‘Shrinking’ Actress and Music Supervisor Christa Miller on Pulling the Strings Behind the Scenes

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Christa Miller plays two roles in Apple TV+’s “Shrinking”: Apart from her character, Liz, who is both a peculiar neighbor and friend to Jason Segel’s character, Jimmy, she has also been one of the music supervisors for the show since its premiere.

Music supervision was a journey that began for Miller on shows such as Ted Lasso, Cougar Town, and Scrubs. As Miller explains to The Hollywood Reporter, “I started working on the Scrubs pilot, but Bill [Lawrence, creator and Miller’s husband] wasn’t satisfied with the music selection, and couldn’t find suitable tracks.” Being a New York native who occasionally DJed, and knowing Bill’s musical preferences, I proposed taking a shot at it. I did so, and his response was, “You’re handling the music now.” Thus, I functioned as an unaccredited music supervisor on Scrubs.

Miller’s tenure on ABC’s “Cougar Town” led to her meeting Tony Von Pervieux, who later became her music supervision collaborator for all their upcoming ventures. Miller enjoys her second job on “Shrinking” greatly, often creating playlists and storing songs for possible episodes during her spare moments. However, she acknowledges that she can’t commit to it full-time because it requires a lot of effort.

Whenever we’re cruising to our dinner dates, I sneakily introduce Lawrence to my top-notch playlists in the car. By the time these tunes pop up in post-production, which might be around 10 months later, they seem like catchy radio hits to him. It makes pitching new music a breeze! Laughs as I say this.

In their approach, Miller and Von Pervieux emphasize showcasing fresh talents and emerging artists in their soundtracks. As she puts it, “I recognize how crucial it is for newcomers to secure placements, as television now serves as the new radio.” However, this doesn’t mean they shy away from well-known bands or popular tunes. On the contrary, they often reuse an artist’s music, especially when it aligns perfectly with the narrative or emotional tone of a particular scene. Artists like Arcade Fire, The National, and The 1975 are among those who have been repeatedly featured. “I strive to share the appreciation,” she says, “but sometimes the fit is just too perfect.

Regarding portraying Liz in the second season, Miller mentioned she aimed to honor the mothers who have entered the empty nest phase (a significant aspect of her character’s development in the second season, contributing to her subtle depression). “I wanted to show respect for those moms who seem overbearing or annoying, always organizing and helping, because they are actually supporting your life.

Originally published in a special edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine for June, you can get the magazine by clicking here to subscribe.

The story was initially featured in the June standalone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To read it, consider subscribing to the magazine by clicking here.

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2025-06-11 22:25