With this long weekend, I finally have time to catch up on watching the dailies of “Grace & Frankie” Season II, finish a few books, take some walks and write a blog!! While we’re shooting, there’s simply no time to do anything but work and sleep and get up and work again. We’re about to finish episode 6 and I have to say, in my humble, front-line opinion, season II is better than season I. We’re finding our groove. Both Lily and I rejoice regularly when we hear from people who have binge watched the entire thing or from friends who regale us with stories of how their parents, their grandmothers, even their nieces and nephews are ‘addicted’ to the series. It’s amazing to us how the show seems to appeal across gender and age. Who’d have thought!!!
Last week we celebrated Lily’s Birthday on the set with this cake. Lily’s been doing double duty these last weeks, working on the series while traveling to New York on weekends and doing Q&As after screenings to promote her fantastic new film, “Grandma.” I urge all of you to see this really wonderful movie. I saw it at the Sundance festival with Lily last January and knew immediately that the film and Lily would gets a lot of buzz. She certainly deserves to get an Oscar nomination for her performance . . . which would be very cool: an Emmy nomination AND an Oscar nomination in the same award season — at seventy something (I forget how old she is but she’s a little younger than me). BTW, Sam Elliott is also in “Grandma” and also deserves a nomination. Check it out.
I know how hard Lily’s working and can only imagine how tired she must be, but does she complain? No. Does she always show up ready and able to work? Yes. She is amazingly strong and resilient, that one, and always ready to laugh. We laugh a lot on the set.
Speaking of tired, let me tell you what I’ve learned about drinking–booze, that it. I have discovered at almost 78 years-old, that if I have even one drink the night before I have to work, the next day my energy is 50% less than it would have been had I been abstemious. One drink! Shoot, what’s the point of even going on!!! Last Thursday evening I was watching the Michigan/Utah football game with Richard and a friend and I thought, “I’ll just have a small glass of my really top-notch tequila. What harm can one little glass do?” Well, I was dragging my ass at work the next day; had a hard time remembering lines, something that’s usually very easy for me. At first I wondered what was wrong and then I realized–it was that one glass. I know–it’s the sugar, stupid. Sugar and age–a bad combo. Fortunately I got off work early on Friday, came home and took a 4-hour nap!!!
I hope y’all are having a splendid long weekend. I’m going to the Toronto Film Festival next weekend for the premiere of “Youth,” the Italian film I did last year directed by Academy Award winner Paolo Sorrentino (“The Great Beauty“) I’ll blog about that next.
Mary Payne
Just wanted to let you know what a great inspiration you are to me. I have all of your Prime Time DVD’s and w/o faithfully with them. They have transformed my senior years into staying active and enjoying life. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your wit and wisdom. All I can offer is a mere “Thank you” and hope you know how heartfelt it is meant. Carry on Jane…carry on <3
Daniel Murray
I got really invested with the characters in “Grace & Frankie”, so it is a luxury — absolutely — to be able to see what happens to them. We need more stories focused on characters over 60, too: full, rich, multi-layered stories. Oh, and please keep the beach house in the series, too. By the way, will either Grace or Frankie and/or both post a little video on YouTube? I can definitely see that as a hobby for either one of them. That could be a little show within a show now and again.
Sandra Wainscott
You guys are amazing hard working women.Hi I turned 50 this year and you both put me to shame. Lol on the one drink I like a drink every so often after work and feel like I stay out all night the next day.Love you Jane and Lily
Deborah Pagr
I really loved the first season. I watched it over several days. I have a compression fracture and can not do much right now and your show really made day. Thank you.
Megan
Hello Jane,
Looks like y’all had fun celebrating Lilly’s Birthday. I myself had celebrated a birthday party too over the weekend my grandmother had turned 90 and looks amazing!! I can’t wait for season 2 of Grace and Frankie to come out. I still watch the first season over and over. I just got done last week reading your biography that you had wrote in 2005 and then read Mary Williams The Lost Daughter also. I don’t know you two at all but you both inspire me and are definitely role models. I can kind of relate to Mary about being rejected by your family had it happen to me. Luckily, not all of them just one side but even that still does make you feel sad. Resilience is the key and for sure makes you stronger. I am still working on building self confidence and looking people in the eye something I had always had a hard time with. I am so glad that you had a wonderful Labor Day and am looking forward to Season 2 of Grace and Frankie.:)
Diane Adams-Donatoni
Love your new show. Watched every episode and can’t wait for the new season to start. Thank you for everything you have done over the years. You have been such an inspiration. I am a real fan.
SusanK
I can’t wait to watch season 2! Everyone I talk to loves “Grace & Frankie”! It truly is a great show! You and Lily are fantastic! It is funny how the viewer gets so attached and cares about these characters on television. You desperately want them to find happiness.
I can’t imagine what your work day is like. Exhausting I’m sure, but thank you, because it is a great gift to us viewers! How many weeks does it take of filming to complete a season?
I have always wanted to go to the Toronto Film Festival. It is only a 4 hour drive from my house. Easy weekend getaway. I just haven’t figured out the whole system of purchasing tickets and what kind of showing each movie is. I would like to go to a showing where the actors speak about the movie, but I am not clear on if they do that and when. Well, one day I will Tom for sure.
I am lucky enough to be sitting in the Red Carpet Bleachers for the Emmy Awards this year, so I really hope to get a great picture of Lily and maybe even get her autograph! I will definitely be cheering her on! I sure wish you also were nominated. You definitely deserved it.
Take care, Jane, and enjoy your filming!
Kai
Love you Jane!!! I literally watch Grace & Frankie almost every day. I never get tired of it. Best show ever! There is a Facebook group and I did a poll of everyone. Every one from 18 to 80 loves it! I’m 34 and have had a crush on you since I was 15 🙂 I can’t wait for season 2. Please can we have a sneak peek!
Walter Hale
Hi, Jane – I don’t if you’re going to see this comment, but I would just like to say that I am a 19-year old man from Finland (Walter Hale is not my real name) and I love your show! I’ve seen each episode about six times now and I just cannot get enough of it! So honestly, I cannot wait for the next season! And I too am happy for Lily – think she’s amazing and probably Grandma will be great! But since this is your blog – I have to say that you are amazing in Grace & Frankie as well and I was shocked that you weren’t nominated for an Emmy. Anywho, if god is willing – you could both be nominated for an Oscar – Lily for Grandma and you for Youth ( at least that’s what GoldDerbty’s Oscar odds are looking right now) THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!
SusanK
Jane, today I was just looking up possible OSCAR Contenders for 2016. It is that time of year where I start hitting the movie theaters most weekends to catch any movies that could be up for an Oscar in February. I was thrilled to see your movie, “Youth”, mentioned in several categories, including you, Jane Fonda, as a possible contender for supporting actress. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if both you and Lily were up for something! I can’t wait to see your movie! Do you know when “Youth” will make it to theaters across the country?
sue silva
I just ordered Prime Time on amazon.ca and can’t wait to devour every word!!!!!!
sue silva
Jane, I just read something really mean about you and it made me feel awful. It made me wonder how you deal with that kind of b.s.
Sue
xo
Leighton
The beach house is definitely one of the best TV sets in current memory. It really adds a comfortable anchor to the proceedings, without overcoming the performances. (And this is coming from a location manager on the opposite end of the production spectrum.) Oh, the practical location stuff is great, too. Hitting my fourth watch-through. This is competing with “MTM” as my favorite take-a-break escape show. (Bizarrely, an appropriate comparison show.) Great performances – lots of fun.
Barbara kling
Hi Jane,
Just a note of congratulations on the news today about you and Robert Redford finally teaming up in a Netflix film from the novel The Souls Of The Night. I already ordered the book. I’ve always said you need two out of three things happening in your life to be happy and sleep well. The three are your personal life, health, and business, Jane right now looks like you have all three.
Barbara kling
Jane my emoji’s don’t show on my blog to you, wonder why?I just sent 4 balloons
Jack Murphy
Hi Jane,
This comment is a little late but here it is. I learned some years ago that I can not eat carbohydrates prior to going to bed. If I do then the next day I will be operating a 50% and feeling tired. You might have the same problem that I do. So this is what I do to fix the problem. I do not have any wheat, sugar or alcohol prior to going to bed. All these things turn into sugar and prevent me from getting the proper rest.
I hope this helps.
Jack
Karine
The show does change over seasons, only becoming better. I watched the whole series, seasons 1-6, it took me several days. And now re-watching it for many times, I notice new things – things I didn’t pay my attention to when I watched for the first time. Grace is definitely becoming more whole, as Jane would say – she is a different person now by season 6. In the beginning she is so self-oriented, so square in many things and so scared. And now she is a self-confident person open to life. I loved the romance and passion you created, Jane, with Sam Elliott in Season 2 – you can really feel it on the screen and that is rare these days. And I love Peter with you in further seasons, you have got some great chemistry! Loved the beach scene when he proposed. And that dress – Jane you looked amazing! Lily is brilliant with the way she talks and acts as Frankie. Or is it Frankie talking like Lily? I’ve seen many interviews with you two and I love the way you interact with each other. Like real friends, close ones, those who can laugh at each other in a kind way. Thanks again for the show! It did open a different world to me – actors, places, themes.
P.S. Martinis are great after all! Are they your favorite, Jane? I noticed you drink martini in many movies and some personal photos you put on your blog.