Gabriel Hogan – Tacoma FD

By starrymag | April 11, 2019

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) “Tacoma FD” is what I’m excited about and what’s happening right now. The first episode did really well and we’re excited.

Q) How was premise described to you for the show?

A) Well, in kind of a roundabout way I knew some of the guys in the circle of Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme. And I was familiar with some of their work. So, when it came “across my desk” (so to speak) for me to go in to meet them and audition for this show I sort of knew what I was getting into kind of. I think the first heard about it was that the Super Trooper guys were making a half hour comedy about firemen, which sort of gives you the broad strokes of generally what to expect-ish.

Q) Was there something about the character Ike that really gravitated to you wanting to portray him?

A) When I read it, I think I first read episode three. That was originally sort of the idea for the pilot. I read it and I laughed outloud. I love comedy and I love to do comedy. I think the guys and their sensibilities align with mine about what we think is funny. The role was great. Right off the page, I’m like, “I’d know exactly what I’d do with this guy.” They didn’t offer it to me. I jumped through the hoops like hundreds of other guys and I was just over the moon when I got the call that I was doing the show.

Q) Was there anything you added to the role that wasn’t initially scripted for you and is there much room to improv with the series?

A) Yeah, they have been really great about letting us riff on things and bring new ideas and jokes. I think the characters were kind of outlines for generally what they wanted (which is very clever of them to do) and they sort of waited for actors to come in and sort of bring their take on it because anything on the page is just what it is until an actor comes in and creates a character. So, I think all of us really brought different things and they do allow a lot of space to play and improv to find what works, which is good. You do a lot of shows where they say they are going to do that, but then when you actually show up and do the work you end up sort of doing what is written. There are arguments to be made for that like if there is not enough time or this or that or the network is coming down on them. But we really got a chance to sort of really play in this show, which is absolutely fantastic. And everybody gets along so well. It was just a dream gig really.

Q) It must be nice to have so much freedom with the role!

A) It’s not that we’re making up new scenes. You improv or riff or something and they’ll let it go until it’s in outerspace. Then we’ll cut. Everybody has got great acting chops and comedy chops. So, once you do one or two and get rolling maybe on script if you find something else that is funny you sort of run with that for a little bit. It’s very loose like that, which is absolutely a gift when you’re doing comedy because it keeps it fresh. And there is not a lot of ego with that stuff. Even though the guys write a lot of it the best idea wins. There are a lot of improv within the lines to maybe tag the scene, but you still have to tell the story so it’s not purely improv.

Q) Were there any ridealongs or prep work to portray a firefighter/first responder?

A) Well, it’s funny. That’s a good question. It’s actually important and important to all of us that we don’t make fun or poke fun of firefighters or first responders as a whole. We wanted to make sure the guys are competent at their jobs and they are good at their jobs. They do it seriously somewhat. It’s a situational comedy, but we did have a technical advisor who was a firefighter who was Kevin Heffernan’s cousin. So, we called him “Cousin Bill” and he is a firefighter in Connecticut. We had him on set every day to make sure everything is being done correctly procedural wise to look like firefighters. Soft of the comedy and everything comes through who these guys are and, in their downtime, and the pranks and the shenanigans they get into. They are ridiculous people, but the actual work of being a firefighter is taken more seriously. As opposed to being bumbling cops on say “Reno 911!” or something like that, they are ridiculous people (if that makes sense). We don’t make fun of the actual first responding.

Q) The most talked about subject on Twitter was whether or not firefighters are allowed facial hair.

A) [laughs] I will say “yes.” The mustache is still encouraged. That’s my answer. [laughs]

Q) What were some of your most memorable moments from filming “Tacoma FD?”

A) It’s tough to pick just one. Everybody gets along so well. I’ve said it before, it’s an absolute joy to go into work every day. I’ve never had this much fun at work ever. If I had to pick…[laughs] There is an episode down the line where…I don’t know how much I should give away. [laughs] There is a full moon episode. My character may or may not turn into a werewolf and that was absolutely ridiculous amounts of fun. Eugene Cordero and I go out on a call together. We shot all night in Woodland Hills. We were absolutely delirious. Honestly, I don’t know how we got through it. I was just crying with laughter the whole time. Martin Starr was the guest star in it. If I had to pick one, it would be that evening shoot. Honestly, I don’t even know how they cut it together because we just laughed so hard all night.

Q) What do you think it is about the series that will make it a fast fan favorite?

A) I think it is so much fun. Watching the episodes and screening them for people (we did a little tour in New York), I think it’s just so fun. It’s a comedy that is not at the expense of anyone. It’s just a treat to make people laugh and forget about your troubles and everything. It sounds cliché, but it’s a gift to be able to do that. I think it’s just a really funny half hour of television. I don’t know how else to put it, really. I don’t think there is a lot of stuff out there like it now. There really isn’t.

Q) What makes truTV a great home for the show?

A) I think truTV is a great home for it because they are incredibly supportive of it, which is great as it’s not lost in the shuffle of their network. For us to follow “Impractical Jokers” it’s a similar audience, I think. I can only speak to the fact that they have been so great with us and promoting the show. It’s the first season of the show and they are putting it on the side of buses in Manhattan and stuff. They are fully behind it where we could have landed on a network with a couple of similar shows or something. I think they’ve also really given the reins to us to create what we want. There is a great confidence given there as well. So, it’s absolutely great. In this shifting landscape of the way people consume their entertainment (streaming and all this stuff), they are all over all aspects of it which is important because as we all know everything is changing. People don’t watch TV by watching TV anymore. It’s all streamed with devices and this and that. They’ve been at the forefront and absolutely great with all of that.

Q) You are a part of social media. Have you been enjoying the fan feedback you receive to episodes?

A) Yes! Absolutely! It’s fun. I’ve been more engaged with this than anything else on social media. A lot of my other stuff I’m sort of a casual observer. But I do feel more invested in this. It’s fun. It’s been the most fun for me on social media watching the reactions and everybody interacting. It’s gotten me…I wasn’t even on Instagram before this show started. So, there you go! [laughs]

Q) Is there anything else about the show that you want to be sure we share with our readers?

A) Check it out on TruTV on Thursday nights. They also keep showing the episodes throughout the week so anybody can pop in anytime and check it out. It’s also on the TruTV app and soon to be everywhere else I’m sure. [laughs]

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and the work you do?

A) I would just like to say thank you so much. It’s an honor and a privilege to get to do what I do. If they reach out or follow me on social media, I do my best to try to interact and respond. I thank everybody so much and keep watching. Hopefully, we’ll do a Season 2 for everyone.