MADEFEATURE
MADEXXX
Native Americans and other people of
color to stay in. He was accustomed to
seeing independent women learn how to
do things. He taught all his granddaugh-
ters how to be self-sufficient.
Allison Kugel: What are some of the
most notable things your grandfather
taught you?
Pam Grier: He taught all of us to hunt,
fish, shoot, drive the tractor, bring the
boat in, change tires and spark plugs… you
name it. That way you could always sur-
vive, without waiting for someone to take
care of you. Since I've been in film, since
the seventies, this is something that's pre-
pared me. When you're working in film,
and then you're not working and you are
home, how can you maximize taking care
of your home and taking care of yourself,
your family, your animals? I've had that
and I bring that energy and information
to my character, Constance, on this show.
And my character wears a lot of hats.
Allison Kugel: You're not known for com-
edy. Did they think you could be funny?
Pam Grier: Yes, but Lake was talking
about how she was afraid of cows. I said,
"Cows won't hurt you, but if you come at
a cow with a knife and a fork, you might
have a problem (laughs). I would tell
stories about things I would do if there's
a mountain lion outside attacking my
chicken coop and stuff like that. I would
tell people not to go for long country
walks in the night if there is no light. This
is Jurassic Park for real. But what they real-
ly wanted to know about was the concept
of inclusion, which is what this show is
really about. My character is a sheriff, she
owns the vehicle lumber yard, the hard-
ware store; she's the theatre director, she
sings, she knows everyone's business, she's
the referee. Sometimes she has to pull
people out of a ditch with her truck.
Allison Kugel: How do you feel Bless
This Mess handles inclusion, as far as
steering clear of urban stereotypes of
middle America?
Pam Grier: I mentioned to Lake [Bell],
when they didn't have a script and they
had no idea what they might do or write. I
said to her, "There is one thing I must im-
plore you, and that is not to make fun of
the heartland." People go to the heartland
to find their hearts. I believe that the farm-
er is the hero or heroine of the day. They
should be in every magazine, all the time.
I'm a member of the Farmland Trust, and
we try to keep people aware that farming
should be organic, across the board. In
Canada they know how to successfully
do that. Here in the U.S., they have kept
the subsidies and the information for the
farmers away from them.
Allison Kugel: Ed Begley Jr. plays your
love interest. How's the chemistry
between you too when you are working
together?
Pam Grier: He can sing, he can dance…
he's got a bag of tricks! He and his wife
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