Ep. 21: "What Now?" (117)… Life After William | with Denis O'Hare

[@ThatWasUs]

How do you honor and celebrate your loved ones?

[@lavernemason6904]

My father loved to watch birds. He would point out the cardinal to my youngest sister all the time. Now that he is no longer with us, we each have a small cardinal on our mantles/shelves in our homes to look at and remember him.

[@wispycrys1]

​@lavernemason6904 my dad was an avid birder too. I have picked up the hobby since his passing. And I wear his favorite t-shirt every year on his birthday AND on the anniversary of his passing.

[@ThatWasUs]

@@lavernemason6904 What a sweet way to remember him.

[@ThatWasUs]

@@wispycrys1 A wonderful tradition!

[@lisabertossi5284]

I pay for someone’s birthday cake every year on my brother’s birthday since he passed way. It makes me feel good.

[@maryleeroth]

Bill Chott (pronounced COT) is my brother. Thank you all for recognizing his performance! I of course know how talented my brother is, but it feels incredible to hear your kind praise! I watched the episode as it aired, I bawled like a baby at that scene. And I knew that he was pulling the emotion from the fact that our own father passed unexpectedly a few months before he stepped on set to film this scene. God bless you all!

[@ThatWasUs]

We're so sorry to hear about your father passing. We loved his work on the show and we're thrilled he saw our shout out.

[@Estadisponibleparami]

This podcast is a safe place as This Is Us was. Thank you so much for being with us ❤

[@ThatWasUs]

Thanks for listening!

[@beatrizlopez2733]

Every actor on this show is incredible- from the lead actors to the cameos and even the actor who did one scene as a mail carrier wow- Susan K. Watson is currently at the public theater in NYC performing in “Good Bones” I highly recommend going to see this

[@ThatWasUs]

We adore Susan! 🥰

[@Marinus2311]

I must say that during the show I barely cried. Not because I wasn’t feeling anything or touched, because I am a big crier myself. Movies, commercials, nice words, you call it. But for some reason I was keeping everying inside of me and I couldn’t release all the emotions I was feeling while watching the series. Now, in this podcast, with you guys, putting words to ideas, emotions… relating to your characters’ experiences… you’ve loosen all the things I’ve bottled up for many years, and I have only words of gratitude for you three ❤️

[@itomanpr]

The mailman and Beth's eulogy to William...those really stuck with me. Such powerful moments created by such wonderful people. Thank you for giving us this space week after week.

[@lolak3053]

Yeah. I was a binge watcher and the mailman made me sob back when i had just recovered from William's death (while I was actually expecting Jack's one). This show!

[@BigThreeChiu]

definitely tug our heartstring 😭

[@melissapaneto2454]

Bill!!! The Mailman… he wrecked me🥹🥲😭😢 He was so good! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@mayacrosby8145]

My Mom passed away in 2016, 3 months before her 63rd birthday. I decided that we would have a birthday party for her- all of us together- to celebrate her life and our memories of her. I took pictures of us, in groups by generation, and it's become our tradition. My oldest brother passed away the very next year, and that really drove the point home that we have to show up for each other every chance we get. We still do it; children are adults now, and the photo album is almost full, but it has been one of the most meaningful, intentional things I get to be apart of in the midst of grief.

[@ThatWasUs]

What a beautiful way to celebrate and honor your family. ❤️

[@PatchesEsq]

That’s lovely.

[@jennifermalcolm6368]

P😊q

[@being_brandee]

I swear every time Sterling burst out laughing... I am laughing right along with him. It's truly infectious! 🌻💛

[@BigThreeChiu]

I know! him talking about Milo and Ron's laugh, he too have a laugh that can filled the entire room

[@kmk41111]

Goodness💗 Sully brings so much depth to these conversations! Mandy + Sterling jump in and share at the same level. I enjoy these episodes SO much.

[@BigThreeChiu]

Yes! That was us is such a beautiful extension of This Is Us. It continues to bring so much life lessons. We're definitely taking notes

[@rochelle7171]

The mailman part is one of my most memorable from the whole show. He was amazing.

[@stephbowler3141]

This podcast is Wonderful! Chris is a man of great wisdom; he has such incredible insights! Sterling is truly a man of passion! I love how he speaks with such great heart ❤ Mandy is such a delight 😊 Hearing her voice brings a smile to my face 😁 I absolutely love this podcast! ❤

[@MovableNu]

14:51 - When Randall went into the office and had to tell them he was allergic to pears? I was enraged for him! There’s no way a big finance office doesn’t have an extensive CRM database on every point person for every client. They would know someone’s preferred brand of golf glove. But they couldn’t keep a potentially deadly item away from a partner?!?! Whoo I was heated during that scene!

[@Estadisponibleparami]

Denis O'Hare and the mail carrier, Bill Chott, are so authentic. Beautiful scenes.

[@ThatWasUs]

The best.

[@jacquimonet]

Denis O’Hare is incredible in EVERYTHING! This Is Us. True Blood. Literally everything.

[@BigThreeChiu]

This Is Us inspired me to plan a fun-eral. Celebration of life filled with joy and no hard feelings. When the time comes, I envision "Circle of Life" playing, balloons everywhere, and everything a kid could wish for to have the best party

[@TheDeRaye]

"The boots were knocked" 😁

[@barbarakariuki5075]

the depth and wisdom shared in every episode... ❤

[@ThatWasUs]

Thank you for listening!

[@BigThreeChiu]

we're definitely taking notes, such a beautiful extension of this is us. expanding the blueprint of life

[@SydneyKong]

I LOVE THAT SCENEE I CRIEDDDD. EVERY TIME SOPHIE AND KEVIN WERE ON MY SCREEN I ATE THEM UP UGH SOOOO GOOODD

[@LizaJane761]

Regarding the fan segment and talking about a sign of a lost loved one. Before my Mama died I specifically told her in a letter on Mother’s Day and also when she was at home going through her transition out of this life I told her when she was on the other side I wanted her to show me she was still with us. I gave her options of rainbows, hummingbirds, butterflies. Right after she died the butterflies became the sign but even before she passed butterflies began showing up in things I would read she wrote. I wasn’t able to be there with my Mama when she took her last breath. I was 13 minutes too late. But before I left my house I looked in my back yard and saw this huge beautiful Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. For whatever reason I could not take my eyes off of it. I watched it fly across my backyard and two neighbors until it was out of sight. It was beautiful and peaceful. Not realizing until later my Mama was passing away at that time I believe she sent me that butterfly to see because I couldn’t be there with her. Another big one was the night I came home after she died the street lights in my neighborhood on my street were so bright and like halos. I thought something was wrong with my eyes! I have a picture and I took a video of it. It was unreal. My friend told me your Mama was guiding you home that night. I have so many of those stories in the 4 years she has been gone. No way to deny the signs that only she could send.

[@bellaventimiglia35]

I know that people are sharing beautiful stories about how they honor their loved ones who have passed, but I just wanted to point out Mandy Moore’s expression when they talked abt Jack coming home late. EVERY wife has had that SAME expression on her face! I had it just this past weekend when my husband came home late, and I was waiting for him bc we were going out to a family dinner FOR MY BIRTHDAY!!! (He was also late in picking me up ON OUR WEDDING DAY! 😤)

[@sophiabbrady]

Always excited for these episodes to drop!!

[@ThatWasUs]

Thank you for being here!

[@roxannekaplan2019]

Bill Chott became famous on FB after that!!

[@ThatWasUs]

Well deserved!

[@SydneyKong]

“Bill chott” aka principal laritate from wizards of waverly place

[@lukanyisonogambula5155]

I was also confused about the part in Randall's hair. I thought maybe he got it when he got the haircut with William in the barbershop😂😂

[@MsAyElEm]

It’s almost been a year since my dad passed. I started finding dimes after he passed. Also, my mom, brother & i listen to Prince in his honor. He was a huge Prince fan. 💜

[@wispycrys1]

@@MsAyElEm yes, it seems the thing with the dimes is common!

[@rileyallen152]

love this episode as always!! i got so excited when chris brought up the song no hard feelings by the avett brothers, its one of my favorites!!! love this show and podcast so much ❤

[@ThatWasUs]

We love The Avett Brothers! Thanks for listeneing!

[@christinakoch2738]

Love you guys so much!! You all are so humble and down to earth!! ❤️

[@ThatWasUs]

Thanks for being here!

[@jennybell9352]

Saying "Hello!" is super important. My partner and I also make a point of saying "thank you" when the other does simple things around the house (e.g. "Thanks for taking out the trash, Babe" ) Game changer for us

[@ThatWasUs]

We love that!

[@stefanienovodor4936]

Why did Jesse have an accent? I wonder if that’s a character choice or something they had him do. I would love to hear more. Thanks guys. Also, William told him to live. lol it’s very Randall of SKB to start growing out his hair bc of William’s passing. I’m so happy this is here for us. Such a gem.

[@wispycrys1]

@stefanienovodor4936 I asked the question about Jessie's accent on their Instagram post because I was curious about that too. Was it scripted that way or actor's choice by Mr. O'Hare?

[@Napchuli]

I believe Jessi was english? I might be wrong though...

[@wispycrys1]

@@Napchuli yes, he is - but was he scripted to be English? Or did Denis O'Hare make the acting choice to portray his character as a Brit? A lot of tv shows allow actors to make such choices, so I'm curious about that in this case.

[@Napchuli]

@@wispycrys1 the episode where Jessie and William met each other and Jessie told William his story I believe thats when his nationality was mentioned?

[@Napchuli]

@@wispycrys1 I've found it! In episode 3x08 he says "I was a bond trader in London"... sure he is telling a lie to William up to this point but I dont think the London part was untrue

[@giovanafischer8354]

Mandy looks gorgeous 💜

[@elodie_k221b]

My mom lost her grandfather shortly after I was born. When a magpie started showing up regularly at my window she saw it as a sign.

[@manishajoshi7815]

Congrats on 30k🎉

[@ThatWasUs]

Thank you so much 😀

[@TheSinlessAssassin]

omg yeah I thought drunk driving was gonna be the way Jack died, and I'm so glad it wasn't that. That he had time to make things right with his family and set them all on an upward trajectory before his untimely passing. Of course the family should have never lost him that early at all, but it was better that he died a hero saving everyone from a fire instead of dying a jealous, angry drunk.

[@Nicole-en1km]

I can’t believe they didn’t mention the Ron Howard cameo. I want to know how that came about!

[@wispycrys1]

@@Nicole-en1km yes! A definite oversight!

[@BigThreeChiu]

they end up mentioning in the finale episode

[@crystalthepetnanny]

​@BigThreeChiu yes. I don't think they said how that partnership came about with Mr. Howard though

[@BigThreeChiu]

@@crystalthepetnanny hopefully they will cover more in the next season

[@kathyjones5076]

My best friend sees butterflies and that is her touchstone to her daughter.

[@ThatWasUs]

That is so lovely.

[@VitalistCoaching]

I love seeing all the props in the background, especially the old telephone and wood paneling. I keep trying to understand the significance of the poster behind Chris. Is it Norwegian? Was there a Norway connection to This is Us that I'm missing?

[@therundownwisaaclee]

Chris is dressed like Anderson .Paak this episode lol

[@wordswrittenbyme2109]

I have alot more peace of mind about death fully believing that there is another world waiting. I love rewatching and reliving everything.

[@coreylee6166]

I was upset that jack didn't carry her luggage to the car when beca left. Had he done that he could've kissed her in front of ben.

[@FloridaKat-sw3wb]

I feel like the reason people were so desperate to know how Jack died was partially because they wanted to prepare themselves for it. I remember bracing for his death multiple times in the show. I feel like on some level as an audience member, prior to Jack’s death scene we were able to appreciate him as a current and alive character and when he died we like the Pearson kids lost our tv dad. Yes we could watch new unlocked memories (kind of like talking to someone about your parent about an unknown memory after they died…it unlocks a little bit of life. But as soon as Jack died on screen, his character was dead…even though he’s technically been dead the whole time. For us it wasn’t real until we saw it. It was a scary premonition of a future we didn’t want to come. Like a time traveler came from the future and told us our fate but we didn’t know how it would come and there was a part of me at least that hoped that if I could figure it out ahead of time I could avoid the pain of it.

[@orlan.brigino]

For me, the scary thing about death is the when. I always wonder if the things I do now are even worth it because you never know the whens of life. It makes you contemplate about shortcuts to achieve your goals and how to enjoy the little things

[@ThatWasUs]

♥

[@zspuds]

When my husband's grandmother passed away we had one of her scrub tops made into a pillow. After my husband's dad passed away we started to make his maid rites. His dad had told me he had to be around long enough to see the chiefs win a super bowl. He unfortunately passed at the start of the game for the AFC championship 2020.

[@ThatWasUs]

So sorry for your loss.

[@gumapolo]

When will be the episode with Milo out?

[@drhenning53]

They had the pictures on the Facebook feed a few weeks back so I suspect it might be next week since it's a big Jack episode with him going to the show in Cleveland..

[@drhenning53]

I am curious when they did this episode.. Mandy had her daughter last week so i suspect they had to bank episodes during summer.. Another great episode...

[@ThatWasUs]

Not too long ago! But before Louise arrived, that's true!

[@beatrizlopez2733]

❤❤❤❤

[@ericaleach1110]

Randall's job sucks and I'm glad he quit. Pears? A typed sympathy card? When I lost my dad, my job gave me flowers and a card with hand written messages

[@BigThreeChiu]

knowing Randall end up doing well gave us the strength to quit soul crushing job

[@orangeflava16]

Hot take y’all #Nutrafol 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 18:09

[@serpilsimsek1346]

Turkish subtitles please

[@stephaniecoles2138]

Chris looks kind of hot in this episode

[@mehaileyb]

🩵🩵🩵

[@aromany]

Mandy Moore could tone down a bit the over enthusiasm for EVERYTHING..it's a podcast, you're not supposed to be acting.