‘Landman’s Billy Bob Thornton Couldn’t Believe What Taylor Sheridan Made Michelle Randolph Say to Him

Billy Bob Thornton feels the same way audiences do about some of the shocking things his character, Tommy Norris, hears from his daughter Ainsley (Michelle Randolph) in Landman. Thornton leads Landman‘s cast as the eponymous fixer for the West Texas oil conglomerate, M-TEX. Landman season 1 became a global hit and one of the most-watched series ever on Paramount+, in large part thanks to the show’s entertaining Norris family dynamics.

As reported by People, Billy Bob Thornton was joined at the ATX TV Festival in Austin, Texas, by his Landman co-stars, including Michelle Randolph and Ali Larter, who plays Tommy’s ex-wife, Angela. Thornton reflected he draws on his experience of being a dad to four kids to play Tommy in Landman, and that he and his fellow actors “did become a family.” However, Thornton is also horrified by some of the dialogue between Tommy and Ainsley. Read Billy Bob’s quote below:

“I’ve been doing this for what, 79 years now. I can honestly say that this bunch did become a family and this is the best crew I’ve ever worked with… That dynamic is like real life… If my daughter said what she says to me, I would have a seizure.”

Why Ainsley & Tommy’s Conversations In Landman Are So Shocking: Ainsley Has No Filter

Seventeen-year-old Ainsley’s dialogue on Landman can make anyone blush. When Ainsley was introduced, she spoke frankly – too frankly – about sex to her father, Tommy. Ainsley’s declaration about her sex rule with her boyfriend instantly became a meme and was the first thing about Landman that went viral. Even 27-year-old Michelle Randolph has said she would never say some of the things Ainsley says to her own father. Ainsley’s oversexualization is one of the controversial aspects of Landman.

While Billy Bob Thornton and his character “would have a seizure” at Ainsley’s directness, Tommy actually does have thick skin when it comes to his ex-wife, Angela. Ainsley’s brashness and openness reflect her mother’s, and Angela is even more outrageous than her teenage daughter. Angela’s antics are old hat to Tommy, and he is cleared eyed about them being “oil and water” even as they to repair their marriage and family.

Our Take On Landman’s Tommy & Ainsley Conversations: Norris Family Matters Are Key To Landman’s Success

Landman is a fascinating deep dive into the world of oil drilling, conveying information that’s new to general audiences. Yet, on a human level, one of the main reasons Landman is such an addictive show to watch is the outlandish family dynamics between Tommy, Angela, Ainsley, and prodigal son, Cooper Norris (Jacob Lofland). The frankness of some of Ainsley and Tommy’s conversations is always underscored by the palpable love father and daughter have for each other, and it’s felt even when Tommy is flabbergasted at Ainsley’s behavior.

Landman is as much about the Norris family trying to reconcile and become whole again as it is about Tommy dealing with tragic accidents, lawsuits, and Mexican drug cartels in the Patch. Landman depicts an unusual, modern-day nuclear family, which sets it apart from series creator Taylor Sheridan’s other series, such as the Yellowstone franchise. Landman season 2 is filming now, and audiences can only imagine what new things Ainsley will say to Tommy that would make him “have a seizure.”