As Commander Kelly Grayson on Seth MacFarlane’s new Fox show, The Orville, Adrianne Palicki has shown an aptitude for comedy to go alongside the many other talents that fans have enjoyed over the past few years, particularly from her time as Bobbi Morse on Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD. With episode 9 of The Orville shedding a new light on the events of the pilot, it seemed a good time for Paul Simpson to catch up with Palicki and discuss all things Ed and Kelly…

What attracted you to the part of Kelly when you first saw the script?

Honestly, it’s quite funny – it was the first five pages, with the blue alien [where Macfarlane’s Ed catches his then-wife Kelly in bed with a blue-skinned alien] (laughs) It was like, any character that can come back from this that’s a challenge I want to take on.

Seth and I have known each other for a decade now and we talked about Kelly. I was attracted to her because of her strength – obviously I’m attracted to strong characters – but really it’s the fact that I get to play. I get to do the action, I get to do the comedy, I get to do the drama. There’s the relationship stuff. It’s a juicy role.

Were you aware at the start of how episode 9 would affect the way we see that scene – that our blue alien wasn’t perhaps as interested in Kelly as he seems to in the pilot?

I did not know, when I read the pilot, but going in to it, before we started shooting, Seth was kind enough to send me that episode. I had to acknowledge the fact that this was something that might have been out of her control, and thankfully Ed got to experience it himself.

Had you known that earlier, would you have played it differently?

No. I think that she’s really really trying to do something wonderful for him in the pilot. I think she’s trying to get back his trust, and is going to help him get this ship, without him knowing, obviously. There’s a level of deep love there for Kelly, and I wouldn’t have played that any differently because it had to be coming from a genuine place that she knew that she messed up.

How much have you discussed Kelly and Ed’s relationship with Seth, and does it build from your own friendship, or is it what he’s presenting you on the page?

We’ve discussed it a lot but we definitely do have chemistry based on the fact we’ve known each other [so long] and become such dear friends. There’s already a relationship that exists there, so it’s innate for us. We discuss some things along the way, but that relationship, that chemistry, just comes naturally from us. We love each other – he’s a dear friend.

Actors often note things of themselves percolating into the scripts – has that happened here?

Oh yes absolutely, I can guarantee you 100% that he wrote that Friends line for me! He knows that I’m obsessed with Friends. I remember I was on the elliptical reading that script and I fell off the elliptical laughing at that line. Definitely there are things like that.

Scott has known him for two decades, and [Seth] definitely caters to him; J Lee he’s known for almost that long, and “boom!” is something that J Lee says all the time. Definitely the characters are built a little bit for each of us. And as it goes on, it’s like any television series, they hear our voices.

Has the fact you’ve all known each other for so long been a hindrance or a help in creating the dynamics between these new characters?

Oh, it’s absolutely a help because the level of trust that goes into it.

Also for somebody like myself, I’ve done comedy in the past, but stepping into a character like this in a show like this, there is a level of support there. Seth’s going to guide me through anything I need help with. I know that he’s felt that way with me on the drama side.

There’s this really wonderful connection between all of us and even the people who didn’t know Seth coming into this, we bonded so quickly. This is the first cast that hasn’t been on location where literally on our Saturday off, we would all get together for dinner. We’ve seen each other for five days straight, sixteen hours a day, and yet we still want to go out on Saturday and hang. That’s a real love and connection that I think has built because Seth’s the leader.

I think it comes through on screen as well if you’ve got that camaraderie.

That makes me happy to hear, thank you; we want it to come through.

What’s been the biggest challenge for you in playing Kelly?

I think the biggest challenge is not to have her come across as condescending. She is a little bit smarter than Ed, she is his right hand man, maybe he couldn’t do it without her, and it’s finding a balance of trying not to overplay that she knows what she’s doing and he’s kind of an idiot sometimes. Trying to find that line.

And because Seth has the comedy as Ed, that builds the potential for him to be the “idiot”…

Is comedy something you’ve always wanted to do more of?

I’ve always enjoyed doing it when I have the chance, but I fell into the dramatic characters. I found comedy within those but not in the sense of something so obviously comedic [as this] show. I’ve always enjoyed it because it’s light hearted and fun, but the best thing about Kelly is that she gets to do all the things. She’s not just a straight man; she has some good zingers in there too. She is strong and capable and gets to do the action – it’s a win/win character altogether.

What’s the scene that sums up Kelly for you, if you had to show just one scene to someone to show who she is?

I think it’s in the first episode when she comes into Ed’s office and she sits down and says, ”Listen there’s this new command that’s become available that I think you should take, so you can have a ship that you want to run.” I think that that is by far the most telling, because it really does show love there and a level of selflessness too – and strength. That’s a hard question!

There’s probably more comedy in the pilot than any other episode, and as each week goes by it becomes a more dramatic show with comic elements. Were you expecting that from Seth?

Yes, because I think he’s so very talented, and having read the scripts, I knew that [was the case]. It’s something that hasn’t been done and I think that’s quite genius, and he’s the king of that. Yes, he’s known for Family Guy and Ted but those were original ideas, and they were his and they were brilliant.

I knew going in that this was going to be a dramedy, and there were comedic elements, but the wonderful thing about the whole show is that that every episode is dedicated to these characters. The pilot for every show is an introduction to the world, the relationships, the people. The fun part is that people love these characters enough that we are able to delve into each specific character and give them life, and the audience is able to understand where they’re coming from and who they are. It’s not just the Ed and Kelly show.

It’s quite a turn from the pilot to the end of episode 6, Krill, where the Krill turns to Ed and says that the children will be his enemy – that’s quite on the nose.

I think they all are a level of that – even the Bortus episode. You think on mainstream television they’re going to be able to keep this baby a girl and they don’t. Everything has a statement. The last one with J Lee – the ups and downs, the ode to Twitter and social media. Everything’s very relevant and that’s what I love about Seth’s writing is that it’s smart without wagging its finger.

It’s the old Sam Goldwyn line about, “If you have a message, call Western Union”, isn’t it – you have to get it in there with people being entertained along the way.

Right.

Are there any particular things you’d like to see Kelly do in the second series or situations you’d like Seth to throw her into?

I am so happy with what is happening. I’d like to see where their relationship goes; I always say it’s like Ross and Rachel – will they or won’t they – and that will be an ongoing thing forever, as long as we’re lucky to be on the air.

I’d like to see more of the Gordon character, and the past: what was Kelly’s relationship like with Gordon when she was married to Ed? Was he the annoying drunk best friend? Those kind of things, I’d like to see more of the back stories for certain characters.

The Orville continues on FOX on Thursdays at 9; it comes to FOX UK on December 14.

Thanks to Erin Moody and Rosy Baker for assistance in arranging this interview