Giovanni Rufino / NBC
Debra Messing Will Play Baby's Mom In The Dirty Dancing TV Movie...But How Did She Land The Role?
Here's how we think she might have directed her representation to help her campaign for the production, in a series of emails.
'Dirty Dancing' ABC Remake Casts Debra Messing, Gets Firm Green Light
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Time: 1:01 PM EDT
To: Tom Stern
From: Debra Messing
Re: Dirty dancing
Hi Tom
Assume you saw this on deadline
http://deadline.com/2015/12/dirty-dancing-tv-remake-abc-abigail-breslin-star-1201659073/
Please ping ABC and make sre they know I'm avilible
I know they have their baby lol but i wild love to play penny
I know everyone at Gersh knows and probably ABC knows too but i have experience on musicals (smash) I didn't get to dance much but definitely can!
Thanks tom
--
Sent from my iPhone.
Sorry for typos, I'm an actress not an English teacher!
Time: 11:20 AM PDT
To: Debra Messing
From: Tom Stern
Re: Re: Dirty dancing
Hi Debra,
Just heard back from Mindy at ABC: of course it's early yet, but it sounds like ABC wants to go a different way for Penny. They want to know if you'd be interested in being considered for other roles on the project. Let me know!
-Tom
Time: 2:24 PM EDT
To: Tom Stern
From: Debra Messing
Re: Dirty dancing
Another way
What does that mean
--
Sent from my iPhone.
Sorry for typos, I'm an actress not an English teacher!
Time: 11:49 AM PDT
To: Debra Messing
From: Tom Stern
Re: Re: Dirty dancing
I think because they've already cast Abigail, they want to make sure their Johnny is age-appropriate for her, so their Penny would be closer to that profile.
-Tom
Time: 3:41 PM EDT
To: Tom Stern
From: Debra Messing
Re: Dirty dancing
I see.
--
Sent from my iPhone.
Sorry for typos, I'm an actress not an English teacher!
Time: 1:34 PDT
To: Debra Messing
From: Tom Stern
Re: Re: Dirty dancing
ABC is crazy about you, though, and they could be very interested in getting you involved. Would you have any interest in talking about other parts?
-Tom
Time: 4:45 PM EDT
To: Tom Stern
From: Debra Messing
Re: Dirty dancing
Who
--
Sent from my iPhone.
Sorry for typos, I'm an actress not an English teacher!
Time: 2:52 PDT
To: Debra Messing
From: Tom Stern
Re: Re: Dirty dancing
They'd love you to read for Marjorie.
-Tom
Time: 5:57 PM EDT
To: Tom Stern
From: Debra Messing
Re: Dirty dancing
Baby's sister? Sure! She has that funny song for the talent show!
I can pretend not t be able to sing lol
--
Sent from my iPhone.
Sorry for typos, I'm an actress not an English teacher!
Time: 6:21 PM EDT
To: Tom Stern
From: Debra Messing
Re: Dirty dancing
Was on set when I sent my last so i wasn't able to confirm
Marjorie is not the sister she's the mom
Not sure why you didn't correct me right away
Call me please
--
Sent from my iPhone.
Sorry for typos, I'm an actress not an English teacher!
Time: 6:40 PM EDT
To: Tom Stern
From: Debra Messing
Re: Dirty dancing
Call me
--
Sent from my iPhone.
Sorry for typos, I'm an actress not an English teacher!
Time: 7:01 PM EDT
To: Tom Stern
From: Debra Messing
Re: Dirty dancing
Wtf tom
--
Sent from my iPhone.
Sorry for typos, I'm an actress not an English teacher!
Time: 4:46 PDT
To: Debra Messing
From: Tom Stern
Re: Re: Dirty dancing
Debra, I am so sorry, I was in a meeting -- just left you a vm about this too but just to underline it: Marjorie is a great part! Really meaty and sharp. It sounds like she's going to be much more central this time, closer to Orbach in the original.
This is exactly why they were so excited when I reached out to them: having a performer with your history and experience and dazzle is a dream for them. They're so excited to meet with you if you'll consider it.
-Tom
Time: 8:19 PM EDT
To: Tom Stern
From: Debra Messing
Re: Dirty dancing
But tom abigail is what, 17?
who would even believe me as her mother
--
Sent from my iPhone.
Sorry for typos, I'm an actress not an English teacher!
Time: 6:04 PDT
To: Debra Messing
From: Tom Stern
Re: Re: Dirty dancing
Sweetheart, I'm only laying it out like this because it's a great opportunity and I don't want you to pass it up.
Abigail is actually 19. You are 47. ABC is being reasonable and the two of you together could be fantastic.
Don't forget: she's an Oscar nominee.
-Tom
Time: 6:13 AM EDT
To: Tom Stern
From: Debra Messing
Re: Dirty dancing
I didn't want to answer your last until I slept on it.
So i slept on it
here is my answer
EXCUSE YOU, TOM.
--
Sent from my iPhone.
Sorry for typos, I'm an actress not an English teacher!
Time: 7:17 AM PDT
To: Debra Messing
From: Tom Stern
Re: Re: Dirty dancing
Understood. Consider the matter dropped.
-Tom
Time: 10:40 AM EDT
To: Tom Stern
From: Debra Messing
Re: Dirty dancing
Tom i just received your glorious calla lillies
what a sweet note
apology accepted - bygones
love you, let's keep making great work together
--
Sent from my iPhone.
Sorry for typos, I'm an actress not an English teacher!
Time: 8:10 AM PDT
To: Debra Messing
From: Tom Stern
Re: Re: Dirty dancing
I meant every word. I was sick that I caused you a moment of distress. You know you're my best girl! 🙂
-Tom
Time: 1:12 PM PDT
To: Debra Messing
From: Tom Stern
Re: Re: Dirty dancing
I KNOW I SWORE I'D NEVER BRING UP "DD" AGAIN but:
Diane Lane, Sharon Lawrence, Laura Linney, Sutton Foster, Maria Bello, Julie Bowen, Bellamy Young, Sharon Stone, Linda Fiorentino, Judy Davis, Lucy Liu, and RuPaul all passed on Marjorie. The part is yours if you want it.
-Tom
Time: 4:15 PM EDT
To: Tom Stern
From: Debra Messing
Re: Dirty dancing
Do I get a song?
--
Sent from my iPhone.
Sorry for typos, I'm an actress not an English teacher!
Time: 1:22 PM PDT
To: Debra Messing
From: Tom Stern
Re: Re: Dirty dancing
Firm maybe.
-Tom
Time: 4:26 PM EDT
To: Tom Stern
From: Debra Messing
Re: Dirty dancing
Good enough for me!
--
Sent from my iPhone.
Sorry for typos, I'm an actress not an English teacher!
Previously: Debra Messing's Second Onstage In Her Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon Début