Since debuting on Paramount Network in 2018, “Yellowstone” has wholly re-defined what a small-screen Western series can be. It’s arguably done the same for cowboys, with series mastermind Taylor Sheridan delivering a cavalcade of rustlers and ranch hands that the term “colorful” doesn’t even begin to describe. And in terms of the brightly-painted personas that have populated the Dutton Ranch bunkhouse over the years, few have been quite as electric as Teeter.
Played with mush-mouthed bravado by Jen Landon, Teeter turned up at the Dutton Ranch early in Season 3 and promptly began to pursue a relationship with bunkhouse regular Colby Mayfield (Denim Richards). As Landon told ET Canada during a 2022 interview, she went into that storyline wanting to be particularly careful of her co-star’s feelings. “Before I started shooting the first episode, I got to spend a little bit of time with Denim Richards, who plays Colby, and I was like ‘Listen, gosh I’m used to this conversation happening the other way around where the male actor has to talk to the female actress … about what they’re comfortable with,'” she said.
As she went on to say, the conversation was vital in establishing boundaries between the actors as her role required her to be, shall we say, less-than-restrained in her pursuit. “I really was like, ‘We really need to have clear communication,'” Landon said, adding, “‘because I am essentially sexually harassing you for the entire first season that we do together.'”
Landon says Taylor Sheridan was wise to slowly incorporate Teeter into the Yellowstone narrative
“Yellowstone” fans no doubt agree that, while Teeter’s overly aggressive pursuit of Colby is often played for laughs, it is at times the very definition of cringe-worthy. Seems Jen Landon was acutely aware of that fact going in, telling ET Canada the storyline would’ve been even more problematic had the aggressor been male. Even then, Landon goes on to claim part of the reason it works with Teeter is because she “doesn’t really exist in a gendered world.”
Teeter playing the role of sexual aggressor is hardly shocking given her larger-than-life persona, and her unflinching flair for speaking her mind. Still, at times her personality can be downright overwhelming. That fact is also not lost on Landon, who lauds Sheridan’s writing for slowly ratcheting the role up, thus allowing viewers to build up a tolerance for Teeter’s schtick. “I thought he was really smart about not over-saturating the audience with this character because she is a certain pitch,” Landon said laughing, adding she sincerely appreciated that “he didn’t, like, ram her down people’s throats.”
That slow-roll approach clearly worked as Teeter has become a fan favorite among the “Yellowstone” bunkhouse dwellers. And as Landon herself noted, the character’s popularity feels a bit like the viewers getting hooked on something that isn’t necessarily that good for them. And yes, one could argue that is precisely how Teeter won the fair heart of dear Colby Mayfield.