2009 Comic-Con: Michael C. Hall, John Lithgow and a Preview of Dexter's Season 4

BuzzSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:30:40 -0700

At Comic-Con's Dexter panel, we not only got a glimpse of season four with a fairly extensive preview (the video of which I've included after the jump), but we got to hear from the show's producers and actors - including new addition John Lithgow. Lithgow's character is chilling indeed, even from the brief snippets we see of him in the preview. And Lithgow is pleased as punch to be playing such a scary villain.

The video after the jump is great - very funny in a serial-murderer-gently-holding-a-baby kind of way. Before that, though, some highlights from Thursday's panel:

Michael C. Hall addressed the challenge of being both funny and scary: "Well, it’s hard. That has so much to do with what’s written for the character. I think the writers manage to infuse the show with a certain degree of levity and humor and without that I think it wouldn’t be so palatable." He likes playing a character that has such humor but who "also stabs people in the heart."
Julie Benz said of her character, Rita: "Her journey, the strength that she has gained through her love and her relationship with Dexter has been beautiful." Though she also said it’s like watching "a train wreck about to happen" because Dexter is, you know, a serial killer.
The producers chatted a little about Dexter being in other countries now, and Michael C. Hall explained a difference between Europe and America's understanding of the show: In America people remark that Dexter's bad because "he's killing people," but then someone points out that he's killing murderers and Americans basically nod and are like, "yeah, you're right." In Europe they reply, "Yeah, but he's still killing people!"

More Dexter goodness if you read more.

Moderator: "John, I have to say it's great to see you being bad again."
John Lithgow: "It's good to be bad. . . . I'm proud as can be of Third Rock From the Sun, but it’s nice to put it in its place and move on," he said with a grin.
Michael C. Hall talked about going from playing David Fischer on Six Feet Under to playing Dexter: "You know, if you’re gonna play two characters, I can’t think of a better two." And after playing David for so long, "it is a relief, you know, David was a wonderful character but it is good to play a character who’s more of a go-getter, a bit more proactive."
One of the producers responded to a question about the show's occasional inclusion of comic book characters and references: "It wasn't a conscious decision, one of our writers, Tim Schlattmann, is kind of a comic book geek . . . and Tim wrote the 'Dark Defender' episode. And there is a superhero aspect to who Dexter is . . . like Clark Kent . . . so it’s not a conscious decision on our part but it is a natural [thing]."
Michael C. Hall was asked what scene or episode really freaked him out: "I would say, the tenth episode of the first season, doing the face plant into that room full of blood . . . I mean, it was fun, it brought back memories of Slip-n-Slide, but that was pretty heavy. But honestly, nothing really freaks me out."
John Lithgow talked more about how "elated" he is to be a part of Dexter: "I'd seen snippets of Dexter . . . I really had not seen the show, but I heard a fantastic pitch . . . to persuade me to take this part, they had me on the edge of my seat. [Now] I’m the only one on this set who knows what happens . . . I could say two sentences here right now that would make the building explode!" And now that he has watched the whole series thus far, "I absolutely love the show and I'm elated to be a part of it."

And now . . . a preview of season four!

Photo courtesy of Showtime

First Look: Dexter's Third Season

BuzzSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:30:26 -0700

I was lucky enough to be in the room yesterday at Comic-Con when Showtime debuted a first look at Dexter's upcoming third season. It's just two minutes long, but it includes a bunch of fantastic teases for some of the upcoming action, including the appearance of Jimmy Smits as attorney Miguel Prado, who becomes a friend of Dexter's.

A friend? Really? Yup, Dexter may be becoming a bit more emotionally full this season, and his evolution (along with "family values") will be one of the season's main themes. "Dexter's playing catchup," said executive producer Clyde Phillips, "and he may be catching up faster than he may have planned." He's also going to set some major events into motion in the season premiere that will change him forever - at least one of which is hinted at in the trailer below. And is that some Rita/Dexter lovin' I see? (There were lots of cheers when that part of the trailer aired at Comic-Con.) To check out the trailer for yourself, and see a couple of other tidbits from the panel, just read more.

Phillips teased that Deb is ready to have a normal relationship this season, but not with the person you might expect.
Michael C. Hall said his favorite kill as Dexter was Little Chino. "It was just so big!" he said.
Could Rita and Dexter ever get over the whole serial-killing thing and be a normal couple? Joked Julie Benz, "I honestly believe every man needs a hobby," and Rita would prefer killing to golfing.
Someone asked about the possibility of a Dexter/CSI crossover, which prompted this response from Michael C. Hall: "It would be funny if I got called in on a CSI episode and all I did was help them solve a crime."

Also, I know this picture's fuzzy, but I just thought it was adorable, so enjoy!