Before Connie Britton was formally approached about potentially starring in Bravo’s TV series adaptation of “Dirty John,” she, like many, was already well aware of the Los Angeles Times podcast and story on which the show is based.
“My agents brought me the material, but what drew me to it was my friends talking about how amazing your podcast was, which coincidentally happened just two days before I got an email from my agents,” Britton told Times reporter Christopher Goffard during a recent Envelope Live screening.
“I had already heard about this really interesting story that was creating a lot of conversation, and then when my agents sent me an email about it, I was immediately really excited.”
Connie Britton talks about how she first became aware of the story of “Dirty John.”
“Dirty John,” originally a six-part story and podcast about an Orange County divorcee whose life is put in danger when she meets and falls in love with a mysterious man with a hidden past, launched in October 2017. The podcast quickly amassed more than 30 million downloads, and Bravo announced it was bringing the true-crime story to TV in January.
Britton, joined by fellow series star Julia Garner, creator and showrunner Alexandra Cunningham, executive producer Richard Suckle and director Jeffrey Reiner, screened the first episode of the series at the Montalban in Hollywood two days after its linear premiere. The screening was followed by a discussion with Goffard, who also served as a writer on the series adaptation.
Once she signed to star and serve as executive producer of the series in March, one of Britton’s first steps in preparing for the project was to talk to the real Debra Newell.
“But really, the reason I was so deeply drawn to playing Debra was because I actually recognized a lot in her from the standpoint of what it is to be a woman shaped by external circumstances. Her family history, the culture she lives in, her religious beliefs, all these things that I think contributed to the woman she is and the choices that she made,” Britton said. “So for me, I found it be a really interesting psychological exploration.”
Julia Garner, who plays one of Debra’s two daughters Terra, also talked how she came to a better understanding of her character.
“The main thing for Terra is that what I noticed pretty early on was that she gives people chances in a way, and I think that she is like her mother in that sense,” she said. “She always hopes. And sometimes it can be to a fault.”
Showrunner Alexandra Cunningham was able to find some similarities between the show’s central villain, John Meehan, and another infamous bad guy she had previously written for: Charles Manson.
“He was about manipulating other people to do what he wanted and John Meehan did the same thing, but John Meehan was a one-man band,” she said. “ I guess we can be grateful that there was no Meehan family.”
“Dirty John” showrunner Alexandra Cunningham discusses the similarities between John Meehan and another villain she’s previously written about, Charles Manson.
Despite the similarities shared with one of the most notorious criminals in U.S. history, director Jeffrey Reiner emphasized the importance of showing the softer, more humorous side of John, portrayed by Eric Bana.
“I also was looking at it through Connie’s eyes and it was very important that we understand that this guy was a living breathing thing, that he was charming … why she fell in love with him. It was just trying to get people to find the other side of him,” he said. “If he’s just so evil from Episode 1 or Episode 2, then I think the show gets boring. So I wanted to have fun with him, and Eric was really game.”
Director Jeffrey Reiner reveals why it was important for the cast and crew to see the humor in the story.
However, playing a real-life figure and retelling a true crime story has its challenges too. Executive producer Richard Suckle talked about the importance of being “respectful” to Newell and her family, especially considering that the events at the center of the series only happened a few years ago.
“We’re making a series that’s going to ... potentially if not probably stir up a lot of bad memories,” Suckle said. “It’s important as a producer that you want to make them feel comfortable that you’re actually going to be telling their story.”
“Dirty John” executive producer Richard Suckle talks about walking the “fine line” between ensuring creative freedom and being respectful of the real-life Newell family.
For more information on future Envelope Live screenings and events, click here.
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“Vice” was the subject of an L.A. Times Envelope Live screening and Q&A at the Montalbán in Hollywood.
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An exhibit hangs in the mezzanine gallery at the the Montalbán in Hollywood, where “Vice” was screened at an L.A. Times Envelope Live event.
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Christian Bale as Dick Cheney shows onscreen as “Vice” is shown at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening in Hollywood.
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L.A. Times awards columnist Glenn Whipp takes the stage to introduce the director and editor of “Vice” at the movie’s L.A. Times Envelope Live screening.
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“Vice” director Adam McKay makes a point in the Q&A session following the screening of the movie at an L.A. Times Envelope Live event at the Montalbán in Hollywood.
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“Vice” editor Hank Corwin talks with his hands during the Q&A session following the screening of the movie.
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L.A. Times columnist Glenn Whipp, left, moderates a discussion about “Vice” after it screens, chatting with director Adam McKay and editor Hank Corwin in Hollywood.
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A downpour didn’t stop Charlie Bennett from attending the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “BlacKkKlansman” at the Montalbán in Hollywood.
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Director Spike Lee, right, arrives to the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “BlacKkKlansman” in Hollywood.
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Attendees check in at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “BlacKkKlansman” in Hollywood.
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Spike Lee and editor Barry Alexander Brown catch up in the green room before the Q&A for “BlacKkKlansman.”
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Popcorn was served up at the “BlacKkKlansman” screening in Hollywood.
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“BlacKkKlansman” screens at the L.A. Times Envelope Live event at the Montalbán in Hollywood.
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Director Spike Lee and editor Barry Alexander Brown talk about “BlacKkKlansman” at a Q&A at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening at the Montalbán in Hollywood.
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Director Spike Lee and editor Barry Alexander Brown talk about “BlacKkKlansman” at a Q&A at the LA Times Envelope Live screening.
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Phil Lord, writer and producer of “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse,” meets a fan at the Montalbán in Hollywood.
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A line formed for “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse” at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening at the Montalbán in Hollywood.
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The audience watches “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse” at it’s L.A. Times Envelope Live screening at the Montalbán.
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“Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse” attracted a full house at its L.A. Times Envelope Live screening at the Montalbán.
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Bob Persichetti listens at the Q&A for “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening.
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Chris Miller was part of the creation of “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse.” The movie screened as part of L.A. Times Envelope Live at the Montalbán in Hollywood.
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Rodney Rothman talks about the creation of “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse” at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening at the Montalbán in Hollywood.
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Peter Ramsey, center, one of the directors of “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse,” speaks at the movie’s L.A. Times Envelope Live screening in Hollywood.
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The marquee outside of the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,” with a Q&A moderated by Los Angeles Times writer Lorraine Ali to follow with director Morgan Neville.
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Fans take photos at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
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At the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of the documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,” director Morgan Neville sits down for a moderated chat with L.A. Times writer Lorraine Ali.
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Moderator Lorraine Ali of the Los Angeles Times questions “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” director Morgan Neville at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screeening of the movie.
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“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” director Morgan Neville smiles at a Q&A moderated by Los Angeles Times writer Lorraine Ali.
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Director Morgan Neville chats with onlookers at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of the documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
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Los Angeles Times writer Mark Olsen, left, discusses “The Hate U Give” with actors Regina Hall, Amandla Stenberg and director George Tillman Jr. at an Envelope Live screening at the Montalbán.
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Actor Amandla Stenberg discusses “The Hate U Give” at an Envelope Live screening.
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Director George Tillman Jr. discusses “The Hate U Give.”
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Actors Regina Hall, left, Amandla Stenberg and director George Tillman Jr. at The Envelope Live’s presentation of “The Hate U Give.”
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Actor Amandla Stenberg, center, takes a picture with a fan at the Los Angeles Times Envelope Live screening of “The Hate U Give” at the Montalbán.
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Actor Regina Hall, center, talks with attendees at the Los Angeles Times Envelope Live screening of “The Hate U Give.”
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The marquee for the Los Angeles Times Envelope Live’s “Rise of the Documentary” panel at The Montalbán.
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Los Angeles Times writer Amy Kaufman moderates a “Rise of the Documentary” discussion with documentary directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi (“Free Solo”), left, Tim Wardle (“Three Identical Strangers”), Betsy West (“RBG”), Morgan Neville (“Won’t You Be My Neighbor”) and Sandi Tan (“Shirkers”) during a Los Angeles Times Envelope Live event at The Montalbán.
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“Won’t You Be My Neighbor” director Morgan Neville discusses his, and other, documentaries during a Los Angeles Times Envelope Live event at The Montalbán.
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Director Sandi Tan (“Shirkers”) discusses the “Rise of the Documentary” during a Los Angeles Times Envelope Live event at The Montalbán.
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Director Tim Wardle of “Three Identical Strangers” discusses with other documentarians the “Rise of the Documentary” during a Los Angeles Times Envelope Live event.
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“Free Solo” director Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi talks during the “Rise of the Documentary” panel during a Los Angeles Times Envelope Live event.
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The director of “RBG,” Betsy West, takes part in a panel -- “Rise of the Documentary” -- during a Los Angeles Times Envelope Live event at The Montalbán.
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“Free Solo” director Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, center, talks with attendees at a reception following “Rise of the Documentary” at a Los Angeles Times Envelope Live event.
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“Three Identical Strangers” director Tim Wardle, center, talks with attendees at a reception following the “Rise of the Documentary” panel.
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At the Los Angeles Times Envelope Live screening of “Science Fair,” following the “Rise of the Documentaries” panel at The Montalbán.
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Directors Darren Foster, left, Cristina Constantini, actor Robbie Barrat, Ava DuVernay and actor Serena McCalla at the Los Angeles Times Envelope Live screening of “Science Fair” at The Montalbán.
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A fan of the film, director Ava DuVernay introduces “Science Fair” at Los Angeles Times Envelope Live screening at The Montalbán.
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Closer on Ava DuVernay, who is introducing a screening of “Science Fair” at Los Angeles Times Envelope Live.
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Directors Cristina Constantin and Darren Fosteri stand on stage at the Los Angeles Times Envelope Live screening of “Science Fair” at The Montalbán.
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Los Angeles Times writer Chris Barton, left, directors Darren Foster, Cristina Constantini, actors Serena McCalla and Robbie Barrat discuss “Science Fair.”
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Director Darren Foster looks out at the crowd during the q&a session at the Los Angeles Times Envelope Live screening of “Science Fair” at The Montalbán.
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Actor Robbie Barrat makes a point at the Los Angeles Times Envelope Live screening of “Science Fair.”
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Director Cristina Constantini listens while onstage at the Los Angeles Times Envelope Live screening of “Science Fair.”
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Teacher/actor Serena McCalla smiles during he q&a seession at the Los Angeles Times Envelope Live screening of “Science Fair.”
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Los Angeles Times writer Chris Barton, left, poses a question to the assembled panel including directors Darren Foster and Cristina Constantini, and actors Serena McCalla and Robbie Barrat while discussing “Science Fair” during a Los Angeles Times Envelope Live screening.
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Los Angeles Times writer Chris Barton, left, directors Darren Foster and Cristina Constantini discuss “Science Fair.”
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Los Angeles Times writer Chris Barton, left, directors Darren Foster, Cristina Constantini, actors Serena McCalla and Robbie Barrat pose onstage at the Los Angeles Times Envelope Live screening of “Science Fair” at The Montalbán.
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L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “Dirty John” at The Montalbán.
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Free “Dirty John” books for attendees at L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “Dirty John” at The Montalbán.
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Free “Dirty John” books are given to attendees at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “Dirty John” at The Montalbán.
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Actor Connie Britton at the Envelope Live screening of “Dirty John” at The Montalbán.
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Actors Connie Britton, left, and Julia Garner at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “Dirty John” at The Montalbán.
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Director Jeffery Reiner, right, at the Envelope Live screening of “Dirty John” at The Montalbán.
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Los Angeles Times writer Christopher Goffard, from left, moderates a discussion with actors Connie Britton, Julia Garner, showrunner Alexandra Cunningham, executive producer Richard Suckle and director Jeffery Reiner at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “Dirty John” at The Montalbán.
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Los Angeles Times writer Christopher Goffard, from left, moderates a discussion with actors Connie Britton, Julia Garner, showrunner Alexandra Cunningham, executive producer Richard Suckle and director Jeffery Reiner at the Envelope Live screening of “Dirty John” at The Montalbán.
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Attendees arrive for the Envelope Live screening of “The Kindergarten Teacher” at the Montalban in Los Angeles.
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Reporter Glenn Whipp speaks during the Envelope Live screening of “The Kindergarten Teacher.”
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Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal speaks with reporter Glenn Whipp during the Envelope Live screening of “The Kindergarten Teacher” at the Montalbán in Los Angeles.
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Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal speaks during the Envelope Live screening of “The Kindergarten Teacher.”
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Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal speaks with reporter Glenn Whipp during the Envelope Live screening of “The Kindergarten Teacher” at the Montalbán in Los Angeles.
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Director Markus Imhoof attends the LA Times Envelope Live screening of his movie “El Dorado” at the Montalbán.
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Los Angeles Times critic Lorraine Ali, left, director Markus Imhoof and Muna Sharif of Amnesty International at the LA Times Envelope Live screening for “El Dorado.”
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Director Markus Imhoof attended the LA Times Envelope Live screening of his movie “El Dorado.”
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Director Markus Imhoof, center, in a Q&A for his movie “El Dorado” with Los Angles Times critic Lorraine Ali, left, and Muna Sharif at the LA Times Envelope Live screening.
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Muna Sharif, a field organizer with Amnesty International, in a Q&A for “El Dorado.”
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Actor Zain Al Refeea, right, poses for photos at the “Capernaum” screening.
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Actor Zain Al Rafeea at the Envelope Live screening of “Capernaum.”
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Times reporter Mark Olsen, left, discusses “Capernaum” with director Nadine Labaki, actor Zain Al Rafeea and producer Khaled Mouzanar at an Envelope Live screening of the movie.
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Director Nadine Labaki discusses “Capernaum” at the movie’s Envelope Live screening.
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Producer Khaled Mouzanar discusses “Capernaum” at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of the movie at The Montalban.
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Los Angeles Times film critic Justin Chang, left, moderates a discussion with writer-director-producer Tamara Jenkins and actress Kathryn Hahn at The Times’ Envelope Live screening of “Private Life.”
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Writer-director-producer Tamara Jenkins at the Envelope Live screening of “Private Life.”
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Actress Kathryn Hahn, right, writer-director-producer Tamara Jenkins and Times film critic Justin Chang discuss “Private Life” at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of the film.
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Times film critic Justin Chang, left, writer-director-producer Tamara Jenkins and actress Kathryn Hahn have a hearty laugh during their discusion of “Private Life.”
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Writer-director-producer Tamara Jenkins, center, gets into the conversation with Times film critic Justin Chang and actress Kathryn Hahn at The Times’ Envelope Live screening of “Private Life” at the Montalban.
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Times film critic Justin Chang, left, moderates a discussion with writer-director-producer Tamara Jenkins and actress Kathryn Hahn at The Times’ Envelope Live screening of “Private Life.”
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Actress Kathryn Hahn, left, greets fans at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “Private Life.”
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Writer-director-producer Tamara Jenkins pauses for a photo with a fan at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “Private Life.”
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The L.A. Times Envelope Live screened “Better Call Saul” at the Montalban in Hollywood.
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Bob Odenkirk takes the stage at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “Better Call Saul.”
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Audience members take a selfie at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “Better Call Saul” at the Montalban.
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“Better Call Saul” actor Bob Odenkirk with co-creator/executive producer Peter Gould at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening.
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Los Angeles Times reporter Yvonne Villarreal moderates a discussion at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “Better Call Saul” with actor Bob Odenkirk, co-creator/executive producer Peter Gould and writer/executive producer Thomas Schnauz.
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The lobby at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “Better Call Saul” at the Montalban.
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“Better Call Saul” writer/executive producer Thomas Schnauz takes part in a discussion following the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of the Season 4 finale.
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A woman takes a photo outside the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “Better Call Saul” at the Montalban.
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Los Angeles Times reporter Yvonne Villarreal moderates a discussion for “Better Call Saul” with actor Bob Odenkirk, co-creator/executive producer Peter Gould and writer/executive producer Thomas Schnauz as part of The Envelope Live.
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Audience members react to the panel at the L.A. Times Envelope Live screening of “Better Call Saul” at the Montalban.
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Los Angeles Times reporter Yvonne Villarreal moderates a discussion about “Better Call Saul” with actor Bob Odenkirk, co-creator/executive producer Peter Gould and writer/executive producer Thomas Schnauz for The Envelope Live.
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