on that wild level is fun.â€
How funny was it that Liz went through the trouble of finding all the parts she needed, adding all the traits she wanted and then her perfect guy turns out to be gay? Maybe because Liz has failed so spectatularly, she decides to give in and go on a date her mom sets up. The problem isn’t so much that he’s a robot, it’s more that he’s just a guy looking for a quick hookup — although we don’t learn that until later.
TV GOODNESS: We have to talk about Chip and that sex scene, because it was amazing, as well as their time in the restaurant. Liz is really hesitant at first, but then it seems like they’re getting along and things are really going well. Can you both talk about the evolution of that relationship?
Britt: [Laughs.] “I was thinking about this the other day. I love making eye contact when I’m acting with someone and shooting that scene was incredibly difficult because I was looking into what looked like camera lenses for eyes. It really informed what Liz was going through internally, having such a hard time connecting with Chip.â€

Simon: “And that’s very much what the scene is about. Liz is really determined to make something work by that point in the episode. She been on such a journey already that she’s willing to at least attempt this option she never thought she would ever consider. She goes through so many changes in that scene. I think the reason it works for me is Britt did such a phenomenal job of taking the scene from place to place. It’s a hard thing to pull off ‘cause it is just one set and there were no other actors around. It’s literally Britt with an inanimate object staring at her, or I should say pointed at her, and the fact that Britt is able to make that scene so emotionally resonant and powerful and varied just blew us all away. Of all the scenes, it’s probably the one I’m most proud of this entire season, is the Liz/Chip scene.â€

Britt: “Thank you, Simon.â€
Simon: “It’s unbelievable.â€
TV GOODNESS: I did love it. I think I was laughing — or cackling loudly — after that sex scene where Chip achieved orgasm so fast.
Simon: “Instantaneous. Yeah, well he’s a robot so he’s incredibly efficient. Doesn’t make him the best lover. We should also point out that so much of the credit for this episode, in addition to Britt, should go to the woman who wrote it, Sofia, who just really nailed this assignment. I was lucky to get to write an episode with her earlier in the season. We co-wrote episode 4, which is the one where Britt gives Josh his eulogy after he fakes his own death to get out of a relationship. Writing was Sofia was a blast. It was a tall order assigning this episode. It’s essentially writing a whole other pilot and I thought that Sofia really just knocked it out of the park.â€
Britt: “Yeah, absolutely.â€
Simon: “I’m so, so thrilled with the work she did.â€
TV GOODNESS: My final question is what can we look forward to seeing from Liz in the next few episodes? Anything you can share?
Simon: “Well, in episode 10, Liz’s world — I don’t want to give too much away — but…eh, screw it. In episode 10, much of it takes place in a postapocalyptic world and Liz, being the strong, tough character that she is, has no choice but to lead the human resistance against the threat of alien extinction.â€
Britt: “I’m wearing a very intimidating beret.â€
Edited for space and content.
Man Seeking Woman airs Wednesday at 10:30/9:30c on FXX.
Related posts
Classics
Alison Sweeney Talks About What’s Next for Hannah and Mike After Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
[Warning: Spoilers for Carrot Cake Murder.] Everybody OK after that Hannah Swensen Mystery twist? Thankfully, our favorite crime-solving couple is still on speaking term, even if they’re on a break (hopefully not that kind of break). Most importantly, we already know this isn’t the last film in the series. No…
Counting Down to From Season 2
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] We’re just shy of two weeks away from Season 2 of last spring’s obsession, From, which premieres at 9 pm/8c, Sunday, April 23rd, on MGM+ (formerly EPIX). If you never picked it up last year, now’s your chance, and you can do it for free, catching…
Thank Me Later: Will Trent
[Warning: spoilers ahead.] I’m on record as loving and losing shows over at ABC so I’m usually very reticent to pick something up on the network until it’s been renewed, and I seriously hope I’m not jinxing it, but I took a chance on the deeply odd and very sweet…
Dennis Heaton Talks The Imperfects
Longtime readers at TV Goodness will know that Motive is one of my ride-or-die series, and as such, I am fiercely loyal to its creator, Dennis Heaton. He followed up that fantastic reverse procedural with Netflix’s The Order and is back on our streaming screens with The Imperfects, which dropped…
Kelly McCormack Talks Favorite Moments in A League of Their Own
[Warning: Mild spoilers for season 1.] Now that you’ve had a chance to watch A League of Their Own, here’s the rest of my chat with Kelly McCormack about her favorite moments of the season. Seeing the iconic Peaches uniforms for the first time wasn’t just a goosebump moment for…
John Griffin and Harold Perrineau Talk From Season 1 Finale
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] How are we doing, #FROMily? In case you missed it this morning, the very good news is that that cliffhanger will be followed by a second season, which was gifted this morning ahead of the linear broadcast of the finale. I always legitimately appreciate when we…
Elizabeth Saunders Talks From
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] One of the things that makes EPIX’s From such a fun ride is the abundance of Canadian cast members. Elizabeth Saunders, who plays Donna, is a favorite from her turn on the third season of Mary Kills People [streaming on Global TV in Canada and Roku…
Corteon Moore Talks From “Broken Windows, Open Doors”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight’s episode of From had us all in our feels as we learned through flashbacks about the Sophie’s Choice Boyd had to make to save his son, and back in the present as Boyd said his piece with Ellis before heading into the woods with…
Pegah Ghafoori Talks From “All Good Things…”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode] Tonight on From, Fatima’s anniversary celebration turned into a Colony House of horrors when a misguided Kevin let his monster bae in and she promptly killed him and left the window open for her crew. While the party devolved into terror and sent everyone running,…
Shaun Majumder Talks From “Book 74”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight on EPIX’s From, Father Khatri made a bold move, kidnapping Sara instead of turning her in, and then recognizing her as a vessel for some big messages. That startling realization speaks to him on multiple levels–as a man of faith, a man trapped in…
What They Said: Three Revealing Conversations from Survivor’s Remorse “Closure”
WARNING: Spoilers for Survivor’s Remorse “Closure” The latest episode of Starz’s Survivor’s Remorse featured conversations that showed characters really digging deep into their thoughts, emotions and motivations.
Two Takes: The Catch “The Knock-Off”
Who can you trust? If this episode of The Catch was any indication, the answer is just about nobody. Betrayal was running rampant as Felicity (Shivani Ghai) arose from the dead to seduce-con Margot, Gretchen (Maria Thayer, Gotham, The Mindy Project) played gold-hearted Alice 2.0 before swindling Ethan, Tessa jumped…
What They Said: Top 3 Quotable Moments from Preacher “El Valero”
Both Quincannon and Jesse refuse to give up on what they each think is rightfully theirs. While Jesse is struggling to face the consequences of his actions, Quincannon has laid his past demons to rest and is hellbent on moving forward and putting Annville on the map again. Despite a…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Supergirl “Worlds Finest”
Oh, Supergirl. That ending was cold. But I can’t hate on you because the latest episode has quickly become one of my favorites.
What They Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Black Sails “XXIII”
The dialogue in “XXIII” is phenomenal. It’s always a fun ride when Black Sails carries its viewers along without giving them the chance to catch their breath. When an episode moves at this unforgiving pace, there is no chance for a breather nor is there a respite from the information…
What Lucifer Said: Favorite quotes from Supernatural “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
Supernatural episodes are almost always funny but thanks to the dialogue and a certain man speaking said dialogue, I laughed a lot during “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” You know, when I wasn’t busy fearing for Sam’s life or wondering what in the world was going on with Dean and…
What They Said: The Flash, “Legends Of Today” and Arrow, “Legends Of Yesterday”
Two nights of Arrow + The Flash = what more could we ask for?! I don’t know what it is about blending these shows, but I can’t help but feel that every time they come together, they somehow become greater than the sum of their parts. And that’s saying a lot…
What they Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Graceland “Little Bo Bleep”
Shoot outs. Fake outs. And long-awaited revelations. “Little Bo Bleep” was a jam-packed episode that wrapped up some loose ends and totally frayed others. Â It finally gave us one Sarkissian in jail and pulled back the curtain on Briggs’ master plan, but it also set up Jakes for a world…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Poldark “Part 4”
“What have I told you, I don’t require my wife to crochet and sip tea, but I do require her to remember she’s not a beast of burden.†No, I’m not talking about The Rolling Stones! I have to admit though, just for a second, the lyrics popped into my…
3 Moments of Goodness from Brooklyn Nine-Nine “Johnny and Dora”
The most satisfying part of this season’s finale has to the Jake and Amy kiss. Well, they kiss three times but the last one is the best one — and it means something. The Charles and Rosa dynamic was also great. I love how she’s convinced he doesn’t know anything…