‘Dinner with the Parents’ cast inspired by original series
Actors face a tough decision when they are starting a new project that is based on another production. In the case of the Freevee streaming service series “Dinner with the Parents,” the new version is loosely based on the very popular British series “Friday Night Dinner.”
The decision the actors must make is whether or not to watch the original. It is a quick way to understand the project, but the performance could have a major influence on how to play the role.
Dan Bakkedahl found his course was a little bit of both in deciding how to play the family patriarch, Harvey Langer.
“I immediately went out and sought out the original and tried to eat up as much of it as I could. Then I got a message that said don’t bother watching the original. We are going to try to do this our way,” Bakkedahl says.
“I do think the original was brilliant and I think we have done the unique trick of keeping the genesis of it and keeping it the same but making it our own.”
The original “Friday Night Dinner” aired on British television from 2011-2020. It looked at a Jewish middle-class family living in North London who come together for a weekly meal.
Freevee’s version is similar as it looks at the weekly disaster of a family’s Friday night dinners. The Langers are a close-knit group that often serve up lies, betrayals, pranks, schemes, unwelcome neighbors, childhood crushes, at least one felony and many very bad decisions with the pot roast. The series, based on the British show of the same name, debuted April 18 on Freevee. Two additional episodes will be available each Thursday until the finale on May 9.
The ensemble cast also includes Michaela Watkins, Carol Kane, Henry Hall, Daniel Thrasher and Jon Glaser.
Watkins – who plays matriarch Jane Langer – was urged by her husband to watch the original series. The couple found themselves laughing a little too much.
“I said I can’t watch anymore of this because I can’t get this character in my head because I have to do my own thing. But the British version is so funny,” Watkins says. “I agree with Dan that we managed to find our own stride with it.”
It is easy for Watkins to spot great humor as she has been working in TV and film for more than 25 years. Credits for the Syracuse native have included “History of the World: Part II,” “The Unicorn” and “Casual.”
She has found the basis for her character’s comedy comes from Jane wanting to be one step higher on the status ladder than where she exists. It doesn’t help that her sister has found great success in the world. This results in the character’s insecurities being a projection that creates comical moments.
“She is just so hungry to have a purpose and have her life have meaning,” Watkins says. “Her family is so meaningful for her, and she loves them so very, very much. But she just wishes she had just that little extra shine.
“I think this is also the society we live in where everyone wishes they were just a little shinier and a little more clever and a little more beautiful.”
Bakkedahl got his inspiration to play Harvey from his own brother, Tom. He describes his sibling as being the closest to the character he plays than anyone else in his family. Bakkedahl declares his brother also to be the funniest member of his family, but that view may be a little tainted as the Minnesota native is the youngest of seven siblings. He was a perfect audience member for his older brother’s humor.
The humor hierarchy in the family has shifted as Bakkedahl has put together a career making more than family members laugh. Before sitting down for “Dinner with the Parents,” he appeared in “Life in Pieces,” “Veep,” “The Goldbergs,” “Hot in Cleveland” and “The Mindy Project.”
Both actors have worked on TV shows and in films that used multiple locations. The majority of “Dinner with the Parents” takes place either inside or outside the Langer home.
Watkins finds comfort in being able to perform each week in that very familiar surroundings.
“It feels a little old school going to a film set every day and working on that stage,” Watkins says. “We don’t have a live audience which would be super fun.
“You start to feel a real sense of domain. There are pictures of the cast all over the set. It feels like a real house. It felt very lived-in from day one.”
The cast has lived on that set for one season. There is no word yet as to if the show will be back to try to start matching the success of the original series.
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