Kevin Daniels – Sirens

By: Jamie Steinberg

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

A) I came back and got to do another episode of “Modern Family,” which was fun. I am working on the webseries “One and Done” with my buddy Matt Letscher. The script is really funny and he called to ask me if I wanted to come in. Matt and I worked together on a radio play for LA Theatre Works. He was also on one of my favorite shows, “Scandal.” Kevin Bigley and I are working on a sketch. He has a company and he and his wife do skits for Funny or Die so he and I are going to do a sketch about The Oscars. I’ve been reading and there is not a whole lot we can do because we are still under contract. They will let us know about a Season 3 of “Sirens” between now and May. I’ve auditioned for a couple movies and I may go do a play.

Q) How was Hank originally described to you?

A) I got a script when I was in New York. My manager called me at the time and said, “Hey, I just read this script and I think you would be great for it. Take a look at it and I want you to meet the casting director Ross Meyerson. He’s cast a lot of good shows like ‘Nurse Jackie.’ You’ve never met him, so go in.” I told him I was supposed to fly back to LA on Saturday, but he said I had to stay until Monday! So, I stayed until Monday to meet with Ross and it was fantastic! You read a lot of scripts and some of them aren’t great, but you have to do what you have to do. I was reading this and I’m laughing from page one! It was really, really funny! When I first read the script it was for this guy who is ex-military and sports fan and in the original draft it wasn’t until halfway through that you found out he was gay. I loved it! I loved it so much because it wasn’t trying to make a big deal about it. It wasn’t, “Oh look you have a gay friend and a straight friend and one is black and one is white!” It was just like this is a guy and this is the representation. It’s going to be funny. So, shut up and laugh.

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

A) When I read this, I thought Hank was so funny and unfiltered. He said what was on top of his mind. You always try to add to whatever character you are putting on and I really just got into the humor and what I thought was funny. It’s all scripted, but towards the end of the scene they would let us play a little bit to get out of the scenes. So, it would be just a little playing with improv here or there, but it was all situational stuff based on the characters and how they might respond in this situation. Then, they would do syntax things that I would suggest. I would say, “Would it be funny if he said this line this way?” They would say, “Cool! Try it!” It would work! So, we kind of came up with a collaboration, but first and foremost I didn’t want to make him a stereotype. I wanted him to have all sorts of colors and layers. I love when they tear away at the idea of him being the rock or the foundation in situations. We did an episode this season where they go to a fancy gym and Hank has always thought of himself as hot or pretty sexy. Then, he goes to this gym and no one is checking him out. You kind of see what happens when his vanity gets attacked and how he unravels. It’s just so much fun to play! It’s this guy in a bathrobe in the middle of a gym saying, “We have to go! We have to go!” It just makes me laugh!

Q) Was there instant chemistry when your “love interest” Jesse Luken joined the show?

A) Jesse is dope! He plays Nick this season and he and Mike had worked together on “Last Resort” and I think maybe they did an episode of “Justified” together. So, they were already friends and he was in town doing King Lear in Chicago. Mike didn’t know that Jesse was auditioning and got a text from him saying, “Hey, I think I’m going to be on your show!” And Mike told me and I was like, “How is he?” Mike said, “Dude! He’s one of us! He’s great people! He is just fun.” Jesse was game for whatever and we got to play around. He did stuff that wasn’t scripted and with the first scene we have together when we discover him with the peanut allergy he just kind of gives me this look. I thought he was going to have a reveal where he comes out of the apartment and they have this kiss. He gives me this look and I was like, “Cool, we’ll play with that.” And it just went from there. He was so much fun to work with! Originally, it was supposed to be just one episode where Hanks dumps him and moves on, but because he was so funny and great and they thought we worked well together they kept bringing him back! Bob [Fisher] asked me what I thought of Jesse and what I thought of making them a couple. Now, he has just become a part of the crew. If we get a third season, I think we will explore that even further.

Q) Fans are really excited for you to have a love interest this year. Is Nick sticking around?

A) Nick is going to give Hank a little run for his money this season. Hank had said last season that he was done with the one night stands and wanted to settle down. I think when he is confronted with that possibility, which is what Nick does for Hank this year, we get to see a different side of him. That will be fun!

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming this season?

A) I have to tell you, this episode titled “All The Single Ladies” is probably one of my favorite episodes that we have gotten to film. The kids were phenomenal! One girl in particular – I don’t want to put anyone on blast – but there was one girl in particular who was spectacular. We’re between takes and one little girl asked, “Are you guys real EMT’s?” And the other girl who is playing the lead hen is like, “No! They’re actors! Duh!” I was like, “I love you kid.” It was really, really fun. This episode is great though. They are on the nightshift, which is something we haven’t really done on the show. We film entirely in Chicago so the city becomes a character, another texture. We’re driving around Southside of Chicago at night! It was fun to do. There is another episode coming up called “Screw The One Percent,” which brings me such joy. I can’t wait to see it because you find out about our own personal biases and a little bigotry that the characters may share. Of course, because it’s “Sirens,” it’s never what you think it is! It was really funny and I love it.

Q) What do you think it is about “Sirens” that has made it such a fan favorite show?

A) Honestly, I always go back to the writing. Our writers are so smart and we have an incredible group of people. Julieanne Smolinski, Spencer Sloan, Paul O’Toole and Erik Durbin all have such varied voices and we all just want to tell great stories. We got so lucky with the incredible crew in Chicago and we have so much fun making it. I think it shows on screen and people get to experience that. We get to be a group of people you want to hang out with. You want to come home from work, turn on the TV and find out what these knuckleheads are up to this week. It teaches you a little bit about life and a little bit about yourself. And you also get to have a bit of a tribute piece to these incredible heroes who go out and make people better – or try to make people better.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with fans?

A) It’s just instant! Never before have you been able to say whatever you want about a show that you are enjoying or not enjoying, frankly. You get a feel for what the pulse is from what people are saying. As an artist, it’s great to have that feedback. I grew up in the theater so when you are doing shows you can feel and see the audience right there. You kind of get to mold and sculpt your performance based on what is happening, just in the space. On television, we do this kind of in a bubble. We shoot this for three months and you don’t have to worry about numbers and ratings. You don’t have to worry about the network coming in and changing things. You just do it and then they start airing it all. Then, there is a part of you that worries, “What if they don’t get it? What if they don’t like it?” So, then you get to go on social media and people tell you frankly. They’ll say, “Oh I love this episode,” or “Oh that got on my nerves a little bit!” It is just fun to go on the ride with them as well. When you like something, you tell your friends about it. The best way is to tell your friends is on social media. I’ve picked up shows because of recommendations that way. Someone will say, “Oh my gosh! I just watched all of “Transparent” and it was amazing!” Because it was a friend I trusted, I decided to start watching “Transparent!”

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure that fans know about your character or this season of “Sirens?”

A) I think it’s deeper and funnier this year. It’s going to surprise people a lot of the ways how these friendships build and where these relationships go. I just want people to tune in and have a good time with it!