As We See It on Prime Video

The folks at Prime Video were kind enough to invite me to interview the cast and crew of their new series: As We See It.

I was excited to meet Executive Producer, Jason Katims. He is the man behind some of my favorite TV shows, like: Friday Night Lights and Parenthood.

I was excited to meet the great actor Joe Mantegna. I was excited to meet Crazy Rich Asians co-star Chris Pang. I was excited to meet Kevin Bacon's daughter, Sosie. (all 3 co-star in the series)

But I had no expectation about meeting two people named: Sue Ann Pien and Albert Rutecki.

Then the folks at Prime Video were kind enough to send me advanced screeners of the 8 episodes of As We See It.

I devoured them in two days. They were that powerful, fun, funny, dramatic and moving.

They show the highs and lows of what it's like being a person on the autism spectrum and of loving someone who is.

I learned (from a press release) that stars Sue Ann Pien, Albert Rutecki and Rick Glassman not only play the 3 central characters who are on the spectrum, but that they themselves, in their real lives are also on the spectrum.

Watching their characters struggle and have breakdowns and meltdowns made me assume that the characters were probably pretty close to their real-life experiences.

But I was wrong.

The only thing Sue Ann and Albert and Rick have in common with their characters, is that they are all on the spectrum.

But, Sue Ann and Albert (I didn't get to interview Rick) are nothing like their characters, really. Because they are actors. Phenomenal actors!

I learned that when I got to interview them. I was expecting to meet their characters. Instead I met two people who proved to me, once again, why it's wrong to make assumptions.

Their personalities during our interviews were nothing like the characters they played.

Because they are actors!

I had never interviewed actors who I knew were on the spectrum. Probably because most of them are not employed as actors. They rarely, if ever, get real shots at roles.

Albert shared with me how many auditions he had been on, over the years, but never got cast. He and Sue Ann have dreamed for years about getting their big break. But it never happened, until now.

Jason Katims was determined to cast people in these roles, who came from similar backgrounds. And in doing so, he is showing me and everyone who watches, just how extraordinary they are.

It just proves, once again, that when you give someone an opportunity, it allows them to show what they are capable of.

For years there were no women of color on the morning TV news shows. Now Robin Roberts, Hoda Kotb and Gayle King are arguably the 3 best interviewers on television. It wasn't that they suddenly became talented. It's that somebody finally gave them an opportunity.

For years, Native Americans were never cast to play Native American roles in movies and on tv. Then this past year, along came the show Reservation Dogs on Hulu. Suddenly people marveled at this talented cast. But it wasn't that these actors suddenly just hatched out of an egg. It's that somebody finally gave them an opportunity.

And so it is with: As We See It.

I can't imagine how many talented men and women there are, who happen to be on the spectrum, who dream of being actors. But who never get the opportunity. In fact employment rates, in general, are entirely too low for people on the spectrum.

I'm so grateful that Jason Katims has given 3 talented people, their big break. I'm so grateful I got to meet two of them, to learn first-hand that they are not playing themselves on screen. They are actors. Really good actors. Who finally got an opportunity.

The stories depicted on the show, are truly eye-opening and important. But the stories behind the scenes, are just as important if not more so.