Episode 215: Talking 'The Leftovers' With the HBO Drama's Creative Team at the ATX Television Festival

Hi there, it's Mo here with a really special treat. In June, I moderated a panel on the HBO drama "The Leftovers" at the ATX Television Festival in Austin. It was a few days after the show's series finale aired, and on the panel were executive producer Damon Lindelof, executive producer (and author of the novel "The Leftovers") Tom Perrotta, and executive producer/director Mimi Leder. At the start of the conversation, I handed out tissues to all the panelists, because I was fairly sure most of us were going to cry at some point.

Many did, but before and after those moments, we talked about the show in depth, and it was life-affirming to hear these creative and thoughtful people talk about the themes of "The Leftovers" and the choices they made and why this amazing program ended the way it did. Near the end, Lindelof made me cry in a way I totally did not see coming (which seems like a very "Leftovers"-ian thing to do, and that moment also has to do with this essay). By the way, if you're a "Leftovers completist, don't miss this previous Talking TV podcast on the show! 

One other note: Jasmin Savoy-Brown, who played Evie Murphy, was in the audience, and that led to the above moment of mild hilarity (because everyone enjoys Guilty Remnant humor). In any event, I loved moderating this panel, the panelists were wise and funny and informative, the audience questions at the end were great, and lots of people got a little bit misty before it was all over. What more could we ask for? 

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