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Joshua Jackson is “waging a one-man war” to greenlight a Broadway-themed episode for his hit ABC series “Doctor Odyssey.”
It’s not that Jackson, who executive produces and stars as Dr. Max Bankman, is particularly eager to sing — though he says coming up with little ditties has helped him learn the show’s complex medical jargon. Jackson is not really excited about dancing either: he and co-star Sean Teale (who plays nurse Tristan Silva) laugh, bemused, when the conversation during a special FYC screening of the show in Los Angeles turns to their dance-off (set to “Despacito”) in the pilot episode.
“We didn’t do a lot of dancing after that,” Jackson said, laughing. “I think they saw the dailies of me dancing and they thought, ‘That’s enough of that.’”
So why is Jackson so passionate about a Broadway episode? His reasoning: if you cast a veteran of the Great White Way like Philippa Soo (who plays nurse practitioner Avery Morgan), one shouldn’t squander the opportunity to show off her skill set.
Popular on Variety “It is insane to have Phillipa Soo on a television show, on any television show — if it was ‘The Sopranos,’ I don’t care, but on our show, where you can really do whatever you want every week — and have her not have sung a song or danced a dance,” Jackson continued. “I don’t understand what we’re doing!”
For context: the Ryan Murphy-created series’ first eight episodes have included Singles Week, Plastic Surgery Week (for cruisers recovering from cosmetic procedures), Wellness Week, Halloween Week, a wedding at sea, Gay Pride Week and “Quackers Week” (featuring an assembly of guests obsessed with rubber duckies). So, a Broadway episode truly wouldn’t be a stretch.
And since Soo wasn’t present on the panel to “defend herself,” Jackson playfully suggested that it was she who “demanded” they do a Broadway episode and he’s seconding her wishes. It’s a joke, of course — an example of the friendly camaraderie the “Doctor Odyssey” crew has built while shooting the show about working on a luxury cruise liner.
“[Philippa] is the most undemanding person that you’d ever want to be with, and probably has more talent in her middle finger than everybody else in the show,” added Don Johnson, who plays the Odyssey’s captain, Robert Massey. “She can do physical comedy. She can do everything.”
Jackson chimed in, with faux indignation: “We’ve made her do everything except sing and dance!”
Variety’s Angelique Jackson interviews “Doctor Odyssey” stars Joshua Jackson, Don Johnson and Sean Teale. Scott Kirkland/PictureGroup for Disney As executive producers, Jackson and Johnson could be likened to co-captains of the series, both bringing decades of experience making television to the production.
“They’re huge problem solvers, hugely collaborative leaders — very generous and at the same time, very, very aware of everything,” Teale said of the pair. “Don is unbelievably generous with not only his ability, but his stories are amazing. It was everything that you’d hope you would get working with someone of Josh’s repute and name, and of Don’s. It’s been a real gift that they are, honestly, as elegant and as cool and as graceful as they appear.”
It’s true that Johnson’s TV reputation, with hits like “Miami Vice” and Nash Bridges,” precedes him (as does Jackson’s with “Dawson’s Creek,” “Fringe” and “Fatal Attraction,” to name a few). Johnson says the challenging, fast-paced environment of crafting episodes is exactly what makes him so keen to stick to the small screen.
“I love television. I love the immediacy of it. I love the demanding part of it. … The reason that we have this kind of love affair going on among our whole cast is we can bring it,” he continued, motioning toward Jackson and Teale seated on either side of him. “I’m so grateful that I even have a job and get to work with these talented people and the guest stars.”
The revolving door of guests has included Shania Twain, Gina Gershon, John Stamos, Kelsea Ballerini, Margo Martindale, Cheyenne Jackson, Margaret Cho and Loretta Devine, with more A-listers to come.
“It creates this sense of play that we have on set, which translates into the joyful nature of the show itself,” Jackson said. “It’s been amazing to have, basically, fresh blood coming in every week. A new, wonderful person gets to come in and play their scenes and it keeps the experience fresh for us.”
Coincidentally, the FYC panel happened to take place the day after Johnson’s 75th birthday, so Jackson and Teale led the crowd in a round of applause as Johnson rose to his feet to soak in the moment.
“What I love most about working with you and being around you at work is you approach it from love,” Jackson told Johnson, emphasizing the depth and intensity of that love that he displays on set each day.
“It doesn’t begin and end when that performance is done,” Jackson explained. “He’s there, mindful of the 75 to 80 people that we have on set with us. You are paying attention to the details, and you do come at it from a sense of love and respect and joy and wanting to make sure that the environment that you’re working in is not just good for you, but good for the people around you. I find that so tremendously honorable.”
Don Johnson stands for around of applause from Joshua Jackson and Sean Teale during a special screening and panel for ABC’s “Doctor Odyssey.” Scott Kirkland/PictureGroup for Disney
