Northern Disclosure – S3E11: “Our Tribe” with S.E. Cupp

Podcast: Northern Disclosure (Evergreen Podcasts)
Date: November 18, 2025
Hosts: Rob Morrow & Janine Turner
Special Guest: S.E. Cupp (journalist, commentator, and Northern Exposure superfan)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Rob Morrow and Janine Turner revisit "Our Tribe," a standout entry from the third season of Northern Exposure. This week, they welcome S.E. Cupp—CNN commentator, writer, and podcast host—as their very first non-production guest, bringing fan insight and a generational perspective. The conversation focuses on the episode’s themes of community, belonging, and transformation, alongside rich behind-the-scenes anecdotes, reflections on contemporary television, and the enduring magic of Cicely, Alaska.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Behind the Scenes: Direction, Writing & Set Design

• Credits: Written by David Assael (noted for blending tribal themes and emotional resonance); Directed by Lee Shallat Chemel—the rare woman director on the show (only two total across 110 episodes).
  • "[Lee] did a terrific job with this. I don't know why we didn't have more women directors… back then there were less women in the DGA and things like that." — Rob (02:15)
• Notable Visuals:
  • The rooftop scene between Maggie and Holling, praised for its romantic, mystical cinematography—a built set, unusual for the show which typically shot outdoors (03:03–04:04).
  • Attention to shot composition and allowing dialogue and performances to breathe.

2. Acting Challenges & Choices

• On-Screen Craft:
  • Janine and Rob discuss the effort behind high-energy scenes, including repeating physical actions for multiple camera angles.
    • "You bring it in the master. You gotta do it again in the wide… you did a fabulous job." — Janine (06:36)
  • Technique for appearing out-of-breath: "What I probably did was run in place and held my breath until I thought I was gonna die… because you hear me, you could hear me. I could barely breathe." — Rob (06:08)
• Notable Improv:
  • Rob’s choice to eat lasagna with his hands: spontaneous, memorable, and messy.
    • "I don't know whether that was written or I did it… my wife was so grossed out. I could just feel her thinking, like, 'oh, my God, who is this person I'm married to?'" — Rob (27:19)
  • The challenges of authenticity in eating scenes, fake props, and coffee cups (28:17–29:31).

3. Iconic Dialogue & Memorable Lines

• Janine recites her favorite poignant lines from the episode:
  • "You're out in space alone against this galactic vortex of disapproval…" — Joel (07:06)
  • "You can't hang out with 5 billion people." — Ed (07:33)
  • "Emotional weather report: Cloudy with a chance of rain." — John Cullum/Holling (08:10)
  • "Sometimes it's hard to avoid the happiness of others." — Janine (08:13)
  • "No coming into consciousness without any pain." — Carl Jung quote, referenced by Chris, discussed by Rob and Janine (08:30)

4. First “Superfan” Guest: S.E. Cupp

• Fan Perspective:
  • S.E. Cupp’s personal history with the show, starting as a 10 or 11-year-old, and the sense of discovering a new kind of male archetype.
    • "The Crush was on Dr. Fleischman… an archetype I had not seen before… Smart, Jewish doctor from the city who's a baseball fan? Like, this is a guy I could… aspire to know or be with." — S.E. (09:57)
  • Parental bonding: Northern Exposure offered rare “thought-provoking but appropriate” family viewing alongside Murder, She Wrote and Jeopardy! (11:07)
  • The impact on Cupp’s intellectual curiosity, philosophical interests, and even her travel to Alaska (13:18–13:57).

5. Themes: Family, Tribalism, and Transformation

• Tribes Beyond Blood:
  • Recognizing Cicely’s community as a found family—“We have become each other's family in the, like, tribe.” — Janine (19:58)
  • S.E. on the warmth of 'Our Tribe:'
    • "You just feel like, oh, great, I have this adopted family now." — S.E. (33:12)
• Transformation:
  • Fleischman’s journey from outsider to tribe member; incremental character change and the challenge of maintaining growth while retaining core character traits.
    • “I see an incremental, you know, change. I do. And I remember trying to be conscious… he's got to be moving forward. There has to be a residual, you know, net result from these events…” — Rob (35:09)
    • “His heart and his compassion had to be revealed to him before he could take ownership from it.” — Rob (35:18)

6. Storylines and Supporting Character Highlights

• Marilyn’s Performance:
  • Marilyn’s subtlety and power—her disapproving silence and tiny, expressive smirks
    • "Those looks she gave me were so penetrating, you know, and unnerving…" — Rob (14:43)
  • "I've grown accustomed to your monosyllables." — Joel (15:24)
• Holling’s Romantic Subplot:
  • The surprise and sweetness of Holling’s storyline—audience expectations subverted (25:07–25:29).
• Goat Antics:
  • Dizzy Gillespie the goat, unpredictable set moments, and the pleasures of improvisation (30:20–32:11).

7. Philosophical & Religious Layers

• Intertwining Belief Systems:
  • Dialogue between Joel’s Jewish background and the Native American spirituality woven through the episode
  • Spiritual ambiguity:
    • "Do you believe in spirits?" "No, but they wouldn't care if I didn't." — Joel & Ed (40:46)
  • "Memories do have a kind of spiritual realm to them, you know? They do." — Rob (42:18)
• Exploring Existence and Questioning:
  • "No coming into consciousness without any pain." — Citing Carl Jung, relayed through Chris (46:15)
  • The show’s gentle, human approach to existential debate—encouraging questioning as a form of growth (46:51).

8. Reflection on Television: Then and Now

• Contemporary vs. Classic TV Pacing:
  • Northern Exposure’s deliberate, ‘slow TV’ pace—contrasted with today’s rapid-fire, twist-heavy storytelling.
    • "There's a desire for immediate gratification in a lot of storytelling… this show slowed you down." — S.E. (48:59)
  • Importance of shows “that aren’t violent, but offer hope.” — Rob (18:55)
• Creative Freedom & Network Dynamics:
  • Showrunner Josh Brand’s fierce creative independence, network pushback on controversial topics, and the rarity of such autonomy today (50:07–53:29).
  • Lack of a traditional writers’ room; scripts more like short stories in literary quality (53:32).

9. Devices & Writing Tools

• Chris in the Morning:
  • Recognized as a device for inserting big philosophical ideas and music into the show (50:47).
  • Joel as the “straight man,” Maggie as the complicated, capable outdoorswoman, and Shelly for comic relief (51:02).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (With Timestamps)

• "You're out in space alone against this galactic vortex of disapproval." — Joel [07:06]
• "Emotional weather report: Cloudy with a chance of rain." — Holling [08:10]
• "No coming into consciousness without any pain." — Chris quoting Carl Jung [08:30]
• "They wouldn't care if I didn’t [believe in spirits]." — Ed [41:18]
• "Memories do have a kind of spiritual realm to them, you know?" — Rob [42:18]
• "There's something timeless about it. I'm amazed how it doesn't look dated or rarely looks dated to me." — Rob [18:31]
• "Northern offers hope." — Rob [19:18]
• "Even through all of that [frustration], it just… you knew it was going somewhere that was going to pay off… you have this adopted family now, was just so beautiful." — S.E. [33:12]

Other Highlights & Fun Anecdotes

• Goat Hijinks: Dizzy Gillespie was actually hard to manage on set; unexpected animal behavior led to some unscripted comedy.
  • Goat drinking from Joel’s coffee cup was spontaneous (“we just rolled with it”). — Rob (31:42)
• Eating & Prop Pet Peeves:
  • The entire panel bemoans fake food scenes and empty coffee cups—acting “ugly” and keeping things real is the preference (28:17–29:39).
  • "Never do anything you don't want to do, have to do 40 times." — Marlon Brando, quoted by Rob re: repeated eating scenes (28:17)

Generational Appeal and Relevance

• S.E. is now rewatching the show with her 11-year-old son, noting how contemporary viewers—used to faster media—respond differently to the show’s lengthier, more philosophical scenes (16:53–17:18).
• "What was interesting is [a fan’s] daughter loves the show… that's always good to hear too, the rising generations, because I think the rising generations really need to be able to have their brains slow down a little bit." — Janine (18:08)

Reflections on Legacy

• The universal nature of the show's themes—search for belonging, found family, transformation, and hope—explains its lasting appeal and discovery by new generations globally.
• "It finds the similarities in our differences and that’s a good thing." — Rob (43:11)

Segment Timestamps

• [01:09] Intro & Housekeeping
• [02:15] Direction, Writing, and Set Insights
• [04:56] Rewatch Reflections & Acting Stories
• [06:45] Favorite Lines from "Our Tribe"
• [09:41] Introduction of S.E. Cupp
• [11:07–14:13] S.E. Cupp on Being a Childhood Fan
• [14:43] Supporting Characters: Marilyn & Holling
• [18:31] On Timelessness and Nonviolence
• [19:58] Thematic Conversation: Family & Tribe
• [25:07] Holling’s Storyline & Romantic Surprises
• [27:06–29:50] Goat Antics & Eating Scenes
• [33:12] Emotional Payoff & Found Family
• [40:46] Religion, Spirits, and Philosophy
• [46:15] On the Necessity of Pain for Growth
• [48:59] Comparing TV Then and Now
• [50:47] Writing Devices & Chris in the Morning
• [53:29] Writers’ Room & Showrunning
• [54:18] S.E. Cupp on Favorite Episodes
• [55:39] The Joel–Maggie “Will They, Won’t They” Dynamic
• [58:59] Final Reflections on Escape, Tribes, and Family

Final Thoughts

*“Our Tribe” artfully encapsulates Northern Exposure’s core: empathy, self-discovery, and the importance of collective belonging over individual alienation. The allusions to contemporary media, insights on television writing, and S.E. Cupp’s fresh fan view make this episode accessible, entertaining, and heartwarming—even for first-time listeners or those new to Cicely, Alaska.

Northern Disclosure continues next week.
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