Joost Blog

We've talked about United States of Tara before, but we bring it up again because, (a) we love it and (b) our friends at Showtime invited us to come in and talk to Diablo Cody this morning. We figured if Diablo could find time between the ladies of The View and some actual journalists for us, we could certainly find some time in our schedule for her...and were pleasantly surprised when, upon meeting, she said "Joost, Joost...I just like to say the name."

Fortunately, the conversation didn't stop there.

Joost: You wore a lot of hats on United States of Tara – writer, creator and executive producer. Which one is your favorite?

Diablo: I always like writing above all. Producing is hard, because I’m not a detail-oriented person by nature, and that’s what being a producer is all about.

Joost: When you were writing the show, did you have a particular actor in mind for Tara?

Diablo: I’m the eternal pessimist, so whenever I write I have no hope that it’s going to be produced. Especially with television pilots – so many get written, and one gets picked up. Particularly for this role, I was worried, because I wasn’t sure if there was a working actress who would be interested and could pull it off. Then Toni read the script, and she signed on immediately – and she brings such credibility and coolness to the role. She’s unbelievably talented and handles the role with such dignity. When she signed on, I relaxed fully, and began to think that this might work.

Joost: Who came along next?

Diablo: John Corbett came along next. His role is the heart of the family, and he’s just perfect. The kids signed on after that.

Joost: Marshall [Tara's son] seems like he’s wise beyond his years. Will he crack this season?

Diablo: He won’t necessarily stay so steady and normal. He’s a real momma’s boy – you can see how much he loves her in the first episode. But that might not always be the case.

Joost: Of all the alters, who’s your favorite?

Diablo: Buck is my favorite – he’s such a trip. I really enjoy writing for Buck – he’s so honest and says everything he means. He doesn’t let anyone off easy. I think he’s a lot like me, except I’m not homophobic. And ideologically, he’s so different from Tara. Tara is enlightened, artistic and caring … and Buck is a hunter.

Joost: Which of Tara’s alters do you associate with the most? Tara, T, Buck or Alice?

Diablo: Definitely Buck. There are times in my life when I’ve needed to adopt a masculine swagger.

Joost: Did you use anyone from your life in the development of the other alters?

Diablo: I used my mother as a model for Alice. She always been very domestic, the type of woman who would clutch her pearls when she was shocked.

Joost: Does she know?

Diablo: I think she does…she watched a couple of episodes with me at the premiere, at I think she knows.

Joost: How about the other alters?

Diablo: Well, T is not even based on reality. She’s just pure ferile energy and juvenile. I like to think that I’ve drawn on myself for Tara.

Joost: What is your favorite episode of the series?

Diablo: I think episode 6 is my favorite – and the finale. Episode 6 was written by two guys from 30 Rock – Dave Finkel and Brett Baer. It’s probably one of the most chaotic episodes. And the finale – I wrote that ones, and it’s very emotional.

Joost: One of the things that strikes you when you watch the show is that the family is so accepting of their situation. Is that something you found in your research?

Diablo: It is based on our research of families living with a multiple personalities, it’s not a novelty. Granted, this is a particularly supportive family, but I’ve never been a fan of people freaking out. That’s why I had the family in Juno reacted to her pregnancy the way they did, which some people criticized, but I grew up family where you dealt with things quietly and with dignity.

Joost: We heard that you’re going to be in an upcoming episode of 90210. Do you know who you’ll be playing?

Diablo: I don’t know! I think I’ll be playing myself – but I get most of this from speculation and gossip. I’m so excited – especially about some of the people from the original show. I loved that show.

Joost: Other than nine-oh, what other old school TV shows do you like?

Diablo: I like them all…Perfect Strangers, Mr. Belvedere, Full House and Growing Pains.

Joost: What about shows that are on TV now?

Diablo: I’m addicted to the Rock of Love Bus. It’s crazy – if I were single I would definitely do that. I loved the last episode – Bret Michaels was definitely shocked, and it’s hard to shock Bret Michaels.

Joost: What else are you working on now?

Diablo: I’m working on another feature – I’m writing all the time. I wrote a feature last year and I’m just saving it.

Joost: Do you prefer writing for film or TV?

Diablo: I don’t have a preference, but writing for TV is harder because it’s episodic, and I like to wrap things up. At the end of every episode, though, you have to keep people wanting more. I was never very good at chess, and writing for TV is a lot like chess – you have to be able to pull a story out over the whole season.

Joost: Leave us hanging…what does the season have in store for Tara and the cast?

Diablo: The show builds a significant amount of momentum throughout the season and goes in a number of surprising directions…and I’m not just saying that because I wrote it.

There you go, folks. A very special thanks to Diablo Cody and all of our friends at Showtime for making this happen. And don't forget to watch the premiere of United States of Tara on Joost now, and then subscribe to Showtime so you can watch the rest of the season (including Diablo's favorite episodes).