The TV Chick

Men of a Certain Age centers around a group of friends who have known each other for 30 years, and their lives, relationships and ups and downs. TNT won me over with The Closer several years ago, and has since put out a lot of quality programming. Men of a Certain Age has a powerhouse cast, a very talented writing and creative staff in Romano and his team, and a unique concept. It’s a dark comedy, which is different for Romano, and all the actors in this show. I think it has a lot of potential, and was pleasantly surprised by the first few episodes. The characters are well developed and well acted, and I want to know more about their lives (which is a good thing right?)  I recently had a chance participate in a Q&A with all three stars of the show: Andre Braugher (Homicide: Life on the Street), Scott Bakula (Star Trek) and Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond). Here is what Scott Bakula (Terry) had to say about the show, TNT, and relating to the character.

What attracted you to the project?
Well, I thought the script was great when I got it and I loved this idea of how they had written these three men and their kind of history. And the humor of it I thought was fantastic and different and surprising. And then I just loved this character of Terry. I just thought he was so not like me and so kind of irreverent and happy go lucky and Peter Pan and one of the Lost Boys at the same time. I just thought he would be so much fun to play.

How are you able to relate to the character?
Well, I think the thing is we’re both – I’m a very physical person and he’s very much into his health and what he eats and working out and getting out in nature and all that stuff, which I certainly can identify with. And he’s a little bit of the thinker of the group in a funny way and I can relate to that a little bit. I mean he would like to go deeper in his life but he doesn’t really have any opportunity to do that. So that’s kind of where our similarities end because obviously I’m in a committed relationship with lots of kids and responsibilities and he’s the exact opposite of that.

This character seems not really your worst nightmare — but sort of stuck.
Yes. I don’t know that he’s my worst nightmare. I mean the reality is I have known – I have been in this business a long time. I have known a lot of actors and not everybody that I know has made it. And lots of people have branched off into other things and lots of them are happy doing that. I think what makes him kind of sad in a way at this point in his life is he hasn’t quite given up yet. So he’s still hanging on and I think that’s the hardest thing when we see people that we care about and they’re hanging on too long whether to a relationship or whether it’s to a dream or whatever it is. And you want to say it’s time to move on and this is something obviously only that person and certainly this character can come up with but yes. I mean I’ve been very fortunate in my life and in my career that I reached a certain point a few years ago. And I thought I think I’m going to be okay in this business and I should be able to make a living for the rest of my working days if I choose to. And not everybody can do that and we joke as actors that each job is the last job you’re ever going to get. But you reach – I’ve been doing it a while so I think I’m okay.

Now that you are involved in this show, will we see you on Chuck again?
It does not preclude me and they’re – we all love each other. So if they write it I will be there.

Do you have any memorable moments from the show?
Well, the most memorable thing about this really is just working in this kind of atmosphere with Ray and with Andre. And the three of us, we just get along really well. And Ray is constantly, constantly – he never does the same scene twice and he’s always coming up with a new joke, a new ad lib, a new this or he’s always got us on our toes.And I think that’s what sticks with me every day is you just have to be able to go with Ray because he’ll just branch off and start talking about you never know what he’s going to come out with. And that just is really – it’s a great feeling to be able to work that way in an improvisational way, which is really unusual for television.

Why do you think people should take the time to tune into the show?
Well, I think that there’s really nothing like it on television, three men our age talking about life without a franchise, without it being cops or doctors. We’re not talking over a body on a table; we’re at a diner talking about what’s going to happen with somebody’s dad or their mortgage or their kids or with Ray, talking about the size of his nose. I mean it’s a great slice of life and again it’s from this male perspective. So I’m hoping that people are going to find that interesting and intriguing. And then when they get there they’re going to find a show that’s very funny and also very, very moving.

What is it like being part of TNT now that it has such powerhouse dramas?
Well, I have to say that also played a great part in me wanting to be on this show is because I have so admired what TNT has been building and creating and their place in the market has been really expanding and so visible. And most importantly I like creatively what they’re doing. So to have an opportunity to work with them, they’re very hot on the show. They love it and to be a part – my gosh. When I was at the Up Fronts last Spring, the TNT Up Front I mean you looked around the room and it was just phenomenal who they have put together not just in front of the camera but creatively on the other side of the camera. It’s quite an impressive group and it was really great to be there.

You’ve done a lot of guest spots, but what’s it like to be back on a series?
Well, it’s great. It’s probably the easiest job I’ve had in terms of a regular because most of the other stuff has just been – I’ve been on the set almost every day and very physical work and very long hours. And this, because there are three of us we kind of split the show up into thirds and I may work four out of seven days and not always a full day and have a few days off here and there. So for me it’s kind of – it feels very sinful almost to be coming to work and getting paid and having as much fun and not being dead at the end of every day.

Can you talk a little bit about the writing style of Ray and Mike Royce?
Well, first of all they have got these three – we’re not three characters that live together, which it’s not old friends. So there is – you have to find a way to have these guys have their own lives and then bring them together to have conversations about their lives or share events. And so they might do a thing where we’re at a fundraiser at somebody’s school and I’m the “celebrity” – I use that in quotes but the auctioneer kind of thing because I’m the actor kind of guy. So that puts me at that event, which also then gives me the history of having slept with one teacher the last year and looking for her that night again to sleep with her this year. And they’re having to bring – Ray’s ex-wife is bringing the new guy, which is the name of the episode. So there are all these overlaps so the stories are very intricate and I think well worked out and within that because it’s Ray, there is this kind of looseness about when the three of us are together that I think helps the feeling that we have been buddies. People say well, what did you guys do to kind of develop this camaraderie or this chemistry or – and it’s really always been on the page that just the way they behave together and how they talk to each other and because we have the freedom to kind of go off script it just makes it feel very extemporaneous and very real. And I think that has contributed to this notion of kind of when you think of Ray Romano, Andre Braugher and myself you don’t necessarily go those guys must have all been buddies. We’re not – we’re a little bit of an odd grouping but it seems to work. And of course the jury is out on that. We’ll find out when the show hits the air.

Do you have anything you’d like to say to any of your fans, both old and new?
Well, what I always – I’m so grateful. Thank you certainly for being a fan and for being a fan of that show. It’s a show I’m really proud of and the sci-fi fan is such a loyal base. And I’ve been so lucky to have done some great projects in that genre and have this loyal group that – there is a certain responsibility, there’s an intelligence, there is a commitment and there is – you really feel a relationship with your fans and especially the sci-fi fans. And I’m proud to be a part of that and I’m grateful that everybody – we just celebrated 20 years since Quantum Leap premiered just last March. And it was kind of a great feeling. And there are so many new fans coming. I’m meeting new kids now who are watching it with their parents or that are just finding the show for the first time because of cable. And it’s a great history to be a part of. And certainly the Star Trek world is – that will never be repeated again and when we started it was 35 years celebration since it had first aired on TV. And it’s great to be a part of that tradition.

Talking about sci-fi, what kind of experiences have you had on the convention circuit?
I have done very little really. I haven’t had a lot of opportunities but the few times I have done it I have just had a really, really great time. I most recently did – I was in London over the summer and I dropped in over there to one. And it’s really again, as I was just saying, the fan base is so loyal and so intent on the work and there is a certain respect that goes back and forth there and a certain obligation I have always felt from us the actors and the writers who are creating these worlds that we have a lot to live up to. And when you do that and you’re successful there comes this following. So it’s really very rich. It’s always a little exotic and there is always – I’m never quite sure who will show up and who will be dressed like what. But it’s always been in the best spirit of it and I have only had good experiences with the fans and I’m grateful for that.

Are there a higher percentage of Quantum Leap fans than Enterprise fans that you have found?
I would say slightly, slightly. But I think the difference is that the Quantum Leap fans have been there for a lot longer, a lot more years. And I’m finding that they kind of – I don’t know. It’s ironic but I’m finding so many people are discovering Enterprise now and I’m not sure why that was, why they weren’t there when we were on the air. But I can’t tell you how many people are just – I just got the DVD set, I’m just watching it for the first time on – there’s a marathon on such and such. And I don’t know how we missed the boat with a lot of people but I’m pleasantly surprised with how many Enterprise fans there are out there and the reception that I do get at the conventions.

Speaking of sci-fi, you have mainly played science fiction type roles. Has playing Terry been a challenge for you?
Yes. He’s a little bit of a challenge because he’s just not like me. So fortunately I have a few friends who are a lot like him or are almost exactly like him. So I have been able to kind of pull on their life experiences and my conversations with them and talk with them about what’s really going on for them at this point in their lives, haven’t been married, don’t have families, still out there dating and calling me and saying I don’t get it. What’s going on with this girl and I’m saying she’s 22, that’s what’s going on with this girl. And so we have – I have fortunately been able to kind of draw from other friends of mine that are this guy. But he’s a challenge but he’s also a blast to play. There’s nothing – I had so much fun just being that actor at an audition and having the audition going poorly. I mean just because I have been there and I know what that feels like and I think that that’s great. So the acting side of it, whenever I get a chance to do it, really it’s fun. It’s like a play within a play kind of, the actor playing the actor. And it really is fun.

Do you have a group of friends like Terry does on the show?
Yes I do. I don’t have – I was telling somebody earlier today that ironically my college buddies that I went to school with – I only went to college for two years and then I moved to New York. But I don’t keep in contact with them. We don’t live in the same town but I think about them and I think about what we did all the time. And there is something about the bonding that goes on when you’re away from home for the first time and you’re living with other guys. That kind of lasts for a long time. And so I don’t – I have friends that I go back with. Probably my oldest friend is buddies from the theater but he’s – we have known each other for like 28 years. But it’s just different when you have that college experience. So I don’t really have that, no.

Men of a Certain Age premieres tonight at 10 pm on TNT. Be sure to tune in!