Wendie Malick calls ‘Chicken Sisters’ food for thought
Wendie Malick’s initial reaction after being cast in the new Hallmark+ series “The Chicken Sisters” was to read the novel by KJ Dell’Antonia on which the production is based. That changed when she got a warning from the production team.
“We were told right from the beginning that we were going to diverge from the book. We were relocating it to the South from the Midwest. I got to rename my character and build her from the ground up. That is such a gift,” Malick says. “We definitely made it our own although we had great source material.”
How the book was changed for the eight-episode series – that debuts on the streaming service Sept. 10 – has it now in the fictional town of Merinac, where a generations-old rift between dueling fried chicken restaurants – Mimi’s and Frannie’s – has left the founders’ families fractured and locals taking sides. The competition intensifies when the popular cooking competition show “Ultimate Kitchen Clash” comes to town.
The reality show spotlight causes sparks to fly as secrets are spilled and feathers get ruffled. Along with Malick, the cast of “The Chicken Sisters” includes Schuyler Fisk, Genevieve Angelson, Lea Thompson, James Kot, Rukiya Bernard and Margo Martindale.
Malick comes to the series with a lengthy resume that includes such projects as “Hot in Cleveland,” “Young Sheldon,” “The American President” and “The Owl House.” The New York native started her professional career as a model before shifting into acting. The competition for work in both professions has made Malick a very competitive person, a trait she shares with her character in “The Chicken Sisters.”
“But I think that I have gotten better at accepting the fact that I may not always reach the goal I am trying to reach,” Malick says. “I might not win in a contest. But I always feel like I left it on the mat and gave it the best I could that day.
“I can make peace with that. But I never want to feel like I did anything half [expletive deleted].”
She has shown that desire to always give her best in her acting career with two nominations for Primetime Emmys and a Gold Globe nod. Those nominations were for her work in the comedy “Just Shoot Me.”
“The Chicken Sisters” gives Malick the chance to play a very competitive character. There is also a strong family drama element to the role that she embraces.
“I think for my character, Gus, food is my love language. That is how I show I care because I am unable to show that verbally or physically,” Malick says. “I do it through my food.”
That way of expressing herself becomes very important when her long-lost daughter (played by Angelson) returns home just before the TV competition. After not seeing her daughter for a long period of time, the first thing Gus wants to do is put some food in front of her. It is her way of saying welcome home or I love you.
That food link between the characters works for Angelson as she admits to having a long list of special memories connected to food. She smiles and adds that it makes sense she is working on a Hallmark+ production because so many of her special memories are tied to Christmas cookies.
“For me that is the most evocative, the most connected, joyful thing that my family shared together,” Angelson says. “But, for me the show is less about food and more about the connections to a family business and how much you decide you are going to opt in or opt out.”
Angelson definitely opted in when it came to acting. The New York native has put together a resume that includes numerous television appearances on programs such as “This Is Us,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “New Amsterdam” and “Good Girls Revolt.”
She has also found success on stage with several off-Broadway and Broadway productions including originating the role of Nina in “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.” That production won the Tony as Best Play.
Being part of the Hallmark+ production has a special place in her heart.
“I have had one of the greatest working experiences I have ever had. I truly mean that,” Angelson says. “From the way they took care of us to the other artists that were involved, I have no complaints.
“I will say this. They work fast. We shot a lot of material every day. On “Handmaid’s Tale” we shot two pages a day. With this, we shot nine pages a day. It is pretty remarkable.”
Malick echoes her co-star’s appreciation for being part of a Hallmark+ production because they were allowed to take the original material and take it to a higher level. That meant a lot of creative freedom.
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