America has an undeniable true crime fixation.
Peacock’s new darkly comedic thrillerBased on a True Storyseeks to answer that question.
To complicate matters, they’re expecting their first child.
Kaley Cuoco, Tom Bateman, and Chris Messina in ‘Based on a True Story’.Elizabeth Morris/PEACOCK
“The script I really liked.
There’s some great writing in there.
And there was so many twists and turns,” he tells EW.
Ava (Kaley Cuoco) attends a very stressful dinner party and auction in ‘Based on a True Story’.Erica Parise/PEACOCK
“I have always loved true crime.
I think that it’s in addiction,” she says.
“You’re watching sometimes very good people do very bad things.
Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina behind the scenes of ‘Based on a True Story’.Elizabeth Morris/PEACOCK
I’d never seen anything like it.”
(As Bateman aptly put it later, “That house was mental, wasn’t it?")
It was also hard to follow along with the script, because there was so much improv going on.
Aaron Staton rehearsing a scene in episode 106 of ‘Based on a True Story’.Erica Parise/PEACOCK
When EW later mentions this to the stars, they laugh.
“No one could follow.”
Did he find that difficult, as an actor?
Chris Messina and canine actor Gus on ‘Based on a True Story’.PEACOCK
“I did,” he says, admitting that Cuoco is more natural with it.
“He’d be like, ‘Are we being funny today?
Are we crying today?
What is the scene?’
I’m like, ‘I don’t know, bro.
We’ll go out there and figure it out,'” Cuoco says with a laugh.
“And that’s the fun of it, too,” Messina concedes.
“You’re constantly walking a tightrope.
you’re free to easily fall, but when you didn’t, sometimes it was magical.”
For his part, Bateman says the opportunity to do so much improv was thrilling for him.
“It was something that they actively encouraged very, very early on.
Let’s just go.
We roughly know what it is.’
And it’s a way I love to work.”
“It was amazing.
And she was very protective.
She’s an avid animal lover,” Messina brags of his costar.
“I don’t love working with animals.
I just I’m not a fan of it.
There’s things that I’ve seen.
You know, we’ve all seen the good and bad of things,” Cuoco explains.
“But this situation was actually incredible.
The trainers were amazing.
The dog was so loved.
She continues, deadpan, “He nailed it every time, something Chris didnotdo.
And I kept saying [to him], ‘Look at this dog.
Look at the professionalism.
He’s on his mark.
He never forgets his line.
He’s on it.'”
Says Cuoco, “It’s a really fun show.
It’s about a relationship that is actually really sweet and fun.
And these episodes move really fast.
They’re easy to watch.”
Plus, adds Messina, “We’d like to do more.
There’s more to do with these characters.
So, hopefully [viewers] enjoy it.”
All episodes ofBased on a True Storystart streaming June 8 on Peacock.
