I hope it'll get better....
Monday, 24 June 2013
London native Luke MacFarlane content landing role in new TV comedy series
[Source]
London native Luke MacFarlane content landing role in new TV comedy series
By Joe Belanger, The London Free Press
Monday, June 24, 2013 9:23:49 EDT AM
Luke Macfarlane left London 15 years ago to pursue an acting career. (WENN)
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
--- --- ---
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.
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
--- --- ---
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.
Interview: Luke Macfarlane on comedy, sex and getting Satisfaction
[Source]
Jun
24
2013
Interview: Luke Macfarlane on comedy, sex and getting Satisfaction
Posted by Diane Wild
By Adam Langton for TV, eh?
Tonight, CTV's latest sitcom offering Satisfaction will be debuting at 8pm. The show stars Luke Macfarlane and Leah Renee as a loving couple, with comedian Ryan Belleville playing their best friend and roommate. As detailed in the breakdown, Satisfaction is about struggling with the next step. Whether it's committing to a career, a relationship, or living arrangements, it's not easy being a twenty-something when you're torn between your immature past and your potential future. Luke Macfarlane took a few minutes out of his busy press day to chat with me about the show.
First off, I read that you're from London, Ontario. I actually went to grad school there and I was curious: do you ever make it back for any London Knights games?
No, unfortunately not! I've learned a bit about hockey but was never a big hockey fan. My father worked at the University, however. He was actually the director of Student Health Services for almost twenty years.
Oh wow, good for him! Perhaps he and I crossed paths, who knows?
Well that depends, did you have any psychological counselling?
I think we'll save that for off the record. (laughs)
(Laughs) okay!
So with your acting background through Over There and Brothers and Sisters and your recent appearance on Person of Interest, you're well known for your drama chops. I was wondering if switching to comedy came as a relief, or is it a challenge?
Oh it's definitely a challenge. It was something that I really, really wanted to do. I actually had a conversation with my agent after I finished Brothers and Sisters. I said you know, when I look at the actors that I really admire, they've all done their time in comedy. And I really, really, really wanted to do it, so I started reading comedy scripts. I got a lot of responses with people saying “I don't know if we think Luke is funny.” Then, it was a relief when I read this script. Not only did I think it was super, super funny, Tim (McAuliffe)'s script, but they also said “we think you're funny too!” So it's definitely something that is scary and a challenge and I'm learning so much. But if you're going to stay in the business for a long time you have to be willing to do everything.
Sounds like a perfect match. So how is the tone, on set? Is it a lighter and goofier tone than you're used to, even when you're not actually rolling? Or is it business as usual?
It's funny. We do laugh a lot, for sure?there's always laughs on set, no matter what. I will say of this show, the pace at which we film is so fast. We just get through so much material. I have never worked this hard in my life, ever; the hours that I've been keeping… when I was doing other shows in the past, I would come in and do a couple of days a week. This is every single day at the crack of dawn. So that's hard, but laughter is the way that we get through the day.
Tell us a little bit about Jason Howell.
Jason Howell is a PhD candidate in plant genetics … so something that's really exciting to a lot of people, I'm sure (laughs). Tim actually intentionally wanted Tim to have a job that sounded really boring. He kind of is the nerd of the group. I've got this beautiful, beautiful, intelligent, quick-witted girlfriend and I think that we wanted him to be smart on the page and maybe not as smart when it came to more practical matters.
Are you an academic type, like Jason?
I do think I am a bit of a nerd, although it's such a cliche for people to say that now. I think I am a nerd. When I was making my decision of what I wanted to do in life I had a very real interest in going into the sciences. And I applied to the Applied Sciences program at [the University of Toronto] and I also auditioned for Juilliard, and I instead went down the path of acting as I somehow got into Juilliard.
Well I was reading how during the development of Satisfaction there was a heavy emphasis on keeping Jason's relationship with Maggie very much about love ? they didn't want their relationship to be about fighting and bickering. Is that very clear in the script or did you guys have to sort of bring that love to life while shooting?
Leah (who plays Maggie) and I get along so well, so that was really easy. And, although love is not the same as sex, when the show actually starts you find Jason and Maggie goin' at it in a few inappropriate places in the house.
So it's part of the struggle of living with a roommate and how you try to have a private life in the company of somebody else. So that's definitely something present. We want to show that these guys are all really bonded in the problems that they face. It's really easy, Leah and I get along really, really well. And they certainly write us as a very affectionate couple.
Well I think I should post this interview as fast as possible ? tell people about the opening sex scene and make sure that all eyes are on CTV tonight!
I really hope so! I'm really, really optimistic and I have to say, honestly, I've been lucky to be a part of a lot of things but I feel so strongly about the quality of this. I'm really proud that it happens to be Canadian. I've always wanted to come back and work here. I am really, really proud of the show and I hope that everyone else likes it as much as I do.
Jun
24
2013
Interview: Luke Macfarlane on comedy, sex and getting Satisfaction
Posted by Diane Wild
By Adam Langton for TV, eh?
Tonight, CTV's latest sitcom offering Satisfaction will be debuting at 8pm. The show stars Luke Macfarlane and Leah Renee as a loving couple, with comedian Ryan Belleville playing their best friend and roommate. As detailed in the breakdown, Satisfaction is about struggling with the next step. Whether it's committing to a career, a relationship, or living arrangements, it's not easy being a twenty-something when you're torn between your immature past and your potential future. Luke Macfarlane took a few minutes out of his busy press day to chat with me about the show.
First off, I read that you're from London, Ontario. I actually went to grad school there and I was curious: do you ever make it back for any London Knights games?
No, unfortunately not! I've learned a bit about hockey but was never a big hockey fan. My father worked at the University, however. He was actually the director of Student Health Services for almost twenty years.
Oh wow, good for him! Perhaps he and I crossed paths, who knows?
Well that depends, did you have any psychological counselling?
I think we'll save that for off the record. (laughs)
(Laughs) okay!
So with your acting background through Over There and Brothers and Sisters and your recent appearance on Person of Interest, you're well known for your drama chops. I was wondering if switching to comedy came as a relief, or is it a challenge?
Oh it's definitely a challenge. It was something that I really, really wanted to do. I actually had a conversation with my agent after I finished Brothers and Sisters. I said you know, when I look at the actors that I really admire, they've all done their time in comedy. And I really, really, really wanted to do it, so I started reading comedy scripts. I got a lot of responses with people saying “I don't know if we think Luke is funny.” Then, it was a relief when I read this script. Not only did I think it was super, super funny, Tim (McAuliffe)'s script, but they also said “we think you're funny too!” So it's definitely something that is scary and a challenge and I'm learning so much. But if you're going to stay in the business for a long time you have to be willing to do everything.
Sounds like a perfect match. So how is the tone, on set? Is it a lighter and goofier tone than you're used to, even when you're not actually rolling? Or is it business as usual?
It's funny. We do laugh a lot, for sure?there's always laughs on set, no matter what. I will say of this show, the pace at which we film is so fast. We just get through so much material. I have never worked this hard in my life, ever; the hours that I've been keeping… when I was doing other shows in the past, I would come in and do a couple of days a week. This is every single day at the crack of dawn. So that's hard, but laughter is the way that we get through the day.
Tell us a little bit about Jason Howell.
Jason Howell is a PhD candidate in plant genetics … so something that's really exciting to a lot of people, I'm sure (laughs). Tim actually intentionally wanted Tim to have a job that sounded really boring. He kind of is the nerd of the group. I've got this beautiful, beautiful, intelligent, quick-witted girlfriend and I think that we wanted him to be smart on the page and maybe not as smart when it came to more practical matters.
Are you an academic type, like Jason?
I do think I am a bit of a nerd, although it's such a cliche for people to say that now. I think I am a nerd. When I was making my decision of what I wanted to do in life I had a very real interest in going into the sciences. And I applied to the Applied Sciences program at [the University of Toronto] and I also auditioned for Juilliard, and I instead went down the path of acting as I somehow got into Juilliard.
Well I was reading how during the development of Satisfaction there was a heavy emphasis on keeping Jason's relationship with Maggie very much about love ? they didn't want their relationship to be about fighting and bickering. Is that very clear in the script or did you guys have to sort of bring that love to life while shooting?
Leah (who plays Maggie) and I get along so well, so that was really easy. And, although love is not the same as sex, when the show actually starts you find Jason and Maggie goin' at it in a few inappropriate places in the house.
So it's part of the struggle of living with a roommate and how you try to have a private life in the company of somebody else. So that's definitely something present. We want to show that these guys are all really bonded in the problems that they face. It's really easy, Leah and I get along really, really well. And they certainly write us as a very affectionate couple.
Well I think I should post this interview as fast as possible ? tell people about the opening sex scene and make sure that all eyes are on CTV tonight!
I really hope so! I'm really, really optimistic and I have to say, honestly, I've been lucky to be a part of a lot of things but I feel so strongly about the quality of this. I'm really proud that it happens to be Canadian. I've always wanted to come back and work here. I am really, really proud of the show and I hope that everyone else likes it as much as I do.
A Candid Conversation with SATISFACTION Star Luke Macfarlane
[Source]
A Candid Conversation with SATISFACTION Star Luke Macfarlane
By theTVaddict on June 24th, 2013
Good News: BROTHERS & SISTERS star Luke Macfarlane is coming back to television tonight! Bad News: Only those fortunate enough to live north of the 49th parallel [Translation: Canada] will be able to see him. Starring in a new single-camera comedy called SATISFACTION, Macfarlane plays Jason Howell, a twenty-something, who alongside girlfriend Maggie (Leah Renee) and roommate Mark (Ryan Belleville) struggle with the usual things twenty-somethings struggle with. Which is precisely why we were afforded the opportunity to catch up with Marcfarlane on the set of his Toronto shot show early last week to talk about his newest comedic departure and reflect on life during/after BROTHERS & SISTERS. See for yourself, after the jump.
Before we get to your new project SATISFACTION, this TV Addict can't resist delving into the project that turned you into a household name! Did you ever imagine a one-off guest spot on BROTHERS & SISTERS would turn into five years?
Luke Macfarlane: No, it was the kind of great story that you hope for. The creator of the show had known me from another series, so I had met them very early on in the process and originally auditioned for the part of Justin. But since ABC was really in love with another actor [Dave Annable] for that role, they did me a total solid and invited me to come on for this little part that ended up being Scotty. So I came on, did it and it just turned into more and more and more. It was a dream, it really was and I was so very grateful for not just the role, but to the fans. Because I think they had a lot to do with it, responding to my character that led to the Producers bringing me back.
When you're in the midst of shooting a series like BROTHERS & SISTERS, is there time for you and co-star Matthew Rhys to grasp the importance of such a relationship on primetime television?
I don't know if you can ever really feel it, but the writer's took it very seriously and Matthew Rhys and I took the acting of it very seriously. It's always really moving to be stopped on the street. Even two weeks ago at the gym, a guy came up to me, one who you might not think would be a fan of the show and said, “I used to watch that show with my roommates in college and because of that show I was able to come out to them.” I remember thinking… Oh wow… that was not where I was expecting interaction to go!
Well it must happen a lot, because between QUEER AS FOLK and WILL & GRACE, I think BROTHERS & SISTERS did an awful lot in terms of changing people's perceptions about the LGBTQ community.
That's so nice of you say. Nowadays there are so many gay voices on network television now and I like to think Kevin and Scotty's relationship was one of the most authentic and real.
Of course, Hollywood loves to pigeonhole actors. Was proving you could do something different one of the things that attracted you to this latest project?
It's so easy to do one thing, do it well and keep doing it until that one thing dries up. But if you want to stay in this business for an extended period of time you have to do everything. And that was a big part of me wanting to do this project. To see if I could do comedy, which seems to be very popular these days. Also, to play a straight character as well.
Has it been a challenge post-BROTHERS & SISTERS to get casting directors, writers and producers to see you as a straight leading man?
They know they can't say that, but I always felt that. I always felt that it was something I had to fight against and overcome. That said, it's also funny because while BROTHERS & SISTERS was a successful show, it wasn't WILL & GRACE, so I have been able to get by. It was also not a hugely popular show in Hollywood, where people only watch four shows [Editor's Note: Most likely BREAKING BAD, MAD MEN, GAME OF THRONES and HOMELAND!]. I think it will be harder for actors on more popular shows, like those kids from GLEE for instance.
Yourself alongside co-stars Ryan Belleville and Leah Renee are the three faces of this show. Is there pressure that comes with your face on the poster?
It's really terrifying and totally scary but also exactly what I was saying about trying different things. You hope that you can do them successfully and that people will accept you for it. But I don't know, I really have no idea. I know I'm working harder than I've ever worked on any other show. That being said, I feel relieved, from what I've seen, I think the show is funny, so we'll see.
Having presumably started out your career as a struggling actor with roommates, is it safe to assume that you could relate to a show that saw you live with two other people in a cramped apartment?
Totally. Like my character I'm a bit of a nerd! In fact, I love driving and when I was driving across the country to start filming here I spent some time talking to the show's creator Tim McAuliffe where I was telling him that I got a National Park Passport to visit all these National Parks along the way. And Tim was like, “Okay, we're working that into the scripts because that is so corny!.”
BROTHERS & SISTERS had a seemingly endless stream of, well, brothers and sisters, while SATISFACTION features three cast members. What was it like working with Ryan and Leah?
I hated them immediately! [Laughs]. I got along with everyone. It really couldn't have been a better combination. Ryan is stand-up comedian and is really comfortable being the ham, where as Leah and myself play more of the grounded characters. But I feel blessed, because in the past it's not always been the case where you show up on set.
The show has attracted some very high profile guest stars, including MAD MEN's Jessica Pare. What's that been like?
She was lovely and knew Tim [Creator Tim McAuliffe] from back in the day. Jerry O'Connell who was also on our show and was a really hard worker and hilarious. I'm grateful to [Network] CTV because someone has to pay for this and they obviously see value in the show to spend that kind of money on guest stars.
The show's title, SATISFACTION, is somewhat ambiguous. What does it mean to you?
I like that about the show. It feels more like a throwback to those classic comedies where the premise was pretty loose. Think THREE'S COMPANY. Nowadays so many shows have these complex premises like HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER or THE CLASS!
I love that you threw out such a random reference to THE CLASS. A comedy cancelled far before its time!
Well, I loved it and one of my best friends was on that show, but you know pitches, like 100 QUESTIONS, which was a show that didn't last very long is another example of a very specific pitch. And what I love about this show is that it's about these people and what happens to them. SATISFACTION is a title that touches on lots of different themes: Relationships, life, money, food, sex. I think it's broad, but I like that we don't feel trapped down to any concept that often gets in the way of shows.
You seem to be a real fan of television which is nice because it's always disappointing when one interviews actors who don't actually watch!
I love television. As an actor I think it's the medium you want to be in. In a movie some guy may write a beautiful script where you have to somehow find your way into it. With TV shows, the actor gets to really take charge of the character and who he becomes and what his life develops into it. It sort of unfolds in a much more organic way. TV, when it's a good job, see actors working with a family and evolving together.
SATISFACTION is a Canadian shot series. Is there a difference between working in TV North versus South of the border?
The fast answer is no because the technique is the same, but I do have a story from my time spent on Canadian sets which may illuminate a point. I had to come into a costume fitting and I forgot a suit I was supposed to bring and when I came in, the look on the costume department's face was that I completely let them down, like it was a huge f*ck up! Where as in the United States, they would have sent me nine messages, sent someone to pick it up, with the assumption being that the actors are kind of useless. In Canada, they give you more responsibility as an actor and treat you more like a capable human being. There's far less coddling. I might get knocked for saying that but actors in the United States become divas for a reason!
And finally, I can't wrap this interview up without one reference to your brief stint on SMASH! Did you know before signing on the the role that the show wouldn't see a third season?
It would have been nice. but I think I knew the show wasn't coming back. There was always a possibility but it was a nice thing. I've known the Producers for a long time, and the episode director Michael Morris was one of the directors on BROTHERS & SISTERS, so it was really nice to touch base with all those people. I had so much fun working with those people and just to be part, in a tiny way, of what was such a fantastically huge failure was really fun. I loved it.
SATISFACTION airs Mondays at 8PM on CTV in Canada.
A Candid Conversation with SATISFACTION Star Luke Macfarlane
By theTVaddict on June 24th, 2013
Good News: BROTHERS & SISTERS star Luke Macfarlane is coming back to television tonight! Bad News: Only those fortunate enough to live north of the 49th parallel [Translation: Canada] will be able to see him. Starring in a new single-camera comedy called SATISFACTION, Macfarlane plays Jason Howell, a twenty-something, who alongside girlfriend Maggie (Leah Renee) and roommate Mark (Ryan Belleville) struggle with the usual things twenty-somethings struggle with. Which is precisely why we were afforded the opportunity to catch up with Marcfarlane on the set of his Toronto shot show early last week to talk about his newest comedic departure and reflect on life during/after BROTHERS & SISTERS. See for yourself, after the jump.
Before we get to your new project SATISFACTION, this TV Addict can't resist delving into the project that turned you into a household name! Did you ever imagine a one-off guest spot on BROTHERS & SISTERS would turn into five years?
Luke Macfarlane: No, it was the kind of great story that you hope for. The creator of the show had known me from another series, so I had met them very early on in the process and originally auditioned for the part of Justin. But since ABC was really in love with another actor [Dave Annable] for that role, they did me a total solid and invited me to come on for this little part that ended up being Scotty. So I came on, did it and it just turned into more and more and more. It was a dream, it really was and I was so very grateful for not just the role, but to the fans. Because I think they had a lot to do with it, responding to my character that led to the Producers bringing me back.
When you're in the midst of shooting a series like BROTHERS & SISTERS, is there time for you and co-star Matthew Rhys to grasp the importance of such a relationship on primetime television?
I don't know if you can ever really feel it, but the writer's took it very seriously and Matthew Rhys and I took the acting of it very seriously. It's always really moving to be stopped on the street. Even two weeks ago at the gym, a guy came up to me, one who you might not think would be a fan of the show and said, “I used to watch that show with my roommates in college and because of that show I was able to come out to them.” I remember thinking… Oh wow… that was not where I was expecting interaction to go!
Well it must happen a lot, because between QUEER AS FOLK and WILL & GRACE, I think BROTHERS & SISTERS did an awful lot in terms of changing people's perceptions about the LGBTQ community.
That's so nice of you say. Nowadays there are so many gay voices on network television now and I like to think Kevin and Scotty's relationship was one of the most authentic and real.
Of course, Hollywood loves to pigeonhole actors. Was proving you could do something different one of the things that attracted you to this latest project?
It's so easy to do one thing, do it well and keep doing it until that one thing dries up. But if you want to stay in this business for an extended period of time you have to do everything. And that was a big part of me wanting to do this project. To see if I could do comedy, which seems to be very popular these days. Also, to play a straight character as well.
Has it been a challenge post-BROTHERS & SISTERS to get casting directors, writers and producers to see you as a straight leading man?
They know they can't say that, but I always felt that. I always felt that it was something I had to fight against and overcome. That said, it's also funny because while BROTHERS & SISTERS was a successful show, it wasn't WILL & GRACE, so I have been able to get by. It was also not a hugely popular show in Hollywood, where people only watch four shows [Editor's Note: Most likely BREAKING BAD, MAD MEN, GAME OF THRONES and HOMELAND!]. I think it will be harder for actors on more popular shows, like those kids from GLEE for instance.
Yourself alongside co-stars Ryan Belleville and Leah Renee are the three faces of this show. Is there pressure that comes with your face on the poster?
It's really terrifying and totally scary but also exactly what I was saying about trying different things. You hope that you can do them successfully and that people will accept you for it. But I don't know, I really have no idea. I know I'm working harder than I've ever worked on any other show. That being said, I feel relieved, from what I've seen, I think the show is funny, so we'll see.
Having presumably started out your career as a struggling actor with roommates, is it safe to assume that you could relate to a show that saw you live with two other people in a cramped apartment?
Totally. Like my character I'm a bit of a nerd! In fact, I love driving and when I was driving across the country to start filming here I spent some time talking to the show's creator Tim McAuliffe where I was telling him that I got a National Park Passport to visit all these National Parks along the way. And Tim was like, “Okay, we're working that into the scripts because that is so corny!.”
BROTHERS & SISTERS had a seemingly endless stream of, well, brothers and sisters, while SATISFACTION features three cast members. What was it like working with Ryan and Leah?
I hated them immediately! [Laughs]. I got along with everyone. It really couldn't have been a better combination. Ryan is stand-up comedian and is really comfortable being the ham, where as Leah and myself play more of the grounded characters. But I feel blessed, because in the past it's not always been the case where you show up on set.
The show has attracted some very high profile guest stars, including MAD MEN's Jessica Pare. What's that been like?
She was lovely and knew Tim [Creator Tim McAuliffe] from back in the day. Jerry O'Connell who was also on our show and was a really hard worker and hilarious. I'm grateful to [Network] CTV because someone has to pay for this and they obviously see value in the show to spend that kind of money on guest stars.
The show's title, SATISFACTION, is somewhat ambiguous. What does it mean to you?
I like that about the show. It feels more like a throwback to those classic comedies where the premise was pretty loose. Think THREE'S COMPANY. Nowadays so many shows have these complex premises like HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER or THE CLASS!
I love that you threw out such a random reference to THE CLASS. A comedy cancelled far before its time!
Well, I loved it and one of my best friends was on that show, but you know pitches, like 100 QUESTIONS, which was a show that didn't last very long is another example of a very specific pitch. And what I love about this show is that it's about these people and what happens to them. SATISFACTION is a title that touches on lots of different themes: Relationships, life, money, food, sex. I think it's broad, but I like that we don't feel trapped down to any concept that often gets in the way of shows.
You seem to be a real fan of television which is nice because it's always disappointing when one interviews actors who don't actually watch!
I love television. As an actor I think it's the medium you want to be in. In a movie some guy may write a beautiful script where you have to somehow find your way into it. With TV shows, the actor gets to really take charge of the character and who he becomes and what his life develops into it. It sort of unfolds in a much more organic way. TV, when it's a good job, see actors working with a family and evolving together.
SATISFACTION is a Canadian shot series. Is there a difference between working in TV North versus South of the border?
The fast answer is no because the technique is the same, but I do have a story from my time spent on Canadian sets which may illuminate a point. I had to come into a costume fitting and I forgot a suit I was supposed to bring and when I came in, the look on the costume department's face was that I completely let them down, like it was a huge f*ck up! Where as in the United States, they would have sent me nine messages, sent someone to pick it up, with the assumption being that the actors are kind of useless. In Canada, they give you more responsibility as an actor and treat you more like a capable human being. There's far less coddling. I might get knocked for saying that but actors in the United States become divas for a reason!
And finally, I can't wrap this interview up without one reference to your brief stint on SMASH! Did you know before signing on the the role that the show wouldn't see a third season?
It would have been nice. but I think I knew the show wasn't coming back. There was always a possibility but it was a nice thing. I've known the Producers for a long time, and the episode director Michael Morris was one of the directors on BROTHERS & SISTERS, so it was really nice to touch base with all those people. I had so much fun working with those people and just to be part, in a tiny way, of what was such a fantastically huge failure was really fun. I loved it.
SATISFACTION airs Mondays at 8PM on CTV in Canada.
Belleville looking for sitcom Satisfaction
[Source]
Monday, June 24, 2013
Belleville looking for sitcom Satisfaction
Last week when I visited the set of Satisfaction, I thought Ryan Belleville had some interesting things to say about the state of TV comedy in Canada. Satisfaction premieres Monday night at 8 p.m. on CTV.
The Calgary native plays a dude who shares a big city apartment with a frisky couple (played by fellow Canadians Luke Macfarlane and Leah Renee) on the sitcom, which is somewhat based on creator Tim McAuliffe's own experiences as a struggling comedy writer. McAuliffe has worked writing rooms on both sides of the border, including This Hour Has 22 Minutes, The Office and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
"I feel like we're catching up," said Belleville, a Just For Laughs veteran who starred in the short-lived Almost Heroes two seasons ago on Showcase and, several years before that, on the Fox comedy Life on a Stick.
Belleville felt there was a comedy vacuum in Canada for several years. Networks just weren't green lighting any. The investment had all tilted over to TV dramas, especially U.S./Canada co-pros.
Things are changing, however, says Belleville. "Ifeel like there's a renaissance, like when Flashpoint came out and Rookie Blue,all the networks realized, oh, we should just make dramas - we shouldn't try toget too clever and just make good genre and dramas and I feel like right now,that thing is happening for comedy."
Certainly there is something going on. Down the street from the set of Satisfaction in Toronto is where another CTV comedy, Spun Out with Dave Foley, is in production. Rogers' Package Deal had a sneak preview last week and that Vancouver-based sitcom premieres in the fall. Halifax-based Seed is coming back, as is CBC's Mr. D.
Comedies are generally slower to build, so fingers crossed audiences will catch up with the comedy surge, too.
For more on Satisfaction, read this feature I filed last week for The Toronto Star
Monday, June 24, 2013
Belleville looking for sitcom Satisfaction
Last week when I visited the set of Satisfaction, I thought Ryan Belleville had some interesting things to say about the state of TV comedy in Canada. Satisfaction premieres Monday night at 8 p.m. on CTV.
The Calgary native plays a dude who shares a big city apartment with a frisky couple (played by fellow Canadians Luke Macfarlane and Leah Renee) on the sitcom, which is somewhat based on creator Tim McAuliffe's own experiences as a struggling comedy writer. McAuliffe has worked writing rooms on both sides of the border, including This Hour Has 22 Minutes, The Office and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
"I feel like we're catching up," said Belleville, a Just For Laughs veteran who starred in the short-lived Almost Heroes two seasons ago on Showcase and, several years before that, on the Fox comedy Life on a Stick.
Belleville felt there was a comedy vacuum in Canada for several years. Networks just weren't green lighting any. The investment had all tilted over to TV dramas, especially U.S./Canada co-pros.
Things are changing, however, says Belleville. "Ifeel like there's a renaissance, like when Flashpoint came out and Rookie Blue,all the networks realized, oh, we should just make dramas - we shouldn't try toget too clever and just make good genre and dramas and I feel like right now,that thing is happening for comedy."
Certainly there is something going on. Down the street from the set of Satisfaction in Toronto is where another CTV comedy, Spun Out with Dave Foley, is in production. Rogers' Package Deal had a sneak preview last week and that Vancouver-based sitcom premieres in the fall. Halifax-based Seed is coming back, as is CBC's Mr. D.
Comedies are generally slower to build, so fingers crossed audiences will catch up with the comedy surge, too.
For more on Satisfaction, read this feature I filed last week for The Toronto Star
THE TELEVIXEN
[Source]
The Cast & Creator of Satisfaction at the 2013 CTV Upfront
By thetelevixen Published: June 24, 2013
CTV’s new comedy series Satisfaction kicks off tonight at 8pm and I’m excited to check it out. Yes, they’ve had some successful comedies in the past, but none have really clicked for me. Satisfaction has both a cast and a premise that I can relate to as someone who was once in her 20s, living in Toronto, and torn between being a responsible adult and trying to hold on to fun, frivolous youth.
At the 2013 CTV Upfront earlier this month, we met the creator of the series, Tim McAuliffe, and the cast, Luke Macfarlane, Leah Renee and Ryan Belleville. Here’s a little clip of them that includes Macfarlane talking about his shift from dramas like Smash and Brothers & Sisters to a homegrown comedy, and a rundown on some of the amazing guest stars that will be appearing, including Jessica Paré and Gordon Pinsent!
The Cast & Creator of Satisfaction at the 2013 CTV Upfront
By thetelevixen Published: June 24, 2013
CTV’s new comedy series Satisfaction kicks off tonight at 8pm and I’m excited to check it out. Yes, they’ve had some successful comedies in the past, but none have really clicked for me. Satisfaction has both a cast and a premise that I can relate to as someone who was once in her 20s, living in Toronto, and torn between being a responsible adult and trying to hold on to fun, frivolous youth.
At the 2013 CTV Upfront earlier this month, we met the creator of the series, Tim McAuliffe, and the cast, Luke Macfarlane, Leah Renee and Ryan Belleville. Here’s a little clip of them that includes Macfarlane talking about his shift from dramas like Smash and Brothers & Sisters to a homegrown comedy, and a rundown on some of the amazing guest stars that will be appearing, including Jessica Paré and Gordon Pinsent!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)