Brown, creator Dan Fogelman, and Susan Kelechi Watson offer insights into Randall’s future.
(He was still musing, as was she.)
Of course, the show had dropped clues about the POTUSibility earlier this season.
Ron Batzdorff/NBC
(He did.)
So clearly, there you have it: A definite… um, strong possibility.
“We had debated so many different things,” Fogelman says.
Sterling K. Brown as Randall Pearson.Ron Batzdorff/NBC
“Randall’s endpoint was often very debated.
)Tweeted Brown: “#AaronSorkin, if you are serious, I would be honored.”
The tweet “got a little bit of traction,” Brown recalls.
Susan Kelechi Watson and Sterling K. Brown on ‘This is Us’.NBC
I was like, ‘You’re a crazy so-and-so.’
But in his mind, he was off to the races.
He’s like, ‘And so it begins.'”
I actually thought it was kind of genius."
“They are fewer and farther between than we would care to admit.
So I’m excited about it for him.
The answer is unequivocally no.
The size of that “if” is up for inspection.
Fogelman doesn’t necessarily consider it a done deal that Randall will run.
Or do you think he goes all the way?
And if Aaron Sorkin wants to rebootThe West Wingwith Randall, then I give it to him.”
Fair enough, Dan, but in your mind, do you have a definitive answer of what happens?
“I do have a definitive answer in my mind.”
The man at the center of the story has a few thoughts on what might happen next.
And if Randall does run, does he live up to his pledge and win the biggest election imaginable?
That’s where Brown remains hopeful, but is a bit more prudent.
“I don’t know.
I mean, everybody thinks they’re going to win, right?”
Brown says with a laugh.
I have to isolate one from the other because the country itself tends to oscillate.
But I do think he is a charismatic individual who connects with people in an authentic way.
And that being said, his chances are pretty good."
“In my mind, I think it happens.”
Of course, we need to bring into the equation a key person: Beth.
Randall did say that she’d have to sign off on such an endeavor.
You’re going to have me thinking aboutpresidential stuff?
It would be so huge if he did, but I don’t know.
I always venture to root for the biggest, boldest dream.
So maybe he does run.
I’m still gonna run my dance studio, though.
He better not stop my dream!"
“She doesn’t have to give up the dance studio.
It’s a short commute between D.C. and Philadelphia.”
Realistically speaking, what are the chances of seeing this (or any) extension of the Pearson universe?
“It does feel like the book is closed to me,” opines Watson.
I feel like we’ve told it to the best of our ability.
I’m happy to step away from that as is.
I’m sentimental that way.
I like things as is."
Brown leaves the door open just a skosh more.
If somebody else said, ‘You know what?
I’m thinking about taking thatThis Is Usthing and doing…’ you ain’t Dan Fogelman.
I’m good."
