2 BROKE GIRLS has followed the wacky world of Max (Kat Denning) and Caroline (Beth Behrs), who brought their own particular style and fun outlook on life together to make the CBS comedy series feel fresh and hilarious. Taking a few minutes to chat about her series 2 BROKE GIRLS at the recent WB Mondo International Press Tour, star Kat Denning shared insights into her character Max and a few more fun things you may not have known about her.
Kat Denning
How much of Whitney Cummings (executive producer of 2 BROKE GIRLS) do you think is your character? Does she influence you a lot?
KAT: Yes, absolutely. Especially in the beginning of season one. To me, this is my theory: Whitney is Max and Michael is Caroline. That’s my theory. It could be wrong, but to me that’s what’s going on here. And as I’ve gotten to know Max more, I’ve made her a little more me, especially season two. Season one, you know, we’re finding our characters and trying to, like, figure out how we’re going to do this. And so season two, since we’ve done one already, we feel a lot more free speaking for me and Beth, which I shouldn’t. But for me, I feel a lot more comfortable and free to experiment, and I’ve been more relaxed.
What of your characteristics does Max now have?
KAT: I think Max is starting to become like a little more nerdy, and that’s completely me. So I think they know me now well enough, the writers, that they’ve integrated a little bit of my true self into Max.
So now nerdy are you, then? What’s the nerdiest thing we’ll find you doing?
KAT: Oh, God. Nerdy now is cool, but I’m not nerdy cool. It’s a real this is the thing. I’m glad nerdy has become so popular. But it’s more like I don’t go out and I really don’t go out. I don’t even go to parties ever. I just stay home, I knit, and I watch movies. And that’s basically my whole entire life, which is great. That’s my dream. I miss that. I really do.
Is there room for improvisation in 2 BROKE GIRLS?
KAT: No improvisation, none whatsoever. None. Word for word.
What about the rehearsal; do you talk before with your partner about the scenes? Do you go over them?
KAT: Me and Beth? Oh, yes, yes. We run lines all day, between scenes. Every single second that we can, we run lines, yeah. It’s a lot of lines. If it sounds like it’s improv, it’s not. If we get one or two words wrong, we have to stop and go back. They are very, very rigid about the words, which I understand, because sometimes jokes don’t exactly sound right unless every word’s perfect.
Maybe you can’t talk a lot, but can you tell us a little bit about “Thor”?
KAT: You know I can’t tell you a lot. I can’t. I don’t know exactly what they’re releasing, so I’m not sure what I’m allowed to say. And if I say the wrong thing, I’m going to probably be assassinated.
You had mention how difficult it is to juggle movies and TV. So when you first were approached to this project, were you hesitant at some point?
KAT: No. Because this was a special case, because it’s the second “Thor” movie. So I was in the first one and I didn’t know whether I was in the second one. So when I heard I was, I was so excited I basically said I’ll do anything to make this work; I don’t care how many times I have to go, I’ll do it. And initially, I was supposed to go five times, which was crazy, but I was prepared. And then they miraculously, like, cut it down to three. So it’s been very jampacked, but amazing. I’m so happy I got to do it. Because movies are like my only reference for working, so I didn’t know what it would be like to be on a series. And I truthfully wasn’t looking to do any TV because I was having such a great time with films. But because it was Michael Patrick King and Whitney Cummings, I was like, well, if I’m going to do it, this is the one to do. And it just kind of fell into my lap at just the right moment. And I had I’ll never forget it. I had sushi with them, and they basically just like seduced me into dinner. And I was like, yes, I’ll do it. And we didn’t even talk about the show. I just loved them both so much that I just said yes, and it worked out. It worked out. I regret nothing. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.
Do you like comic books?
KAT: Love comic books, love comic books. Love “Thor.” My brother collected comic books when we were kids, so it’s very exciting. I’m a big Marvel fan so it’s pretty crazy.
A lot of people are discovering TV shows now, buying the whole set on DVD. I’m sure the first season of your show will be like that. Is that how you like to watch TV? What do you think of this whole new way that you not only get them all together, but you get the outtakes and the features?
KAT: I like that, personally. I do. I just got a TiVo, and I got it for free because I presented at the Emmys and they gave me one, and I didn’t even have one. So I watch TV the old fashioned way usually. But now that I don’t have any time at home to relax, I do get the DVDs. And you know, I watch them on iTunes. And to me that’s what I like. I hate when a show that you’re watching ends and you have to wait a week to see the next one. I hate that. So when I can, like with DOWNTON ABBEY and stuff, I’m like I’m not going to watch this; I’m going to wait till the DVD is out so I can watch them all at the same time, which is the move, I think.
What else do you watch besides DOWNTON ABBEY?
KAT: Let’s see. What new shows do I watch? I like the new Sherlock Holmes with Benedict Cumberbatch. I just like saying that name. What else? Jeez, it’s pretty hard. It’s pretty hard for me to watch TV at this time. I’m now watching more movies than TV.
Could you tell us what to for the rest of the season?
KAT: Well, Max and Caroline finally get their cupcake shop. And they get a 20,000 dollar loan which puts them in debt $20,000. So they get their dream, but they also are screwed, because now they’re more broke than they’ve ever been in their lives. So that’s really fun to look at the reality of having a business. And Michael Patrick King really wants to play the reality. It’s not like, oh, they got their shop, the end. It’s really like what’s it like to have a shop when you have no money and no experience.
Beth Behrs
Bringing infectious energy to her comedy series 2 BROKE GIRLS, star Beth Behrs is similarly enthusiastic about her own life. In a candid interview at the WB Mondo International Press Tour, Beth shared a bit about her love of the show, working with her vivacious co-star, and revealed a bit about herself and what she loves about television in the process.
So are we going to see less of Caroline and Max working as waitresses now and more of them in the cupcake shop, or how is it going to work this season?
BETH: Well, this season it’s kind of interesting because you see probably half and half. Because at night they’re working at the diner, and then during the day they’re exhausted — but during the day, they have to go to the cupcake shop. So it’s definitely not going to be as much diner, unfortunately, as it was before. But the boys from the diner come and help sometimes in the shop, and there’s definitely a blend of everyone together and it’s kind of fun to see how the family, like Max and Caroline and Earl and Han and Oleg all kind of band together now that we have the shop, and it’s kind fun to play with that dynamic too.
How are you most like your character Caroline, and what are the biggest differences?
BETH: Biggest difference for me, especially playing this character, was she came from a billionaire background to nothing. So I can relate to the “nothing” part, to being broke, but it was hard for me to kind of imagine what her life would have been like. And the biggest difference, I mean, I definitely share her optimism. That’s something. And I think I’ve become even more optimistic as Beth because of playing her so long, because she’s just like the eternal optimist. I can also relate to her work ethic and drive. I’ve been wanting to be an actress since I was a little kid, so I’ve always kind of had a sort of business savvy. I was writing letters to producers when I was like 12 years old, being like, “cast me,” which would have never happened, but at least I had the drive. So I can definitely relate to all of those things. I’m a little bit more down to earth, goofier than Caroline. I’m not as prim and proper in real life.
What do you think is universal about this TV show that people all over, in different countries are watching, as being a hit?
BETH: Well, I think everyone can relate to having a goal or a dream in life and what it takes to get there. No matter if you’ve been broke or if you’ve been rich, I think everyone can relate to kind of having a goal and trying to reach it. And also, I think the friendship between the two girls, it’s been interesting. Because we have fans who have come up to us, who are like 80 year old men and then we have 12 year old girls. So it’s definitely cool to see kind of how it’s hitting. And I think that maybe a lot of it comes from the friendship, and everyone can relate to kind of needing each other to get where you want to be and reaching that goal, and no matter what economic background. Although in our economic times, it’s probably more relatable now, because more people are broke right now.
What kind of friends do you have in real life? And what do you expect from a friend in real life?
BETH: Oh, gosh. Well, a lot of my friends, I’ve had for years. Just being there, loyal, trustworthy, um, someone who’s honest with you, will tell you the truth, and someone who you can laugh with and just have fun. Yeah. Something similar to what Max and Caroline have, yeah, definitely, definitely. Max and Caroline are there for each other. They’ll fight together now till the end. They’re definitely partners now, which I think we’ve seen more this season. Because last season they were just getting to know each other. But now that they’ve been roommates and they’ve got this business together, they’re still opposites, which causes a little bit of problems, but they’re definitely there for each other, which I love about our show.
And what is the relationship like between you and Kat?
BETH: Same way, we’re such good friends. We’re less opposite in real life than we are on the show. We’re much more similar as far as our personalities. I’m a little bit more not as prim and proper. And she’s a little bit nicer than Max. So we meet in the middle and that, that we’re very similar in real life. We grew up with similar backgrounds and stuff.
What does fashion mean to you?
BETH: It’s means more now. Being on the show, I’ve learned so much. We have an amazing costume designer, Trayce, and she has helped me so much in my own personal style, too, just kind of understanding different designers and what looks good on my body and what colors. And so I definitely have more of an appreciation and also more of an excitement about fashion than I did.
And what about your dreams when you were a kid to become an actress and now you are an actress? You’re on successful TV show. How do you balance that in your life?
BETH: I mean, it’s been a dream come true. It’s been amazing. I’ve loved it since I was a little kid, so I’m just so happy that what I love to do, I actually now get paid to do every day as opposed to just doing it for fun and then having to do a side job. It’s really nice to have it as just my living. I get to do what I love every day.
A lot of people are now watching TV shows or discovering them by buying a box set, and then they get the special features and everything else. And I’m sure they’ll all be doing that with the first season of your show. Do you like the idea that people will get your show and watch it in that format and see special features? And do you do that yourself with some shows?
BETH: I definitely do that. I mean, I’ve been doing that since I was little also, because when you want to be an actress, I love to see the behind the scenes stuff. And we do have it with our show. And I think it’s important. I think it’s interesting to see the actors out of character and having them talk about their process or how they came to get their part. I love hearing about how different actors came to actually get the roles that they got. And even if you’re not an actor, I mean, I’m sure it’s fun to watch what the diner really looks like without lights on or seeing what kind of goes on day to day behind the scenes and what goes into making our show. I would imagine that would be very exciting. I definitely do it, too, when I watch things. I still watch FRIENDS bloopers because I think they’re the funniest things I’ve ever seen, on YouTube.
Is there still going to be time for romance for Caroline and Max now that they have two jobs?
BETH: Yes. Candy Andy in Season 2. Ryan Hansen plays Candy Andy, and he’s been a hugely amazing addition to our show. He plays Caroline’s boyfriend now. And it’s been fun because they’re in a serious relationship. So, yeah, seeing Caroline try to balance this work ethic and drive and running these two different jobs and then having him has been really fun and interesting, and they’re so good together. He balances her so well. And Ryan’s so hilarious that we’ve been having a great time with him. So, yeah, I’ve loved that this season. That’s been really fun.
Do you have a lot of candy and cupcakes around on set now, or is it all fake?
BETH: No. Andy’s candy shop is my favorite set. And we walk by it all the time, so you’re always picking. The prop people are like, “Stop it, we need those.” Yeah, I think they got it all from Dylan’s Candy Bar, so it’s all real and it’s deadly.
And the cupcakes?
BETH: The cupcakes are real, but the cupcakes sometimes are there for a few days. I wouldn’t eat they spray stuff on them to make them look pretty. I wouldn’t eat the cupcakes unless I have to. And if they give us one actually for the show, it’s always fresh and wonderful.
Do you think that they’ll always be “two broke girls,” or is there room in this show for them to actually hit it big with the cupcake business?
BETH: Well, I think it will be interesting, because I think with any business, building a business in general takes a lot and it’s hard. And I think they want to play it out realistically. They’re only like, what? I think they’re 23 in the show, or 24. So they’ve got a long road ahead. I don’t think they’re going to be self made millionaires by 27. I think they’ve got a long way to go. They’re still kind of just in that out, post-college, trying to figure out the world and navigate it. And I don’t know. We’ve seen them start to have some success, so it will be fun to play with the ups and downs of what it really is like, yeah.
Do you think in real life it would be possible, this friendship between them?
BETH: Do I think it would be possible in real life? Yeah. Mainly, I think it’s realistically possible because they both they both had nothing and needed each other. Like, Max before Caroline was alone, and I think that she’s enjoyed having some sort of family, because she didn’t have one growing up. And then Caroline needed that because she had lost everyone in her life that she was close to. So I think their friendship is kind of built on needing each other. And now, of course, in the show, you’re seeing them kind of even more meld. Like, Caroline’s becoming a little bit more street, and Max is getting a little bit more world savvy. So it’s been cool to kind of play that as well.
To see more of the zany Max and Caroline adventures in the rainbow-filled world of Max and Caroline in their new cupcake shop, be sure to tune in for an all new episode of 2 BROKE GIRLS Mondays at 9:30 p.m. on CBS., be sure to tune in for an all new episode of 2 BROKE GIRLS Mondays at 9:30 p.m. on CBS.
Where to find these articles:
http://www.thetvaddict.com/2013/01/21/2-broke-girls-kat-dennings-interview/
http://www.thetvaddict.com/2013/02/04/we-shine-the-spotlight-on-2-broke-girls-star-beth-behrs/
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