John Lehr – 10 Items Or Less

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

A) Right now, I just finished doing the show “10 Items or Less” so I am just doing the promotion for it. Also, my wife and I are writing a sitcom pilot (that I won’t act in) for ABC. My plate is pretty full right now.

Q) Please tell us the premise for your show “10 Items or Less” and about your character Leslie Pool.

A) Leslie Pool is kind of a loser. He had a difficult time growing up and fitting in. His dad runs a grocery store that has been in their family for generations. One thing Leslie was not qualified to do, or meant to do in any way, was to run a grocery store. He and his father had some disagreements and didn’t get along great. I think they loved each other, but didn’t see eye to eye. Leslie went off to New York to make his way and then his father died and left the store to him. Now, Leslie is back in Ohio running the store. He’s doing a terrible job!

Q) What inspired you to create this show?

A) We (my partners Nancy Hower, Robert Hickey and I) had done a movie called Memron, which sort of made fun of the Enron scandal. It had some success so we wanted to continue doing improv and use our style of improv as a way to create some funny things. We thought television would be a good place for it. We wanted to do something in the workplace, we knew that, and we just started thinking of locations. We knew we needed something that was wide open and easy to shoot in that had lots of nooks and crannies. It had to be a place where everyone goes and a grocery store just seemed to fit the bill.

Q) What about your role challenges you?

A) The job, itself, is extremely challenging. We shoot nonstop. We probably look more like a reality show than a television show because we don’t cut very often. We’re basically improvising for ten hours straight. It’s a blast and really fun, but it’s also sort of draining. At the end of the day, I’m beat. As far as Leslie, I love that character. I think he represents sort of the side to us all that all of us have when we feel just not quite part of a party, when we feel a little nerdy or maybe when we remember we didn’t get picked for the dodge ball team. I love relating to that side of myself.

Q) The show films in a working grocery store with real customers coming in and out. Is it a difficult work environment due to distractions?

A) It’s definitely filled with distractions, but I don’t think that’s difficult. I think that makes it more exciting and it adds to it. Because we’re so loose with how we shoot and our writing, whatever happens we go with. If a customer walks into a shot and says something to me, which happens all of the time, I’ll just go ahead and improvise with them. Most of customers that you see on the show are actual people. It just adds to the realism of the show.

Q) What is your most memorable moment from filming the show?

A) We were shooting and we didn’t know it at the time that there was a holdup in the grocery store. A guy walked in with a gun and one of the undercover security people at the store caught him. He tackled him and duck taped his wrists together. As the police showed up and escorted him out, we kind of figured out what was going on. The whole time, we didn’t know it and we kept on shooting.

Q) Does comedic timing come natural to you or is it something you are constantly working at?

A) I would love to tell you that I put all this actor and Stanislavski method acting skills to the test. To be honest, I don’t have any idea what I am doing. I just do it and hope for the best.

Q) Why should people take the time to tune in to the show?

A) It’s funny! I think the bottom line is that it will crack you up. Also, the characters are really lovable. They are hilarious, but they also have a heart to them. I think you will enjoy getting to know them and the show is something that we, as human beings, can relate to. It’s not set on another planet or set somewhere that we’ve never been to. It’s set in a grocery store, some place where we all go. We all know what it is like when you are in line at the ten items or less lane, someone has eleven items or more and you want to say something, but you are afraid to. You get frustrated and angry and think you’re being taken advantage of. There is an awkward moment where you think you should say something and that awkward feeling is sort of the essence of our show.

Q) You’ve worked on various shows doing improv. Why does this genre appeal to you so much?

A) I don’t know. Maybe I was raised improperly by my parents and have some sort of psychological screw up that makes it so I need to say what is on my mind. It is just something that comes naturally to me and it’s something I’ve always really enjoyed doing. I grew up in Kansas, where there are not a lot of people going to acting classes, but when I discovered improv it blew my mind! I just was so surprised you could say whatever you wanted and I just kind of fell in love with it.

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

A) I have a six month old daughter and I don’t have any spare time. When I have any time, I sleep.

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A) Thank you! Thank you for watching my show. That means that you are interested in my show and I want people to see the show. I want people to enjoy it and I want people to be entertained by it. I’d just thank them.