‘iZombie’ Introduces Pretty, Self-Aware Walking Dead Who Are Totally Dateable
TCA 2015: Creator Rob Thomas, star Rose McIver and cast talk CW’s new zombie series
Linda Ge | January 11, 2015 @ 10:26 AM
Last Updated: January 11, 2015 @ 4:18 PM
One difference between The CW’s new drama “iZombie” and most other un-dead-centered properties is that this show’s characters actually realize zombies are a thing.
Executive producer Diane Ruggiero-Wright joined creator Rob Thomas and the cast of The CW drama at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena on Friday.
“It wasn’t a part of the comics, but it’s something we really enjoyed about the show. If there were a zombie attack, what would you do?” Ruggiero-Wright asked. “I would watch ‘The Walking Dead’ and pick up a lot of useful tips.”
It’s a whimsical approach to the traditional zombie genre that sets the drama apart from other more grisly takes like the popular AMC series. Rose McIver‘s Liv is a med student with a bright future who is bitten and turned into a zombie on a yacht party, changing the course of her life (undead or otherwise) forever.
In order to stay fresh and CW-level pretty, she must consume human brains on the regular, so she takes a job with the medical examiner’s office, where she gets visions from the brains of murder victims she eats. Naturally, she decides to use her newfound psychic ability to help a police detective (Malcolm Goodwin) solve their cases.
It’s the second time Thomas has shepherded a witty detective prone to voiceovers, though there are some differences between “iZombie’s” Liv and Thomas’ cult fan favorite heroine on “Veronica Mars.”
“Veronica is more hard-boiled, she kind of has that Raymond Chandler worldview,” he said. “Liv in ‘iZombie’ is naturally a softer character. A part of the journey for her is finding her way back to the sweetness of life and the things worth living for.”
Being a show on the female-centric, youth-driven CW, “iZombie” will also feature romance, even with an undead heroine.
“It helped a lot that ‘Warm Bodies’ had made it out into the world,” said Thomas of the Jonathan Levine-directed zombie rom-com starring Nicholas Hoult. “We thought, oh yeah, that’s a zombie you can fall in love with. It gave us the confidence to have a zombie you can root for.”
And Liv has very human urges, even though she’s undead. There is, for example, a very attractive ex-fiance (Robert Buckley) who still can’t understand why she dumped him.
“Zombieness might be sexually transmitted, so we have to take that into consideration,” Ruggiero-Wright teased.
“We do introduce a zombie gentleman caller in Episode 5,” added Thomas. “So, Liv’s long national nightmare will end.”
For McIver, coming off “Power Rangers RPM” and a recurring arc on “Once Upon a Time,” the show is an introduction to another universe with a built-in fanbase and potential for even more.
“I loved that I’ve worked in this genres with specialty worlds,” she said. “These shows that have these big followings. With our show we have our universe as well. We have this mythology behind it. A whole humanism we’ve worked to bringing to life.”
“iZombie” premieres Tuesday, Mar 17 at 9 p.m. ET on The CW.
The Scene at TCA: Funny, Frank and Flippant Quotes From the 2015 TV Press Tour (Photos)
“I love Debra Messing, but I don’t want her face going across the screen: The Mysteries Of Laura." – Tina Fey, on moving "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" to the ad-less Netflix.
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"Do we really need to see that? She was a mother, sister, friend. We forget that she just wanted to live a normal life." – Angela Bassett on why she decided not to depict Whitney Houston's downward spiral in Lifetime movie's "Whitney."
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"I am not a bitch. I'm honest. There's a difference." – Constance Zimmer on her "Unreal" TV producer character.
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"When you shake hands with him you can't shake the feeling that this was a guy who admitted to dismembering his neighbor." – Director Andrew Jarecki, on billionaire and accused murderer Robert Durst.
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"We know Isaac Newton was born on Christmas Day. Who knows when Jesus was born?" – Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, host of NatGeo's first ever late night show.
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“We have to be careful not to overpromise." – Discovery Channel President David Zaslav on the network's failed anaconda stunt.
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"I'm obviously not a serial murderer in real life. You have to find something human in them you like." – Jamie Dornan on playing a serial killer in "The Fall"
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"The only difference between us and a pair of 14-year-old pyromaniacs is we call the police and fire department to help us." – Mythbusters Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage
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"The most spastic and hilarious human being on the planet." – "Togetherness" creator and writer Jay Duplass, on star Amanda Peet
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"Well, she doesn't always use an axe." – Christina Ricci on whether Lizzie Borden will have any more axes to grind in Lifetime's "Lizzie Borden Chronicles."
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"We want to be your coffee this morning." – Marti Noxon, executive producer of Lifetime's "Unreal," on her pink streaks and matching frock.
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"To be on a horse firing a gun, that's not a bad way to spend your day." – Actor Jeffery Dean Morgan, about working on History Channel's "Texas Rising."
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"It didn't work in Scotland, but it's going to work in Texas." – Texan actor Bill Paxton on History Channel's "Texas Rising" sparking a secessionist movement.
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"I went through the actors directory and everybody else was working." – "Shitt's Creek" Actor and writer Eugene Levy on why he called fellow actor Chris Elliot to join the cast.
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"You come out and what do you see on your podium, is this a good omen? HBO water they’ve served me. That’s great." –AMC president and GM on being served water branded with the competition.
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"Yeah, I’m thrilled that it’s ending. So looking forward to being unemployed for as long as I’ll be unemployed. I’m so happy not to see any of these people ever again. And all of that is really great. Hashtag sarcasm." – AMC's "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm on whether there's any reason he's happy series is ending.
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"The idea at the center of the show is a zombie you can fall in love with... a zombie you want to date. We were calling the show 'ZILFs' at one point" – The CW's "iZombie" showrunner Rob Thomas. on his new show
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"The fans are so polarized in what they are rooting for that to appease all of them, the show would be gobbledygook." – "The Vampire Diaries" executive producer Caroline Dries.
“We should’ve had more women up here today. That’s on me. That’s my fault.” – "Arrow," "The Flash" EP Greg Berlanti on the composition of the panel.
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"It's not a show about religion; it's a show about faith." -– "The Messengers" executive producer Trey Callaway.
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"The gelatin doesn't taste too bad on its own, but covered in fake blood, is disgusting." – star of the upcoming series "iZombie," Rose McIver.
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"[Italia Ricci's] even prettier than Robbie Amell." – Victor Garber talking about his "Flash" co-star's new fiancee.
''We were calling the show 'ZILF,' because the star's a zombie you want to date (the polite way to say it)" – "iZombie" executive producer, Rob Thomas.
"We're most interested in telling stories that tell light in the darkness" – "The Dovekeepers" executive producer Roma Downey Jr.
"Wouldn’t it be nice if all the networks were more representative of the complexions of America?" – Oscar Winner Cuba Gooding Jr., on diversity on television.
"When we did the original 'Odd Couple' we weren't allowed to have women writers." – Director Garry Marshall, on consulting for the CBS "Odd Couple" remake.
"When you start on TV, it's almost fear based. When you start online, you just try stuff" — TMZ founder Harvey Levin on his company's move to television.
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"Funny story, I have no say in anything" — Joe Dirt 2 star David Spade on why he allowed his iconic wig from the first film to be sold.
"We’ve encouraged millions of people to take out wine and popcorn really enjoy what is water cooler television — ABC Entertainment Group chief Paul Lee on the network's "TGIT" programming.
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"Asians have money. If you want their money, make things for them" — "Fresh Off the Boat" creator Eddie Huang on his new show.
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"When something is salacious, how it is presented by the media becomes the perceived 'truth'" — Ryan Phillippe on his new upcoming ABC show "Secrets & Lies."
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"He's uncovering things as [the show] is uncovering things" — actor Milo Ventimiglia on his character in ABC's upcoming "The Whispers."
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"Maybe I've got my wife hidden away in the attic" — actor James D'Arcy on his character Jarvis' unseen spouse in "Agent Carter ."
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"What it would be like if Princess Diana had become Queen of England?" — actress Elizabeth Hurley about the inspiration for her character on E!'s "The Royals."
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“When we realized there was so much more, we realized we couldn’t go forward” — NBC Entertainment chair, Robert Greenblatt, on the network's decision to cancel a Bill Cosby comedy series.
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"Whether people like it or don't like it, I'm not changing. NBC has never said anything to me, once" — "Celebrity Apprentice" host Donald Trump on his unabashed political views.
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“I think by the year 2030 we’re going to have an entire lesbian cast with one token heterosexual. We’re not there yet” — Ellen DeGeneres joking about recent accusations she's been promoting a "gay agenda."
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"It's like playing a human being with a heart, and a sense of humor, and a great collection of blazers" — "One Big Happy" star Elisha Cuthbert on playing a lesbian character.
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"This is a story that millions have died for and billions have lived for" — "AD: The Series" executive producer Mark Burnett, about the follow up to his successfulmini-series, "The Bible."
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TV stars and executives offer pearls of wisdom at the annual Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour