For casting directors, there is no such thing as a small part. Shows like “Widow’s Bay,” “Hacks,” “Pluribus” and “The Pitt” not only made an impression with the Television Academy across the board, but saw many of their supporting actors and guest stars land nominations. Working character actors like Kate O’Flynn, Carlos Manuel Vesga, Lauren Weedman and Patrick Ball all landed their first Emmy nominations for brief but meaty parts.
So how did these Emmy-nominated shows go about finding their hospital patients, hive mind members and quirky assistants? With its rotating roster of hospital patients and doctors, Season 2 of “The Pitt” saw 13 of its performers get recognized — up 10 from last season. Landing a background spot on the show can provide L.A. locals consistent work for up to six months due to the show’s unique filming style.
Casting directors Cathy Gelfond and Erica Berger, who have been working together since 2017 and won an Emmy for their work on Season 1, are responsible for casting anyone with at least one line, which totaled 250 performers this past season. So, it’s been quite fascinating to see the depth of talent in day players,” Gelfond says. Berger adds, “We get to do every single part here, from top to bottom, so we have more opportunities to give people their first chance.” Many of this season’s new discoveries, including guest stars Brittany Allen and Jeff Kober, made a strong impression as hospital patients.
Jones and Buntyn, who have worked together for over a decade, were initially brought on to consult on the casting of Tom Loftus, the horror-skeptic mayor who wound up being played by Matthew Rhys (double Emmy-nominated thanks to his turn in “The Beast in Me.”). What struck Jones when reading Dippold’s scripts, long before anyone knew the sensation “Widow’s Bay” would become, was how she wrote the older locals in town. Dale Dickey, who plays the town gossip, was a no-brainer addition.
Her audition was unorthodox: “The scene was her just having a coughing fit. We needed an actual smoker,” Jones says. As a casting agent who has worked on everything from “Barbie” to “Freaks and Geeks,” Jones’ connections run deep in the industry.
She happened to know O’Flynn’s manager, who had just signed her from London. She did a very good American accent, but what she imparted to that character was not on the page,” Jones says of O’Flynn’s audition. Kate, though, was the personification of when you make a funny noise and a dog goes, ‘Huh?’” At the core of “Hacks” is a story about a veteran (Jean Smart) and up-and-coming comedian (Hannah Einbinder) coming together to change each other’s lives.
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