"Big Love'' is big fun for Bill Paxton - This Article has a WOW factor

http://www.cleveland.com/tv/index.ssf/2009/01/big_love_is_big_fun_for_bi...

by Mark Dawidziak/Plain Dealer Television Critic
Saturday January 10, 2009, 8:14 PM

Los Angeles - When HBO premiered "Big Love,'' Bill Paxton and his co-stars had tough time explaining the drama series about Bill Henrickson, a Salt Lake City native with three wives, eight children, three houses and a home improvement business. There was, said Jeanne Tripplehorn, a clear "ick factor'' to a concept build on polygamy.

But Paxton believes that the audience's view of Bill Henrickson has changed, as has his.

"Oh, absolutely, it's changed,'' Paxton told TV critics gathered for their semi-annual press tour. "I've grown to admire the character I play greatly. He's a man after my own heart in terms of what he's taken on to try to keep this family together and to grow his family. And I find that it's been a real challenge playing the part, but it's been very rewarding. There's a lot of Bill Henrickson that I'd like to be as Bill Paxton in terms of my own family.''

"Big Love,'' which also stars Chloe Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin, begins its 10-episode third season at 9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18.

"The audiences are having a lot of fun with this show,'' Paxton said. "It's gone from the ick factor that Jeanne was mentioning when I would first tell people I was
doing a show about polygamy. People would take a step back away from me, and now there seems to be a dialogue . . . The other thing I've noticed traveling is people of all ages and from all walks of life have embraced this show. It's crazy. People come up to me, and they say, 'Do you need a fourth?' It's obviously hit a nerve. I think we're kind of on track to possibly become America's other First Family in a strange way.''

The Texas native he was attracted to "Big Love'' because the premise was so different.

"The writing and the concept were original,'' said Paxton, whose films include "Aliens,'' "Twister,'' "Titanic'' and "Apollo 13.'' "It's not another forensic show. It's not another hospital show. It's not another cop/detective drama. It really is a unique, groundbreaking show. It has a lot to do with tolerance and humanity and compassion, but there's no message to be hit over the head here. They've made it like a really good souffle. You can really savor these characters. It's been probably the greatest
role I've ever gotten to play.''

"And the relationships,'' Tripplehorn said. "It was how to make it believable and more rich, because when I was originally approached about this show about a polygamist family called 'Big Love,' I thought it was a comedy. And then, as I read it, I couldn't believe the depth. And now, having finished Season 3, it's just really more nuanced and richer.''