Interview with Dave Foley

Dave Foley is known best for his TV work in “The Kids in the Hall” and “NewsRadio”. He is currently co-starring with Kevin Dillon and David Hornsby in CBS’s new comedy “How to Be a Gentleman”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Dave about his new show, his work with “The Kids in the Hall” and what he has planned upcoming.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your role of Jerry in “How to Be a Gentleman”?
Dave Foley: The show is created by David Hornsby.  He was the writer, producer and performer in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”. He writes a column for men in a Maxim style magazine and I play Jerry his editor.  Jerry is a man around 50, who is scared of losing his job and trying to stay relevant to his 25 year old boss.

MG: You are no stranger to comedy, how do you feel this show differs from your other comedy work?
DF: It’s actually has more similarities to shows like “NewsRadio” or “Kids in the Hall”.  It is a really strong ensemble of great performers.  Everyone in the cast is really funny. Behind that just like “NewsRadio”, it has a great writing staff.  To me I have been very fortunate to be able to continue working with great actors and writers.

MG: Switching to sci-fi, tell us about your work on the season finale of “Eureka”, any plans to come back?
DF: I was hoping to come back but they just announced they have already shot the rest of the episodes for their final season.  I was a big fan of that show and was good friends with Matthew Hastings, one of the producers and directors on the show.  I kept bugging him to get me a part in the show. I really wanted to be on it because I was such a fan.  So about a year later, we finally made it happen…he had a script and I wasn’t busy.  It was really fun.

MG: What are your feeling about Kevin McDonald and Scott Thompson going on tour this year?
DF: It’s a great show and I actually opened for them when they did the show in L.A. They are both doing stand up but then they come together throughout the show and do bits.  It goes back and forth. It is hilarious.

MG: Do you ever see yourself working again under “The Kids in the Hall”?
DF: Yeah I would love to.  We were trying to get a tour together for this Fall as well, but now I got this job with “How To Be a Gentleman”.  But we want to keep touring with each other for as many years as we can and also more smaller “Kids” projects down the road.  We definitely want to keep “The Kids in the Hall” part of our creative lives.

MG: I really enjoyed the mini-series feel for “Death Comes to Town”.
DF: It started out we were trying to come up with movie ideas. So this idea came up and Kevin (McDonald) and Bruce (McCulloch) were developing it. They came back and said it would work better as a mini-series.  We had no plans of ever doing television together again, since we already did a pretty good sketch show.  So we figured a mini-series with a narrative was the way to go and thought it would be fun.

MG: How do you compare doing voice work to live action work, do you prefer one over another?
DF: There are different challenges.  Working with voice work it is all in your head and your relying very heavily on your director in order to know what the other actors have done, what the story is and the what are the visuals.  They paint the scene in your head for you and then you have to act the best you can and make it seem real.  In my case, make it funny.  Unlike when you are on a movie set, you have props, other actors and sets.  So it can be very different.

MG: Tell us what you like most about working on “Dan Vs.” and what can we expect from season two this October?
DF: It is really fun.  A lot of the time I get to be in the studio with Curtis Armstrong and Paget Brewster.  The three of us get to work together and that doesn’t usually happen with animation.  I think as the show goes along Dan becomes increasingly sociopathic and dangerous [laughs].  I think some of the scripts are getting a little weirder and absurd as we go along, but it is keeping to the same tone.  I enjoy it quite a bit.

MG: Any plans upcoming for another “Prep and Landing” special?
DF: Yes in fact, there is going to be a new “Prep and Landing” special this Christmas. Rob Riggle is going to do a voice on it also.  It is a new story and it is going to be on this Christmas, so it is really exciting.

MG: You have been involved with Pixar before with “A Bug’s Life”, any truth to your involvement with “Monsters University”?
DF: Yes I am doing once of the voice, that is correct.  I have already been up to San Francisco to record, so I am very excited for that.

Interview with Mary Lynn Rajskub

Mary Lynn Rajskub is known best for her role of Chloe O’Brian in the TV series “24”.  Mary Lynn is currently co-starring in “How To Be a Gentleman” with David Horsnby, Kevin Dillon, Rhys Darby and David Foley.  The show premiere’s September 29th on CBS.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Mary Lynn about her now show and what we can expect from the season.

Mike Gencarelli: How is it working with a primarily male cast on “How To Be a Gentleman”?
Mary Lynn Rajskub: I don’t mind it. Men can be exciting sometimes. We have a lot of women on the crew and there also is Nancy Lenehan, who plays our mother on the show.

MG: How was it working with Kevin Dillion, who is fresh from “Entourage”?
MLR: It’s great! He is a super nice guy and he is very funny. I think this show gives him more to do and we get to see more of him than on “Entourage”. He really had no break as once that show ended he started work on this one. We are shooting episode number five right now. It’s been pretty fun so far.

MG: What can we expect from the first season?
MLR: The idea of the show was created by David Horsnby. He had this book that I think his mom gave him on how to be a gentleman. The book has all these archaic rules about politeness and things a gentleman should do. David loosely based the show on a guy who lived his life by every rule in that book. I play the sister who tries to get this guy into the real world. Kevin Dillon plays the guy who used to be the bully in high school and wants Andrew the main character to get laid. It’s really a story about a guy attempting to change his life.

MG: How does it feel going from a show like “24” to a comedy like this one?
MLR: It’s been interesting. It’s been a lot different and I don’t have to worry about who is getting shot or if the bomb went off yet. This show still has high stakes overall but its more about the relationships. I get to be a girl and wear sexy outfits. It’s a lot lighter.

MG: How do you feel this show differs from other television shows?
MLR: I think every show is different. What I like about our show is that the characters are very likeable. I think everyone on our show is really good at comedy and each character is endearing in their own way.

MG: What was it like working with Fred Savage?
MLR: Fed Savage is super sweet and very high energy. He is like a little kid as he has so much fun directing and with his job. Fred is just a great guy that has grown up in the business and loves directing. He has a very infectious personality.

MG: Any word about the rumors circulating in relation to a “24” full length movie?
MLR: I haven’t heard anything but it is something I would love to see. I am not sure how they would handle the countdown but I haven’t heard anything yet. I hope it is still in the works.

MG: Can you tell us about your upcoming film with Kristen Bell titles “Safety Not Guaranteed”?
MLR: I got to work with Aubrey Plaza and Jake Johnson who is super funny as well as Jeff Garlin who I have known for a long time. It was one of those scripts that were sort of odd and sweet but kind of dark. It was good timing and was just a few days of work. I play a boss of a magazine that is very cold and rude. The film is based on a personal add about a guy that wants to time travel.

Interview with Rhys Darby

Rhys Darby is known best for his role of  Murray Hewitt in “The Flight of the Conchords”.  He is currently starring with Kevin Dillon and David Hornsby in CBS’s new comedy “How to Be a Gentleman”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Rhys about his new show and also his stand up work.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your new show “How to Be a Gentleman”?
Rhys Darby: It is basically about the ultimate gentleman Andrew, played by David Hornsby. He is in his mid-30’s and bit of a loaner. He is obsessed with gentlemanly etiquette and old fashion values. He ends up befriending an old school chum, Bert, who is played by Kevin Dillon, who used to give him hell at school and bullied him. Bert is running a gym and these two end up being friends when Bert takes Andrew on as a client at the gym. They form this odd couple kind of relationship since they both have something the other one needs. One doesn’t have any idea about gentlemanly etiquette and the other needs a good kick up the ass when it comes to being a man.

MG: Give us some background on your character Mike?
RD: Andrew’s sister Janet, played by Mary Lynn Rajskub, has hooked up with me and married this New Zealander. We met in the Chicago Technology and Science Museum, without giving too much away. She falls for my charm. Don’t ask me why I am working in the Chicago Technology and Science Museum [laughs]. I guess I came all the way to America since New Zealand have limited resources with museums. It is a young country and anything in the museum are only about 10-15 years old [laughs]. So I am living the dream and end up in there family. It reminds me of “Happy Days” a little bit since every week we have dinner with Andrew’s mom. My wife Janet is the domineering wife and I am put in my place a bit. Since it is the first season we are exploring the relationship and how things fall into place. In the pilot, I am a little brough beaten but I find my place and get a bit of balls and that is helped out by Kevin’s character. I sort of piggy back off Andrew’s advice and ends up helping me out as well.

MG: How is the production going so far? Any notable moments for the first month of shooting?
RD: It has been going really well. The first thing that we noticed that not only did we have a really good cast but we all got on really well. It really did feel like a family. I just love the cast. From there we are like seven episodes in now and we are just enjoying it. Our relationships are getting stronger and it has been a real blast. The easiest thing about it is that the writing is really good. So hopefully we are going to have a little hit on our hands here.

MG: How does working on a show like this differ from “The Flight of the Conchords”?
RD: It is very different for me. It is a big studio sitcom with lots of sets and multi-camera situations. I am sort of more used to run by the strings of your pants, one camera, making it up as you go along situations. But I bring that background that I have to this and I do a bit of ad lib here and there.  They actually let me do it, so I am rejoicing that. I got the advantage because I am playing a character from a different place and only I know how I would say some things [laughs]. It has been cool.

MG: What do you look for in a character that makes you want to jump on board?
RD: Well, definitely something challenging for me. Comedy is my forte. I like to do what is on paper but then be able to take it even further. I am all about making something as funny as it can be. I come from a stage background where I do physical comedy and stand-up. In “Conchords”, we didn’t have an audience and no one was allowed to laugh on set. It was all about the awkward moments and pauses. Coming into this show now, there is laughter and we have to pause for jokes, it is new for me.

MG: Besides acting you have a stand up routine, what do you enjoy most about it?
RD: Definitely the instant laughs you get and if something is an instant hit. You can think on your feet more and that is something I like to do. Rather than just having a few lines…by that I don’t mean coke [laughs]…I mean script [laughs], learning them two days prior and then doing them once. I rather learn the lines just before hand, have it fresh and have the ability to add to it. In stand up, the way I write my material is to write it out word for word like it is a novel, then read it over once and just go out there. It is very organic, it goes brain to paper…to paper to back to brain…and then out to the ear. It is a three-step process. Things evolve when you are doing stand up man and I really love it.

Interview with Sheila Shah

Sheila Shah is set to appear in the new CBS comedy “How to Be a Gentleman” with Kevin Dillon, Dave Foley and David Hornsby.  She is also in two upcoming films “Mafia” opposite Ving Rhames and “Crossroads”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Sheila about her work and also performing her own stunts.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your role as the bartender in the new CBS comedy series “How to be a Gentleman”?
Sheila Shah: I had gone in for an audition which was on a Tuesday. I got a call on Wednesday that I got the part and was on set the very next day. I was just playing the hot bartender [laughs].

MG: Is this going to be a recurring role for you on the show?
SS: A lot depends on the how the ratings of the show go if I will end up being a reoccurring character. Be sure to twitter that you liked my character and hopefully the will be bringing me back.  The show does need a bartender [laughs].

MG: How was it working with Kevin Dillon, Dave Foley and David Hornsby?
SS: Everyone on set was really nice. I got to work one scene with Kevin and the David’s. They had really good energy and were fun to watch. It was my first time being on a TV set so it was great. It was really fun to be the hot bartender and do some sensual moves with the martini glasses.

MG: How does playing Special Agent Cowan in “Saw V” compare to your other work?
SS: The shoots for television are much faster. When you are on a movie set you get a lot more time to spend with the other actors because you are shooting for a longer period. When you go on a show as a guest spot you shoot for a day or two and that’s it. Things just move a lot faster especially when you are doing a comedy. I would love to do more television in the future.

MG: Tell us about your experience in “Mafia”, opposite Ving Rhames, Pam Grier and Robert Patrick?
SS: That movie is going to be amazing and it is currently in post production. My first and last scenes were with Pam Grier which was great being with such a talented actor. Ving Rhames is a very talented actor and getting to be his right hand man in the film was great. I really learned a lot.

MG: Tell us about your role in “Crossroads” and about how you also performed your own stunts?
SS: Because of my role in “Mafia” I took up boxing in an effort to look a bit tougher. I also got to learn how to shoot guns and things so for “Crossroads” I was all set to do my own stunts. There were some really talented actors involved on the project and I was honored to be a part of that production.

MG: What do you look for in a role when you approach a project?
SS: Actions and thrillers are fun to do but I would like to get into a role that is more in depth so I can really get in there. I also want to do some more television work as well.

Official Website: http://www.sheilashah.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/sheilashah2

Interview with Carly Chaikin

Carly Chaikin is currently playing Dalia Royce on new series “Suburgatory”, which premieres on ABC on 9/28 at 8:30/7:30c.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Carly about her new role and what we can expect from the season.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us what you like most about playing Dalia Royce on “Suburgatory”?
Carly Chaikin: The most exciting thing for me is that I have never played a character like this before. She is a legitimate character for me. I actually have to step into her, wear different clothes, put on fake nails and become her. I think that is the art of acting and that is why I enjoy it so much. I get to explore that and become someone else entirely.

MG: This is your first TV series, how do you feel it differs than working on film?
CC: It is my first anything TV and it took me by surprise that my career has landed me in the TV world. I think what is so exciting about doing a TV show vs. doing a film is that you have 13 episodes where you get to build and develop your character more and more. I get to go on the journey with her oppose to just having this one start line that we all know which we do for two months and it is done. I think it is also saying with TV we have no idea what is going to happen next. Today I just read the script for episode seven and I have never seen it before. It is just as exciting every time we get a new script.

MG: Since the show is a comedy, how do you prepare for your character?
CC: I am working with such amazing comedians that the second you set onto set you are already in that comedy vibe. For me my character is so comedic based on the things she wears, her facial experiences and the simplicity of who she is. For me the second I get into my wardrobe, put on my fake nails, get my hair straightened and my eye lashes on…I immediately step into the character and I am ready to go.

MG: Tell us about working with the rest of the cast i.e. Jeremy Sisto, Cheryl Hines and Alan Tudyk?
CC: Working with them has been a dream. Cheryl and I are so incredibly close. I am sure you hear this all the time when you are working with people on set you kind of become a family. I started calling Cheryl mom off screen a lot [laughs]. Alan is one of the funniest people I have ever met in my entire life. Jeremy is an amazing person. In between takes when we are just hanging around we just have so much fun together. It is very natural and fun. I really do enjoy doing to work everyday because I get to see these people.

MG: How do you feel the show will stand out amongst new shows this Fall?
CC: I so firmly believe in our show. I think it is incredibly written and genuinely funny. I think it is an easy watch. It is fresh and new and something that people haven’t really seen. It is the kind of show that if I wasn’t in…I would want to watch. People that have seen the pilot all want to see what happens next and that is what makes the show important and good.

MG: How many episodes have you filmed so far this season?
CC: We just finished episode 5, which was our Halloween episode. Yeah as of right now we have 13 episodes. We are averaging about one episode per week in production.

MG: Tell us about your upcoming film “Escapee”?
CC: It was my first horror film that I have ever done. We filmed in Alexandria, Louisiana, which was definitely an experience especially from growing up in Los Angeles [laughs]. It is a fun and really good scary movie. It has been released in Alexandria and did incredibly well at the box office. Hopefully it will expand…so fingers crossed. It is definitely something I would like everyone to see.

 

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Interview with Syfy “Alphas” Malik Yoba

Malik Yoba is known best for his role of Bill Harken on Syfy’s “Alphas”. The show is finishing up its first season and is already green-lit for season two. Media Mikes was able to chat with Malik about working on “Alphas” and also about his character.

Mike Gencarelli: What do you enjoy the most about playing Bill Harken on “Alphas”?
Malik Yoba: I really enjoy the entire experience as we have a great cast. I think everyone working on the show are also fans of it. The writing is good and everyone is really talented. The gig is very easy to like. It’s not every day where you get a show that everything seems to work.

MG: Do you enjoy how physical your role on the show is?
MY: I am the old man of the group besides David and we all want to hold onto youth. (Laughs) It’s good when you can be challenged in more than one way. The physical aspects of the show make it that much more appealing.

MG: What has surprised you most about working on the show?
MY: I think the biggest surprise for me was that I ended up liking it so much. I think if you have done a lot of television and been down that road you know how hard it is to find a good show that has everything going for it. To actually work on a show that works and is worth your time is amazing. It’s definitely been a surprise and a pleasure. Everyone on the cast has gotten really tight and we all know how good the show is.

MG: How do you feel this show differs from your previous work?
MY: I think any opportunity you get to show a little bit more range is good. I have never done a show where I have had special abilities or where special effects have been used, so this one has been good.

MG: What has been your favorite episode so far?
MY: I like them all for different reason but I really liked the “Bill and Gary’s Excellent Adventure” episode. It was such a damn hoot and we such a good time shooting.

MG: What can we expect from the finale?
MY: All I know is that the writers wrote a pretty massive episode and that we shot it! (Laughs) It was good and I think we were all impressed. There is a good cliffhanger that I think will leave people wanting more. We are just happy that people have responded to the show and we have some serious fans. The fact that people connected to the show in 11 episodes is wonderful.

MG: What are your plans for during the break?
MY: I am teaching a class right now at Long Island University. I also have some web series stuff as well as recording music. I am also setting up a feature film to direct after season two shooting wraps up.

 

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Interview with Syfy “Alphas” Laura Mennell

Laura Mennell is known best for her role of Nina in Syfy’s “Alphas”. The show is finishing up its first season and is already green-lit for season two. Media Mikes was able to chat with Laura about working on “Alphas” and also about her character.

Mike Gencarelli: What do you like most about playing Nina on “Alphas”?
Laura Mennell: I think I probably love playing Nina’s ability. Although her power might not be a physical strength her pushiness gives her this enormous power even in intense situations. I like that she can get right in there and help save the day. She sort of uses her ability as a weapon. Nina is a great asset to the team. It’s fun to vicariously live through her. I also love having a female character that gets into the action mix which I think is great.

MG: When will we find out more about her back story?
LM: I think the mystery of Nina’s back story is very interesting. I think we have seen little hints of background here and there but she doesn’t like to go there and be vulnerable. I think in the second season you will see a little more as the series goes on. The mystery of the characters I think adds to the appeal of the show.

MG: Can you give us some info on the Nina and Cameron relationship story line?
LM: I think part of the connection between Hicks and Nina stems from the fact they are both fairly damaged people with difficult pasts. I really enjoy playing out their relationship. It’s never been an easy one. With Nina she has a lot of walls put with Hicks and when those walls start to come down as Nina gets comfortable something happens and they go back up. It’s nice to see Nina be a little more vulnerable with Cameron as most of the time she doesn’t want to be or appear to be vulnerable.

MG: What can we expect from the season finale?
LM: I can’t really say too much but it’s going to be a wonderful episode for Dr. Rosen and you get to learn a little bit more about his past. He will have to make some very interesting choices to make as a character. David Strathairn is such a wonderful actor any episode that centers around him will always be good. I really enjoy watching him work. The episode is going to be great and have quite a bit of action.

MG: Do you have a favorite episode thus far?
LM: I love a lot of the episodes. I had a lot of fun with the “Catch and Release” episode. Working with Summer Glau was great and she is really sweet. That episode was an interesting one for Nina as you got to see who Nina used to be and who she could have become. I think Nina’s encounter with Skylar really impacted her.

MG: How do you feel this show stands out from other sci-fi shows?
LM: I think the show is really cool and one thing interesting about our show fan wise is we have a lot of traditional sci-fi fans. The show is a little different in the procedural aspect and it’s a more realistic setting as our characters are sort of average people. I think because of those things people who might not normally be attracted to the show have been drawn into it.

MG: What are you looking forward to coming back to with season 2?
LM: I think it will be nice to get back and work with everyone. Everybody has been great! It will also be fun to see what’s in store for our characters each time we get the script for a new episode. I like the surprises.

Interview with Steve Cardenas

Steve Cardenas is known best for his role of the Red Ranger in “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” TV series.  Steve is currently following his main passion with the opening of his new business called, Force/Balance Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Yoga. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Steve about his work with “Power Rangers” and his new company.

Mike Gencarelli: Your background was martial arts, how did you end up acting instead?
Steve Cardenas: Well, I’m not really an actor because I only ever did that one show. They were looking for kids who knew how to do martial arts and that’s how I got the gig in the first place.

MG: What was the most memorable part of playing Red Ranger in “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” TV series?
SC: Filming the movie in Sydney Australia, and getting to meet kids whose last wish was to meet the Power Rangers.

MG: Any crazy stories from the set of the show that you were saving for this interview?
SC: Well, they’ve all been talked about. But some a crazy story might have been the time that Jason Narvy took my clothes as me and this girl were in the hot tub at my hotel in Australia and then we had to walk back to my room with nothing but shoes covering our “stuff” ya know? ahaha

MG: Tell us about your new Force/Balance Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Yoga business in Burbank, CA?
SC: Great new facility, with a great lounge area. 1600 sq. ft. of mats and a beautiful yoga room. Fun exciting kid’s program as well! Check out http://www.forcebalancebjj.com for more details.

MG: You also worked with Sean Patrick Flanery in his Hollywood Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy, tell us about it?
SC: Sean Patrick Flannery was awesome. Well, he still is [laughs]. He has been a great friend and mentor in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

MG: Do you have plans to ever go back to acting in the future?
SC: Probably not. Just gonna focus on my teaching and my training. I feel that’s more my calling in life.

Interview with Daniel McDevitt

Daniel McDevitt is the voice of Rusty in Adult Swim’s “Squidbillies”.  The show just entered its fifth season and shows no signs of slowing down.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Daniel about his role in the show and what we can expect from this season.

Mike Gencarelli: You have voiced Rusty from “Squidbillies” for 6 years now. How do you think the character has changed since you started?
Daniel McDevitt: Back when the characters were being developed Rusty was going to be this really loud wild as hell type of guy. Early has been the character that has really fallen into that mold and Rusty has been more of the timid type. When I auditioned they told me to picture the biggest redneck type bully that I could imagine. The first couple of recordings we did had Rusty with type of attitude. I don’t know if the creators decided they only wanted one super aggressive character or what but ultimately Rusty ended up as the more timid one.  He is always asking his daddy for permission before doing something.

MG: How do you prepare for the role?
DM: I don’t prepare too much. When I first started they would give me a script about a day before or so and I would read through it and try and get a grasp on which way the script was going to go. These days I just go in and get the script as I am walking in and they send me right to the recording booth. I don’t even know what the story is about usually. I may read a line 20 or 30 times because the scripts are so bizarre and I have no idea what the character is supposed to be doing. There is a lot of directing done and I almost feel like I am hardly doing any acting because I am just being told how to interpret the lines.

MG: When you are recording is it just you or are you with the rest of the cast?
DM: Generally it is just me in there by myself. Sometimes there might be someone else waiting to come in and record another character right after me but so far we have never read parts at the same time. In a way it seems like it would be better to record a few voices at a time as the directors might get something better doing it that way. Unknown Hinson who does the voice of Early actually lives in Charlotte, NC. I think he does a majority of his lines via telephone.

MG: What do think has drawn fans to the show over the years?
DM: It’s a pretty bizarre show and has a real cult following. People seem to really get into it. The show is not something I have been telling my family to watch. The target age for the show is something like 18-34. The show is for guys sitting around their college dorms looking for bizarre stuff to laugh at. I grew up with David and Jim, who are writers on the show, and they have always both had a weird sense of humor.

MG: Was being friends with the guys how you go the part on the show?
DM: That’s how I got the audition. We all grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta, GA and I guess were all rednecks at heart. After going away and seeing how other places worked I strived to get rid of my accent and do things a little smarter. We always used to joke about being rednecks and we enjoyed doing that type of voice. David knew I could do a pretty good redneck, so he asked me to come in and audition. He gave me a lot of adult beverages prior to recording my audition in a closet at his house. When we were done he threw the CD we made in with all the other audition CD’s. They had hundreds of audition CD’s of people from NY and other cities using a standard southern accent like you would hear on “Gone with the Wind”. Everyone from the South knows those aren’t genuine. Dave was looking for something more down and dirty.

MG: What can we expect from this season?
DM: I can’t really give you too much of a sneak peek as we have about 6 more episodes recorded. I never get to see the final product before it comes out. There are a lot of episodes I have yet to even see as I only have one television in my house and I have younger children that I don’t allow to watch the show.

MG: From the ones you have seen do you have a favorite episode?
DM: “Flight of the Deep Fried Pine Booby” was pretty funny. I also liked the episode where Early and Rusty were going to what they thought was a therapist. The episode with T-Pain was pretty funny and I wish they put him on more. There was a lot that went into the musical episode which I didn’t realize until I watched the extras portion of the DVD.

MG: What other stuff do you have going on when you are not voicing Rusty?
DM: I am a pilot by profession. I fly 767 and 757 for a company in the Atlanta area. I also have a small plane of my own that I fly on the side for fun.

Interview with Syfy “Alphas” Warren Christie

Warren Christie is currently playing Cameron Hicks in Syfy’s “Alphas”.  The show is currently winding down its first season and is already green-lit for a second season.  This show is easily one of my favorite new shows.  Warren can also recently be seen in the spooky faux documentary “Apollo 18”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Warren about “Alphas” and what we can expect from the rest of season one.

Mike Gencarelli: In “Alphas”, your character starts off as a villain to now is a fan favorite, tell us what you like most about playing Cameron Hicks?
Warren Christie: One of the best parts is where he started from. It was a lot of fun the way he was brought into the team. It was not necessarily on his own will but now because of that we have this really great progression to where he is now with the team. He is starting to be trusted by the team and starting to trust them. It has been a nice arc to play throughout the season to pla and has been a lot of fun.

MG: Your character and Nina (Laura Mennell) are heating up, what can we expect from the your guys?
WC: As far as me and Nina go, after the last episode (referring to episode 9), it has been something we have been trying to stay away from a little bit. In the last two episodes of season one, we don’t dove into it much. A lot of crazy things are going happen in those episodes and they override everything. You have two damaged people that have found themselves in these heightened situations and formed a bit of a relationship. It definitely hasn’t gone smoothly and will not go smoothly from here on out.

MG: Sounds like the finale is going to be insane, can you give us a sneak peek?
WC: I think it is going to be incredible. I felt that episodes 9, 10 and 11 are just an incredible build up. I think it takes this world that we have created in season one and cracks it wide open. At the end of the season you are left, hopefully, with your mind blown and wondering how it is going to affect the world. It sets us up for a really exciting season two, which we were green-lit for already.

MG: What has been your favorite episode in season one to shoot?
WC: I think the finale is phenomenal. As far as one that have aired, I really enjoy “Blind Spot” and it’s the concept. The thing about our show is we have to be grounded in reality. I picture the writers room where someone proposes an alpha ability and then has to prove it with science. Even if the science is not necessarily proven. The invisible alpha we had in that episode played by Rebecca Mader, they prove it through science. Once you add that to the mix and I also thought that Brent Spiner was really incredible. I think 9, 10 and 11 are my absolute favorites.

MG: This show is very unique, why do you think it stands out amongst other sci-fi shows?
WC: When you have a show that comes along like ours, people want to try and compare it to other shows. I think what we tried to do is set ourselves apart. We are not reinventing the wheel or a specific genre but we are putting our twist on it. I think that people who give us a chance will find we are different in what we are trying to do. We created this world that is so rooted in reality, we have abilities but no one is flying or shooting lasers out of their nostrils [laughs]. I think that is why people are catching on so far and of course our fans are incredible.

MG: The character development in the show is show fantastic, what is your reflection on that?
WC: You got to tip your hat to the writers. They are never going to sacrifice a story or explosions for lack of character development. I think they have done a great job and giving us characters that are so rich and textured from the beginning. In just a short 11 episodes, they have all changed and their lives have intertwined, sometimes good and sometimes bad. It has been a lot of fun. We have done so much in season one and I think we are barely scratching the surface as to where we can do with things.

MG: Congrats on being green-lit for season two, when can we expect it?
WC: I think the plan at this point is to start shooting in the new year around February or March. Like I said, the beauty of this finale and the way it was written is that I think the writers have done an incredible job of creating a mythology and creating a world. They way we leave things in the final episode really just blows it wide open. It is going to leave open and give so many possibilities and options for the second season. They are able to bring in these new interesting abilities to the table, which is what I think people are enjoying. You also see our abilities and how they are growing and changing as we are learning how to use them. Then when you sprinkle every episode when a new ability is introduced there are so many ideas that they can play with. I think we are setup in a great place. It is great to know so early that we are set for season two, it gets us excited and ready to get at it.

CBS’s “Unforgettable” Interview Series

UNFORGETTABLE stars Poppy Montgomery as Carrie Wells, an enigmatic former police detective with a rare condition that makes her memory so flawless that every place, every conversation, every moment of joy and every heartbreak is forever embedded in her mind. It’s not just that she doesn’t forget anything – she can’t; except for one thing: the details that would help solve her sister’s long-ago murder. Carrie has tried to put her past behind her, but she’s unexpectedly reunited with her ex-boyfriend and partner, NYPD Detective Al Burns (Dylan Walsh), when she consults on a homicide case. His squad includes Det. Mike Costello (Michael Gaston), Al’s right-hand man; Detective Roe Saunders (Kevin Rankin), the junior member of the team; and Detective Nina Inara (Daya Vaidya), a sassy, street-smart cop. Being back on the job after a break feels surprisingly right for Carrie. Despite her conflicted feelings for Al, she decides to permanently join his unit as a detective solving homicides – most notably, the unsolved murder of her sister. All she needs to do is remember. Ed Redlich, John Bellucci, Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly are executive producers for Sony Television Studios in association with CBS Television Studios.

UNFORTGETTABLE CAST INTERVIEWS:


Daya Vaidya

Kevin Rankin

Michael Gaston

Interview with Daya Vaidya

Daya Vaidya is co-starring in this fall new series “Unforgettable” with Poppy Montgomery and Dylan Walsh.  Daya took time out from shooting to chat with Media Mikes about her character and what we can expect from the show.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you give us some background on your character Nina in “Unforgettable”
Daya Vaidya: Nina is a Queen’s native with some street smart sass. The other characters are a little cleaner cut. The cool thing about the character is she has this street appeal and made Detective really young. She goes undercover quite a bit and is used to solve lots of crimes. It’s really fun to play a character with such duality.

MG: Were you familiar with the short story that the show is based on?
DV:  Yes I was. I also was quite familiar with the story of Mary Lou Henner and the condition she has which causes an autobiographical memory. Poppy’s character in the show uses that ability to solve cases and it’s both a blessing and a curse for her.

MG: How do you feel the series branches out from other crime/mystery series?
DV: CBS really has the procedural element down. There is a bit of sterilization, however “Unforgettable” I think delves into the characters and their relationships a little more than other series in the crime genre. The other thing that differs is we have story lines that don’t just revolve around a specific crime, which is a different take as well.

MG: How was it working with Arden Oplev?
DV: That was one of the greatest experiences I think I have ever had career wise. He is a feature director and he is so detailed and talented and most the time on TV it doesn’t function like that. Arden spent so much time on the details of each character it was great. I think he knew more about everyone’s characters than they did as he is really smart. He has a great vision and he has stayed with us as an executive producer. It’s really great to have him.

MG: How many episodes have you shot so far?
DV: We just started our fourth episode including the pilot. We have been shooting mostly in Queens and Long Island City. We have done a lot of location shooting but a majority of the series is shot in Queens.

MG: How is it working with such a great cast?
DV: They are really great.  We never have to worry as we have a bunch of great character actors. Poppy Montgomery brings some really great things to the project. There are a lot of people involved with this show that know how to make a network show work. I feel everyone involved with this project knows what it takes and what they have to do. We have a lot of fun with each other and there is some really great chemistry.

MG: What do you usually look for when approaching a role?
DV: I like strong woman who are smart, so that’s something I am always drawn to. I like the combination someone who can flow between different worlds. I think people are complex and sometimes they are forced to stay in one box and I like to play the people who don’t fit in one of those boxes. I am always open to try different things.

Interview with Michael Gaston

Michael Gaston is appearing in two TV shows this fall, the new series “Unforgettable” and returning in “The Mentalist”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Michael about his TV work and what we can expect from his characters.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you tell us about your role in “Unforgettable”?
Michael Gaston: My character Mike is a veteran detective that has spent his whole life in Queens. He is a good guy trying to do a hard job well. When the Carrie character is introduced Mike, who is the old school guy, surprisingly is the most receptive to her unorthodox skill set. Mike is just trying to get justice for the people who have been killed.

MG: How do you feel this show stands out from others in the same genre?
M. Gaston: There are a handful of shows that are a version where they are part procedural and then have one member with a special skill set. From my own stand point our show is a little darker. It’s been fun for me. The creators and writers are trying very hard to build on all the characters nuances. Speaking for my character they are giving me really interesting things to do right away. We are a pretty smart bunch of characters which is something you don’t always see as generally the character with the special skills has all the knowledge. We are allowed to be smart and clever. While the show is primarily serving up Poppy Montgomery’s character the rest of us are allowed some real latitude to be strong and interesting.

MG: What do you like most about working on “The Mentalist”?
M. Gaston: I get to work with one of my long time friends Robin Tunney. There are some actors on that show that I have known for a long time and getting to work with them is great. When I work on that show I have travel so for it to be a pleasant place to work makes things a lot easier.

MG: What can we expect from the upcoming season?
M.Gaston: I can’t tell you anything! I can tell you that I didn’t even know who Red John was until he was exposed as Red John and I am not even sure that was actually Red John. I don’t know anything. The way my job works is I did a couple quick episodes before “Unforgettable” started and I am not sure if I am going to be able to do anymore than that due to the schedule and the fact that we shoot “Unforgettable” on the east coast and “The Mentalist” is shot on the west coast. I shot all my stuff for “The Mentalist” in two days before running back to NY. It’s something I can’t really maintain and it’s not something that either show wants to schedule around. I think I may have read the trade that my character was replaced by a younger good looking guy. I don’t really know.

MG: How was it working on “Inception”?
M.Gaston: It was a tiny part that was about a day’s worth of work. I really admire Chris Nolan as he is astonishing. Leonardo DiCaprio is a real gentleman and very good at what he does. It was great to see him again.

MG: Can you tell us about your upcoming film “Everybody Loves Whales”?
M.Gaston: The film is based on actual events. A family of whales was stuck under the polar ice and it’s reported by a green peace member in Alaska. The news makes its way onto the NBC national news and the story becomes not only nationwide news but worldwide news. Everyone from the National Guard to Ronald Reagan became involved with these events in an effort to promote themselves and look like great guys. The film is a really sweet romantic comedy that has some political satire going on in the background. I shot up in Anchorage for about 9 or 10 weeks with a great group of actors such as Christine Bell, Ted Danson and Drew Barrymore. Everywhere you went there were just great people coming in to do work on the film.

Interivew with Taylor Spreitler

Taylor Spreitler plays Lennox Scanlon on ABC Family’s “Melissa & Joey”.  She stars along side Melissa Joan Hart and Joseph Lawrence.  The show just finished this its first season and is already in production for its second season.  Media Mikes had a chance to chance with Taylor about her role and the finale.

Mike Gencarelli: So what do you like best about working with Melissa Joan Hart and Joseph Lawrence on “Melissa & Joey”?
Taylor Spreitler: It’s very cool to work with people who know what it’s like to work in this industry at my age. Melissa was staring in her own series when she was my age so it’s very cool to have people there to help me out and understand what I’ve been through and they are very supportive. It’s very great to have both of them there.

MG: Give us a little background on your character; what do you like most about playing “Lennox” on your show?
TS: There’s not really anything I don’t like about her. She’s a really fun character to play because with the situations that she gets herself into there’s never really a dull moment with her. It’s always fun to play that out. She has cool style as well.

MG: When you first started, what did you like best about the character. Was there anything in particular you did to prepare for the playing her?
TS: Well when I read the breakdown of Lennox everybody who had already read it was calling me, including my manager, and telling me that is was basically me. There wasn’t really anything I had to do, it was kind of like playing myself just a more dramatic version. I think the thing to adjust to was just getting close to everyone and figuring out the whole family dynamic of the four of us.

MG: What has been your favorite episode so far in shooting season 1?
TS: There has been a few but the episode with Andy Lawrence where Melissa takes me in to the club, that was a lot of fun. I had just graduated right after we were done filming that episode and they threw a surprise graduation on set. That was really cool for me. Any episode this season, part of it was filmed in Maui, where I go to prom and it’s formal. I didn’t go to High School so I didn’t get to experience that so it was nice to dress up and have a date and all that stuff.

MG: How do you feel working on this show is different or similar to working on “Days of Our Lives”?
TS: They’re both completely different. My schedule now is a lot better. “Days of Our Lives” was a great thing for me to do, it was really good training and a lot of fun; I was really close to everyone there and it was hard leaving. But you know it’s such a big cast and you can get lost in the shuffle. So it’s definitely nice to be in a smaller cast. We are more like a family here. We only do one script a week, so that’s nice, and not like learning 60 pages at once. That’s definitely a lot easier.

MG: When do you expect to start working on Season 2?
TS: We actually have already been filming it. We are filming the 3rd Episode on Season 2 this week.

MG: How does it work when you get a script for a show? How far in advance do you have to prepare for each episode?
TS: Usually we get our scripts the Friday before we start on the next episode, after we finish the taping of whatever we are done with that week, so we have a weekend to look over it and that Monday we do our paper read and start our week of figuring everything out.

Interview with Maxim Knight

Maxim Knight is currently co-starring as Matt Mason in TNT’s “Falling Skies”.  The show was a huge hit in season one and is gearing up for second season.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Maxim with about working on the show and playing his character.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about how you got the role of Matt Mason in TNT’s “Falling Skies”?
Maxim Knight: Well it was just like any other audition.  My agent told me where to go and who to see.  When I went in I didn’t even know that the project was…it was just “Untitled Alien Invasion Project”.  I didn’t know if it was a video game, a movie or what.  It was very interesting and secretive.

MG: How was it working with Noah Wyle & Drew Roy?
MK: It was really great.  Noah Wyle found ways to make the scene better and put the show in front of his personal needs, which was really impressive.  He is a very good actor also.  It was really fun working with Drew.  It was funny because he was always getting chased by girls on the set wanting autographs and pictures.

MG: With season one in the bag, what would you say was the highlight for you?
MK: I liked ripsticking scene, it was a lot of fun.  I got to go ripsticking and it was pretty cool.  The part when I eat a little bite of cake…it wasn’t just the one bite.  As you know, in TV shows they have many takes. I probably ate about 14 of those and then they served lunch and I was stuffed [laughs].

MG: What was the most challenging part about working on the show?
MK: Well having to wait for each script for the next episode.  I was always very excited to see what was planned next.  Also being up in Canada in the cold was my major issue.  Towards the end of the shooting, we were shooting in the winter and it was really cold.

MG: When do you start work on season two?
MK: In the second season we are shooting it from October to February in Vancouver, so it will be cold then again.  I can’t wait to see what happens to all of the characters. I am really excited.

MG: Tell us about your ADR work on some big films?
MK: Yeah, I did ADR on “The Smurfs” and “Happy Feet 2” recently.  I think “Happy Feet 2” looks really good.  I had a voice over coach that taught me the loops, his name is Tony Gonzalez.  He is the guy for voice over coach.  He taught me everything I know.

MG: What do you have planned next?
MK: I am doing voice over upcoming for Mowgli from “The Jungle Book” in an upcoming Disney video game. That is pretty cool.  I have never done video game stuff before.  I was just in an episode “Wilfred” and that was pretty cool but very naughty though.  I am in the season premiere for “CSI: Miami”, it is also pretty awesome.  I am in an episode this upcoming season of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”. I am also recently did a short film called “Trigger” directed by Matt Sinnreich.

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