Deep into its second season, ABC’s “A Million Little Things” is still rocked by the suicide of Jon Dixon (Ron Livingston), a successful businessman who seemed to have it all. The subsequent revelation of cracks in his marriage to Delilah (Stephanie Szostak) painted a darker picture of what was troubling him. Shock waves reverberated through their circle of friends when it was revealed that Delilah was pregnant by Jon’s best friend, Eddie (David Giuntoli).
Creator D.J. Nash spoke to The Post from his LA office about the melodrama that lurks around every corner on the ABC drama that seems guaranteed to have a Season 3 renewal.
Why is it so important to Eddie that he be named the legal father of Delilah’s baby?
It’s important for him to own this. He has made this promise to his wife Katherine (Grace Park) since they reconciled. The key to their success is honesty. As Katherine says to him in an upcoming episode, “Since you’ve been back, you’ve done everything right.”
The arrival of Eddie’s sister Lindsay, who has a drinking problem, has been alluded to a few times this season. When does she enter the picture?
Episode 16 and she’s played by Sprague Grayden. There’s a beautiful scene coming where Theo (Tristan Byon) — who seemed like a 9-year-old who doesn’t know anything when the show started — reveals that he’s aware of everything going on with his parents. Eddie becomes aware that reconnecting with his sister means he has to own all the mistakes in his life.
Let’s talk about Gary (James Roday). He has a frightening confrontation with a motorist in an upcoming episode. Is Gary in peril because of his temper?
When you beat cancer, it sometimes leaves you with a glass half-full attitude. With Gary, it triggered his anger on the heels of his breakup with Maggie (Allison Miller). Jon convinced him to beat cancer, got him mentally able to beat cancer yet he didn’t stick around. Now Gary is re-examining everything in his life. We will see him hit rock bottom. You haven’t seen anything yet.
Maggie beat cancer twice. And then you brought Eric (Jason Ritter) back into her life. He has Maggie’s brother Chad’s heart transplanted into his body. What’s Eric’s game?
Maggie is not over the loss of her brother. She feels that Chad has brought Eric to her to give her the closure she needs. She’s pursuing that friendship. It’s a really big thing but the story won’t carry through all of the remaining 10 episodes. There’s another mystery at the end of the season that will carry us into Season 3.
Rome (Romany Malco) seems to be setting himself up for defeat by obsessing that his treatment for depression will adversely affect his and Regina’s (Christina Moses) chances to adopt. Did you find in your research that the use of anti-depression meds can affect a couple’s chances for adoption?
In reality, some social workers see it as a plus if you’ve sought treatment for depression because parenthood is full of challenges. Others still see mental health problems as a stigma.
Have you found that the show has brought attention to rising suicide rates?
I was asked to do a Walk Out of Darkness in Pasadena[, California,] for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. And there was a woman there who was bubbly and she told me that she tried to take her life three times in 2018, [speaking] with the confidence and perspective that you hope everyone who’s struggling has. I walked with her and her boyfriend. The idea that this show, which is fictional, is affecting real people who are really struggling, is overwhelming. It’s why I turn off the alarm and get to work first in the morning. The opportunity to tell their stories has been the highlight of my professional career.
“A Million Little Things” airs at 10 p.m. Thursday on ABC