“It was just an incredibly difficult, painful time in my family,” showrunner Austin Winsberg says.
On the surface, the premise of NBCs new musical dramaZoeys Extraordinary Playlistdoesnt seem based in reality.
He couldnt move; he could only kind of move his right hand.
Sergei Bachlakov/NBC
He was losing weight rapidly.
He couldnt speak anymore.
And Winsberg was welcoming his first child at the same time this was happening with his father.
NBC
So I was losing my dad while becoming a dad, he adds.
the creator turned to music.
What if the way my dad saw the world when he was dying was through big musical numbers?
Sergei Bachlakov/NBC
That was my way in to the show.
It actually made me feel happy.
When my dad died, I had a different perspective on the world.
Sergei Bachlakov/NBC
And Zoeys brother David (Andrew Leeds) is another stand-in for Winsberg.
Its almost uncanny sometimes.
There are moments that take my breath away on set, he says.
A big part of what Im trying to do with the show is be authentic.
This one is unique because it was such a painful time for us, he says.
Watching some of the episodes with my mom and my sister, we all have different reactions.
It definitely does take us all back to that time in our lives.
They are open to it but they also didnt realize I was going to be exposing so much.
My mom keeps saying to me, Dont make it too sad!
But Im just trying to be honest about what happened.
He pauses, and then clarifies.
Its not just a sad cry fest.
We deal with some complex issues like depression and grieving and disease and loss.
We also deal with what its like to be a woman in a predominantly male workspace.
Everybody can relate to loss and issues with family members and the emotion of the show, he says.
I hope it connects with people.
Im not just saying that I wasnt expecting some of those reactions.
ET (following an encore airing of the pilot at 8 p.m.
ET) on NBC.
