London native Luke MacFarlane content landing role in new TV comedy series
Monday, June 24, 2013 9:23:49 EDT AM
It’s been 15 years since Luke Macfarlane left London to pursue an acting career.
But former friends and fans can grab a front row seat to see him in their own homes Monday.
The 33-year-old actor will inhabit the small screen as one of three stars in the new television comedy series, Satisfaction, premiering Monday at 8 p.m. on CTV.
Macfarlane’s already earned his TV stripes playing Scotty Wandell, gay husband of Kevin Walker, in the hit drama series, Brothers and Sisters, that aired on ABC for five seasons ending in 2011.
The new show is described as “a relationship comedy about three 20-somethings struggling with the next step and trying to figure out how to get satisfaction.”
Macfarlane plays the role of Jason Howell, whom he describes as a “nerd working on a PhD in plant genetics” who lives with his girlfriend, Maggie Bronson (Leah Renee), a bartender at a local sports bar, and best buddy, Mark Movenpick (Ryan Belleville), a computer programmer who prefers to be unemployed.
In the series opener, Jason questions his own life path and decides he wants to perform live music. Maggie books him into the open mic spot at the bar before realizing she’d made a mistake. Meanwhile, Mark is in a dry spell and can’t seem to meet women, so Maggie suggests he needs a new “wingman” and suggests a coffee shop owner, Simon.
Macfarlane is a graduate of Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts. He graduated from London Central and then went on to the Juilliard School for the arts in New York where he starred in productions of Romeo and Juliet, Richard III, The School of Night, Blue Window, The Grapes of Wrath, and As You Like It before graduating in 2003.
In 2010, Macfarlane landed a major role in the Tony Award-winning revival of The Normal Heart, in a cast that included Ellen Barkin and Jim Parsons, who famously plays Sheldon Cooper on the hit CBS comedy The Big Bang Theory. The Satisfaction premiere follows it on CTV Monday.
Besides his acting career, Macfarlane says his main passion is renovating his Los Angeles heritage home, designed by renowned architect Albert C. Martin, who built Los Angeles City Hall and many other significant buildings in southern California.
The actor, who is openly gay, says he’d love to have a family one day. He said the entertainment industry has made progress in its attitude toward gays and lesbians “but it’s something that still needs to be addressed in our business. A little more acceptance is necessary.”
London music fans may recall Macfarlane as the lead singer in the band, Slipnaught, that included guitarist Graeme Cornies, guitarist Nate Kreiswirth, bassist Dustin Harris, drummer Nick Richard and auxiliary percussionist Jim Lewis. The band broke up in 1999 as the members each pursued their post-secondary education and training.
Kreiswirth and Cornies now live in Toronto writing music for television and movies but keep in touch with their former bandmate.
Macfarlane’s been in Toronto for about four months shooting the new show, returning often to London to visit his mom and old friends.
“I just got a message from my mom (Penny, a retired nurse) asking me to fix a light fixture,” Macfarlane said with a chuckle.
“It’s been great being back. And I love Toronto and getting back to see my mom. She always encourages me and has really being excited about me being nearby.”
joe.belanger@sunmedia.ca
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MORE ABOUT SATISFACTION
Guest stars scheduled to appear throughout the season, include Gordon Pinsent (Away From Her), Jerry O’Connell (The Defenders), Tommy Chong (That 70s Show), Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas), stand-up comedian Andy Kindler (Just for Laughs), and former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Wendel Clark.
Satisfaction is written by creator Tim McAuliffe (The Office), Mark Critch (Just for Laughs), Jason Belleville (Little Mosque on the Prairie), Tim Polley (Dan for Mayor), Jenn Engels (Less Than Kind) and Ryan Belleville.
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