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CNN radio interview [Transcript] HAMMER: Well, we showed the kissing scene right there on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Sibila. But let`s move on with this topic. That`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Sibila Vargas joining us from Hollywood. We want to know what one of the stars of "The Bedford Diaries" thinks about all this controversy. He`s joining me live from Hollywood for a "SHOWBIZ Newsmaker" interview. Penn Badgley, he plays Owen in the series. Penn, thanks for being with us. PENN BADGLEY, ACTOR: Thank you for having me. HAMMER: Look at all this controversy that you`re now involved with. I`m curious. When you guys were out shooting the show, were you at all thinking, anywhere in your head, there is no way they`re going to let this on TV? Or that didn`t even cross your minds? BADGLEY: No. See, that`s the thing. It was a surprise, because when we were doing it, you know, we handled it responsibly. We did handle it responsibly. Nothing, we believe, was indecent. And it was something that just came as a real surprise and bewilderment to us, because you know, it was an intelligent, responsible, show. I mean, there are a lot of shows where, you know, you can see David Caruso poking at a rotting corpse, or something like that, and that`s not deemed indecent. But you know, you show us teens and young adults having sex, but you show it in a responsible manner, you know, a way that deals with it realistically, because it is -- I hate to be so cliche -- but it`s a fact of life. HAMMER: Sure. BADGLEY: I mean, it just -- it just really surprises me that I have to defend a show this way. But I am glad to do it. HAMMER: I`m curious what your other castmates think. You know, with all this buzz surrounding this controversy right at the launch of your show, and I`m sure you`ve been in touch with your classmates about this, do they all think this is pretty ridiculous? BADGLEY: Yes. Yes. I mean, I was just talking to Corri, one of the girls who -- she`s the girl who masturbates in the opening sequence of the show. And of course, you know, masturbation is just regular, normal. But we were talking about it, and it`s really -- like it`s something that was so out of our heads that, like, it was just so unexpected. All of us, you know, we felt that it was decent. I mean, the whole debate here is decency or indecency. And we thought it was decent, you know. So... HAMMER: Your executive producer, Tom Fontana pointed out in that piece we just ran that, you know, it`s a little scary. And we`ve seen the on-scene kiss between two women before. We saw it on "The OC". We`ve seen it on "Friends". So as an actor are you a little afraid that things are getting a little too watered down? BADGLEY: Yes. NO, I definitely am. I mean, the thing is that I have no animosity towards the network. I mean, they`ve been great to us. You know, while we were shooting there was a lot of pull and tug as far as how much they wanted to push the envelope, you know. They wanted to see -- see how far we would go and we would see how far we could go, and then of course, we`d bring it back. But at the end of the day we always felt we were dealing with it responsibly and intelligently. And it was -- you know, it was decent. HAMMER: Yes. And I`m sure you`re going to be sitting at your television like the rest of your audience to see exactly how they dealt with it tonight, Penn. BADGLEY: Yes. HAMMER: I`ve got to run. BADGLEY: Yes. HAMMER: Thank you very much for joining us, Penn Badgley. BADGLEY: Thank you for having me. |
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