Jenni Konner:Well, Simone, you could do it in order of appearance.
Simone Finch:Okay.
Basically, I wrote the pilot, and then Jenni came on and-
Jenni:No, no.
Don’t forget Phil Trail.
Simone:Oh
Daisy Gardner: Oh no.
Simone:… right.
I wrote the pilot, and then Phil Trail brought it to Freeform.
Phil Trail is a director, wonderful director.
Freeform bought it, which was amazing, and one of our APs, yes.
They brought it to Jenni, and Jenni said she would do it.
I bought an outfit for that day true story and shoes, actually, still have them.
Jenni:I would hope so.
Simone:It’s true.
And then, I was so excited.
She was the first person we went to, and that was it.
And then, we went to Daisy, and then after, it was picked up to series.
Jenni:Simone may be hitting a wall.
Simone:I think I am.
Jenni:Do you want to get more specific on “did things?”
Simone:“Did things.”
Simone:Basically, I think of us as a three-headed Hydra.
And it really worked that way.
And I love divisions of labor.
And that was how it happened.
That was a better one?
Daisy:Like a three-headed benevolent Hydra?
Like a Hydra where all the heads come together to create something?
Simone:You know.
There aren’t a lot of three-headed things in mythology.
What do you want from me?
That’s what I did, because I’m smart and exhausted.
I [said], “Yeah, I’ll just hop aboard this train.
If you have room for me, I’m jumping on.”
I’m a big admirer of Daisy as a human and a writer.
I [said], “Do you really think so?”
Because no one had seen it … if Daisy likes it, we’re doing great.
Jenni:I think, what is more comedic than dark themes?
That was never a disconnect for me.
The times it seems so hopeless, and [you think], “This is awful.
This can’t get any worse,” and then it gets worse.
You just start laughing.
To me, finding the funny part of the darkness is my favorite.
Simone:I also think that I learned, getting sober, not to take myself so seriously.
I think that we brought that to the show.
Because Sam takes herself so… And it’s funny.
That’s funny to me.
I’m [like], “Sit down and have a cookie.”
The series very quickly moves from New York City to Boston.
How did you know this was the perfect setting for the show?
Simone:It’s the perfect setting because it’s where I grew up.
So, there you go.
That’s why it’s the perfect setting.
Jenni:Also, Simone always says, “Boston’s the hardest place to get sober.”
Simone:It’s true.
Daisy:Boston, the city, is an obstacle to sobriety.
Because it’s such a drinking city, truly.
Yeah, I definitely see that in the show for sure.
How are these institutions and things crucial to building the identity of the series?
Daisy:You [ask] a good question.
Like, “what?”
That there’s just a different language with social media and texting, for everyone in their twenties.
So, that is part of the fabric.
She doesn’t know from that.
Jenni:You’re cute.
Daisy:I think “Girls” is definitely an influence.
Simone, what would you say?
Simone:I love “Fleabag” with a passion.
I don’t know.
Didyou had to pull in professionals and all of that?
We also definitely had an alcohol consultant.
And we had a GLAAD consultant.
We just wanted to ensure we were doing right by people.
Episodes are available to stream on Hulu the following day.
