About
"I think that we’re chameleons. We change with the script. But I hope that what doesn’t change is the detail. I hope that with whichever show -- Man With a Plan, Will & Grace, Frasier, 2 Broke Girls -- there's so much detail that it helps describe an environment and a person."
In her three-hour-interview, Glenda Rovello discusses her early interest in design, getting her architecture degree at UT Austin, and how she got her start in production design -- working with Bruce Ryan on several television specials, including The Annual Young Comedians specials and the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards (where Madonna performed "Vogue"). She talks about her work on the John Denver special, Montana Christmas Skies, as well as her design work for The Whoopi Goldberg Show. She then details her work on the full run of Will & Grace -- outlining the design of "Will's" apartment, "Grace's" office, "Karen's" mansion, and what changes were made to sets when the show returned to NBC in 2017 after its initial run. Rovello describes designs for specific episodes of the show and shares her thoughts on the legacy of Will & Grace. She talks about the craft of production design and how the tools of her trade have changed over the years, and recalls her experiences designing for the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place and Good Luck Charlie. She recounts her work as production designer on 2 Broke Girls, describing the designs for the diner, apartment, cupcake shops, The Dessert Bar, "Oleg's" apartment, and other swing sets on the show. She talks about her design work for Man With a Plan, Disjointed, Abby's, the pilot and first season of Lopez vs Lopez, and shares her experience of production during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rovello speaks of designing for How I Met Your Father and the 2023 reboot of Frasier, describes what pilot season is like for her, and talks about production design for the pilots of The New Adventures of Old Christine, Marlon, and the 2023 reboot of Night Court. She concludes with remarks on how the industry has changed since she first started, and offers advice to aspiring production designers. A short B-roll segment highlights a gift that her crew gave her that memorialized all of the shows that she's worked on, to date. Amy Harrington conducted the interview on September 27, 2023 in Pacific Palisades, CA.
Highlights
Glenda Rovello on the design of "Will's" apartment during the initial run of Will & Grace and the important elements and decorative pieces of the set
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "We Love Lucy" which recreated sets from the I Love Lucy episodes "Job Switching," "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," and "Lucy's Italian Movie"
Glenda Rovello on her work as set decorator on the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards (where Madonna performed "Vogue")
Glenda Rovello on the diner set on 2 Broke Girls
Glenda Rovello on the design of the Pemberton's bar set on How I Met Your Father
Glenda Rovello on advice to an aspiring production designer
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her childhood and early interests; on majoring in sociology at UCLA; on getting her architecture degree at UT Austin and doing an internship with Robert Venturi; on how she got her start in production design; on working with Bruce Ryan on The Annual Young Comedians specials; on her work as set decorator on the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards (where Madonna performed "Vogue")
On her work on Montana Christmas Skies; on her work on the talk show The Whoopi Goldberg Show; on working on a talk show versus a variety show or sitcom
On being an assistant art director on the first season of Will & Grace and becoming production designer for season two and beyond; on designing the initial sets for Will & Grace; on her work process on season one of Will & Grace; on working with Max Mutchnick, David Kohan, and James Burrows on Will & Grace; on her design schedule and designing "Will's" apartment on Will & Grace
On the backdrops used on Will & Grace and how backings have evolved; on the design of "Grace's" office during the initial run of Will & Grace; on her responsibilities as production designer of Will & Grace and on how she assembles her team; on the timing of having sets completed for Will & Grace, and on making any last-minute changes; on where she sourced set pieces and props from for Will & Grace; on how closely she worked with other departments on Will & Grace and on other shows; on how actors' physicality impacted her work on 2 Broke Girls; on swing sets on Will & Grace
Chapter 2
On her approach to designing the sets for the 2017 reboot of Will & Grace, and on changes made to the original sets; on production design for the Will & Grace episodes "Lows in the Mid-Eighties," Parts I and II, "Bed, Bath and Beyond," "A Gay Olde Christmas," "Jack's Big Gay Wedding," and "We Love Lucy"; on her three Emmy wins for her work on Will & Grace and the legacy of the show; on her working relationship with Max Mutchnick and David Kohan
On the craft of production design and what she enjoys about her work; on how production design helps an audience understand a character better; on how the tools of production design have changed over the years; on her design style; on how she deals with creative block; on working within a budget; on how evolving camera technology impacts her work
On her production design work on a few episodes of Wizards of Waverly Place; on her design work on the Disney Channel series Good Luck Charlie -- interior and exterior sets
On the aesthetic on 2 Broke Girls, and working with Michael Patrick King and the show's directors; on thinking of sets like Swiss cheese, and how that applied to sets on 2 Broke Girls; on the design for the diner, apartment, cupcake shops, The Dessert Bar, "Oleg's" apartment, and other swing sets on 2 Broke Girls; on winning an Emmy for her work on 2 Broke Girls
Chapter 3
On production design for Man With a Plan, Disjointed, and Abby's, a show which shot only outside, not on stages; on production design for the pilot and the first season of Lopez vs Lopez; on her experience of production during the COVID-19 pandemic
On working with Pam Fryman on How I Met Your Father and on the designs for Pemberton's bar, "Val" and "Sophie's" apartment, and "Jessie" and "Sid's" apartment; on production design for the 2023 reboot of Frasier; on what pilot season is like for her; on production design for the pilots of The New Adventures of Old Christine, Marlon, and the 2023 reboot of Night Court
On how production design has changed since she first started; on how opportunities have changed since she first started in the industry; on her biggest mentors throughout her career; on the value of oral history interviews; on advice to an aspiring production designer; on her proudest career achievement and career regrets; on a dream project she'd love to do some day; on how she'd like to be remembered
B-roll of a gift that her crew gave her that memorialized all of the shows that she's worked on, to date
Shows
2 Broke Girls
Glenda Rovello on how actors' physicality impacted her work on 2 Broke Girls
Glenda Rovello on the aesthetic on 2 Broke Girls and working with Michael Patrick King and the writers
Glenda Rovello on working with directors on 2 Broke Girls
Glenda Rovello on thinking of sets like Swiss cheese, and how that applied to sets on 2 Broke Girls
Glenda Rovello on the diner set on 2 Broke Girls
Glenda Rovello on the apartment set on 2 Broke Girls
Glenda Rovello on the multiple cupcake shop sets on 2 Broke Girls and the set for The Dessert Bar
Glenda Rovello on designing the set for "Oleg's" apartment on 2 Broke Girls, and on designing additional swing sets
Glenda Rovello on winning an Emmy for her work on 2 Broke Girls
Abby's
Glenda Rovello on production design for the series Abby's, a show which shot only outside, not on stages
Annual Young Comedians Show, The
Glenda Rovello on the first project she worked on with production designer Bruce Ryan -- one of The Annual Young Comedians specials, and on the role of a production designer on a variety special
Disjointed
Glenda Rovello on working with creators David Javerbaum and Chuck Lorre on the Netflix series Disjointed
Glenda Rovello on designing the dispensary set for the Netflix series Disjointed
Glenda Rovello on Disjointed's twenty-episode pickup and how that impacted her design work
Frasier
Glenda Rovello on production design for the 2023 reboot of Frasier, and on admiring the designs of the original Frasier sets
Good Luck Charlie
Glenda Rovello on her production design work on the Disney Channel series Good Luck Charlie -- designing interior and exterior sets
How I Met Your Father
Glenda Rovello on working with Pam Fryman on How I Met Your Father, and on how involved the executive producers from How I Met Your Mother were with the show
Glenda Rovello on the design of the Pemberton's bar set on How I Met Your Father
Glenda Rovello on the design of "Val" and "Sophie's" apartment on How I Met Your Father
Glenda Rovello on the design of "Jessie" and "Sid's" apartment on How I Met Your Father -- an original set from How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
Glenda Rovello on working with Pam Fryman on How I Met Your Father, and on how involved the executive producers from How I Met Your Mother were with the show
Glenda Rovello on the design of "Jessie" and "Sid's" apartment on How I Met Your Father -- an original set from How I Met Your Mother
I Love Lucy
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "We Love Lucy" which recreated sets from the I Love Lucy episodes "Job Switching," "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," and "Lucy's Italian Movie"
I Love Lucy: "Job Switching"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "We Love Lucy" which recreated sets from the I Love Lucy episodes "Job Switching," "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," and "Lucy's Italian Movie"
I Love Lucy: "Lucy Does a TV Commercial"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "We Love Lucy" which recreated sets from the I Love Lucy episodes "Job Switching," "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," and "Lucy's Italian Movie"
I Love Lucy: "Lucy's Italian Movie"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "We Love Lucy" which recreated sets from the I Love Lucy episodes "Job Switching," "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," and "Lucy's Italian Movie"
Lopez vs Lopez
Glenda Rovello on production design for the pilot and the first season of Lopez vs Lopez
Glenda Rovello on the kitchen set and how it changed on Lopez vs Lopez
Man With a Plan
Glenda Rovello on her approach to production design for Man With a Plan and how the Pittsburgh setting influenced her designs
Marlon
Glenda Rovello on production design for the pilot of Marlon
Montana Christmas Skies
Glenda Rovello on her work as an art director on the John Denver special Montana Christmas Skies
MTV Video Music Awards
Glenda Rovello on her work as set decorator on the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards (where Madonna performed "Vogue")
New Adventures of Old Christine, The
Glenda Rovello on production design for the pilot of The New Adventures of Old Christine
Night Court
Glenda Rovello on production design for the pilot of the 2023 reboot of Night Court
Whoopi Goldberg Show, The
Glenda Rovello on her work on the talk show The Whoopi Goldberg Show
Will & Grace
Glenda Rovello on being an assistant art director on the first season of Will & Grace and becoming production designer for season two and beyond
Glenda Rovello on designing the initial sets for Will & Grace
Glenda Rovello on her work process on season one of Will & Grace, and on James Burrows' idea to raise the kitchen in "Will's" apartment
Glenda Rovello on Will & Grace creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan's views on production design
Glenda Rovello on working with James Burrows on Will & Grace and his input on the production design
Glenda Rovello on how much time she had to design and oversee the creation of sets on Will & Grace
Glenda Rovello on the design of "Will's" apartment during the initial run of Will & Grace and the important elements and decorative pieces of the set
Glenda Rovello on the backdrops used on Will & Grace and how backings have evolved
Glenda Rovello on the design of "Grace's" office during the initial run of Will & Grace
Glenda Rovello on her responsibilities as production designer of Will & Grace, and on how she assembles her team
Glenda Rovello on the timing of having sets completed for Will & Grace, and on making any last-minute changes
Glenda Rovello on where she sources set pieces and props from for Will & Grace
Glenda Rovello on how closely she worked with other departments on Will & Grace and on other shows
Glenda Rovello on how sets changed during the original run of Will & Grace
Glenda Rovello on swing sets on Will & Grace
Glenda Rovello on swing sets for "Karen's" mansion on Will & Grace
Glenda Rovello on her approach to designing the sets for the 2017 reboot of Will & Grace and on changes made to the original sets
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episodes "Lows in the Mid-Eighties," Parts I and II (set in the 1980s)
Glenda Rovello on her memories of the first Will & Grace episode back after 9/11 ("Bed, Bath and Beyond")
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "A Gay Olde Christmas"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "Jack's Big Gay Wedding"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "We Love Lucy" which recreated sets from the I Love Lucy episodes "Job Switching," "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," and "Lucy's Italian Movie"
Glenda Rovello on her three Emmy wins for her work on Will & Grace
Glenda Rovello on the legacy of Will & Grace
Will & Grace: "A Gay Olde Christmas"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "A Gay Olde Christmas"
Will & Grace: "Jack's Big Gay Wedding"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "Jack's Big Gay Wedding"
Will & Grace: "We Love Lucy"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "We Love Lucy" which recreated sets from the I Love Lucy episodes "Job Switching," "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," and "Lucy's Italian Movie"
Wizards of Waverly Place
Glenda Rovello on her production design work on a few episodes of Wizards of Waverly Place
Topics
9/11
Glenda Rovello on her memories of the first Will & Grace episode back after 9/11 ("Bed, Bath and Beyond")
Advice
Glenda Rovello on advice to an aspiring production designer
Classic TV Series Episodes
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episodes "Lows in the Mid-Eighties," Parts I and II (set in the 1980s)
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "A Gay Olde Christmas"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "Jack's Big Gay Wedding"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "We Love Lucy" which recreated sets from the I Love Lucy episodes "Job Switching," "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," and "Lucy's Italian Movie"
Comedy
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episodes "Lows in the Mid-Eighties," Parts I and II (set in the 1980s)
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "A Gay Olde Christmas"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "Jack's Big Gay Wedding"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "We Love Lucy" which recreated sets from the I Love Lucy episodes "Job Switching," "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," and "Lucy's Italian Movie"
COVID-19 Pandemic
Glenda Rovello on her experience of production during the COVID-19 pandemic
Emmy Awards
Glenda Rovello on her three Emmy wins for her work on Will & Grace
Glenda Rovello on winning an Emmy for her work on 2 Broke Girls
First Big Break
Glenda Rovello on how she got her start in production design
Health and Medicine
Glenda Rovello on her experience of production during the COVID-19 pandemic
Historic Events and Social Change
Glenda Rovello on her memories of the first Will & Grace episode back after 9/11 ("Bed, Bath and Beyond")
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "A Gay Olde Christmas"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "Jack's Big Gay Wedding"
Glenda Rovello on the legacy of Will & Grace
Glenda Rovello on her experience of production during the COVID-19 pandemic
LGBTQIA+
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "A Gay Olde Christmas"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "Jack's Big Gay Wedding"
Glenda Rovello on the legacy of Will & Grace
Memorable Moments on Television
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "We Love Lucy" which recreated sets from the I Love Lucy episodes "Job Switching," "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," and "Lucy's Italian Movie"
Pivotal Career Moments
Glenda Rovello on how she got her start in production design
Pop Culture
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episodes "Lows in the Mid-Eighties," Parts I and II (set in the 1980s)
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "A Gay Olde Christmas"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "Jack's Big Gay Wedding"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "We Love Lucy" which recreated sets from the I Love Lucy episodes "Job Switching," "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," and "Lucy's Italian Movie"
Representation on Television
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "A Gay Olde Christmas"
Glenda Rovello on production design for the Will & Grace episode "Jack's Big Gay Wedding"
Glenda Rovello on the legacy of Will & Grace
Technological Innovation
Glenda Rovello on how the tools of production design have changed over the years
Glenda Rovello on how evolving camera technology impacts her work
Television Industry
Glenda Rovello on advice to an aspiring production designer
Glenda Rovello on how opportunities have changed since she first started in the industry
Professions
Designers
Glenda Rovello on working with Bruce Ryan and on the role of a production designer for variety shows
Glenda Rovello on the design process of working on talk shows versus variety shows
Glenda Rovello on her responsibilities as production designer of Will & Grace, and on how she assembles her team
Glenda Rovello on the craft of production design and what she enjoys about her work
Glenda Rovello on how production design helps an audience understand a character better
Glenda Rovello on how the tools of production design have changed over the years
Glenda Rovello on her design style
Glenda Rovello on how she deals with creative block
Glenda Rovello on working within a budget
Glenda Rovello on how evolving camera technology impacts her work
Glenda Rovello on how production design has changed since she first started
Glenda Rovello on how opportunities have changed since she first started in the industry
Glenda Rovello on her biggest mentors throughout her career
Glenda Rovello on advice to an aspiring production designer
Production Designer
Glenda Rovello on working with Bruce Ryan and on the role of a production designer for variety shows
Glenda Rovello on the design process of working on talk shows versus variety shows
Glenda Rovello on her responsibilities as production designer of Will & Grace, and on how she assembles her team
Glenda Rovello on the craft of production design and what she enjoys about her work
Glenda Rovello on how production design helps an audience understand a character better
Glenda Rovello on how the tools of production design have changed over the years
Glenda Rovello on her design style
Glenda Rovello on how she deals with creative block
Glenda Rovello on working within a budget
Glenda Rovello on how evolving camera technology impacts her work
Glenda Rovello on how production design has changed since she first started
Glenda Rovello on how opportunities have changed since she first started in the industry
Glenda Rovello on her biggest mentors throughout her career
Glenda Rovello on advice to an aspiring production designer
Genres
Children's Programming
Glenda Rovello on her production design work on the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place and Good Luck Charlie
Comedy Series
Glenda Rovello on her early design work on Will & Grace
Glenda Rovello on her approach to designing the sets for the 2017 reboot of Will & Grace, production design for specific episodes; her three Emmy wins for her work on Will & Grace and the legacy of the show
Glenda Rovello on the aesthetic on 2 Broke Girls and working with Michael Patrick King and the show's directors; on thinking of sets like Swiss cheese, and how that applied to sets on 2 Broke Girls; on the design for the diner, apartment, cupcake shops, The Dessert Bar, "Oleg's" apartment, and other swing sets on 2 Broke Girls; on winning an Emmy for her work on 2 Broke Girls
Glenda Rovello on production design for Man With a Plan, Disjointed, and Abby's, a show which shot only outside, not on stages; on production design for the pilot and the first season of Lopez vs Lopez
Glenda Rovello on production design for How I Met Your Father, the 2023 reboot of Frasier; and on pilot season -- specifically on production design for the pilots of The New Adventures of Old Christine, Marlon, and the 2023 reboot of Night Court
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Glenda Rovello on the first project she worked on with production designer Bruce Ryan -- one of The Annual Young Comedians specials, and on the role of a production designer on a variety special
Glenda Rovello on her work as set decorator on the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards (where Madonna performed "Vogue")
Glenda Rovello on her work as an art director on the John Denver special Montana Christmas Skies
Service Shows
Glenda Rovello on her work as an art director on the Abs of Steel and Buns of Steel workout videos
Talk Shows
Glenda Rovello on her work on the talk show The Whoopi Goldberg Show
People
Andy Ackerman
Glenda Rovello on working with director Andy Ackerman
Thomas Azzari
Glenda Rovello on production design for the pilot of the 2023 reboot of Night Court
Phil Baker
Glenda Rovello on her production design work on the Disney Channel series Good Luck Charlie
Steve Binder
Glenda Rovello on working with Steve Binder on the John Denver special Montana Christmas Skies
Conny Boettger-Marinos
Glenda Rovello on her team on Will & Grace
James Burrows
Glenda Rovello on being an assistant art director on the first season of Will & Grace and becoming production designer for season two and beyond
Glenda Rovello on her work process on season one of Will & Grace and on James Burrows' idea to raise the kitchen in "Will's" apartment
Glenda Rovello on working with James Burrows on Will & Grace and his input on the production design
Glenda Rovello on production design for the 2023 reboot of Frasier
John Denver
Glenda Rovello on her work as an art director on the John Denver special Montana Christmas Skies
Amy Feldman
Glenda Rovello on her team on Will & Grace
Pamela Fryman
Glenda Rovello on working with Pam Fryman on How I Met Your Father
Peter Gurski
Glenda Rovello on her team on Will & Grace
David Javerbaum
Glenda Rovello on working with creators David Javerbaum and Chuck Lorre on the Netflix series Disjointed
Michael Patrick King
Glenda Rovello on working with Michael Patrick King on 2 Broke Girls and his design aesthetic
Glenda Rovello on the diner set on 2 Broke Girls
David Kohan
Glenda Rovello on being an assistant art director on the first season of Will & Grace and becoming production designer for season two and beyond
Glenda Rovello on Will & Grace creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan's views on production design
Glenda Rovello on her working relationship with Max Mutchnick and David Kohan
Chuck Lorre
Glenda Rovello on working with creators David Javerbaum and Chuck Lorre on the Netflix series Disjointed
Madonna
Glenda Rovello on her work as set decorator on the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards (where Madonna performed "Vogue")
Dennis Miller
Glenda Rovello on the first project she worked on with production designer Bruce Ryan -- one of The Annual Young Comedians specials hosted by Dennis Miller
Max Mutchnick
Glenda Rovello on being an assistant art director on the first season of Will & Grace and becoming production designer for season two and beyond
Glenda Rovello on Will & Grace creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan's views on production design
Glenda Rovello on how she got specific set items for Will & Grace
Glenda Rovello on her working relationship with Max Mutchnick and David Kohan
Bruce Ryan
Glenda Rovello on the first project she worked on with production designer Bruce Ryan -- one of The Annual Young Comedians specials, and on the role of a production designer on a variety special
Glenda Rovello on her work process on season one of Will & Grace and on James Burrows' idea to raise the kitchen in "Will's" apartment
Glenda Rovello on her biggest mentors throughout her career -- Bruce Ryan
Mike Smith
Glenda Rovello on her biggest mentors throughout her career -- Mike Smith
Drew Vaupen
Glenda Rovello on her production design work on the Disney Channel series Good Luck Charlie
Marlon Wayans
Glenda Rovello on production design for the pilot of Marlon