Terence Winter

What was happening in 1920? There's the war. World War One just ended. He had all these guys coming home. Women just got the right to vote. Prohibition itself. What were the movies? So it's like a ton of research. You know, also, how do people actually talk? I'm sure they didn't all say 23 Skidoo every five minutes. Do the Charleston was like every time you ever see anything in the 20s. Yeah.

What was happening in 1920? There's the war. World War One just ended. He had all these guys coming home. Women just got the right to vote. Prohibition itself. What were the movies? So it's like a ton of research. You know, also, how do people actually talk? I'm sure they didn't all say 23 Skidoo every five minutes. Do the Charleston was like every time you ever see anything in the 20s. Yeah.

everybody's doing the fucking Charleston. I was like, did they do, is there any other songs written between 1920 and 1930? And it's funny. I mean, I wanted to do a thing where, you know, it was like that Nucky at some point says, if I hear the Charleston one more time, I'm going to kill somebody. And it actually didn't come out till 1924 anyway. So we didn't even touch on it until way late.

everybody's doing the fucking Charleston. I was like, did they do, is there any other songs written between 1920 and 1930? And it's funny. I mean, I wanted to do a thing where, you know, it was like that Nucky at some point says, if I hear the Charleston one more time, I'm going to kill somebody. And it actually didn't come out till 1924 anyway. So we didn't even touch on it until way late.

But yeah, it was just sort of, once I started doing the research, it was just fascinating. Not, not just all the other stuff, but the prohibition stuff itself was so eyeopening. In terms of the history of how it how it even came to be. And then what a disaster it became. You know, the single biggest thing that made criminals millionaires overnight. And it was like outlawing turkey sandwiches.

But yeah, it was just sort of, once I started doing the research, it was just fascinating. Not, not just all the other stuff, but the prohibition stuff itself was so eyeopening. In terms of the history of how it how it even came to be. And then what a disaster it became. You know, the single biggest thing that made criminals millionaires overnight. And it was like outlawing turkey sandwiches.

Right. Most people didn't give like, wait, what? I've been drinking beer my whole life now. I can't do it. Fuck you. I'm going to keep doing this. And just so many failed consequences of that law.

Right. Most people didn't give like, wait, what? I've been drinking beer my whole life now. I can't do it. Fuck you. I'm going to keep doing this. And just so many failed consequences of that law.

Yeah, it was a perfect storm. I mean, yeah, you're at war with Germany and now suddenly, you know, coleslaw is Liberty cabbage and hamburgers are Liberty sandwiches. And I mean, I think half the brewers got shut down. And I got where it came from. You know, there were... It was alcoholism was devastating.

Yeah, it was a perfect storm. I mean, yeah, you're at war with Germany and now suddenly, you know, coleslaw is Liberty cabbage and hamburgers are Liberty sandwiches. And I mean, I think half the brewers got shut down. And I got where it came from. You know, there were... It was alcoholism was devastating.

You know, the cliche is the dad, you know, got paid on Friday and then you didn't see him and spent all his money at the bar. And, you know, and your family went destitute in days before social programs or even before AA was a thing, I guess. So there was a real it was a real problem.

You know, the cliche is the dad, you know, got paid on Friday and then you didn't see him and spent all his money at the bar. And, you know, and your family went destitute in days before social programs or even before AA was a thing, I guess. So there was a real it was a real problem.

Not at all. Not at all. If we were to cast the real we were to cast somebody who looked like Nucky Johnson, Jim Gandolfini would have actually been perfect. Nucky was a big, burly, bald headed guy.

Not at all. Not at all. If we were to cast the real we were to cast somebody who looked like Nucky Johnson, Jim Gandolfini would have actually been perfect. Nucky was a big, burly, bald headed guy.

You know, it started with Marty. You know, we said, all right, who are we going to get to do this? And, you know, I said, well, this is what the real guy looked like. And Marty said, well, no one's ever heard of this guy, which is also funny because when I went down to do my research in Atlantic City, the real Nucky between like 1910 and 1930 was hands down the most powerful guy in Atlantic City.

You know, it started with Marty. You know, we said, all right, who are we going to get to do this? And, you know, I said, well, this is what the real guy looked like. And Marty said, well, no one's ever heard of this guy, which is also funny because when I went down to do my research in Atlantic City, the real Nucky between like 1910 and 1930 was hands down the most powerful guy in Atlantic City.

Everybody knew him. Nothing moved without Nucky. And when I went down initially and talked to old timers and people, have you ever heard of Nucky Johnson? No, never heard of him, never heard of him. After the show, oh, yeah, Nucky, my uncle worked for Nucky. Suddenly everybody knew who he was, but nobody knew who this guy was. So Marty very correctly said, it doesn't matter, we can cast anybody.

Everybody knew him. Nothing moved without Nucky. And when I went down initially and talked to old timers and people, have you ever heard of Nucky Johnson? No, never heard of him, never heard of him. After the show, oh, yeah, Nucky, my uncle worked for Nucky. Suddenly everybody knew who he was, but nobody knew who this guy was. So Marty very correctly said, it doesn't matter, we can cast anybody.

And then he just said, well, who? Let's just name actors we like. Ed Helms. Yeah, Ed Helms was not available. Not available. And I said, well, Steve Buscemi. I always love Steve. And he goes, oh, I love Steve Buscemi. And we rattled off a couple of other names. And then he's like, all right, whatever. And a couple of days later, Marty called me up.

And then he just said, well, who? Let's just name actors we like. Ed Helms. Yeah, Ed Helms was not available. Not available. And I said, well, Steve Buscemi. I always love Steve. And he goes, oh, I love Steve Buscemi. And we rattled off a couple of other names. And then he's like, all right, whatever. And a couple of days later, Marty called me up.