Leslie Easterbrook got her first big screen break playing the character of Rhonda in the hit television series “Laverne and Shirley.” Leslie is probably best known for her role as the buxom blond Sgt. Callahan in the ever popular “Police Academy” franchise. More recently Leslie has appeared in Rob Zombies “Devils Rejects” and ‘Halloween.” Movie Mikes had a chance to speak with Leslie about her career along with some of her upcoming projects.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell me about your experience on “Laverne and Shirley”?
Leslie Easterbrook: It was really an amazing experience that I finally got to be a part of the show, playing the Rhonda character. Just as I got the part, there was a SAG strike. Then when the strike was over, I got a call telling me I needed to audition again for the part I thought I had already gotten. It wasn’t until six auditions later that I finally got the part and was able to start working. I felt like I had won the lottery! “Laverne and Shirley” was actually my first real on screen role as I had mostly done theater work up until that point. For three seasons, I just absorbed everything and kept on learning the whole time while I was working on that show. That cast was amazing to work with and I was able to learn so much from all of them. I really loved being on a national stage and people kind of knowing who I was. I remember my family braving the Nebraskan winter to come watch me. I just have so many wonderful memories from that time.

AL: How did you become involved with the “Police Academy” franchise?
LE: Just after I finished my role on “Laverne and Shirley” I received an amazing opportunity to sing the National Anthem at Super Bowl XVII. After that I had wondered to myself if a job would come out of someone seeing me perform. It just so happened that one of the “Police Academy” producers saw the performance and became interested in me. I had to learn some really tough material for that audition. I prepared for about two days straight on one scene, where I was just screaming the entire time. It was very exhausting. I went in and auditioned with the director and writer of the film and did this very intense scene that I had been working so hard on. As I was going through the scene, I could see both of the guys slowly moving away from me towards the back wall (Laughs).  I knew I couldn’t stop mid-scene so I just kept going and by the time I was done both guys were hugging the wall. I thought I had blown it because I was too strong. Six weeks later I received the call saying I got the role of Callahan.

AL: What were your thoughts when you first read the Pool Scene?
LE: I was a little horrified! However I knew that I would have to risk a little more with the Callahan character. After I justified it to myself it wasn’t a big deal. I thought the scene was actually really funny I looked forward to it. The thing I remember most was there was just the oddest assortment of extras there that day for that scene. In some of the copies of the film you can actually hear me say “Shit” which was my actual response once I saw all the guys diving in. I really didn’t want them to get me! (Laughs) Some of the regular cast members came out and watched that scene just to see if I was real!  I thought that was the biggest insult but at the same time really funny. I still am close with everyone from that film.

AL: Can you tell us how you ended up working with Rob Zombie in “Devils Rejects” and “Halloween”?
LE: That is a huge mystery to me, however I am very grateful to Rob. I would love to work with him more! Rob really has an eye and knows what he wants when he is directing which makes working for him very easy. I had originally auditioned for the role of Gloria Sullivan in “Devils Rejects” even before I knew Rob was attached. The only thing I knew was the title of the film. I read two scenes and loved the way they were written. I felt that everything really made sense. I left the audition feeling really happy and full of myself. A short time later, I started really thinking about the audition. I figured there was no way I was going to get the role as I thought it was really hard to picture me playing the part of a victim mainly because of my size. I ended up getting really depressed on the ride home. I was in New York working on another project when I got a call from my manager telling me to get to a fax machine. What ended up coming through was a fax from Rob Zombie. I still had no idea he was involved in the project up to that point. What he had sent me was the script for the jail scene featuring the character of Mother Firefly. I read it and thought it was brilliant! Mother Firefly definitely wasn’t the victim! (Laughs) I had to take a subway to a different section of the city and as I was riding the train I just kept reading and yelling those lines (Laughs).  I flew back to Los Angeles and auditioned for the role and got the part. Being a part of “Devils Rejects” and then being asked back by Rob for “Halloween” really changed my life. Both experiences were just wonderful.

AL: You mentioned singing at Super Bowl XVII can you tell us more about that?
LE: That was quite an adventure in many ways (Laughs).  Pete Rozell, the commissioner of the NFL at that time, had no idea who I was nor did he know if I could actually sing. I had been singing the anthem at Angel’s games due to my 1^st husbands need for free baseball tickets, especially when the Yankees were in town. At one of these games unbeknown to me was the Head of Entertainment for the Los Angeles Rams. This woman had also been picked to choose the entertainment for that year’s Super Bowl. I guess she really enjoyed my performance. At the same time word got around that the Yankees were asking for me to sing at their next away game in Los Angeles as they really liked my singing at previous games. Finally all this stuff gets brought to my attention and my name gets entered in as a candidate for the Super Bowl. I guess Pete Rozell wanted to hear me sing in person before making a decision, so it was set up for him to hear me sing at the next Angeles game. On the way to the game my husband and I get into a fender bender and I miss the game. Pete then asked me for a tape of me singing which he liked and I finally got the gig. They gave me a nice hotel room and I brought in my own hair and makeup people. I even bought a really nice pink dress to match that year’s theme. The limo comes to pick me up and on the way there the driver gets lost! We finally get to the Rose Bowl and they won’t let us in because my manager had gone in ahead of me and said I was with them. I had to run in high heeled boots all the way to another gate carrying my dress. After they let me in I found a tiny trailer to change in. As soon as I was done I took off running down the tunnel which led to the field.  I saw my microphone and actually slid to a stop right on the field. I couldn’t even catch my breath at the time. Just before I began to sing I turned to the honor guard behind me and said “If I mess up shoot me”.  They laughed a little and after that everything went fine. Some of the players actually patted my back side as if I was one of them! (Laughs)

AL: At one time you made a comment about a movie you weren’t proud of and that you hope it never see’s day light. Can you tell us anything about that?
LE: (Laughs) I think I made that comment a while ago because I can think of several now that I am not particularly proud of. (Laughs) The film in questions had to be “Private Resort” with Johnny Depp. Working with Johnny was great however in one of the scenes I was asked to wear a slightly see thru negligee. I had no problem with this when I was first asked. It wasn’t until I went to a screening of the film with a guy friend and my minister and his wife, did I find out that the room was extremely over lit and you could see everything! I think I dug a hole in my hand with my finger nail while trying to hide in my seat!

AL: Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects?
LE: I have quite a few projects that are in post production right now such as “Black Water Transit” which is directed by Tony Kaye. Another film that we have been doing a lot of post production on has been “The Afflicted” which was directed by Jason Stoddard. I have a roll in that film as well as being one of the film’s producers. There is a script that I am going to be doing in a few months called”Find Me” that I am really excited for. I also have a film I am doing in July called “Night Lights.”

Cassandra Peterson is often considered the alter-ego of Elvira the sexy dark haired late horror host who started here iconic career on a local Los Angeles television station. Elvira is back with an all new show titled “Elvira’s Movie Macabre” Movie Mikes had a chance recently to talk with the horror icon about her new show and her career in the business.

Adam Lawton: How did you come up with the Elvira character?
Cassandra Peterson: I had heard about an interview for a local television channel in Los Angeles that was looking for a horror host. I had a friend who recommended me as they were looking for someone who was a little sexy and that also did comedy. I actually didn’t go into the interview when I had first heard about it.  However a short time later I needed the cash (Laughs) and figured it wouldn’t be that bad. I went to the audition and ended up getting the part. The next thing I had to do was come up with the character. Together with a friend of mine we design what we thought the character should look like. The station had told me that they wanted everything black so we started there and the Elvira character is ultimately what we came up with.

AL: What did you think the first time you saw the Elvira dress?
CP: I didn’t think they were going to let me wear it on television! Before the show started shooting there was a production meeting that I had brought a picture of the dress to and passed it around. Each person there took a look at it and the general manager asked if we could make the slit on the leg a little higher. I don’t think I will ever forget that.

AL: What was it like working with Federico Fellini?
CP: That was very cool. I loved his work and was a big fan even before I got asked to be in his film. I happened to be in Rome just walking around with a friend of mine and we stumbled across a location where they were filming a movie. Funny enough there happened to be a guy there that I had known from working in Las Vegas. He was working as a student director with Fellini at the time. He asked if I would like to meet Federico. When I met him he told me he thought I looked like a young version of his wife Giulietta Masina. Next thing I know he was asking me if I wanted to be a part of the film. I was really just an extra but at the time it helped me out quite a bit. Federico was really wonderful.

AL: Any good behind the scenes stories?
CP: Federico would always yell all of his directions out in Italian. I didn’t speak Italian yet so he would come over and tell me what was going on in English. At the end of each day he would come over to me and tell me about what was going to be shot next and then ask me if I wanted to be in it. Everyday there was some wacky scene going on that he asked me to be a part of. It was really fantastic.

AL: Do you have a role that sticks out as a favorite?
CP: It would have to be “Elvira: Mistress of the Dark.” I loved writing and being in that movie. I don’t think there was a day on that set where I wasn’t happy. Even when I had walking pneumonia…I still loved being there. I was just thrilled with that movie. I also really enjoyed being in “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure”.  I think it’s every woman’s dream to beat up Pee Wee Herman (Laughs).  Working with Paul and Tim Burton was a really great experience.

AL: Can you tell us about “Elvira’s Movie Macabre”?
CP: We shot 26 episodes, which are airing now. A lot of people are having a tough time finding it due to all the different cable providers but if you go to Elvira.com, there is a list there with all the different cities and channels the show is airing on. It seems to be the best kept secret in Hollywood as the show started airing in September and people are still just finding out about it. I am really pleased with how the shows have turned out.

AL: Do you have any other upcoming projects?
CP: I have an all new website which is going to be launched within a few days. The site is getting a complete overhaul! I also have an Elvira iPhone app coming out…as well as the release of my television shows which will be available in a few months both on DVD and through the iTunes store.

Andrew Lincoln is the star of AMC hit show “The Walking Dead”. The show is just landing on DVD and Blu-Ray on March 7th, 2011 after a very successful but short six episode run on television last Fall. So while we wait for season two to air this October, we can look forward to re-watching the great episode in season one. Andrew plays the lead character, rick Grimes as he leads his group of survivors to hopeful safety and steering clear of those pesty zombies. Movie Mikes finally got a chance to chat with Andrew about his hit show and what we can expect from season two.

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Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your overall experience with season one, are you shocked with the success of the show?
Andrew Lincoln: The experience of filming it and playing Rick was one of the most enjoyable and excitable roles in my career to date. I loved it. I loved working in Atlanta. I loved working for Frank (Darabont) and with AMC. The crew and cast, as you know, are spectacular. I had dinner with Frank the other night and it was the first time we had one on one time since I first agreed to do the part. Even in our wildest dreams, we never thought it would be received this way. It has been unprecedented and incredible. You always hope people are going to watch the work you do but this level and size of response has been just incredible.

MG: What was the most difficult episode for you to shoot in season one?
AL: Everyday you go to work you have the normal logistical problems or enduring the escape from Atlanta by smearing on blood and guts all over you. That was an intense experience on any level. I suppose just because the nature of the world and the extreme of the world, I really enjoyed the relationship drama about the characters. The combustable things between character, I find that really satisfying and challenging for everyone and also we love it because we get to do big emotions in this extreme world.

MG: Tell us about working with Greg Nicotero on the make-up effects?
AL: Greg has become a really good friend of mine and I love him. The show would never be what it is without his artistry. His work is simply amazing.

MG: How has it been working with Frank Darabont, do you have any creative input with the show?
AL: The great thing about working with Frank is that he loves actors. It sounds like a silly thing to say but he loves and kind of is an actor as well, so he understands what it takes to do the job. A perfect example is we had a scene in episode one when I return to my house and find my family not there. It wasn’t scripted for my character to have a breakdown but I felt that it was actually quite important to see a man fall apart before he regains and is rejuvenated by Morgan and his son and other human contact. Frank saw it and thought I was going quite dark but he told me “You know what…give me all the colors”. We did the whole sequence and he said “I am going to jump cut that”. He is so technically brilliant, as you know, but it was also the fact that he saw something else and just went with it. It is such an incredibly collaborative process. Another example of that grace that he has, is that I just spent two and half hours talking with all the writers about my character and ideas I had and we were able to have a brainstorming session. It is such a privileged getting to work with him and the rest of the team.

MG: When do you begin production on season two?
AL: Sadly, we still do not have dates yet but I am sure we will be starting when it gets hot enough in Atlanta. We only go to work when it is over 100 degrees. We only go there when it is apocalyptic [laughs]. So really looking forward to then.

MG: After the cliffhanger in season one, what can we expect from the group?
AL: I think we are going to be sticking pretty close to the arc from the graphic novel, as we did in the first season. I imagine that just from my limited time talking with the writers that we are keep pushing the envelope of taste and humor and keep pushing the characters to their limits and seeing how they respond. Of course there will be loads more zombies…and then there is the small matter of my best friend sleeping with my wife. You know what I am talking about Mike? [laughs].

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AMC’s new original series, “The Walking Dead” is based on Robert Kirkman’s hugely successful and popular comic book series. Written and executive produced by three-time Academy Award-nominee Frank Darabont (“The Shawshank Redemption”, “The Green Mile”), who also directed the pilot. The show is an epic, edge-of-your-seat drama where personal struggles are magnified against a backdrop of moment-to-moment survival. It follows County Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) waking up in an empty hospital after weeks in a coma, finds himself utterly alone. The world as he knows it is gone, ravaged by a zombie epidemic. “The Walking Dead” tells the story of the weeks and months that follow after the apocalypse.

Movie Mikes have complied our biggest cast/crew interview series to date for “The Walking Dead”. Since the show aired on Oct.31st, 2010, it has become AMC highest rating series. Season two plans were put into full swing just after its premiere and is set for October 2011.

Click here if you would like to enter a chance to win a FREE copy of “The Walking Dead”: The Complete First Season on Blu-Ray!

THE WALKING DEAD INTERVIEWS:

Jeffrey DeMunn starred as Dale in AMC’s “The Walking Dead”. Jeffrey is known for working with Frank Darabont on every film that Frank has directed. MovieMikes had a chance to chat with Jeffrey about his role on the show and looking forward to the upcoming season two.

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Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your experience working on season one of “The Walking Dead?
Jeffrey DeMunn: Overall it was wonderful. It wasn’t really quite what I expected. I took the job without knowing what I was getting into really. Frank had called me up and said “Do you want to come to Atlanta and kill zombies?” I said “Sure”. But I really didn’t know what that would entail. I had no idea since I hadn’t read the script or the graphic novel at that point. But geez, it was really fun! Even though it was over 100 degrees, I couldn’t wait to get to work. I have been doing this for a while and that is not always the case. It was just so much fun [laughs]. I think it is important in that if you are having fun doing something it comes across.

MG: Your character is like the knowledgeable father figure in the show, have you enjoyed playing Dale?
JD: Yes very much. I like him a lot. My thinking on Dale is that having lost his partner, his wife, was really the end of his life. He was really done and it was just question of stumbling along till death. The meaning was out of it. What has happened due to the situation that developed is that he rediscovered life. It is a new shot at life for him. It is like he hasn’t got a dog in the fight. I do not want to say he has got nothing to lose but he has nothing on the line. He can be brave. It adds a sort of fearlessness having gone through his life and said that’s that I am done and everything else now is just gravy.

MG: What was the most difficult part of the shoot?
JD: Yeah, I would have to say the weather. I am born and raised in Buffalo, I love shoveling show [laughs] but the heat knocks me flat. So the weather was definitely significant. In the end, however I think it was actually an asset. It united us because everyone working on the show had a common challenge and people stepped up to that challenge. There were no complaining working on the show, nothing from anybody. If anyone needed help we got together and helped that person and so on, but ultimately it was a wonderful uniting.

MG: Are you surprised with the success of the show?
JD: Yeah, I was surprised.  At the time as we were shooting the fourth and fifth episode, people started talking about do you think we will get picked up. I said at the time that “I would bet the farm”. It felt the show had this sense of of immunity, success, momentum and strength to it. I felt that something was really going on here. Initially at first, I had no idea but once we got that significant response that was a surprise to me.

MG: You have worked with Frank Darabont on every film he has directed, how did this relationship begin?
JD: Boy, I believe it started when I worked on the remake of “The Blob”. Frank had a part in creating that movie but I actually didn’t meet him then. He then called me to come out to Mansfield, Ohio to work on “The Shawshank Redemption”, that is when we first meet. I just trusted him. I saw him under pressure and I saw his strength, honestly and goodwill. From there we haven’t seen a reason to stop since [laughs].

MG: Did you enjoy reuniting with him on this show?
JD: Oh absolutely, it was wonderful. What is great is that he is always opens to idea that anyone has to say. He is a listener and knows a good idea when it comes along. It is not like it has to be his idea or none. “Oh that is a good idea”, that is the kind of thought that comes easily to him. He will be able to then turn it into something really good [laughs].

MG: Are you looking forward to returning for season two this summer?
JD: Oh yeah, I am very much. I have seen some of the folks from the cast either at the house here or I was just down in San Diego. They are not spreading around any scripts or ideas to me just yet though. But I just can’t wait to get back together with them again. It is so much fun.

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Melissa Suzanne McBride is one of the stars in AMC hit sensation “The Walking Dead” in the role of Carol Peletier.  While Melissa is gearing up for season two, Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with her about working on the show and what’s to come in season two.

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Mike Gencarelli: What has been the best part for you playing Carol Peletier on “The Walking Dead”?
Melissa Suzanne McBride: Immediately what comes to mind as having been the best part is that each day has always felt extraordinary. The wonderful people I get to work with, that all-around buzz that comes as the day’s momentum gains and sustains, everyone’s doing their thing to help create something very special… experiencing that, being a part of that energy, has been the best part. To speak specifically about playing this character, the best part is that Carol truly intrigues me. Considering the harshness and isolation she has endured already – in some sense an inner, personal apocalypse of her own – and how those years of abuse affected her state of mind, her spirit, her own reflection, how she feels perceived, her sense of worth, her sense of the world’s worth and, most importantly, her concern for Sophia and the blame she owns for Sophia’s unhappy childhood…. There’s so much about her to explore, discover and tap into as this group moves along. This new world of theirs is hardly an ideal healing ground.

MG: How has it been working with such a great cast?
MSM: I really can’t say enough about the strength of trust throughout this entire project, and among the cast it’s pretty amazing. A great cast, indeed. Everyone’s totally committed to bringing every ounce of a true life (or death) to their character regardless of where the cameras are focused for each take – just very giving and supportive of one another, all of them. They are seriously some of the kindest people to work and hang out with every day. It was also striking to me that everyone in the cast has a uniquely brilliant sense of humor!  For lots of people, myself included, humor seems to have a will of its own during the darkest times which, pitted against the circumstances, might feel horribly inappropriate. But, its about coping and staying afloat, really. That might have had something to do with what we we experiencing – coping, compensating somehow for the utter misery our characters were facing – I don’t know, but humor was definitely in overdrive at times, and thankfully. I’ve never laughed so hard.  Everyone I’ve worked with in this cast has been such a valuable inspiration to me in their own wonderful way and I consider myself very lucky to know them at all, blessed to consider them family, which is really how it feels. Those that left the show in season one still keep in touch… it’s just a fantastic bond, The Walking Dead.

MG: How was it working with Frank Darabont for the second time now, first being “The Mist”?
MSM: A once in a lifetime opportunity… twice in one life!  Working with Frank is exhilarating, magical, wonderful. He’s become a bit like the Wizard of Oz to me in that he’s granted me some of the most extraordinary acting opportunities to ever come my way – each having a very significant impact both professionally and personally – and yet I’ve rarely seen or spoken to him.  I missed getting to work directly with him this season as he’d directed only the first episode and was immersed in writing and other aspects of the show by the time my work began.  On “The Mist”  I had one scene to shoot, and for much of that scene Frank was this happy, excited, disembodied voice calling out from “video village” (video village is where he had his monitor set-up, out of sight in a corner of the supermarket).  He wasn’t out of sight the entire time, however: witnessing Frank-in-action while on the set of “The Mist” was pretty amazing. Someone said of Frank that “he’s like a kid in a candy store”, and this was my thought exactly. He was having a blast! His passion and excitement isn’t just the kind you see every day from someone who loves what they do… no, his is the kind that could launch a rocket!  He’s rare, and very much a visionary. It was an honor to work with Frank the first time, and an overwhelming honor that he would have remembered me for this role three years later.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he’ll have an opportunity to direct in the coming season. If not, though, maybe I can sit with him at lunch one day and just listen to his head crackle… I don’t know, I just have this feeling that his brain is on fire at all times.

MG: Are you looking forward to season two of the show?
MSM: Yes, I’m so anxious to start back! I’m as enthralled as any viewer to see how the lives of these characters will play out in this zombie apocalypse!  The recognition The Walking Dead has achieved in this first short season has been phenomenal – viewership through the roof and fans squirming for more, a Golden Globe nomination, Writer’s Guild nomination, Director’s Guild nomination for Frank Darabont, more nominations just announced for special effects –  I’m ecstatic to see what this masterful team of people are going to create having the full thirteen episodes in the coming season. The door is wide-open now and the playground just got much bigger!

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Sarah Allen is currently appearing in SyFy’s “Being Human” as the vampire Rebecca. Her character was a worker on the hospital with Josh and Aidan, until she is supposedly killed by Aidan. Aidan believe that she her body is taken care of but she was turned into a vampire by Bishop and now Aidan has to deal with her. Sarah took out a little time to chat with Movie Mikes to discuss her role in the show and how it is working her cast.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with the show “Being Human”?
Sarah Allen: I was in Toronto working on a short film that I had written with a couple of friends. My agent in Montreal called and said they were casting for this show “Being Human” and the role of Rebecca. They thought I had a good chance of getting it if I could get down to Montreal the next morning. At first I wasn’t going to go but my agent told me that I had to come. I looked at the script and thought it looked really good and I had to go. I showed up and read for the writers and producers. I found out the next day I got the part. I think I was one of the last casting that they did of the regulars on the show.

MG: MG: Do you enjoy playing your character Rebecca Flynt?
SA: Oh I love playing her. It is awesome. I love playing a character that doesn’t have to make the right choice all the time. She is trying to make good choices and trying to do the right thing but she is just a mess. She is really off balance and her perspective on the whole is completely changed. She also has no one to take care of her at all. She kind of fumbles through everything in life and I just really love playing her.

MG: Tell us about working with Sam Witwer and the rest of the cast?
SA: Most of my scenes were with Sam. It was awesome. He is a really generous and kind actor. He is just such a great guy too. When I arrived on the show, I think they were already shooting for three weeks. When I met Sam, Sammy and Meaghan, it was already clear that they were super tight. I was worried that when I showed up that they would already have their group thing going on but they were all the nicest people ever. It was such a great experience, not just where the other actors awesome but the directors, the producers, the writers and entire crew were all great. There was just such a good vibe on the set. Everyone was really happy to be working on the show and it was just wonderful. I think that it shows in the quality of the show we came up with.

MG: What was the hardest part about working on the show?
SA: Honestly it was just such a joy all of the time but if I had to say something that was hard it was when it came December. We were shooting in some really cold weather. We were out in the middle of a minus 20 snow storm and shooting outside. We are supposed to be vampires wearing our little skimpy shirts and leather jackets but our toes were frozen white and our jaws were almost frozen shuts [laughs]. It was some of the more climax scenes that were shot then.  So I would have to say that was the hardest part for me.

MG: What can we expect from your character and the rest of the season?
SA: She keeps on fumbling through her existence as a vampire. She keeps trying to get involved with Aidan’s life and just keeps messing up. That is really all that I can give away [laughs]. I think that will keep you interested. I feel the show just keeps getting better and better as the series goes on.

MG: What else do you have planned next?
SA: Honestly right now, I have decided to take the winter off and I am spending it in Mexico. So the future is all up in the air.

Sam Witwer is the star of SyFy’s new hit show “Being Human”.  In the show he is playing the character of Aiden, a vampire, who’s apartment roommates are a werewolf and a ghost.  The show is a US remake of the UK series but it already has taken a life of its own.  Sam is also know for his roles in “Smallville”, “Battlestar Galactica” and even voiced a character from this season in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”.  Movie Mikes had the chance to chat with Sam about his new show and what it is like playing his character.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with the show “Being Human”?
Sam Witwer: Well, my agent made me aware of the audition. I cracked the script and read the first two pages and saw I would be playing a vampire and closed the script. Nothing against them but I thought who needs another vampire show. Then a friend of a mine Laura Terry, who one of the most knowledgeable people I know in terms of what is happening in the business, she got a hold of me and asked me “Are you passing on the “Being Human” audition?” I said “Yeah I think so” and she asked me if I was crazy and filled me in on what this show represented, the UK version and who the producers for the US version were. She told me just to read the script…so I did. I felt extremely foolish and weak minded because I fell in love with it immediately. Then I read episode two script and I loved that as well. I really got into it and recognized this was an irresistible character to play and a wonderful opportunity. Then I watched the first episode of the British series and loved it, but then I turned it off. I said if I am going to do this I need to ignore the British series until later. I auditioned and had some meetings with the producers and the director. We all spoke about what we show becoming and we all seemed to agree with that. Then they hired me!

MG: What is the biggest challenge for you playing your character Aiden?
SW: With any role, your job is to display to the audience as much detail as you can in the given circumstance. Whatever the story is about you want to show them as much humanity as you can. Aiden is always dealing with some really dark stuff. But at the same time the show can get really lighthearted and fun. That is one of the things I love about it. I think the biggest challenge for me is to figure out how to do the humor while not undercutting the drama. I have to say that it helped that the scripts have already taken care of a lot of that for me. I am constantly impressed with how the writers are able to put in humor that fits well in some of these ridiculously dark circumstances. For example when I was hired for “Battlestar Galactica”, I played this character who’s call sign was Crashdown and I was hired essentially to be the comic relief of the show. The audition scene I did was pretty funny. But that was at a time that they didn’t realize that “Battlestar Galactica” was never meant to be funny at all. There was an episode they did when they experimented with some humor but a lot of it got cut. With “Being Human”, we are definitely a serious drama show but there is a lot of humor to be found in it. [Laughing] I guess when you have a vampire, werewolf and a ghost all living in an apartment together, who has regular roommate problems on top of these supernatural problems…there is some humor to be found. I love that aspect of the show.

MG: How is it working with Sam Huntington and Meagan Rath?
SW: Lovely! I really love those guys. When we sat down the first time, it was very apparent that this was meant to me. Meagan and Sammy were natural choices for those roles. We have these ridiculously long hours and they would be torturous if we didn’t love each other so much. The same can be said for Mark Pellegrino, who I have become close with as well. Sarah Allen as well, she is a wonderful actress and we have bonded over the whole shoot. In fact all of us just went to Hawaii together if that can tell you anything. We actually [laughs] by choice spend a vacation together.

MG: In the show your character has been feeling a lot of pressure from the other vampires, how does Aidan hold up in the upcoming episodes?
SW: The metaphor that we have been dealing with Aiden, and not making it a secret, is drug addiction and a little bit of sex addiction. This guy has been in a drug haze all his life and he doesn’t have the tools to deal with life, the same tools that you and I have developed over our lives. Because of that Aiden is going to take some hits. He is extremely emotionally vulnerable as a person. As I said he doesn’t have the tools to process the things around him, so somethings hit him really hard emotionally. We will be seeing more of that as he gets emotionally torpedoed. Of course when you are hurting like that where do you turn but to the copping mechanism that you always turn to, which is the drug. As Aiden gets beat up more and more, we are going to see him want to go back to the lifestyle that he is trying to leave behind. The way that I look at Bishop and the other vampires are that they are his drug buddies that deep down he still has a friendship for but can’t hang out with them…because it would be bad.

MG: Who would you says is more villainous Bishop or Marcus?
SW: It really depends. We are going to find out somethings about Bishop that make him pretty damn dangerous. Bishop is also very reasonable about what he expects, what he wants and his vision for how things should be. He has a really reasonable point of view. We have hinted but haven’t gotten into his whole deal yet…but we will. Now Marcus…he isn’t exactly equipped to be second in command. He would like to be but he is not confident and has got a lot to prove. For that reason, he is extraordinarily dangerous though because he does have some abilities.

MG: What has been your favorite episode to work on for season one?
SW: That is a really tough question because past a certain point I just really love all of them. The thing I can say for the entire season, I have done shows where things were it was really challenging or I have done shows where the material was difficult. That is not always a guarantee that you would be looking forward to performing it. This season of “Being Human” we did…countless scenes that I looked at in the script, I said “Wow, I can’t wait to perform that” or I said “That is going to be tough but wow, it is going to be fun”. It has just been wonderfully rewarding like that. I had no idea it was going to be like that. It has been so engaging and compelling and stupid fun to hang out with those people. As I say me, Sammy, Meagan and Mark are kind of all inseparable and just being able to hang out with those people every day was a great treat. It is not always like that on every set. We have been very lucky with our cast here. Not only are they are very talented and professional but really fun.

MG: Tell us about your recent voice work for the TV series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”?
SW: We did three episodes, “The Mortis Trilogy” as they called it. It was crazy man! I have done some work for Lucasfilm before with “The Force Unleashed 1 & 2” video game.  In that I played Darth Vadar secret apprentice, Starkiller and he is this guy struggling with his dark side.  He has been raised and trained by Vadar but at the center of this guy is a really conscientious cool good person trying to do the right thing. He has to fight through all that to become the hero, he is destine to be. So then I get a call to do “The Clone Wars” and I was like “YES!”. They told me it was a really cool role. I thought it was going to be like six lines, like a bounty hunter or something.  But I was just really flattered that they wanted to work with me, so I was thrilled. Then I heard it is three episodes and I was excited because maybe this was a character that means something and around for a little bit. Fast forward to the day before I go in, I get the top secret script sent to me. I read the first script, which I wasn’t in much but I am in it enough to know the character I am playing. I read it and it turns out I am…the dark side of the force. They want me to play the dark side of the force…this iconic element of “Star Wars” introduced back in 1977 by Alec Guinness when he said [speaking as Alec Guinness] “Vadar was influenced by the dark side of the force.” That is what I am playing. At that point, I start sweating cause I had one day to figure out how the dark side of the force should sound like. If I get it wrong, I would have really cheapened a very important part of “Star Wars”. Then I find out that all of this stuff with the “Mortis” is directly from George (Lucas) and this character was described by George. I am freaking out at this point. I am huge “Star Wars” fan and you don’t want to get these things wrong. So, I go in for the first day and I only have a few lines for the episode and I perform a little, still not 100% sure what he should sound like. So I asked Dave Feloni, “Are you concerned that this character might sound too much like Starkiller from “Force Unleashed?” He goes “Well, you know Sam, it is fine if it does. He is the dark side of the force and your character in “Force Unleashed” being connected to the dark side of the force, so it is possible to be hearing some of his voice in there.” Once Dave Feloni said that it was the key for me. I thought if that is the case, shouldn’t we hear Darth Maul…Vadar…and the Emperor as well. For the rest of my work with them, I started putting in little line reads where the voice didn’t change much but the voice pattern and the inflections changed to match certain dark side characters. For example if the line was “Join me and together we can destroy this Emperor in your visions”. If you put emphasis like Vadar would in “Empire Strikes Back”, it makes a big difference.  The dialogue was so evocative of those movies that it was easy to do it at times. Dave Feloni noticed what I was doing and told me to do it even more. So that is what we ended up doing. Now that I have seen the episodes, I am confident we did the right thing. I love the show so much and I was really lucky to get the chance to do it.

Sam Huntington is the star of Syfy’s new hit show “Being Human”.  Based on the British series of the same title, Sam stars as Josh who happens to be a werewolf living with a vampire (Sam Witwer) and a ghost (Meaghan Rath).  Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Sam about working on the show and playing a werewolf.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us how you got involved with playing Josh in “Being Human”?
Sam Huntington: It was a really traditional audition process. I got to read the first two scripts and I fell in love with the character and the project from there.  I went in almost a dozen times for this show.  It was an extensive audition process.  After that, I was mixed and matched with Sam (Witwer) and Meaghan (Rath) and we all fell instantly in love.

MG: Since the BBC series already had a built in audience, did you feel nervous to live up to the original?
SH: No [laughs]. Not at all actually. I was unaware of the original show when I first auditioned. So going into it I had zero pressure. Beyond that, people have asked this to me a bunch and my answer is I think if I worry about that then I am worrying about the wrong thing. I think I am always worried I am not going to live up to my own expectations. I am honestly trying to make the show the best possible. I can’t worry about that kind of stuff.

MG:Tell us about the process that you go through for the werewolf transformation?
SH: It is pretty crazy. The makeup process is all in about eight hours depending on what we are putting on, on any given day. It is badass and looks really cool, even though it is long hours in the chair often times really early mornings or really late at night. It is definitely hardcore. We have really amazing designers and artists workingon it. Basically, we have three or four different stages of the makeup, in varying degrees of severity. CG takes you through the in between stages and subsequently from the most hardcore stage we get in makeup to the full wolf. The final wolf will be CG and I am still waiting to see that myself. It will be in the episode airing on March 7th. I am really pupped up to see it.

MG:How do you feel that you have the most physical role of any the main cast?
SH: It is fun but also extraordinarily hard. I worked my ass off this year on this show but at the end of the day it is worth it. I love the show and I love the end product. I really do believe in the show. It is one thing if you are working you ass off and are kind of miserable with the product [laughs]. It makes it a lot easier when you know what you are doing is great.

MG:How has it been to work with Sam Witwer and Meaghan Rath?
SH: Amazing. We are literally so close…like siblings now. It is truly bizarre how fast we got as tight as we are. We just got back from a week long vacation in Hawaii together, because we love each other so much [laughs]. So it is a big love fest [laughs] and it kind made it even more so because we have such tremendous mutual respect for each other. We really trust each other as performers and almost know what to expect from each other. For me, looking at them, I know they are going to make great choices and do great work.

MG:What has been your favorite episode to work on this season?
SH: Episode seven for me so far, I haven’t seen eleven through thirteen in finished state yet. Actually though I also haven’t seen eight through ten even close to finished either, so it would be a really hard choice. I do believe though that they are getting better and better each episode.

MG:Can you give us a sneak of what is the come in the rest of season one?
SH: I will say, if you are a fan of the original show…don’t think that we are going to follow their exact plot line. We are going in different directions and will keep doing so. It becomes it own beast. That is why I like episode seven so much because that is where it goes on it own and comes alive and continues that trend.

MG:Do you have anything else planned after shooting season one?
SH: Well I have been finishing up a writing project that I have been working on for a long time. I will probably write another script hopefully before we go off to shoot season two. Which I am hoping we will find out about pretty soon as well. I have been looking for the right thing to fill this little void as far as acting in between the show. There is not much because anything that is casting now will probably conflict with “Being Human” if it gets picked up for a second season. Right now though, I am just enjoying my family, I have a year and a half old son. I just spending as much time as I can with them, since I may not see them as much as I like if/when the show gets picked up again.

“Perfect Couples” is a romantic comedy that follows three flawed pairs trying to get it right. In the show we follow, Dave (Kyle Bornheimer) and Julia (Christine Woods) are the “everyday couple”. Vance (David Walton) and Amy (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) are the high-passion, high-drama couple who bring out the best and worst in each other. Lastly Rex (Hayes MacArthur) and Leigh (Olivia Munn) who are the “perfect couple” in the show.

“Perfect Couples” is created by Jon Pollack (“30 Rock”) and Scott Silveri (“Friends”), who also serve as executive producers with Andy Ackerman (“Seinfeld”), who also directed the pilot and the finale.

This show premiered as a mid-season replacement for NBC and it is by far the best new comedy on television.  Movie Mikes has had chance to chat with each of the cast from this show in our most exclusive interview series to date.  If you haven’t checked out this show yet, please give it a chance…with every episode this show gets better and better and since every viewer counts.

Hope you enjoy the interviews as much as I did doing them.

PERFECT COUPLES CAST INTERVIEWS:

Burt Young has appeared in over 100 film and television roles since the 1970’s. He is most often known as the gruff brother in-law Paulie Pennino in “Rocky” series.  Movie Mikes had the pleasure of speaking with Burt recently to talk about his career in the film business and a few of his upcoming projects.

Adam Lawton: How did you get into acting?
Burt Young: I was chasing a girl! I was about 28 at the time and this very attractive girl wanted to go to Lee Strasberg’s acting school but she couldn’t get in. At the time I had no idea who Lee was and actually thought he was a girl. I knew I could get into anywhere I wanted with perseverance so I wrote Lee a letter. I guess it sparked his interest as he invited me over and from there I became very involved.

AL: How did your role in the Rocky films come about?
BY: My name was already out there as I was fairly established in the business prior to the first Rocky film. I had worked with the producers of the Rocky film previously and they asked me if I would be interested in the part.

AL: What were your initial thoughts of the original script?
BY: I knew it was a home run and so did the producers. The studio seemed a little leery but the producers really never had any doubt that the film was going to be a hit.

AL: What did you think when it was announced that there was going to be a sequel?
BY: That was very surprising. I didn’t really know sequels at that period of time nor did I wish to do the second film. I told Sylvester that I wasn’t up for it as I was going to be working on a film that I had written. I did tell him that if there was a problem to give me a call. Sylvester ended up calling which led to me being in the second film as well as the others.

AL: What were your feelings towards the latest film “Rocky Balboa”?
BY: I thought it was wonderful. Being set 17 years after the last film which I didn’t think was too good Sylvester took all the flavor of the first film and gave it chronological history resulting in what you saw. I enjoyed myself doing that picture.

AL: What was it like working with Ernest Borgnine and Kris Kristofferson in “Convoy”?
BY: That was fun! Ernest Borgnine was already a friend of mine prior to the film. He’s a very sweet man. I met Kris for the first time when we started shooting. I got to know him more throughout the filming and I thought of him as a shy genius. I enjoyed getting to know him. I really like working with director Sam Peckinpah who I had worked with previously. It ended up being a wild time.

AL: Is there anything that sticks out for you from behind the scenes?
BY: There was a little bit of tension on set as Steve McQueen kept jumping around as he and Ali McGraw were not getting along at the time so that was fun. There were 96 trucks in that film so we were bound to have some fun.

AL: How was your experience working on “The Sopranos”?
BY: In my opinion that series was like American Shakespeare. So I was very pleased to be a part of it. The episode I was in actually gave them their first Emmy. Everyone was very swell and gentle to work with. It was really great. The first day I was there James Gandolfini came up to me and said “To work with a master is very much a favor.” I had known some of the cast and crew from previous work but the whole experience was wonderful.

AL: If you had to pick one of your roles as a favorite which one would it be?
BY: That’s a hard question as I have been in over 125 movies. For different reasons there are different movies that I like. Location is always a factor as well as the individuals involved. The creativity of the script is important along with the depth of the character and how far I am allowed to take that character. I really liked some of the work that I have written. I of course love the first “Rocky” film. I also enjoyed some of the episodes from way back of “Baretta” that won Emmys and helped get that show renewed.

AL: Can you tell us about some of your upcoming projects?
BY: I just finished a movie called “Win Win” with Paul Giamatti that will be out soon. I think that movie is going to be really good. Paul was a pleasure to work with. I have a two character play I wrote called “Artists Found in Port Washington Flat” that should go to Broadway with a little finger crossing.

Joan Benedict Steiger started performing at the age 7 and since that time she has appeared in over 40 theater productions and dozens of television and movie roles. Joan’s latest film which will be released this year is titled “Dead Border.” Movie Mikes had a chance to speak with Joan about her new film and her career in show business.

Adam Lawton: What prompted you to become involved with show business at such a young age?
Joan Benedict Steiger: That’s all I ever wanted to do since I was 7 years old. I started out dancing and singing around that age which soon led into acting a short time later. It’s really hard to explain as I had of course seen movies and such before but I think even before that I knew I wanted to act. I guess it’s what I was born to do. Even though I was a shy girl I loved to show off (Laughs).

AL: You took a short break from screen roles in the early 90’s. What prompted that decision?
JBS: My first husband was diagnosed with cancer so a lot of my time was being spent in hospitals during those days. I still continued working as much as I could whenever possible. To this day I have appeared in over 40 plays. I am set to receive an award in the coming weeks from the Women’s Theater Festival for my work in the theater.

AL: Is there a stage role that sticks out for you as a favorite?
JBS: Absolutely! “Leona” which was a play I did in 1993 about Leona Helmsley. It was a one woman show that I put on at the Matrix Theater in Hollywood. I was almost able to take that play to Broadway however the writer and director were married and they seemed like they were always in conflict with each other. The play was very rewarding though.

AL: Can you tell us about your experience working on “The Prize Fighter”
JBS: That was a really wonderful experience. My first husband actually wrote that film with Tim Conway. I played a sort of Miss Kitty type roll. Tim Conway and Don Knott’s were extremely fun to work with and both are great friends. Before Don passed away he and I used to always celebrate our birthdays together as we were both born on July 21st.

AL: Can you tell us about “The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington”?
JBS: That was quite an experience. I played Joey Heatherton’s boss which was a fabulous role. There happened to be a lot of drugs around in those days and thankfully I was never a part of that however I think Joey may have been caught up in those things making shooting a little difficult. George Hamilton was also really great to work with. He was so good. I remember he kept telling me he wanted to do comedy. At the time no one thought he could but, later on in his career he proved them wrong. George is such a nice person.

AL: Were you ever reluctant to be a part of that film because of its title?
JBS: No. The title may have evoked ideas about the film but it was actually the total opposite. There were no people undressing or anything like that. When you think about it compared to today’s standards that film is like a church movie (Laughs).

AL: Can you tell us about your latest feature “Dead Border”
JBS: I play Dr. Charlotte Barnes who is a Government doctor that works in a forensics lab. Without giving too much away I will tell you that certain things start to happen along the Texas border and plenty of murder and mayhem ensues. I have also been attached to the sequel which should start filming soon.

AL: Was this a role you had auditioned for?
JBS: Barb Doyon who is a producer/director on the film was a fan of my previous work and contacted me to see if I would be interested in the role. I didn’t have to audition at all. I was very intrigued by the part of the story that I am leaving out. I want everyone to be surprised when they watch it.

AL: Do you have other upcoming projects we can be looking for?
JBS: Besides “Dead Border” and its sequel, I get a lot of calls to come in for auditions. Unless it’s a part that really strike’s me I don’t generally take everyone. I am fortunate enough to not have to do that. There are a lot of new TV shows coming out that I would love to be a part of.

Brett Rickaby stars as Graham Sutter in Stevan Mena’s newest film “Bereavement”.  This is Brett first leading role and also his most intense and dark.  Brett is also know for his role in the recent remake of  “The Crazies”.  Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Brett about his new film and working with such an intense character with “Bereavement”

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about how you prepared for such an intense role of Graham Sutter in “Bereavement”?
Brett Rickaby: Everything just sort of aligned.  I was at this point in my career where I was trying to expand my abilities as an actor.  I was really practicing emotional availability and it was a big thing I was working on in front of the camera.  Sometimes acting is like landing a jet on the head of a pin, you got the camera going and you got to deliver on the spot.  What is really important for an actor is to have quick access to their emotions and to a full range of emotions.  I had been practicing that and I felt like I could take on anything.  Next thing I know I get a call for this role and I thought it was perfect.  When I read the script, I never read anything that was as emotionally voliatle as this role was.  A lot of people buy into the fact that an actor has to go crazy to play crazy.  To some degree it is true…while you are on, you need to be in it and living it, but you don’t have to stay there for good.  That is something I have been practicing with the attachment and really getting into it.  I have seen the movie three times now and there are points where I say to myself “I wonder want I was thinking there?” There is some crazy stuff going on with my face and I have no idea what I was thinking at that time.  It is fun on that level to go back and look at it watching it again. It was really my first lead in a film.  I felt like it was written for me as from the moment I finished it.

MG: Where you familiar with “Malevolence” prior to shooting?
BR: No, I had no idea.  The suggestion to watch the first film kind of came hand in hand with my first call.  They came me the script and then said “here this is what we are going from” with the first movie.  Stevan had hopes to really outdo his first film.  He had a bigger budget and more to work with and was trying to improve on the work he did with the first one.

MG: What was the hardest scene you had to shoot for the film?
BR: There are two that comes to mind.  My death scene was really hard.  It took a long time to shoot the scene.  It was so brutal to do that and after shooting it for a while we all had to kind of take a break.  We all were kind of shakey and was like “Wow this is awful”.  The whole crew was messed up from that scene, but it works for the film.  The other scene is, in what I feel is the climax, when I am in the bedroom with the little girl.  Although I love the way it actually turned out and looks.  Due to labor laws, we didn’t start shooting till 1am that day and the little girl had to leave by 2am, so we only had an hour to shoot that climatic scene.  It was my first role and since it was the climatic scene of the movie and I was all upset. Firstly I had to be in crazy mode and then personally I am actually upset and I am wailing.  Everyone thought I was actually going crazy [laughs].  Stevan edited that scene really well. Since non of us were really happy with what we got when we shot that scene originally.  But it turned out really well.

MG: How was it working with Stevan Mena?
BR: Stevan has very particular and strong ideas for the film.  If I felt that there was something I had to fight for I would push for it.  So there times when we would rub up against each other.  He and I both believe it is about the work and we realized we are working towards the same goal.  When you have two strong creative people come together that is going to happy.  We understood that and both have tremendous respect for each other. Both of us put in a lot of loving making this movie.  It is almost like a survival thing between us.

MG: You are no stranger to intense roles, tell us about working on “The Crazies”?
BR: “Bereavement” is the hardest role I have ever done…in terms of preparation.  I have learned so much about myself and there was some really big challenges. “The Crazies” was the easiest role I have ever done.  One of the things that happened was I got Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which is shingles of the ear, the year before “The Crazies” was shot.  Breck Eisner was talking about the different various stages of the virus. It starts from low energy and then he said the next is when your worst thoughts became your prominent thoughts. When I had Ramsay Hunt syndrome, I went to bed at night and I was haunted from my negative and bad thoughts. It was an interesting experience but perfect for “The Crazies”.  I was already through that.  So when the house burns down I am sitting on the back of the truck whistling.  The camera come around in close and I just had to think bad thoughts. How easy was that?  The only thing was difficult was the physical part of throwing my arms through the jail cell.  Arms are not made to go through those and I had bruises up and down my arm.

MG: Do you have any plans for anything upcoming?
BR: I am working on a couple of short films.  I have a lot of people asking me to do different projects.  So I take a look for the following things, 1: Is there something I can do for this? and 2: Is it something I haven’t visited yet?.  If I could bring something unique it catches my interest. I am definitely interested.

Azita Ghanizada is starring in SyFy’s newest TV series “Alphas”.  Azita also has a role in the upcoming show “Friends with Benefits”.  Movie Mikes had the chance to chat with Azita about her work in TV and well as what else she is currently working on.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with the latest Syfy series “Alphas”?
Azita Ghanizada: I had auditioned for the role after getting a call literally the night before the audition. I think casting was resisting a little because the character was written to be very shy and conservative. I am kind of the opposite. When I went in I just did it with sensitivity and kindness to the character. The next day I got call telling me I got the part. I hadn’t even seen a full script yet. I got on the plane and read the full script about 10 times as the next day I was scheduled to do a table reading. I actually ended up sitting across from Jeff Reed who smiled at me during one point. After that I knew I would be ok.

MG: Tell us about your character on the show?
AG: I play the character of Rachel who is a conservative girl that still lives with her family and is very attached to her family life. Rachel is just an ordinary girl living in New York City and has the ability to hyper intensify all of her senses. She in turn uses her special abilities to help solve the crimes of secret government agencies.

MG: How far are you into the production on the show?
AG: We actually just finished shooting the 90 minute pilot and we go into production on the series around the beginning of April. The show should be premiering over the summer.

MG: You also guest star on the upcoming “Friends with Benefits”, tell us about working on that show?
AG: I had originally auditioned to be one of the regulars on that and through the process I got to meet David Dodkin. I really liked the idea of the show and when I came back from shooting “Alphas” they had asked me to come in and audition for one of the guest leads. I got to work with Ryan Hansen as well as Fred Savage who directed the episode. The whole cast is terrific.

MG: Can you tell us what it was like working one of my favorite show “Castle”?
AG: That has been one of my favorite experiences ever! They have to baby powder me into my outfit (Laughs).  I mean what’s better than that? The costumes and sets are really great and I got to work with Nathan Fillion, who I am a huge fan of. Nathan is such a nice and kind person. I am a huge fan of that show. It was great to dominate Jon Huertas!

MG: You also have a movie coming out called “Blood Shot” which features one hell of a genre cast.  Can you tell us about working with such great talent?
AG: We actually shot that film a few years ago and they have been doing a ton of work in post production. I did some additional work for it last summer and I really hope that it comes out soon. Think of a really wacky and extreme B-horror movie! I play an Arabian virgin that has to sacrifice her life in order to save the world from terrorists. Everyone was really fun to work with on that.

MG: Besides acting tell us about your involved with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and UN Refugee Agency?
AG: I am from Afghanistan, so for me to be able to create awareness about the injustices towards women that go on over there each day has been really great. I really want to shed some light on how everyone can make an impact on the refugees affected by four decades of war. Over the last year, I was asked to help create publicity for the UNHCR and I really wanted to give back so I was more than willing to be part of these organizations. I also have been a part of the Women for Women Organization which campaigns against the legal raping of women in Afghanistan. I want to be able to give voice to the women there dealing with this. We are planning a Women for Women March on March 8th of this year in New York and San Francisco and there will be over 100 brave women marching in Afghanistan despite the threats they have received.

Hayes MacArthur stars in NBC’s new comedy “Perfect Couples” as Rex.  His character is married to the amazing Olivia Munn and they really do play the “perfect couple”.  Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Hayes about how much he loves working on this show and with his cast.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with “Perfect Couples”?
Hayes MacArthur: I met with Scott Silveri and Jon Pollack last year. They developed the show later on in NBC’s schedule…so it came out in March, which is a crazy time. Everyone is running around and reading scripts. Immediately when I read it, I saw these six characters being so fleshed out with such unique comedic points of view, that I got excited. I went in and met with them and they explained that they didn’t want to make the typical arc type of characters that you normally see. They wanted my character as a guy who is super psyched to be in a relationship and be married. When it came to Rex, I have never seen that type of character before. Former party guys or jocks are always put out by there relationship, but that was the complete opposite for this guy Rex. I jumped at that opportunity to work with these guys.

MG: Your character Rex has some of the best lines in the show, do you enjoy playing him?
HM: One thing about playing Rex is that he has all of this competitive energy and he puts it in to make his relationship the best it can be. Rex also says these certain things that may seem totally absurd but very grounded from his point of view. It is great to watch the rest of the cast just crack up. That is what makes work so fun, just trying to make people laugh…that is really what it is all about.

MG: You and Olivia Munn have great chemistry together and are really funny, tell us about working with her?
HM: Olivia is just so much fun to work with. She always has these new gadgets to work..whether it is the newest phone or the latest camera. She is always taking pictures and doing these digital things. I like to say it is like working with a really hot and talented Radio Shack employee [laughs]. She always has the best stuff. She just brings so much energy and when she is playing Leigh we have just such a great time.

MG: What is your favorite episode that you have worked on?
HM: I think anytime we get together with a six person scene with everyone, those are always stand out scenes. They always end up encompassing the entire episode. Some of the later episodes as we work towards Vance and Amy’s wedding are a lot of fun. The guys go on a camping trip as a Bachelor Party. To get those characters together in that setting for this show is so great. You might think “a bunch a guys at a bachelor party…I’ve seen that before”, but again the writing takes it in such a great direction that you do not see it coming.

MG: One of my favorites was the “Man-Cave” episode.
HM: That is what I talking about. People might have heard of that concept but the way the guys wrote that episode was a man-cave designed by a dude’s wife who wanted him have it. Usually it is a guy who designs it to get away from everything. The show plays a lot with gender roles and that is so fun. Sometimes you are in a relationship and the guy acts more like the girl and the girl acts more like the guy. That is really a run dynamic to play with.

MG: This is the third project you have worked with Kyle Bornheimer, “Worst Week” and the film “She’s Out of My League”, how did you guys meet?
HM: We met in Pittsburgh during “She Out Of My League”. We had a lot a mutual friends but never met. When we got down to Pittsburgh and we had such a great time. We called ourselves an inadvertently comedy team. We keep working together but its never intentional. The stars just align like that. After “She’s Out of My League”, we came back to LA and played his brother-in-law in “Worst Week”…which was really fun. When he came aboard this project last Summer it just took it to a great level.

MG: What can you tell us about what’s to come in the rest of the season?
HM: Well I think as we see Vance and Amy build up till there wedding, we see how it sucks all the other characters into it. It is a nice thing to track through the series. There is a lot of fun things a long the way, like Amy loses her job and Leigh tries and help her find another job. That is coming up I believe March 17th, called “Perfect Job”.