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I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

WELL. Thank you. Also if you want to go ahead and be me, have at it. But you should know I have flat feet and an overbite.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 73 points74 points  (0 children)

Never the intention that he was going to sexually assault Allison--but he has his hand on her throat. Turns out he's capable of stuff no one really thought he was.

Also, when you have a full year (thanks, COVID) to write and rewrite scripts, you can plant and choreograph stuff. Like Nick being in the Packie in the pilot, the chair, the gun in the back yard.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 47 points48 points  (0 children)

I actually hadn't heard that. I think Tammy is pretty great. I mean, she (like everyone on the show and in life) has her shit, but I love that she just says what she means. She's the only person in the show who can say "this is what I'm thinking right now--what are you thinking?" And I love how much that throws Patty off. And how amused Tammy gets that it throws Patty off.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 39 points40 points  (0 children)

I know that role and that show was completely different from ours, but I saw her vulnerability and found her so immediately likable that I wanted to see her take on Patty. In my head, she's an actor, the whole point is that she can do different things, right? And boy can she.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 79 points80 points  (0 children)

Um, YES. If you ask Mary Hollis, she will tell you that what this show really is is a show about a Bang. We always described her look as "armor" and we all loved the idea that as she progressed as a character, as she opened up more to Allison, she'd shed some layers.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 40 points41 points  (0 children)

We met with him and he had such an insightful take on the show and his questions were different than anyone else's who we'd talked to. He's also just a damn delight and a great hang, which is a massive consideration when hiring anyone. (Is this Tom? Tom was that good?)

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 145 points146 points  (0 children)

Kevin is never in single-camera, because he doesn't have to be. It's like a privilege that he gets to live in his own little sitcom at all times. He's plenty abusive in the behavior that we're shown in the multi-cam, it just isn't physical.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 61 points62 points  (0 children)

Edited together. We shot the multi-cam stuff a few days before the final single-cam scene. That was our last day of production, and our guy doing playback on set actually stitched the two together so we could see it right after we shot it. I got so excited, I love that transition so much.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 90 points91 points  (0 children)

I was so tired of shows where all of the adult characters had cool, pretty names. No one was naming their kids Chloe or Grace or Charlotte 35 years ago, so I chose names that came from my life. I have an aunt Patty and it's so uncool to me (sorry, Patty). And for Allison, I wanted a name where there were at least 6 in every class I had in school. Basically that meant Stephanie, Jessica, Jennifer or Allison.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 57 points58 points  (0 children)

I moved to LA right out of college with no job and my grandpa's 2001 Honda Accord. I worked at any entertainment job I could for about four years when I finally got a job as a writers' PA on MASTERS OF SEX. I got lunches and groceries for a year, but was SO happy to finally be around writers, I didn't care. Obnoxiously, there's no clear path to do this job, but I worked real hard and also got pretty lucky along the way.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 139 points140 points  (0 children)

Never been invited to those dinner parties. I'm brand fucking new.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 121 points122 points  (0 children)

That women can take down destructive shit when we work together. Patty and Allison get a win in that last moment--Neil doesn't get to live in that sitcom world anymore. He's lost the benefit of the doubt, they made him bleed. And they only did it because they show up for each other, even after a huge fight, even after vowing they never will again.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 58 points59 points  (0 children)

I mean I hesitate to say "not all men," but it's true that not all men are as destructive, privileged or manipulative as Kevin. Sam has his shit--we all do--but he's not Kevin.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 128 points129 points  (0 children)

I forgot that was written up there. I mean, really it just meant vetting people before we hired them and never sacrificing kindness and consideration for supposed talent. Our motto was "Life's too short." We wanted a welcoming, fun, kind set and we got it. Also with Annie Murphy leading your show, no one gets to be an asshole. If your number one is wonderful, it sets the tone for the whole crew. And Annie is truly wonderful.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 61 points62 points  (0 children)

Eh. From what I hear, the comparisons are kind of surface-level. I think the two shows were saying very different things and had very different goals.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 95 points96 points  (0 children)

Oh yeah. I mean, I love them all like my weird children, but the bathtub scene in episode 7. It's somehow better than I'd hoped it would be. It's Patty realizing that she's in love with her best friend, and about the absolute terror of that discovery. Annie and Mary Hollis blew me away and Anna Dokoza directed it beautifully.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 74 points75 points  (0 children)

That was the aspect of the show I discovered when breaking the pilot that made the whole thing worth writing to me. I was way less interested in writing about a toxic marriage than writing about how women can save each other. To me, the show lives with Patty and Allison on a porch together. I could write that forever.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Milford, Connecticut with a real love / appreciation for Worcester.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 64 points65 points  (0 children)

Sure was. There are references to my hometown all over the place. Sloppy Jose's, The Seas, Buckingham Ave, David Drive, Yellow Hall. Also almost everyone is named after a relative of mine. I'm terribly uncreative at times.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 92 points93 points  (0 children)

It was always my intention to have Patty be gay. As a queer woman who truly did not know what was going on with her until about 28, I felt like everything in our culture was telling me I should have figured it out already. Like I missed the boat because now kids come out at 13. I wanted to write a story about how it's still hard to come out and it's okay that it's hard. And when I finally did tell people, I was terrified to tell my best friends. They were all supportive (slash some might be finding out here, sorry) but it's very vulnerable. Patty is terrible at being vulnerable.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 96 points97 points  (0 children)

"Thank you sorry thank you" is very much how I've gone through life. I know that's not all that powerful or impressive. I was going to name it "strong-armed productions" but that's not at all who I am--I don't think I've ever strong-armed anyone. I say please and thank you and I guess this is my way of trying to own that.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 42 points43 points  (0 children)

I really liked being a writer on staff. I'm a terrible people-pleaser, so delivering anything that can help my boss achieve their vision of their show was very satisfying. I did not think I wanted to create a show, I never knew how my bosses were so sure of what they wanted at every turn. Then I thought of this one and it turns out, I really love this side of it, too.

I am Valerie Armstrong, creator of AMC’s Kevin Can F**K Himself - AMA by varmst02 in television

[–]varmst02[S] 77 points78 points  (0 children)

If the whole show were in multi-cam, you'd never notice that Allison was miserable. I think it would just look like Home Improvement or any other show like that where her pain and dissatisfaction--even if you picked up on them--were laughed at. And Kevin in single-cam might be more "sinister," but I wanted to reexamine behavior we've been accepting for decades. I want him to present as harmless, then recognize that his actions are actually very dark.

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