Urban Grandstand Digital: Clearly,
there’s a huge benefit to this show
being on Netflix because it’s limitless
in the idea that you can do more than
network television allows, but on the
Urban Grandstand Digital: Were you al- flip side, you get the whole season
ways a fan to the show before becomat one time, and when you have a lot
ing involved?
going on, it’s easy to put it off and life
can prevent you from coming back. I
Marsha S. Blake: I was, but I had not
get wrapped up in that because I have
watched it, which sounds ridiculous
so many things going on. I had to go
(laughing). I was though, because I knew
backwards and watch the previous epia lot of the women. Danielle (Taystee),
sodes again to catch up.
literally, I called her. I knew her because I
did a play with friends of her, and she had Marsha S. Blake. I think what’s great
come to see the play a bunch of times.
about it on Netflix is also what’s not great
We used to call her our number one fan
about it, in an interesting way, especially
because she came to see our play every
if you have a busy life. it’s all there and
week. Then we adopted her and told her you can literally watch for two days and
now she was in the “Hurt Village” camp,
be all done. But also still, in the middle
because she showed up every week. I
of filming, I had to go back and watch becalled her to see if she would watch this
cause I felt like I needed the back story.
audition I had, and that’s who she was to
I told myself I would watch one episode
me before she was Taystee. So, I was a
per night. That’s what I could dedicate
fan because I love her and am so proud
and still function with my life, go shoot,
of her. I know Maria Dizzia, who plays
have auditions, and take care of my kids.
Piper’s best friend. She’s one of my best
I would inevitably watch three episodes
friends through graduate school. I knew
and it’s 3 o’clock in the morning. It’s so
so many of the women already. Uzo and
well written, and it makes you want to
I had friends in common. I would hear
keep watching. That’s what took me so
about the show, but I had two kids, so to
long. That actually happened with Jenji’s
sit down and watch a show is a big deal
other show Weeds. I remember one sumto me. It takes a lot of time that I don’t
mer just watching Weeds, and wondering
have.
where did my summer go.
It would be awesome if you could do that
for fifteen years and still have that enthusiasm, but the system makes it impossible.
“I THINK
WHAT’S GREAT
ABOUT IT ON
NETFLIX IS
ALSO WHAT’S
NOT GREAT
ABOUT IT, IN
AN INTERESTING WAY, ESPECIALLY IF
YOU HAVE A
BUSY LIFE.”
Urban Grandstand Digital: It’ll definitely eat up a lot of time.
Marsha S. Blake: It’s great. It’s wonderful
and so well written. There were other
things you could be doing, but you have
to commit to it. And once you commit,
it’s so wonderful.
Urban Grandstand Digital: it’