[Editor's note: The following contains some spoilers for Season 2 of Shrinking.]
Summary
Jessica Williams has creative input into her character Gaby's sense of humor on the Apple TV+ series 'Shrinking.'
'Shrinking's creators allow actors freedom to explore their characters authentically.
Gaby and Paul's dynamic showcases Harrison Ford's ability to play characters who pretend not to care but secretly do.
For two seasons now, the Apple TV+ series Shrinking has been following the journey of Jimmy (Jason Segel), a grieving therapist in the process of figuring out life after the death of his wife, and what that means for his clients, his daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell) and himself. While Jimmy’s not quite relationship with Gaby (Jessica Williams) blew up in both their faces, their friend group survived, and a new Derek (Damon Wayans Jr.) came into their lives. And even though Paul (Harrison Ford) is experiencing worsening symptoms of his illness and Louis (Brett Goldstein) has stirred up emotional pain for Jimmy and Alice, this friend group was there to support and love each other, every step of the way.
During this one-on-one interview with Collider, Williams talked about how much she gets to contribute to Gaby’s sense of humor, the fun of getting to play in the moment with her co-stars on set, what she loves about the Gaby and Paul dynamic, and how she feels about the chemistry between Ford and Wendie Malick.
Jessica Williams Gets To Make Her ‘Shrinking’ Character Her Own
Image via Apple TV+
Collider: The creators of this show – Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel and Brett Goldstein – are all very funny, but they’re also all guys. How much do you get to contribute to Gaby’s sense of humor?
JESSICA WILLIAMS: Yeah, with those three, it is a real sausage fest. I get a lot of say. It’s nice. When I first signed on, Bill was like, “The deal is, we’re gonna give you suggestions, but you ultimately are in charge of your character.” He tells all of us, “If anything doesn’t feel right, or if you think things need to be said a certain way, I defer to you.” He said, “I know it’s going well in the hand off, if you feel like you can tell me how your character would say it.” And there’s a lot of respect there. Jason and Brett are like that too. They’re both just sweet guys that aren’t gonna look overstep in that way. I feel really lucky. In the beginning of Season 1, they didn’t really know a lot about Gaby. They wanted to cater her to the actress that played her. And so, we really got to figure her out in Season 1 together. By the time Season 2 came, the writers really knew her voice and I just got to come in and play. There wasn’t really anything to figure out in the second season.
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Are you improvising more in Season 2, less in Season 2, or is it an equal amount?
WILLIAMS: It’s probably an equal amount. I prepare for the scenes. I love the writers and we always shoot what’s written, and then a few takes in, we start getting progressively crazier and crazier. What I’m obsessed with is the alchemy in the room. You can prepare all day, but if Michael Urie says a line a certain way, that’s gonna change the way I say it, or if he improvises something, I’m gonna improvise something in response to that. And then, you create this version of the scene that wasn’t necessarily on the page. Every line, there are so many different ways you can take it, and I love figuring that out in the room. It’s like co-painting with someone where you just do one stroke at a time and you’re like, “Oh, that’s a weird painting. That’s great.” I’m really addicted to figuring that out on the day, and the pressure of that is nice.
Jessica Williams Enjoys Getting To Play in the Moment With Her 'Shrinking' Co-Stars
Gaby is someone who knows that she’s better than what she’s getting from her relationship, even if she has trouble voicing that. How did you feel about her journey with Jimmy this season? Would you have wanted her to give him even more tough love?
WILLIAMS: No. I love the writing this season. I feel like they did such a good job. I don’t know. You never know what’s gonna happen with Bill. He could change it the day before, or he could change it the day of. My job is to just show up and be in the moment and be present. There’s something really freeing about that. With someone like Brett, this season, or Jason, they wear multiple hats, where it’s their job to work with the writers and figure out the notes and the conflicts. That’s not my job on this show, and there’s something really nice about that. Even on The Daily Show, when I was on that show, you’re figuring it out with the writers. This is so great because I just get to show up and play. It’s really freeing to do that.
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I truly love the relationship that Gaby and Paul have because it feels like, if it were left up to Paul, they wouldn’t have the relationship at all.
WILLIAMS: No, they wouldn’t.
Jessica Williams Is Honored To Be on the Timeline of Harrison Ford's Career With 'Shrinking’
Image via Apple TV+
What do you love most about that dynamic?
WILLIAMS: That’s a great question. I feel really lucky because one of Harrison Ford’s many superpowers is that the character he’s played, and has played since the beginning of his career, is a guy who says he doesn’t want to be there, but you know there’s no place he’d rather be. Han Solo is hemming and hawing the whole time. He doesn’t ever wanna do it. Even Indy is like, “Why do I have to deal with snakes?” He’s a master of being the hero/anti-hero. It’s really an honor to have that dynamic with him on screen, where Paul knows Jimmy and Gaby are annoying, but he loves Jimmy and Gaby. He loves working with them, on some level. He loves how much they piss him off. And to be able to experience the way Harrison Ford is able to masterfully play that, and to be somewhere on the timeline of his career and even have my own little corner on his timeline, is just an honor. It’s just great to be in the room with him and get to experience him. I feel very lucky.
Jason Segel, Brett Goldstein, and the series' stars discuss the "true north" theme of Season 2, character storylines, and more.
Do you have a favorite moment with them together this season?
WILLIAMS: I have tons of favorite moments with him. One of which is just any time it’s with him and Julie, played by Wendie Malick, together. She’s amazing. They have such good chemistry together that you’re like, “Damn, dude! Older people are hot. Holy shit balls!” Wendie is so hot. Also, it’s really nice seeing the three of them together because I think, on some level and in some world, Gaby would join them in a throuple if they asked, in a moment’s notice.
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Shrinking
Release Date
January 26, 2023
CastJason Segel
, Luke Tennie
, Michael Urie
, Lukita Maxwell
, Harrison Ford
, Jessica Williams
, Christa Miller
, Ted McGinley
, Heidi Gardner
, Devin Kawaoka
, Lilan Bowden
, Kimberly Condict
, Lily Rabe
, Tilky Jones
, Rachel Stubington
, Wendie Malick
, Sawyer Jones
, Mike C. Nelson
, Matt Knudsen
, Kenajuan Bentley
, Adam Foster Ballard
Seasons
2
Shrinking is available to stream on Apple TV+. Check out the Season 2 trailer:
Image via Apple TV+
Image via Apple TV+
English (US) ·