What makes this
show different?
The first thing that comes to my mind is the humanity that is expressed
in a way that the procedural cannot allow, and I think because of the
domestic drama of the family life. It gives this show a heart. The action
is done well. The cerebral stuff is done well. That is a unique conceit
unto itself. Then you add heart to that, it is a winning combination --
not that I could have articulated this when I signed on. (Laughs).
What was it like
when you signed on?
There were many pluses going into it, but I was dubious about the connectivity
and the execution of it. I talked to Ridley [Scott] and the producers
about what they planned to do visually. So I knew it was going to look
cool, which is half the battle especially in this day and age. Then I
talked to Nick [Falacci] and Cheryl [Heuton], and they had a ton of ideas
for shows. So that gave me some solace.
Do you have a favorite
moment so far from any of the seasons you shot already?
I love those action scenes. I dig doing the crazy ones.
Is that one of
the reason you decided to do the show?
It was one of the huge reasons. They asked me initially if I wanted to
play Charlie or Don, and I was not interested in Charlie because I felt
like I have done that kind of thing. Then I never heard from them again.
Then they called me after they made the pilot that did not really work
and asked me if I was still interested.
What do you admire
about your character?
He is a classic hero -- he is a guy that sacrifices himself for the greater
good. I grew up on characters like that. Also, I've been starting to get
to know him more and what goes on inside him -- why he's not in relationships.
And I feel empathy for him because part of it is the justification on
his part and the burden of the job if you try to have a relationship doing
the kind of job he does. Some of it is heightened, but it takes a real
toll on them. So I'm interested in that side of it -- how he might find
some joy away from work in relationships. And that's starting to be explored
in some episodes coming down the pike.
Can you tell me
about the rest of the season?
We explore a little bit about Don's inner-life -- what is behind the reticence.
He meets a girl and gets a little involved. We are going to get into his
head a little and he is going to have some difficulties. Things are going
to start to build up for him in terms of anxiety and what is going on
in his life.
Anything you would
change about the character?
I know who he is. I just want to find out more about him. I want to see
him in crisis, trying to have a relationship. I think he has a little
chip on his shoulder about his intellect because of his brother and I'd
like to see that played out. I'd like to see more conflict, more Cain
and Abel -- maybe not as far as that -- but to get them in conflict and
see what happens there. I think the show should have more sex. I'm always
pushing that.
What has been the
greatest achievement in your life personally?
My marriage and my daughter. My daughter first and my marriage second
or both of them at the same time.
And her name is
Tu? What was the genesis of that?
Puns. Because my wife's first name is Debbon and her last name is Ayer,
so we wanted to carry on the tradition. So her name is Tu Morrow.
I understand that
you've done a little skydiving. What was that like?
It was great. I did it once. I can't imagine doing it again, but if the
right circumstances came up, I would probably go for it.
Why did you do
it?
For years, a group of my friends were saying they were going to do it,
but every time somebody was going I always came up with an excuse. So
I get a call from a friend of mine, David Heyman who produces all the
'Harry Potter' movies. He asks if I have any plans tomorrow and I said,
"No." So he says, "We're going skydiving, you should meet
us." So then I get on the phone with Gina Gershon and I tell her,
and she says, "Let me tell you a little story." Her mother had
a friend who had a normal fear of heights, so she goes to one of those
places where you overcome your fear. She goes skydiving and on the first
solo dive, her chute doesn't open, and she goes right to the earth and
dies. So I call David and tell him I'm not going. Then a year later, I
call my sister and ask, "Do you want to go skydiving?" I did
not think she would say yes. We went out to this place in Paris, California
where everybody goes. You go and sit in an empty bureaucratic room and
a lawyer comes on the monitor saying you can't even think about suing.
I keep thinking I'm going to back out. I get up there and my sister says
she wants to go first. Picture a window with someone you know standing
right in front of it, and they jump out of the window and disappear. So
I saw her jump and then I jumped and I screamed for an entire minute,
which was equal parts joy and utter fear. Then the chute popped open and
it was like flying, not falling, like flying. It was an amazing experience.
Years from now,
when the show ends, what would you like to see happen to your character?
I'd like to see Don get married and have kids. Get a nice cushy job. Maybe
become a golf pro. Maybe Charlie gets so much money from some prize they
can retire and play golf.
If you could go
back in time and give yourself advice, how far would you go back and what
would the advice be?
I guess to find the joy in knowledge earlier. I wasted a lot of time with
school and if I knew then what I know now, I would have been that much
deeper into it.
What are some of
your favorite TV shows on now?
'The New Adventures of Old Christine.' Genius. It's a perfect sitcom.
I love 'Weeds.' I like 'Brothers and Sisters.' Even though I understand
the criticism, I love 'Studio 60.'
What about of all
time?
'Thirtysomething,' 'Mary Tyler Moore,' 'West Wing' and I'd say that 'Sopranos'
is the best-written drama on television.
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