The second season of Being Human kicks off on Syfy on January 16th, and the show delivered well enough the first season to warrant some real excitement when it comes to how things will continue on. It's becoming increasingly rare that British translations work out, and this one has been a welcome surprise.

To help kick things off, I have a couple of very cool clips, and an interview with the stars.

Let's just dive in.

‘Relationships’

‘A Look Ahead’

And, here's the interview.

Pictured: (l-r) Meaghan Rath as Sally, Sam Witwer as Aiden, Sam Huntington as Josh -- Photo by: Jeff Riedel/Syfy

Could you talk a little bit about what it’s been like to film season two and maybe touch upon some of the bigger things people see happening with you, and how it’s different to play these characters in the second season.

Sam Huntington: Sure, we loved the show so much, I think I can speak for all of us when I say that and so we were all really, really excited to get back.

And you know the funny thing is I personally expected it to feel a lot like just one giant bout of déjà vu and to be honest, like it really just felt as though we never had the hiatus. It just felt because it was all the same crew and a lot of the same cast it just felt like we had maybe a two day break and then we just rolled into season two, it was bizarre.

But at the same time it was great because I felt like we were able to really just pick up right where we left off which was a really cool spot. So yeah, anyway, like that.

Sam Witwer: Yeah, I guess I didn’t expect it to be - I mean okay there’s me and Sammy and Meaghan and we bonded I think all the way back during our first audition together.

But I guess you know you go away, we were so exhausted after the first season, I for months afterwards even the thought of doing season two would make me sleepy. And by - when we got back I guess I hadn’t expected to be as happy to see everyone as I was. The crew and all the directors and everyone and that kind of carried for me that carried me through the season. I wasn’t as exhausted this year, there was something about having a successful season one behind us and knowing the characters and having that momentum that was really positive this year.

Meaghan Rath: Yeah, and I think it was just script wise it was a lot easier to just fall back into it this year because there was no establishing who our characters were and what our circumstances were, we just jumped right into it. And that’s reflective of the first episode, we just get right into the story immediately which was really great.

Sam Witwer: Absolutely, and in the first season there was so much heavy lifting on everyone’s part to establish these characters and to try make this all work and now we had a - some - what do you guys think, I think we had a little bit of competence going on this time.

Sam Huntington: So much more, there was so much uncertainty in season one, it’s like imagine like any television show, your season one is you’re kind of biting your fingernails the whole time just saying to yourself God I hope people like this and I hope people watch this.

Sam Witwer: Right and you’re second guessing yourself.

What about a story line, you know what’s coming up, how season two felt different and just like the stories you’re getting to tell?

Sam Witwer: It’s extremely different, it’s very, very different. It’s - if season one was about putting these people who are at risk into a safe environment, well season two is all about what is that risk about? And I think it’s inevitable with these people and their adversities, you know specific risks that they have in terms of you know vampire, werewolf and ghost, what do those conditions mean. And basically what it means is these people are in trouble and we’re going to see a lot of that trouble this year. We’re going to see why they need so badly to have a sanctuary because things get a little bit darker this year.

It seems like your characters this season are sort of tempted by the darker parts of their natures. And are put in situations where that comes out. I was wondering how you maintain sort of their humanity when playing the dark parts and what kind of challenges there are in doing that.

Sam Witwer: Well Sam - Meg go for it.

Meaghan Rath: I was going to say I mean it’s - I think for me it’s important to keep in mind that these are real people and not to get sucked into the supernatural element of the whole thing. What makes the show different is that we’re playing into the supernatural stereotypes, we are trying to play these as regular people. So for me it’s a lot about just keeping in mind what I would do in this kind of situation and what’s great about the show is that it’s really acting, what would you do if you were put in this situation.

And so I think that’s where the humanity comes from, just being a good person and being with these challenges that sort of question your morality and your values.

Sam Witwer: Yeah I think Meaghan is absolutely right with that. For example in television we’ve kind of seen everything including vampires, werewolves and ghosts and we’ve seen people get killed and all kinds of crazy stuff.

What we’re trying to do as three actors is we’re trying to bring as much humanity into those events as possible. For example if someone dies, we’re going to show you - hopefully we’re going to tell a story where you realize that that is an awful sacrifice or that something has happened that is really, really terrible.

It’s all about the character’s reactions and I mean these three characters are the eyes through which the audience watches the show.

So we’re really trying to keep our reactions to all this giant supernatural stuff very grounded. And in terms of the dark stuff that comes up, I mean the messed up thing is that at first you’ll see our characters react with horror and shame and all this awful stuff. And then as time goes on you might see them kind of get used to it and that hopefully will be a very sad thing to watch.

Sam Huntington: Yeah, I think you just kind of hit the nail on the head. I mean a lot of times on the show I can say I think the characters are almost seeing these horrible things happen for the first time, so they’re almost like the audience. You know they’re viewing these things and so hopefully that’s what the audience can kind of grasp on to and also it helps as an actor it helps in form what you do. Because you’re like okay well what if this person was killed, what would the ramifications, what emotionally what would that mean to me and how would that affect me and how would that affect every aspect of my life.

And so it’s cool. It sets the show aside, we don’t just roll over these issues, we actually tackle them.

Pictured: (l-r) Sam Huntington as Josh, Sam Witwer as Aiden, Meaghan Rath as Sally -- Photo by: Jeff Riedel/Syfy

You guys as actors and as the characters you portray have these really likeable chemistry and it’s a very believable thing because you know you guys actually seem to get along with one another. So from season one to season two and this is sort of expanding on what a previous caller asked, how are you guys interacting differently as actors on set? Do you trust each other more, do you seek out advice from one another about how to deal with a scene? Do you feel more comfortable to bite and push back? How has your chemistry kind of changed as actors this sophomore year?

Meaghan Rath: I do not do a scene without first consulting Sam Witwer. He coaches me.

Sam Witwer: It’s true. And I give her the okay whether she should do it or not and sometimes she shouldn’t do it. I’m like look.

Meaghan Rath: Often it’s just don’t do it.

Sam Huntington: Those are horrible.

Sam Witwer: You have to march right back to the producers and tell them you’re not doing this.

Sam Huntington: Yeah it’s miserable. And I’m on the outside looking in, I’m just sitting there in my trailer waiting it out, you know what I mean?

Sam Witwer: Yeah well it’s kind of fun because Meaghan has almost gotten fired several times because of things that I told her to do.

Sam Huntington: Exactly. And the weird thing is she’s so loyal to Witwer that she won’t start, like no, there’s this guy who’s telling me not to do this.

Sam Witwer: Yeah, me and Meaghan have this relationship where it’s a little bit like the bond between kidnapper and victim.

Sam Huntington: Yes.

Sam Witwer: It’s a little bit like that.

Sam Huntington: Brainwashed.

Meaghan Rath: I have Stockholm syndrome.

Sam Witwer: So if this is partially answering your question like we really like hanging out. We really do and this year the three characters they get split up a little bit and they go off on their own little journeys and for us that just made us appreciate every time that we had a scene together all the more.

And you know I think there’s like one or two scenes with us at least in every episode with all three of us. But I think our favorite episode to shoot was this episode that’s coming up down the line. Where we’re in every scene together throughout the whole episode. That was kind of, for us it was like oh this is the way to do it, this is the way to do the show. Who needs other actors?

Sam Huntington: Yeah, it’s what the show is about and to be honest like we were comfortable with each other instantly on set. Our relationship in that regard hasn’t changed. I feel like we like pretty much learned who each other were by half way through the first season, not even and have - our friendship has grown and built and everything.

But we have so much trust and faith in one another and like I just know, when we’re in a scene with one another, it’s going to work and there’s going to be that shorthand and it’s going to be fun and it’s going to be loose and it’s going to be natural. So you just have that confidence going into it and then in all seriousness like I think we also - I can speak for myself anyway - when I have a question or if I have a concern or if I am struggling with a piece of motivation I always ask Sam or Meaghan what they think.

And because I respect and love them so much and trust them so much so it really is truly as lame as that sounds it’s kind of true and also I feel very fortunate to have that relationship with them.

Sam Witwer: I think something that’s really cool about our relationship is this thing with me and Sammy and Meaghan is that both of those actors can do a whole bunch of stuff that I can’t. And I think that’s really awesome. Like there’s not a lot of overlap in terms of personality and ability so we all have our own turf with which we have to play with but at the same time I love watching an episode and seeing what they’re doing.

Because it’s like wow, look at all the stuff that they’re bringing that I frankly don’t know how to do. I love watching them and then stealing from them when I can.

Meaghan Rath: Yah, I think the best thing about it is that the trust level has gone up so much and for me these two guys are the people I trust most on set and you always feel like in scenes you’re in good hands. Like you’re never questioning the direction the scene is supposed to go in because it just always works every time we’re together. We just are able to feed off each other in a way that I’ve never experienced before.

Sam Huntington: There’s a scene in episode one, it’s actually online right now, it’s the scene that they teased, the scene in the kitchen where Kristen comes down and she’s like you know I pulled this you know high school reunion invitation out the trashcan and Meaghan’s very funny, Kristen’s very funny.

Anyway when we - obviously it’s episode one so you get the set and you know we’re shooting that scene I’m like God is this - is it - like I couldn’t tell what I was doing, like it was still so fresh in the process of season two and we were like getting back into it. And I was like this feels good but I really hope it’s working and then you see that scene and it just - I personally think it’s fantastic. Like it just nails the relationship, it picks back up exactly where it left off.

And I was just so happy to see that.

Sam Witwer: And also Kristen Hager is just wonderful this season, she’s so great. She is such a talented actress and we - and it should be noted we feel tremendously bonded to Kristen as well.

You know she’s one of us and is really awesome when we see someone that we’ve worked with for so long and that we bonded with come to set, it’s like oh it’s her, it’s Kristen. You know she’s there a lot so that’s good.

Are we going to be seeing a lot of tension between the roommates this year and if so is it hard to keep a straight face when that happens?

Sam Witwer: We will be seeing tension between the three in ways that we didn’t see in the first seasons, things get pretty serious and I’ll say this, - the scenes feel really good when you do them. There’s some scenes that we have where we’re kind of at each other’s throats, I hope that doesn’t give too much away. And it feels really good in once sense to do because you know that you’re really cooking, like when it’s really working you feel great about that.

On the other hand I don’t like having to shout or be mean to Sammy or Meaghan, you know what I mean? That’s the tough part. Is you’re like oh, okay.

Meaghan Rath: I like when you yell at me.

Sam Witwer: But she loves it, she loves taking it.

Sam Huntington: She’s an odd duck. But you know what, you said is it hard to keep a straight face, generally speaking you know when it’s a really, really rough moment for one of us it usually means it’s a rough moment for all of us. And we always you know like we love each other so we always generally respect when somebody needs a moment or somebody needs to gather themselves for a take.

I usually give Meaghan a really hard time, but beyond that.

Meaghan Rath: It’s unreal the hard time that he gives me. No consideration at all. For the most part you’re great, but then there’s the odd moment where you just - I’m trying to focus and you’re like fake vomiting on me.

Sam Huntington: Yeah, it’s good times. Those are the nights that I sleep well, you know? But I just - oh, I lead a good day.

Sam Witwer: Or I really got her today, I really made her feel bad about herself.

Sam Huntington: Really tore her up, really made her feel (unintelligible).

Meaghan Rath: But yeah this season you will see a lot of tension between the three roommates because we all are on our own journey and trying to get ourselves out of these really desperate situations. So for the reason that we’re doing completely different things when we do come together there’s a question of can we still relate to each other and how non-judgmental are we actually going to be towards each other? And that generates a lot of tension between us.

Sam Huntington: And you know the temptation this season is just a beast. You know what I mean? Just a beast.

Are any interesting or favorite guest stars this coming season that you’d like to mention.

Sam Witwer: Mark Pellegrino.

Meaghan Rath: Yeah.

Sam Huntington: There you go.

Meaghan Rath: There are a lot of guest stars we can’t talk about.

Sam Huntington: I can tell you Kristen Hager is one of my all time favorite people to work with ever and one of the greatest scene partners and I’m such a lucky guy.

Sam Witwer, why do you think that Aidan is - seems to me so much better than other vampires as far as trying to keep his dark side in check?

Sam Witwer: Why is he trying to keep his dark side in check, well it’s interesting, again not knowing what other vampire shows are doing these days or vampire movies, I haven’t really watched them so I don’t know how new the idea of a vampire trying to become a good guys is. But our take on it with the whole drug addiction analogy is I think really fresh and cool and that analogy, that metaphor is alive and well this season in a big, big way.

And why is it, why is it cool, why - what’s better about it, yeah, I don’t know. I like the fact that this is generally - that all things considered if you take away the addiction this is a principled guy. I like that about the character and I don’t know, I really don’t know. I couldn’t tell you.

The others all seem to either embrace it, really get into it or just you know go with it, whatever and he seems to want to fight against it.

Sam Witwer: He wants to fight against it but this year you do see him embrace it a little bit. Kind of against his will, the thing that we have to remember is in the first season if he’s trying to kick the habit in a drug addiction sense well the first thing he’s got to do is stay away from his old drug buddies.

And this season he can’t so we start seeing older - we’re going to see an older version of Aidan this year and when I say older we’re going to see a worse version of him, we’re going to see some of his old character traits that he had over the past 200 years start to resurface.

We’re going to learn first hand why everyone seems to be afraid of this guy, why everyone’s - you know even in the first season Bishop gave him you know a wide berth and Marcus was wary of him and everyone was you know spoke so highly of him as this maniac, this really dangerous guy. And this year we kind of start learning why.

Sam Huntington: You see the old Aidan.

Sam Witwer: That’s right.

Being Human was originally a British show, Being Human UK so I was wondering if any of you have watched it and do you feel this coming season is a chance to break away from the original because I do know that the first season very closely matched the first season of Being Human UK.

Sam Witwer: Well this season - sorry, Meaghan you want to go?

Meaghan Rath: No, go ahead.

Sam Witwer: We as actors we didn’t watch the British series when we were shooting our first season because we wanted to do our own thing. We wanted to make sure that ours was its own animal.

And then afterward we watched it. We watched everything. I love their show and I truly dig on it and I got Sammy and Meaghan started by buying them the box sets for season one and they watched it since then, watched more of it since then.

And you know we’re all into it, but the writers, our writers hate it. No just kidding. Our writers, no our writers for the same reason that we avoided watching season one, they’ve avoided watching season two because they want season two to be its own animal.

So any - there is a little bit of cross over here and there in terms of things happening sometimes in similar ways. But it’s really coincidental considering our writers didn’t even know. So it’s interesting, whenever something would happen that was similar I’d read it in the script and kind of laugh.

Because they have no idea, but you know it’s for the most part extremely different.

RU?

© 2012, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

p/c Jeff Berlin

So, Prime Suspect is premiering tonight, and I've got an interview for you with Tim Griffin who stars as Augie Blando. It was one of the most interesting interviews I've conducted in quite a while, and I don't think I ever actually asked him a question.

Unfortunately, due to some technical issues, the first half of the interview is lost to the aether, and it wasn't until he called me back that the recorder actually recorded anything. There were serious things afoot on the technical side of things.

It's rather sad too, because we talked about all manner of great things, including how brilliant Hill Street Blues was, and how much most cop shows that are on the air right now suck. Well, except for that one you're thinking of... that one is great, but lots of the others.

If Tim's gusto for the show, and overall ability to talk it up, are any judge, this is the show you don't want to miss.

Actually, it's a really good show, and while it really bares very little resemblance to the original (and how could it?), there's something of the spirit of the original that comes through.

More on the show soon, but for now, I'll just leave you to enjoy the interview... as best as I could transcribe it. I would have edited it up more, but it was just a cool conversation. I'll warn you that, as I said, it didn't go like most interviews. I didn't really ask anything, and he didn't really "answer." We just talked, almost as though we knew each other to be honest, and I just happened to ask about the new thing he was working on. Of course, there was almost fifteen minutes or so that you aren't going to get that preceded this part, but there you go. I wish I could get that back for you, because the time I got to talk with him deserves to be up there.

Be sure to tune in tonight on NBC (at some time - check your listings), and at the bottom you'll find a couple of preview clips.
 
 

Go!

 
 
Tim - Some of these shows that have taken over and established themselves over the last fifteen years... It's a boilerplate. It could be any cast. These guys are taking these incredible stories, borrowing elements from the original, borrowing from our own personalities. Case in point, my right-hand-man on the show, and it's a friendship that just came so naturally, is Kirk Acevedo. Brilliant actor. We come from totally different backgrounds, and are totally different, but when we came together, everybody thinks we've known each other since the third grade.

It's funny because we have many mutual friends, and I was told by multiple people, "Oh, are you working with Kirk Acevedo? He's a really intense guy. Doesn't always click with everybody. So, we hang out all the time, and like to talk to the writers, and it just comes up that Kirk is like this incredible marathon runner. He did the New York Marathon in like 3 hours 7 seconds, and it kills him that he missed it by those 7 seconds. But, so, we talk to the writers, and the next thing you know, it gets worked into the script in a brilliant, hilarious way. You just get that feel, that it is a very flexible, organic thing, where they love to take stuff like that.

The more they get to know us, and that's the great thing is that everyone... everyone is very different and have these amazing personalities. And, we're all completely different, but we mesh together so well.

Just like the people you play.

Tim - Just like the people we play, exactly, to the point that they're freaked out. It's so odd. And, Damon Gupton is playing a character that's named Evrard, who is based on a real guy, and I swear to God, you put these guys next to each other, and their characteristics, their tone of voice, their demeanor, and attitude, it's freakish.

It's just one of those things where the parts just go hand in hand with the people. And, I'm playing Augie Blando, and you know, my whole four sides of my family are Irish. I'm born and raised in Chicago. My wedding ring is a Claddagh ring. What are the odds that I get to play a guy...? I mean, I've worked forever. I've never gotten to play a guy... And, people know me, I'm a... fun guy to have around. I'm just a happy guy. So, to have a character that's written...

And yet, it's funny, because I'll be the guy who comes in, and I've got to interrogate Matt Damon... you always try to find ways to get your personality in... but, I've never seen such a perfect marriage. I can't believe I'm doing a one-hour drama that has so much humor in it, that's just such a joy to play. It doesn't even feel like work at all.

That's funny, because I was going to ask you... you have kind of a complex balance that you have to go with, on the very serious show, but you're kind of the funny guy...

Tim - That's true. But, you know, you don't ever want it to be a caricature. But, like I say, they'll use things that just happen naturally.

I'll tell you what though, you know who set the tone for us? Pete Berg when we were shooting the pilot... there's a fairly brutal murder, and it's based on a real thing, you know, when the kids are watching their mother get butchered to death, and we come in, and I think it was our first day... we're all walking in, and we're thinking, "How do you react to this?" So, we did the scene, and we did the dialog as written, and Pete Berg says, you know, "That was great," but he says, "Now listen. This is a heavy situation, but you guys do this all the time. So, I know you want to pay respect, and I know you want to do this and that, but guess what, Augie, you have to take a shit like you can't believe..."

And then you suddenly realize, that's the way it is in real life. You might be doing your job, and you realize that you had ten cups of coffee before you walked into this room, and you've got to find a toilet.

And then you get Kirk Acevedo, and he see you dancing on the balls of your feet, as Pete Berg says, and he's going to fuck with you.

That really made the overall tone. You're real people, and this is your job. You're friends, and it's also like working. You realize that the real guys, that's how they approach the situation. They'll walk in and look at a stabbing victim and know that's it's going to be a mountain of paperwork, and say, "Uhhh... well, it's an obvious suicide."

It takes a special type of person to be able to do that, and not be a completely self-destructive person. And, of course, some of them are.

It's interesting that you mention that to, because, a lot of the other show that we're talking about... you know, it sucks that actors would have that said to them, but really they are kind of replaceable, because it's so about the story. But then, a lot of these shows, now they're on for like 3, 4, a jillion years, and we've been watching them all this time, and it's like they never get to that point, like you're talking about. You know, every next show, still everything is very serious, and we're always very serious.

Tim - Right. You know that I cannot name names, buy you... I mean, exactly. Which, by the way, then you get on a show, like I recurred on Grey's Anatomy for many seasons. That's a show... you know, it was a big deal to T. R. Knight when we were brought on that show, I think we were brought on the second season... as his family, because he... it was like a validation. Ok, they care enough about my character...

That I have a family.

Tim - Right. It's like let's see behind the curtain as to what makes these people tick. And, to have a show that is willing to go on those journeys.

Like, you know the show that I always throw up there... a show like LOST, when you watch a show like LOST, and you realize the journeys that those characters go on. It's so complex.

I think it's like you say, you know everything is coming full circle, and I think now they want to take this genre, out of just the, you know, Captain Serious, and put it in the real world. And, make it watchable, and give it a real voice. Which is why, you know, the cable networks are able to go out there and push the boundaries.

Yeah, you know a lot of shows on cable are doing some great things, and I think a lot of them are getting back to ideas of... you know, let's just worry about the characters, and see what happens.

Tim - Because, they're not worried about... you know, Breaking Bad isn't worried about losing sponsors, they're just saying, let's just make a great show. Of course, the networks are a little more hand-cuffed. I think that's why Bob Greenblatt is now in charge, because, you know, he took Showtime... I don't know if you remember, but Showtime was... I don't want to say a joke, but it was like...

It was very little.

Tim - I mean, it was like HBO was the brother on steroids that you could never compete with, but he brought respectability and quality, and said, let's just make quality shows. And, now he's like, let's just get back to making quality shows at NBC. Don't make shows that are disposable and fail.

On our show, you know, he was like, "You tell me." I mean, the network was very supportive of all their choice. So, you'd like stuff like that to be rewarded. You know, when you go for quality, you hope that they're proved right. On not like, you know, "Oh, thank you for trying to bring quality programming back to network TV, but we're going to watch the thing where the guy gets the football in the nuts."

Yeah, there are four reality shows on... sorry.

Tim - One of the Jersey Housewives broke off, and now she's a plumber.

You're joking, but you're unaware of the reality there.

Tim - And, you know, we're not like, oh, this is the most complex character. I mean, we're all so approachable. We just, you know, we think it's great. We're all watching the monitors during each others scenes.

Well, and like I said, it's good to see that you're really getting a big push. That's one of the scary things of network vs. cable. You know cable can usually afford to stick around for a while, and see how things develop. But, people get scared of network shows sometimes.

Tim - Well, you never say never, but it seems like they're thrilled with the show, so everything seems to suggest that they are very much behind it. It's nice to know, you know, because I've been on shows... I did a show called Against the Grain a million years ago, one of Ben Affleck's first shows... incredible pedigree cast, nice producers... the difference was, you could always tell we were fighting for our life. They put us on Friday night... at 10:00, you know. It wasn't that the network wasn't behind us, but you could tell, we weren't...

Well, you know, it's nothing that's ever changed. I mean you can tell right now, with all the fall shows... clearly your show has a huge push... and you can tell the other shows, and they might look good, but you know, it seems like I'm not hearing about them all the time.

Tim - On the flip side of that, you know Grey's Anatomy, when they first put that on as a replacement, I mean, I think the first season was like seven episodes. I don't think they really thought it would ever turn into anything. Not that they didn't, but I think it was a surprise.

And LOST. You know, I heard that the people who brought that on were like on their way out, and then it's like, wait a minute. This thing is a juggernaut. Like maybe when you see the pilot... I remember reading a review of LOST, and it's like this looks like a Nordic volleyball team got shipwrecked... I mean it was just beautiful, eye candy people... and then it's anything but that.

I think that was probably my review. I really didn't like that show at first.

Tim - I know, I mean, even me, and I did three films with J. J. Abrams - Cloverfield, Star Trek, and Super 8 - but... I remember telling him, because I was a fan, "Please tell me there's an endgame." But, I appreciate it, because it takes a lot of attention to watch the show, I mean they were almost daring you to, you know... well, if you're not going to follow it... in the end, you know people came to appreciate it. But, at the same time, I think when I first saw it too, I was like... Really?

I mean, you never know... for all I know Pan Am is going to be... I don't know... the grittiest drama since NYPD Blue, or... I don't know. Actually, I don't know anything about any other shows. I've heard, you know, everyone's like... you're on Prime Suspect... good choice. You backed the right pony. Like I had a choice.

Right. Like, I had the option to be on any show I wanted so...

Tim - Right. I turned down all those shows. I remember, it's so funny, I had just come off a film, and they had given me the worst haircut. It was the most embarrassing thing. I then I had to go in to meet Pete Berg one time, and I was just like, yeah, this is never going to happen. So, sometimes... maybe you did something good in another life.

And you know, that's the thing... I've been on shows where, you know, people are like looking at their watch. Here you have all very accomplished people, and we're all so thrilled to be working on this show. That's the best you can hope for.

RU?

Related articles

• NBC's 'Prime Suspect' Hopes To Fill Some Very Big And Very British Shoes (npr.org)
• Maria Bello Previews 'Prime Suspect' and Talks About Playing Detective Jane Timoney (VIDEO) (aoltv.com)
• Television Review: 'Prime Suspect' and 'Charlie's Angels' - TV Review (tv.nytimes.com)

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

I hope you're all ready for tomorrow's premiere of New Girl at 9/8 Central on FOX. If you need more info, catch the review here. Zooey Deschanel was on a press call recently that I got to take part in, and if her ability to charm a group of interviewers is any judge, the show just might make quite a splash.

Really, make sure you tune in. The interview was rather interesting, and something about the subject of the show, mixed with Deschanel own character and persona, made this a rather unique experience. Among other things, you'll find out her thoughts on her own "adorkability," a word the show has attached to her character, Jess.

So, in your estimation, do you think it’s better to be the “it” girl, or to sort of fly under the radar? How do you like being the center of everyone’s entertainment world these days?

Z. Deschanel It’s good being both. I always think of myself, in my mind, I always think of myself as an underdog type. But, I’ve been called “it” girl so many times, at different points in my career. So, I guess “it” girl is sort of a flexible term. I mean either one, I just like working and having a job. It’s nice. But, I like that I have a show that the network is really behind and that is really fun to work on. So, I’m just happy.

When did you decide to do comedy? You’re so good at it. Was it like a natural thing for you, or did you kind of fall into it, or how’d that come about?

Z. Deschanel I always liked doing comedy when I would do plays in school always. I would play the comedic roles. I guess that’s kind of how it started. But, I always think of myself as comedic actress. I guess later I found that I could do drama as well, but I really started out thinking that I was more of a comedic actress. That’s what I really love to do. So, I’m super happy and excited that I get to do funny stuff every week on the show.

I’m just thinking that Jessica’s a very strong and very unique character. I’m wondering if the writers based it in part on your personality and character.

Z. Deschanel I think it was kind of actor/writer kismet situation, because I know that Liz Meriwether, who created the show. I know it wasn’t written for me initially, but it was sort of a perfect fit, you know. You go to a store and there’s a dress that just looks like it was made for you, but it wasn’t. That’s sort of like what it was like. Then, now that I’m on the show, it is written for me. It’s wonderful to have all these great writers writing stuff for me.

Cr: Autumn Dewilde/FOX

In addition to “it” girl, you’re often also associated with the pop culture term manic pixie dream girl. Do you have any feelings about that classification and the debate that goes along with it? It feels like that type is both loved and hated in equal measure.

Z. Deschanel Well, I think that it’s interesting. It’s this weird phenomenon. I don’t know who coined that term and how it’s weirdly broad and specific at the same time, if you know what I mean. But, I think that’s sort of an example of if you think of a dream girl, you think of someone that you’re looking at from afar, like someone who’s like a weird modern dream girl.

But, I feel like in a way that’s a very distant point of view. That’s not really what I want to portray necessarily. I don’t mind; I’m fine if that’s for some of the parts I portray. But, I would prefer to be a person that people relate to than somebody that people feel distant from. But, sometimes, I think a lot of that has to do with maybe being in films that are from a more masculine point of view.

It’s nice to be on a show that was created by a woman, starring a woman even though there’s guy humor in it, too. But, it’s just nice to have a little bit more intimacy, I guess, with the character. So, I hope that answers your question.

So, I was wondering what the adjustment to working on a TV show has been like for you. Are you enjoying it? Have you faced any difficulties in adjusting to working on a set?

Z. Deschanel I really have, I think, adjusted well because just love being busy. I love having a lot of content. I prefer to have constant stimulation. So, I like going to set every day and working with the same awesome people. I really like that, even though it’s really long hours and it’s a lot to memorize. It’s really exciting and it’s really fun. It’s fast moving, but I really love not waiting around. I like getting everything done quickly. There’s something really exhilarating about it. So, I really enjoy that.

I also enjoy getting to develop a working relationship with a group of people; that there’s always a little bit of summer camp sadness to doing a movie. If you’re having a really good time, it ends. Then, there’s a certain amount of I think melancholy to that. I like that doing a TV show, you have potential for this to go on. So, that potential is a really nice thing.

I especially enjoyed the character’s few attempts at singing, and was just wondering if that’s a hidden talent of that character? Will we be hearing more from her in that regard?

Z. Deschanel Well, I think that she’s not really, she’s not a singer, although that is something I do as a profession. I felt like Jess should be—her singing comes out of pure self-expression. I just didn’t want her to be like Maria Callas or whatever, Beyoncé. I just didn’t want her to be a really great singer.

I thought she should be whatever manner she tries to sing in should match her mood at the time, and that she’s not really singing out of showing off her vocal togs as much as trying to express something she can’t express, and to express a certain awkwardness. Yes, she sings a lot. That’s one of her character quirks. So, you will definitely hear a lot more weird random singing.

Cr: Isabella Vosmikova/FOX

I just wanted to chat a little bit about the future for Jess, because so far in the pilot episode she is pretty distraught by this break-up and it seems like she is going to be relying on these guys to help her a lot. But, they maybe are not the best equipped for that. So, how fast do things turn around for her?

Z. Deschanel She’s definitely distraught in the pilot, and the pilot’s a lot about the break-up. There is some stuff about the break-up. But, it’s more, I think, finding her way in the future is more of the focus and less the getting over the break-up. It’s more the totally I’m used to being a single woman and finding her way in that world. That is more the sort of territory that we cover in the episodes to follow the pilot.

How is it that you ended up getting tapped in this show. Is that something like starring in a TV show was something you were looking for? Or, did they approach you with this role specifically? Or, how did that come about?

Z. Deschanel No, I wasn’t looking for a TV show. I was sort of developing a show last year for HBO that was a little bit in development limbo. I was also thinking about maybe doing an arc on a TV show or something, just looking into it, because I’d been tour with my band all last year and had really taken a lot of time off working as an actress.

I just happened to read this script. I was so blown away by how perfect it was for me and how funny it was, and sweet, and smart. I just fell in love with this project. I guess I hadn’t seriously considered any television shows before, but this was just too great to pass up.

But, yes, they offered me the part. So, they sent it to me and I said I liked it. They offered it to me and took a chance that I would be able to do it. They took a chance on me.

What's your favorite aspect of Jess?

Z. Deschanel I really love that she’s totally herself, even though she’s awkward at times and kind of nerdy at times. She’s not afraid of being herself, whether it comes out as being a little bit naive or something else, or just a really strong sense of self. She’s totally herself. I think that’s really nice to see in female characters, because a lot of times female characters are just reacting to the men. Especially in comedies, I think a lot of time the female characters are there to provide a balance for guys.

And, I really don’t feel that’s true with this character. I really feel like she’s equal to all the guys. I really, really love that. She’s a real true modern woman.

How did you relate to Jess in terms of being the only woman in a house full of men?

Z. Deschanel Well, I feel like it’s easy to take the show and be like, oh, it’s a girl and three guys. Obviously with any sort of plot, you can boil it down and turn it into something that sounds like generic. And, I do think that that is too generic.

I think that as far as this goes, it’s really about the person who’s having a big change in her life, and these people that help her. It’s less about male/female dynamics and more, I think, about these particular individuals relating to one another. I have a lot of guy friends and they all have helped me a lot in different ways. So, I feel like it’s less about her moving in with guys and more of about the person who’s really in transition in her life and her friends helping her.

I was wondering, I was watching the show and all the three men clearly have issues of their own. I know that Coach is going to be leaving, unfortunately, after just one episode, and being replaced by Winston. I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit more about what his hang-ups are; what kind of dynamic he brings to the table.

Z. Deschanel Yes. Well, Winston is Nick’s friend from childhood who has been playing basketball overseas in Latvia for two years. He had been living in the apartment and then moved out with subletting to Coach. So, that’s the plot.

But, basically, he’s a guy who is figuring himself out, too, because he’s been away chasing his dream. It didn’t really work out. He’s back. He’s trying to find a job. He is a guy who’s really great at everything, but his dream didn’t come true. He wants to win all the time. So, that’s his little thing, is that he wants to win all the time. He’s really good at everything, but he doesn’t always win. He can’t quite understand it.

May I say Lamorne Morris, who plays Winston, is a really wonderful actor, is really, really funny. We’re very lucky to have him.

Cr: Autumn DeWilde/FOX

I’m curious what the rapport was like with your costars. I think in the pilot you guys all seemed to play off each other pretty naturally. So, kind of walk me through it how read each other’s comedy styles and how you started to work together to create it.

Z. Deschanel Yes. I actually pretty much read with every single person that came in for a callback or almost everybody that made it past the first three, I read with. So, I felt like being a part of that casting process was really eye opening for me as an actress. Also, it allowed me to experiment with my character. It also allowed me to really see who I was going to work best with, because when I was cast, no one else was cast.

I read with all those guys from the beginning. Really, we just cast the people who were the best actors. Obviously, you want the best comedic actors. But, I find that the best actors also tend to be really funny because the comedy’s coming out of the situation rather than just the ability to deliver jokes.

So, we really, first and foremost, were telling a story. We just wanted the people that could really help tell these stories and were also hilarious and great actors as well. We really have a great rapport. I really love these guys so much.

The new sitcoms that come out seem to have the hardest time when it comes to gaining a loyal viewership. What do you think it is about the New Girl that will most draw people in and keep them coming back to watch?

Z. Deschanel To be honest, this is a new world for me. So, I’m like that little kid, I don’t know. I have to say there’s something about this show—and I’m not saying it has anything to do with me, because I obviously wouldn’t want to say that, but this show I feel so lucky I jumped aboard this train, because the writing is so great and it just feels really special to me to be working on it. I can’t explain it.

I have had this feeling about a small number of things I’ve worked on, very small numbers. I just have a really special feeling about this. I think it’s really the writing. It’s a good group of people. I think it’s different.

It plays more like a romantic comedy than a sitcom, per se, even though it has some of the physical comedy that some of the classic sitcoms have. We’re telling stories that are not purely comedic. I really believe that you end up caring about these characters. I think that for me that’s what has brought me into loving shows. But, obviously I just think that if I like it, then probably, hopefully somebody else will.

You have so much going on. So, I’m just curious how you juggle everything? How do you manage to unwind or de-stress at the end of the day?

Z. Deschanel I don’t. I go to sleep. At the end of the day, I basically eat and learn my lines at the same time. It’s really just trying to multi-task as best I can. Sometimes, you have to scramble to get stuff done, or a lot of times you have to scramble to get stuff done.

But, I really love it because I love being busy. I’m a person who has a lot of energy. So, yes, I don’t really stop to rest or de-stress. I just keep going. I figure that if you don’t stop, then you’ll never notice how tired you are.

Jess has been described by the network as adorkable. Is Zooey?

Z. Deschanel I don’t know. That’s sort of like an outside in description. I don’t really talk to people when they say stuff about themselves. I can be like well, I’m the type of person who blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I wouldn’t trust myself. I don’t know. Let’s say this: There’s a lot of Jess that is very much like me.

I feel like I understand her very well. I feel like she is very much like I was when I was 13. I was not the coolest kid in my class. I feel like that inner dork is a wonderful thing to have. And, on behalf of middle-schoolers all around, I like to represent.

So, yes, I don’t know. I definitely have a part of myself is a lot like Jess. So, I’ll leave it at that. But, I don’t know if I’d describe myself as particularly adorkable. I don’t know.

RU?

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

Syfy's Haven has largely been a surprise for me. A lot of shows have tried to bring the creepy to television in the last few years, and none of them managed much success. Worse, putting Stephen King works on film is always tricky, and more often than not results in something fairly goofy.

Actually, Haven is pretty goofy, but it's a catchy sort of goofy, and it keeps pulling me in.

Emily Rose, who stars as Audrey Parker, was available recently to talk about the show. Among other things, she talks about the upcoming Groundhog Day- esque episode which finds her reliving events which result in a runaway car killing the people who are close to her.

It's a great interview, and I think (as many noted at Comic-Con) that something about her personality comes through to the show, and is responsible for much of its success. I have to warn you, it's a pretty straight transcript, because I wanted it left alone as much as possible, for just that reason.

Enjoy, and make sure to tune in. Also, don't get left out of the Twitter arc - follow @VinceHaven, and @DaveHaven.

I remember you from the Jericho series on CBS and I wanted to know, that was a little bit sci-fi too. Did that help you in any way with the Haven series at all, you know, in terms of getting acclimated to that genre?

Emily Rose: I think it was kind of just a prep for how great the fans are but my part on Jericho didn’t really deal with any kind of crazy supernatural stuff that was going on, not like there is on Haven. My part on Jericho really was more of a part that was based more in reality and I think my video game background with Uncharted has been probably the most help in terms of really having to imagine some things that you aren’t seeing on the day and what not. But yes, it just mainly prepared me for how great the fans are really.

Without revealing any spoilers, are we going to find out why Emily is so immune to some of the - or yourself is so immune, Audrey, is so immune to some of the forces in Haven that she just is not effected by it like some of the other people or most of the other people?

Emily Rose: I don’t know if we're really going to find out why that is as much as we're going to find Audrey searching for her identity and clinging onto that as being something that’s really unique to who she is. I think that’s more in the long term mystery of the mythology of the show but it’s definitely something that we really cling to as part of her identity for sure.

Okay and I really feel sad about Nathan this year because it looks like he's pining for you and he doesn’t know exactly what to do now that Chris Brody's in the picture and it's sort of like, you know, he's just waiting in the wings for you and I hope that while your romance with Chris is developing that Nathan isn't sad the entire season.

Emily Rose: Well, I think that’s what's been great about Episode 6. What's so great about last year is we're able to establish the world in which we want to live and so in order to do that, we need to serve up those relationships and Season 2 is about vending that stuff and stretching it and creating tensions and the great thing to me about this next episode that’s coming is it tests our boundaries on all of those fronts relationally.

And she's jumping into this relationship with Chris I think out of a dysfunctional sort of feeling like who is she and if this other Audrey could have a relationship, why can't she and what is that like. And I think you sort of test those boundaries out on people maybe that you don’t necessarily - that you feel safe to kind of be testers if that’s like not in a cruel way to say it and I think her and Nathan have something really special and I feel like maybe that’s not the proper testing grounds, if that makes any sense.

Do you think that the newbie storyline was brought in too close, you know, with Chris and Evi?

Emily Rose: You mean bringing in new people?

Yes.

Emily Rose: No, not really because I feel like we don’t have the luxury of having 24 episodes. We have 12 to 13 episodes to really kind of get across all the different arcs and things that we want to do in the second season. I think it's really exciting to me personally to have everybody so effected by new people coming in because it really goes to show how much they really value the relationships that have been set up between the characters and it's exciting because with change comes new possibilities and I think it shows the different colors of each relationship.

It makes you want to fight for Audrey and Nathan or Audrey and Duke so much more and fight for these things and want to stick around to see if they actually flesh themselves out and I think that if we kind of served up immediately the dessert of what people wanted to see in the first couple, two or three episodes, I think that it's kind of like where do you go from there? So no, I think the timing of it's pretty right on.

Do you enjoy watching yourself on television or are you one of those people that cannot tune in to see the show each week?

Emily Rose: I definitely do like watching the show because we never really get to see how it comes together until it airs so to me it's neat to see an episode in its cohesiveness to see if we tracked everything correctly and for me just learning more everyday about my craft, wanting to know if I pitched things in the right place.

But that was a really interesting thing about Episode 6 that chronologically what's coming up, it was really all about different emotional levels and kind of all existing in what was a very similar timeframe and so trying to make those things different and trying to track the story well and so I remember when I saw an early cut of six, I was really, really excited because everything tracked pretty well and it's such an interesting, fast paced, awesome story.

Now it's not ever comfortable for me to sit with my husband and watch me have scenes with other guys. That’s not comfortable. I don’t enjoy that but no, I do. I don’t cringe so much. I don’t enjoy but I don’t cringe. I like to sit there and watch what I need to do better and what landed well and all of that stuff.

What do you enjoy most about working on Haven?

Emily Rose: I think for me this year I enjoy the depth of where we go with the relationships of the characters. I don’t get my, what's the word, creative energy or batteries are recharging from the sort of trouble of the week thing. That to me is kind of what keeps people - well, it's kind of like the laundry line on which everything else hangs.

For me, what's enjoyable is the mythology and the characters and the deeper mystery behind this town and so when we get to do really like - when we get to scenes to me that have a subtext and we're not having to explain things exactly on the nose or that involve relationships and history and what's not being said, that to me is my favorite part of working on Haven.

Thank goodness I get along with my cast mates and enjoy the people and think that the place is beautiful. So I enjoy all those things but to me the real reward is working really hard on a scene with the director in the limited time that we have and then watching it really effect people and then watching the fan videos later.

How do you think your character has evolved this season from the last and where do you think that it's going?

Emily Rose: I think I've said this before so I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself but I think last season was really about why should I stay in Haven and what's my connection to the place and why have I been brought here and this season's been more about who am I. Sometimes I get side barred because we have to focus in on the trouble of the week and it's always a challenge to try to portray the duality of that but you know anytime that I can find Audrey being effected by the trouble in a personal way then that’s sort of my way in.

And what I think this year is different for her is there's a bit more of a comfort. Last year she was circling all of her other characters to kind of get an idea of who they are and this year she's at home with them and is circling them and is thrown off by them when there might be a situation that occurs that she's not really familiar that they would handle it in a certain way or you know what she knows about Nathan and he reacts in a way she's not expecting, things like that.

That to me is the different side of it and just what's exciting about being able to stick with the series and I'm so excited that our ratings are holding strong every week and that we have an audience that’s returning and coming back because they're getting to know the characters just as well and maybe will have the same reactions as Audrey does when those different situations come about.

What was it like for you to make out with Jason Priestly?

Emily Rose: It was weird. I was like is this my life right now? What's happening? Especially because I'd worked with Luke Perry before for a long episode on John from Cincinnati so it was just bizarre that I was like what's happening with 90210 intersecting my life.

But, really it was great. It's always really great to work with really seasoned professional, creative, talented people because you learn a lot from working with them and there's always the mystery surrounding his name and who he is and then we meet him in person and realize that he's super down to earth and really loves his family and is just really talented and super hardworking and is not a diva at all. It's just great because you learn a lot from working alongside of someone like that that’s very eager to work and make a good story, and so obviously it's always a little weird but then you get over it and you move on.

Well, for the upcoming episode, since actors have to do so many takes on a scene, was it easier to relate to Audrey repeating the same day over and over?

Emily Rose: No, and that’s a great question. It was just really a challenge for me. I remember going through the script and writing the timeline out of what was occurring. Through the day I would because based on a production schedule I would have to do the day repeating in the same location just at different levels. So what was nice about that is our ADs and our producer set up the best they could to start at the earlier stage and then to slowly kind of fall apart, but what's tricky is how do you make some of these tragic events throughout the day seem different and how do you let them effect you even more each time and how do you step the urgency up each time.

It was a great and wonderful on camera acting exercise for me and one I was really, really excited about. It was really challenging. I knew that when I was walking into that episode I just knew that it was going to be one of the biggest emotionally challenging episodes I've done because from a technical standpoint, not only do you have to make it seem real in the wide shot but the tight shot and the close-up and then also on the reverse for the other actors.

So you're doing a scene that’s really, really emotional probably 12 to 15 times and then on top of that, you need to have the technical DP or focus puller or grip or director talk to you through the scene in a technical way just to pull it off but yet you still have to be freaking out and even though your brain knows that it's not really happening, at the end of that week my body was so tense and so drained because my body thought that I had been through those traumas multiples of times. And so it was a real challenge but a real reward and I really hope people are effected by it as much as I was when I played it.

As compared to this time last season, how do you empathize more with what Audrey and what she's going through?

Emily Rose: This may sound really depressing but it was funny. I was laughing with some - well I wasn’t laughing. They were laughing at me but we were talking about Christmas for Audrey and I was talking with some producers and we were talking about what that was and I said, "You guys, I really don’t want to talk about this because it makes me really sad when I think about Audrey at Christmas."

And I've just found that as I spend more time portraying her, you should always have compassion and understanding for your character but I feel it in a much more visceral way now. She's more in my body I think this season and what I mean by that is I really experience if there's something that’s just really sad, it really saddens me like as a friend when they're going through something tragic where your heart really aches and hurts because you feel like you're right along side of them.

I've been feeling that way towards her and so I think that’s a gift and I have to remove myself from that gift sometimes but I think that that’s a really sweet gift to have and it makes her a lot more accessible and a little bit less work I guess you could say.

Big game changer at the end of the last episode with Chris. Did you feel - how'd you feel about that when you first learned about it?

Emily Rose: It's always a little weird because you know you're introducing a guest character and that’s going to kind of tear you apart from the subtext that you're creating with other characters but I'm always a little leery of it because you're always like well how's it going to be written, what's going to happen and ultimately it's kind of neat because I think I've been reading a lot of the reviews lately of the last episode. And one of the things people are talking about is Audrey's sort of oblivious nature towards Nathan and how he's feeling towards her.

And I was talking with one of the writers and they were talking about how normally that’s a guy thing, that’s a guy attribute that the guy would be oblivious to the girl who really likes him. And that on our show it's Audrey who I think is oblivious in so many ways because she's conditioned to not connect with people and the only way that she connects and the only time that her connecting is good or that she experiences is when she's actually able to help troubled people. But when it comes to relationships, she doesn’t know anything about that and even if she might sense something from Nathan, she's not. It's too important to her and her job and she doesn’t know how to function.

So, I think when I read about this relationship it was kind of exciting. This is the first time we get to see Audrey actually being the girly-girl and in a relationship but it's almost like she said screw it. I think I'm going to try whatever everybody else is trying and if bad Audrey can have a relationship why can't I and who am I in a relationship and this is a kind of fun place to try that out.

And then also Chris is like opposites attract. He's all about science and he's all about scientific explanations and she's all about safe and her instincts and her intuition and so it was interesting. It was really fun to play and it was really fun to see what that did between Nathan and Audrey and what that did with Duke and Audrey especially when everybody else is so enamored by him and she isn't but then sort of she is. So it's a lot of double edged swords to play but that’s always fun and deep and more interesting ultimately I think.

So I have another question about the relationship of Audrey and Nathan. You just commented on, you know, does Nathan - maybe like her because, he can feel her? What I was thinking about when I was watching it the other day is, it seems like on the show, the people that have troubles, a lot of the solution is for them to be with the people they care about, and I'm wondering if that’s actually more of a hint and a correlation that Nathan has feelings for Audrey and maybe if he was with her he could take care of that - you know, that problem would go away.

Emily Rose: Yes, I think you could definitely be on to something. I always ask the writers that. I wonder if there is a past connection with Nathan and Audrey about why he's able to just feel her and I've definitely wondered that myself, although the hard thing is that makes it hard to get under that theory is the fact that Audrey is able to help a lot of people and in that regard, the people that they are good with.

I was listening to a podcast the other day that was really good and they were talking about our show and one of the things they noted was that there's never a really wholesome working relationship in Haven. The only one that’s remotely close is Vince and Dave, the brothers. All the other relationships are dysfunctional.

This is true.

Emily Rose: Or have fallen apart or there's been sort of severing or something. And so in that regard it's not necessarily that the other people that they're with calm them down. Audrey's the one that’s able to sort of get them to understand and then resolve with those people. So I'm not sure.

I think that there is something to be said between Nathan and Audrey's connection. Nathan obviously is the one that feels it more on his side but Audrey definitely wouldn’t be able to move forward without his support so it's interesting. I don’t know. Good food for thought for sure.

It's obvious that Vince and Dave know a lot of what's going on and with Lucy and everything. They seem to have a lot of insight. Why do you think it is that they won't help her, won't tell her? Do you think there's like a big reason behind that or are we going to see that soon?

Emily Rose: I definitely think that there's a big reason behind it. I don’t know the reason. My own speculation is that I feel like they're either ultimately afraid of something or it's like with a child that you think they can only handle so much or they don’t really know all the answers and so why tell some of the answers if they can't tell all of them. Or they're being held accountable to someone else behind the scenes in some kind of way. I really don’t know.

I do know that there is a great moment in the season where Audrey confronts them about that and it's one of my favorite scenes I've been able to play this season as well. So I definitely think that’s a legitimate question and that’s one that she has too.

Do you find that filming in an actual small town maritime setting that you can really draw from that in creating your character and how she reacts to her surroundings versus rather just being on a generic sound stage somewhere?

Emily Rose: Hands down. It is a major character of our show. I always say it should be number one on the call sheet. When we moved here and we were from L.A., the way that you felt in a small town that everybody was sort of aware of who you were also with having the stigma of being an actor and what everybody thinks you are or how much money you have they think you have or what they think your life might be.

You absorb all of that and I said okay, Audrey definitely feels under the microscope as well and she definitely isn't sure of where to go to get certain food and she definitely doesn't know, you know, how to really get settled and she definitely feels like a fish out of water like she has her work which she finds comfortable and homey and she knows how to do that but other than that, she feels under the microscope.

And it was really kind of great, being in season one and then season two to come back the second year and the warm reception we had from the town and everybody being so excited about Haven and being so enthusiastic about wanting to help and loving watching us film and all this stuff. It's sort of similar parallel lives with Audrey about being there still and now having everybody sort of accept her more and know who she is and be excited about who she is and all of that it definitely parallels and I think that if I was doing on the WB lot back in the day in L.A. I wouldn’t have the feeling of getting pouring down slanting rain on me while I'm doing a scene and being on a boat that likes rolling up and down and the hard rocks and the beach and just the grittiness of finding a body on the beach, all these things that help for the texture and what aides us in the scene. It would definitely be lacking if we weren’t here.

And actually you know one thing before you go in terms of location, next in episode six, we shoot pretty much the entire episode in this town that we haven’t really shot in yet called Mahone Bay and it's north of Chester.

And it's absolutely stunning and it's beautiful and it's really neat because I think that we see another like different sides of Haven and a different street. We usually shoot in Chester and Lunenberg but this whole episode takes place in the Mahone Bay area. It's one of my favorite places to film and most scenic picturesque, three churches on this little peninsula or this little bay and it's beautiful. So I think they're in for some major eye candy in the next episode in that way.

So what are some of the things we have to look forward to this season beyond the Groundhog Day episode?

Emily Rose: I mean that one is one that I'm really, really excited about, this next episode but yes I think there's an episode coming up that takes place completely in the woods which is really, really creepy and some night stuff that is directed by Lee Rose who is amazing, an amazing director and couple that with our VP Eric Cayla and in the woods at different times of the day. There was a shot where we were sitting there I think I tweeted about it. There was a sunset that we were shooting there the day before our premiere date and it was absolutely stunning and taking up the level of creepiness of Stephen King in that episode is really cool. So I'm looking forward to that episode.

I'm definitely looking forward to some moments in the finale and - with Vince and Dave and between Audrey and Nathan - that are some cool developments. I mean those things are really cool to me. Any kind of heightened emotion and high stakes and stuff that deals personally with the characters to me is great but I think that episode in the woods is episode 10 I believe.

And then also there's a cool episode that actually working with Jason Priestly, the one that he directed, was really neat and that was fun because his character came back for a little bit and that was a blast.

But looking back, Lucas and I were talking about it over the season where we were thinking about okay is this going to be as strong a season, is this going to up the ante this year and as we started going through the episodes out loud and kind of tracking some of the major events, we're like wow, there's some really big things going to happen this season. So it's going to be a great gift to our fans which I really hope they continue to watch for.

Can you expand on Audrey's journey this season?

Emily Rose: It's tough because I think she's sort of hunkering down in Haven. I wonder if our season will echo the stages of grief but I think the first season is kind of this denial of what am I doing here and is this really happening and why am I here and the shock.

This season I feel like Audrey's pissed off about a lot of different things as a result of the information she doesn’t know and the information that she finds out and it's kind of a balance of trying to continue to endear the audience and endear them to her and make everybody sympathize with Audrey and what she's going through but also experience some really real emotions about what it feels like to continually get abandoned or not have the answers that you need or just be grasping at straws all the time.

Yes, so I think oh my gosh and then the final moment of the finale just flashed in my eyes. It is huge people, let me tell you. It is big time. So I'm very excited. I'm very excited. It's just more rug pulling out. We all love that, where did that - I did not see that coming, definitely those moments for her.

With Haven in its second season, how would you say that Audrey has evolved and how would you say you’ve evolved?

Emily Rose: That’s a good question. I mean I think she's evolved in, you know, she sort of starts out in the way that we see for Audrey come in second season with this sort of structure, law. This is kind of I do the things, you know, the FBI sort of way but I'm also kind of a renegade in that way and then we see her sort of abandon that and sort of find, you know, kind of gravitate more to finding her own sense of identity. And then in the second season we find that as it's being ripped out from underneath her really searching and grasping but kind of figuring out who her family is.

And you know I think I kind of echo that in some ways. I mean I think that I kind of came to the show, you know, trying to be, you know, as professional and as prepared and as focused and concentrated and giving it my all, you know, completely at the beginning and then kind of discovering how, you know, what different parts of me were really Audrey and how to kind of focus on those things and settle and chill out a bit and relax.

And then I think the fact that season you kind of come in relaxed and you think you know that you have it all together but then, you know, it offers a whole new set of challenges and you know trying to balance family life and relationships and you know feeling at home in all of it but also still, you know, getting freaked out by it sometimes.

So I think I echo that in a lot of ways but I think we've grown together definitely. I think there's ways I'm very much different from Audrey. I feel like I have some really great friendships and really fantastic family and you know a sense of humor and kind of can enjoy life and chill and I think Audrey can be a little bit of that but we don’t see that as often.

And in a way I've had to really kind of be careful that I don’t come home from portraying somebody that’s kind of, you know, full of defenses and kind of bugged and frustrated and urgent and stressed out because she can't figure out what's going on. I have to really learn about coming home and sort of dropping that and being like okay, I'm not Audrey Parker. I am Emily Rose. Hi puppy dog, how are you? Hi husband, how are you? it's about, you know, finding a balance between those things but I think I've definitely grown in, you know, not necessarily I wouldn’t say confidence but just ease and comfort about the group of people and being here and being kind of away from my home for five or six months.

When you're doing the show, do you often get to ad lib or do you follow the script?

Emily Rose: I think some of the boys ad lib a bit more than I do. I do sometimes. If I ad lib I don’t really kind of realize that I'm ad libbing because I just have so many lines everyday to get out of my mouth but I definitely look at the script and if it's not the way I think that Audrey would say it then I try to readjust some of that stuff and there's sometimes when they say have fun with it, play with it and kind of live in the chemistry of those moments and that’s a blast but I don’t do that as much as Eric does.

What was it like working with Adam Copeland and Jason Priestly?

Emily Rose: Adam, he's awesome. I didn’t know what it was going to be like to have it. Everybody just kept telling us that we had a wrestler coming on the show and I sort of imagined somebody that was short and ripped and bald. I don’t know why I imagined that and so when I stepped out of the van and I saw Adam I was like what? Nice to meet you. Welcome, welcome to our show. And I just had no clue what to expect. And Adam is the most unassuming, kind hearted, warm person you could meet and on top of that, really talented in this character of Dwight that he plays.

When the writers were talking to us about a cleaner, it just made sense. It made total sense and I found Audrey and I don’t know it's just because of Audrey's love for troubled people but her feelings towards Dwight in terms of protecting him and wanting to help him definitely flaring up as well and really felt that for his character and so it was really great working with Adam.

And then Jason is just amazing. He's great and just really great to work with and learn from him as a director and as an actor and as somebody that has had a long successful career. Just really asking him questions and talking with him and then watching him work, and he's so open to other people's suggestions and working together and collaborating that it's really encouraging and it's great to see people that aren’t defensive about their work and that just really want to make the best story and he's just great and really talented and an honor to work with him.

Is there any characteristic of Audrey that you have to adjust to?

Emily Rose: Yes wow that’s a good question. You know to be honest with you, it sounds kind of funny but I think she thinks faster than I do. I think that I think and process and put together things but in my brain. It doesn’t always like come out of my mouth in the correct form as it's probably doing right now and you know they're always telling me Audrey like, you know, she thinks of this really quickly. This comes to her really quickly. She processes things really fast. It's like she's on speed.

So when I'm having a really difficult time with my lines or getting the dialogue because we move so quickly or, you know, making sure that I understand the story and then on top of that having to say things that are supposed to lead the audience through understanding the story as well, it's been tough at times for me to adjust to her pace but when I do, I enjoy it and I enjoy the results of it. It makes sense to me so I don’t know if that makes sense to you but it makes sense to me.

How important do you think it is to interact with the online community whether it be fans cheering or booing via Twitter, Facebook, anywhere?

Emily Rose: I think that having the connection with the fans as a theater person I really enjoy but I also think that the only thing is to just put up boundaries and you don’t ever do those specifically. But sometimes you have that contact, like I've had people that contact me repeatedly throughout the day and I want to make sure that there's a boundary between my private life and my professional life.

And I definitely am willing to, after a show or something, I would in theater say hi to people or wish somebody a happy birthday or say, "Hey check this out," but in terms of me always being available to everyone that’s where I sort of say, "You know what? That’s, you know, that’s totally fine."

I don’t respond to everything all the time and just like if you read about a review, sometimes you want to get on those message boards and explain whatever but you don’t because you have to allow everybody their opinions and step away from the performance and be okay with your work and really ask what you think and what the director thinks and go on from there. And I think that some of the great actors are people that I look up to and they don’t necessarily have an open dialogue all the time.

So I think it's about a balance. I think that we live in a great new era where you can contact people and I love it because I feel like I'm able to keep in touch with a lot of people that I've worked with and I also love it because I really do love meeting people and I love hearing their excited response towards the show completely but when it moves sort of beyond on that to think that I'm able to be available all the time when I work 16 hours a day and have a family and everything, that’s kind of where I have to just be like okay. I'm going to turn off my phone now. But I'm really thankful for it because honestly the fact that people are affected and make fan videos and want to talk and want to - it's a huge honor. It's a huge blessing and I would never not want that blessing.

With the seven episode Twitter arc that’s happening now with Vince and Dave, it's primarily just involving their two characters. I was wondering if Audrey's on Twitter and if she might but into the conversation with them that they're having with cold in Haven.

Emily Rose: I don’t think that Audrey is on Twitter. I think that I absolutely love that Vince and Dave have the accounts with the newspaper. I think that’s really a lot of fun and it's kind of just cool to be able to interact with a show like that. I think that that’s great but I love it being a Vince and Dave. I just love that our town in quirkier by the minute and this is one of the quirky things. You would think that they would be so out of date yet they're totally up on the times and that to me is hilarious that Nathan has like 40 year old walkie talkies in his office but yet they're on Twitter. To me that just makes me really happy.

Were you a Stephen King fan before you signed onto Haven? Have you become one since you started working in the universe?

Emily Rose: I definitely wasn’t a fan in terms of reading all of his novels. I mean I find that the Stephen King fans, the true fans are really amazing fans so to say that I was one would be not right. It'd be horrible but I definitely like a lot of my favorite major movies that I really enjoy like Stand by Me is one of my all time favorite films and obviously you know Green Mile and Misery.

Kathy Bates, whenever I'd get asked in interviews what actress I would really love to be most like, Kathy Bates was one of them and I just feel like I stood back and I thought wait a second, all these films that I absolutely love, the richness in character and just the texture of them is Stephen King and I realized that I was a fan of his storytelling and just never had really put together that all of those were Stephen King.

So no, I haven’t had a chance in terms of all of the work here I've been doing to engross myself in a Stephen King reading but maybe I'll do that in the off season, but I'm definitely a fan of who he is and his deep understanding of characters and the films that he's made. I mean I could live in Stand by Me. It makes me so happy.

I'm a little concerned with the show in the sense that the troubles might overwhelm the personal aspects of it and I was glad to hear you say you like the personal things.

I think in Smallville where they had the freak of the week and I always worry it's going to follow into something of a pattern and I know you all are trying to bury that. Have you all made a real conscious effort to keep that balance something that fans of the troubles can enjoy while fans of the characters can also enjoy?

Emily Rose: I think it's neat to get asked this question because I feel like I'm able to kind of say where I'm coming from on it. It's one of those things when you get a show or you read a script, you never really know where all of the other creative entities that be want to take the show and so I remember reading the pilot initially and not really realizing that it was going to be sort of a trouble, lack of a better term, trouble of the week sort of a deal and so when I realized that I remembered that I was a little - I mean it might be bad for me to say this but a little like, you know, disappointed that it was going to be sort of - like have something like that every week because I'm such a like a Lost fan or fan of deep mythology or you know long form television which I think we're coming into with the age and era of DVR and you know being able to access episodes online.

That being said, there is a lot, you know, of validity in people that say you know shows like Law and Order SVU and CSI and all these sort of, you know, procedural sort of serialized shows have been successful and people really enjoy it because they know what to expect from the characters when they come every week and if they don’t want to stick around for all of the season, they can pop in and out and still be entertained.

So from a business model, I understand it. You know the artist in me, the creative side of me, really just loves long form character development and you know the troubles actually do give our characters something to do every week by which when you get a breathing - you know, a chance for a breathing room to expand on the history of stuff you know and to have the subtext come out, you ache for it. You know it makes those scenes when we're kind of looking over bodies and you know there was some cool stuff with, you know, Nathan and I this season towards the end where I was like, you know, we're able to do the subtext in the scene because we're doing something else. If the scene was just about this, it would be pretty flat.

So I think you know one supports the other but for us, we - you know, the mythology is what gets us through and it also, you know, is what makes the trouble stuff exciting and then what's really exciting is when we're able to intertwine those stories where the characters are effected by the trouble and so it's our effort every, you know, episode to make sure that we don’t abandon one in lieu of the other and for us, you know, we're on the same page.

We love the mythology. We love the characters and we love all of the fun that comes out but at the same time, it's really fun. Like for example, sparks and recreation, the trouble of the week was that everybody was enamored with Chris Brody and that allowed us to see Nathan in a really, really fun light and so I think there is some validity and advantage to having those. It's just when one takes over the other, it gets a little tricky but you know I think we found that balance and in that way, it's excited that they can both co-exist.

I just wanted to ask if you could personally see Audrey going somewhere in season three, where would you want to see her go.

Emily Rose: That’s a really good question. Yes, that’s a really good question. I think I'm always a fan of watching her get wrecked for some reason and I think that’s just because it's interesting to me. I've always wondered what she would do if she couldn’t help people.

What would happen to her? If this did get stripped away from her in some regard what would happen to her or if she was force with a choice of helping the people that she loves versus troubles or what would happen. To me there is a lot more that could be done in terms of her searching to find out who she is.

This year has been a lot about process of elimination for her. Well, if I'm not this then I am this and I think I'd like to see her search some more and really kind of look, you know, and exam what that is. I know that’s sort of like a vague answer. I feel like she's a pretty steady rock but I really - I would like to see her really struggle and not just have that happen through one episode because there was a mishap, like you know really be on the brink and get to see what Nathan and Duke do in order to like bring her back. I think that would be really interesting.

And I also personally just have a little, you know, dream of here of maybe exploring her indifferent, you know, eras or timeframes or something like that just because I love costumes.

But I don’t know. I don’t know and I would love to see her on a horse. So these are some of my dreams. If you could make them happen, I would appreciate it and no. I think it would be great.

Emily Rose has become one of television's fastest-rising young stars with an already impressive and diverse body of work. This summer, Rose stars on Syfy's new supernatural drama series "Haven," based on the novella "The Colorado Kid" from renowned author Stephen King.

Rose will play Audrey Parker, the shrewd and confident FBI agent with a lost past who arrives in the small town of Haven, Maine to solve the murder of a local ex-con. She soon learns that Haven is in fact a longtime refuge for people that are afflicted with a remarkable range of supernatural abilities.

Rose most recently recurred on the final season of the long-running NBC drama "ER" in which she played the role of Dr. Tracy Martin, an eager young intern who joins the hospital staff. Her other notable recurring roles include her breakout performance as Lena Branigan in the hit drama "Brothers & Sisters," Trish Merrick on "Jericho" and as Cass in David Milch's HBO series "John From Cincinnati."

Rose's additional TV credits include the USA pilot "Operating Instructions," and guest-starring roles in "Private Practice," "Two and a Half Men," "Without a Trace" and "Cold Case." Rose also has a cult following for her role in the extraordinarily popular video game franchise "Uncharted," for which she voices and portrays the game's heroine, Elena Fisher.

Rose received her undergraduate degree in theatrical arts from Vanguard University in Orange County, California and went on to study Shakespeare in Oxford, England at the British American Drama Academy. She continued her studies at UCLA where she received her Master of Fine Arts degree in acting.

RU?

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

Jeri Ryan is making her mark on television these days, from guest spots on some of my favorite shows, to Body of Proof, and tonight you'll get a chance to see her on an all-new episode of Syfy's Warehouse 13. Warehouse 13, part of Syfy's Powerful Mondays, has been putting together a lot of fun since it first kicked off, and is still sticking true to the Go Big, or Go Home theory of wacky science-fiction.

In tonight's episode, Queen for a Day, Ryan shows up as Eddie's ex-wife, and the episode takes us to a Civil War re-enactment.

Below, check out an interview with Jeri, in which she talks about working on the show, acting, and much more. Plus, catch a couple of quick glimpses at the episode.

What was your most memorable moment working on the show?

Jeri Ryan: Wow. The most memorable moment. That’s a good question. I don’t know that there’s one specific moment, but Eddie and I -- and I don’t want to give too much away with the story -- but there were some... a couple of really, really nice sort of emotional scenes that Eddie and I got to play together. It was just really fun connecting with him. He’s a great actor. He’s a funny, funny guy. But he’s also just a really good actor. So that was a lot of fun.

What would you say is the most important thing that you learned from your time spent on the show?

Jeri Ryan: I don’t think I learned anything particularly except how much fun Eddie is. That was my big surprise. But yes, it wasn’t like, a huge educational experience in my acting career. But it was great. It was a fun show to do. I really enjoyed it.

What’s next for you?

Jeri Ryan: Well right now I’m shooting Body of Proof. We just started shooting Season 2. And we actually are shooting our second episode today so. That’s a full-time gig right now.

So as you said a minute ago, you do have a full-time gig right now. So what attracted you to this particular acting opportunity?

Jeri Ryan: Well, it just seemed like a lot of fun. And, the show runner is a friend of a friend and he’s a great guy and the offer came up and it seemed like an interesting role and an interesting story line and it looked like a lot of fun to do. And it was, I had a ball. And my husband and my daughter came up with me and so we had a good time.

What can you tell us about the character Amanda?

Jeri Ryan: She’s a Marine. She is Eddie’s ex-wife... which is a bit of a surprise to everyone else at the warehouse. And she is getting remarried and things sort of take a bit of a turn without giving away too much of the story. And she sort of needs Eddie’s help to get out of a bit of a problem.

You said obviously you had a lot of fun on the show, but was there anything you found challenging about the role?

Jeri Ryan: Always with comedy in general and especially comedy that sort of is in the Syfy genre so then you’re really (spinning) this belief. You always have to sort of find that line between playing the comedy, but playing the realism too. And that’s always a bit of a balance act. But it’s fun. And again the people in the show, they’re pros and this is what they do. That sort of fine line is where they walk all the time so. There is no better training ground for that. I mean, it was a lot of fun.

What would be your ultimate dream role? Or is there someone you still want to work with that you haven’t?

Jeri Ryan: Oh, there’s tons of people I’d love to work with that I haven’t. But oh, I used to say Hamlet was my ultimate dream role and it still is an amazing role and I would love to play it. But yes, there’s so many actors I would love to work with.

I’d love to work with Clint Eastwood as a director especially. I’d love to work with Sidney Poitier because he’s the reason that I became an actor in the first place. Meryl Streep is everyone’s dream because she’s the greatest living actor of our time. There’s a lot of just amazing talents that I would love to work with at some point.

Can you talk about how you got started in acting?

Jeri Ryan: Well, it’s what I always wanted to do. When I was kid, it was always, you know, an actress or something else. So, an actress or a veterinarian or when I was in high school I had to decide what I was going to major in college. And my decision was between majoring in theater and majoring in biomedical engineering. And I had an incredibly practical nature. So but acting could be a better idea. And I did a lot of community theater when I was growing up when I was a kid and things like that and moved out to LA after I graduated from Northwestern. And I was really lucky. I sort of worked steadily every since.

You’ve done Sci-fi with Trek, Dark Skies, and now Warehouse 13. You’ve done horror with Dracula 2000. You’ve obviously done comedy and drama. Is there any genres that you haven’t done yet or that you would like to do more of?

Jeri Ryan: I’d like to do action like Mortal Kombat Legacy.

Oh, definitely. I was going to get to that.

Jeri Ryan: That’s sort of action fantasy.

Yes.

Jeri Ryan: No, I mean I think I’ve done all the genre, there are not too many that I haven’t done with the exception of maybe porn which I’m not really interested in. But, I would to do more comedy because it’s fun and that’s, you know, an escape. That’s just a very light environment to work. But, I like being able to jump around and do all kinds of things.

I remember reading that you took Tango lessons recently for shooting and you enjoyed it. Is that something that you would continue or have continued as a personal hobby?

Jeri Ryan: Yes, I did that for an episode of Leverage. No, I would love to continue it. The question of having the time and my husband having the time and the interest to take Tango lessons with me. But yes, no I loved it. It was a lot of fun. But I’ve always loved dancing.

So you took to it very well or did you have injuries or how did that go?

Jeri Ryan: No, I didn’t have any injuries. But, I think if I had more time to do it I’d be able to do it really well. Two or three lessons in the course of a week there’s really not much you can learn. It was a lot of fun. I loved it. So yes, I’d love to do more of it. And no that does not mean I want to be on Dancing with the Stars which is what everybody asks me.

Just in general, what’s your advice to actors?

Jeri Ryan: Boy, it’s kind of twofold. If there’s anything else -- for the people who are just starting out -- if there’s anything else that would make you happy doing besides acting, then you should do that. Because this is a very difficult business and there’s a lot of rejection. So it’s hard and everybody’s sort of emotional - everyone’s psyche can’t really take all of that rejection and that’s not the best thing for everyone.

If this is all that will really fulfill you and make you happy, then do it. If you’re going to do it, you have to completely do it and you’ve got to be incredibly persistent and not give up and not take no for an answer and just keep going. And it’s a numbers game for everyone when you’re starting out. The more auditions you can go to, the better your chances of getting a job.

Because there’s a lot of rejection and it’s usually not anything to do with your acting ability, especially in Hollywood as opposed to the theater. You’re too blonde, you’re not blonde enough, you’re too tall, you’re not tall enough, you’re too pretty, you’re not pretty enough. It’s that kind of sort of physical stuff even more than your acting ability for a lot of jobs when you’re just starting out. And you have to learn not to take things personally and get a really thick skin. But you’ve got to be prepared. That’s my other piece of advice. Be prepared. Be ready.

So when that opportunity comes because it will, but you have to be ready for it because it may not come again - your big break or your big chance. So be trained. Get in class. Be ready so when that chance comes, you don’t screw it up.

Using Mortal Kombat which was specifically done as a web series - Can you see yourself ever doing something like that again when you’re further down the road with, you know? And how different was the production site than from say doing it for the web?

Jeri Ryan: Production-wise, there wasn’t a huge difference once we were shooting. If anything, we actually had a little more time than we do shooting a TV series - a network TV series -- because we have seven days to shoot a one hour or basically 40-minute episode for TV. For this, our episodes were like six to - I think the longest one was 12 or 15 minutes. So we could take a little more time when we were actually shooting it.

It’s a big difference within the prep; there was none. So I think I had three days notice of the offer coming through, making the deal, and getting on a plan to fly to Vancouver to start shooting. So...

Wow.

Jeri Ryan: ...the difficulty there for me was no time for fight training. So I think most of the other actors if not all of them are trained fighters. So for them just going in and learning a big fight scene is just a matter of choreography. For me, it’s not. So that was hard. I would have loved to have had, you know, at least a couple of weeks to get in some fight training and really be able to make a more involved fight scene. But that was the only big difference.

But yes, I certainly think we’ll all be doing a lot of more of that in the future because I think that’s sort of where the business is heading eventually.

I’ve seen you as Tara Cole in Leverage, and I really enjoyed the way you just seemed to blend in with that group quite easily. It’s almost like you’d been there all along when I was watching the show.

Jeri Ryan: Thanks.

I’m just wondering what was that series like for you working with that cast? Could you see yourself ever returning to do a guest shot on Leverage in the future.

Jeri Ryan: Well, I actually just did one for this season. And I would have loved to have come back for more, but I couldn’t get the release - the approval - from the network from the show that I’m on now. But yes. That I have to say was one of my best work experiences my entire career. The most fun I’ve ever had on a set with Leverage and Boston Public. Those are my two that just stick out as the sort of perfect crystalline experiences.

That group of people, that entire cast, that entire crew is - well first of all, they’re all insane. They are. But just the best, funniest, just most absolutely enjoyable group of people that you could ever have the luck to work with. And they’re my dear friends and I love them all and I would love to work with them together. So yes, I had a ball. And I love that character. That was so much fun.

It was fun to play somebody who was light and tough and to get to play a completely different character every week on that show was a real treat as an actor.

Is there anything more you can tell us about your character on Warehouse 13? 

Jeri Ryan: I don’t know how much I can tell you without giving away any story secrets. She is a Marine and that’s I guess how she and Pete had met originally as they served together. She is getting married and she needs his help to solve a problem which he sort of I guess kind of inadvertently causes in the first place. So it’s fun. It’s gets into some interesting situations. I’m sorry, my daughter is sitting in my lap while I'm doing the call.

You’ve been on a lot of different series and you’re talking about having to have a thick skin and everything so you had a lot of experience with that. Do you still have to audition for roles in television or do they pretty much know who you are now and they just kind of…

Jeri Ryan: …I do have to audition for some things. For television for the most part, it’s mostly offers. But, there’s certain things that I still have to audition for. And I had to say in the last three years or four years, the business has completely changed anyway because now TV and film used to be sort of very separate kind of worlds.

If you were in the TV world, you sort of stayed in the TV world. And if you were in the film world, you sort of for the most part stayed in the film world. Well, it’s not the case anymore and there’s a lot more interesting roles now on television and a lot of film actors who traditionally who have never ever done a series are now doing TV series. So it is a very different ballgame than it used to be.

So yes everybody is kind of in a different position because producers, studios, and networks can be in a position where everybody ought to read for something because they have so many actors now to choose from.

Is there a certain part of your character in Warehouse 13 that you can personally relate to or any of your characters in the Syfy genre that you’ve played?

Jeri Ryan: Yes. I can certainly relate to part to this character especially because I mean this one is human so.

Right.

Jeri Ryan: A little closer to my own reality than other Syfy characters I’ve played in the past. There’s a few more parallels in life than maybe with 7 of 9. But yes. She’s a smart cookie and she doesn’t take crap and I like that about her. And she’s getting remarried and I’ve been in that situation and yes there are a few parallels. And my dad was in the military so it’s nice - my dad was in the Army for 28 years so I was going through putting on a Marine uniform and he’s looking forward to seeing that.

What do you enjoy filming more television or films?

Jeri Ryan: Personally I like TV better. The pace is very, very different between TV and films. On TV, we’ll do between six and sometimes we’ve even done eight pages in a day of script. So that’s, six or seven scenes sometimes.

In film, you shoot like two pages a day. So you’re shooting the same scene all day long. And that to me is a bit mind numbing. And I don’t know how they do it. I was working on a movie called Dam of Love and I was sitting on the set between shots with Renee Zellweger and I asked her I said, “How do you do this? If you got a big emotional scene how do you do this?” And she said, “You just have to live in it all day.” You don’t have lunch with the crew, you don’t hang out between shots. You sit in your trailer and you just stay in that emotional place all day because you have to.

And I just don’t know how you could get your sanity doing that and go home to your family at the end of the night and not be just insane. That seems like a tough one for me. I like the pace of TV. I like keeping it moving and having a different story to play. But that’s also been what most of my experience is so that’s more comfortable for me. That’s my comfort zone.

How do you stay in shape? You are in incredible shape.

Jeri Ryan: Oh, you’re very sweet. And you obviously have only seen me dressed. No, I chase a toddler. That’s what I do to stay in shape and I garden. That’s pretty much it. But I’m at a point in my life when I know that I’ve got to start working on this, got to start actually working at which sucks. I do.

Would you ever be interested in writing or directing or something like that?

Jeri Ryan: Oh, God no. Oh, God no. No, I know where my talents lie and that ain’t it.

Okay. That's an easy answer.

Jeri Ryan: No way.

Is there something about you that your fans would be surprised to know that you can tell us?

Jeri Ryan: I will say pre-Twitter they would have probably been surprised. But if any of them follow me on Twitter, I don’t think anything would surprise them at this point. But yes. I’m a big old science nerd from way back.

RU?

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

If you follow me at all, you probably know that I am something of a nut for reality competition shows. "Nut," because they have some appeal to me, regardless of what the particular subject is and/or whether or not it is anything I would watch a "regular" show about.

I have no real interest in becoming a chef, and don't watch cooking shows, but I watch all the various shows that put chefs in competition with each other. Likewise, I have little interest in fashion, interior design, or the cutting of hair, but most of these will get me to watch the reality shows.

Design Star is on its way back to you July 11th at 9/8c, and things are a little different this time around. David Bromstad, the season one winner, is going to take on the role of contestant mentor, apparently in something like a very similar idea to Tim Gunn's role on Project Runway... maybe. At any rate, he's going to be trying to help out the contestants with advice and strategy, and generally being the voice of someone who's been there.

He was able to take part in a Q & A call recently, and he gave some insight on his role on the show, and what we can expect to see. Enjoy.

David Bromstad, the season one winner of HGTV Design Star and the finalists' mentor in the new season of the series, is known for his endless energy and out-of-the-box thinking. David began his career as a design student at the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Fla. Earnest, passionate, talented and innovative, David creates awe-inspiring works on many platforms, including custom art, furniture building and interior design. David says he "blends styles that incorporate realism and fantasy." He combines this approach with a love of color and practical advice that shows viewers how to transform tired rooms into unique, vibrant spaces in his weekly series Color Splash.

David also appears the new series HGTV’d, in which a different HGTV star will travel across America in an 18-wheeler, surprising fans high-impact, ingenious and visually stunning room designs.

So, I guess we wanted to start off by finding out more about what your role is going to be on this season of Design Star.

D. Bromstad Well, I am going to be doing the mentoring role, and I’m really focusing on really honing their skills as on-camera talent and doing camera challenges. I’m there to assist them, and I’ve been there. I’ve done it. I know how nerve wracking it is. I know what craziness is going through those brains and so what better person then to mentor them than me.

If you were competing on Design Star again, would you approach it differently than you did the first time you were actually on it?

D. Bromstad I am sure I would have. When I entered the competition, I was like, sure, I’ll do this, whatever. Host, what does that mean? And when it came down to the hosting challenges, I was a mess. And you know, if I would have had somebody like myself who had already been through the process or just taught me how to enunciate and just say things correctly in really short bursts, it would have helped tremendously because that was the hardest part for me in Design Star. The design was fun. It was great, but it was the hosting challenge is where I really struggled.

I was wondering, what were your initial thoughts going into Season Six as a mentor after winning Season One?

D. Bromstad It was like everything’s just been full circle. I was thinking wow, this is pretty amazing. I’ve been watching Design Star since I won and just in awe of the talent that has come through there, and now to be a part of it is just, it feels right. It feels amazing, and I had so much fun. It’s a true honor. It really is.

Excellent. Good to hear. What kind of advice will you have for the Season Six contestants, including things that you’ve learned while doing Color Splash?

D. Bromstad You know, I think the biggest advice is to not lose yourself in the competition, is just to stick with who you are and be that vibrant personality that brought you onto the show in the first place. And, you know, whether you’re great at camera challenges or horrible at it, you can always be taught to be great on camera, but you can’t be taught to have a great personality.

I’d like to know, do you think the competition to find the design show host leads to a better end result, such as a stronger fan base when the winner show does premiere?

D. Bromstad I’m sorry. My brain blanked on the first part of the question.

Well, having the competition to find the next host for the design show, do you think like the end result is better, you know, is there stronger fan base? Does it work out better this way?

D. Bromstad I think it brings in a stronger sense of the camera challenges when, you know, now that I’m in there. Before, these contestants were just going for it not knowing what to do, and my role is now to guide them and tell them what to do and guide them and just be that mentor that they didn’t have in the past.

Yes. Having a mentor makes all of the difference.

D. Bromstad It really does. It really does.

Speaking of which, how did you become the mentor? Did HGTV call you up out of the blue or was this in the works for a while?

D. Bromstad Well, I don’t know how in the works it was for a while, but I mean they’ve been talking about it for almost close to a year, so they’ve been talking about it, mulling it over, and of course, I am gung-ho on the whole process because I’m a Design Star junkie of course. That’s how I got my beginning. So I was more than honored to be a part of it.

How do you mentor without diminishing their style while still letting them do their thing?

D. Bromstad You know, it’s I’m not giving so much design advice. I’m definitely there checking if they’re on their design and being intriguing asking them questions, but you’ve got to keep it pretty neutral because it is a competition.

And yes, I have to have very strong opinions about certain designs, but if I’m going to give those opinions, then that’s an unfair thing to the other contestants. So, I’ve just stayed very neutral, ask challenging questions. I’m there as basically America. I’m representing America going I’m going to ask you a question that everyone else out there wants to know. Why are you doing this? Are you scared about this because what happened last time? What’s going to happen this time? I’m that person.

Got it. Okay. So, less on the helping them with their style, more helping them just be the design star.

D. Bromstad Exactly. There’s so many facets of being a design star. You know, design is just one of those facets. I’m not there—we already have judges giving advice on their designs, and they already have that. I’m there to kind of wrap up the package.

So, let me ask you, thinking back to when you were a contestant on the show, what advice do you wish a mentor had given you at that time?

D. Bromstad There’s a lot of advice I wish I could have gotten, and it was all with the camera challenges. You know, design wise I was fine. I could do that. I was enjoying that process, but it was the camera challenges that I really struggled on, and I just wish someone would have told me just break it down, slowdown, relax and, you know, but continue to be yourself. It’s just someone there to hold my hand, even if they didn’t tell me the best advice, but if I was there coaching them or someone I mean someone was there coaching me, that would have been nice. So, just a little handholding would have been good.

I can imagine, yes.

D. Bromstad I was on my own momma.

So let me ask you; all the time now you’ve spent on the camera between different shows, what has been the most surprising thing that’s ever happened to you?

D. Bromstad Surprising thing that’s ever happened to me? Oh, Lord. That I got comfortable in front of the camera. After doing Design Star and winning it, I was like, oh my gosh, now I have to do this on a daily basis, be in front of the camera, articulate, talk about things.

I was honestly really scared, and, you know, even a few short months after I got into Color Splash, I was like, wow, we’re not in a competitive setting any more. I don’t have to do it in one or two takes or three takes, I can do it in 50 takes if I want, and the ease of kind of being a host has been, it’s been a lot easier than I thought it was. I think that’s probably the most surprising because when I first thought, I was like, what? I’m in trouble.

I was just wondering, since you will see the contestants weekly, how do you stay impartial and not fall into the trap of having favorites or things like that?

D. Bromstad You know, you have to be professional, and even though there’s definitely people that you like and there’s people’s design styles that you like more, get in the competition, and I’m not there to infuse my opinion in their designs and how they are and how they act.

I can give them certain pieces of advice, little pieces of nuggets, but they have to take those nuggets and run with it. I’m not there to say, you know, going here’s what you need to do to win. I’m there to just guide them to give better Design Star if they by chance happen to win.

Okay. Thanks then. And, I also wanted to know, what’s your first inspiration for a space? Like when you first walk in, is it paint, furniture, art? How does that work?

D. Bromstad My inspiration is my homeowners. If it wasn’t for them, then I wouldn’t be inspired because I can walk into a room that looks terrible and needs to be redone, and I have a lot of opinions, but I need to be inspired by my homeowners and what they’re inspired by and the colors they want, and that is where I get my inspiration.

I’m curious what your favorite type of room to design is.

D. Bromstad That’s unfair. What a hard question.

Okay, then I’m going to go the challenging route.

D. Bromstad I’ll do both. I think that my favorite room to design is the bedroom. There’s just something about it that’s really personal, really dramatic. It can be elegant. There’s just so many things you can do, and the great thing about a bed is that your bed is the feature piece of furniture, and you can really go fantastic with it.

Like with the living room, you have a lot more pieces to deal with. You have the couches. You have your feature wall behind the couches. You have your TV area. There’s a lot more things for you to focus on, and I think the bedroom is like one focus, the bed. Let’s make it fabulous.

I have a question more about will you be talking to the judges about your experiences mentoring?

D. Bromstad The judges and I have very little contact with each other. So, basically when the judges are on, I am in a different place and vice versa. So, we’re constantly missing each other.

I think I actually used to see the judges very often. This year, only in passing, which is kind of a little bit of a bummer, but no. I don’t chat with them. They simply—I’m mentoring the designers, the contestants and whatever comes out on their mentoring, whatever comes out on their camera challenge will come through to the judges. And then, the contestants can argue with the judges as much as they want.

RU?

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

Well, Falling Skies has launched, and the debut ratings were impressive. If you're like me, you took a shine to the character John Pope, and there is a lot of him coming up in the show, and with some interesting spins. Pope is played by Colin Cunningham, and I got a chance to talk to him recently about the show, shows generally, and his character. It was a great conversation, and I hope that translates (it usually doesn't quite work). For my money, a lot of the best hope of the continued success of the show comes down to how Pope figures into things, and I think Colin gives a fun, interesting, and layered performance that is worth watching.

Just because the show is so new, I'm going to include the official rundown on both the character and Cunningham before jumping right into the interview. Have fun.

John Pope, the leader of a band of marauders, introduces himself to the 2nd Mass by taking a group of hostages and offering to exchange their freedom for weapons. For reasons known only to him, this smart, resourceful and charismatic ex-con takes great pleasure in killing skitters, even hunting them like wild game. A shameless opportunist, Pope considers the invasion the best thing that ever happened to him. He also happens to be an excellent chef.

California native Colin Cunningham has played everything from the straight-up Major Davis on Stargate SG-1 to crooked cop Brian Curtis on DaVinci’s Inquest. In addition to FALLING SKIES, Cunningham is currently starring as Neil Styles on HBO Canada’s Living in Your Car. Cunningham also plays a recurring role on the series Flashpoint.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Cunningham has played roles that have had him pursued by Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Sixth Day and putting his life on the line for Jennifer Garner in Elektra. Indie favorites include Best in Show and Breakfast with Scot.

In 2009, Cunningham made a name for himself as a director when he and actor/producer Madison Graie made the short list for an Academy Award (R) nomination for their film Centrigrade, which took more than two dozen “Best Of” awards and nominations. Centrigrade became the first short film in iTunes history to break the Top 10 in feature downloads. Centrigrade is currently being developed into a project for television.

Credit - http://www.nathanieltaylorphotography.com

So Colin, kind of a different show here, and kind of a different character. Did you find this character a complete change from anything you'd done before?

Yeah, definitely. I found it a very refreshing change. I mean, I've played bad guys before, but what I thought was unique about this is that he's a very intelligent bad guy. He's a smart, intellectual kind of guy, and I think that's where he and the character played by Noah Wyle, Tom Mason, sort of have something in common. They're both bright, articulate kind of guys, and even though they're on opposite sides of the law, there's a sort of kinship there.

And yet, you can't make him too unlikable, either. Is that interesting? He may be pretty horrible at times, but you can't go too far.

Yeah, there were some discussions as to how to walk that line, because there has to be a certain charm about him. Something that you like about him, but he's not the nicest guy in the world either. We'll see what the audience thinks, but hopefully I've struck a nice balance between the two.

This is obviously something of a strange television production. Was it very strange going to work, or is it not as different as it seems?

Oh, yes, you know you would show up, and all the crew, and today it would be two-miles of freeway shut down, and you have buses and semi-trucks that have been flipped over, and 300 extras, and you would look around and think, "This is not a TV show." It's just epic. Absolutely gigantic. And, all of that for a scene that might only have six or seven lines. You've got to have all those people, because that's the world. And, we shot all of this stuff on location, so the set decorating, and the people who were involved with creating this world were just absolutely superb.

It's funny, thinking about all that goes into it, because I've been able to see a lot more episodes than normal. Has this all been a long time ago by now, with the number of episodes that are put together already?

Well, for some of these actors, it's been two years since they first started. Some of the production guys, it's three years.

Wow, that's an incredible commitment for everyone, including the network. You don't see that often.

It really is, and I hope TNT gets to enjoy their time in the sun, because I think they've done a phenomenal job.

Given the nature of the beast here, what was the most challenging thing about the production for you?

You know, it's still television, so even though they had all these amazing things going on with the locations and the special effects, it's still a TV show, and it's still shot like a TV show, which means you get one take, maybe two if you're lucky. It was all go, go, go. So, the pacing was incredibly challenging. Just to keep the caliber high. Sometimes it would take so long to light this stuff, to make it look so good, and the actors might get one try at it, and then we have to go. That's it.

So, that was very challenging. The actors were... very, very prepared, I would say. So, there was no mucking about. They really took everything very seriously, because you may only have the one shot.

Credit - http://www.nathanieltaylorphotography.com

Does anybody stand out as a favorite person that you worked with on the show?

I think... Noah Wyle. I mean, honestly, he set the tone. He really did. I mean, he's a leader in the character of Tom Mason, but he led by example, and he's not only a superb actor, but he's a consummate professional. To see some of things that he had to do in one take to pull it off really blew me away. I was amazed. I think he's a great guy.

So, this is a huge show with a big push, and it's coming around Emmy time now. So, biggest and best is on everyone's mind. I think fans of the show might want to know what you watch. What are your favorites?

You know, I've spent so much time making the stuff, I can't even think of a favorite show right now. If anything, I'm watching old episodes of Damages, because I missed it. That's one of my favorite shows. Quick, help me think of another TNT show.

Honestly, I don't watch a whole lot of television. I get my DVDs, and watch them on my Blu-Ray.

I've been watching a lot of old Rod Serling stuff, even before Twilight Zone. Playhouse 90. Requiem for Heavyweights. The Comedian with Mickey Rooney. You know old, live, Golden Age of television stuff. All my favorite writers all wrote for TV. Rod Serling. Paddy Chayefsky. Dennis Potter. Charles Beaumont.

It's funny, because it's come full circle. Right now, television is where the good stuff is.

I think if the show takes off, and people become fans of your character (which I think they will), I think fans are going to find that a surprising answer to what you watch. It doesn't seem like that's what you would watch from watching the show... I hope that doesn't sound bad... I mean, your character doesn't watch those shows.

I don't think... well, you know, I think John Pope... you know, he's in a strip club one minute, then in a bar fight the next, and then later on in the day, he's in the library reading Herman Melville.

Yeah, I can see that. He's actually one of my favorite things about the show.

Cool, man.

Credit - Ken Woroner - TNT

I really like the show, but it's kind of strange... like I said, there are so many episodes that I've seen already. The last two makes for a two-parter, and I don't want to give anything away, but I thought those last two of the ones I've seen were something of a sudden, strange turn. Does that make sense at all?

You'd have to let me know what happens in those episodes.

(secret conversation ensues)

Ahh... now, when you say a strange turn, what does that mean?

I don't know. I think that watching through them all, those episodes seemed to slow everything down... I thought it was very obvious where it was going...

Oh, wow.

and the show was suddenly very focused on one thing. As opposed to, through the first episodes, there are so many people, and so many things going on, and now, this was sort of like, this is the one story.

Like an episode of television.

Right.

I get what you're saying... but, you've seen more than I have. I've seen five of them, and they've all been rough-cut. That's interesting. I don't really know about how they play out. I'll be interested to see that myself.

So, what else do you have in the works? Or, what else is going on now?

Right now, I'm really crossing my fingers of Falling Skies. that it comes back. I also do a show for HBO Canada, Living in Your Car. I'm one of the series leads on that. And, there's another TNT show, I did the pilot on that one. It's called Perception. And, in 2009 I made the short list for an Academy Award with a film that I directed, Centigrade...

Right...

Yeah, we've been developing into a television series, as well as a feature film.

Yeah, that kind of took over the web for a while.

Yeah, it did. So, looking forward to good things happening with that. But, right now, we have the premiere coming up, and just had the premiere party last night. So, we're just crossing our fingers.

I have a feeling that it's going to do pretty well. At least, I think it's going to get renewed. Now, is that going to be... are there plans in the works already for that? What happens if...

Yeah, well, they are working on that right now. In fact, I met with some of the new writers last night. There's a new showrunner, and a new team of writers. They are writing scripts as we speak. So, we're just waiting on a formal pick-up from TNT. We just have to air the show, you know, see what the reaction of the people is to the show, before they can officially green light anything.

Well, it was picked for an award at the Critics' Choice Television Awards for Most Exciting New Series... so... well, it's got that already.

Yeah, you know, as an actor, you're just riding the wave, and you're up and you're down, and you try not to take either one too seriously. You just... you know, be grateful that you have a chance to put someone like Steven Spielberg on your resume. I mean, I've already won, you know?

RU?

Related articles

• TNT's FALLING SKIES has best cable launch of the year, with more than 5.9 million viewers (geektyrant.com)
• 'Falling Skies' Series Premiere (Review) (popmatters.com)

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

(ABC/ADAM TAYLOR)

ABC's Shark Tank is between seasons at the moment, though I'm glad to see it still showing up on Friday nights, but it's getting a third season in the fall. The show had me as a fan long before it ever aired, because I had already been hooked by the British and Canadian versions for years. The show of entrepreneurial hopefuls, and the Sharks (Dragons in the other incarnations) who may or may not give them money is going strong, and I was very glad to see it picked up for another round.

I had a chance to talk with one of the Sharks recently, and it was a surprising treat. Well, surprising because, you know, they're Sharks. Luckily, as we'll see, and as I'm sure you already know, I was chatting with the least "sharkiest" Shark, Barbara Corcoran. I apologize in advance for the lack of editing here, but for all that there is some theory of a rhyme and/or reason for interviews, we really just rambled about the show, much as I suppose anyone who is a fan might if given the chance.

I want to jump right in, because this is fairly lengthy, but I want to mention that she has a new book out. Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business. I also want to make sure to tell you to be sure to catch Shark Tank as the re-airs continue on Friday's, and keep it on your radar for the fall.

Also, the show is looking for contestants - http://abc.go.com/shows/shark-tank/casting

Here we go -

How did you get connected to the show?

Barbara - I got a phone call one day from someone the studios hire to recruit people for the show. They asked if I was interested, and I thought it sounded perfect for me. I said, "Yes, how do I get it," and they asked for tapes and various things, which were all about real estate, of course, because I had nothing on entrepreneurship. A month later, they sent me a contract, which I signed as quick as I could. I sent it back, and knew I was going to L.A. within five days. That was so exciting, I felt like a little kid. But then, two days later I got a call that they changed their minds, and they weren't going to hire me. I couldn't believe it.

Little did I know, they sent lots of contracts out to lots of "sharks," and they cancelled out most of them. I didn't know that. So, I got it, and lost it, and that's when I think I'm always at my best. I sat down and slammed out an email - I should send it to you, it's framed on my wall. I'm so proud I sent the email. - and I sent it to Mark Burnett, and I made the woman who called for him promise she'd walk it over and put it under his nose, because nobody reads emails.

It worked, and that turned it around. I suggested that he bring the other blonde bombshell out to compete with me for the spot, the lone female spot, and he said he would.

That's so interesting. I don't think anyone watching would imagine that there was...

A fight for the spot?

Well, least of all me. I never saw that one coming. I had already gone to Bergdorf Goodman, and bought five new outfits, just for signing autographs. I had the whole Hollywood thing going on in my head. But, of course, that was banished with one phone call.

Well, you have to have the right outfits if you're going to be on TV, right?

I think outfits are part of it, and speaking of outfits, I'm making headway on the Shark Tank. They would only let me wear very dark business suits, which I never wear, and I had to shop just for the show. Now, Clay, my executive producer is allowing me to wear color. So, I'm finally getting to break from that old mold that a businesswoman wears a dark, man suit, because they don't.

So, were you involved with the entrepreneurship side of things before this?

Not at all, and that's why it was such a special opportunity for me. Because, I had to recreate myself after I sold my brokerage firm, and so I recreated myself as a real estate expert. The most natural thing to do in the media world. But, to have a ticket into the entrepreneurial space, which is so natural to me, that's what I do well, that's why I was so excited when i got the phone call from Mark Burnett.

I think that's all really interesting, because people watch the show, and... I think that's not what they think.

In which regard? I'd be curious why you say that.

Well, A) that there was a fight for the spot, and B) that this is not what all of the Sharks do anyway, and they just made a show about it.

Oh, interesting, I hadn't thought about that. Well, each of the Sharks has their own business, and are entrepreneurs building their own business, but their business per se is not angel investing like this. It's new to all of them. Although, I shouldn't say that, because two of the sharks come from Canada. Kevin O'Leary and Robert Herjavec, so they've been doing this, and it's not new to them, but still, their business is not really one of being an angel investor.

So, in getting into the show now, have their been any products or businesses that stand out to you as the ones that you wish hadn't gotten away from you?

Yeah, I would say the first one that comes to mind is Notehall. That was from the first season. That was the fish that got away. That was my introduction to the concept that there are Sharks on both sides of the table.

Another one got away this year. I think in both of those instances, I think I definitely was used, or, I should say, the venue of the show was used to get notoriety versus genuinely looking for investment capitol. I was a little surprised. I always take people on face value until proven guilty. So, I had to lose one big fish in each season. And, I was thinking, I don't want to do this. I don't want to get used. But, guess what. Now I've made my new rule. I'm going to be used once every season.

But, Notehall was a great technology company, that had already raised a first round of financing, and it's a method by which kids at different schools share their notes. You remember that one?

I do remember them actually.

Well, the two guys were adorable. They looked the part. They acted the part. They believed in their product. But, when I finally competed with two other Sharks, and got it, I gave the guy a money-back guarantee. Like, if you don't like me as a partner, or whatever, don't worry about it. Give me the money back. Forget it. Don't worry, the deal's off. Then I realized he could use me. I said, you're not going to use me, right?

I heard that cock crow three times. No, Barbara, I would never use you. But, they got overbids on that price within two days from many technology angel investors, and knocked me right out of the box.

Well, I have watched the British and Canadian versions of the show for years, and it seems like you get a certain amount of that all the time. There are some people who just want to get the free ad of being on the show.

I don't blame them.

Well, sure. It seems strange, but I guess you can't blame them.

It's too tempting. Think about it, primetime exposure.

Well, and then every once in a while we see the "where are they now" spots, and you have people who didn't get deals, but they're doing great anyway.

Definitely. We hate those stories. They turned us away, and they're doing good anyway. Not a good message.

(ABC/ADAM TAYLOR) KEVIN O'LEARY, BARBARA CORCORAN, ROBERT HERJAVEC

Are there any deals that you did make, that turned out even better than you imagined they would?

Yes. Definitely. That is, of course, the dessert of being a Shark on the show. To have an entrepreneur wind up much better than you dreamed, much faster than you envisioned. The two in this season that stole the show, in terms of product orders, and fast start, were Daisy Cakes, and also Ride-On Carryon, the children's seat that attaches to your luggage.

Really? Those were big?

Yeah, that surprised you? You probably don't have a little kid at home. Have you traveled with a little kid?

I actually have three, and I'm a work-at-home dad.

Oh my God. You're like the perfect guy to sell it to. Do you travel with the kids with luggage?

Well, you know, we don't travel by plane a whole lot... so...

Yeah, you really need to travel by plane for this.

It just didn't seem like the next greatest thing on the show.

Well, it's a niche product, no doubt. It's not like everyone is going to buy it. You have to be in that window where you have a kid under five. And, you have to be traveling. And, you have to be annoyed. So, there are a lot of contingencies. But, I'll tell you, it was received so well. The orders were through the roof. We ran out of product in a week.

Now, in my second season, I'm a much better planner. You know, the website has to be right. Everything has to be set.

But, despite that knowledge, when Daisy Cakes came on, we had 75,000 hits in three minutes, and it took the website right down. And, we had planned for it. Then we couldn't produce cakes fast enough. Then we found out we had a shipping issue. It was too expensive to ship them. But, it was one happy problem after another.

It was too much notoriety, too soon, and the audience responding well to her. That's what I find. It's not just the product, it's how people resonate on air.

There are a lot of times that I'm watching the show - Like I said, I've been a fan of some version for years - and, I find it so strange that there are products, and I'm thinking, I kind of like that product, but I would never be in business with that guy. It strikes me that here are people coming on, trying to get money, and I'm thinking, Wow, I don't think I could...

Have him as my partner.

Yeah. And, you do hear the Sharks saying that sometimes. They will pick out that it's the person.

People tread lightly on that one, I think. I think it's very hard to say on air, I don't like you, or I don't trust you. Or, I find it very hard anyway.

Well, not for Sharks.

I think you manufacture some other reason. Well, for me it's hard, I have to tell you.

Well, I think you probably stand out as the least sharkiest Shark.

That's not good for my career. I'm supposed to be a Shark. I don't want to hear that.

I don't know. Don't you think though?

I hear that a lot. That people like me the best.

Well, the other Sharks are mean.

Well, it has to be. It's a Shark Tank.

But, I don't know that you necessarily seem like you're mean to anyone ever.

I can't. I know I'm supposed to be, but I just don't have it in me. It wouldn't be convincing. I stopped worrying about that. I was worried about that the first season, and a little part of the second season, and I thought, you know what, when you're just yourself, it's usually the best course of action for anybody. If it fits, it fits.

But, you know what I feel very strongly about is that I've always picked the entrepreneur. Now sometimes in the due diligence, maybe 20% of the deals I do kick out. I either find things that aren't factual, like purchase orders that really don't exist. But, mostly what I keep my eye on is the nature of the beast. The nature of the person I'm about to get married to for a long time. If they are arrogant, or obstinate. That's probably the main thing. If they want to do what they want to do, they don't need a partner. They want money.

I think those people are the most entertaining. The ones who think they know everything.

Yes.

It's funny, because these people are on a lot of television. Shows like Supernanny, or Kitchen Nightmares, where you have basically people who can't do it (whatever "it" is) go to an expert, and then won't listen to them. And, it turns out to be the same a lot on your show.

I'm happy to hear you say that. I thought it was miscasting, but you're thinking it's intentional, and works well for TV.

Well, I don't know about that.

I think so, because we're talking about it.

I mean, I suppose it could be, but I think it's just how a lot of people are. You know, people don't want to admit that they don't know everything. I mean, some people. People don't want to be wrong.

I just find it hilarious that they would come to the Shark Tank, and think they know better than everyone else. Especially when you have someone who has a lot to do with that industry, and they say, you know what you need to do is this, and they say, no, there's no way I'd ever do that. That's crazy. I mean, why show up? If you don't want the expertise of the Sharks...

Why are you there?

I feel like the money is not really a big thing. To me.

Really? You mean from the entrepreneur's perspective, you don't think that's their motivation? That they're in there for the money?

I think that it might actually be a lot of people's motivation, but if it is, it shouldn't be. I think, you know, you could get money other ways. But the people who have the expertise, and who have done it...

And, who have the contacts.

...is worth a lot more than just having a pile of cash.

Definitely.

If you don't know what to do with the pile of cash, then it doesn't get you anything anyway.

Absolutely. I actually very much believe my value in any deal is me. And, I'm not trying to be cocky or anything, because I'm a great business nose and can guide someone.

Right, and whatever money you put in, you actually know what to do with it. If they knew everything there was to know about what to do with the money, they probably wouldn't need any money. Their business would be wherever it needed to be.

The other thing that I find amusing about the show is all the people who have the crazy values and want crazy amounts of money.

I don't get that, and you know they're hammered away by the producers before the show. To try to get them to a real value. They're worked over, believe me. Because they really want to see a deal happen, and they know with these crazy values nothing is going to come of it.

Well, yeah, and if you're watching the show and all you hear are Sharks saying, "Where did you get this crazy valuation," that becomes boring.

I just find it strange that all these people come out and want too much money, when the money doesn't really matter. It's the deal, right?

Yes. I think.

I mean, let's say someone comes out and wants $100,000. If they'd have asked for $50,000, they would have got a deal, and the other $50,000 makes no difference.

Oh, definitely. You know what else happens that they're not aware of, and it happened with all my season one deals - for example, I don't know if you remember Tiffany who had the little clay elephant that gets a child to take their medicine...

Yes, I hate that product.

You hate it?

Yes, it's crazy. I mean, I might wish I had a piece of it, but it's the weirdest thing. But, ok, there are a lot of products that sell great, that I think are crazy.

Well, we sold 50,000 units to CVS, and we just sold another 10,000 to another big chain. And, they're selling very well.

Well, they are the kind of thing that I can see people buying. I'm not sure that it's not the sort of thing that's like way in the back of the drawer, and you never see it again after you buy it, but...

Well, I don't want to overlook the point I wanted to make about the $50,000 vs. $100,000. I think what a lot of people don't realize is that once you buy in - using Tiffany as an example, I paid $50,000 for 51% of her company - it was the first product I ever bought, and I don't know how I could have been so stupid, but by the time I signed the deal, which happened very quickly, and we got the mold made, and got everything in place... we already spent the $50,000. Then we got orders in, well, I had to put $100,000 more in to produce the products.

So, I'm a little more careful, because if the product is successful, it may be the tip of the iceberg. So, they are crazy to ask for a lot of money.

That's just further reason that it's so weird that they insist on so much money for the deal, because if you get 50% of this company, and you have money in, and you get to a point where you say, "Ok, we have all these orders, but we need more money," you're not just going to say, "Well, too bad."

Even at times if I'm thinking, I'm just chasing bad money now, why am I doing this, you have to make that judgment along the way.

The other hurdle you almost always get into is, if the business does get some traction, well, the entrepreneur is usually working another job, and all of a sudden they don't have the time to run the business. Now they're coming back to you asking for a salary, so they can quit their real job.

So, I'm a lot more sober now than I was the first season.

It's a different world now.

Different enough for me to have the wherewithal to say to Daisy Cakes, and it sounded so cheesy, that I want a dollar on every cake you sell. But, let me tell you, she's sending me a check now for over $5,000, and it's going to feel really good. But, I want to see some money back, and now I realize the dance steps involved, and there are multiple steps.

So, when the pitches happen in the next season, now you know you're actually looking at a whole lot of other things than you thought.

Listen, I'm thinking and listening twice as hard now, you betcha. I'm a seasoned Shark now. Which isn't as nice, or easy as I used to be. And, I hope to eventually get mean. We're going to have to see.

Well, you have the King of Mean right next to you, so it's almost like you don't need to bother, right? If there's anything mean to say, you don't...

Oh, he says it. If anything, I fault myself for not stopping him when he starts drilling down on somebody. I don't think it's good TV. Sometimes he goes too far.

I think he does go too far, but sometimes I think there are people who need to hear that. I agree with him sometimes when he says that you're doing them a disservice to not give it to them. It's kind of like Simon on American Idol, you know, somebody has to say, Look, you can't sing, or they're just going to spend the rest of their life, you know, throwing more money into their business.

Yes. I agree wholeheartedly.

Ok, so, finally, I have to ask, what did you do with that first $1,000?

Oh. Easy. I spent $18 installing a Princess phone. I remember because I was so careful with the money. I placed my first ad in the New York Times. A three-line ad. I think the cost on that at the time was roughly $30. That's what I did with the money. The best thing I did was the ad. I had one listing. It was a one-bedroom, and it was owned by the man that I was his receptionist, so he gave me a listing. It was $340. I'm looking at the New York Times, and I'm seeing reams of one-bedroom. One-bedroom good loc. One-bedroom this. One-bedroom that. I went back to my boss and said, "How would you like to put up a half-wall in the dining L? I could get you another $20, I think." So, I raised it to $360, and I advertised one-bedroom and den. And, my phone rang off the hook.

I did it in another apartment, and another apartment, and used that same ad. So, that's all I did. I ran one ad, and made a $340 commission, and I never really went backward from that. I didn't ever get drained. Until, of course, I started opening five or six offices, and putting in new technology, and hiring well-paid people.

The beginning years were pretty easy though, really. It was about trying to get the most bang for your buck. And, I think that is the charge for every young entrepreneur.

And, speaking about my young entrepreneurs. The first thing they all want to do. They all want the same two things. I'm going to start taking a salary. Oh, no you're not. And, then the next thing they want to do almost immediately is, let's hire a public relations company. It's the first two things on everybody's dream list. It means their nose is on the wrong stuff.

So, that's a long way around from where did the $1,000 go, but I never really spent it, quite honestly. I just kept rolling it into that same ad.

Well, you know, the show keeps saying, "Turned $1,000 into... multi-whatever empire, and I'm not the only person thinking, you know, I could get $1,000... what do I do with it? They sell that so much on the show, that people have to wonder.

Yeah. You know, you're the first person that has asked me that, would you believe it?

I... I, wouldn't. No.

That's the truth. I'm more surprised that I remember, but you're the first person that ever asked where the $1,000 went.

--

And, that's pretty much it. I have to give a huge thank you to Barbara. She was a real pleasure to talk to, and simply far more cheerful and easygoing than I would have expected from the wealthiest person I've ever talked to.

Keep enjoying Shark Tank, and check out her new book.

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

Nathan Fillion has fans from so many places by now that anything he does is guaranteed to draw a pretty sizable crowd. He's part of the upcoming Green Lantern extravaganza, which not only includes the major theatrical release, but Green Lantern: Emerald Knights which hits on Blu-Ray, DVD, On Demand, and Download June 7th.

The last Green Lantern animated release was impressive to say the least, and this one has another brilliant voice cast, including Fillion as Hal Jordan.

Fillion had some time to talk about his role as Green Lantern, and I wanted to share it with you. Take a look, and enjoy.

Among the superhero role play games of your childhood, did you ever pretend you were the Green Lantern?

NATHAN FILLION:

As a child, when you're pretending you're different super heroes, Green Lantern was the easiest because all you needed to light the fire in the imagination was the ring. Superman, you need a cape; Spiderman, you need a full face mask. That wasn’t tough to come by in a winter town like where I’m from, but they’re just too hot to wear in the summer. So to be Green Lantern, all you needed to do is suck a lifesaver down to the right size, and to make sure it's a lime one – slip it on your finger, and you were good.

What is it about Green Lantern that most appeals to you?

NATHAN FILLION:

As a kid, what I liked about Green Lantern was that he could do anything – anything you could think of. It's like “Wow, all I need is a giant mallet, or a catapult circa 1200s,” and suddenly he had it. I just thought that would be pretty cool to have anything you could kind of imagine. Imagination was always a big thing for me.

You fit comfortably into animated super hero roles. Why do you think you keep getting chosen to play these comic book legends?

NATHAN FILLION:

I will say that I've been very fortunate. I can't tell you why people are willing to offer me the opportunity, but I can say how it pleases me because as a kid collecting comic books, I had a great time with the way it kind of lights the fire in the imagination.

I always thought I had an overdeveloped sense of justice. Now looking back on my comic book days, my world kind of was formed around comic book justice. I think I have a very strong sense of comic book justice. Maybe that has something to do with how you take on a role. I mean, I'm steeped in the history of these characters. I know it and I love it.

Between Firefly/Serenity and Green Lantern, you seem to spend a lot of acting time in space. Did you ever have desires to be an actual astronaut?

NATHAN FILLION:

I fear space the same way I fear drowning. I would think it would be a little bit claustrophobic. Sure, you have the vastness of space, but yet you're probably going to be in some kind of little miniature (capsule) and, you know, anything could go wrong. I mean. if you're scuba diving, let's say you're 10 feet underwater – if something goes terribly, terribly wrong, you've got 10 feet to swim to the surface, and you're good. If you're in space, you're boned. That's like being in a submarine at the bottom of the ocean. Uh-oh … Oops. (he laughs) Things you don't want to hear in space or in submarines: “Oops.”

Castle is a runaway hit. You’re a cover boy for national magazines with great regularity. There’s never been greater demand for Nathan Fillion. How do you stay humble through all this adoration?

NATHAN FILLION:

I'll tell you there sure is nothing like being an actor and having something to do every day. Get up 5:00 a.m. – I’ve got someplace to go and I’ve got a place I need to be. I’ve got stuff I gotta do. I’ve got stories I need to tell. This career that I've chosen, I'm employed gainfully in it – so I’m living the dream every day. That's a good feeling. It does good things for how you feel about your choices.

There was a period of time, I'll say it was 1998 approximately, where I didn't work for nearly a year. I was really questioning my judgment. What have I done? I've made a colossal error in judgment. I'm paying my rent on credit. What am I gonna do?

It's a much, much nicer feeling to know that you're doing something -- that you're playing some music that people want to hear. So I'm gonna play these notes – you tell me if you like them and we'll keep playing if you keep liking them. That's a good feeling. It's nice to walk down the street and have someone stop and politely say “I love your show.” That’s always great. As opposed to doing plays, where there’s immediate feedback, you don’t get that so much in television. So it’s really nice to hear. It doesn’t get old.

You’re on the Castle set at least five days a week, upwards of 14 hours each day. Given all that work, what makes you take time – on a Sunday of a holiday weekend – to record the voice of an animated superhero?

NATHAN FILLION:

I take the time to (voice characters in DCU films) exactly for the reason that it's fun. I get a call saying “Hey, how would you like to come on down to record Green Lantern?” And I’m asking back, “Can we squeeze it in on a Sunday because that's pretty much my only day off?” I want to make it work because I love doing it. More than that, I love being part of this lore. These are great characters – you’ve got Green Lantern, you have Superman, you have Batman, you have the Flash, all these wonderful pieces of American pop culture. And now I've got a little piece. I can say, “Oh yeah, I was Green Lantern for a DVD movie.” Not a lot of people can say that. “Oh, Steve Trevor? Funny you should mention him.” (he laughs) It may sound silly, but it means something to me.

You have been seen – on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, walking around Comic-Con on a Saturday, at your initial Green Lantern recording session – wearing a Green Lantern t-shirt. Did you own that shirt before being cast as Hal Jordan for Green Lantern: Emerald Knights?

NATHAN FILLION:

Debbie Zoller is the head of my makeup department on Castle. She saw that fan-made Green Lantern trailer and thought the t-shirt would be an appropriate Christmas present. And I wholeheartedly agree with her. I’ve been known to wear a few superhero shirts … and where better than a Green Lantern recording session to wear it today? So thank you Debbie – I told you it would come in handy someday!

RU?

Related articles

• Nathan Fillion's Castle Gets A Graphic Novel Adaptation (cinemablend.com)
• First Clip of Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss as the Voice of Green Lantern's Arisia [Video] (io9.com)

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

I Am Number Four is just about to hit stores, and star Dianna Agron chatted about the film recently. Well, largely she chatted about her spare time, guys, and fashion, but you know how it goes. The Glee star has some lofty goals, and simple tastes. Check out the interview below.

Was it fun to leave the Glee gang behind for some big-screen action with your new movie, I Am Number Four?

It was a lot of fun to try something new, but I knew I was going back to Glee after we finished filming I Am Number Four. It was only a brief change for me, but it was great to step into a whole new world.

When did you discover that you clicked so well with your co-star, Alex Pettyfer?

When I was cast on I Am Number Four, I hadn’t met Alex. I had dinner with the movie’s director, D.J. Caruso, a couple of nights before our first table read with the big studio executives and that’s when D.J. said to me, “Perhaps you should meet Alex before the table read?” I thought that was a really good idea.

Alex has described you as an actress with an old-school movie star quality. How does that make you feel?

That’s very nice of him. It’s pretty hard to accept that compliment because I grew up watching and loving old-school actresses like Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren and Katharine Hepburn. They were always effortless to watch, but I’m growing and trying to challenge myself to get to that place. If I do get to where they are it would be amazing. That’s my goal.

Your character in the new movie is very romantic. Are you similar in real life?

I think so. I really love the character of Sarah because there are a lot of similarities to how I was at school. Sarah loves photography, and so do I. I really started to get into it at school. I have about 10 cameras now and they all have different purposes.

p/c John Bramley - Dreamworks II Distribution Co. LLC

What else do you like to get up to in your spare time?

I love cooking. In fact, my favorite thing to do on a weekend is to have friends over and cook dinner. We’ll sit around, talk and play board games. I love doing things like that, although I also love to be outside and travel. I have such wanderlust. I try to go somewhere new for every vacation and there are so many places that I have yet to visit.

Are you into Twitter and the internet?

Computers are not a huge part of my life. I write, so I use a computer daily for that – but I’m not a big web surfer. I surf the internet every now and then, but it’s not like a two-hour a day, three-hour a day obsession of mine.

Are you a fan of fashion?

I love clothes. I like all the classic designers, but then I also love new, youthful and creative styles. I love it all.

How would you describe your personal sense of style?

It’s very eclectic. When I go to award shows and things like that, I think it’s okay to take risks – but I don’t like to go too crazy with it. On a day-to-day basis, I love vintage clothes, but I also love dressing however I feel that day. One day, I might want to dress like a boy. Another day I might want to put on a pretty, vintage, girly teacup dress. I think you can express so much of yourself through the way you dress and I am very much a girl in that sense.

What kind of girl were you at school?

At school, I was a nerd in some ways and pretty average in other ways. I was always the nice girl, so I had friends in many different areas. That worked well for me.

Did you enjoy school?

I loved school. That doesn’t mean I never fell asleep in a class, but it interested me and at the same time, I knew where I wanted to end up. Towards the end of school I was always thinking, ‘Oh, I’m so close to being able to move out of the house and go to the next step.’ But you have to try and enjoy everything you can while you’re there because you’re never going to have that lack of responsibility again. At school, you don’t have to pay bills and you don’t have to think about things like that. You can just be a kid.

Did you fall in love at school?

I think love is pretty non-existent in high school. I was busy, so I didn’t care. I had one boyfriend and he cheated on me, so I gave up hope for a while and I just focused on everything else.

Wait a minute… He cheated on you?

It’s never good to find out that your boyfriend is cheating on you with the girl in his Math class and then you have to look at them walking down the hallway every day. I just focused on my friends instead.

So what do you look for in a guy?

I look for people that are open and honest. Those are the kind of people that I want to be close to in my life because it’s never fun to wear a mask.

RU?

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

Hitting stores on May 24th, Gnomeo & Juliet is a great family film that is sure to entertain. I'll have a review of the release for you shortly, and I can tell you that the film was much better than I expected (for what you can glean from that information), but I have a couple of things to share first.

Emily Blunt and Elton John share some thoughts on the movie, and I also have a very cool character slideshow.

On May 24th, don’t miss the chance to bring home GNOMEO & JULIET - the hilarious twist on William Shakespeare’s legendary tale Romeo & Juliet as you’ve never seen it before, perfect for the whole family. Enter the secret world of garden gnomes and meet two adorable gnomes from completely different worlds who fight the odds to be together.

From a director of Shrek 2, and featuring fun, all-new music by Sir Elton John, the out- of-the-ordinary animated comedy GNOMEO & JULIET releases on Blu-ray™, Blu-ray 3D™, DVD, Movie Download and On-Demand – May 24, 2011.

Uniquely packaged with families’ top of mind, GNOMEO & JULIET will be made available for purchase by Walt Disney Studios as either a 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray 3D + DVD with Digital Copy), a 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray 2D + DVD) and/or a 1-Disc DVD. Disney Blu-ray Combo Packs provide families with an enhanced entertainment experience – with the value and flexibility to enjoy your favorite movies on a variety of platforms of choice.

And for those who enjoy to learn more about the making of the film, GNOMEO & JULIET discs come enclosed with never-before-seen bonus features including “Elton Builds A Garden,” “Frog talk with Ashley Jensen,”, “Crocodile Rock Music Video featuring Elton John and Nelly Furtado.” And for those who purchase the Blu-ray Disc, it includes hours of extra exclusive bonus features including alternate endings, deleted scenes and more.

Emily Blunt

What do you think about your character Juliet?

She's very cute. I was really thrilled with those rosy red cheeks. It's a weird thing because you wonder what face your voice will end up being lent to. But I'm very happy with my Juliet.

She’s very fiery, and very much her father’s child, so I was really thrilled to see that they’ve made her kind of a tomboy.

Is it exciting to take part in a project that features a classic story and phenomenal animation, plus Elton John music?

As soon as I heard about this project I think I said, “I'm in,” before I'd spoken to my agents or anything. So, I called them saying, “Oh, I'm doing this thing.” And they're like, “Right, did you want to talk it through with us first?” It was very easy for me to say yes but I think if I'd had any hesitation, a gently persuasive phone call from Elton John would have been just the ticket.

Do you find that, despite the twist this film takes, “Gnomeo & Juliet” is true to its inspiration?

It is very, very funny and it's a very heightened world to invest in, but I really feel that the core of what is so sweeping and romantic about Romeo and Juliet is still there. This truly captures the essence of forbidden love and it really captures the teenage frustrations that we’ve all felt. It's a very human story at the end of the day and quite an emotional one. And I think this is definitely the ending that people always wanted from Romeo and Juliet.

How do you balance the comedy with the story’s roots?

When you're doing a comedic version of something, I think it always has to be ingrained in some kind of truth because people don't laugh if they're not invested. We all very much wanted to play real people in this.

What does the audience have to look forward to with “Gnomeo & Juliet”?

I think there's something in it for parents who take their kids or people who go on a date. I think there's something in it for everyone. There's obviously Shakespearian references that we will go over the younger generation’s heads. But I really feel that for the parents there will be that moment in the cinema where their kids will look at them and be like, "Did you see that?" It's those kind of wink, wink, nudge, nudge jokes, which I think are really entertaining for everyone.

Elton John

What attracted you to taking part in “Gnomeo & Juliet”?

“Romeo and Juliet” is one of the greatest love stories of all time. And garden gnomes are huge in many countries throughout the world. We thought this would be a really good idea.

It’s very accessible and funny. And there’s a message in this film—the two gnome families, the Reds and the Blues, are diametrically opposed and are always at war with each other And in the end, peace is better than war. Two people fall in love and it brings about harmony and peace in the two warring factions.

Who will most appreciate “Gnomeo & Juliet”?

I don’t think you make this kind of movie for just a certain kind of audience. You make it for everybody. There are adult jokes in it; there are things kids will love. They will love the characters. They will love the gnomes, they will love the flamingo, they will love the frog. There are so many little things in it that kids will love. And it’s got very, very witty visual things in it.

What music did you contribute to the production?

There’s a lot of music from our catalog that’s being used—songs like “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting,” which is crucial in the lawn mower race along the back alley with Tybalt and Gnomeo. Plus, two brand new songs, including “Hello, Hello”—it’s the first time Gnomeo and Juliet get together. But

I think “Love Builds a Garden” is the best song in the movie. The flamingo explains to them that even though his garden is overgrown, it once flourished because the two people that lived there loved each other. Once they stopped loving each other, the garden died. But love can bring the garden back to life.

How did you approach the music for “Gnomeo & Juliet”?

It’s a collaborative experience. It’s one that I really like. I’ve always been a team player, I’ve always written with Bernie [Taupin]—he writes the lyrics and I write the melody—I like it that way. You get a good reaction and everyone’s happy and we can celebrate together.

How do you feel about the cast of “Gnomeo & Juliet”?

James McAvoy and Emily Blunt are two of the finest young actors out there. We were so lucky to get them, and they fit in perfectly. Michael Caine is a great friend of mine, one of the greatest actors out there, and I adore him—as Juliet’s father, he is perfect. We have a who’s who of actors and actresses in this movie: Maggie Smith, Patrick Stewart, Ashley Jensen, Matt Lucas—everyone.

Who is your favorite character?

I think Featherstone the flamingo and Nanette the frog could really steal the film. They’re really, really excellent characters played by great actors.

What can audiences expect from “Gnomeo & Juliet”?

We are so proud of the film. It’s been a labor of love, it’s full of Elton John/Bernie Taupin new music and old music, and I think it’s a really brilliant, funny movie. I hope it’s a big smash. I hope it will give people pleasure for the rest of their lives. We want to make a movie that people can look on in 12 years time and say, “Well that still holds up.” If we can do as good as Will [Shakespeare], we’ll be all right.

RU?

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

The buzz is heating up for The X Factor, and Simon Cowell took part in another Q & A to explore the show. Despite the fact that the premiere of the show is quite a ways away, the audition circuit is in full swing, and since a lot of people are doing a lot of not so positive talking about Idol, attention is turning to the future.

Check it out below, and then find several teaser clips at the bottom.

Can you just talk about how these booths are going to work and just to follow-up on that, the cities you chose for these booths?

S. Cowell Well, the idea was that we could only go into so many cities to do the open auditions. When we spoke to Fox and we spoke to Pepsi, they wanted to get a further reach and these booths came to my attention about—just under a year ago. Very reputable company, they work and the idea is that—like Alex said, we go into as many cities as we can—give other people a chance to audition. It’s like doing an audition in front of the producers or the guys in the record label as an open audition. They’re officially branded X Factor Audition tapes and they’ll be sent to the producers and everyone, effectively, will be auditioned by a producer. The whole idea of the show was that we’ve invited the whole of America to audition and this is just another attempt to get the reach out, really.

How are the auditions going so far?

S. Cowell They’re going great, actually. The numbers are much higher than we anticipated. We started off in L.A. and it was just under 20,000, apparently, actually turned up and everyone was seen. The latest count from Miami is—it’s around 8,000 to 10,000 are expected. The word’s got out; the numbers are up. Apparently, the producers are very, very happy with what they’ve seen so far in Los Angeles and we’re getting the right message out.

We’re asking people to come along and audition as if they’re in the real world to compete with people in the charts. … until I actually sit in the audition rooms myself, because I’ve been told this a million times, “Everything is going great and then you turned up on the first day and it’s a nightmare.” We’ll see, but people seem optimistic. Most importantly, the numbers are up because the worst thing you can do is that you announce the auditions and no one turns up.

We have local auditions a week from Saturday. What would be the top three things we should look for in the contestant?

S. Cowell I’ve been trying to get the point out, as I said to the previous caller, that don’t turn up and do a typical talent show audition. If you’re 16, sing like a 16-year-old. If you’re 12, try and appeal to 12-year-olds. What we used to see a lot of is people prepared to audition by their moms and dads and we said to everyone from the age of 12 to 18, “Seriously, don’t listen to your parents.” Everything’s available on YouTube now or on the Internet. All the clues are out there. Look at what’s happening in the charts at the moment and you’ve got to speak or sing, literally, with your own voice.

Try and be original. Try and stand out. Try and do a song or a version of a song no one’s heard before and don’t be afraid to be different now. I mean, we’ve got to be much more open-minded in terms of what we’re looking for. The whole idea of the show is you find the winner and it launches a career, which is going to last for a long time and hopefully, you sell records all over the world. Otherwise, this whole exercise has been a complete waste of time.

I know you’ve been traveling back and forth between the U.S. and England, but have you actually had a chance to attend any of the auditions so far?

S. Cowell No, I haven’t and funny enough, I never have in the past because I don’t really like to see or hear what I’m going to see in advance. When I see it in the audition room like the other judges and the audience behind me, I’ve got absolutely no idea who’s going to come in, what they’re going to sing or what they’re going to be like because if you knew in advance, it would be even more boring than the process is.

These are long days and the fun of it is that when you get surprised—I mean like the Susan Boyle clip is a classic example. Everybody thinks that I had seen Susan before. I had never met her in my life. So, when she sang for the first time, I was genuinely shocked and I like that feeling.

That’s why I haven’t been to any of the open calls yet, but I get calls all the times from the producers. They let me know how it’s going and when they get excited because they found someone. As I said before, everyone seems happy.

Can you confirm or deny the reports that Fergie is a possible contender to be a judge on The X Factor U.S.?

S. Cowell All I can tell you is that her name was put forward, but like with a lot of other people we’ve spoken to, we have to check out everyone’s availability. There’s a lot of time you have to put into the show because it’s not a two-day a week job …. When you’re in the live show, it’s because you’re mentoring the contestant. You’re working five or six days a week. So, I can confirm that her name is being put forward, yes.

What are the advantages to doing the booth auditions as opposed to doing the traditional route?

S. Cowell I don’t know if there’s an advantage or a disadvantage to be honest with you. All I know is that in some of the places we’re going to, I think it would be physically impossible for some of the people to attend the open auditions, so that’s why we’ve gone to a lot of the places which are far away.

I mean, what they will find—it’s professionally done. You can sing whatever you like. It’s a relatively straightforward process. I don’t think it’s probably as fun as attending an open audition, but it is your chance to be seen and heard and that’s why we’ve done this. I’m going to try and put these in as many cities as possible prior to our filming.

Does it really matter if you guys produce a star because with a lot of these shows, it would seem the chase is more appealing than the end result.

S. Cowell The chase—in what way?

That people get behind someone. They want to see them win. They win, but then after it’s over, they really don’t care what they do after that.

S. Cowell That’s a very good point and that’s why, as I’ve said many, many times, when we agree to do the show and we put the $5 million up, that’s with a belief that you’re going to find somebody who’s going to have a long-lasting career, and it does happen.

I’m not saying it happens every year. That’s why I’m going to a lot of effort to get the word out, to get as many people turning up as possible. Because, if you get a year where everybody’s hopeless—and it has happened—you don’t have a show. So, with the booths and the open auditions, we’re trying to see as many people as possible.

If I can’t make it work after all this effort, I’ll admit that I failed. So, there is a certain amount of pressure. You’re right, you don’t just want somebody who wins the show and then they’re forgotten about. You want it to be the start of—whether it’s Carrie Underwood or Susan Boyle or Leona Lewis, they’ve got a career. It’s a launch pad. So, we’re working hard at it.

Last week on Idol, we saw a contestant eliminated who had previously done pretty well on America’s Got Talent. I’m wondering if you’re finding that there are a lot of familiar faces that are out there that are turning up at X Factor auditions, maybe people from other shows that you’ve been on, been involved with or watched.

S. Cowell Apparently yes. I would much prefer that we see new faces; otherwise, it’s going to get a bit boring for me and for the viewers. Having said that, if we come across somebody who we think is genuinely talented or wasn’t given a fair chance, I think you’ve got to consider them along with everybody else, but looking at the amount of people who are turning up, I don’t think you’re going to see a lot of people you remember. I think if that’s the case, then I haven’t done my job properly in getting the word out.

People who have followed the U.K. show have said that you come across on that show as being a lot nicer as opposed to the callow character we got to know on Idol for so many years. I’m wondering if given that and given the new approach to the way Idol is handling things with softer gloves and the other singing show that’s coming out is all about mentoring and coaching, have we reached a time when these competitions are no longer about knocking people down and they’re more about building people up. Do you think we’ve sort of turned a corner there and what was the point that …?

S. Cowell Well, it’s a good point. It all depends who’s in front of you and you’ve got to remember that the audience at home are not stupid. So, if you’ve got somebody in front of you who can’t sing a note in tune, nobody—or certainly not me—is going to turn around to that person and say, “You’re wonderful or take a couple of singing lessons and you’re going to become a mega-star.” I mean, that’s ridiculous.

I’ve never believed in patronizing contestants. On this show, we’re going to say to everybody in advance, “You know what the rules are. If you’re hopeless, we’ll tell you. If you’re great, we’ll tell you you’re great.” I mean, you want to find great people, but there’s always going to be times when bad people come along or on the live shows they do something stupid. I think it’s my job to say that. Otherwise, I think these shows become boring or fake and it’s just not my style.

Moderator Our next question comes from the line of Andrew Ryan with Global ….

Do you think that the rise, even in the last several months of instant stars like Rebecca Black and the young lady who sort of did the YouTube copy of Lady Gaga, does that work for or against like a new show like X Factor?

S. Cowell Definitely works for it. I’ve had a lot of times in the U.K. where we’ve had clips—I mean, I mentioned Susan Boyle and before that, Paul Potts. I mean, they’re really good examples of where you can audition on this show and YouTube and all the other Internet sites pick up on the clip and suddenly, you’ve become a star all over the world. Honestly, we pray for that. You want a moment where something magical happens in the audition room and then outside of people watching the show, they’re interested in the clip. I’m always very, very aware of that. You always hope that you’re going to get that moment.

You look at what’s happened to Rebecca. I know she’s had a bigger …, but I mean she’s going to be laughing all the way to the bank. I mean, that’s what the Internet does to you nowadays. This would never have happened ten years ago. She’d be singing that song in her bedroom ten years ago. Now, she’s known all over the world. So, I think it’s incredibly positive and I’m excited about the fact that we’re in this world when we shoot auditions that you know you’ve got it right when your clip …. So, I’m always looking for that.

Do you think that social media like Twitter and Facebook, will that be built into The X Factor when it launches?

S. Cowell Oh, God, yes. I love it. I like the fact that people are going to be twittering and watching at the same time or on Facebook. I think we’re in an incredibly exciting time to make these shows because you get this instant feedback. You know whether you’ve made a good show or a horrible show within about five minutes. When I launched Idol, we didn’t have this. So, we’re embracing it. We encourage everyone to be a part of it and I think it just makes it more exciting.

Having said that, with the Twitter, I mean when you do something wrong, you know about it instantly. So, you’ve got to watch yourself very, very carefully.

How close are you to getting a deal with the final judges? When can we get that?

S. Cowell We’re still having nightly arguments with everyone trying to get everyone to agree is the truth. If you asked everyone involved on this show who they’d like as the panel, you’d have about 25 different opinions, and I’m used to this. I’ve done shows in the past where the day before filming we still haven’t agreed on the fourth judge because people freak out.

They have different ideas, another name comes into play, I mean, in Miami today, out of the blue, Gloria Estefan turns up and apparently she did a fantastic job and I had no idea she was going to be there. So, I’ve kind of found the whole process really interesting to see who’s enthusiastic about being on the show, and you get to see people’s commitment and enthusiasm. So, I think it’s been fun, but it really does show publicly how complete and utter indecisiveness.

As you said, she showed up in Miami unexpectedly. Are they auditioning themselves?

S. Cowell I guess she is and apparently, she did a great job. I’m all for it, but I mean she’s been a sweetheart for doing it because it made a big, big difference today apparently and she gave everyone a lot of support and encouragement and not a lot of people would bother to do that.

Usually, we get to hear the same cities mentioned over and over again, so I love the fact that you’ve got Hawaii and Alaska in here.

S. Cowell You know what? I’m dying to go to Alaska one day.

That’s what I was going to ask you. You’ve never been there before?

S. Cowell I’ve got to go. I mean, I would have done it this year. I don’t know why we didn’t do it, but if we’re still around next year, I’m going to make a big push to go there because I love going to places we’ve never been before like you said.

Are you optimistic about it? I mean, other than Jewell, no star has ever come from Alaska. Are you optimistic that you’ll find someone up there?

S. Cowell Of course, that’s why we’re going there. I think you’re going to get a lot more enthusiasm and I don’t know what we’re going to expect, but we’re going to find out. It’s definitely going to make it more interesting. These are probably going to be the first tapes everyone’s going to watch, is my guess.

The X Factor Teasers

-----

Los Angeles

An American X Factor

An Opportunity For All

Pepsi Time Lapse Experience - L.A.

RU?

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

Sanctuary, Syfy's surprise (to me) hit returns with new episodes April 15th, and the show has recently been picked up for a fourth season. I say surprise, by the way, only because the show plays fast and loose with just how wild it is going to be, and how strange the events that unfold will become, and that doesn't often sell well, even for sci-fi. When last we saw our crew, they were in a city at the center of the Earth, and who knows what might be in store for us with another season.

To help kick off the second half of the season, stars Amanda Tapping and Robin Dunne were available for a Q & A call recently, and the result was really quite a cool interview.

Check it out below, along with a sneak of the next episode, and a few teaser images.

So of the episodes that are still to come for the rest of the season - for the third season, do either of you or both of you have a favorite moment from shooting those remaining episodes?

Amanda Tapping: Go ahead, Robin.

Robin Dunne: The great thing about the second half of season three is that all the things that the team - the Sanctuary team - Magnus and the Sanctuary team have gotten into in the first half really, really become back to the ramifications they have to deal with in the second half. And it’s really quite a roller coaster ride the second half.

I think if I had to pick a favorite moment, we have an episode coming up that is the biggest episode we’ve ever done scope-wise, story-wise, everything. And it takes place in the past, back in World War II, and it was a really special episode to shoot. It’s quintessential Sanctuary thinking outside the box.

When we were on set shooting those things with tanks driving around, it was really quite an experience. So I guess if I had to pick one, I love every single moment, every waking and sleeping moment that I have on Sanctuary. But if I had to pick one, I think it’d be from that episode.

Amanda Tapping: Yes. The episode is called Normandy, and there was just something very special. There was an interesting vibe on set when we shot it. And the look is very different, but it’s a really cool episode.

It sounds it. And what would you say for each of you has been the biggest challenge for you working on Sanctuary?

Amanda Tapping: Well, I had to direct Robin Dunne in an episode called One Night. I’m just going to stop there.

Robin Dunne: And I think my most challenging moment was being directed by Amanda. I mean, she’s just a sadist. She made me do 750 takes of something once, just out of pure...

Amanda Tapping: Because we had the time.

Robin Dunne: Yes. She made me sing Hot Blooded in front of the entire crew for no reason. It was just to humiliate me. It’s really been a challenge.

Amanda Tapping: Yes.

What is it about your characters that you still find interesting? That makes you want to come to work and play them you know for three - well, getting ready to start four seasons of the show now?

Amanda Tapping: For me, I still don’t completely get Magnus. I find her to be such an enigma. And there’s so many things about the decisions that she makes that I still can’t wrap my head around, and to me that’s fascinating as an actor to try to get inside somebody so complex and so kind of confusing.

So, every time we start up the season, I’m like, “Oh, I’ve got to get back inside this woman’s head.” And it’s so different from the way that I think sometimes, that that’s the challenge for me. And, it’s scary and it’s fun to be scared.

Robin Dunne: I think for me, I really like the commitment that Will has. He’s constantly terrified by what he’s faced with at the Sanctuary, but is always putting that terror aside and committing to what the team has to do. And, I like that about Will. I find that a really good character trait.

I also like coming to work every day and getting my share done, and also they feed me here, which is nice.

Amanda Tapping: Yes.

Robin Dunne: It’s the only time I really get a hot meal.

What is the coolest thing about your job. Not necessarily a specific episode or anything. Just about going to work and everything. Robin, it’s you getting your hair done, but Amanda what’s yours?

Amanda Tapping: I think the coolest thing is the relationships not just between the characters, but honestly between the people that make this show. We’ve always been the little show that could. And this is going to sound hokie as all can be, but we’ve always been the show that people weren’t sure we could ever get it made.

It was this little web series. It’s always been a struggle, and I think through that struggle, the relationships were forged even more strongly. And, there’s a huge amount of trust on this set because we all kind of jumped into the fire holding hands together. And so the coolest thing is coming to work and seeing you know 70 smiling faces who all want to be here, and feeling a collective - I don’t know. A sort of selective conscious to make this show really good.

Everyone is committed. Like the location guys care about the script. Everyone’s reading the script and everyone cares about what happens, and people help each other. It’s a very special vibe here.

Robin Dunne: Everyone is committed and everyone should be committed.

Amanda Tapping: Yes. Definitely.

Robin Dunne: But as an example, yesterday we had the first table read of Season 4. And we’ve been off for a few months, and just to get everybody back in the same room and reading together and instantly picking up where we left off; it’s just such an amazing feeling to -- like Amanda says -- come to work and work with all your friends every day.

But I mean, also have to put up with Martin Wood and Damien Kindler. But, you know nothing is perfect.

Amanda Tapping: You know, there’s not. Right. That’s why they pay us.

Robin Dunne: Yes.

I wanted to thank you very much for figuring out a way to bring Jim Byrnes on the show. And I hope there’s a way he will be in more episodes for the rest of the season.

Amanda Tapping: He’s amazing, isn’t he?

He lends such an air of class to this show, and he’s just one of the coolest cats.

So with Will slowly almost dying towards the end of last year and Magnus actually facing mortality this year, I was wondering since they both have gone through that process, will that be something that we see play out for the rest of the year as well?

Amanda Tapping: Kind of. I mean, I think the cool thing about these characters is that they move on quickly, if you know what I mean.

Amanda Tapping: They’re not ones to sort of...

Robin Dunne: Yes. They can’t really - they don’t have time to dwell on the fact that, “Hey. I almost died there.”

Amanda Tapping: I almost died again.

Robin Dunne: Okay. Well, moving on. Got to - you know, got to keep (going on, it's like a signal).

Amanda Tapping: Yes. I think maybe the ramifications for Magnus are a bit different because she was faced quite imminently with mortality. And I think you'll see in Season 4 especially a decision being made that might surprise people.

But - and then for Will, I think it’s like everything that happens to Will it seems to me just gets worse and worse and worse, and he’s still hanging in.

Robin Dunne: Yes.

Amanda Tapping: So I think there must be a part of this character that just kind of goes, “Oh. Yes. Another day at the office, and today I was killed. Okay.”

Robin Dunne: I mean it’s not a caviler attitude by any stretch.

Amanda Tapping: No.

Robin Dunne: He certainly lives his life in - battling in - with the fear of working in the Sanctuary. But also, like Amanda says, you know we have to move on because there’s always stuff for us to do here, and you know trying to barely hang on with our fingernails.

We saw Will take more of a leadership role this year, and there’s even been moments where he kind of questioned Helen and told her she was wrong. Is that him taking control or realizing that he can be leader? Is that something else we’re going to see playing out the rest of this year too?

Robin Dunne: Well, somebody needs to put Magnus in her place you know? She can’t just go run willy-nilly doing whatever she wants. And I think certainly Will is the guy to do it.

I mean in all seriousness, I really like the relationship between Will and Magnus.

Amanda Tapping: Yes. I do too.

Robin Dunne: I think yes; Will being able to say to Magnus, “Look. I disagree with you respectfully,” and even if it’s something she doesn’t want to hear. It comes out of a very deep bond between the two characters, and I think you're going to continue to see that throughout the next season.

Amanda Tapping: I think that that’s one of the reasons Magnus chose Will, right? She doesn’t want a yes man.

Robin Dunne: No.

Amanda Tapping: She wants somebody who’s going to be intelligent enough and ballsy enough to call her on what she’s doing wrong. She didn’t want to hire a patsy. So - and what’s beautiful about the development of the relationship, and it’s happened so organically; he has come into his own. He’s realized what he does bring to the Sanctuary.

In the first season, it was a much different relationship. And now, I think there’s a really beautiful level playing field.

Robin Dunne: You all heard that. Will is intelligent and ballsy. I think...

Amanda Tapping: Will is Robin. Not you; Will.

Robin Dunne: Well you know Will and Robin are very you know...

Robin, are you ever going to direct?

Robin Dunne: Funny you should say that. I believe I will be directing this season coming up. The Episode 6 of Season 4 I will direct, and I think that completely terrifies everyone involved in the show. But yes, it’s going to be exciting. I plan to show up every day to work in a bathrobe and use a megaphone to shout out my directions. But I think that’ll just be a good way to get everyone’s attention.

Are you looking forward to getting back at everyone?

Robin Dunne: Yes. Oh, I have a list. The list. So, it’s like a phone book, and I am just going to - you know, Martin Wood and Damien Kindler are right at the top. So yes, it’s going to be exciting.

No. But in all seriousness; it’s something that is scary, obviously since I’ve never done it before. But, I’m really thankful for the opportunity and you know I probably won’t sleep the first couple nights before, but it’s going to be a lot of fun.

Amanda Tapping: He’s going to do a great job. One of the things when Martin, Damien, and I formed our company was we really wanted to foster young talent and mentor people into positions where they might not have had the opportunity before. So, we’ve had a lot of first time directors on our show. Our camera operator Steve Adelson, Lee Wilson directed for the first time. I’ve been given you know three different shots now.

Robin Dunne: Damien.

Amanda Tapping: Damien directing last year. And so when Robin asked it was like of course. This is what we do. And there’s a massive support network, but I think he’ll totally rock it.

Is there anything that really surprised you coming up about your character that you weren’t expecting or that happened earlier in the season?

Amanda Tapping: We had a cool episode towards the end of Season 3 that shows you a different side of our characters, and it’s a rather unexpected view of these two people. Magnus much more vulnerable and kind of freaked out than you've ever seen her, and...

Robin Dunne: It’s like many episodes of Sanctuary; kind of unrecognizable but in a very different way. I think you could even say that the characters themselves -- Will and Magnus -- are - don’t even recognize themselves. And it was a really interesting episode to shoot. Completely different location. The lighting. Everything looked like a totally different show and it was very interesting to shoot.

Odd in a way because you're playing the same character but in a completely different realm. And yes; it was exciting. That’s coming up - what number is that? That’s...

Amanda Tapping: 19.

Robin Dunne: ...19.

I was wondering if in this upcoming season Helen will have a chance for some romance? Past? Present?

Amanda Tapping: Yes. Well at the end of season - the second half of Season 3 - it’s sort of weird, because we’re about to start Season 4, so that’s where our heads are at. In the second half of Season 3, not so much. So when we were going through - you see a little bit of it in Normandy, but no. Not a lot of love for Helen.

So when we were talking about Season 4 and playing out ideas, one of the things that I insisted on was that Magnus at least gets some love interest in Season 4. And, we’re working on that. I think it’s going to be really interesting.

And how will she be celebrating her 164th birthday?

Amanda Tapping: Well, God. I can’t even say, can I?

Robin Dunne: No.

Amanda Tapping: No. I can’t tell you. It’s - again, it deals with the beginning - the end of Season 3 and the beginning of Season 4. Something unbelievable happens and I’m not sure that Helen actually really celebrates her 164th birthday.

Robin Dunne: One hint, just one little bone I can throw you is that Bigfoot will be jumping out of a cake.

Amanda Tapping: That was just on set Robin. That wasn’t going to be in the show.

Robin Dunne: Wasn’t that part of the show?

Amanda Tapping: No we didn’t film that.

Robin Dunne: Oh, God. So fun.

Could you describe the Helen/Will relationship?

Amanda Tapping: I was saying this earlier that I love how this relationship has developed. It’s been a really organic transformation of Will’s character and Magnus. To actually bring somebody on board who initially it’s all about teaching him the ropes. And then as the seasons have gone on, he’s come into his own. He’s come into his own as a scientist. He’s come into his own in terms of his relationship with the people in the Sanctuary.

And, it’s now a very level playing field between these two characters. It can be combative. It’s hugely respectful. But, it feels now like it’s a much more interesting relationship to play because they’re two equals. I mean Helen outweighs him in experience and that’s just a matter of course, but he’s actually - he sacrificed so much for the Sanctuary and there’s a huge amount of trust between the two of them.

And she - I think he’s one of the few people who can call her on her stuff, so...

Robin Dunne: Yes. There’s a nice synchronicity that has formed between the two characters. And really, they’re two people that depend on each other for survival. And therefore, you know that’s where the respect comes out of. And yes; it’s a really nice thing...

Amanda Tapping: It’s a fun relationship to play now.

What would you two like to see happen for your character, like character development-wise. Not necessarily you know, story.

Robin Dunne: I’d love to do a musical. I think just to be on stage and sing, and I’d love Will to sort of get into more dance routines. I mean, we did a little bit of the Bollywood. I think it would be lovely to just show off some of my other skills that I have.

I mean, I’m a juggler. I do magic. And I just think there’s so many wasted opportunities that they haven’t brought these things into the show. I can do many things and I think I would just wish that the creative team...

Amanda Tapping: We’re wasting some of that precious talent.

Robin Dunne: Yes. I wish they would just take some of the wealth of talent that I bring to the table. I wish just some of those - more would be - it would be used. It’s sad really.

Amanda Tapping: We’ll take that under advisement.

Amanda Tapping: I was just going to say I hope Magnus gets a really cool love interest this year.

I know what’s beautiful is sometimes we’re allowed to sit in with the writers, and I’ve been here for the last months sort of sitting while they’ve been developing the series. The stuff they come up with is beyond what we could even imagine happening. So they come up with stuff that’s always so much better and so much cooler than what we think of.

The only thing I asked for was that I hope Helen gets like a really interesting love interest. Not that I want it to be about Helen having a love interest; I just want to show that there’s a very evolved, loving - you know sexual, interesting woman in there besides just this sort of analytic scientist that we’ve sort of been seeing for the last (few seasons).

Robin Dunne: And we’ve all kind of gotten a little bit of romance.

Amanda Tapping: Except for Magnus.

Robin Dunne: And Magnus is a little left out I think.

Amanda Tapping: Yes.

Who would be your ultimate guest stars to have on the show?

Amanda Tapping: Wow. We’ve had our ultimate guest stars.

Robin Dunne: We’ve had some great, great people on the show.

Amanda Tapping: We’ve been so lucky. I mean, I sort of jokingly said this once that I think it would be really cool if Helen Mirren came in a flashback as my mom. But, that’s thinking so far outside the box that it’ll never happen.

But we’ve been very lucky in that every guest star we’ve brought on has sort of been somebody for the most part who’s not that well known and who has ended up becoming a massive fan favorite. And you know I speak of Jonathan Young, and Ian Tracy, and Peter Wingfield, and Vince Gail; like all these incredible actors have come on our show - and actresses. We had Polly Walker and she was great.

We’ve been really lucky. Besides Helen Mirren, I’m not sure who to suggest.

Robin Dunne: I’d like to see Bill Clinton on the show. I think...

Amanda Tapping: Will’s like, “Yes!”

Robin Dunne: I think President Clinton should be in the Sanctuary, no? Magnus...

Amanda, can you talk a little bit about Riese? And then Robin, can you talk about working on NCIS?

Amanda Tapping: Riese for me was sort of a gift that feel from the sky. I knew the guys who were doing Riese. I had met them - of course, we know almost all of the actors on the show. And, they had put together this really cool web series, and I had seen some of the Webisodes and I just was blown away by how well they had done it on such a small budget. And the production value was great and the story was cool.

And then I got asked by Syfy if I would be willing to do the voice over - sort of narration. And so yes - I said, “Yes. Are you sure the Riese guys are okay with that?” And they seemed pretty cool, and that’s how I got involved. It was really, really very simple.

And I was able to sit for about four hours one night in our sound booth in our sound stages at Shark Sound, and with a Network Executive and the producers of Riese and we just went through everything and narrated it. It was really for me a very small commitment, but a really great opportunity.

Robin Dunne: Thanks for asking about NCIS. I’m a child of the ‘80s. I grew up watching all those great ‘80s movies and you know, Summer School. And I was a big fan of Mark Harmon, so I kind of hounded the Casting Director of that show. I go, “Let’s go and do an episode of NCIS. I got to do an episode of NCIS.” And that was a truly amazing experience.

Mark Harmon - I can’t say enough about this guy. He is the classiest, most gentlemanly person that I’ve experienced in the business. He’s just a truly amazing guy, and it was really a wonderful experience working with him. I think every young actor should do an episode - should work with Mark Harmon just to have a lesson in how to comport yourself. A wonderful guy and it was such a lot of fun.

And again, I’m a big fan and I got to talk to him about Summer School, which was cool. Not going to summer school, which I did, the movie Summer School. So yes, it was a lot of fun and I can’t say enough about that guy. What a great guy.

You mentioned the evolution of your characters. How much input does Damien take from you guys?

Amanda Tapping: He’s very amenable to any suggestions we have. I think the beauty of our writers is that everyone’s voice is heard and they all understand that maybe we’re coming at it from a different perspective, having crawled inside these characters. They all listen. Any one of them we can walk in and just say, “Hey. What do you think about this?” And, “I don’t know if Magnus would say it like that, or I don’t know if Will would say it like that.” I mean yes; they’re absolutely open.

Robin Dunne: The other nice thing about it too is that having done three seasons of the show, going into the fourth, and the fact that we all know each other that much better, you find things of your own character being worked - your own personality being worked into the character. I’m a huge baseball fan and it was really nice to have that worked into Will’s character...

Amanda Tapping: Yes.

Robin Dunne: ...or some you know goofy voice that I do on a weekend or something kind of find its way into the script. And that’s always a lot of fun just to see the way the writers are really listening and creating these characters from what they see.

What kind of a journey would you say that your characters are on as the season progresses?

Amanda Tapping: It’s a bit of survival -- parts of the season feel really hand-to-mouth. After what happens when we come back in Episode 311, the show that will air on April 15th, it’s sort of blown Sanctuary world wide open, and so there’s a massive amount of hand-to-mouth survival. And we do a couple of really small, sweet singular episodes within that, but then we just kind of keep getting hit.

It’s not like there’s a huge progression or an arc that we’re following in the second half of the season. We revisit at the very end of the season what we’re dealing with in Episode 311, and certainly there’s evidence of it throughout some of the episodes. But there’s a lot of kind of singular - just getting whacked in the side of the head with a 2x4 episodes. So it feels sort of very instinctual and survival.

Robin Dunne: Yes. It’s a crazy ride, and you're going to see us in different times and in different dimensions and sort of how the impact that Magnus has had on history.

Amanda Tapping: Yes.

Robin Dunne: And it is really quite a wild ride. And it’s interesting too to be at this point talking about it, because the first half is really the lead up and the second half of Season 3 really is where things get crazy with Kate.

Amanda Tapping: It’s like at the end of the first half we have this massive explosion, and the rest of the season are the pieces falling out of the sky from that explosion.

Dr. Helen Magnus basically has eternal youth. What gets her out of bed in the morning?

Robin Dunne: Coffee. No, tea.

Amanda Tapping: It’s the need to go to the loo. That’s a terrible answer.

I think that this is a woman who is driven by her passion for what she does and it manifests itself in so many ways. But heavy is the head that wears the crown comes to mind. She shoulders the burden of responsibility for looking after not only the abnormal creatures but the population of humans within the Sanctuary itself and also beyond its walls.

And, I think she holds that responsibility and carries it very seriously. And in some ways, it’s a massive burden; and in other ways it’s a great joy because it is what she’s the most passionate about.

Robin Dunne: There’s absolutely nothing of the victim in Magnus.

Amanda Tapping: No.

Robin Dunne: Magnus takes responsibility for absolutely everything, even things that are not her fault. And I think she’s a character who’s driven by that. It’s like there’s something I need to fix, and I’m not going to stop until I do. And if I had to guess, I would say that that’s the thing that gets her out of bed.

Also, in her bed there’s this spring that just - you know...

Amanda Tapping: It propels me out.

Robin Dunne: Just right out.

Amanda Tapping: The alarm goes off and...

Robin Dunne: Boom.

Amanda Tapping: ...bam!

Robin Dunne: Kind of like something you'd see on a Bugs Bunny cartoon.

Amanda Tapping: Or Wallace and Gromit.

Robin Dunne: There you go.

Well, Helen’s been doing it over a lifetime, but Will Zimmerman - this is - it’s a world he’s familiar with, but it’s a new world to him. What gets him going?

Robin Dunne: Abject terror. Just the fleeting notion that he might want to hold on to his life. Yes. No. I mean all seriousness aside; I do think he’s a guy who is really terrified by many of the things that he encounters in the Sanctuary and on this team. But at the same time, I think also he’s a guy who really believes in what the Sanctuary is about, what Magnus wants to do, what her beliefs are, and he’s fully committed.

He’s a guy who’s pound for - what’s that saying?

Amanda Tapping: In for a penny, in for a pound.

Robin Dunne: In for a - whatever that saying is.

Amanda Tapping: In for a penny, in for a pound.

Robin Dunne: In for a penny, in for a pound. All right. I got it. God, stop yelling at me. I’m trying to answer a question here.

You know, he’s a guy who’s just fully on the team and is Magnus’ number two, and is going to do his best to...

Amanda Tapping: I think he’s sort of been getting more excited by what he’s seeing. Imagine joining something like the Sanctuary and your whole world - the esoteric of your entire world is opened up. How fascinating that would be, just the possibility - the learning curve is huge.

Robin Dunne: Just kind of like when you met me.

Amanda Tapping: Kind of like when I met you Robin. Exactly.

Robin Dunne: Yes. Just your whole...

Amanda Tapping: My whole world opened up.

Robin Dunne: Her whole world opened up. And I’m so glad to have given that to you.

Amanda Tapping: Thank you very much my dear friend.

Are you planning - is the plan for Season 4 to continue the same sort of longer-term arcs, or would it go back to more originally - more what you were doing in the 13 episode seasons?

Amanda Tapping: It’s hard to say at this point. And definitely, we’re still dealing with a major story line, the Hollow Earth issue. That sounds terrible. But, the Hollow Earth story line is still being dealt with in Season 4.

And, I think there are always - the arcs are now more prevalent because we have more draw on from our past. We now have 46 episodes of stories, and it’s impossible not to find them interweaving. So, there will be arcs in our 13 episode Season 4, but it’s more tied into what we’ve done in previous episodes that keep sort of coming back and hunts us, or relates back to - you know what I mean?

Robin Dunne: Yes. There certainly - I think there certainly will be arcs. Not the Arc though.

Amanda Tapping: No.

Robin Dunne: Right? I mean, not as of yet. I don’t - was Magnus - Magnus wasn’t on the Arc.

Amanda Tapping: She was not. Cheeky monkey.

Robin Dunne: Oh, you know.

You've had a break. What are some of the things that you do to get back into your characters?

Amanda Tapping: It’s a really good question Michael, because for me it’s really hard, because I don’t - I find her very confusing and besides just going and getting my hair cut and dyed dark brown and getting rid of my blonde roots and learning how to walk in Stilettos again. There’s sort of a physical transformation for Magnus.

I kind of have to wrap my head around a different head space with her. And for me I always get very nervous at the beginning of the season as to whether or not I’ll find her again. And the writing is there, and so you know as long as I know all of the scripts I’m pretty safe. But it is a bit of a panic at the beginning of every season.

Robin Dunne: For me it’s the exact opposite. I have to learn how to not walk in Stilettos and wear regular - which is awkward. And sit ups I guess. I try to do at least 4 sit ups a day, and I haven’t seen any results yet, but I’m sticking to it. But yes. I think also there is - you know, this is Friday. We’re starting Season 4 on Monday, and every season, I have the same feeling of like, “Okay. Here we go. Back into the jungle for you know, more insanity.”

Amanda Tapping: Yes.

Robin Dunne: So, there’s a little bit of talking yourself off the ledge at this point.

Amanda Tapping: Yes. A bit of a panic.

Robin Dunne: And then once you're into it and you've got a few days under your belt, it’ll be back on the...

Amanda Tapping: Yes. I’ve been taking kick boxing this hiatus. And I think - and I loved it for a lot of different reasons. But, I think now it’s sort of become more technical for me, so I think - and that’s been in preparation for some of the fight sequences coming up, and I’ve talked to our stunt coordinator. So stuff like that when your real life actually ends up leading into your work life in a positive way, that’s been really fun. So, I’ve sort of been ramping up my kick boxing workout.

Earlier this year I got to talk to a bunch of the folks who were involved with Riese, and one of the things that kept coming up was that they really talked about Sanctuary with a lot of reverence because you guys are the dream for everybody and anybody out there who does Web series.

Amanda Tapping: Yes.

I was wondering if you had any advice for anyone, or your views as to possibly the future of where things are going with Web series?

Amanda Tapping: I think that the Web - we were I think a bit ahead of our time in terms of how to monetize on the Web, in terms of utilizing - social networking even has changed since Sanctuary first came out. I mean Twitter and Facebook and all that has blown up way bigger than what it was when we started.

So, I think the possibilities on the Web are far greater now than they were. And, I think it’s an amazing tool. Riese is another prime example of a Web series done well - with good production value.

Robin Dunne: I just said - just to interject. Amanda just spilled some water all over the place, so - she’s just so excited about answering the question.

Amanda Tapping: Anyway.

Robin Dunne: Now, do I have to clean that up darling?

Amanda Tapping: Yes, you do please, because I’m answering a question.

Robin Dunne: You spilled the water and I got to clean it up?

Amanda Tapping: Yes, you do.

Robin Dunne: See. This is what it’s like working at Sanctuary.

Amanda Tapping: Thank you, darling. But I - and Riese - again, Riese is a prime example of this. They’ve got amazing production values and they were able to utilize the Web as an advertising tool. And it brought them the notoriety of the networks, which is much the same as what happened with Sanctuary. And I think it’s just going to happen more and more. It’s an amazing tool.

But what I think is going to happen - I think the paradigm really is starting to shift, where shows will live and breathe and stay on the Web. That they don’t necessary have to transition to television. That there will be a whole contingent of not just you know, the squirrel riding a skateboard on You Tube kind of shows, but real production value on the Web in ongoing series.

RU?

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

BREAKING IN: Christian Slater as Oz in BREAKING IN premiering Wednesday, April 6 (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Cr: David Johnson/FOX

Christian Slater will be taking yet another shot at television with Breaking In on FOX. The show premieres on April 6th, and I will have something more like a review shortly, because if the pilot is truly a workable representation, then I'm going to be a fan of this one.

I got a chance to talk with him about the show on a Q & A Press call recently, and he was great to talk to. Hints of the Christian Slater we (ok, I) grew up with have melded with a very down-to-earth, clever... I want to say "fellow" for some reason, but it seems wrong.

The conversation kicked off with Captain Kirk's chair, and we couldn't seem to get away from it for long. Eventually, it took a strange turn, and I think Christian had enough strange questions for one day.

While it will be hard to keep comparisons to Leverage at bay, this one is strictly comedy, and Slater stands out in a way he didn't quite get a chance to in his last two efforts.

BREAKING IN is an offbeat half-hour workplace comedy about a high-tech security firm that takes extreme – and often questionable – measures to sell its protection services. Created by Adam F. Goldberg and Seth Gordon, the series centers on a team of uniquely skilled oddball geniuses hand-picked to work for a manipulative mastermind.

Contra Security, corporate America’s answer to “The A-Team,” gives clients a sense of security by first ripping it away. The firm is led by OZ (Christian Slater), a larger-than-life head honcho who is a man of mystery and master of manipulation. The members of the odd squad include alluring bad girl MELANIE (Odette Annable), who is in charge of lock-picking, safe-cracking and heart-breaking; and CASH (Alphonso McAuley), a fanboy who specializes in strategy, logistics and office pranks only a mad genius could think up.

Oz’s newest recruit, plucked right out of college, is lovable and charming computer hacker CAMERON PRICE (Bret Harrison). Unfortunately for Cameron, cracking into state-of-the-art security systems is a lot easier than dealing with his co-workers. Between Melanie’s sex appeal and Cash’s hazing, Cameron has more than a few obstacles to overcome if he wants to cement his status as part of the team and become Oz’s go-to guy.

Q - What I was wondering about this show is that it shows your great comic timing, and I was wondering if there’s any kind of improv going on?

C. Slater - Yes there’s definitely been a little bit of improv going on, certainly. When I first got the script, the character of Oz hadn’t been really clearly identified. So when I sat down with Doug Robinson and Seth Gordon and Adam Goldenberg [sic], we just started talking and came up with ideas and I figured, you know what?

I’ve got nothing to lose here so why don’t I just throw out some options and some things that I would like to particularly do in a show and see what these guys think. They ended up popping everything I kind of suggested into the script and I read it and I was like, “Oh boy, okay, well this is pretty exciting. If we can actually pull off getting the Captain Kirk chair in the show that would be wondrous!”

Q - Was that Captain Kirk chair your idea? I know you’re a fan.

C. Slater Yes, well a buddy of mine had gotten me the chair—did I say Goldenberg or Goldberg? I don’t know what I was thinking before—but a buddy of mine had gotten me that chair for a birthday present about a year ago so it was really just sitting in my house and I really liked it and I just thought this chair, I think, would represent, in a way, who this Oz character is.

He is definitely the captain of this particular ship. It does have a throne-like quality and it also has a little bit of a throwback-type quality as well. I’m a fairly eccentric character myself and the fact that these guys were so open to hiring people and including a lot of their own personal eccentricities into the characters was thrilling.

BREAKING IN: Oz (Christian Slater, R) and Melanie (Odette Annable, C) convince Cameron (Bret Harrison, R) to join the Contra Security team in the new half-hour comedy BREAKING IN premiering Wednesday, April 6 (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2011 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Richard Foreman/FOX

Q - You’ve always been really entertaining. But it’s not just that you’re entertaining, I mean you’re also—you’re a talented actor. I kind of think that you were maybe a bit underrated in this industry. Do you think that you’re getting the roles and the parts and the offers these days that you really should be getting?

C. Slater Thank you. Look, I mean my ego of course wants to say, “Yeah, I’m the greatest actor who ever lived. I’m absolutely brilliant and I should be doing everything that’s out there.” But I’m going to use this show, hopefully, as an opportunity to exercise every kind of fantasy that I can get away with on national television.

Q - What continues to be appealing to you about working on television?

C. Slater I like the consistency of it. I like the pace of it. With the first two experiences I had, I really did respond well to the schedule. It’s a very, very fast moving train. I don’t like sitting around. I really like to get in there and do the job and get it done and feel good about it at the end of the day, and that pretty much seems to be the vibe on all the sets that I’ve gotten to be a part of.

Q - What is it about the character Oz that makes him tick? What attracted you to that character?

C. Slater Well, I do like the fact that he is an eight-moves ahead kind of guy. You know, he pretty much knows what the outcomes are going to be right from the get-go, which I really appreciated and I like. I think it’s nice to have characters like that on TV. It makes people feel safe and comfortable.

Even though it’s a made up character it still, I think, makes people feel safe that there’s somebody out there like that, potentially. I like that he’s in charge. I like that he likes to have fun, that he doesn’t really take things all that seriously and he’s just kind of a guy—a very mysterious guy, and there’s definitely a lot more going on beneath the surface than he’s revealing.

BREAKING IN: Oz (Christian Slater, R) leads a staff meeting at Contra Security, a group of uniquely skilled oddball geniuses and high-tech security experts who help keep corporations safe from security breaches, in the new half-hour comedy BREAKING IN premiering Wednesday, April 6 (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Also pictured: Trevor Moore (L). Cr: Richard Foreman/FOX

Q - There are a lot of pranks on the show. Do you guys have some of that going on behind the scenes as well?

C. Slater Behind the scenes, not yet. So far there have been so many pranks in front of the camera that it’s been difficult to get things going, but I’m sure over time we will certainly have a lot of fun with each other. I’ve definitely had some good pranks in the past, on other shows that I’ve done. I mean, one prank I pulled kind of lasted even after the show was cancelled. Yes, about six months after, finally, the person found out that they were being pranked.

Q - In the past, and currently on Breaking In, you’ve played a lot of really morally ambiguous characters. What tends to draw you to roles like that?

C. Slater I love characters with edge. I love characters that are a little bit more dangerous, a little bit unpredictable. I think they’re just fun to play. They’re definitely more interesting than just your standard, run-of-the-mill action-y type hero. I love just being these guys that are a little offbeat and a little twisted, and just a little dangerous.

Q - How do you view Oz as a person? What kind of person do you see him as?

C. Slater I think he is definitely a guy who, at times, has to rule with a bit of an iron fist because he is dealing with a large group of misfits that he’s assembled, but my personal feeling is that he’s definitely got a heart of gold. I think he loves everyone that he’s chosen to surround himself with.

Q - Is that really Captain Kirk’s chair?

C. Slater Yes, well what’s nice is that as a way to do some research for this particular show, me and the gang all broke into the Smithsonian and stole the real one. Yes, so the one that they have at the Smithsonian is a replica now.

Q - Can tell us—a little bit about your experiences filming the pilot episode for Breaking In, and perhaps some of the acting challenges you maybe found stepping into the role at first?

C. Slater Well, filming the pilot—look, Seth Gordon is certainly a wonderful director. I loved his movie, The King of Kong. I thought it was a great documentary and he certainly gets story and building characters. I found him to be an absolutely wonderful director. It’s always adventurous and exciting working with new people, figuring out how they work and how they like to do things, so it’s a process.

I think we’ve really fallen into a nice groove. I mean honestly, the last four episodes that we’ve done have been a pleasure. The directors who have come in have been great. We had Fred Savage come in and direct. I did a movie with him when I was 17 and I think he was about 12, so it’s just kind of amazing to see people grow up and take on these new roles.

Q - What would you say has made a career as an actor rewarding for you so far?

C. Slater I think the opportunities to experience so many different things. To get the opportunity to, quite honestly, travel; see things. At times, I get the opportunities to go on USO tours where if I wasn’t in the position that I’m in I wouldn’t have those chances to get to go to Bahrain or Djibouti, or get to visit the Walter Reed Medical Center. So having those kinds of experiences are quite remarkable and certainly perspective-changing.

Q - Breaking In is different than a lot of your roles up until now in that it’s a comedy rather than a drama. What made you decide you wanted to do this genre of TV?

C. Slater Well, Doug Robinson told me that he’d seen me do a few comedy things. I did a bit on Curb Your Enthusiasm and I did something on The Office and I was pretty much playing myself in—well I was, I was playing a version of myself in those particular shows. This was an opportunity to create a character from the ground up and really make somebody come to life in a comedy-esque type fashion. It was something new, it was something different. It was something that certainly feels more geared towards my strengths and things that I really do enjoy doing.

I definitely prefer doing comedy. I think comedy is vital in our world. I think it’s very, very important and we need as many excuses to laugh and be jolly at this particular time.

Q - A lot of viewers are hesitant to start a new show, especially when it premieres at kind of an odd time in the season. You’ve talked a lot about it already, but can you give them a couple of good reasons to tune in?

C. Slater It’s the greatest show ever made. I mean, you’d be crazy not to. There’s two reasons right there.

Q - Because of a lot of your roles, the public sees you as a dangerous, cool guy with a shady past. I know it’s a role but that’s how we always see you. Can you tell us anything about yourself that would totally surprise or shock any Christian Slater fans?

C. Slater I’ve pretty much gone from a “bad boy” to a “dad boy.” Somebody came up with that one yesterday and I really liked it. “Dad boy” is definitely more a fitting moniker for me. I mean I’m going to LEGOLAND on Thursday to check out the new Star Wars exhibit they have there. I’m not going just myself, of course, I’m taking my son.

Q - Okay, so your son’s your excuse for going?

C. Slater There you go.

Q - In the closing shot of the pilot, next to the Captain Kirk chair, I saw this old book. Is that on purpose and/or what is that?

C. Slater Well that is a book—it was a prop that I stole from The Name of the Rose so we figured there’s a good spot for it, so we might as well put it in there and more will be revealed. A lot of the pages on that are very much like they were in the movie. They’ve all been—it’s got that poison ink on it.

Q - Oz is such a man of mystery to the rest of us. Have you been clued in on his past and what he’s really all about?

C. Slater Well, yes, very kindly Adam has certainly sat me down and exposed me to Oz’s timeline, which of course, makes it a lot easier for me to understand the character and see the direction he’s going in. Now, of course he made me swear to secrecy about it all so I can’t say anything really about Oz’s true past but it certainly gripped me and I found it very interesting. The guy who’s going to end up playing his father is pretty phenomenal.

Q - Working with actors like Bret and Alphonso, did you feel that you had to, sort of, raise your game when it came to your comedy skills?

C. Slater Yes, definitely. I definitely felt like they were setting the bar very, very high and if I didn’t show up and be as prepared as I could possibly be then I would definitely fall behind with the timing and the comic genius that they possess.

Q - How do you relate to all the high-tech security elements in the show? Like, are you a tech-type of guy in real life?

C. Slater I do love the tech stuff. I enjoy the iPad. I’ve got the iPhone. I’ve got a Mini Mac hooked up to my TV. I’ve got the Xbox. I’ve got the PlayStation. I’ve got the Wii. I mean, I’m insanely techie and I love to play all that stuff with my kids.

Q - As you get older, what do you like most about the roles that you receive now, as compared to early days?

C. Slater Well, it’s funny. I mean I’m now the boss, which is very interesting. For me, to kind of—have been around long enough to get the opportunity to be the guy who can actually appropriately sit in the captain’s chair is quite shocking, but I guess that’s just what happens when you keep breathing.

RU?

Related articles

• Breaking In Preview: Fox's New Comedy Series Starring Christian Slater (cinemablend.com)

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

MOBBED: Howie Mandel hosts new unscripted special MOBBED airing Thursday, March 31 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

That's right. The Flash Mob itself, simply as entity, now has a television show, and Howie Mandel is the host. Mobbed premieres tonight, and the show basically attacks people with Flash Mobs. People have something they want to tell people, and they've decided that the way to do it is to surprise them with hundreds of people dancing and singing.

How do you turn that into a show? Well, you get the background, play up the story behind why someone would make such a decision, check out the planning, and then... Bam!

In case you aren't sold on this one, Howie was recently available to talk about the show, and maybe he can sell you on this.

By the way, I've managed to catch the first episode, and you don't want to let yourself make your conclusion just on the premise. It's actually a pretty cool show.

Host Howie Mandel and thousands of strangers will help special guests plan extraordinary surprises for friends, loved ones or co-workers. These unknowing participants will be stunned by surprise performances that lead to fantastic reveals that include a husband learning that his wife is pregnant and a marriage proposal, among others. Throughout the hour, the guests will be shown prepping for the event – rehearsing their routines and refining their speeches – all while receiving guidance from host Mandel. On the day of the big event – with the hidden cameras rolling – the detailed plan comes to fruition and suddenly explodes into a song-and-dance spectacle they are sure never to forget. What begins as a few dancers evolves into a grand-scale performance that wraps up with a life-changing announcement for the participants like nothing ever seen on TV. MOBBED airs Thursday, March 31 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Q - Can you tell us a bit about the show to start?

H. Mandel - Mobbed is based on an idea that’s been popular for the last 5 years online, a flash mob. They’ve been around for what seems to be a long time, and for those that don’t know what a flash mob is, it is the spontaneous eruption of song and dance by strangers in a very public place, whether it’s a mall or a train station. Billions of people have been downloading these, and I thought how can we bring this to television and why is it more than just this two-minute song and dance.

Then I thought, what if we have to convey a private message. We all have something in our lives that we need to share, whether it’s telling your boss to take this job and shove it, whether it’s proposing to a loved one or telling someone you’re pregnant, and then what if we took this very private message and, unbeknownst to the receiver of this message, took them into a very public area and relayed this very private message in the most public, extravagant way possible with a thousand people in song and dance? How would they react? How would we pull this off? How can we do this?

This is the biggest undertaking, production wise, of something without a net. There’s no script. We don’t know how it will turn out. It’s a great blending of hidden camera, hidden agenda, and musical theater all in one. It’s like Glee meets hidden camera meets Jerry Springer. It’s got every emotion possible from joy, exuberance, to drama, to awkwardness, to thrills. It’s just the most exciting television I’ve ever been part of.

Q - Was there anyone who was not pleased or really surprised?

H. Mandel - Well, everybody is incredibly surprised, and you have to watch it. I don’t want to give it away. This is a one-time special, and the idea that you want to wait and see whether we’re able to pull it off and how the person would react is the seed of the show.

MOBBED: Howie Mandel (L) and choreographers Tabitha (C) and Napoleon (R) surprise unsuspecting participants in the new unscripted special MOBBED airing Thursday, March 31 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2011 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Eric Vlasic/FOX

Q - When the show airs for the first time, what are you going to be doing? Are you going to be sitting at home watching it with family and friends? And what’s going to be going through your mind at that time?

H. Mandel - I hope everybody’s watching. I will not be with anybody. I get really nervous when a project, and especially this one, this one was such a triumphant-- just to sell this show was an amazing feat because you actually go in and you say hey I got an idea. I want to choreograph. I want to get the best choreographers. I want to get the best music people. I want to get the finest of everything. I want 26 cameras. I want to light two square blocks, two city blocks. I want cranes. I want everything that you can imagine that the most expensive exclusive television special could have. And then the normal question that a network would ask, “And then what’s going to happen?” and the answer is I don’t know. That’s what’s amazing about this show.

It was the scariest undertaking. I was so thrilled at that moment when they said okay, so thrilled, and it turned out so fantastically. It’s so scary. It’s nail-biting television, and I can’t sit and watch with anybody. I’m just hoping that people tune in and that they love it. I think that there isn’t anybody that there isn’t something in this show for, all ages. It’s fun for the whole family. If you like comedy, there’s great comedy. If you like drama, there’s great drama. If you like emotion, there’s an abundance of emotion. It’s just a great-- but I will not be with anybody. I can’t. I will be in the fetal position in a dark corner somewhere hoping and praying that everybody enjoys it.

Q - After you came up with the idea for the show, what was the next step in your involvement in firming up the format and the details? I’m sure you had to go to the highers up to be to work on it, but did you have a major input with the way the format is on the show?

H. Mandel - Absolutely, and that’s part of the show. You’ll see that in the show. You’ll see what was always missing for me on the Internet is, I would see the end result of just a bunch of people dancing, but you don’t see what goes into it. This is-- you’ll see everything, and I’m involved and on camera, along with my whole producing team of choosing someone to prank, for lack of another term, to mob, and then deciding how we’re going to do it.

And my input and pushing everybody to their limits, everybody, every department, whether it be music, whether it be the dance department, whether it be the set design department, whether it be the wardrobe department, I’m involved in every facet of it, and you will watch that.

You watch the process, which actually adds more drama to it because you see how much is involved and how many people are involved, how many hundreds of people are involved behind the scenes, let alone the thousand people that are dancing. You see that, and we’re building to something that you’re clearly aware we have no idea how it will turn out.

MOBBED: Howie Mandel and a flash mob surprise unsuspecting participants in the new unscripted special MOBBED airing Thursday, March 31 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2011 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Eric Vlasic/FOX

Q - Will you talk a little bit on the sort of emotional underpinnings of this show, of staging this big reveal for someone in many cases. I think you said most of the key participants are strangers to the folks who are being surprised? So, just talk to me, maybe from your perspective and then from the whole broader perspective about putting on this real optimistic, seems very kind of a cheerleading, do-gooder kind of event for someone. Why would you do such a thing?

H. Mandel - Well, it’s not necessarily a cheerleading, do-gooder event. It’s just an intimate, the basic concept was to take something that it is traditionally intimate and making it public and public on steroids. It’s not only, did you do it in front of everybody, but the message is being conveyed along with a thousand strangers. And not only is there a thousand strangers, but there’s a thousand strangers singing and dancing. And not only is there a thousand strangers singing and dancing, but is being recorded and for a television special. So, it goes beyond your wildest dreams.

And the idea, the emotion of it is, you don’t know how somebody’s going to react. You don’t even know -- you’re saying it’s uplifting... we don’t know that for sure. We don’t know whether, even if it’s a proposal, that somebody’s going to say yes. In fact, by choosing the, I’m using the wrong term, but by choosing the victim, we chose somebody that wasn’t cut and dry. We chose, whether it’s a proposal, we wanted somebody with somewhat of a rocky relationship, because we want to see how far we can push it and that’s me.

I’m always one that wants to push the envelope. I want it to be a little edgy. I want it to be on the edge. I don’t want to just see, if it’s a proposal, I don’t want to see two people who have been together forever and for sure she’s just going to say yes and this is going to be her dream. I want it to be a little rocky. Maybe this will throw them. Maybe this will not work out the way we would hope. That gives me the nail-biting aspect of the show. It’s not clear-cut how it’s going to end and where it’s going to go to.

By the same token, even if it is a yes on a proposal, then I want to push it even farther and say, “Well, if you say yes are you willing, in a giant musical, to get married right now?” Is somebody that ready to take that plunge? These are all very “dangerous” choices. But, we wanted some danger. We wanted some funny, and before it’s even asked and before we embark on the actual mob, there’s a hidden camera element where we put people through kind of an obstacle course of emotions before we even embark on the mob.

So, it was quite an undertaking, quite scary. But, if I feel comfortable then it usually doesn’t entertain me. If I feel like I’m on the edge and it’s somewhat awkward and somewhat uncomfortable, to me, that’s almost good entertainment.

Q - Can you talk about preparing for the event and some of the things you weren’t expecting to experience?

H. Mandel - Well, in preparing for a flash mob, number one, I don’t nor does even the top choreographers in town, know a thousand dancers that are willing to show up. So, the first order of business was how do we accumulate this many people? We want it to look bigger than anything you’ve seen on the Internet, bigger than anything you’ve ever seen on television.

So, how do we get these people? So we did things like, Napoleon and Tabitha who are renowned choreographers, made a YouTube video of the choreography and posted it. We were surprised to find that they have this huge international following. We only had 48 hours to put it together. People flew in from Canada just to dance with them, just to be choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha.

We had no idea what would show up and how many people, how big a crowd. Depending on that, that was very loose. It’s not like-- these are not paid performers. These are just people that will show up and be part of it, part of the public. So, that was one.

Number two was: Will the person that this is all meant to give a message to, will that person show up? Anything can happen in that two days, since we decide to do it. They don’t have to show up. And then if they do show up, how will they react?

And will they just turn and run away or will they react badly or will this whole thing go south? The last lady was asking me about this very uplifting, well even something that can seem uplifting, like a proposal, can turn very dark. Somebody can be rejected. We can end up with a dance number to no one. You don’t know. And, then how will they react if they do stay? Will you get emotion? Will they become emotional? Will it be given away before? That’s also scary. There’s so many loose ends in this whole production that therein lies our fear. I didn’t sleep for almost a week just trying to put this together.

Q - I was wondering what makes a good contestant? What about the story pitch made you say we have to do that?

H. Mandel - The two things that we looked for is relatability, number one. First of all, to the people that we are going to send the message to, we want them to be somebody that hopefully the audience is vested in and wants to watch and wants to see how they turn out. If you don’t care about the people, number one, then you’re not going to care about the show.

Number two, I wanted their story to be as much as usual and relatable, I wanted it to be unusual. I wanted it to be not just from A to B. I wanted to be able to take some turns, so if you were going to propose, I wanted it to not be, I think I mentioned this before, as smooth a relationship-- I wanted it to be a little rocky. I wanted to play with that rockiness. We do, in the proposal. In this particular couple, there are some trust issues that they’ve been grappling with, so why don’t we just take those trust issues and magnify them and have fun with that. We look for some layers, and we want it to be a little bit complicated and at the same time incredibly relatable and likeable and relatable people.

Q - Hi, Howie, thank you for taking our call. I’m curious. Is there a story in particular that touched your heart while working on the show?

H. Mandel - Yes, and it would be the one that you’re going to see on Thursday night, and I don’t want to give too much away because the whole crux of the show, you know that we’re delivering a message and you know if you’ve been watching the ads at all that it’s a proposal, but I don’t want to give away what was touching and what was emotional and some of the things we did because the surprise element of the show is what makes the audience and you stay tuned to the show. There are moments when I was touched and worried that it was going wrong and going south. Will it even happen? How will she react and can we go forward? Can we go all the way?

I was always, as a producer, I was always concerned with if it goes the wrong way, and there is no wrong way, can we create a train wreck? Can we make good television out of a train wreck? And the answer is yes. So, you don’t know if you’re going to watch something incredibly uplifting or you’re going to watch a phenomenally entertaining train wreck. Nobody really knows what it is, and I don’t want to give too much away.

Q - How much research did you put into the flash mob phenomenon prior to the show?

H. Mandel - Well I’m nuts about sitting on the Internet constantly, and I’ve been a fan. The first time I think I saw flash mobs was maybe five years ago, and I’ve been informed since that networks have pitched it numerous times. In fact, they’ve even shot pilots. I don’t know that FOX has, but other networks have shot pilots and it hasn’t really worked out, and I was wondering why 2 billion people are downloading these things or watching these things, or 20 billion people worldwide, we did some research, yet, they can’t make a television show out of it. And I think the missing ingredient was a story. What is the story behind the flash mob? Is there a reason for the flash mob? How do you build the flash mob? And how are people reacting?

It’s not just about-- it’s very passive when you see it online. A bunch of people are dancing in a mall and people just walk by and go, “Oh look, people are dancing,” and they snap a picture. But, what if we got into people’s lives and it was more emotional and there was a reason for it and you watch the people behind the scenes, how much it was at stake even for us as producers to try to build this and put this on. Therein lies about three or four different levels or stories. And that’s what television is. Television is a medium where we can tell a story and that’s what we’ve done using the element of the flash mob.

Q - Of course. And finally, was there ever a time while filming that you were saying to yourself, there’s no way we are going to pull this off?

H. Mandel - Yes, in fact, in the midst of it you’ll see me say that. In the midst of the production, yes. And I didn’t sleep for a week. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever done, the most exhilarating thing I’ve ever done, the most emotional thing I’ve ever done, and many times throughout it I thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life.

RU?

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

Tangled Directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard took part in a very cool virtual roundtable interview recently, and they managed to cover a lot of subjects while interviewers got a chance to catch some of the special features. I'll be getting you a lot of great stuff related to this release in the coming days, but for now check out what the directors had to say about their film.

Q - Congratulations on the film's success. Have you given any thought to making a sequel?

A - Nathan Greno: We'd only do a sequel if there was a great story to tell. The movie buttons up really nicely... but we do love those characters... I guess we'll have to wait and see. Again, we'd have to have a great story already in mind if we wanted to do a sequel...

Q - Are you pleased with the film's title change from "Rapunzel" to "TANGLED"?

A - Byron Howard: When Nathan and I figured out that this film was really about two characters, Flynn and Rapunzel, we knew that changing the title would be a good idea. We like that TANGLED as a title sounds smart and intriguing, while also relating to the tangle of plot, characters and emotion in the film.

Q - Having worked in both mediums, what do you prefer about computer animation and what do you miss about traditional 2D animation?

A - Nathan Greno: I really love both 2D and 3D animation. 2D is really graphic and classic. 3D has amazing textures and cameras to play with. It all comes down to your story... some tales work best in 2D, some in 3D!

Q - I loved the characters of Pascal and Maximus. Was there ever any discussion about giving them voices? (I'm glad you didn’t.)

A - Byron Howard: Nathan and I are huge, HUGE fans of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, and we thought, "Wouldn't it be great to have someone like that as a character in TANGLED?" Time and time again, people who have seen the film have said that they liked the fact that we kept them silent. Pantomime acting is a great challenge for our animators.

Q - How early in the production process was it decided to make this a musical instead of a romantic comedy-adventure?

A - Byron Howard: We knew it could be both. Music can be more effective than the most brilliant dialogue at conveying emotion, so we were very excited to have someone as skilled as Alan Menken writing our songs and score. And just because it had songs didn't mean that the film couldn't be an action filled roller coaster ride. We like that.

Q - How do you feel about TANGLED being the last of the Disney Princess films (for a while anyway)?

A - Nathan Greno: I've heard that rumor. Not true! If we wanted to do a Princess movie as our next project, John Lasseter would be ok with that. There is a lot in development at Disney Animation... I wouldn't rule out the idea of seeing another Princess movie!

A - Byron Howard: Honestly, I'm very happy that Disney Animation's upcoming slate includes vastly diverse projects. That keeps the studio healthy. And, believe it or not, that slate does still include some great fairy tales.

Q - How has the animation process changed through the years you have been working on Disney films?

A - Byron Howard: When I first started at Disney animation, CG animation was really just a tiny blip on the radar. Lion King had just come out to huge success, and Disney had a long slate of traditionally animated films in production. I actually remember seeing some of the first scenes from Toy Story, when the Army Men leave Andy's room to spy on the birthday party, and I was like "Wow. This is going to change things from now on." Now CG is the expected route for animated films, and the scope of the stories get bigger and bigger with each release.

Q - What was it like working with Alan Menken?

A - Byron Howard: Alan Menken, and our lyricist Glenn Slater are two genuinely brilliant guys. In a few minutes on the piano, Alan can create a tune that you will remember for the rest of your life, and Glenn's diverse talent shows from the hilarious pub song to the heartfelt ballad in the gondolas. We're very honored to have worked with them both.

Q - Did you always have Zach and Mandy in mind for the roles?

A - Nathan Greno: In the very beginning, we try to create very appealing characters. We have friends around the studio do the temp voices for our early screenings. At some point (before animation begins) we begin the casting process. We saw hundreds of people for the role of Flynn and Rapunzel. Hundreds! It was crazy. It seemed that all of Hollywood wanted these parts. There were a lot of amazing auditions, but in the end Mandy and Zac totally nailed it. They were incredible. People are always surprised to hear they didn't record together because their characters are so charming on screen. Mandy and Zac were the perfect fit.

Q - Did you have any real life locations in mind when designing the Kingdom and its surrounding environments?

A - Byron Howard: Yes. We take our research very seriously. Knowing that we wanted Rapunzel's story to take place in central Europe (Austria/Hungary) we did exhaustive research into local architecture, artwork, even flora and fauna. Every tree you see in TANGLED's forest actually grows in those regions of central Europe.

Q – Rapunzel’s "mother" Gothel was also a very interesting, and rather scary, character. Did you draw on past witches and femme fatales from Disney movies for inspiration?

A - Nathan Greno: Disney does villains better than anyone and we needed to live up to the classic villains of our past films. We think Gothel is mostly scary because she isn't a witch. She doesn't have "powers", but she has a very evil mind. Evil minds actually exist in the real world -- I think that's why she freaks people out!

Q - How important was it for you to make sure that the lead in this movie was a strong woman? It goes a little bit against the stereotype of a fairy tale princess...

A - Byron Howard: We knew Rapunzel had to have a lot of girl power. She and Flynn are the engine that drives this story, and making her too prissy or passive would have been cheating our audience. We love that Rapunzel's not perfect, she's quirky, funny and real. She has a very bohemian quality about her, painting her walls and running around the forest with bare feet through the mud. Above all, she's much more like a real person, strong, smart interesting and flawed.

Q - What artists did you consult for the look of the film? It looks pre-Raphaelite to me.

A - Nathan Greno: We actually looked at the classic Disney films of the 1940's and 50's! We wanted TANGLED to sit on the shelf next to Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo, Peter Pan -- all of those great movies, but we wanted it to be fresh and different and modern as well. By going after a classic Disney look/style... and creating that look in the computer... we thought we could find that balance.

Q - What were three main challenges you faced making TANGLED?

A - Nathan Greno: The schedule was terrible. Usually you have 4 to 5 years to make one of these films. We only had 2. It was crazy. Lucky for us, we were working with a very devoted, hard-working, talented crew. We all worked around the clock. We worked through weekends and holidays. We all believed in this film. We basically did the impossible. The film looks like it took 5 years to make... and it only took 2!

Q - 2010 was really, according to many, a great year for animated movies... Were you a little bit disappointed when that movie wasn't nominated for an Oscar. Especially this year, where many claimed that there should have been five nominees.

A - Byron Howard: Yes, we were initially very disappointed when TANGLED didn't receive an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. However, the day before the Oscar announcements we had shown the film at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, and the reaction from those kids and their parents is worth more to us than one million Oscars.

Q - How was working on TANGLED different to working on Bolt?

A - Nathan Greno: For Bolt I oversaw the story department. I worked with a team of artists - we came up with story and character ideas and sent them on to the next department. On TANGLED, I am one of the directors. I now get to follow those story ideas through the creative process. I love my job. I still get to storyboard from time to time... I'd never want to give that up.

Q - Family plays a very strong role in this film. What prompted you to explore the mother/daughter dynamic through the character of Rapunzel?

A - Byron Howard: Nathan and I were fascinated by this bizarre relationship that Gothel had created between herself and this kidnapped girl. To try to find out more about mother/daughter relationships, we asked a bunch of women from our studio to stay after one evening to have a chat about their relationships with their mothers. It turned into a therapy session! We were amazed at how brutal some of the things that their mothers would say to these women, but it was always coming from a place of "I know what's best for you" or "I'm trying to keep you safe". This push/pull that happens between parents and children is a rich, rich area to explore with classic tales like this.

Q - Do you think that home viewers will miss out on some of the delights of seeing TANGLED on the big screen with all the bells and whistles?

A - Byron Howard: The Blu-Ray looks extraordinary, so beauty-wise, I think the experience will echo the theater experience nicely. I do think there will always be something about viewing a film in an audience, hearing people all around you laugh, cry, and react to the story playing out in front of you. It's a social, human thing that I don't think will ever go away completely.

Q - The scene in the gondolas is a show-stopper. Where did the idea of the lanterns come from?

A - Byron Howard: The idea for the lantern scene came from John Ripa, one of our story artists. We needed something that Rapunzel could see from miles away, locked up in her tower, that would draw her out to the kingdom. We thought "Fireworks?" But that didn't seem quite right. Then John mentioned this lantern ceremony that they do in Indonesia. We brought it up on YouTube and that was it, we knew that had to be in the movie. It's perfect for CG as well, because we can actually create thirty to forty thousand of these beautiful things for the audience to marvel at.

Q - Why do you think you were able to get boys interested in a “Disney Princess” film?

A - Nathan Greno: Mostly because I don't feel we made a "princess film.” Honestly, I feel we made a movie that has princess elements in it -- but I wouldn't call it a princess film. TANGLED has a ton of action, a ton of humor, a ton of heart and emotion. It's a film for everyone. Yes, we have a princess... but she doesn't know she's a princess. It was easy to get boys interested in the movie because we made a movie for everyone to enjoy.

Q - Was there a character that was initially in the story, but was removed because they no longer fit within the story?

A - Byron Howard: We had a fortune-telling monkey that was very popular, but eventually we found that he wasn't part of where the story needed to go. You can see a hint of him in the end credits.

Q - Who came up with the idea of the Rapunzel emotional whipsaw scene, where she's jubilant to be out of her tower one moment and in tears because she's betraying her mother's trust the next. As any parent of a daughter will tell you, that moment in the movie such Rapunzel such a real. relatable character. So who came up with that story concept?

A - Byron Howard: That scene was storyboarded by story artist Marc Smith. That was one of the earliest scenes we boarded in the film and it held fast as one of the key moments for the audience to connect with this young woman. Many people have commented on how true-to life that scene is.

Q - There's some concept art in "The Art of TANGLED" that shows Rapunzel's love interest as more of a muscular commoner / farm boy, rather than a handsome rogue like Flynn Rider. Was this story idea seriously explored? Or just something that was considered?

A - Byron Howard: The burlier leading man was from a previous version of the movie. Nathan and I knew we wanted a dashing thief from the get-go, so Flynn, as you see him in the movie, evolved from that idea. He also evolved from the "Hot Man Meeting" where we asked dozens of women at the studio to bring in pictures of their favorite hunky men to help us design Flynn. Being a guy in that meeting was brutal. Those ladies have high standards!

RU?

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

One of my favorite shows, Kitchen Nightmares, is back, and Gordon Ramsay had a few minutes to chat about the show recently. From the first time I got to catch some episodes of the British version on BBC America, I've been fascinated by the cultural/societal exposition inherent in Kitchen Nightmares (which is rather similar in that respect to Supernanny), and the American version only brings that home all the more.

There's just something about these shows that offer help... to people who ask for it, mind you... only to have the participants invariably refuse blame, and avoid any suggestion that anything is wrong with them at all costs.

For those who are only familiar with Gordon from Hell's Kitchen, where he comes by a lot of his reputation as a screaming maniac, I encourage you to focus on the times you've seen him on that show outside the kitchen. In Kitchen Nightmares, though there is some shouting involved there as well, Gordon visits restaurants that are struggling desperately, for one reason or another (often many), and gives his all to help people turn their restaurants around.

As much as we, as the jaded viewing audience, are all but forced to be cynical of motives, this show is a part of what makes television great for me. In both its incarnations, Kitchen Nightmares has saved a number of people from the most dire of straits, and some of them even deserved the good turn - others I'm not so sure about.

In any event, the show is entertaining at the very least, and Gordon took some time for a quick conference call interview. As surprising as it may be to some, he's wonderful to talk to. Have fun, and don't miss the next episode on Friday, Jan. 28 on FOX.

Chef Ramsay visits Classic American in suburban West Babylon, NY, a restaurant struggling to make ends meet with mounting debt and whose two inexperienced owners are fighting to keep their American dream alive. Owners Colleen and Naomi, former waitresses at Classic American, purchased the restaurant years ago, but their lack of business experience proves to be too much for the business to handle. Chef Ramsay has his hands full with a disorganized staff and a disappointing menu, but after observing dinner service, he realizes the restaurant's problems are rooted in the lack of leadership and communication in the kitchen. In the most emotional Kitchen Nightmares episode to date, Chef Ramsay is forced to stage an intervention with the staff and help the restaurant find its way with a modern spin on classic American fare. Find out if better communication and a new menu will be enough to keep the restaurant's doors open.

KITCHEN NIGHTMARES: Chef Gordon Ramsay (L) introduces a new menu to Classic American restaurant in West Babylon, NY, in an all-new KITCHEN NIGHTMARES airing Friday, Jan. 28 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2011 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Jeff Neira/FOX

How do you decide which restaurants to feature in the show?

G. Ramsay Good question. We have an amazing selective panel and from our set productions. They come from Palo Island from Optimum Television in the U.K., as well, the original, sort of, curator of Kitchen Nightmares, along with myself. We all jump in the room; we look at the ones that are most desperate to be on it. I like to have it sort of east coast, west coast, central and then, of course, the sort of restaurants that are really seriously on the red line.

But, the most important thing about this year’s series is I, sort of, begged Fox to turn around and give us permission to sort of turn these restaurants around so quickly and air the restaurants. As you know, the season starts on Friday, premieres at 8:00 and we are literally weeks later on air. So that gives a double whammy, not just with the tools and what we’ve done to sort of help position these restaurants by having that exposure to help these restaurants get back to where they were, rather than a three to six, sometimes a nine month gap in between airing dates. It’s going to be such a benefit. So, we look for the ones that are crucially, basically on the brink and ones that were more, sort of, not family connected … of course, family connected, but the ones with the biggest jeopardy, financially, family-wise and obviously relationship-wise.

We read today that you’ve maintained your Michelin three star status for the Chelsea Restaurant. How do you maintain your restaurants and do so well with them with all your other endeavors?

G. Ramsay I suppose time management. I’m a bit of a control freak, unfortunately, but Chelsea, yes, that’s ten years, a decade. So, yeah, I mean work so closely with the team and every year we film Kitchen Nightmares, I take two young chefs out and one senior chef out of Royal Hospital Road and they come on the road with me. So, they get to understand where restaurants start losing their grip on the reality in terms of where they should be. It, sort of, puts it into perspective in terms of how not to run a restaurant.

So, I focus. We spent three weeks in the U.S., three weeks in London, three weeks in the U.S., three weeks in London, so I am never that far away from my little jewel in the crown. But, yeah, I have to say, it’s not just me, the team has been extraordinary and the loyalty within that team has been amazing. So, yeah, we are not stuck in a five star hotel with wonderful, sumptuous surroundings. It’s a little restaurant … on Chelsea of 10 tables, open Monday to Friday, cook 40 for lunch and 40 for dinner. So, maintaining three stars today, yeah, was a dream, but it’s down to the team and the understanding that we have with our chefs.

CR: Jeff Neira/FOX

What is the one piece of advice you could give to anyone thinking about opening a restaurant or working in the restaurant business? You can only give one piece of advice.

G. Ramsay Sure. That one piece of advice for anyone contemplating entering one of the toughest, one of the most demanding careers anywhere in the world: keep your restaurant local and cook according to what’s on your doorstep. Don’t venture outside of your circle and stay within the neighborhood and get the neighbors, get the local community on your side first. That’s your bread and butter. A restaurant can’t progress, can’t start thinking about Michelin stars and food critics. Cook for the facility and cook with what you have got locally. That’s absolutely crucial.

I was just wondering if you could talk a little bit about DownCity Restaurant in Providence, in particular. Why did you choose it for the show and what were its main issues?

G. Ramsay Providence and DownCity … I made history. It’s the first time I’ve ever been kicked out of a restaurant within 17 minutes of entering it. I didn’t even get a chance to finish my dinner, let alone help them. A feisty and tenacious manager, she kicked me out. I didn’t know that they were taking on the room service from the hotel next door. So I ordered room service and this hideous mess arrived and then when I got to the restaurant, literally next door, I explained, “My God I had a horrific lunch, I can’t wait for dinner because the room service had been dreadful.” She said, “What the … are you going on about. We cook the food next door.” We got off to a bad start.

I wanted to say to her, “Look, you are running a restaurant. What on earth are you doing taking on something that’s more damaging on a daily basis to your reputation coming out of a small kitchen becoming … in your restaurant. What the hell are you doing taking stupid room service for?” So, yeah, we got off to a bad start, but yes, she’s made history because, yeah, it was the first time that I have ever been kicked out of a restaurant within 17 minutes of being there.

Since you have a larger-than-life personality at times, can you talk about the most important thing you have learned about yourself that helps restaurateurs?

G. Ramsay The most important thing that I have learned about myself, Christ Almighty, I mean, every day is a challenge. I think more importantly, I … get carried away. Yeah, I get excited and I get upset and I get passionate, but the minute any one wants to go into the business to think that they become a millionaire or they want to have a TV program or write their own books and to become that level of, I suppose, adulated with TV contracts, etc. I tell them, “You must, keep them real.” I’d still like to think ten years down the line not having changed in terms of that level of passion. So, yeah, forget the money side and really understand and look at yourself in the mirror, that you can be that committed to making it.

Really, for me, the most important part is for them to be honest with themselves because it is … and it is hard and you’ve got to work harder than all your staff. You’ve got to put more hours in and you can’t look at the money. You have to set that example. I have done that and I do set the example and then I do raise the bar. So, it starts from the top.

If you are not prepared to be that committed—and, it’s a marathon, it’s not a hundred meter sprint. Honestly, I can see it in the restaurateur’s eyes; I can look at them and say, “Well, this is a vanity, vain project for you. This is something that you didn’t really want to work that hard at, and you worry about the finances and you haven’t got the success at your hands, because you haven’t put the work in.” Whether you are playing hockey or you’re an amazing basketball player or you want to sprint for your country and the 2012 Olympics, the bloody training that goes on behind the scenes is phenomenal and cooking is exactly the same. You must, must, must master your craft.

One of the things that I’ve experienced by watching all of your shows, including Kitchen Nightmares, is I’ve learned an awful lot about cooking. I’m wondering if this is one of the intentions that you had when you started diversifying into television.

G. Ramsay That is a very good question, really. I’m a pressure junkie. Today we got the confirmation that we maintained our third Michelin star in Chelsea for the tenth year. I am not saying everything is running smooth there, that it doesn’t need me. Yes, it does need me, but I like that kind of pressure of helping to sort of turn things around. I am not very good when things run perfectly.

But, The F Word was a huge success in the U.K. and I’m talking to Fox about doing something very similar over here where I can sort of jump from state to state and look at the most amazing food. An example, for instance, here in New Orleans, the food is extraordinary, I mean, absolutely extraordinary. From a chef’s point of view, it’s a constant learning period.

Last night, we were in Boca Raton, and had this amazing Carpaccio of octopus. They were served with this like sort of … soup and it was just phenomenal. So, I’ve already got new ideas about what I want to do with that dish. For me, we don’t cook enough on Kitchen Nightmares on screen but we do behind the scenes because we are running specials and developing the menu. I am so excited about the possibility of getting involved with these sort of Cajun influence here in New Orleans. That really does excite me and that starts tomorrow, but I’m learning as well. That’s the most important part. So, I’ve never stopped doing that.

I have to tell you that Kitchen Nightmares scares me. When I go into a restaurant now, I am wondering what does it look like behind the scenes. I am just wondering, what can you tell us that we can look for. Just in general, are there two or three things that are dead giveaways for us to walk right out?

G. Ramsay It’s not just the aspect of the chef and the owner and the manager of these restaurants …. It’s also giving an education to the customer’s point of view as a consumer. I think Kitchen Nightmares should be like dental chairs. You come … your dentist and you go in and it’s immaculate, it’s like walking into a hospital. There shouldn’t be any area of that restaurant that you are not allowed to have a look at instantly.

But the first thing I would look at, I do it with my hand. I put my hand under the table and if you under the table, it’s absolutely spotless and there is no disgusting bits of gum, then you can tell that restaurant’s being looked after. Secondly, just have a look at all the skirt boards, all the skirting boards around the restaurant and see how marked and scuffed they are and just little things like that. The first thing my wife does, she always walks into the bathroom, the restroom, and if the restrooms are immaculate, you know … well that the kitchen is immaculate. They go hand in glove.

RU?

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

CR: Tony Duran/FOX

So, we have the first couple nights of American Idol behind us, and while we would now normally be discussing some of the more horrendous hopefuls, this year the talk is all about the new judges. It isn't that we don't have some "winner" contestants yet, but so far it seems they're making it to Hollywood. Good contestants or bad, the focus is on the judges, and a lot of people are going so far as to wonder if American Idol is simply over.

One of those new judges, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, took some time out to get on a conference call recently, and it was a pretty interesting time. On some notes, he didn't have much to say - He has more than a one year deal, but that's all he'll say about that - but, he had some good notes in terms of what it means for him to be a judge, and how he sees his role in the grand adventure. Have fun.

Can you talk about some of the concerns that you had stepping into such a popular show, and what it was like to find your own identity as a judge?

S. Tyler None whatsoever. I got such an identity with this band and for all the videos that I’ve done I figured it’d be a shoe in. The part that’s a little difficult is judging young kids that I think they all have a voice, but actually being honest and open. So it took me a couple of minutes to get into the role of that, but I’ve grown accustomed to it and it’s fun, and I get to sit next to J. Lo and Randy taking the you know what out of everybody, and it’s been good.

I don’t take whatever happened to me this morning or last night or with the band or with exes, I don’t take that into judging kids like some other people might have. I kind of take what I’ve grown up with, which is being a very harsh judge of myself—my own vocals, my own band—and kind of laid that across the talent that comes across my view.

What do you think you do for American Idol, and what does being a part of the show do for you?

S. Tyler You know I’m not sure. I’m just a judge. Before we say anything I’d like to say thank you for the Kennedy Center what you said about that, but I think I’m not going in there to be a harsh judge or an overly bearing judge. I’m just bringing my Italian on how to work a room, Aunt Phyllis honesty, 40 years that front guy in Aerosmith who’s judged the hell out of himself and kind of made a good career out of it, and with hopes to find some kids in America here for American Idol to take the stage and no more, no less.

I think it’s funny. I think there’s love up there you’ll never see— Certainly, there’s camaraderie that you haven’t seen in 10 years. About that I’m really happy that I get along with Randy so well. J. Lo is a fox, she’s also street, she’s also got a good big heart. We’ve seen a lot of people this year and we’ve got our top 40, so we’re ready to go.

Have you said anything so far to any of the contestants during the auditions that you’ve regretted immediately afterwards?

S. Tyler Yes. I made some harsh comments the first week, and they snapped back and said, “What do you mean?” But I only did two of those. There were only two of those because I didn’t want that to happen again. I couldn’t say that you were no good without substantiating why, and a couple times that I said, “You know you just don’t have it,” they did ask me why, and I couldn’t tell them why.

I just heard—It’s like I’m looking for that certain something. Well I heard that certain something in a negative way. I didn’t see the star. I didn’t see this and I didn’t have the … to tell them that. I hadn’t ever really watched the show, and I wasn’t really versed in that type of judging. I’ve got three daughters, so it’s hard for me. Those two times after that I was ready to go and I jumped back in both feet.

I’m curious about bringing things a little slightly local and thinking of like Siobhan Magnus, sort of a rock type performer, and seeing if you’re going to bring a little more of a rock element, less of a pop element, to the show. Something that has a little more edge, a little more personality than sort of just a crooner.

S. Tyler You know it’s interesting. It’s like again that would be my judgment call on what rock is, and I haven’t heard a lot of it, but what I have heard I’ve come out through the worm hole. Remember it’s got to go through two other judges and for every week that I’ve run along someone that I thought was great the next week after they were given the wrong song in the wrong key, so we had to drop them. That’s the beauty of this show, which I didn’t know before, and it’s also the heartbreak.

There’s one kid there that’s got a rock element about him. He’s totally off the wall, and I don’t know which rock star ever wasn’t, but I’ve got hopes that he makes it through. His voice is ridiculous; it’s so crazy and great. I hope he can stretch out and use the voice that I heard.

But will I bring a rock element? Yes, my personality but I’m also very—I’ve got a good ear for all music and that’s what I thought I would take this. It’s not just a one phase type judging. I’m good for all different music and listening to voicing, and the spirit of, and the imperfections of someone’s voice because not all great singers make great rock stars. It’s some of those voices that aren’t the best that make the best rock stars I mean to say. So it’s been fun. I don’t take this too seriously and I take it seriously, so it’s been a real hoot for me.

CR: Michael Becker / FOX

Do you feel adding someone of your stature gives the show an extra layer of credibility it might not have had before?

S. Tyler I like to think so. It’s interesting; I was just saying I’m not bringing some grumpiness or something in my life that’s not been good. I’m not bringing that to the table, and letting that cloak my judging of these kids. I’m taking what they give me, cutting it up in three different pieces: One is can they sing? Are they in pitch? Two, do they have character? Three, do they have a star quality about them?

Kind of folding that all into one but that would be my expertise, and J. Lo’s got her own singing style. But don’t forget I’m a drummer. I’ve got the pitch from my father, Juilliard, my own. I’ve got the drumming sensibility and there’s a tonality and harmonic stuff, and I think I’m going to take it up a notch.

Do you think as a road dog that you can be as sympathetic to some guy who’s been working in a gas station as you can to some guy who’s been out playing every night for the last three or ten years at Joe’s Roadside Tavern?

S. Tyler That’s a great question. I’ve been sympathetic to that because it did color my opinions in the past about someone who didn’t go through the clubs, and didn’t walk the gauntlet in order to get their start. I’m listening to these kids regardless. I listen for that certain something that someone might have— I mean look it I remember what I had before I was allowed in the doors of this club.

It’s an incredible thing to be able to come out with the stars that causes me to have character, but if they’re good to begin with I’m hoping to see that. It’s certainly not a coloring my thing. I’ve got my own melodic sensibility that’s judging theirs and regardless of whether you’ve sung in church, and sometimes most people that have put their time in church have a great sense of blues or time or melody more than the other ones. I’m hoping … really close.

I wondered, Steven, how long have you signed up to this gig for? I mean is it something you see— Do you have—if I can ask—you have more than a one year contract or is it something you’re just going to do for a year or so and then move onto something else?

S. Tyler I have more than a one year contract, but as you know things are what they are, but I have more than a one year contract. I’ll give you that one. Can I elaborate? No, I can’t.

When you were deciding whether or not to be part of American Idol last summer, did it matter who else was in or out? Did Jennifer Lopez—did her involvement influence your decision?

S. Tyler It did at first. At first, I was told she wasn’t, she was out, and I was a little bummed, but I met Randy first before, and Randy was the …. I loved Randy. I thought he and I got on within the first five minutes. It was like we were separated at birth, and we had so many similarities, and the music curriculum and program. Whatever he’s been through I’ve been through, and we mentioned names and we knew everybody and it was like how we hadn’t met before was beyond me.

But no and then when I—and yes on the way from England to America, I saw J. Lo’s movie Back-Up Plan and I fell in love with her. I’m watching going, “Oh my God, it’s Jennifer Lopez,” and I went, “Alright I’ll watch the movie.” I watched her and I fell in love with her because the way she played that to a guy that was just falling in love with her, the way she played her part I could so relate to and I thought anybody that could be this open and honest even acting …. All I can tell you is when I met her she was exactly all that and I was grateful that she got the part.

I would love to know what kind of reaction do you expect from long time Aerosmith fans as you venture into this new part of your career as a judge.

S. Tyler Well like, I’ve studied this so far. It’s been 15 weeks already I’ve been in it, and all the TV’s getting is just that other side of me. It would be like if there were reality cameras in the house when my kids were growing up. That’s the side of me they’re seeing.

If Aerosmith fans don’t like that then all they saw was the ominous, dark, or open, however you choose to see me on stage with whatever lighting when Aerosmith comes to town. It’s kind of bigger than both of us type of thing, that Aerosmith thing, but here I get to be more vulnerable, more honest, more open, more in the moment and less colored by the songs I wrote and listening to the songs that they sing.

RU?

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

USA has a real curiosity on its hands. Coming to you tonight is a new show, Fairly Legal, and what's curious about it is that I'm not in love with it yet. As you may now, I'm a big fan of everything USA has out there (though White Collar distanced itself from me with that last episode), and their new shows usually have me hooked long before I even get a chance to see them. I'm willing to give this one a chance, even though the first few episodes are rather rough, but just the fact that I'm not already completely invested makes it USA's poorest showings in quite a while.

Kate Reed (Sarah Shahi - The L Word, Life) has a fairly complicated life, and she's made her goal to remove the complications from the lives of others. She's a mediator. Recently a litigator (the show description says, "top litigator," but I'm not sure I'm convinced), Kate was frustrated with the system at large, and decided to move to a different area of the legal cosmos.

She works at the massive law firm her father built, but he's just passed away, and stepmommie dearest, Lauren (Virginia Williams) is running the show. We jump into the show with the fallout from Dad's death not quite resolved yet, mainly in the sense of not being sure which clients are going to stick around, and Kate and Lauren have much to resolve about the positions they now find themselves in as well.

Adding to Kate's complications, her ex-husband, Justin (Michael Trucco), isn't very "ex". In fact, he seems far removed from any category most people would think of as "ex" anything. He's also a lawyer in the D.A.'s office. Thus, yet another spin on the legal show "dating the other side" gambit.

The only thing that isn't complicated about Kate's life is her tech-savvy assistant, Leonardo (Baron Vaughn). He keeps the balls in the air while Kate scurries about solving the disputes of everyone from giant corporations to the inane and insane squabbles that ought to be on reality court television, and everything in-between.

The series sets up fairly well actually, and the trip on the ferry does a lot of work in terms of putting us in the right frame of mind. New York, yes, but we aren't getting there by way of sped-up clips of masses of people, throwing the hustle and bustle in our faces. No, Kate lives on a boat, and it's leisurely ride on the open water to work. It's hectic and crazy once we get there, but Kate is only going to it, she isn't part of it.

There's even a certain amount of charm to the character relationships (though, stripped down, there is a lot of Covert Affairs going on here), but I'm not sure the underlying theory of the show can survive. The main stumbling block for the show, I think, comes right at us out of the gates, when Kate resolves the "dispute" that is a robbery of a convenience store. Jumping in between store owner and robber, Kate wants to "work out" the situation, and come to a mutually beneficial resolution, so everyone will be happy. While there may be aspects of the show that resonate with viewers, and can pull us into Kate's life and all its (for lack of a better word) drama, that's just stupid.

One scene isn't likely to seal the coffin on any show, but with this one given to us so prominently, so early, and clearly with such an effort toward delivering Kate to us, it may not only be hard to get past, but it rather implies we'll be subject to this with some regularity.

Kate may win out, and the show may pull in a decent number of fans (USA has the track record for it), but I don't think the show is putting its best foot forward with the pilot. Not only do we have the robbery situation, but we aren't long into the show before a judge has not only ordered Kate (out of nowhere, by summons, her having no knowledge of the case) to mediate a case so it doesn't have to take up his time, he also orders her to come to a resolution by the following morning, or be found in contempt. Sorry, that's just stupid as well.

If the show has a chance, it has to focus on that girl on the ferry (without going quite so maudlin about dear old dad), and how she finds a way to work in the legal system holding to her own idiom. There are hints of that in the first few episodes, but I almost get the impression the show is hesitant to be that show. Instead, while we see that show in there somewhere, what we actually get is a compilation of zaniness and opportunities for Kate to throw mediation at the world. I'm not real interested in that show.

The show is big on its tagline - Less lawyer, More appeal. Well, we'll see.

Below check out a promo and a couple of clips from the premiere.

Premiere Promo

Premiere Clip #1

Premiere Clip #2

FAIRLY LEGAL stars Sarah Shahi (“Life,” “The L Word”) Michael Trucco (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Castle”), Virginia Williams (“Revenge of the Bridesmaids,” “How I Met Your Mother”) and Baron Vaughn (“The Other Guys,” “Law & Order”). Shot on location in Vancouver, BC, the series will premiere with a 90-minute episode followed by nine, one-hour episodes.

FAIRLY LEGAL centers on Kate Reed (Shahi), a top litigator who became frustrated with the endless bureaucracy and injustice she witnessed on a daily basis and decided to become the ultimate anti-lawyer: a mediator. Using her knowledge of the law, along with intuition and a whatever-it-takes approach to resolving conflict, Kate finds the middle ground for a wide variety of adversaries -- from Fortune 500 corporations to bitter divorcees. After the death of her father, she finds herself at odds with her new boss, her stepmother Lauren (Williams)...and in bed with her soon-to-be ex-husband Justin (Trucco), himself a lawyer in the DA’s office. Helping her keep all of this chaos at bay is her trusted, geek-chic assistant Leonardo (Vaughn).

Recurring guest stars include Richard Dean Anderson (“Stargate SG-1,” “MacGyver”) in the role of David Smith, a man who has a mysterious connection to Kate’s late father; Ethan Embry (“Brotherhood,” “House, M.D.”) portrays Spencer, Kate’s younger brother and a new father; and Gerald McRaney as Judge Nicastro, who has no tolerance for Kate’s lack of regard for the legal establishment. Other guest stars this season include Ken Howard, Peter MacNicol, Clyde Kusatsu and Anne-Marie Johnson.

Sarah Shahi Interview

Can you talk about working with Richard Dean Anderson this season?

S. Shahi Richard is interesting. He’s very quiet, gets very excited when he talks about his daughter, but other than that he and I didn’t really engage too much with each other. There was a lot of mystery surrounding our relationship with one another on the show, and I think we kind of kept that for ourselves off screen as well just because it helped on screen.

What were some of the biggest challenges for you in bringing this character of Kate to life on screen in this show?

S. Shahi There were a couple. By the way, I like that question. I’ve done so many interviews so far and nobody has ever asked that question. One of the challenges was, for me, this is a character who just goes on her heart. She becomes so involved with the people that she’s dealing with, whether it’s in her personal life or it’s a working relationship.

The challenge was/is allowing myself as an actor to allow Kate to be emotional about it, but then at the same time she had to be professional. A note that I was constantly getting from certain producers were, “You need to be more business-like. You need to be more business-like,” but I think that’s the opposite of this character. That’s why people like her; she’s so anti-business. She’s so anti-corporate. There’s nothing about her that’s business necessarily.

I think the struggle with her is just trying to find that balance between what are the things that she does that she just runs with her emotions on, and then what are the things she has more of a business approach. It turns out that there wasn’t a lot that had a business approach. The beauty of this character is that she is so emotional. She gets caught up so much with what she does, and a lot of times she gets in trouble for it and her head doesn’t necessarily always follow what her heart tells her to do.

Fairly Legal is kind of a new take on the lawyer genre. I just want to know, how familiar were you with a mediator before you joined?

S. Shahi Not very. I actually didn’t even know what a mediator was when I auditioned for the show. I thought it was like a lawyer that didn’t pass the bar so they are just a mediator. But to me with this character it was not important to hover down as a mediator because if anything she’s the anti-corporate corporate girl. To me it was important to get to the heart, to understand her passion. Why she fights so hard for the things that she believes in. Why she is somewhat childlike in her personal relationship. For me, that was the most important. It wasn’t necessarily, “Do I think this is what it’s like as a real mediator?” It was more important for me to get her heart.

Can you talk about the relationship between Kate and Leonardo and what that dynamic brings to the show?

S. Shahi Yes, Kate and Leo, he’s the only one there in the show that doesn’t quite fawn over Kate. We were very careful when making the show to try not to present a blank persona. We wanted somebody who could fail, who had flaws. This Leo character and Kate, they have a very brotherly sisterly relationship, and he’s the kind of guy who knows her better than she knows herself. He knows what she’s going to do two steps before she does it. So it’s actually been pretty great to have somebody like that on her side.

What can you tease about her love life in the first season? I know in the pilot episode she’s sort of with her ex-husband. So what can you tease about what’s coming up?

S. Shahi Well, the tease is, I guess—the finale is incredible, a lot of unexpected things happen in the finale. I love the finale; it’s my favorite episode. But it’s more exploration of the dynamics of her and Justin. It’s like when we first meet them he is her soon to be ex-husband, so at one point I’m presented with divorce papers, but I don’t know if I want to sign them or not.

So it’s interesting because a lot of times in TV shows, the dynamic between the male and female lead is sort of a will they won’t they, but this time it’s the opposite. It’s they already have and they’ve kind of fallen apart. So now the exploration is will they or won’t they get back together? Will they or won’t they get divorced? So that’s sort of the biggest relationship tease in the story. Then there’s just more sort of unexpected and sort of out of control—Kate’s like a tornado sometimes the way she kind of comes in and settles situations, so definitely a lot more tornados.

In watching the first episode, you can see that Kate has a strange relationship with her stepmother. How do you see that relationship evolving throughout the series?

S. Shahi It doesn’t evolve much beyond what you see. Kate is very straightforward. In the pilot where she says, “I thought my mother made him happy and then he met you so I don’t know what to do about that so I hate you. It’s simpler that way.” I can’t believe I just recited those lines from the pilot. That was so long ago. Kate has a lot of reasons for not liking her stepmother. She took her father away and now her father’s dead so if anything for Kate she blames her father’s loss on her stepmother. We do have to work together at some point, Lauren and Kate, so there is a bit of a nicer exchange that happens between the two of them, but as far as that relationship evolving, I think in Kate’s mind, Lauren would have to drop dead before she liked her.

You had mentioned earlier on the call that you were a little maybe hesitant about getting back into TV or not necessarily looking to get into TV, and I was wondering if you could just talk a little more about that.

S. Shahi I had just come off of a show called Life where we worked for two seasons for 18 hours a day, and we ended up getting cancelled, so I kind of had a bitter taste in my mind about TV. I also worked up until I was six and a half months pregnant on the show, and they didn’t reduce my hours until later on in my pregnancy. So I just wasn’t sure if this was something that do I want to get back into this kind of schedule again, and especially now that I have a child to take care of, and still not really feel the love from the audience or the network. It’s that that I just was not sure of.

When I went into my meeting with Michael Sardo and Steve Stark and I just said, “Look, I’m flattered that you guys want me for this, but I’m at a different place where I’ve done this before and I didn’t really get much back in terms of recognition from the work.” It was going to be a much different case for me this time around because I had had a baby and the stakes were just so much higher. I don’t know if you have kids, but when I have to spend a moment away from my kid, it better be worth it.

So that’s kind of how I felt about it this time. It was like if I’m going to commit myself to another season of television with these hours and this work schedule, I want to be a big dog. I don’t want to just be another actor for hire with it. If they just wanted me to be the actor who comes to work, delivers the lines, and then beyond that I didn’t have any sort of creative say, meanwhile being the title role, it was not something I wanted to do.

You talked about in Life you were a lead character and you’ve had these roles, but this is a series that’s really built around your character. What feels different about that? Do you feel more responsibility or anything different about having a series based around your character?

S. Shahi There is more responsibility. Thank God, I’ve had a—knock on wood—long career in episodic television so as far as the hours were concerned that really was something I was very comfortable with actually. It’s funny, I did a sitcom one time and I didn’t know how to react at all when I had the time off. I was like, “What is this?” By the way, can you hear me because my gardeners here? But yes, I felt really odd being on a sitcom and getting off at three every day. I was like, “What do I do with my time? This is really weird.” Being on an episodic is like being home in a way. It’s weird.

It was just a lot more responsibility in terms of I felt like I had to look after, in a way, all the character’s story lines, of course. I say this very loosely. Michael Sardo and Steve Stark and the network have been so gracious and generous with making me a part of the creative process so I was careful not to push those boundaries, but I’m sure I will next year. But yes, there was a lot of responsibility because I feel like the show has a certain amount of integrity and we wanted to obtain that within all the story lines.

I was just reading online, and you never know for sure about these things online, but I was reading you originally moved to Hollywood after the late, great director Robert Altman suggested that you might give it a try. What exactly happened there?

S. Shahi Yes. I always wanted to be an actor, but I wasn’t sure how to do it. I was in a production of Chicago, I sang, and there was this girl that was a background dancer who said, “Why don’t you try out for the Dallas football cheerleaders,” because back in 1995 they were on Saturday Night Live. I thought, “Great. That’s my way in.” I tried out for the Dallas football cheerleaders. I made the team, and Robert Altman decided to come to Texas and use our facilities to shoot Dr. T and the Women.

So he came to the ranch and the cheerleaders, we were all sort of extras, we were background in the movie for about two weeks. I had no idea who he was. For whatever reason, maybe it’s because I didn’t know who he was, he took a liking to me and we hung out with each other every day for two weeks, and he said towards the end, “What is it that you want to do?” I said, “Well, I want to be an actor but I don’t how do it.” He looks at me and he goes, “I think you have what it takes. I think you should move to LA.”

So I went home that night. I Googled him, and from all the movies that he’s done, I’m embarrassed to say the only one I knew about was Popeye. I told my mom through the screen door. She’s in the kitchen and I was in my room, “The guy who directed Popeye is telling me I’ve got a shot.” So we packed up my truck and we moved to LA.

He gave me his mobile number and his office number and he said, “When you get to LA, I want you to call me. I want to help you.” For three months, he and I traded phone calls. We never actually connected, and then by the time I owed him—it was my turn to call him back. At that point, I had been educated on who he was and I told the story enough times around town that people were like, “Really? You and Altman?” After that I was intimidated, and I was like, “Oh my gosh, I don’t know what to say to him anymore,” and I never returned his phone call.

I watched the pilot and I think it’s amazing, and I just had a quick question. It kind of relates back to questions someone else had about you coming back to television, everything after you had your baby, and the decision to do that. What is it about this character that made you want to play her and go after that and give up spending time with your baby and that kind of stuff?

S. Shahi It was her flaws. I knew what I was going to say before you finished your question. Things that I love most about this character are her flaws. I think, often times in TV, they try to put people up who are perfect people. Who kind of have it all figured out and that was, if anything, we wanted to do the opposite of that. We wanted to do somebody who was very confident in their job, but at the same time, she was internally incredibly flawed and had a lot of faults. That’s what I wanted to play.

That was the other thing that I was talking to Michael Sardo and Steve Stark about was that I wasn’t interested in playing a perfect person. I wanted to play somebody who struggled, and because for me, I think that’s real. I think it’s real for people to struggle, and I think it’s refreshing to see a character like that on TV, not a character who’s just willing to sell toothpaste.

Often times TV gets kind of knocked, saying the space in between the commercials. I wanted to make sure that this character was not going to be playing to that. It was, in a sense, going to be representing a real person and some real struggles, and we were going to get a chance to explore that and to see her. To see her fail, to see her try to pick herself back up. That’s was I was interested in playing.

To that same extent then, do you have anything you would want to change about Kate yet or have you gotten enough into her to get to that point?

S. Shahi I don’t know if there’s anything I want to change about Kate right now. She’s mentally and emotionally at a very interesting place. I don’t want to see her evolve quite yet because I think there are more stories to tell with her at where she’s at, but I do, as an actor, like to constantly be surprised. I don’t know what’s in store for her. I don’t know how I’m going to play her, and I enjoy the mystery and I hope I continue to discover her.

When we spoke with Michael Sardo, he mentioned that the opening scene out of all the actors that auditioned for Kate you were the only one that didn’t back away from the gun. Can you tell us about filming that scene?

S. Shahi Yes, I did that in the audition. I felt like this was a character who thrived on conflict. If anything, she gets excited by this kind of stuff, a bit of an adrenaline junky I guess. I figured in that situation the only way you could solve a conflict is by heading towards it.

So for me, that’s what made the most sense. The character was that if this character sees a gun she has the strength and the confidence to believe that she can disarm the situation. Whether or not that’s true, that’s a different story because there are certain story lines where Kate feels like she has the confidence to fix it and if anything she ends up making it worse. But in this situation she does solve it and she solves it by walking towards it so that’s why I made that choice.

RU?

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

White Collar is returning on January 18th to continue its second season, and you probably know that things have heated up. Stars Tim DeKay and Matt Bomer were available recently to talk about the show, and it was a great interview. It was interesting to get another chance to get some thoughts from them now that the show has a solid run under its belt, but they don't sound much different from when I talked to them before the show premiered.

These guys are wonderfully down-to-earth, and having them together is a great bonus. They don't give too much away about what we'll be seeing, but they give us a bit of a lead into the series' return. We do know that there's going to be a background episode coming up very soon, and that ought to give fans something to chew on for a while.

Don't miss the show's return, and don't miss the preview clips below, especially the "music video."

"White Collar," USA Network’s hit original series, starring Matt Bomer ("Chuck," "Tru Calling"), Tim DeKay ("Tell Me You Love Me," "Carnivàle"), Tiffani Thiessen ("What About Brian," "Fastlane"), Willie Garson ("Sex and the City," "John from Cincinnati"), Sharif Atkins ("ER," "Hawaii") and Marsha Thomason ("Lost," "Las Vegas"), returns with all-new episodes of season two on Tuesday, January 18 at its new time (10-11 p.m. ET).

"White Collar," one of television’s most critically acclaimed dramas, focuses on the most unlikely of partnerships between a con artist (Bomer) and an FBI agent (DeKay). The exciting crime drama, which was one of cable’s #1 shows for 2009, returns with more intrigue and all new cases. When the previous season concluded, the beloved Mozzie (Garson) was gunned down by a mystery man – but does Mozzie survive? Peter and Neal set out to find the shooter and work tirelessly to find out who killed Kate and the mystery surrounding the music box.

Viewers also will see Peter and Neal swap identities to solve a case -- and they even get a look back in time to learn how all the series’ characters came together in the first place. The thrilling remaining half of season two features such guest stars as Diahann Carroll, Richard Schiff, Paul Blackthorne, Andrew McCarthy, Billy Dee Williams, Ross McCall, Adam Goldberg, Hilarie Burton, Gloria Votsis and Alexandra Daddario.

Interview

I was wondering if either of you could talk a little bit about who we can see guest starring this season.

M. Bomer We have Andrew McCarthy.

T. DeKay Andrew McCarthy, of course, yes, and that’s been in TV Guide so that’s—

M. Bomer Who plays sort of Neal’s mentor from the past who taught him a lot about both creating his persona and he taught him a lot of hard lessons as well. I’ll leave it at that.

We have Paul Blackthorne. We have Billy Dee Williams who is in a really fun episode with Diahann Carroll. He plays somebody from June’s past who comes back and is sort of a glimpse into the world Neal would have if he continued on a more crooked path. Ross McCall is back. Adam Goldberg is in it.

T. DeKay I was just going to say Adam. Yes, Adam plays a great role in this as well.

M. Bomer Gloria is back and we have Richard Shipp.

T. DeKay Hilarie is back.

You guys have such great chemistry together on screen and you seem to get along decently well off screen. How do you guys continue to maintain that?

T. DeKay We went to therapy once a week.

M. Bomer Couples therapy.

T. DeKay Yes. It really—

M. Bomer It’s worth it.

T. DeKay It is.

M. Bomer We meet our deductible pretty quick and from there on out it’s just a co-pay and it’s worth it.

T. DeKay Because we’re both in the union so that helps.

M. Bomer That helps. That’s good. I think Tim is inherently a generous person and very generous of spirit and he brings a real sense of play to the work. I try to do the same. I know he lifts me up on my off days and—

T. DeKay Oh, and you lift me up on my off days. No, listen, we have a blast. We have fun together, but in the end, we respect each other.

M. Bomer Yes.

T. DeKay I mean as far as the work is concerned. It’s just like any other relationship, if you don’t have that then there is no ground to it.

M. Bomer As much as the trust dynamic is liquid between Peter and Neal, I think Tim and I pretty much … each other.

T. DeKay Yes. Yes, that’s good. Therein lies a big difference.

Usually USA likes to promote their episodes, but this one there is really nothing that we can find. I just want to know, how does it feel to be involved in such a big mystery around the show especially in terms of the status of Mozzie.

T. DeKay Usually there are two questions people ask me about the show it’s, “What’s Mozzie’s fate?” and, “What’s going on with the music box?” It’s exciting. I feel like I keep giving the same answer of “Oh, you won’t be disappointed, let me tell you—” It’s very difficult. You want to answer it for these people, at least I do, so it’s difficult to evade that question all the time. I’ll be glad when it airs.

M. Bomer Yes, I feel like we’re always sort of dancing around the secrets involved with the mythology of the show and that’s fun. That’s a fun aspect of it. Jeff is always outdoing himself as a writer and every time we get the mid-season finale or the finale script, we always look at each other and go, “Really?” He’s almost like the writing equivalent of the guy at the party who takes the joke one step too far, but then that night you think about the joke and you realize it was actually really profound and kind of amazing.

T. DeKay Exactly.

M. Bomer He’s incredible that way. He’s always surprising us. I don’t like to know too far ahead of time what’s going to happen because I like the element of surprise as well. Then I also don’t have to dance around the mystery quite as long.

When we’ve done these conference calls with you guys in the past, it was really sort of in the early stages of the show when everything was sort of being established and you guys were finding your fan base. Now that you have established the show and now that you guys have had success with it, how have things changed, or how maybe would you like to see things change? Not necessarily on set so much, but just even with the development of the characters.

T. DeKay I don’t know. That’s a tough one.

M. Bomer I don’t really feel like much has changed for me personally other than it’s great to have the support of fans who are interested in the stories we’re all trying to tell, which is amazing and a great feeling. In terms of character, now that we’re starting to really put a lot of major story arcs to bed, I would love to dip into Neal’s past a little bit more and maybe see some of his family members come into play and see what kind of conflicts that brings up between he and Peter. I wouldn’t mind seeing him be a little bit of a man-whore, to use a little bit of the James Bond tactics to maybe do whatever it takes to solve the case.

T. DeKay I feel as far as character, I think Jeff and the writers have met everything that I had hoped for. The big story arc with the music box was something that I didn’t expect or even see. I find it wonderful. I too, would like to delve into some more of Peter’s background and we did an episode where Jeff and I both went to the University and got into both Peter’s and Neal’s background.

M. Bomer Oh, yes, your blue collar upbringing—

T. DeKay Yes.

M. Bomer —in a White Collar world.

T. DeKay Those are fun because what it comes down to is I think the more Peter and Neal know about each other actually it strengthens and lengthens the relationship because these two just love to dig. Peter would love to meet a family member of Neal’s. He’d love to sit down and get to know his mom or dad or brother or sister.

M. Bomer I could go on and on with my ideas, but I think the great thing about having somebody like Jeff at the helm is that you know whatever it is, it’s going to be fun and interesting and well written. You get what you get and you don’t get upset.

T. DeKay Yes, but we had to look for something. Like Jeff answers it. I mean it’s one of the most exciting moments of the week is to crack open that next script.

M. Bomer Yes. To crack open a cold one and then crack open that next script.

T. DeKay Try not to pour that cold one on that script.

M. Bomer There might be a ring here or there.

With so many awesome USA shows out there, which one would you like to cross White Collar over with, and how do you think that would work out?

T. DeKay I think my immediate response goes to Royal Pains because it’d just be nice to go out to the Hamptons for a few days. Then again, it would be nice to go down to Miami and shoot some things in Miami.

M. Bomer Yes, I think Burn Notice would be a really natural fit just because of the worlds that our characters live in and inhabit, but to be honest with you I love all the shows they have. It would be really fun and an honor to get to work with on any of them—to cross over on any of them.

T. DeKay It’d be fun to do some World Wide Wrestling as well.

M. Bomer Well, yes, I mean that goes without saying.

T. DeKay Yes.

M. Bomer Tim, you’re about to get us into a tag team wrestling match.

T. DeKay I can you just see me reaching over the ring, “Tag me, tag me, come on.”

M. Bomer Peter and Neal’s trust dynamic, WWE Wrestling.

We have Hilarie back in the season premiere, so I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about how Neal and Sara’s relationship is going to develop this season. What’s it like having this challenging female character to play off?

M. Bomer I think it’s fantastic. She brings so much to the role. She’s the real deal.

T. DeKay Yes.

M. Bomer She’s gorgeous, and she’s in it, and she has brought this amazingly intelligent, challenging, super Type-A character to life that Neal finds really intriguing and ultimately on some level I think wants to tame.

T. DeKay Oh, I like that. Oh, that is good.

M. Bomer It’s a really fun dynamic to get to play with her and she’s such a great actress. It’s really kind of moment to moment with her, which is always fun and keeps me on my toes. Yes, and she’s gorgeous to boot; a really, really great girl. We have a lot of fun stuff that we get to do with each other and their relationship will grow and there will be a lot of tension there, maybe a little sexual frustration and then maybe some sexual frustration release; I don’t know. I’m just saying maybe.

You guys are great friends, and I don’t know if you know this, but you’re incredibly insightful about each other. I would like to flip the table a little bit and ask Matt what question that you think we should be asking Tim right now. What would be a great question that we should really ask him? Tim let me ask you the same thing.

M. Bomer This is going to be general and I apologize, Tim, but I’d say what’s your favorite thing about Peter Burke. What’s something about Peter that no-one would guess?

T. DeKay My favorite thing about Peter Burke is that he has to nearly contain his giddiness when he’s on a case that takes a lot of synapses moving. He just loves it. That keeps him going. I’ve said it before, there is almost a little disappointment when the case is solved. Almost a little bit.

M. Bomer I love it.

T. DeKay Yes, because he just loves the chase. He loves it, loves it and loves it with Neal because there is a part of him that would love to go to that side, but knows he can’t. So it’s okay with him just to watch it and every once in a while somewhat dip his foot in that pool.

Then what was the second question?

M. Bomer What’s something about Peter that people wouldn’t guess that you don’t mind sharing?

T. DeKay Oh.

M. Bomer Well you kind of did in that answer as well.

T. DeKay Yes, I think so.

M. Bomer Yes, you answered both my questions with one answer. You must teach me this trick.

T. DeKay All right. My turn to ask Neal?

T. DeKay If Neal were a flower, which—?

M. Bomer It would be a poisonous flower.

T. DeKay But a beautiful one.

M. Bomer It would lure you in and then it would be poisonous.

T. DeKay But poisonous only for—

M. Bomer Only for specific—not a broad spectrum poison, only a very specific poison.

T. DeKay Right, that isn’t necessarily lethal, but would—

M. Bomer Make you trip out for a couple of days?

T. DeKay Yes.

M. Bomer Sort of like a peyote flower.

Speaking of putting you guys on the spot I’m trying to get some dirt. I knew that the episode where Neal is going to be singing is airing I think February 1st, Jeff Eastin said on Twitter. What are you singing?

M. Bomer We are singing One For My Baby and One More For the Road.

A lot of actors have said they don’t like to watch themselves or they do. Which do you guys like? Do you watch yourselves on White Collar and other shows, or do you say, “Oh no I hate that, I’m not going to watch that.”

T. DeKay I don’t like it, but I think I’ve come to learn for myself at least that it is an education for yourself as an actor, at least for me, to watch the stuff. We’ve got to come back to it. I’ve got to come back to Peter and if I’m watching it and saying, “Oh, okay this works, that doesn’t work.” Because it’s such a group effort this filming, so, “I see they edited the scene that way so that was their intent for this scene. Oh I was right about that. I saw which way they wanted the scene to go and I was right,” and then sometimes you think, “Oh, I missed it on that. This is how they wanted the scene to be seen more than—” in a different way than I did. I’m not crazy about watching myself, but I feel I have to.

M. Bomer It fluctuates for me as well. I watched the first season really intently because the learning curve was so steep and so much of that first season was a lot of throwing spaghetti against the wall and seeing what worked and what didn’t and what could I learn as an actor. What part of the character that I was trying to bring out was working and coming through and what wasn’t, but I don’t like to watch myself at all. I try to just do it intermittently when it’s something that I can—it’s not an aesthetic thing or anything it’s just I’m really hard on myself. Sometimes it’s more difficult to watch myself. Every now and again I’ll think, “Oh, let me check it out,” but generally I don’t like to watch myself at all.

Tim, you had a great con episode and when you see the chance to sort of tables turned, how did you feel about being the con man and of course ”Burke’s Seven” is great and I hope to see more of that.

T. DeKay Thank you, I felt great about that. That goes back to that question Matt asked me. Peter gets giddy and it means that he gets to go to the other side for a little while, aw, that’s a blast. Certainly as an actor, whenever you can go not just one step into the imagination, but in essence two steps into the imagination, when your character plays a character, that’s even more fun as well. In the end that’s what we love to do as actors is just dive into the world of pretend.

It was a hoot. You will see more of that. I think with everybody—and that also goes back to the relationships that are strengthening with the other characters—we all are jumping into a lot of different arenas. I think it makes for some good story telling.

You guys talked a little bit about who was going to be on the show this season, this upcoming season. You talked about which kind of shows you think White Collar would blend really well with that are also on the network. I was wondering what actors you’d like to work with in the future? Like anyone you want to have play someone’s girlfriend, like does someone you’d like to have on maybe a small arc on the show that you haven’t already had?

T. DeKay Every time I’m asked this question I feel awful because I have a list of about 25 people, be it names that you would know and then names that maybe you wouldn’t know, but are great actors that I know from theater or even way back in school. So, to give you two, my thought goes immediately to, “Oh, that’s going to be printed and I didn’t give them this name. Oh, I hope this person doesn’t read that because I’d love to work with them.”

M. Bomer Yes. I agree with Tim on that. There are a lot of great actors out there regardless of their recognizability or desirability who would be great on the show. We’re open to anybody who wants to come play ball and have fun with us. I do have to say—I have to put it out there—if someone is going to play my dad I think Powers Boothe would be really good.

T. DeKay Oh yes.

M. Bomer But that’s just me, what do I know?

In light of this next new episode that we have coming up do you guys think that Peter is more understanding or appreciating of the art of the con and is Neal seeing more of the wisdom of doing things legally?

M. Bomer I hope so. I mean I think that’s sort of the long-term trajectory certainly in Neal’s character, is starting to see the benefit that his expertise has in helping the FBI and helping better people’s lives. The great thing about Jeff Eastin’s writing is usually when you think it’s going to go one way you never know what could happen next. I think he is, but I think there is a part—one of his feet is still planted somewhat firmly in the world that skirts the law or the typical moral parameters of getting what you want.

T. DeKay Joe, that’s a great question. Really, that’s the crux of the show. I mean that balance going back and forth on that line is—that’s what we hope to keep the show living for many seasons.

M. Bomer My dad used to—whenever we were fishing he used to say, “Keep your line taut so the fish will bite.” I feel like between Neal and Peter the line always has to be taut. It can never be somebody comfortable, inherently trustful dynamic between them. There is always that tension of the poker game. What are you going to do next? What cards do you have and what are you going to play? Are you going to go the right way this time? Are you going to take your own road?

T. DeKay Yes, it’s true. To keep that with a poker game, they can be at the table having a beer together and enjoy it, but that tension is always there—always.

RU?

Related articles

• Matt Bomer: Kennedy Center Honors Performance! (justjared.buzznet.com)

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

Merlin, starring Colin Morgan, Bradley James and Anthony Head, returns for a third season on Syfy beginning Friday, January 7, at 10PM (ET/PT).

Few shows have had the sort of rough history that Merlin has had to survive, including the simple lack of attention, and fewer still are as fun and wild. Somewhere in the general category of such things as Hercules, Robin Hood, and Legend of the Seeker, Merlin finds us tagging along with the earlier versions of our Camelot legends. Uther is alive, and has outlawed magic, and Merlin is Arthur's squire-come-houseboy who has to somehow perfect his abilities without being able to use them openly. We have to get from there to the days that rise to mythic stature (so I guess we know who isn't going to die), all the while doing battle with a variety of beasts and baddies.

I was on the fence about the show at the very beginning, but it has picked up rather well throughout the remainder of the first and second seasons, and I hope more people give it a chance now that the third season is showing up here.

Below check out a few clips, and a Q & A Interview with stars Bradley James and Colin Morgan.

Season three sees the young wizard Merlin (Colin Morgan) in increasingly more dangerous and dark battles in his secret quest to protect Prince Arthur (Bradley James) in the fabled kingdom of Camelot, where magic is forbidden by King Uther (Anthony Head). They rejoin Katie McGrath, who portrays the mesmerizing Morgana -- who has a dark destiny of her own -- Angel Coulby as her loyal maid Gwen, and Richard Wilson as wise Court physician Gaius. The new season finds Camelot’s heroes pushed to their limits as the kingdom is thrown into turmoil by the return of Morgana from a year’s absence.

A host of new guest stars joins the regular cast to enthrall audiences over the 13-week run. Harry Melling (The Harry Potter Series) portrays Gilli, Warwick Davis (The Harry Potter Series, The Chronicles of Narnia) will play Grettir, Miriam Margoyles (The Harry Potter Series, Being Julia) will play Grunhilda, and Mark Williams (The Harry Potter Series, The Fast Show) is the voice of a mischievous Goblin. Guest stars from the previous season such as Emilia Fox (The Pianist, Ballet Shoes) who plays Morgause, and Santiago Cabrera (Heroes, Che), who plays Launcelot, will also be returning.

Legendary actor John Hurt once again provides the Voice of the Great Dragon.

Season Three Trailer

Clip - Tears of Uther

Clip - Colin & Bradley

Bradley James & Colin Morgan Interview

How is the return of Morgana going to change the vibe in Season 3?

Bradley James: That’s all you, Colin.

Colin Morgan: Go for it, Bradley.

Bradley James: All right. I’ll answer that. And whenever Morgana turns up in Series 3 there’s been a year-long search for her as decreed by Uther. And we don’t know where she’s been for that year. We don’t know what she’s been up to or what she’s been harvesting.

But it becomes very evident very quickly in the first episode that despite appearances she hasn’t changed. She’s just as evil as she was before if not more. And so it’s basically the beginnings within the first episode of where she’s going to go and what she’s going to create and what she’s going to change.

You’re getting quite a few guest stars in Season 3, especially actors from the Harry Potter series. How do you think that part of the resume will help the show?

Colin Morgan: Bradley?

Bradley James: Oh hello. How do I think that part of the resume will help the show? Well I always say that the best thing about doing the show is the guests that come on. You find yourself learning from them quite a bit. You find you’re sort of enjoying hanging out with them and whatnot.

And the guests we get seem to be very fun people to have around. So for us personally it’s always a lot of fun.

We’ve sort of had a great time this year because the people who were brought in were lots of fun. I’m going to use that word a few times I think if I keep talking.

But in terms of commercially speaking for the show, Harry Potter’s very popular. I can’t see it being to the detriment of the show that you have people in the show who’ve been in Harry Potter.

But I don’t think they’re in it. I don’t think they’ve been cast in Merlin because they’ve been in Harry Potter. I just think the producers have gone out and found people who would enhance the show. And that’s how it’s felt on set for us as well.

Were you big fans of the Camelot and Merlin mythology before you signed on to be on the show?

Bradley James: I certainly was very aware of it. I think kind of growing up in Britain you find it’s kind of ingrained into your psyche a little bit without your realizing it. And, they’re very sort of inspiring kind of heroic stories.

So I always sort of had an interest in it beforehand, not a sort of specific interest that I followed it sort of religiously or anything but certainly when the opportunity to work on the show came up I’d already had a sort of previous knowledge of what the story was about and what the legends sort of told. And it’s kind of obviously been enhanced by doing the show. And research for the show’s kind of I guess just improved my knowledge of various aspects of the legend.

For people who may not have seen the show before what - can you tell us what separates this version of the story from all the others that have come before?

Bradley James: Well I would say that we’ve completely butchered the legend and sort of reworked it for sort of Saturday night escapism because anyone who’s kind of quite strictly religious to the legend perhaps will take a bit of time to get used to what we’ve done to it. But we - I think we’ve taken the legend and kind of - I mean the producers like to sort of compare it with the sort of Smallville idea of having Superman before he was Superman.

And I mean this is Merlin before he was Merlin and Arthur before he was King Arthur. So it’s kind of the prelude story to the familiar tale that everyone’s aware of.

As actors, is there any frustration, or wishing things would move along a little bit quicker? I mean with the Arthur/Gwen story line or Arthur finding out about Merlin’s magic and just the various elements of the plot.

Colin Morgan: I think as an audience member, being aware of where these characters end up and knowing that they become the legends that they are, that Arthur and Gwen become king and queen, that Merlin becomes being accepted as Arthur’s advisor and a wizard and that magic is out in the open and I think when you know that that’s where they end up I think it can always be possibly a sense of frustration when you want that to happen quickly.

In reality things don’t happen that quickly. It takes time for those to happen.

And I guess as well that’s from a story point of view. I guess from a producer’s point of view they don’t want to rush things too quickly.

But I do believe that things are happening at quite a pace already in terms of character relationships. It’s just I think that we’re - as an audience we’re in the know about their - where they - of where they’re supposed to be.

Bradley James: We haven’t started on Season 4 yet but I would say had Season 3 not gone in the direction that it went in then yes those frustrations would have been there. But I think Season 3 kind of takes the show on in the direction it needed to go because we sort of had two seasons of, what the first two were about. And I think Season 3, things change.

So I think that was needed. And I think the producers kind of answered the call with where they went with the direction of the show.

You talked a little bit about how it’ll affect the show - the season. But can you talk about working with the actors from Harry Potter?

Bradley James: I will. I’m trying to think who, we had Harry. We had Miriam. I don’t think it was too different than working with anyone else really.

Again I sort of said that people that were brought in were kind of brought in because they were right for the role and enhanced the show and did something great with the characters which can be said for pretty much everyone who hasn’t been in Harry Potter I suppose. You went kind of on set going oh, that person’s been in Harry Potter, wow.

So now I’m trying to think who has been in Harry Potter. But from - Harry and Miriam and who else was there?

Colin Morgan: Well Warwick Davis is quite a highlight for me.

Bradley James: Warwick, yes Warwick of course.

Colin Morgan: Not because he was in Harry Potter but because he was Warwick Davis. You know? It’s...

Bradley James: Yeah, yeah.

Colin Morgan: ...something as Bradley said. It’s the actors as opposed to their credits that just is very much cast on people who write for the roles the same way we were cast in them. And it does feel great to have those people on the show.

How will the relationship between the two of you -- of Merlin and Arthur -- will evolve this season?

Bradley James: Yeah, go.

Colin Morgan: You go ahead.

Bradley James: Well I’d probably say the same things as you, Col. Actually I’d say one thing different in the sense that you sort of mentioned that there’s that master/servant relationship which will always be there. And I’d probably disagree with that because I think they’ll get to a point where Arthur will no longer see Merlin as a servant, where they will be equals.

I don’t think that will happen too soon. But I think that’s kind of where the progression of that relationship goes.

I think the show itself kind of - that relationship has to be quite steady in its progression anyway because it can’t make any sort of major jumps because I think it’s sort of quite important to the show. So if you suddenly made too much of an adjustment to it I think the audience would kind of find it a little bit weird.

I’d say that there’s that progression to them becoming equals and the sort of high levels of trust in these seemingly endlessly kind of mortal situations they keep finding themselves in. Mortal situations, that didn’t make sense. What’s the word I’m looking for, Col?

Colin Morgan: Lethal?

Bradley James: Lethal, lethal, lethal situations they find themselves in.

Colin Morgan: I’m sorry. What was the word?

Bradley James: Yeah. That becomes a case of them being able to trust each other in those familiar situations... and a lot more.

And so we probably won’t see Merlin telling Arthur, listen, I’ve saved your butt 100 times and stop ordering me around?

Colin Morgan: That’s what people are eager to see I think. And I think as long as there’s any hint of doubt in Merlin’s mind that Arthur might have a similar attitude towards - that his father does, if there’s any sort of hint of then it’s not the right time.

And you’re seeing Arthur change a lot. And - but I think while his father’s still alive -- maybe Bradley wants to talk more about this -- but, you know, while his father’s still around. And there’s an incidence there. And I think that’s in any kid’s or anyone’s relationship with their parents they’re always an influence there and you always want to do them proud.

And I think magic being such a big thing for Uther, it would be hard for Arthur to change that. And I certainly think - certainly while Uther's still around it would be very difficult for Merlin to justify coming out in something so huge.

Bradley James: Let’s call the pink elephant in the room here. We need to get rid of Uther. Then we can get on with it. I’ll say it if no one else will.

I also wanted to ask since you’re between filming right now what are your plans. Are you working on other projects or taking any vacations anywhere?

Colin Morgan: I’ll start. I’ve been traveling about. I did a couple of films last year, one called Parked and one called Island. And then I’m doing the festival circuit. I just got back from the premiere of one of the three new film festivals in Italy last week for a part which went down really well. The promotion wagon has sort of kicked off with those.

I’ll be starting a project in London in the new year which it’s not out yet so I don’t think I can say what it is. But yeah, so it’s nice to sort of do other things in between. But it’s also nice to have the break because it takes up so much of the year that you’re kind of ready to sleep for a month whenever it’s finished.

Bradley James: I’m nowhere near as interesting as that. I’ve just been trying to play as much football as possible because then you get the opportunity while filming so I’ve been just getting on a football pitch and playing lots. Soccer in your country.

Can you tell me how you think Arthur sees his relationship with his father?

Bradley James: Arthur’s grown up with purely his father as I suppose as anyone in sort of a high position in him. And his only parental figure has been his father. So, you know, his father’s such a huge influence on him.

But I think as time goes on I - as the show has gone on I think you sort of see Arthur kind of starting to figure things out for himself where he has disagreed with his father. And I think in time it’ll lead to Arthur sort of making the choices as king that he will do that’ll be different to how Uther does it which you would imagine there’ll be a stark contrast in the way that the pair of them rule. So yeah, as time goes on I think it just becomes a lot more questioning from Arthur in how Uther does things.

However, I should have started with this as opposed to rattled on about that. I think what Arthur does see is that on one side he has the kind of liberal kind of argument from people like Morgana and Merlin who are saying oh you should do things and blah, blah, blah. And then he’s got this kind of hard-nosed kind of conservative line from his father who’s going, you need to kill people with magic, blah, blah, blah.

I think what he does have is the ability to see both sides of the argument. And I think that’s kind of what, perhaps, Morgana doesn’t have. She can’t understand why Uther makes certain decisions. And Uther can’t understand why Morgana feels certain ways about things. And I think Arthur has the ability to be able to see both sides of the argument.

A lot of the great comedic moments of this series come out of your characters’ relationship. How did that develop between you? Is it all acting? Does any of it carry over off-camera?

Bradley James: I think it’s been said that the similar sounds coming from the pair of us when we’re working together is laughter. We do tend to have quite a good time and crack quite a few jokes.

And I suppose that sort of then takes itself onto set when we’re performing the roles. And it kind of helps, kind of that fluidity I suppose and that ease when it comes to doing scenes with comedy involved.

And it’s a lot of fun to work with Colin. Colin, just cover your ears a minute. You might...

Colin Morgan: Yeah.

Bradley James: But it’s a lot of fun to work with Colin because we work together a lot and I could have personally found myself in a situation where because Arthur and Merlin do have so many scenes together you really would have been hoping for somebody who you can act with.

And I think, once we sort of get on set and get through the course of filming the series we have a very good time. So I feel very fortunate about that because it could have been a hell of a lot worse.

Colin, you can take your hands off your ears now.

Colin Morgan: Oh sorry. I was...

Bradley James: How could you hear me say that? That proves you weren’t covering your ears.

Colin Morgan: Oh no.

Bradley James: Anyway, sorry. Go ahead. Speak.

Colin Morgan: Yeah. I agree. I mean it’s great because you can go and have a bit of a laugh before your scenes when there’s humor and comedy involved but equally when it comes to more I guess dramatic ones or ones that are a bit heavier.

We also can tone it down and focus on it as well. But it’s good that you’re getting that dynamic as well. We’re both challenged with the work in that way. But as Bradley says because we get on so well it’s never feels like work which is great.

RU?

© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

PSYCH returns to USA tonight at 10/9c, and you don't want to miss this episode. Not only do we get the return of Cary Elwes, but the show has saved a very strong episode for its November comeback. Though a huge fan of the show, a few episodes this season have not, IMHO, been quite up to what we as fans have come to expect.

There are other reasons that you definitely do not want to miss this episode, no matter what, and I'll just leave it at that, although the following interview sort of gives things away. James Roday and Dule Hill were on call for a press Q & A recently, and it was the wild time it always is.

Have fun!

In the season premiere “Extradition II,” Shawn and Gus return to Vancouver to visit their old nemesis Despereaux (returning guest star Cary Elwes) in prison at the felon’s request, who then uses them to escape and pull one last job before he is extradited to the United States. Only while he is out, he is framed for the murder of a Crown Attorney and now asks the guys’ for help clearing his name of this most recent – and frankly unseemly – charge.

I wanted to know what’s it like to film in Vancouver as Vancouver.

James Roday: Well it’s easier.

Dule Hill: Yes.

James Roday: That’s for sure. We spend a lot of time running around and covering up signs and replacing license plates and moving fake palm trees. And...

Dule Hill: And flags, taking down flags.

James Roday: ...when we shot for actual Vancouver we didn’t have to worry about any of that stuff which means we could allow our minds and the minds of some of our crew members to drift in a good way.

Dule Hill: About Maple syrup.

James Roday: That’s right.

Dule Hill: And you also don’t have to frame out the ice capped mountains either. You can use that.

James Roday: Oh, that’s true. Good point, Dule.

Dule Hill: See what I’m saying?

James Roday: That’s sharp thinking for this early in the morning. I’m very impressed.

Dule Hill: That’s how I do it in the morning, you know what I mean?

James Roday: Yes, man. Like a farmer except you’re not.

And what can you tell me about the “Twin Peaks” inspired episode?

James Roday: Well I can tell you that it is probably the most proud I have been of any of our achievements on the show, which as you know have been plentiful.

Yes.

James Roday: It’s me basically being a fan boy. “Twin Peaks” was my favorite show of all time. And, you know, to be able to work with seven of the original cast and basically pretend like I was in an episode of “Twin Peaks” was unbelievable.

In addition to that, and I think it’s just something that Dule and the rest of the cast all got to enjoy as well, we discovered that several of the original cast members hadn’t seen each other in 15 or even 20 years. So we were basically doing a “Twin Peaks” reunion within our “Twin Peaks” show. And watching them sort of reconnect and reminisce was pretty special as well. So it was sort of like two unbelievable experiences for the price of one.

What's the best thing about working with each other?

Dule Hill: Well I would say from my side the best thing about working with Roday would be I guess the challenge of working outside the box. That would be it for me. I mean he’s such a talented actor that his mind will go anywhere and sometimes keeping up and staying on the train is a challenge for me but I enjoy it. You know, it’s a muscle that I haven’t really used in previous parts of my careers. So I’m definitely enjoying the time right now.

James Roday: That’s it? That’s all you’ve got?

Dule Hill: Yes, that’s all I’ve got man. That’s it. That’s all I got.

James Roday: That’s very nice actually. Thank you.

Well I would say that in addition to, you know, the obvious which is that Dule is a very gifted actor as well and that he actually makes my job easier by keeping us on the tracks so that I can do all my crazy stuff. I mean that’s sort of what makes the show work and that’s why our chemistry has been so good from the beginning. It’s sort of a - pieces just really fell into place nicely and we’re very lucky.

But also he also says everything that we’re both thinking that have nothing to do with acting whether it’s weather-related or food-related or trailer-related or anything you can think of, you know, we’re always thinking the same thing but then he always says is out loud and then I don’t have to which is awesome.

PSYCH -- "Extradition II" Episode #5011-- Photo by: Alan Zenuk/USA Network

You’ve done so many pop culture references on the show. If there was one pop culture reference that has not been done yet that you would love to do, what is it? Both of you. I don’t mean to break your brains this early in the morning.

Dule Hill: Yes. I’m not really a pop - I mean I’m on a show that’s about pop culture references but that’s not really my forte. I’m not really that big into it. Maybe something about Emmanuel Lewis.

James Roday: Yes. You know, gosh, I think - I mean there’s still so many areas that are deep and plentiful. I wonder if there’s - if it’s not time that we did like a - I don’t know, like a major sort of Alf reference of some kind.

That would be awesome.

James Roday: Yes. I think he’s probably due for some love.

James, you guys left us with one heck of a cliffhanger with Juliet and Shawn at the end of the season there. Are there any kind of details you can give us about what to expect with the two of them?

James Roday: Well I can tell you that you’re not going to have to wait for long. I guess we all sort of decided that we had made you wait long enough and it’s addressed pretty cleanly and thoroughly in the premier on Wednesday. So if you can wait for two more days, then I think you’ll have all of the answers that you seek.

Fantastic. And, Dule, any relationships on the horizon for Gus?

Dule Hill: That’s a good question. In terms of Season 5 I don’t think so unless I’m blanking out on something (Roday might think of).

So, are you guys then both happy with the course of the love life for your characters then?

Dule Hill: I mean I would say I think Gus is definitely kind of backed up. He could use a little bit of tender care, you know what I mean. But we’ll see what happens going into the Season 6.

I’m a huge fan in addition to you two also of Cary Elwes and I’m excited about the “Extradition” episode and I just wanted to hear a little bit about the upcoming appearance and what he’s like on the set.

James Roday: We had a lot of fund with Cary. I think we had more fun with him the second time than we did even the first time because he, you know, he was sort of comfortable in the skin of the character. And he sort of got of better idea of what our set is and that it was going to be all fun and games all the time. And he just came up to sort of goof around this second time. And we spent more time with him off set as well and met his beautiful wife and unbelievably beautiful little girl. And he’s an all-around good guy and very funny in the episode.

In addition to Cary Elwes, what other guest stars can we look forward to seeing this season?

Dule Hill: Well beyond the Twin Peakers which come up, we have Ralph Macchio. He’ll come up - he’ll be in one of the upcoming episodes. We have the return of Ally Sheedy. And then we find out who Mr. Yin is. And then we have Mena Suvari who comes up in that same episode. Who am I forgetting?

James Roday: We have Tony Cox.

Dule Hill: Oh, yes, Tony Cox came up. That’s right.

James Roday: Very funny. Keshia Knight Pulliam, a little Bud/Rudy symmetry there. And Jacob Vargas, very good actor.

Dule Hill: That’s right.

James Roday: I think we had a shorter winter season. I think that’s most of the highlights there.

Dule Hill: And we have...

James Roday: Although “Twin Peaks” you get...

Dule Hill: ...Aggie the Polar Bear.

James Roday: Aggie the Polar Bear.

Dule Hill: That’s right.

Here’s my final question for you. I’ve got three words for you, “Mentalist” crossover episode. You’ve got to do it. What do I need to do to make this happen?

Dule Hill: I mean, you know, just talk to, you know, Les Moonves and Jeff Wachtel a little bit. You know put a call into both.

James Roday: Yes.

Dule Hill: I know you’ve got him on speed dial, right?

Yes.

James Roday: You have to come up with that fool-proof argument for CBS of why it makes sense to cross their show that has 100 million zillion viewers with our show that has...

Dule Hill: They’re like, “We think not. You want to take our 100 million viewers to how many viewers? Oh, and what’s the name of the show? Oh, okay, okay.”

James Roday: And then we’d say, “Yes, but our 4 million are crazy, like, they’re foaming at the mouth. They’re like the best fans of anyone on television. And a lot of your 100 million might be sort of, you know, they might fair-weather fans. This is a way to fuse those two ideas.” If he’s still on the phone at that point, then you should feel good.

PSYCH -- "Extradition II" Episode 5011 -- Pictured: (l-r) James Roday as Shawn Spencer, Dule Hill as Gus Guster -- Photo by: Alan Zenuk/USA Network

I know James that you’re going to be directing a play called “Greedy” with Red Dog Squadron. And skipping over that slightly, bordering the lines of greed perhaps, are there any characteristics of the characters that you each play that you envy and that you wish you possessed?

Dule Hill: I mean I think from my side I do wish I possessed a little more of the - I guess Gus knows a little bit of - he knows something about everything. Like he really has the most random trivia information stacked inside of his brain. And I think for myself I would love to be able to have that kind of information stored up inside my brain.

Who wouldn’t?

Dule Hill: Right.

James Roday: I think Shawn sort of represents that person that I don’t know we may have all known or may not that, you know, we always say we wish we could be more like that person because they take so many risks and they sort of live life to its absolute fullest at any given moment and they jump without asking questions. It’s a pretty remarkable quality that some people actually do have. But then we remember that it doesn’t always work out in real life the way it works out...

Yes.

James Roday: ...on television and that that’s probably why we’re not like that.

What’s your favorite name that Shawn has called Gus?

Dule Hill: For myself it’s always been the one I think from Season 1, which may have been the first or second episode, where he called me Gus “Silly-Pants” Jackson. You know, I - because when he first threw that out it kind of caught me off guard first of all because I believe that was one that was just off the top of his head. And it cracked me up. I just thought it was a hilarious thing. And, you know, we’re big fans of Stoney Jackson over here so that kind of...

James Roday: Yes, we are.

James Roday: That’s the one that sort of kicked it all off. So I think it’s always going to be special for us since everything sort of sprang from that.

Now do you guys get a say in those or do they come already in the script?

James Roday: Oh, sure. They definitely come in the script now but any time we can top what’s there, we don’t hesitate. Everyone’s in on the fun now.

Are you guys having a Christmas-themed episode and if so, can you tell us anything about it?

James Roday: Yes. We are returning to holiday Yule entertainment this season. I actually directed our Christmas episode and I can tell you that it’s pretty out there. It’s our sort of bizarro take on “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Shawn learns what everybody would be doing if he had never come back to Santa Barbara.

But it’s - but prepare yourselves because it’s not “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It’s something different and the only thing I can guarantee is that you’ll get to see the characters that you’ve grown to know and love in ways that you never thought you’d see them.

As a takeoff kind of on the - and one - on one of the previous questions, feel free to be as silly with the answers as you may want, but obviously you guys know each other really well from all these seasons. What would be - now James, what would be something that Dule does not know about you? And Dule what would be something that James does not know about you?

James Roday: Wow. You know, we’ve got to fill a lot of time over this - over these seven months that we spend together. Something that he definitely doesn’t know about me.

Dule Hill: Wow.

James Roday: Well our first season in Vancouver Dule was kind enough to let me tag along to a benefit that Diana Krall was having wherein I ended up getting to meet President Clinton which was certainly a highlight for me. Dule had already known President Clinton and played basketball with him and things like that, so less of a novelty there. But what Dule might not know is that I met President Jimmy Carter when I was a very young boy and that it was actually the second time I had met a president.

Okay.

James Roday: I don’t think I have ever told him that.

Dule Hill: That’s something I didn’t know.

James Roday: Boom.

Dule Hill: Let’s see. Well James probably doesn’t know being that he’s a native of San Antonio that I actually shot a basketball on the court of the San Antonio Spurs arena wherever they play down there.

James Roday: Look at that.

After all these years we still surprise each other.

I’m wondering, you know, the “will they, won’t they” thing has been always such a part of the show and if you guys are actually going there now with Juliet was there like just oodles of hours of discussion as to which way that should go or was it just the time to do it?

James Roday: I think there’s always been plenty of discussion. But I think, you know, first on the list is when is the time to do it. So I think those things sort of came to a head and everybody was on the same page that five years of “will they or won’t they” was enough and that it was time to throw a curve ball and mix things up, cross our fingers and hope for the best.

I was actually at the WWE event last year with Dule and I know you were not able to be there, but any chance it’s going to be revisited this year?

James Roday: You know what, I think we missed our window for the winter premier since it’s on Wednesday. And I would have to be wherever they are tonight. But I’m certainly game to sort of do my part now that Dule has so dutifully done his and maybe return for the Season 6 premier or something. I would absolutely be down for that, yes.

Dule Hill: Don’t worry. I’ll be making some phone calls to try to make that happen and (to remind everybody). I think it’s time for Roday to get slapped.

Are you ready to do it again, Dule?

Dule Hill: No, no, no, this will be Roday on his own. Alicia Fox will be slapping James Roday this time.

I was going to see if you could tease some of the upcoming episodes and maybe tell us a storyline you haven’t come to yet that you’d want to maybe like zombies or something.

James Roday: Well, let’s see. Upcoming episodes first. We’ve spoken about” Extradition.” We’ve spoken about “Twin Peaks.” We’ve...

Dule Hill: We have “Police Academy.”

James Roday: ...spoken about Christmas. We do have a “Police Academy” episode which features Ralph Macchio who we mentioned. Shawn and Gus have to save a polar bear that may or may not be being framed for murder. We have an episode in a haunted house in an amusement park.

Dule Hill: Right.

James Roday: Probably the closest we will ever come to embodying the cast of “Scooby-Doo.”

And then we do - we bring home the Yin-Yang Trilogy. That will be our finale where everything comes out in the wash. Pretty packed, pretty solid winter.

As far as - I mean I can tease - I can actually tease that at some point next season we’ll be doing vampires.

Dule Hill: I have a feeling Gus will have a chance to say, “Oh, Sookie.”

James Roday: Yes. We can probably work that in there.

We’ve been talking about a musical forever. That’s up on the board. Baseball has been on the board for awhile. I think it’s probably time to make that happen as well.

Any chance Larisa Oleynik’s character from the werewolf episode could come back in the vampire episode?

James Roday: Somebody has a little thing for Larisa Oleynik, huh?

Yes. Yes, I have for years.

Dule Hill: Well there it is.

James Roday: There it is. Ah, no. We dug Larisa. That was a lot of fun. She had a fun character. She got to wear a nose ring. Not that many people who come on site can say that. But yes, I guess it could possibly work since they’re all into the occult and whatnot we could bring back Josh Malina too.

Dule Hill: That’s right.

All my wife’s family is from San Antonio and so one of her cousins asked me to ask you how often you get back to San Antonio and what your favorite Mexican restaurant there is.

James Roday: Well I don’t make it back nearly as often as I’d like because I do - I have grown quite fond of that city since I’ve left. When I do make it back my first stop usually from the airport before I even get to wherever I’m staying it Pappasito’s on I-10.

It’s an excellent restaurant.

James Roday: It’s fantastic and it holds up even though many have come and went since it opened its doors. It’s where I would take anyone who was visiting for the first time.

What character dead or alive would you like to bring back from...

Dule Hill: You kind of went out there. Dead or alive...

Yes.

Dule Hill: What character dead or alive would I like to bring back?

Yes.

James Roday: Well kick it off from Season 1, I think I’d love to bring back Adam Hornstock, Esq., a character played by Michael Weston. There’s bound to be a way that Shawn and Gus need legal advice. So I think that’s pretty easy to do.

Dule Hill: And I wouldn’t mind bringing back - I forgot his actual name on the show Malcolm from...

James Roday: Oh, Wally.

Dule Hill: Yes. Wally. Wally from the “Pimp My Ride” episode because I just enjoyed doing the scenes with him where he was just talking in circles. He wasn’t really making any kind of sense. That would be someone I would like to see come back.

What would you like to see Shawn and Gus do more of?

Dule Hill: I would like to see Gus obviously release some tension. Honestly, I would say I wouldn’t mind seeing Gus do a little bit more dating, you know, but expanding his horizon outside the Psych office.

James Roday: I would say I’d like to see Shawn and Gus use their wits like at a three-to-one ratio over their legs.

Now my question is about Shawn’s dad. How does he feel about Shawn and Juliet getting together now that he’s working at the police station and how does their relation - Shawn and his father’s relationship progress this season?

James Roday: If memory serves, I’m not sure if he ever - I’m not sure he ever wizens up to Shawn and Juliet. I don’t think...

Dule Hill: I don’t think he does.

James Roday: I don’t think he does. I think that’s, you know, it’s - we’re sort of proceeding with great caution on that front. And then as far as our relationship, I will admit I was - I didn’t know how the whole moving him to the police station was going to work but I actually think it worked pretty well because it kind of renewed that antagonism that we had from seasons past where Shawn was always having to look over his shoulder and nothing’s ever good enough and I think it motivates both of them.

And it’s an energy that I thought, you know, always served the show very well and that we got away from sort of in the middle seasons. And I thought it was good to have it back. You know, those two guys are never going to be on the same page but they do find strange twisted ways of appreciating one another. And I think we get to see more of that with Henry in the police station than we did with him, you know, out on his boat or making sandwiches in the kitchen.

Mad Man Roger Sterling is just came out - is just coming out with a book. I think Shawn needs - what do you think Shawn’s book would be called and what would it be about?

James Roday: I think it would be his memoirs starting from the time he left Santa Barbara probably and then taking it up to the present and it would be called I’ve Heard it Both Ways.

RU?

© 2010, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

As you probably already know, Amber Tamblyn is joining House, and she was recently available for a Q & A interview. Her role is an interesting in the grand scheme of the show, and probably comes at a good time, as the show seems to me to need a bit of a new push.

It's a great interview, and I for one am looking forward to the new dynamic. Amber had a chance to talk about several aspects of joining the show, as well as a lot of other things she has going.

Amber Tamblyn joins House for a multi-episode arc as Martha Masters, a brilliant but inexperienced third-year medical student whom Cuddy forces House to hire as a female team member in Thirteen's absence. In the midst of a tight senatorial re-election race, the New Jersey incumbent's campaign manager mysteriously falls ill with liver failure and temporary paralysis. After a surprising campaign announcement is made by the incumbent, House and the team look to the candidate to find clues about the patient's condition. Meanwhile, Foreman learns that Taub has a past connection to Masters, and in an effort to save his patient's life, House must make a critical decision that may compromise his relationship with Cuddy.

Enjoy.

For the record, I was a big fan of The Unusuals.

I wanted to ask you just a little bit about what appealed to you about joining a series like House for a short period of time. What was it about that you were excited about?

A. Tamblyn Well, the main thing was, of course, Hugh Laurie. I had never seen the show before, but as soon as they came to me and said they wanted to write something, I went, “Oh, I don’t want to do a medical show. That doesn’t sound very fun to me.” I started asking my friends. They all went, “Are you an idiot? It’s not a medical show. You’ve never seen it?” I went, “No.” I felt very stupid for ever thinking that.

So, I rented a bunch of the seasons. I watched it. I was blown away. It is not just Hugh, though it is him, but it’s the idea that you learn so much about these doctors and about these characters, not through long monologues about their back story or through their life and what they’ve been through, but you learn about them based on how they’re tested in their work environment. So, you put them in a certain environment; it creates a certain kind of person. That’s how you learn who they are.

To me, that’s incredibly interesting and very smart writing. I think that’s a great way to create a character. So, I felt that I was in good hands to have a character written for me by David Shore. So, it was a combination of all of those things, of working with Hugh, of having David write something for me, just all of that. I felt very flattered by the whole thing, and fortunate.

For someone like yourself who was part of launching series like Joan of Arcadia or The Unusuals, what’s it like to join a series that’s already in progress?

A. Tamblyn Well, I don’t know if The Unusuals was ever launched. I think like two people watched it.

My poor, beloved Unusuals. It’s just kind of the same thing. I wish I had some crazy story about how mean Jesse Spencer was to me or something, but I just fell right into it naturally with them. Maybe they even were a little relieved because I can imagine, being such a well-oiled machine like that, if you have someone come in and it slows down the machine a little bit, it can be maybe frustrating. I don’t know, but we just clicked instantly, all of us. I’ve always preferred working with large groups of guys.

So, it’s a perfect work environment for me. Like, The Unusuals to me was the greatest working experience ever, having Adam Goldberg and Jeremy Renner. It was so fun. I think that’s because I don’t have any brothers. I’m guessing… and I talk like a dude. I cuss a lot, which I’m not doing today. I’m on my good streak. It's fun. I get to play around with them. That’s enjoyable.

HOUSE: Masters (guest star Amber Tamblyn, R) and the team treat a patient (Kuno Becker, L) who refuses the prescribed treatment in the "Small Sacrifices" episode of HOUSE airing Monday, Nov. 22 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2010 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Adam Taylor/FOX

Can you give us just a little bit about what we’ll see and learn about Martha as your episodes unfold.

A. Tamblyn I think you’re going to see someone who had been so much in the world of academia and knowledge and accumulating knowledge that she never progressed or matured in a social sense. So, you’re going to see someone that has a hard time communicating on some of the most basic levels, which I think is very common for people who are highly, highly, intelligent functioning people. I think that Martha may even have Asperger’s. It's something that we’ve talked about. I know that Hugh’s character does.

So, it’s potentially like she’s a young version of him, only she believes so strongly in the ethics of truth telling to the point of a fault. Just in the same way that he believes so much in that lying can help you find the truth to a fault. So, the two of them have distinctive ideas about how to get to the same thing. You’re going to see her try to come into the real world for the first time. It’s going to be pretty intense for her.

You had so many different roles through the years. What part of this character, what aspect, do you enjoy the most?

A. Tamblyn I love the fact that she is so filled with non-sequiturs. That, to me, is fun, to try to act the fact that when Martha is not talking about scientific or medical things, when she’s just trying to talk to somebody about their life or her life, that it just comes out in non-sequitur sentences and bad, poorly judged metaphors. I love her awkwardness, how incredibly awkward she is. It just gives the character so much potential to grow.

From what you saw of House versus actually being there and being on the set, what surprised you the most versus the other shows you worked on?

A. Tamblyn I think it’s how well oiled they all are. How well everyone works together, and not just the actors, but the producers and the writers. They’ve got it down to a science in how they do things there. It’s nice. I feel a lot of other shows, certainly ones I’ve been on, could take a cue from how well they run their show.

For all your time on being on TV versus film, do you have a favorite now or is it a toss-up for you?

A. Tamblyn A favorite episode or show?

Between working on movies and working on TV, have you decided you like one more than the other?

A. Tamblyn Oh. I like them all. I mean, I have a movie coming out this week, the Danny Boyle film, 127 Hours. That was also incredible, equally as incredible as this experience has been. Actually, Danny Boyle and Hugh Laurie are very similar in a lot of ways in the sense of what powerhouses and geniuses they are, but how humble and interested in what they’re doing they are. That’s always a great thing. There’s a lot of trust going on. So, either one. I mean, as long as you’re doing something fun, it could be an off Broadway play. If you’re having a great experience, and you feel like you’re developing something that people will love, then it doesn’t matter to me. They’re all good.

HOUSE: House (Hugh Laurie, L), Masters (guest star Amber Tamblyn, C) and the team treat a New Jersey political campaign manager (Jack Coleman, R) in the "Office Politics" episode of HOUSE airing Monday, Nov. 8 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2010 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Byron Cohen/FOX

I noticed in doing the research here that you have a new blog, AmTam.com. You mentioned your book that you’ve written. I’m wondering how you see the difference between your acting in film and television and the creative spark you get out of and the thing that feeds your desire to write, the difference between the two and what you get out of writing.

A. Tamblyn One informs the other more, but acting and writing both inform each other in certain ways and help to support each other’s purpose in my life. I know that writing has helped me get through the transition from a teenager to a woman, where you are suddenly expected to be a sex symbol of some sort. Suddenly, you’re not this cute thing anymore. You’re supposed to look a certain way. You’re supposed to play these certain parts. I had a really hard time adjusting to that when I was like, maybe about 17 years old. Writing helped me a lot to make fun of that and be angry about it and just get all my frustrations out without doing it in a real public way.

It’s a way for me now I think, as a woman, to write about the things that I’ve seen and just express my own journey in this industry and show the funny side of it and the humbling side of it, which I think is the side that people don’t ever want to admit is there. They always want everything to seem sort of like glossed over, if you will. No one’s ever going to really say to a reporter what’s really going on at any given time. It’s very rare. They shouldn’t because we live in a world where everything and anything is taken out of context. So, for me, writing poems, writing stories, doing it that way is the best and safest medium.

I see that you’re going to be performing poetry at GiRL FeST in Hawaii here in a few days. How is being on stage and doing your poetry— Is that like being on stage, can you imagine, like in a rock band, or is it being on stage like in a play, or is it something that’s completely different for you?

A. Tamblyn It’s all of those things, especially because I often— I took four months off last year and I toured for my book that came out, Bang Ditto. I did a big tour for it, which was very fun for me. My mom went with me and played guitar, so we kind of were a band. We were a comedy duo of sorts because a lot of the poems, too, are about family and growing up with a father who was in the business. Just a lot about family. Mom and I would often have a lot of banter onstage. Then, you get ... involved and the whole thing turned into a different kind of show, but it’s more of like a variety show, mixed in with poems, with a modern kind of poetry, very loose and easy-going and funny and musical and dark and all of those things together.

That’s probably what we’ll be doing at GiRL FeST as well, I’m guessing. It’s a really fun, exhilarating experience, performing on stage. It’s often interesting to see because the people that come to see me know me as an actress. That’s changed the last couple of years. More people are reading my stuff now, but in the beginning, when I would perform, you could just see the look on people’s faces going, “Why is the girl from Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants using the F-word so much?” It’s very confusing for them to separate it, which is fine for me. I don’t mind them seeing an actress that they think they know and then suddenly realizing they don’t know her.

You’ve been in a lot of great things recently. I just saw 127 Hours. It was fantastic and now, House and Todd Margaret. I know that you were offered House, but how do you go about picking your roles?

A. Tamblyn Well, 127 Hours was very easy. It’s a small role, but I feel like an important role in a film where there’s only a couple people, well, really only just James Franco in the movie. So, I felt like that was a cool role to pursue to be the comedic relief of it, to be the dopamine of the film in a very heavy film about someone who cuts his arm off.

Todd Margaret is just the luck of the draw. David Cross is my boyfriend. He said, “Can I write this thing in here for you?” I said, “Yes.” So, that’s how that part was decided.

I just wanted to tie together a couple of things you said. You talked fondly of Hugh Laurie and David Cross. You said that you talk like a dude. These guys have the same kind of very perverse and, to me, very, very funny sense of humor. Is there a through-line there to David, Hugh, and maybe some other people, and yourself, as far as the type of humor or the type of person you like, or something?

A. Tamblyn Yes. I never thought about that, but yes. I’m a fan of Blackadder. I’d known Hugh before that. Certainly one of the most attractive things about David, to me, was his personality and his humor. Instantly. Years ago, when I heard one of his albums, I went, “That guy is amazing.” I instantly had a crush on him. So, a lot of my poetry is hard-mouthed like that as well, which it needs to be because the subject matter can be intense, but it’s not without humor. In everything, there is always humor. It's much easier to get across to people how funny it is that some producer asked you to lose five pounds so you could play Scooby-Doo’s girlfriend in this animated thing. It’s much funnier than if you try to beat someone over the head with some crazy, angry, feminist poem about it. It’s a funny story. So, why not just let it be funny? I’ve learned to find the humor in stuff like that.

What was it like working on the House set the very first day?

A. Tamblyn The first day was a lot of fun. I don’t know if you’ve watched the show, but they often do where they’re trying to diagnose their case, they sit around the office. They throw ideas around. It’s a lot of dialogue and can be difficult. That was my first couple of days, actually, but it was really fun. Sitting that closely with everybody, you really get to start to meet everybody and get to know them. It was great. It was almost too easy. I wish I had some crazy story for you about how mean somebody was, but it was nothing like that.

Were there any surprises on the cast, I mean, that you were surprised about characters or the people playing the characters, Lisa or Robert Sean Leonard?

A. Tamblyn I have not done one scene with Robert Sean Leonard. I did a scene where I pulled House out of his office in which we just looked at each other, which was funny. Then, I’ve only done two scenes with Lisa Edelstein, but individually, each of those actors are their own characters, too. Peter Jacobson and Omar and Jesse, they’re real life characters of themselves. They’re great people, all three of them. And Hugh.

You mentioned Lisa. What surprised me that I found really refreshing to have two strong, interesting women interacting on a show that’s usually more centered on men. The Cuddy/Masters scene, they’re really great. I may see Masters as a young Cuddy in sorts. You seem to have chemistry with Hugh, of course, but also with Lisa. How is the dynamic with her behind the scenes? Will we see more of you guys working together?

A. Tamblyn Well, so far, she and I have only had that scene and one other scene that we just shot a couple days ago. So, not really. No, but perhaps that will come up more, but I do think she is sort of a young Cuddy, an extremist version of Cuddy in a certain way, which is probably why Cuddy brought her on. I think House says that I remind her of herself, but yes, Lisa’s amazing. She’s great. She’s very funny. She’s very health-oriented. I’m learning a lot of health things from her. She’s a very interesting woman and incredibly gorgeous. I mean, she’s gorgeous on screen, but in real life, she is the real deal. Her skin is insanely flawless.

I think you do a really great job. I didn’t expect to enjoy your character this much right away. Past characters that were introduced tend to not have that agreement first off. You make it seem so easy and so much fun, especially during the scenes with House. How did you get into the character so easily? It seems to flow so well. I was just wondering, is the character spoke to you right away?

A. Tamblyn Well, the character did because it’s based on somebody that I know very well whose real name is Martha Meredith Masters. My friend, Meredith, is similar to this character, but this character is in a very exaggerated version of her, but she is in med school. She often makes jokes that I don’t understand that are about Euler’s Number or something that I bet I, and most people in the room, don’t know what she’s talking about. So, she can be a little socially awkward sometimes, which is what the character, Masters, is like on the show. I feel like I’m very fortunate to have at least the building blocks to create this character. Then, everything else, I just ran with it.

Of course, it’s David Shore’s writing, too, that allows me to play those things. When he actually writes in, “Martha using her period as a metaphor to get someone to donate a kidney to her sister,” the fact that Martha does that kind of stuff, she doesn’t know what’s appropriate and what’s not. She doesn’t really know how to socially integrate herself into society to help herself not look like such a dork. She hasn’t learned that yet. She’s too much in her intellectual brain. She hasn’t socially grown yet. I think that’ll be a great thing to watch her learn how to do and sometimes learn it the hard way in a lot of cases.

I’m used to seeing you as innocent Emily on GH. Now, I see you bare it all and get in .... Do you feel that you’ve matured as an actress? Will we see more of you pushing the envelope?

A. Tamblyn I hope I’ve pushed them a lot. I hope I’ve come a long way since 10, 15 years ago now, General Hospital, but yes, I try to choose things that are fun and interesting and things that I enjoy doing. I would hate to ever be in a position where I’m going, “Why did I do this? I hate this so much. I’m not having fun. I’m not creating anything.” So, yes, it’s been a really fun experience. I hope I keep getting to push the envelope with it.

What was it like working with TV’s most obnoxious doctor? Will you annoy him throughout the season?

A. Tamblyn It was absolutely delicious. I annoy him. I fascinate him. The two characters both annoy and fascinate each other. House probably even sees a little bit of himself in her, except the opposite, except he’s usually mean. She’s usually overly nice. So, both would make for funny television.

RU?

© 2010, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

Unfortunately, SyFy's Red: Werewolf Hunter hit in the midst of holiday and sporting options that took over the collective mindset, and the media push for the show was not quite what it might have been. An entertaining bit of fantasy fun somewhere in the "tradition" of SyFy's other fable spins (Tin Man and Alice), Red: Werewolf Hunter stars new media sensation Felicia Day as a descendant of Little Red Riding Hood... sort of... or something.

The show will air again sometime in December, and Twitter clued me in earlier today that there are hopes it will be available online before that, so you will have a chance at it again, but the interview with Felicia Day was too interesting to let lie.

It was an especially interesting call, and necessarily edited though it may be, I tried to leave much of it as it happened. Well, plus, I didn't want anyone to accidentally get the idea that I asked Felicia Day if she was a gamer.

Have fun, and when you get the chance, don't miss the show.

Stefan Blitz with forceofgeek.com.

Stefan Blitz: Hi Felicia, how are you today?

Felicia Day: Hi, good. How are you?

Stefan Blitz: Good. So I guess the first question is actually a very good friend of mine wrote the movie, Brook Durham.

Felicia Day: Oh great.

Stefan Blitz: And my first question to you is what drew you to the part?

Felicia Day: So, I got the script in around February or March of this year and I was in the middle of writing Guild Season 4, so I actually wasn’t even taking auditions at that time because I was so busy. But they sent it over and I read it and I really felt like it was such a different role for me that I never played before and I really felt attracted to that as well as I’m a huge fairytale fan.

I actually took several folklore classes in college and I tried to minor in it but my dad said that was ridiculous and he stopped that. But I always actually had the idea myself that it would be fun to update some fairytales and so it was kind of like one of those projects that I thought was kind of tailored to what I was looking for at the time.

It’s much more dramatic than the things that I usually do and it’s slightly - it has a lot of horror overtones as well. So I thought it could be a really fun challenge and it was just such a privilege to be considered for a lead in one of the Syfy movies. I just thought that was really flattering so I carved out my schedule and it was just a really - I had such a good time making it.

Stefan Blitz: Awesome. And I guess a follow-up is it a character that you want to revisit again?

Felicia Day: Yeah it was really fun. It was definitely something that was a lot different from what I usually play. It was such a relief almost since I produce and write and act and everything that I do to just be an actor on the set and be able to really concentrate on, doing all the physical challenges as well as the more horror aspects. It was definitely something that would be fun to do again.

Stefan Blitz: Very cool, thank you very much for your time.

Felicia Day: Thank you.

Neil O’Connor with Accidental Sexiness.

Neil O’Connor: Hi Felicia, how are you?

Felicia Day: Good, how are you?

Neil O’Connor: I’m good. I was wondering, I notice in the past you were on Buffy and you’ve done The Guild and I was wondering what you thought the biggest challenge in making a horror film was versus what you were used to doing.

Felicia Day: I guess the biggest challenge for me was, I mean, there were a lot of physical challenges on this. I did definitely work out and like train a lot for this role just because it required a little more toughness and more grounded attitude. I guess the role that is most close to what I’ve done in the past is the role that I did on Dollhouse in Epitaph 1 and Epitaph 2 when I played Mag.

She was definitely more - the most similar to this character in that there is not as much humor and it’s certainly a person who’s living in high state as well as using a gun properly.

I actually had my dad take me to the shooting range for the first time. He’s been bugging me like a decade to go shooting with him because we’re from Texas. And when I called him up he was like oh this is the best father-daughter moment I could ask for.

Neil O’Connor: That’s awesome.

Felicia Day: Yeah.

Neil O’Connor: So which do you enjoy more -- the acting or the producing/directing?

Felicia Day: I don’t actually direct. I do write everything on The Guild and I do produce it creatively. I definitely work a lot with the director on all the creative that gets on the screen. It’s really two sides of the coin.

I really do love acting. I love having - to be able to inhabit a different character and also train. I love the fact that I said I did the guns and I did a lot of fighting here. It’s always fun to actually have something very specific for a character that I get to learn about that’s sort of the R&D side of acting I love. But I can’t ever see myself completely giving up the producing and the writing because I find it so fulfilling.

And really my whole past that led to having a big role in a Syfy movie was not because of as much, you know, just being an actor but it’s because you’re kind of forging a path with The Guild and participating in Dr. Horrible, things that are outside the box. So it feels like a big reward in a sense to end up doing this movie.

Neil O’Connor: That’s great. Well thanks, I’m looking forward to seeing it.

Felicia Day: Thank you very much.

RED: WEREWOLF HUNTER -- Syfy Original Movie -- Pictured: (l-r) Greg Bryk as Marcus Sullivan, Kavan Smith as Nathan, Felicia Day as Virginia Sullivan -- Photo by: Syfy

Marc Eastman with areyouscreening.com.

Marc Eastman: Hi, how are you doing?

Felicia Day: Good, how are you?

Marc Eastman: I’m very good. It’s great to talk to you. You know, the question I had about the show, because it’s a little hard to get an exact feel for it, the other Syfy movies that we’ve seen like Tin Man and Alice, they had a sort of mix of real and then fantasy. Does this one get any of that in it or is it just regular day except that we’re werewolf hunters?

Felicia Day: Yeah I know, I see your point. I think the paranormal sort of - it’s a bit of big resurgence in paranormal fiction and entertainment. And it hasn’t, other than Twilight, hasn’t crept over into a movie like this before which I think is another reason why I wanted to do it because I’m a huge fan of paranormal fiction and romance, paranormal romance and all that stuff. So that was really attractive to me.

This setting is definitely set in modern times like the real world, the everyday world and the werewolves are actually something that our family is tasked keeping from the real world.

So that’s a big pivot - a big thing the movie rides on is having the conflict between revealing that they’re actually werewolves to my fiancé is a big deal with my family and it sort of snowballs from there. So yeah, we’re not in a fantastical world necessarily although there’s fantastical creatures in the real world.

Marc Eastman: Right. And just real quick follow-up, is it a lot harder to not do comedy?

Felicia Day: I mean, it definitely is a switch in gear. It was definitely a little more, I mean, I definitely took it seriously to be serious. The movie is very dramatic in tone and definitely like I said has a lot of horror elements to it.

But, if you see in the trailer I’m shooting a harpoon at werewolves. So there is some fun to be had in that sort of aspect of the movie that, there is - it is a little - there are certain things that are over the top in a really fun way.

So definitely it’s not the same tone as all the recent Syfy movies but I think it definitely balances all those things perfectly. And to air right before Halloween is kind of the perfect place to watch it.

Mike Roth with Cox Media.

Mike Roth: Hi Felicia, how are you?

Felicia Day: Good, how are you?

Mike Roth: Good. I love your acting, I love what you’ve done. I mean, especially when you get to stretch out with the kind of a bad ass role like this. But I’ve got to ask you, basically all the girls that you portray have been really good at heart. I mean, you know, they’re nice. Do you ever think about stretching a little bit and maybe being a little bit of a bad girl, smoking, drinking, that kind of thing?

Felicia Day: Oh as far as like...

Mike Roth: You know, just being the kind of girl that we wouldn’t want to take home to mom?

Felicia Day: I don’t know about the leather, I mean, I am - I do have several leather coats. But, actually I have been thinking, I am - as a person am very good hearted and I feel like that’s kind of an aspect that sort of shines through when I act. And I bring that with me because kindness, it’s funny that the Internet is my place and I hope to spread kindness there because sometimes it’s lacking. But it also has a lot of the fandom and things are the other side of that coin.

To be honest with you, it would be really fun to play a villain. I would love to play an evil villain even if it’s a comedy, a comedy villain, that would be really fun. And that’s actually one of the things that I put on my list like dream roles.

And if I don’t get to them, if somebody doesn’t like the part for me or offer it or I get to audition for it, it’s on my list to write for myself in the future. Because, being empowered and being able to make opportunities for me, it’s like the thing that I’m most proud of in my career.

So yeah, I cross fingers somebody else would think of me for a villain part but if they don’t I definitely down the road would love to just kind of sink my teeth into something a little more edgy and not so nice.

Mike Roth: Great, well thanks a lot.

Felicia Day: Thanks.

Blair Marnell with craveonline.com.

Blair Marnell: Hi Felicia, I just wanted to ask can you tell us anything about your character on Eureka coming up?

Felicia Day: Yes, actually I play a scientist that has come to Eureka to work on a secret project. Her name is Dr. Holly Martin and I have a very antagonistic relationship with Fargo, Douglas Fargo played by Neil Grayston and Dr. Isaac Parrish who is played by Wil Wheaton is a factor in that. My attraction to him creates a lot of conflict.

And I guess I’m in eight episodes. I have to go back up and finish the finale this week. And I’ve got to tell you that not only are the scripts fantastic but just working on the set is just an amazing opportunity. I feel like that show is really run by geeks in a sense so they know their science and they really - you could see the passion in the scripts and they’re just so funny.

I’ve been a show, I mean, a fan of the show in years past so when they called me to be on it I was just ecstatic. And I have to say that this season has definitely raised the bar over all the other seasons. They’re really innovating and doing some just really fun things with the characters and with the dialog and I’m just really happy to be a part of it.

Blair Marnell: Is there any lines to whether you’ll be back next year as a regular?

Felicia Day: I have no information on that. I just take it one episode at a time. If they keep calling - they kept calling me back and I was just happy to be there.

Blair Marnell: All right well thank you Felicia.

Felicia Day: Thanks a lot.

April McIntyre with Monsters and Critics.

April McIntyre: Hey Felicia, how are you?

Felicia Day: Good, how are you?

April McIntyre: I’m very well. I enjoyed the film and I had actually some technical questions. Where was the film shot?

Felicia Day: It was shot in Toronto in March so every scene of the film I’m wearing at least four pairs of tights underneath my jeans because I was so cold.

April McIntyre: I bet. Any of the actors that you were paired with, Kavan, Stephen, (Carlos), I mean, had you worked with any of these people before?

Felicia Day: No I hadn’t. I believe all the other actors were Canadian. But the funny thing is that I’m working with Kavan Smith on Eureka so we’re on the same set because he plays the robot, the Android. So that’s - it was really funny to walk on the set and see him there. It’s the other side of Canada and I was like whoa, we’re working together again.

But it was really fun because we definitely, you know, it was a very small cast so we worked together and we were kind of on location an hour away from town every day so we really did work well together. And it’s always - it always means a lot to create a little family when you shoot something. So the little Red family was definitely a very supportive, fun group to play with.

April McIntyre: The house that you shot your interiors in was really something. Do you know anything about the house or did you ask about, you know, whose house that was or what the history of it was? It was a really cool home.

Felicia Day: Yeah it was actually - it was a very old house that had been recently renovated and in fact half the house had not been renovated so most of the rooms were not - were in the process of being renovated. So the kitchen was done, the dining room was done, the living room was done but other rooms were just gutted.

And the - it went on forever. And if you - a couple of scenes that take place on the roof which is like above the third floor and then as far as the last, some of the fight scenes completely utilized all the architecture inside that house.

April McIntyre: All right, cool. My last question for you, I noticed on your blog you’re quite, you’re quite involved in doing voiceover for games and are you a gamer?

Felicia Day: Am I a gamer? Yes I’m definitely a gamer. I would define myself solely as a gamer if you had to tell me I had to pick an adjective. Yeah, I actually - that’s my first love.

The Guild, my Web show is about gamers and online gamers and I wrote it because of my past has always been online gaming and interacting with people online even when it was - before the Internet was the Internet really like on Prodigy and Compuserve.

I would dial up when I was six years old to get Kings Quest tips and things like that. So I feel like I was definitely weaned on the Internet and gaming is the thing that I do in my past time.

It’s just - it’s been a huge privilege to be a part of some of these games that I’ve done the voices with. I did Rock of the Dead with Neil Patrick Harris and Fallout which I played for eight hours yesterday and finally recruited myself which is a really - that was very odd to recruit myself and have myself talk to myself to me who is a player but play with my character. But my character is so good in that game I have a pneumatic gauntlet and I was - I one shot - have you played the game?

April McIntyre: No but I’ve watched it, I know exactly what you’re talking about.

Felicia Day: Yeah, she’s completely overpowered in a wonderful way and she has great one-liners. The writers told me that they definitely were inspired by Joss Whedon when they wrote the character so I have the best clips in the game, I have to say not modestly.

April McIntyre: Well the movie was great fun. Thank you so much for your time.

Felicia Day: Thank you.

Patty Grippo with pizzazz.com.

Patty Grippo: Hi Felicia, thanks for talking with us today.

Felicia Day: Hi, thanks a lot.

Patty Grippo: What I want to know is you’ve been involved with some projects that have an avid fan following both for the project itself and for your characters. Do you see this particular project Red as eliciting the same response from the fans?

Felicia Day: I would hope so. I can’t predict what fans, I mean, that’s what I think that I come from a background of the fans are doing me a favor. Their support is completely voluntary and what sparks with them sparks with them. And I don’t come from the idea that I try to make people like something.

So I feel like I did a lot of really good work and I feel like the movie is really fun so I can only hope but you never know how people receive things. So I know that I really enjoy it and I would be a fan of this or I wouldn’t have done the project.

Patty Grippo: That’s good to hear. Well and talking about the fans and the fan response, I read on your blog that you have a little movement going where you’re trying to get Red to outdo Sharktopus and which by the way was a lot of fun so I can hardly wait to see Red. But how has the response been to that so far?

Felicia Day: I mean, that was kind of a teasing thing. I’m not going to do a campaign about it. But yeah, it would be nice to at least equal Sharktopus because Sharktopus, they’re definitely two different kinds of movies and I think that’s cool that Syfy is doing different genres of this kind of movie.

Like I said, Red is much more dramatic and horror based. But at the same time you could definitely have fun with it when there’s just some over the top things. And we were talking about werewolves too so I feel like the same sort of that guise is underneath it all.

And if I could beat Sharktopus - I feel like I could probably stab Sharktopus myself because I trained really hard. So if we were in a tussle together, I don’t want to bet but at least I’d put up a good fight.

Patty Grippo: Well thanks a lot for your time.

Felicia Day: Thank you.

Joseph Dilworth with Pop Culture Zoo.

Joseph Dilworth: Hi Felicia, thanks for your time today.

Felicia Day: Hi, thank you.

Joseph Dilworth: I have always thought of the Syfy movies as sort of a recess for actors in a way. So I was wondering, since this is not something you’re known for and it’s something brand new and something you could really cut loose, did you have a feeling that you could just really go for it and do things you hadn’t done before?

Felicia Day: Absolutely. Like I said, I really was on a short availability window during this period when we shot Red. And I had turned down a bunch of other - a couple of other things just because I was so busy, because writing takes up so much of my time and it’s very important to me to get my script really, really refined before I produce it.

So this was something that just kind of - it came out of left field but it definitely was an opportunity to stretch my acting legs and also just focus on being an actor for once. It was definitely something that I felt like was an interesting challenge.

I always look at a project and am I going to learn from this and am I going to learn a new skill from this and is it something that I don’t think I’ll get the opportunity to do again in the future? And this project definitely was check, check, check on all those levels because I’m not the stereotypical action star. So just the opportunity to be able to do that was just - it’s very flattering and just a great experience.

Joseph Dilworth: So whether or not it was a - it would be a sequel for Red or something else as interesting, would you definitely be up for another Syfy movie down the road?

Felicia Day: Yeah absolutely. I just - it would just depend on the role and the timing but I - obviously Syfy likes what I do which I feel is very flattering and we’re in the same worlds in a sense. And it feels good to know that this is all kind of the result of all the hard work that I do on my Web show every day. It definitely is one of those true Hollywood stories in that hard work does get - beget work. So I really love that.

Joseph Dilworth: Excellent. Well I very much enjoyed Red, it was a lot of fun and really looking forward to seeing you on Eureka.

Felicia Day: Thank you very much.

Joseph Dilworth: Thanks a lot.

Lillian Standefer with Sci-Fi Mafia.

Lillian Standefer: Hi Felicia, how are you?

Felicia Day: Good, how are you?

Lillian Standefer: I’m good. Howdy from Texas.

Felicia Day: Oh yea. Where in Texas?

Lillian Standefer: And also I wanted to say that we at scifimafia.com are big fans of yours so thank you so much for your time today.

Felicia Day: Oh no, thank you very much.

Lillian Standefer: Well I guess bouncing back to your upcoming guest spot on Eureka, when we had talked to Neil Grayston a couple of months ago he said that he thought that your character of Dr. Holly Martin would be involved in a love triangle with Wil Wheaton’s character.

And then when you were shooting over there, there was a curious tweet from Colin Ferguson about him saying something about him standing in front of you naked for two hours. What can you tell us about this and is there a love triangle between your character, Wil Wheaton’s character, and Colin Ferguson’s character?

Felicia Day: No no, the - my primary storyline is between Fargo and Wil Wheaton although I do have the privilege of working with the other actors in many, many different scenes throughout the season.

Yeah that was just a coincidental situation where somebody was unclothed in a scene that I was in and brandishing his bicep weapons at me. And I couldn’t stop giggling even if we were rolling so that was - he was just harassing me.

Lillian Standefer: Is Fargo the third leg of that triangle?

Felicia Day: Yes he is.

Lillian Standefer: Oh my goodness, I’m so glad that Fargo is getting, you know, some action.

Felicia Day: Yeah, no I’m sure he - yeah no, it’s very funny. It’s a tumultuous situation. It’s definitely a lot of tension between the three that I can’t tell you where it culminates.

Lillian Standefer: Ah, okay. But in your episodes does Stan Lee also guest star in the same episodes?

Felicia Day: I was in the - yes I was acting in the episode that Stan Lee was in, yes.

Lillian Standefer: Oh perfect, oh my goodness…

Felicia Day: So that was exciting because I know him from the conventions, just meeting him there. So I had actually seen him the weekend before at a convention and it was like a reunion with him. He is one of the most charming, nice people I have ever met and just a sweetheart.

I’ve never seen actually anybody on a set more - people - the crew who are just usually kind of not really excited about actors because that’s the job. They were fan girling and fan boying out over him getting pictures with him. And he was so gracious, he posed for probably like 60 photos just for the crew. I mean, just a class act.

Lillian Standefer: Oh that’s amazing. Well and as a follow-up question, I’ve been seeing in the news that a lot of the younger generation are less inclined to choose a career in math and science these days. And I know that you mention in your blog that you were home schooled and that you didn’t necessarily like experience the stigma of being, you know, like a geek or, you know, too smart or something.

And even though being a geek is chic like amongst our generation, I don’t know if it’s evolved past that in, you know, regular everyday schools for kids today. What would you say to them to encourage them not to be afraid to be intelligent?

Felicia Day: I think it’s very complicated and nothing that - I don’t think there’s one thing that could change all children to love math and science.

But I do feel like the thing that made me as a child want to be good at math and want to know science and math was that my parents were both scientists. My dad was a doctor, my mom was a microbiologist, my grandfather is a nuclear physicist. So in our family there was no question whether you would be educated in that area, it would just be which topic and how good are you.

So there was a big motivation and I think it all comes down to mentors. And, those are things that we in the public eye, I think that it’s interesting. Geeks are a little bit chic but it’s more underground.

Like if you think of just the typical woman that a 12 year old girl would emulate and admire right now, I don’t know that it’s going to be a woman who’s necessarily known for her brains or for her scientific acumen or any of that. Not to insult anybody but I’m just - it’s more about looks and about what purse you have and more reality TV based. And I feel like the thing that you can do as a creator is to create roles that are not stereotypical like that, that just don’t base on looks.

And, one of the things that’s a byproduct of what I do on the Internet that’s the thing that I’m most proud of is that girls are much more proud of saying that they’re gamers or sort of coming out of the closet as gamers. Because they were there the whole time but it was just considered weird or unless you look like some kind of really, really hot over the top stereotypical “gamer girl” that you shouldn’t say that you’re a gamer.

So to me it’s all about mentors and making it acceptable and having people that you want to emulate and admire who are interested in those things. So, I mean, I don’t know what the quick solution is but it’s just encouraging mentors in a sense will make people, that’s really what people and kids want to drive themselves toward achieving in.

Lillian Standefer: Excellent. Thank you so much Felicia.

Felicia Day: Okay, no problem. Thank you.

Lillian Standefer: Thanks.

Ian Cullen with scifipulse.net.

Ian Cullen: Hey, how are you doing?

Felicia Day: Good, how are you?

Ian Cullen: I’m good, I’m good. I’ve just got a question about your character in Red. You know, on a show like Buffy which, you know, it’s kind of obvious to me is a (unintelligible) being a werewolf slayer and whatnot. On Buffy she’s kind of like, you know, all the (unintelligible) because she’s chosen one. You know, she’s kind of a natural in so many ways. Is that the same for your character in Red?

Felicia Day: I think it’s interesting because in Buffy, Vi was chosen to be a slayer and kind of found herself in being chosen and I think it’s actually almost the opposite. It’s taking that idea of being chosen and showing the dark side of it really in this movie because my character Red does not feel settled with the idea of being trapped by destiny in a sense.

She was chosen before birth because the family is obligated to fight werewolves but it’s not something that she definitely - she wanted for herself. She didn’t want that to be her only aspect or to trap her into not living her life fully. And really that’s the core of the conflict, trying to fight fate in a sense.

So yeah, I feel like it’s almost the opposite of Vi. I mean, like I said, I think that the role that most closely, you know, performance wise and just personality wise that I have played before, the most similar would be my role in Dollhouse when I played Mag because she was sort of out of her element in a sense and fighting, tired of the world breaking down in a sense and feeling helpless and just trying to get day to day.

Ian Cullen: I’ve got one more question for you. This is kind of with The Guild in some ways because, you know, I’m aware The Guild is a completely independent production that you’ve done yourself and I actually have a friend who is embarking on his own Web series. I’m just wondering, what advice would you give to people out there that are planning to do their own Web series? You know, what would you say the pitfalls are?

Felicia Day: I would just say that, shooting it, it’s like every film, really shooting it and getting it made is only like 20% of the work. The work with the Web series is being smart about how you find your audience, about how you interact with your audience, and how you retain your audience.

We are very privileged to have very loyal fans that carry us through with no advertising whatsoever. Microsoft puts us on their portals but we don’t have billboards, we don’t have ads, we don’t have anything really to publicize this and yet we still have millions and millions of views, we sell a DVD in stores, we have - so it’s completely word of mouth.

And I think that you always have to operate - at the end of the day you always have to do the work yourself so any extra help you get from your distributor or the places you upload, it’s only going to - you always have to rely only on yourself and everything else is kind of bonus.

I guess also I would say please make sure that you take time with the script. I know a lot of people who have written a first draft of a script and they think that’s writing but really I discovered that the first draft is merely a roadmap and you have to really, really work so hard in order to make the script go.

Because if you have a great script it doesn’t matter how much you pay your actors or how nice a camera you have or if you have money to do special effects. Like if you have a good story it will definitely shine through and the problem is that some people are a little hasty and think that just having a script equals let’s just go shoot it.

I think being careful about what you present is the most important thing because the Web, you know, you can find an audience for anything. So if you make sure your story is something that just a small segment of the population will like you’ll find an audience and that’s the beautiful thing about the Web.

Ian Cullen: I’ve got one more question for you actually. As you can probably tell I’m from the other side of the pond. Just when you talk about Syfy stuff on Syfy Channel and stuff like that, can you ever see yourself playing a role in Dr. Who if it was actually offered and if it was, what kind of role would you like it to be?

Felicia Day: Oh wow. I mean, yeah, I mean, I could definitely see myself doing that. I mean, like I said earlier, like it would be fantastic to play somebody evil to be honest with you. That would be kind of a treat for me. But, there are certain iconic franchises like Dr. Who that, I mean, honestly just a walk-on part would just thrill me to the bone.

Ian Cullen: Okay, thanks a lot for your time and it’s been really nice speaking to you.

Felicia Day: Thank you.

Heather McLadahe with The Televixen.

Heather McLadahe: Hi Felicia, thank you so much for your time today. I’m also calling in from Texas so glad to talk to a local girl.

Felicia Day: Cool.

Heather McLadahe: So when you said you mentioned that most of the cast on Red was Canadian, were you aware of Stephen McHattie when you went up there? Had you been aware of his work since he’s a bit of an icon as far as Sci-Fi and Canadian work in general?

Felicia Day: Yeah, well I think he’s one of those actors that you don’t know that you know him until you see his face and then you’re like oh my gosh, that’s that guy. He is - yes, what a great actor, like really just immersive really in the part. Sometimes I didn’t know if he was in character or not off the set. He is just - he is definitely inspirational in that he took what was on the page and just kind of made it his own in a way that you could never have scripted honestly.

So he’s definitely an icon and working, I found in the past that you definitely - there are certain actors that raise the bar for the other actors and definitely make them better at what they do. And he is one of those guys that you never see the actor in him, you just see the truth of the character. So he was actually pretty frightening to be honest with you.

Heather McLadahe: That sounds about right. My other question is you are involved in so many different types of activities and types of work. Which one sorts of feeds you the most, which one do you wake up the most excited about being able to do for the day?

Felicia Day: I think that I’m a little ADD in the sense that I love everything I do. I love the waking up to write something, I love working on a new project, I love actually giving notes. I’m producing a couple of Web series with my co-producer and we’re developing the scripts and just being able to help people on their scripts is really fun for me. I love being on set, I mean, I love taking around the craft service tray to make sure that everybody has a carrot or a cupcake.

So to me the collaborative nature of film making is something that I love so no matter what role I’m playing I really enjoy it and I feel like I’m really doing something that is fulfilling in life.

Even waking up and spreading the word about a new episode, like that is kind of a thrill. That’s something I would never want to give up being able to release stuff into the wild onto the Web and see all the feedback good and bad. That’s just what goes with the territory when you have millions of people at your fingertips. So it definitely toughens you up but it definitely makes me - it keeps me going.

Heather McLadahe: So are you one of those folks that can go on like four hours a night? It sounds like you just have full days.

Felicia Day: No no, I’m a big sleeper so I trade sleeping for social life mostly.

Heather McLadahe: Cool. Well thank you so much.

Felicia Day: Thank you.

Kevin Bachelder with tuningintoscifitv.com.

Kevin Bachelder: Hey Felicia.

Felicia Day: Hi.

Kevin Bachelder: Hey, move back to a discussion of Red a little bit. We touched on a little bit the fact that you’ve got some guns and some other things going on in the role. Can you talk a little bit about the physical demands? Were there some stunts you got to do or fun stuff like that at all?

Felicia Day: Yeah, I did a lot of stunts. They did have a stunt double there to do some of the things but I definitely - I requested to go up early just to be able to train with some things. And I definitely got in better shape than I’ve ever been in my life for this. I worked out every single day. And it makes me admire the other mainstream actresses who are known for their physicality.

Like it’s a full time job just to stay in shape for things like this because you’re working 12 hours a day. You have to find time to physically stay in it as well as this character is a little more mature and also Kavan, I wanted to make sure that the back story with Kavan and I was believable. So, the way I did my hair, the way that I dressed, it was all things that I got to collaborate on with the director and the producers.

It definitely was one of those things where I would really just wake up and go to set and go to bed. And by the end of the week we had like 7:00 pm calls so I didn’t - my body had no idea what day it was. I would go out to brunch and they were like it’s Monday, you can’t have brunch because we were working on 18 hour days.

So yeah, it was very physically demanding and made me appreciate working on Buffy with Sarah Michelle Gellar, working all day every day, being first in, last out. It definitely seems glamorous on the outside but somebody like Colin on Eureka even, he’s working every single day all day in every scene and it’s a lot of hard work. It’s definitely something to admire.

Kevin Bachelder: Excellent, well thanks very much.

Felicia Day: Thank you.

Christina Copar with Maverick Media.

Christina Copar: Hey Felicia, thanks for taking our call and staying so very long too.

Felicia Day: I know, no it’s fine.

Christina Copar: I want to know how is it working with Kavan because you worked with him not only on this but also as W.D. Andy on Eureka.

Felicia Day: Yeah, it’s so funny when I walked on the set and I saw him there. It was really funny. We worked together several times during the season and it’s just like a homecoming being able to work with actors. It’s a very small, tight group and it seems like especially when you go to conventions you know everybody there and you learn to know everybody through that.

So I had - it’s just a great time being able to reunite with him in a completely different role. We don’t have to have the chemistry necessarily on Eureka that we had to have on Red.

Christina Copar: And working in radio I have to ask, if you were to press Shuffle on your IPod right now what would be the most embarrassing song that would play?

Felicia Day: Oh boy, like that new shoe song. I mean, honestly I listen to really bad stuff. I mean, it’s the worst 80s music the better. There’s probably some, Cool Sunglasses, what is that one? That’s a terrible one. Duran Duran.

Christina Copar: Duran Duran’s not bad.

Felicia Day: It’s not bad but, I mean, there are levels of bad. I love - personally I love Roxette. I’m a big Roxette defender.

Christina Copar: The Look.

Felicia Day: People put them - yes, The Look is right here. I’m looking at it right now. It sounds like somebody is playing somebody in the background there. Is it Hall & Oates?

Christina Copar: No right now it’s Lee Ann Rimes’ I Need You.

Felicia Day: Oh okay, that’s pretty embarrassing but good.

Christina Copar: A little bit. Well thank you.

Felicia Day: Thanks a lot.

Are You Screening?

© 2010, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.

If you've been watching Fringe recently, you know that Anna Torv has had her workload doubled. Now playing two versions of her character, who are from different universes, Anna's Olivia has become a lot more than she signed on for. She recently took part in a Q & A interview to discuss the show, and the challenges of playing what has now turned into a dual role, and it was a very interesting discussion.

Check it out below, and don't miss new episodes of Fringe on Thursdays, and Saturdays at 11/10c you can catch up with encore episodes on FOX.

I want to ask you about the acting challenges in playing this character two ways because I imagine you play a role for two seasons. You become one with the character. When they asked you, then, to do a second version, what sort of acting challenges does that pose for you?

A. Torv I was so excited when it first came up and then we’ve sort of kicked in. I haven’t really had the chance to play the Ultimate Olivia properly for herself. It’s been our Olivia, thinking that she’s the Ultimate Olivia. Then, the Ultimate Olivia pretending to be our Olivia. So, it’s been a little bit tough to work that line.

What I found has been interesting is how my attitude or how clearly I am now seeing Olivia, which I don’t think you do. I don’t think you get those opportunities where you actually get to step back and look at a character from a different perspective while playing the other. You keep trying to think, because you’re playing each—each of them has them has their own impression of the other that they haven’t met really properly. So, it’s been tough, but fun.

Also, I would have loved it if we ... gone right out there and made her a completely different character, but essentially, the differences are subtle there. They both ended up in the same job. They both ended up to the point where they even had the same partners. It’s just gentle little shifts. It’s been fun. I think all the guys that have had that chance would say the same, too. It’s also been so fun to play on the other side, which does feel like, “Wow! This is a completely different energy.” Then, to pop back. So, I’ve loved it.

What personal conflicts, if any, do the two Olivia’s may encounter? Because there are certainly Fauxlivia or Bolivia— I mean, she’s working with some intelligent, good-hearted people on this side. There are advantages on the other side, too, with the real Olivia, with the people that she’s working with. It looks like alternate ... people, but they’re actually good guys. So, they’re both in places where they don’t belong. They’re both in worlds that they don’t necessarily like or support, but do you see any personal conflicts or maybe changing of attitudes for either of these Olivias?

A. Torv Absolutely. I think that’ll come when they both get home. I think that’ll be the test because that’s the interesting part about this, too. Obviously, we’ve been following our Olivia and our team for two seasons now. So, our loyalties are definitely there, but when you start to see the other side, solving cases and interacting and working with each other, you realize that they’re both just fighting their own cause. Neither one’s good or bad, or neither one is right or wrong. That’s hopefully the second half of the season.

Is this a great amount of job security for you because even if one of you gets killed, you’ve still got another one?

A. Torv Yes, I think. That’s what I’m telling myself anyway.

FRINGE: ANNA TORV photographed by George Holz for FOX. ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co.

What has surprised you about other Olivia on our side or our Olivia on their side?

A. Torv I don’t even know where to start with answering that. I think everything. I didn’t know what they were going to do when they first opened up the prospect to this parallel universe. I really didn’t know. As I said, I’m looking forward to playing them as they are in their own world. I think that’ll give me a little bit more of an understanding. I didn’t answer that very articulately, did I? I guess, everything surprised me. Everything.

Well, certainly the aspect of playing a relationship with Peter in character, that must be something surprising.

A. Torv Right. I think that’s so fun, on the whole Olivia/Peter thing. I mean, I said that before. Of course, you want them to be together. It’s set up that way, but what do you do when all of a sudden your two guys end up together? It then just becomes— What? Romantic drama or comedy. The fact that they’ve been able to kind of give a little bit of that and yet, it’s one step forward and ten steps back. I think it’s brilliant. Obviously, this is an assignment for Ultimate Olivia, but Peter’s a charmer. I don’t know what she’s going to think after they’ve been together for a bit.

Could you tell us what you were working on today that was so frantic and hectic?

A. Torv We’re at a train station. We’ve got a hostage situation today. So, we’ve got police cars. That’s the terrible thing, there’s always flashing lights, ambulances, and police cars. I was driving home from work the other day and there’s flashing lights and ambulances and police cars and I’m like, “Oh, well, I’ll keep going.” It wasn’t until I got two blocks down that I went, “Oh, my gosh! That was an enormous accident that I just totally didn’t think was real.” That’s not funny; that’s terrible.

Does playing different versions of the same person put you in a philosophical mindset, which is to say, do you find yourself musing about how fragile your reality as Anna could be with just a different opportunity or a different choice in life? Or are you just doing your work?

A. Torv Yes, but more so. It’s not so much the differences. It’s more actually, externally, the fact that people don’t see it. That comes into, “Well, who am I?” That’s what, in my own world, I find a little bit scary. Like, “Well, who am I?” I don’t believe that I’m just this physical person who maybe walks in a particular way or who speaks in a different way, all those little bits and pieces that’s on the outside. What’s on the inside, and do people recognize that, or do they just see what’s on the outside? That’s the bit that I’ve been thinking about.

Yes. For me to flip-flop to the completely other side, then, is it barely possible that people on the set or around the studio or when you’re out on location, do they treat you different as a redhead? Do you actually, physically—are you aware of them treating you different because you have different-colored hair?

A. Torv Yes, they do. I think my attitude’s different when I’m in the different places. I don’t walk around in character. I try not to walk around with the accent, but those little things—they change you ... your hair or even just little clothes or a different shoe, a different silhouette. You’re kind of like ... or not, people absolutely look at you differently.

FRINGE: ANNA TORV photographed by George Holz for FOX. ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co.

Given that you’re on location today, do you ever have to be careful where you walk and what you do when the scene stops, and you’re on location, and you’re carrying a gun and a badge? Do you have to watch that you don’t go in the wrong place, that somebody might mistake you for a real life counterpart of what you are?

A. Torv Well, I have accidentally— I’ll end up buying myself a cup of coffee. Then, the props guy behind me going, “Anna, you cannot walk off set with this gun and your badge.” So, they’re pretty good about that. I’d like to walk around with that for a bit. I wonder what that would be like.

Right. You might have a pretty nice arrest record. Who knows?

A. Torv I know. Well then, wouldn’t I get into trouble because you’re not supposed to do that?

Well, we’ll figure that out if it happens.

How emotionally invested do you get in the two Olivia’s, given how the alternate world affects her relationship in the other world?

A. Torv Affects all the Olivia’s?

Yes.

A. Torv How emotionally does the character get involved?

Well, how emotionally invested do you get into both Olivia’s, given the—?

A. Torv Oh, right.

Yes. One affects the other.

A. Torv Extremely. Extremely because—I said that earlier with that earlier question. It feels very different, even the shooting, the dynamic even on set because you’ve got a completely bunch of different people and different kind of—even the crime scenes are handled differently. It feels very different. There’s pro’s and con’s to both sides. I love parts of both sides, but I feel— Because we’ve been flipping a bit early on. So, yes, you rock up to start the episode in the alternate universe. It's like, “Hey, how you doing?” to beautiful Kirk and Seth ... actors. You love it. Then, the episode ends. You’re like, “Aww.” Then, you come back. You’re like, “Oh, that’s right. We’re back in the ....” We’ve got Walter and Peter. So, I can’t choose between yet.

Now, when you first signed on to the series, did you have any idea of how deep Fringe would go in terms of some of the options with the alternate universe?

A. Torv No, I really didn’t. I didn’t really know what to expect. It has exceeded my expectations and has done for a long time. I really didn’t know. I also didn’t think, “Oh, it’s sci-fi.” I don’t really know what I expected, but I’ve been thrilled.

FRINGE: ANNA TORV photographed by George Holz for FOX. ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co.

Was there any particular episode or scene that came off more challenging to you than usual in either character or mindset?

A. Torv There’s been a few, but more often than not, it’s the scenes that you wouldn’t expect to be challenging. It’s the ones where they’re doing the same thing. It’s like them ... up dual crime scenes, like how does Olivia handle it versus how does Bolivia handle it, or they’re sitting around and gathering information. They’re the bits that I go, “Oh, what are they both thinking? What’s the difference in their thoughts?” Not so much the bigger stuff, which is a little bit more padded, I guess.

Overall, what is it about Fringe that you like?

A. Torv I like that it’s just so broad. It doesn’t fit in any particular genre. I think it’s scary. I think it’s kind of mystical. I think there’s sometimes we’ve had episodes that I think are really quite magic. I think there are parts of it that are really heightened. There’s parts of it that are really kind of down and dirty. It’s got humor and a little bit of romance. The fact that it’s so broad in its spectrum and in its stories and that it’s unafraid to go, “Let’s just take this leap, shall we?” We all go, “Yes! Let’s!”

Are there any particular topics that have fascinated you that you guys have covered?

A. Torv Really early on—I think even the second episode or something—there was a case where Walter was talking about his research with William Bell where they were working at developing soldiers, seeing how quickly they could grow these—genetically engineer these soldiers. There’s been other ones since then, too, but any of that kind of like that real ethical fine line, it always gets me interested because I’m interested in that ethical and moral divide between humanity and science and how far can you take things for the greater good, and what is the greater good and what isn’t. Those bits always pique my interest.

I know that you did a lot of Shakespeare earlier in your career. You toured with the ... Shakespeare Company and I think you toured as Ophelia at one point, early on. How does doing Shakespeare prepare you for a story like this where there’s a lot of doubling and mistaken identities and deceptions and people ... each other and all that sort of thing?

A. Torv I don’t know. I always think of— I don’t know. I think I guess maybe in the sense that when you’re doing— I don’t know. I guess it's all about kind of like big themes. All , Shakespeare stuff is all just big themes, like the most amazing, love your life, or the most scary war, all of this. Fringe is like— I mean, I am constantly, essentially, saving the world. So, I think you just have to buy it or you just have to go, “I really am.” When you say those lines, “The shape-shifters are going to destroy our universe,” you have to say it with a straight face. That’s so interesting you say that because I’ve thought for a long time the similarities between our beautiful, beautiful Walter and Shakespeare’s fool is probably—

Shakespeare’s fool, you said?

A. Torv Yes, Shakespeare’s fool.

Not Lear?

A. Torv No. I don’t think so. I think the fools. That is what Walter kind of is. I think that the fools in Shakespeare’s plays are always wisest and yet always making a joke of it. Yet, you get them down, they’re often the saddest. Yes, absolutely the fools, particularly Lear’s fool.

The other thing is—especially last year, there was a lot of stuff about how Olivia was so repressed and how she’s not in touch with her emotions. Sorry, did you hear that?

A. Torv Yes, I did.

A lot of stuff last year about how Olivia was very repressed, and she’s not in touch with her emotions. Now that you’re getting to play her, both versions of Olivia, much more emotional and open, is that a welcome change?

A. Torv Absolutely, but I didn’t mind her being that repressed. I actually think that there was something—this sounds so counter-intuitive, but there’s something actually liberating in that. So often, you’ve got the guys that are the quiet, silent types that do all the tough stuff. Then, you’ve got the girls that are all emoting and chatting and talking about their feelings, working out their relationships. I think that that’s kind of one of the ... things that Fringe has always ....

You’ve got the woman who doesn’t talk all that much, who’s extremely repressed, who just goes and does the job, doesn’t have much of a life at home. Then, you’ve got the two guys who sit around in the lab, which essentially is the kitchen cooking cookies and trying to work out where they stand with each other. I actually have always found that side of it interesting. Why can’t a woman be a little cooler in her emotions and a little quieter and a little repressed without it being a huge thing? So, I’ve actually always quite enjoyed that, to tell you the truth. Obviously, getting out of this pea soup has been a little bit of fun.

I’m just wondering, do you think that Altivia has any qualities that Olivia might wish she had?

A. Torv Yes. They both do, in fact. Yes. Olivia would— Well, I don’t know since Olivia is ... to me, but Olivia has ... qualities. I’m trying to think specifically. I think that Olivia’s main struggle is fundamentally the fact that she feels so responsible for everything and for everyone. I think that she would like to be able to leave her work at work and go home and put the weight of the world on somebody else’s shoulders for a minute and not feel like if she doesn’t do it, nobody will. That’s the biggest thing. That’s probably Olivia’s ..., but then, I don’t know if people change. I don’t know if you’re capable of changing such a fundamental, core belief, but I think that’s what she would like. I think that would enable her to breathe deeply and see the world in a bit ... fashion.

I really love all the differences we’re seeing in the alternate universe, like “Dogs” on Broadway instead of “Cats.” I’m just wondering if you have a particular favorite of those little Easter egg things.

A. Torv That’s one’s my favorite. That was my favorite because I didn’t notice it the first day. No one said anything. Then, I went in and then I looked. That really cracked me up. I think that was my favorite.

RU?

© 2010, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.