Joe Adler – The Mentalist

By: Jamie Steinberg

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

A) We just wrapped right before the holidays. I’m excited to finally be available. I’m excited for pilot season and for some film scripts to come my way.

Q) How was your character Jason Wylie originally described to you?

A) He was originally scripted as kind of a guy in his thirties with an original scheduling of three to four episodes. For one reason or another, my agents decided to send me in and I booked the role. The producers and writers really wrote a great part and here I am two seasons later.

Q)  Was there anything you added to your role that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

A) When I got the job, obviously, what I brought to the table was very different from what they originally created in their breakdown. So, once they decided to hire me, I think they saw what I brought and the producers and writers started to create this different kind of character. I think Jason is a true collaboration of myself and them and working together. For the first few episodes, we were trying to figure out where we wanted Jason to go. Once we really hit that stride, it kind of took off from there and they figured out how to write for me and I figured out how to perform what they envisioned.

Q) When you joined the cast was there instant chemistry or did it take some time to bond?

A) It’s tough to come onto a show that has been a well oiled machine and figure out how to not disrupt the machine and contribute. I must say, everyone was really, really inviting from get-go. Truth is, nobody knew how long I was going to be there. For myself and cast and crew, we all kind of figured out I would be there for a while. I think we all settled into a really nice relationship. I think it was really fitting that my first scene on the show was with Tim Kang as was my last scene, ever. It was a nice full circle there. Simon [Baker] was interesting to work with as an actor. I observed as he worked and he has a very laid back style, which I think has allowed that to kind of translate to the screen. He’s so charismatic and fun on the show and then particularly he directed one episode and that was cool to see as an actor how he directed. I’ve never worked with a director who was also an actor that I was working with at the same time. That was really interesting for me to watch because not that he changed drastically when he was an actor, but he obviously had to change his mindset. That was a fun new, challenging experience for me. Then, Robin [Tunney] and I kind of bonded over food. We’re both kind of foodies and we went out for sushi once. We were always joking about that and new hip restaurants and L.A. Rockmond [Dunbar], Josie [Loren] and I as the newbies for whatever reason had an instant connection. All joking aside, we all really got along from the get-go.

Q) What have been your most memorable moments from filming the final season?

A) There have been a few because when a cast gets along this well memories happen that kind of stick with you. There is an episode where Simon and I are in a surveillance van and it plays over the course of thirty or forty pages. It was a long, drawn out action sequence and it will cut back and forth to what is going on in the hotel and us in the van. So, we have all these different television monitors that we are supposed to be watching since those were the cameras. There were like fifteen different monitors and we have all these one liners that we interject randomly. I remember showing up to set nervous that day because I didn’t want to seem unprepared. It was just so confusing because you couldn’t keep track of when you’re looking and where you are looking. Obviously, we’re not actually looking at anything, but I look at Simon and we realize we’re both so confused! We started taping our lines on to the monitors and the director kind of created this chart and cheat sheet, but it only made it more confusing. It was fun because I never had to navigate those waters before and we kind of had a laugh over that. Also, I play on “The Mentalist” softball team with some of the crew. That has been quite memorable really getting to know some of the crew guys. They are really good people!

Q) What do you think it is about “The Mentalist” that continued to make it such a fan favorite show?

A) When you have a lead like Simon who is so charismatic and easy to watch and then the chemistry between him, Robin and all the regulars on the show I think audiences catch on to that and they see that. It really translates. I don’t think the show would have been on for seven seasons if the audience didn’t enjoying watching that kind of chemistry. On top of that, the writing is great and the producers just know how to make a good show. I’m lucky to have been a part of it.

Q) You are a part of social media. Do you enjoy the instant fan feedback you receive when episodes premiere?

A) Yeah! It’s funny because some of the European countries get to see the episodes a couple days before the episodes air in the US. I don’t get to see any of the episodes until they air live. So, I get to see them when ever in the states gets to see them. I’ll get tweets from European fans that will say, “It was so funny when this happened” or “Blah blah when this happened.” I’ll be like, “I don’t knwo what you’re talking about because I haven’t seen it!” We do a fair amount of episodes so I forget sometimes the subtlies of what happened. It’s funny that they get to see it before I do. Social media has been a cool way to connect to people and let them see the real me. I think fans often think that I am Jason Wylie. Obviously, I’m a very different person. So, that’s a very cool thing for me.

Q) Why is it important for you to connect with your fans that way?

A) It’s really the only way! Obviously, I can’t give out my phone number. I am doing interviews, but social media is the only means I have of conveying who I really am in my life. That’s very cool that nowadays we get to do that and fans get to reach out. If fans have a question, I can literally respond directly to them. So, that part of social media is pretty cool.

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

A) I’m overly grateful for the support. When you are doing a show like this, at the end of the day it’s not possible without fans watching. Without fans watching, we can’t make the show and we don’t work. I’m overly grateful for the support and love. I really appreciate it. It’s very cool for me!