Ghosts creators discuss CBS vampire comedy Eternally Yours after its premiere

Centre · 1Joe Port and Joe Wiseman, the creators of CBS's Ghosts, launched the vampire comedy Eternally Yours on CBS's Thursday night lineup, after more than a decade of development. 1 Centre · 2The show centres on a vampire family: Charles (Ed Weeks) and his wife Liz (Allegra Edwards), their vampire children Emma (Helen J. Shen) and Jesse (Parker Young), Jesse's human wife Phyllis (Rose Abdoo), and their half-human, half-vampire sons Henry (Shylo Molina) and Mort (Tristan Michael Brown). 1 2 Centre · 2In the pilot, Emma's boyfriend Max (Jaren Lewison) is turned into a vampire after a freak accident that would otherwise have killed him; TVLine says Charles gave him the new life begrudgingly. 1 2

Centre · 2Wiseman said the central relationship of Liz and Charles is loosely based on Port and Wiseman themselves, who were 15 or 16 years into a writing partnership when they conceived it and wanted to dramatize people who are contractually stuck together. 1 2 Centre · 2Port said he found it funny that films such as Twilight show characters making an eternal commitment without confronting the long-term consequences. 1 2 Centre · 1Wiseman compared Charles and Liz to Frank and Marie from Everybody Loves Raymond, who were confrontational but clearly cared for each other, and said the pair do love each other despite 500 years of built-up resentment. 2

Centre · 1According to Deadline, Port and Wiseman sold the pilot to CBS more than 11 years ago, but it was never shot, and they assumed it was dead until they began working on Ghosts. Wiseman said CBS thought of them for Ghosts because of the script, and that Ghosts' success later let them revisit it. 1 Centre · 1Port said the pilot is very similar to the script written 11 years ago, with changes mainly because of shooting in Montreal in winter; the accident that turns Max, for example, used to be a car crash outside and now involves a telekinesis attempt. He said the timing also shaped the cast. 1 Centre · 1Port said six years on Ghosts gave them a template for doling out mythology and pacing a season, and Wiseman said it reinforced that supernatural stories must stay grounded and relatable. Wiseman also said a crossover with Ghosts is something they would definitely try. 1

Centre · 2Looking ahead, the creators said Max starts in denial but becomes an enthusiastic student of vampire lore who is uncomfortable with feeding on humans. Port called him a "change agent" who will highlight practices that are not completely moral or ethical, including Jesse wiping Phyllis's memory, which they plan to explore early on. 1 2 Centre · 1TVLine reported that in the second episode Max skips the family's guidance to attend a work presentation, gets sunburned and nearly bites a colleague before Charles intervenes, and that the show's Seattle setting and strong sunblock help the vampires with sunlight. 2