Return to Eastwick
by Megan Walsh-Boyle  October 14, 2009 08:44 AM EST
First, army ants attack, putting her in a coma in Episode 1. And last week a fire broke out in her hospital bed. Clearly, devilish Darryl Van Horne (Paul Gross) has it in for poor Bun Waverly (Veronica Cartwright), the Head of the Eastwick Historical Society, but why? And how long before she’s vomiting cherry pits? Cartwright, who famously did just that as puritanical Felicia Alden in the 1987 movie “The Witches of Eastwick,” conjures up some answers to our burning Eastwick questions.

Will dear ol’ Bun ever get out of the hospital?
Last week a magical book caught on fire while Bun was sleeping and I thought, “Oh, my gosh, she’s going to end up in a burn ward now!” But she escapes this week. [Laughs] She’s not quite sure what she’s talking about and has no idea where she is, but she’s out of the hospital, so that’s good. And then things really start happening. It’s really good—I’m having a ball!

We don’t know much about Bun—what can you tell us?
We find out she’s actually a witch, which she doesn’t know at this point—she lost her memory of it. As we go along, more and more things will be revealed, like Eleanor Rougemont (Cybill Shepherd), another witch and Bun were the Roxy, Joanna and Kat of their generation. Now the cycle is starting over again, so it gets really interesting.

About that third original witch—when are we going to meet her?
In time...I don’t want to reveal everything, but, yes, the third witch is made known.

When are Roxy, Joanna and Kat going to become fully aware of their witchyness?
We have a huge Halloween show [airing October 28] with coffins and bonfires and rain, a kidnapping and attempted murder. Things happen that the girls don’t understand—it’s just mind-boggling. They start realizing they have powers and it comes out in Episode 8 that they’re [witches].

So are these good or bad witches?
I think they are basically witches that find themselves doing things that maybe somebody might think are wrong, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are wrong. [Laughs] They do some pretty gruesome things.

Are there similarities between Bun and Felicia Alden, the character you played in “The Witches of Eastwick” film?
I still get wonderful things to do and Bun’s still off-the-wall. I was a witch in [the movie] also, but I didn’t realize it—I just kept seeing visions. Because Felicia knew Darryl Van Horne (Jack Nicholson) wasn’t right—that he was the Devil—he had to kill me. And, of course, I got to go out with a bang and glory. [Laughs] I had so, so much fun doing that!

And like Felicia, Bun is a threat to Darryl…
Of course, we have to slow things down a little. I don’t want to be exorcised in the first 13 episodes. [Laughs] It becomes sort of like a give and take. Bun’s knows something is wrong with Darryl, but not quite sure what since she doesn’t have her memory back. She finds herself doing things that she can’t explain. In a weird sort of a way she’s a hybrid of Felicia.

Jack Nicholson was just perfect as the mysterious stranger Darryl Van Horne. Tough shoes to fill—how do you think Paul Gross is doing?
I think Paul is fabulous—he’s so wicked and fun and he has Jack’s eyebrows! [Laughs] What was so great about Jack was he wasn’t like Mr. McSteamy—he was everyman and that in a weird sort of way is what makes it scarier. Paul’s got a lot of great qualities that he can make the part his own—he’s not going to be compared to Jack. We had a really creepy, creepy scene where he gets into bed with me and it was so cool—you get to look forward to that!

Sounds like you’re hooked on this Eastwick reincarnation…
It’s different than what’s on right now. One of my friends described it like Charlie’s Angels. In a way, they are like detectives trying to figure out what’s making them tick. It’s escapism and I think fantasy is good and we all need it in our lives.

You have appeared in enough spooky films to merit your own marathon! Of all them, which you recommend as a must-see this Halloween season?
I did a Twilight Zone, which they show every Halloween, called “I Sing the Body Electric” [written] by Ray Bradbury. And, of course, “The Birds” is a good one to see and “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” and “Alien.” I did “Candyman II,” and if you want a lighter note I did “Scary Movie 2,” singing “Hello Dolly” and spoofing “The Exorcist.” God, I’ve done a lot of scary movies!

 

STARLOG INTERVIEW 2007

     
 

 

SUN Newspaper March 2006

Veronica in INSIGHT

Veronica in "The Birds" interview

Veronica in "CSI"

SCENE FROM BAYWATCH  

SCENES FROM THE RAT PACK
 

EASTWICK

 

 

 

 

 

 

Updike's novel was darker than this series is bound to be -- his witches gave a romantic rival cancer -- and the film itself was rather cruel to Veronica Cartwright, the Gladys Kravitz of the piece, humiliating her repeatedly before killing her off. As if in compensation, Cartwright has been cast here as a good guy -- the town historian and the "kooky aunt" Roxie never had -- although she is attacked by red ants in the pilot's opening minutes and spends most of the rest of it in a coma.

Robert Lloyd - LA Times