John Sloan – Life on the Rocks

Q.  What are some of the recent projects that you’ve been working on?

A.  Just before working on the show “Happy Hour” I did a mini-series called “The Triangle” for the Sci-Fi channel.  It starred myself, Sam Neill, Eric Stoltz and Catherine Bell.  We shot that for three months in South Africa, it was fantastic.

Q.  What can you tell us about the premise for the show “Happy Hour” and about your character?

A.  It’s about six people living in the big city looking for love, happiness and the perfect martini.  My character, Henry, is from a small town in Missouri.  He’s kind of an innocent, he comes from a place where irony and sarcasm don’t exist.  So, when he gets to the big city and is dumped by his girlfriend and loses his job, he finds himself living with Larry; who is the king of irony.  It’s sort of a fish out of water story, he’s trying to get his feet back under him and get his life going again.

Q.  What made you want to be a part of this show?

A.  I think mainly because the writers are so good.  The show is created by the producers of “That ’70s Show,” Jackie and Jeff Filgo.  They have a great sense of wit and comedy and I met all the cast members.  I was the last person to be cast in the show and then as soon as I met everyone else I knew it was going to be a good time.  So, I thought this was for me!  I also had never done a sitcom so I really wanted that experience as well. 

Q.  Do you have a most memorable from your time filming?

A.  Well, I can certainly point to the episode we are working on now.  I get my ass pinched by a quite famous guest star, so I am enjoying that. 

Q.  Why should viewers take the time to check out the show?

A.  Mainly to boycott “Survivor,” I think would be the best reason.  It’s just going to be the type of show that it says, a happy hour.  It’s a place you can go after a boring day at work and relax and have a laugh.  We’re not solving any of the world’s problems but we’re giving you a chance to relax and have a laugh. 

Q.  You mentioned this was your first sitcom.  Does comedic timing come naturally to you or are you having to work at it?

A.  Comedy is, I think, one of the most difficult thing for an actor to do.  I’ve done it before on stage, this is my first time doing it on television.  So, I am not completely new to it, it’s something that always improves.  The more episodes we do in front of a live audience, you really get a feel mainly for how your other actor’s work. What their rhythms are, it’s really a lot of fun. 

Q.  The critics haven’t been too kind to “Happy Hour,” do you think that viewers can look beyond the reviews?

A.  I don’t read press, good or bad.  I think if anyone looks at the initial reviews for “Seinfeld” or “Friends,” they’ll realize that one person’s opinion is really just that.  One person’s opinion.  Ultimately once audiences get to know the characters, they’re going to want to come back to the show.  It’s really a charming show and very funny, already having premiered, the people who watched the premiere are saying just that.  The characters are so likeable and it’s such a good sitcom that eventually people will forget the reviews and only remember the show. 

Q.  Have you at least heard anything about how the show was received?

A.  Only from friends and family and feedback through the grapevine about how much people enjoyed it.  Like I said, they really related to the characters and wanted to see more of their lives and see what happens next.  That, and I know FOX was pretty pleased with our start. 

Q.  What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

A.  I play a lot of sports, I actually ran a marathon at the end of July.  I ran the San Francisco Marathon so that was taking up a lot of my time.  Other than that, I spend a lot of time going to my girlfriend’s gigs.  My girlfriend is a singer/songwriter named Michelle Featherstone.  I’m the guy who lugs the keyboard into the club.  But, I love it, I love doing that! 

Q.  Do you have a latest obsession?  Are you into any particular book, music group, sport, or activity?

A.  Sam Cooke I think is kind of an on-going obsession.  Everyone hears about Marvin Gaye and Ray Charles but Sam Cooke was a singer with a voice like no other.  I’ve been reading his biography called Dream Boogie and other than that, I am always obsessed with my Ohio State Buckeyes. 

Q.  What would you like to say to fans of the show?

A.  I would like to say thank you for tuning in and enjoy!