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Actually I've have to tell
you Teresa, your web page
the Monk Fun Page is kind
of fun to read just to find
out how the actors got their
roles. Most shows have a script...
heard back over the course
of a couple days or longer
you know... but I'll tell
you something I found out
on the set... when I was introduced
to him on the set... :When
I saw the tape I knew right
away you were the one."
I said oh you saw the tape?
Well, I am one of the producers
so I get to see the tape...."
I said thank you but I thought
he was just so sweet. It's
his show truly you know one
of the main producers on the
show... hands on involved
and all that.
So
that must have been good to
hear it from him?
Yes,
exactly. The ...point where
the director... Let's try
this again and Tony had ideas
because you see how it takes
place... I have a newsvan
and my camera guy and their
shooting all this... and Tony
walks by with Traylor... they
walk by and they're walking
up the hill to the cabin...
I won't tell you everything
he does....
How
many takes did you do?
Three.
It was pretty fast, but they
got what they wanted you know.
I have to say we did probably
five... we did quite a few
rehearsals. They wanted to
make sure they got it all
right before they turned on
the cameras.
So
how long did it take altogether?
Altogether
it wasn't very long. It was
like... we were on location...
It was shot in Thousand Oaks
at a cabin in the woods you
know... a lot of property.
It looked like the actual
location... you know, the
perfect location for what
the script called for... but
it was Canyon Ranch in Thousand
Oaks... I was probably there
half a day. Not that long...
and then they we're moving
to another location.
So
didn't work with the entire
cast then?
Yeah
I did really. Traylor and
I talked a little bit and
is it Jason? The young kid?
Right,
Jason Gray-Stanford.
I
was in the van on the way
over with him, but he was
going over lines for an audition
for something else. I don't
know what it was. He didn't
have any lines in that particular
scene so... but Traylor and
I were in make-up together
and she's very nice. She was
just really nice to talk to.
Tony's the one who I dealt
with the most. Honest to God,
I've been in the business
26 years and he is one of
the nicest people I've ever
met. Michael
Landon is another one who
was just an incredible man.
So
you worked with him also?
Yes,
I worked with him on Highway
to Heaven. He was interesting
because we did this show called
Love and Marriage and it was
an hour long show dealing
with three generations of
a family... and he picked
up the phone during the shoot
and he called the network
and he said we needed an extra
half hour... I was like, oh
my gosh how many shows have
you done with it's NBC I guess,
I'm not sure about the network
but he'd done so many shows
with them at that point that
he could just pick up the
phone and go here's what I
need and they'd say "yeah,
that's okay."
So
you and Traylor got to talk
a little bit?
Yes.
Traylor was really, really
nice. She loves being on the
show and just loves Tony and
the whole crew, everybody.
They're just a really nice
group of people. They've been
working together for a while
and they all respect each
other. I felt at home the
minute I got there in hair
and make up with Traylor,
you know
You
and Traylor share a last name.
Did you establish if there
was any relationship?
We
didn't talk about that. We
didn't have a whole lot of
time.
I should have asked her about
that. I mean it would have
been ironic if we were related.
I should have said something
about it. Now if we were related
to Ron [Howard] everybody
would know it because he puts
his family in all his movies.
I should have told her maybe
we should write him a letter.
we were related and we didn't
know it... Ron Howard... maybe
we should write him a letter
and say...
Yeah,
I guess it's a common name.
I'm
sure, but you know I'm curious
where she grew up because
you know I grew up in Ottumwa
Iowa. [Radar]
I
think she's from Florida.
Oh,
Florida.
Yeah,
but you never know further
back there could be some relationship.
Yes,
it's possible.
So
who was the director of your
episode?
I
knew you were going to ask
that. I'll have to look that
up. [pause] Michael Watkins.
Oh
Michael Watkins.
He's
directed a few I guess. (Genius,
Bank, Birds and the Bees,
and now Hypnotized.)
Yes,
he's directed a few and he
used to be a director and
a cinematographer for Quantum
Leap that's where I know him
best from... and a few films.
That
makes sense because of the
way they set the shot. It
was a very elaborate shot
they set up.... there were
a couple... I think more than
one... because the guy running
my camera that camera was
recording... both of them...
lighting.
Did
you watch the show before
you got the role?
I
did watch the show. I'm a
fan.
What
do you like about the show?
What attracted you to it.
I
like him. I like Tony. I like
the humor. Character... makes
it work...And I've worked
with Sharon Lawrence who's
been on the show a few times..
Actually
I was kind of expecting her
to be in [Mr. Monk, because
she was in the promos for
the 100th episode, but she
wasn't in it so... maybe they
just cut her out. I don't
know what the deal was. I
was kind of disappointed.
Yeah
yeah oh that's interesting.
I wonder if they kind of well....
She might have just done a
cameo or something
Right,
yes. Most of the show was
like that.
When
I've seen her on the show
she got quite a large part.
For
more than one episode.
Yes,
she has.
Of
course you know Tony Shalhoub
is up for an Emmy and
Right
He's already won three.
Yes.
So
what's your opinion. Should
they not give Emmy's to people,
because they've won a few
already.
No,
I mean they're gauging it
on that piece of work. He's
submitting or they're submitting
for him some of the best work
that he's done that season
and that's what they're voting
on. I don't think it should
have any bearing whether they've
won before or not.
I
don't think it should either.
They
should give someone else a
chance is that what you're
saying?
Well,
you know that's what they
say in the press a lot.
Just
look at how may time Susan
Lucci was nominated you know.
It was a joke in fact one
of those years I think it
was the 12th year, she did
just phenomenal work and she
stll got passed over. I don't
know that awards hurt or help
a show necessarily, you know?
It's nice to have the acknowledgement,
to be acknowledged for your
work. Yeah, I'd vote for him
if I had a vote.
Okay,
so how would you compare working
as a guest star on Monk to
other work you've done. I
saw you recently on General
Hostpital: Night Shift.
Was that a totally different
experience?
Yes.
You know that's more like
a soap opera... which I did
for years, but it was quite
a while ago, but that is more
like a soap opera. [Another
World, Days of Our Lives]
That was kind of an interesting
role to play. Mark
Teschner who is the casting
director of General Hospital
and General Hospital:
Night Shift booked me
in my first film role that
I ever did. It was in New
York City and that's where
I was. I went from Davenport
Iowa to New York City to become
an actress...I auditioned
for ... out here General Hospital...
a couple of pilots. He just
called my agent and said I
want to go.... Well that was
nice, he knows my work you
know for years It was nice
not to have to audition for
that you know... phone call
and the shoot went so fast
he said okay that's it, but
otherwise it was one take
and that was it.
So
just in and out then?
Well,
it was a long couple of days
but... but it was just one
take of everything. Sometimes
it takes a while to set that
up. you know and the lighting
takes so long and the hospital
scene takes along time when
there's a lot of people everything
takes a long time... You know
the set up took quite a while,
but the actual shooting was
just boom boom and out...
it was a great experience
it was great to do the role
because it was an emotionally
charged role of this Mom with
a daughter who's so sick.
I don't know if you saw it
or not.
Yes,
yes I did.
What
fun thing to do. You know
a newswoman, you know I've
play a newswoman a lot. I
did the
weatherman and you know
another one... I get the Reporter
roles a lot. It could be my
age it could be ... it could
be it's a nice niche that
I've found, but I enjoy it,
I enjoy doing it but I so
fun to have a... flow
Well,
there's a lot of different
cast from last season too.
Yes,
it was all different... that
I'm not... but they did it
for this... Brian Frons was
there and Brian is the head
of ABC Daytime now. He was
head of NBC daytime when I
was there 16 years ago. And
he said "I don't know
if you remember me."
And I said "Of course
I remember you." He'd
stop by and say hi and see
how I was doing.....What a
great man
I
guess since we're talking
about the soap operas, why
do you think their audience
has declined so much since
I guess when you were first
on soaps?
That's
a good question, probably
because of the internet there's
so much other entertainment
and information available
now. Yes, it's declined quite
a bit I know but I've got
to say I remebre when I was
on another world it was around
their 25th anniversary and
there was talk then about
the show going off the air
and it didn't go off until
another five or six years
later. I'd already left, I'd
been gone for quite a while
... go off the air, so I know
it's been declining for quite
a long time you know for the
last 15 years it's been declining.
right
I
don't know why, maybe because
they haven't shaken it up.
Reality shows are a whole
different format that everybody's
watching and loving you know
the interactiveness of it...
American Idol... call in votes.
So
what do you enjoy most about
acting?
...
As a matter of fact I played
a cop you know and I did a
very interesting and it's
really fun to get to go play
that you know... play that
role... really fun... it's
also fun... you know like
having someone ... just wow
they wouldn't do that... you
know what would drive...
So
you like playing the villain?
I
do. I wouldn't always like
to be locked into that, but
it is very... There's so many
more layers.... everybody...
for yourself... Di you see
The Dark Knight with Heath
Ledger
Yes.
really went
there.
So what do
you like least about acting?
Being cold.
There are so many times when
you're side or even inside
when they have the air cranked.
There's nothing worse than...
it's just freezing... winter
coat on you it's freezing
and everybody's in their parkas
... and your coat keeps coming
on and off you know... that's
.... the hardest part. I don't
mind the hours, you know the
long hours. Nothing's beter
than long hours, day after
day Theres something about...
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