Leading up to the Writers Guild of Canada awards on April 23, TV, eh? is posting a series of interviews with some of nominees. Evan Thaler Hickey was nominated in the Children & Youth category for the “Escape Artist” episode of Connor Undercover.
Can you describe the episode, and how it fit into the Connor Undercover season?
Let’s see if I can do this without being too spoiler-y! “Escape Artist” is one of the hinge episodes in Connor’s second season. Up to that point, Connor (our secret agent in training) and Gisela (his protectee) have been working to keep Gisela safe from a faceless adversary bent on capturing her (for what reason, no one knows!). But now, there’s a new player in town who knows who’s behind the entire conspiracy; and he’s playing a major game of cat and mouse with our two heroes as they try to capture him. Oh, and Connor and Gisela are handcuffed together the entire time. It’s a crazy thrill ride and it gives them a big clue into who the big bad of the series is.
What about this episode are you particularly proud of?
I think it’s the overall tone of the episode. Connor’s an action/adventure/comedy and the episodes sort of live or die on finding the right balance between those elements. It’s gotta be funny but not too jokey ’cause that kills the tension and the stakes have to be high but not life-threatening since it’s a kids’ show. I’d already worked on the first season of the series but writing this episode was the first time I felt I really got that. It felt good.
What does this recognition mean to you?
This is really big for me — not just because it’s the first industry award I’ve ever been nominated for but because this award’s all about writers judging writers on their writing. It’s not about what made it to the screen, it’s about the script you wrote and I think that makes it mean more than just about any other award out there. Plus, it’s made my mom really happy.
And finally (imagine my best Joan Rivers impression): what will you be wearing to the ceremony?
A look of anxiety and lots of deodorant.
