
"The Gilded Age" star Morgan Spector discusses the third season of the period drama.
Loading summary
Progressive Insurance
All of it is supported by Progressive Insurance. You chose to hit play on this podcast today. Smart choice. Make another smart choice with Auto Quote Explorer to compare rates for multiple car insurance companies all at once. Try it@progressive.com Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy.
Alison Stewart
This is all of it. I'm Alison Stewart live from the WNYC studios in soho. Thank you for sharing part of your day with us. I'm really grateful that you're here. Let me tell you what's coming up on the show today. We'll speak with Nicholas Morgenstern, the founder of Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream and now the author of the cookbook of the same name and its gorgeous photography. We'll also talk about the songs of the summer with Nate Sloan, the co host of the podcast Switched On Pop. And we'll kick off this month's full bio conversation about abolitionist church Charles Sumner. Joining us will be Zakir Tammies, the author of Charles Sumner, Conscience of a Nation. That's the plan. So let's stay in the 19th century with the Gilded Age, America's favorite new money TV couple. The Russells are back as the Gilded Age has returned to HBO. Mr. Russell, played by Morgan Spector, begins the season out of town. The railroad baron might have conquered New York, but he wants more. And he has set his sights on the west to expand and unite his business empire. That means Mr. Russell has to spend time in saloons drinking whiskey and convincing local miners to sell their land to this somewhat impatient and well postured gentleman from New York. Back home at 61st and 5th Avenue, Mrs. Russell, played by Carrie Coon, continues her drive for power in wealthy New York society, including trying to foist upon her daughter a duke. But Gladys isn't having it. She's convinced her father will save her. But will Russell's business affairs distract from the increasing tension within the Russell mansion? Back at home, you can watch the Gilded Age on HBO on Sunday nights. Joining me now is Morgan Spector. He plays George Russell. Welcome to wnyc.
Morgan Spector
Hi. Thank you.
Alison Stewart
What were you doing right before you got the script for the Gilded Age?
Morgan Spector
I was sitting. I was upstate. I was at my house. I was at home. I'm trying. The time is compressed. So I feel like it was during COVID but I don't think it actually was. I think it was, it was the previous. It was a few months prior because, yeah, we were meant to go into production March of 2020 initially. So I guess I got it probably earlier that spring or late winter.
Alison Stewart
Were you working in the theater? Were you not working?
Morgan Spector
I was not working, no. I was home being a dad. Yeah.
Alison Stewart
So you get this script, you read about George Russell. What made him interesting to you?
Morgan Spector
When I sort of. I got the script, and I had a sort of idea of, you know, of Julian Fellowes work from Downton Abbey. And I thought, I'm never gonna fit into this world. I don't know how I'm gonna enter it. And my wife was like, he's Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind. And I was like, oh, all right, I'll try that. And I don't. You know, whatever that meant. Processed through my body, my sensibility. It was kind of like, okay, I do get this. There is a. There's a. There's a structure and a kind of a particular sort of masculinity to this character that I found interesting and comfortable. And, you know, you audition for something, and you don't know whether you're going to be able to pull it off. Right. And. And there is something wonderful about auditioning because you get to try something on, and you try it on, then you go, oh, yeah, okay, I can do this. And there's some. And when. And there's, like, an intuitive attraction to a piece of material, I would say that was, like, my first entry point there.
Alison Stewart
In your mind, did you make up a backstory for George, where he came from, his family?
Morgan Spector
To some extent. I mean, I was told that he was based on Jay Gould, and so I did a lot of research on Jay Gould's biography.
Alison Stewart
Oh, that's interesting.
Morgan Spector
And sort of transpose that into George's life. But, you know, one of the things with a show like this is you don't actually have a lot of power over what elements of the backstory will sort of come to the fore in the narrative. And so you have to be. You have to have a kind of idea of where this person might come from, but also be flexible enough to accommodate new information that might get revealed to the audience as time goes on.
Alison Stewart
What's something that you read about Jay Gould which informed you?
Morgan Spector
I guess one thing I found really fascinating about him, he was born in very modest circumstances. He grew up on a dairy farm. He became land surveyor by the time he was 15, and then eventually became a tanner, working for someone named Zaddik Pratt, who is. There's a town in Catskill still named after him. But at one point, Jay Gould decided he wanted to take over this tannery. And there was a dispute about who actually had the right to own it. And Gould rounded up a bunch of men with sticks and guns and took the tannery by force. Yeah. And they had, like, a pitched battle over who was going to control this tannery. And. And there's something about being that kind of business leader who's not that far removed from, you know, power really coming from the barrel of a gun that I think it was an interesting sort of seed to have in George Russell's background.
Alison Stewart
Now that you've played George for three seasons, what do you see as his weak spot?
Morgan Spector
Well, I think actually this season really reveals a lot of some really, that both George and Bertha are actually fairly myopic when it comes to their own. The limits of their own power and the consequences of their own will. So, you know, George is pursuing this transcontinental railroad, and it's, you know, he takes risks that I think a smart business leader wouldn't take. A smart, you know, he pushes his own capacities beyond where. Beyond the point of safety. And it's only through blind luck that it doesn't all come crashing down, really. Yeah.
Alison Stewart
Listeners, are you a fan of the Gilded Age? You watching season three? Now's your chance to ask Morgan Specture a question about the show. 212-433-969-2212, wnyc. What do you make of Mr. Russell's character arc? How he balances pleasing Mrs. Russell versus protecting the kids? We want to know what you think of the Gilded Age and questions you might have for Morgan Specter. Our number's 2124-3396-9221-2433-WNYC. Once you get the script, once you're back into the game, what's your process of getting sort of the. Both the physical nature of George back and also the psychological nature of George back? Cause you're kind of laid back.
Morgan Spector
Me as a person.
Alison Stewart
Yeah, you're like a T shirt, jeans, glasses.
Morgan Spector
Yeah. I mean, yeah, it's true. We're not. But there is. I mean, for me, it's all in the. It is all in the language and what is. Like, I remember the first day that Carrie Coon and I were on set playing these characters, and it. We felt like we had egg all over our faces. We didn't know how to walk. We didn't know how to talk. We didn't know how to do anything. And there's a real learning curve to try to figure out how to support what is kind of heightened language and A heightened way of speaking and a heightened way of moving and doing without being stiff and ridiculous and sort of not alive. And. Yeah, I think it took a while in that first season to find that for everyone. And then. But now that we have, I don't know. I think it's a sense of. I mean, I always think with actors, it's like, you know, you hear that if jazz musicians don't play for a couple of nights, they start to feel off. They start to feel not at your peak. And with actors, we often go, like, long periods without doing our work. And so, yeah, when you come back to work after. I mean, sometimes we go a year between shooting. You come back to work the first few days you feel rested. I mean, Carrie describes it as putting on a wet bathing suit. You know. You know, it's yours, but it doesn't feel right. And I think that's. It's. It's wonderfully apt. But, yeah, it does take you a little while to get back into it.
Alison Stewart
We talked to Carrie, who plays Mrs. Russell, Bertha Russell, in, I think, 2023, after season two had wrapped. And I want to play a clip for you about what she said about acting with you. Here's about a minute.
Carrie Coon
It'll be no surprise then to hear that I really adore Morgan personally. Morgan and I actually met years before doing an avant garde short film called Great Choice, in which a woman is trapped in a Red Lobster commercial from the 90s. It's really absurd. It's really funny. I cut out his tongue with a butter knife, and we, you know, and splash hot butter on his face. I mean, it's really ridiculous. And we. So we were thrown into this funny Little production for 48 hours and got to know each other really well. And our spouses, the great Rebecca hall and Tracy Letts, had just made the movie Christine together with Antonio Campos. And so they had been social. And then Rebecca and I got pregnant at the same time. So our kids are the exact same age, their daughter and my son. And so we just became really good friends in the world before Gilded Age came along. And so it was such a delight to know that it was Morgan. It was one of the reasons I took the job. And we just have a real deep love and respect for each other in real life. And that certainly doesn't hurt. And he's a great feminist, and basically, I mean, politics couldn't be further from a robber baron. But it is. It is fun to engage with him on those subjects because he's got some strong opinions, but he's a great actor and he's incredibly attractive, which doesn't hurt either.
Alison Stewart
There's a lot to discuss in that.
Morgan Spector
Yeah, yeah. I mean, I just. Yeah, I do. I adore Carrie. And it is like one of the great pleasures of my life to get to do these, to play these characters together.
Alison Stewart
What was that small film about? Great choice.
Morgan Spector
It's actually. It's a film by a director named Robin Commissar, writer director named Robin Commissar, who I eagerly await his feature whenever he actually makes it. But it's about addiction actually. It's about the sort of loops that we get into when we're addicted to something and the ways that we sort of struggle to escape those patterns. But the way he chose to represent that was by taking a real 30 second Red Lobster commercial from like 1992 or 1993 and imagining a person becoming self conscious within a 30 second loop and realizing that they're stuck in a 30 second commercial commercial and then starting to try to escape. And then everyone else in the commercial is like trying not to let them escape. It's very funny.
Alison Stewart
She described you as a feminist and basically a Marxist.
Morgan Spector
Fair.
Alison Stewart
I thought it was interesting for you because you are playing a robber baron and I know you have strong political views. Was that ever a concern for you before taking this role?
Morgan Spector
You know, it's funny. Not really. And I think there was something like I had been producing a documentary on the resurgence of socialism post Bernie in the United States, which came out and went on Hulu and is still out there in the world. It's called the big scary S word. Okay. But as a result of that, we had been doing all this research on the 19th century and the labor movement in the 19th century. And I thought. And also on. Yeah, And I just thought the arrow was incredibly interesting and a sort of understudied under, you know, like under understood period. That it felt like whatever angle we were gonna go back and look at the Gilded Age, even through this lens of the robber barons and the richest of the rich, you are looking at part of a system that implies the other part. And I thought it would be interesting. I mean, you sort of can imagine the think pieces when you think about a show like this. But you're like, well, great. Like that will spur discussion of these inequalities in wealth and income and of this era of union struggle. I mean, that was something I spoke about with Julian the first time we sat down was that it would be amazing to bring the labor struggle story into it. And we did in the second season. So, you know, I think it's exciting to get to play in this era because it was such a consequential period of American history. And. Yeah. Even however you come at it, I think.
Alison Stewart
Tell me a little more about the documentary.
Morgan Spector
Yeah, well, it was. Is this on Hulu? Yeah, it's on Hulu. I think it might have gotten pulled down actually, recently. These things do happen, your licensing changes, but it's out there in the world still. You can get. Was sort of like a friend of mine, I went to college with a documentary filmmaker named Yell Bridge. And we had been wanting to do something together for a while, and then after Trump got elected and after Bernie Sanders lost the Democratic primary. But socialism was brought back into the mainstream in this enorm way, or democratic socialism. And that had been, you know, that had been a death knell for a generation in American politics. And all of a sudden, it was something that was a viable thing you could talk about. And so we thought that was significant. And we wanted to explore the previous iterations of American socialism, what that had looked like here before. Going back to Martin Luther King, who was a democratic socialist, going back to Debs, Eugene Debs, and going back to the labor movements in the 19th century that kind of gave rise to that. I mean, Marx used to contribute essays to the New York Held Tribune. So there was this sort of international sense of. In which Americans and even sort of American abolitionists in the middle 19th century were influenced by some of that thought. And it's a rich tradition that's. That's part of American history. And that's what we wanted to sort of explore was that there was a. Could be a version, a future version of socialism that was very American, was deeply rooted here, and not something that felt like, you know, finally, the triumph of Soviet communism or something like that.
Alison Stewart
My guest is actor Morgan Spector. He plays George Russell on the HBO series the Gilded Age. All right, this text says, what is Morgan's analysis of his character's ruthlessness in business and his softness towards his children and the dichotomy between how he can hold both sides in this character?
Morgan Spector
Yeah, it is certainly the essence of George Russell is that duality, which I think you very acutely identified for me the way I think about it. And, you know, be forewarned that actors are always like, you know, we're not criticizing our characters. We're trying to find the sort of internal logic of these characters. I actually think it's completely ordinary the way that George compartmentalizes certain Parts of his life, I think he's quite extreme, and the consequences of his compartmentalization are bigger than they are for other people because his ruthlessness affects hundreds, if not thousands of people that are affected by his companies. But we all have a kind of moral community where we are our best selves and where we hold ourselves to a kind of moral standard. And then I think we have a sphere beyond that where we kind of don't. And I think, you know, maybe that's for some people, maybe that's like people who are, you know, for Americans, it's really important that we have civil rights and that we are, you know, cared for by our government or at least not like, imprisoned arbitrarily. But for people who don't have American citizenship, those rights don't pertain. Right. Like, I think that kind of compartmentalization happens all over the place and is actually quite ordinary. So, yeah, I think that's. That's the way I've sort of thought about it when it comes to George Russell as well.
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Stephen from Queens. Hey, Stephen, thank you for making the time to call, all of it.
Stephen
Hey, thank you for taking my call, sir. I think I agree with your wife. I thought that you came off in the beginning. You kind of remind me more of Ashley Wilkes or Mr. Kennedy. But you have. Your character have more towards Brett Butler. And I love the dealings he now had, the way he deals with the. The union people that he has to work with. I love the whole. With Ms. Scott. And I knew when I. When the doctor came to the house, I said, the doctor's gonna. Gonna refuse I and her with her family. I love the dynamics between Chris Barinski and her sister, played by Cynthia N. And the children and all of it.
Morgan Spector
I'm so glad to hear it.
Alison Stewart
Steven, thank you for calling in.
Morgan Spector
Thank you.
Alison Stewart
Steven, your character has a lot of money, but he's not satisfied. Why does he want to go into the railroads? What is it about him that keeps him unsatisfied?
Morgan Spector
I mean, I think part of it is just the sort of relentless drive of any capitalist enterprise to grow and expand and diversify. And the competition that somebody like George Russell would have faced from other industrialists who would have been trying to corner the market and exclude any other competition. So he's engaged in that battle. And that, I think, is the first thing he thinks about in the morning and the last thing he thinks about at night. And it's ongoing, it's perpetual. So there's that. But I also think for somebody like George. There is this question of legacy. What you're going to leave behind, what kind of what you will have carved on the sort of rock of the world that will remain after you've gone. And I think something like the transcontinental railroad is tied up in that as well, I think because there is something irrational about the way George pursues this goal over the course of the season, I think. And, yeah, I think that has to be justified emotionally. And I think that is more about legacy. That's what, that's what, that's what I thought of.
Alison Stewart
We're talking to Morgan Spector. He plays George Russell on the HBO series the Gilded Age. Are you a fan of the Gilded Age? Do you have a question for Morgan Spector? Our number is 2124-3396-9221-2433 wnyc. You can join us on the air or you can text to that number. We'll have more after a quick break. This is all you're listening to, all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. My guest is actor Morgan Spector. He plays George Russell on the Gilded Age. It's on HBO on Sunday nights. It was funny when we first saw you, it seemed like you were in Arizona, but you were on a stage in Long Island.
Morgan Spector
Yeah, that's right. Yeah, we were on a stage in Long Island. They did actually go out to, I think, New Mexico and get some of those big panoramic views that they could then play with in visual effects. So there is real photography there as well. But, yes, I did not get to go.
Alison Stewart
Well, tell me about that a little bit.
Morgan Spector
Oh, just.
Alison Stewart
Yeah. I think it's interesting to walk out on a stage in Long island and.
Morgan Spector
Yeah, I mean, it's amazing, Right. There's something quintessentially old Hollywood about it. You know, seeing those facades and the west and the tumble. I mean, we had tumbleweeds. They really had a good time with it. And yeah, being in an old saloon with your sleeves rolled up, just kind of sweating was incredibly hot. It was very easy to pretend we were in Arizona. So, yeah, I've never felt more like, man, I'm in showbiz than I did walking onto a Western set like that. It was cool.
Alison Stewart
It's interesting to think about the relationship between Mr. And Mrs. Russell because in some ways they have mutual respect for each other. It's also game recognizes game, right? Absolutely. But they do differ over their daughters and happiness and what happiness means. What does it mean to Mr. Russell? His daughter, Gladys, for her to be happy, to be happy in her marriage.
Morgan Spector
I mean, I think for him, it's really simple, which is he fell in love. He got married to the person he fell in love with. And he is. He loves that relationship. It is the. It is the foundation of his life, and he wants his daughter to have the same thing. I think perhaps he is oversimplifying what it is to be a woman in that era. He's identifying with his daughter in a way that is maybe naive because the stakes are different and what power could look like is different. But, yeah, I think he's also. I mean, in the argument with Bertha that plays out over the course of the season about Gladys future, I think there is a. There is an implicit critique from Bertha of their life together and of George's power as being not quite as. As. As glamorous, maybe, as being a duke.
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to. Lyron is calling in from Long Island City. Hi, Lyron, thanks for calling all of it. You're on the air.
Lyron
Thank you so much. I love your show, and I can't believe I've been fortunate enough to be on it a couple of times. Allison and George. No, you too?
Morgan Spector
Oh, I thought you're talking to me. Sorry.
Lyron
I'm talking to you now. I was getting ready to eat lunch. I just happened to turn the show on, which I love, and I was going to sit down after I finished lunch and watch the latest episode. George, it's an incredible show. And my comment was actually the last thing that you two were talking about. That I really enjoy is George's way of what I feel is showing love and his wife's way of showing it. That whatever judgment there is about the method, I think the delivery is because of love. To me, that just really reflects actual parenthood.
Morgan Spector
Yeah, I think that's a really good point. I mean, I know Carrie really feels that way about that for her. What Bertha is doing for Gladys is entirely out of love. And it's the difficult thing of being a parent where, you know, your child is not going to understand what you're doing for them, but you have to do it for them anyway. That's certainly how she sees it. And I think that's right. These are parents with two different strategies for how to take care of their child. They're not communicating well, and so they're not able to synthesize those strategies. And so they end up on just two parallel tracks. But I think you're right. It's. They're both acting out of love.
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Mac from Manhattan. Hi Mack. Thank you so much for making the time to call all of it today.
Morgan Spector
Sure.
Mac
Thank you. Thank you for having me and wonderful work. Sidebar on the plot against America. Your character.
Morgan Spector
Oh, thank you.
Mac
It was really great. No, and it's one of those that you stumble upon on a post. Gilded Age 2024-2025 winters, you know, weekend. And I go, I didn't, I wasn't aware of this but you know, HBO and we know if you're in that cast and cast again, you're a darn good thespian. So good to talk to you here about gilded.
Morgan Spector
Thanks.
Mac
So this is my, my interesting question here is like coming off of the heels of, you know, pride weekend and things have changed so much in New York City as you know, the heart of so many things that are important to, to do what's right. And in that Mr. Russell was watching carefully as his daughter Gladys was being courted. One of those that he saw as old money, but maybe not the liquidity of money that he wanted. The caliber of young man was Oscar Van Ryan. He probably knew that Oscar Van Ryan was not the type of shooter by way of the Van Ryan. Certain cash flow in that era that would be apt for the Russell's who are really going places. Do you think that Mr. Russell had his ear to the street because he knew a lot of people that knew a lot about what was happening behind back doors and, and might have known that because of Oscar Van Rhijn's other secret that he also knew that this was not a man that could ask for his daughter's hand.
Morgan Spector
Yes. And actually I think it's. We do actually get into this a little bit that for George, I think this is early in our second season. He suspects that Oscar is a fortune hunter and that's why he's so furious at Oscar and that's why he rejects him so forcefully.
Alison Stewart
Does he suspect he's gay?
Morgan Spector
I believe yes. I mean, I actually can't remember whether it's because he suspects he's gay or because he suspects that he also tried to marry somebody else in a similarly pragmatic way. But yes, he essentially suspects Oscar of wanting to. Of pretending to love Gladys in order to get the Russell riches.
Alison Stewart
When you get back on set, what do you like about your costume? What do you like to wear? What are you excited to put on?
Morgan Spector
I mean, all of it is. The only thing I'm not excited to put on is the shoes. Cause they're Very narrow. They've tried, but it's just the way it is and. Yeah, but. But the rest of the costume is, like, so incredibly tailored. It's so beautifully. I mean, everything is built for us by truly, truly brilliant craftspeople. And so there is. You know, you put on. You just. You know, if you've ever had a custom suit on your body, you just never feel more elegant than you do in that moment. And so that's what we get to do when we put on these clothes. And, yeah, you wear this kind of waistcoat that cinches your waist and puts you in a nicer posture. You wear these beautiful long tails that lengthen everything out. And so there is this sense of really, you feel like an upright member of society, I guess.
Alison Stewart
It's interesting because you've been doing a lot of press for this and a lot of photo shoots, and you've gotten to go to some amazing places. You got to go to the Frick and Sargent in Paris. Was there a favorite place that people have taken you? Have people been like, oh, gosh, we gotta find a mansion, take a picture in?
Morgan Spector
I actually think. I mean, I had not been in the Frick after its renovation, and it is incredible. And, yeah, I mean, that definitely was a highlight. And I haven't been back yet. We're gonna go do another event there actually in a few days. So I'm excited to see it again. But also, the mansions we shoot in in Newport, I mean, getting to have the run of these places, they're so wild. And I mean, these buildings were built in two years, and every inch of them is carved by hand. You know, you just imagine the sort of armies of laborers that that must have taken. Yeah. And it's getting. Getting exposed to the architecture and design of this period through our show has been really one of the great pleasures.
Alison Stewart
This text says, I'm wondering how you like filming in Albany and Troy.
Morgan Spector
I love it, because what's the best part about filming in Troy is it's 45 minutes from my house, where I actually live. So it's really cool. No, also, everyone has. The community up there has really enjoyed coming to watch what our production team does because they've. You know, the first season we were up there, they completely transformed the downtown. I mean, put down sod for the horses and just, you know, all the facades for this around this one particular square were rendered in period. And it's. I mean, it's amazing what we can do in terms of creating these illusions. And when you. When you're really familiar with the public space, looking as a modern place. Then you come and find it one day, and it's utterly transformed. I think it's a. It's a delight. So that's a delight that we get to share with the wider community of Albany and Troy. And that's actually been really fun.
Alison Stewart
Has working on the show changed how you walk and you think about New York a little?
Morgan Spector
I mean, I do find myself walking when I see, you know, these sort of neoclassical pieces of architecture, I think about, you know. Cause often you're walking past like a Duane Reade, and it's in this incredibly beautiful building, and you're like, what was this originally? Who. You know, who built this? What was it? You know, who lived here? What was this originally designed to do? And so just, you know, getting. Having a little. Having. Having reason to prompt that question, I think has sort of just deepened my relationship with the city a little bit.
Alison Stewart
When you think about George Russell, I don't want to give anything away for season three, but is there anything in season one or two that would be a clue to where things are going?
Morgan Spector
Oh, that's an interesting question.
Alison Stewart
A look, a moment.
Morgan Spector
I think the look at the end of season two when George starts to put together what Bertha has concocted with the Duke and Gladys. I do think that. I mean, for me, actually, when I saw the cut, I was like, oh, boy, they're setting that up. So, yeah, I think that was a little bit of a preamble.
Alison Stewart
My guest has been actor Morgan Spector. You can see him play George Russell in the Gilded Age on hbo. It airs on Sunday night. It was really nice to talk to you.
Morgan Spector
Really nice talking to you. Thank you.
Nordstrom Rack
Great gifts for dad. We've got them and they're up to 60% off at Nordstrom Rack stores now.
Morgan Spector
How did I not know Rack has Adidas? They've got the best gifts.
Airwick
Gotta show dad some love.
Nordstrom Rack
Snag amazing deals on Father's Day. Gifts from Cole Hahn, Calvin Klein, Vince and more. Great brands, great prices. That's why you rack.
Airwick
Airwick Essential Mist Diffuser transforms your space, creating your perfect ambiance with a wide range of inviting fragrances that make your guests go. Airwick Essential Mist Diffuser's easy to change. Refills allow you to choose your perfect fragrance for any occasion, like lush honeysuckle and raspberry and vibrant island coconut and warm sands. And if guests start shifting from the table to the couches, no worries. It's perfectly portable and cordless. Airwick Essential Mist Diffuser always inviting.
Podcast Summary: All Of It – Episode Featuring Morgan Spector on The Gilded Age
Podcast Information:
In this episode of All Of It, Alison Stewart welcomes actor Morgan Spector, who portrays George Russell in HBO's acclaimed series The Gilded Age. The conversation delves into Morgan's portrayal of George Russell, his preparation for the role, the historical context of the show, and insights into the production process.
Alison Stewart opens the discussion by asking Morgan about his life before receiving the script for The Gilded Age. Morgan shares that he was at home with his family during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the uncertainty of that period.
Notable Quote:
"I think there is a structure and a kind of a particular sort of masculinity to this character that I found interesting and comfortable." – Morgan Spector [03:06]
Morgan discusses his initial impressions of George Russell, drawing parallels to Julian Fellowes' work on Downton Abbey. He highlights George's ambitious nature and the historical inspiration behind his character, particularly Jay Gould, a prominent figure known for his ruthless business tactics.
Notable Quote:
"There's something about being that kind of business leader who's not that far removed from, you know, power really coming from the barrel of a gun." – Morgan Spector [04:42]
Alison plays a clip featuring Carrie Coon, who portrays Bertha Russell. Carrie shares anecdotes about her longstanding friendship with Morgan, their collaborative efforts prior to the show, and their strong on-screen chemistry rooted in real-life respect and admiration.
Notable Quote:
"We just became really good friends in the world before Gilded Age came along. And so it was such a delight to know that it was Morgan." – Carrie Coon [08:36]
Alison inquires about Morgan's political stance as a self-described feminist and Marxist, contrasting it with his role as a robber baron. Morgan explains that his personal political views did not deter him from taking on the role, and he found interesting intersections between his documentary work on socialism and the historical backdrop of The Gilded Age.
Notable Quote:
"Whatever angle we were gonna go back and look at the Gilded Age, even through this lens of the robber barons and the richest of the rich, you are looking at part of a system that implies the other part." – Morgan Spector [11:03]
Morgan elaborates on his documentary, The Big Scary S Word, which explores the resurgence of socialism in America. He connects this work to his interest in the labor movements of the 19th century, highlighting the rich tradition of American socialism and its impact on the era depicted in The Gilded Age.
Notable Quote:
"There's a rich tradition that's part of American history, and that's what we wanted to explore." – Morgan Spector [12:28]
The conversation shifts to George Russell's complex character traits—his ruthless business acumen versus his softness toward his children. Morgan reflects on this duality, emphasizing the compartmentalization of life aspects and its consequences.
Notable Quote:
"The essence of George Russell is that duality... we all have a kind of moral community where we are our best selves and where we hold ourselves to a kind of moral standard." – Morgan Spector [14:21]
Alison engages with listeners Stephen and Lyron, discussing their perceptions of George Russell's character arc, his motivations, and relationships. Morgan provides insights into George's relentless drive, his quest for legacy, and the dynamics within the Russell family.
Notable Quotes:
"What you're going to leave behind, what kind of mark you will have..." – Morgan Spector [16:53]
"They're both acting out of love." – Morgan Spector [22:42]
Morgan shares his experiences filming in locations like Long Island and Newport, discussing the transformation of modern spaces into 19th-century settings. He highlights the meticulous craftsmanship in costume design and set creation, which enhances the authenticity of the show.
Notable Quote:
"Everything is built for us by truly, truly brilliant craftspeople." – Morgan Spector [25:13]
Morgan reflects on how working on The Gilded Age has deepened his appreciation for New York City's architectural heritage, prompting him to explore and question the historical significance of buildings he encounters daily.
Notable Quote:
"What was this originally? Who built this? What was this originally designed to do?" – Morgan Spector [28:08]
Without revealing spoilers, Morgan hints at future plot developments, such as George Russell uncovering schemes against his family orchestrated by Bertha. This sets the stage for heightened tensions and character evolution in the upcoming season.
Notable Quote:
"I think that was a little bit of a preamble." – Morgan Spector [28:52]
Alison Stewart wraps up the interview by thanking Morgan Spector for his insights and participation. Listeners are reminded to watch The Gilded Age on HBO and stay tuned for future episodes of All Of It.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps:
This episode offers a comprehensive look into Morgan Spector's role in The Gilded Age, blending character analysis with personal anecdotes and production insights. For fans of the show and those interested in historical dramas, this conversation provides valuable perspectives on the intricate world of 19th-century America as portrayed in modern television.