KURTZMAN: We’ve been extremely involved, in every aspect of it, from the minute it started, and we plan on staying that way. I think that part of what enables us to do that is really hand-picking the most amazing team. We have Mark Goffman, who is an extraordinary man and a very experienced showrunner. We have a writing staff that’s beyond compare. Every one of them is so invested and so excited to be there.
ORCI: We are writing multiple episodes, and Len is coming back to direct. Sometimes you find yourself in a band that wants to go to band practice more. This is that kind of band.
KURTZMAN: Also, whatever you tend to fall in love with, you want to stay with it, and I think we’ve fallen very deeply in love with it. The network has been unbelievably supportive of the show. They asked us early on, “Okay, you’ve got this idea for this really cool pilot. We need to know where it’s going. We need to know that you have a big plan.” And they would not pick us up, frankly, until we told them, “Here’s what’s going to happen in the first season. Here’s how we’re setting up the second season. And here are the six big tentpole moves of the first season.” Just by having to answer those questions, you come up with the six tentpole moves of Season 2 and Season 3, and suddenly you have this whole incredible canvas that you know you want to paint. The minute you get that invested, you’re like, “Oh, now I have to be there for all of it. I have to see how it all pans out.” So, we’re definitely here, and we’re in it.
WISEMAN: And I think it’s important to create and be involved in a show that is so tapped into the core fan in yourself that you can’t stay away from it. As busy as we get, if it’s three o’clock in the morning and the dailies are coming in, it’s something that you want to see as a fan, too. We’re all very much in that same boat. That’s a big part of it.