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"Sons of Anarchy" cast rode their own motorcycles to the FX panels at the Television Critics Association today. From left to right: Theo Rossi, Mark Boone Junior, Charlie Hunnam
Today was FX day at the Television Critics Association and other than a cancelled "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" table read (Charlie Day is off doing a movie and couldn't make it) the most anticipated half hour was the "Sons of Anarchy" panel which was composed of creator/showrunner Kurt Sutter, and most of the cast: Charlie Hunnam (Jax), Ron Perlman (Clay), Katey Sagal (Gemma), Tommy Flanagan (Chibs), Maggie Siff (Tara), Mark Boone Junior (Bobby), Dayton Callie (Chief Wayne), and Theo Rossi (Juice).The series and players have been nominated a number of times over the past 2 seasons by the Television Critics Association but has never been nominated for any Emmy despite it being critically acclaimed as well as the most popular show on the FX network. We're huge fans of the show and think it's a shame that the series hasn't been recognized by the Academy of Television but we're happy that it's success on the network means it isn't going anywhere anytime soon. "Sons of Anarchy" premieres on Tuesday, September 7 at 10pm.
Here are some quotes from Kurt Sutter and the cast during the panel:
Charlie Hunnam (Jax): To think about how the audience might think about something I'm doing is very corrupting to the process. I try to do justice to the great writing. I let Kurt worry about it if there's something to worry about but I don't think it's necessary.
Ron Perlman (Clay): I think that these guys are fighting for the life that they envision for themselves, they have a well-articulated code that permeates through the entire family. No one is going to tell us what that life should be, we make up the rules. The compelling [elements of the] code are loyalty and sacrifice.
Tommy Flanagan (Chibs): I'm really happy with this season, my character (after spending most of last season in the hospital) has come to life, it's incredible.
Kurt Sutter: As a creator and writer I have the luxury of the most talented cast on TV today. Given very little these men and women have created these 3 dimensional characters that have informed me of who these characters are. It's the perfect creative situation - it's hard for me not to want to do 3 or 4 more story lines per episode but I have limited screen time to tell this epic story.
Kurt Sutter: The overriding theme is family. Jax is trying to define himself as a father, a son, and a leader in the family. It helps feed the sense of urgency of the task at hand that they have this season.
Maggie Siff (Tara): I think my character is a bit lonely, she's there for love to a certain extent but she has this legitimate job and she finds herself in this situation with these people. She loves these people but there's a dynamic to loving these people who do bad things.
Kurt Sutter: The character of the officer [Chief Wayne] was almost a 2nd thought and was at most a 1 and a 1/2 dimensional character but Dayton has brought so much to it I really love the character and his relationship with the club has come to become integral.
Kurt Sutter: [On the Emmys] The system is flawed.
Ron Perlman (Clay): Fuck 'em.
Theo Rossi (Juice): Emmys schmemmys
Charlie Hunnam (Jax): I think Emmys and awards are corrupting. I'm happy we weren't nominated because this meant we weren't on the receiving end of a force that would change the dynamic of how we work. All that crap is secondary and completely unnecessary. Like he said, Fuck 'em.
Theo Rossi (Juice): The greatest thing onscreen is that is shows our bond offscreen. We're best friends, we're a family.
Mark Boone Junior (Bobby): [On being asked about riding motorcyles with the cast] I can't stand to ride with Charlie.
Charlie Hunnam (Jax): [Interrupting Mark] Stop! You mean you can't "ride with Charlie."
Kurt Sutter: [Basic cable vs premium cable] On pay-cable I would have 10-13 more minutes story time which is a big difference. I've had enough of living in a world with bad guys and criminals, people doing bad things where the word "fuck" doesn't exist but I don't think that's impacted in any way what I have to do creatively for the show.
"Sons of Anarchy" premieres on Tuesday, September 7 at 10pm.
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The TV Junkie Plan: "Hell's Kitchen", "White Collar", "The Colony", "Louie", "The Colbert Report" (Laura Ingraham), Letterman (Michael Cera, Rachel Maddow, Herbie Hancock), Ferguson (Jeffrey Tambor).
8:00pm Hell's Kitchen Fox - Ramsay tests the chefs' ability to identify flavors and ingredients by asking them to recreate one of his specialties; a contestant becomes overwhelmed.
8:00pm Top Five Eaten Alive Discovery - Five shark attack survivor stories. SHARK WEEK!
9:00pm Shaq VS ABC - Shaq travels to North Carolina to race against NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.; Shaq competes with spelling bee champion Kavya Shivashankar.
9:00pm HawthoRNe TNT - Christina is determined to help an old friend despite the insurance company's refusal to cover her treatment
9:00pm White Collar USA - Mozzie must trust Neal and Peter after a kidnapping.
9:00pm Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List Bravo - Kathy's vulgar language embarrasses Maggie, to make amends, Kathy agrees to perform for Maggie's friends.
9:00pm MasterChef Fox - Auditions continue as amateur cooks try to impress the judges.
9:00pm Shark Bite Beach Discovery - Shark attacks plague the coast of California and Mexico in 2008. SHARK WEEK!
9:00pm Warehouse 13 Syfy - Episode 13.1
10:00pm Memphis Beat TNT - An abandoned luxury yacht leads the squad to search for a pair of elderly lottery winners
10:00pm Covert Affairs USA - Annie is stranded in Zurich with an untrustworthy agent.
10:00pm The Colony Discovery - The colonists try to make an electrical power plant; Jim and Deville hunt game in the bayou.
10:00pm Rescue Me FX - Tommy loses his nerve when a young driver's recklessness reminds him of his daughter's new lifestyle; after a meeting fails to put Colleen on the wagon, Tommy is forced to pursue a more aggressive method to get her life back on track.
10:00pm The Rachel Zoe Project Bravo - Rachel is left to deal with the turmoil from Taylor's firing; the team has a cover shoot with Demi Moore
11:00pm Lopez Tonight TBS - Actor Luke Wilson; actress Margaret Cho; Billy Ray Cyrus performs.
11:00pm Louie FX - Louis' brother has a weird request; Louis deals with his family
11:00pm Chelsea Lately E! - Lisa Lampanelli
11:00pm The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Comedy Central - Actor Will Ferrell
11:30pm The Colbert Report Comedy Central - Author Laura Ingraham.
11:35pm Late Show With David Letterman CBS - Actor Michael Cera; TV show host Rachel Maddow; Herbie Hancock performs.
11:35pm The Tonight Show With Jay Leno NBC - Actress Betty White; actor Sam Trammell; Black Crowes perform.
12:05am Jimmy Kimmel Live ABC - Actor Dylan McDermott; actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead; Flo Rida performs.
12:35am The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson CBS - Actor Jeffrey Tambor; comic Drew Thomas.
12:35am Late Night With Jimmy Fallon NBC - Actor Samuel L. Jackson; actress Connie Britton; Spoon performs.
