Lance Barber – Young Sheldon

By starrymag | September 26, 2019

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) What do your kids think of the show “Young Sheldon?”

A) It’s the first thing I’ve ever worked on that we can all watch together. The previous work I’ve done has been far too adult for my children to watch to begin with or to appreciate, but we watch it as a family and it’s awesome. I think they enjoy the show and they get a kick out of being so close to it and kinda seeing behind the scenes and knowing the kids on the show. And I think it’s pretty unique and a fun experience for them. It’s the third season so now they’re kinda used to it. They’re not so starstruck that’s for sure.

 

Q) How hands on is Jim Parsons with the series?

A) We hear Jim as the voice every episode and as a producer I’m sure that he talks to other producers during the show. During the first season when we were getting it off the ground, he was present. And he has been working towards out last season of “Big Bang Theory” and he was around a lot. He obviously finished last year. They are not on the lot anymore and I believe he’s back in New York. I haven’t seen him this season. But his presence is always there with us, of course, and the show is called “Young Sheldon,” so there is always the specter of Jim Parsons hanging around Stage 12 at Warner Brothers lot with us. He’s a wonderful guy and I think after such a run what a cool thing to continue this character and really bring it in I think that he can live where he wants to and carry on with his life and be able to do the voice overs for the show and any input he has as a producer from wherever he is and a deserved luxury for that guy.

 

Q) Speaking about being hands on, how hands on are you with maybe how George Sr. develops over the seasons?

A) You know, with anything it’s a collaborative effort to some degree, but everything’s on the paper from the writers and the producers. I like to think I had some hand in it that’s for sure. We had to figure out a way to make George likeable and so as he was presented on “The Big Bang Theory” as being rather unlikable. I was kind of a cartoonish alcoholic redneck, but we want a road for these characters, and we wanted to ground them. “The Big Bang Theory” was a different tone and our show it was broader. It was a multi cam comedy. It was written for several jokes every page. Now ours are a little more grounded in our situations and our characters dynamic and we have a lot of tender moments and I think that’s what makes it work. And, so, because of this we couldn’t just have George be a cartoonish buffoon. So, I’m hoping with what I brought to it was some humanity and someone who is doing their best. I think that’s how we presented George.

Q) There is such great chemistry between you and Zoe Perry and, of course, you and the kids as well. Talk a little bit about finding that familiar bond and what you guys maybe do off set to find that bond.

A) Well we spend eight to twelve to fourteen hours a day together. So, that is intrinsic to your worst day. It is unnecessary. Maybe a little bit at the beginning we tried to spend time outside of work to get to know each other. But it, frankly, wasn’t necessary. We see enough of each other at work to garner a familial bond. Anyone who has done a show or done a play knows that’s just intrinsic to any time together. The kids are good kids. They’re easy to like. We had on screen chemistry right away just in our senses of humor and we became great pals. That really helps I think and shows on the show. Some of my most fun on the show is doing things with Zoe and I. I think that’s important to the show. And it just came naturally without a lot of trying, thankfully. I don’t think that’s always the case, but we were lucky in the regards that everyone got along.

 

Q) What can you tease for what’s in store for George Sr. and the family this season or maybe some themes that are explored this season?

A) Obviously, we’re not allowed to talk specifics about any arcs that are on the show, but I think what we see now in Season 3 is we see a broadening of the world a bit. We have established some family dynamics, everyone’s relationships with each other. The tension and the fun with George and Meemaw (Annie Potts). The protection with Sheldon and Mary. In Season 3 we get the luxury of play and putting these characters outside of the house and into the world of other characters and that’s going to be fun. We get to know and like them and now we get to see them in different situations, I think, and interacting with new people or some of the guests, which we have a wonderful selection of people and all of these wonderful people that brighten out the world of “Young Sheldon’s” home life. And I think we get to explore more of that. So, people can look forward to that.

 

Q) What keeps challenging you then about playing George Sr.?

A) That’s a good question, I don’t know if it’s challenging anymore, but they make the point of storylines that explore the challenges for the characters and so that’s fun to navigate. And when you have a crack team of writers, it’s wonderful. The history of their comedy writing, you’re just excited to see what they put on the page next script. And it’s always something rich and delicious. So, that keeps it…I don’t know if challenging is the right word, but exciting. And I look forward to each script.

 

Q) What have been some of your favorite scenes to film for young Sheldon then?

A) I am partial to the tender moments. Those are the things I can find a bit challenging, so when I can navigate them and play them real on the backdrop of a comedy show it is, I feel…Like if we were to categorize, it would be more of a dramedy, but it is first and foremost a comedy. The reason a comedy works in the tone of our show is because it’s grounded and we like these characters and there are tender moments – moments of life that real people go through so those are the most fun to play. The comedic timing is always fun to play with a joke on a page, but getting to know those people and playing those moments with whichever character…I have some scenes coming up that I’m working on now with Missy. And George and Missy’s (Raegan Revord) relationship that was explored in an earlier episode. He took her out for dinner and that was one of my favorite scenes. When George sits down to talk to Sheldon (Iain Armitage) in his bedroom and have a genuine moment with him. There was an episode last year where Mary was pregnant and she lost her baby and we get to see those characters in this comedy have some true-life adversity to navigate. And for any actor that’s fun and we get to do it on the show, and I love that.

 

Q) What do you think it is then about “Young Sheldon” that continues to make it such a favorite, heartfelt series for the fandom?

A) We got so many things going for us because it has to many advantages that other shows don’t. We had a built-in audience. We had to win that audience from “The Big Bang” because it’s so different. And I think there is certainly “Big Bang” fans that don’t care for this show. However, there are people that didn’t watch “The Big Bang.” I know from experience and demographic numbers online that we have a lot of viewers that didn’t watch “The Big Bang” that are fans of “Young Sheldon.” A built-in audience as well as a whole new audience. And now with Season 3 we will be able to continue that and I think, what I’ve said before, is that the show has some grounded moments. It’s a comedy, but we care about these people. And on “Big Bang Theory” when Sheldon (Jim Parsons) discussed his family it was generally punchlines to jokes and funny and appropriate for that kind of show. But here we want to see a perspective that Sheldon has on his parents and I think that has everything to do with the success of the show.

 

Q) You do have such great comedic timing. Is it something that’s natural or have you had to work on it?

A) Well, I always have to work at it. Since I was a kid, I was attracted to it. I was a fan of a lot of broad faced comics. I loved Jerry Lewis and I loved Tim Conway and I loved Jim Carey when he came along. Guy that would play, even though they were broad and clownish, they really could convey emotion with their face. To be able to do that in smaller ways, or in larger ways, on this show comes from stuff I’ve always enjoyed doing. And finding the balance of that and having it not be too broad or too big and play real and still be funny is a fun challenge.

 

Q) You’ve been part of a number of incredible projects from Gangster Squad and now “Young Sheldon.” What have been some of your favorite projects that you’ve been a part of?

A) This is towards the top for obvious reasons. I worked on a show on HBO called “The Comeback” and it’s something I’m really proud of being a part of. It was only two seasons and they were nine years apart. Two seasons, but the stuff we did on that show I think was ahead of times a bit. In regards to uncomfortable comedy it was right up my alley and I was a very vulnerable character that I still get recognized for today, even though it was only two seasons. I was fan of it. That’s one of the top. I was very proud of that show. Because of that show that’s what got me the work that followed it honestly, that show got me into more rooms and got me more jobs. They’ve all been pretty much terrific. Another standout would be my recurring role on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” Bill Ponderosa is a character I’m recognized maybe more than anything in public. There are different reasons for that. There are very specific demographics that approaches me about that character. It’s an outlandishly awful man, a cartoonishly disgusting human being. So, that’s fun to play and those guys that run that show are pretty great and a lot of fun to play with. I feel lucky and enjoy that job a lot.

 

Q) You’re a part of social media. What kind of fan response do you get to the episodes and do you enjoy the reactions you have because people can watch and give you feedback from the episodes?

A) You obviously see I have a handle on Twitter and I have a Facebook page. Perhaps I did have an Instagram, but mostly I post pictures on Instagram every once in a while. I don’t think I’ve been on Twitter for a year and a half, two years. I do have those handles, but I am not a user. I check Facebook maybe once a month because I have family and friends on there that I want to check in with and see. I’m old school and very disinterested in doing that, at least for business, and they encourage us on this show to be part of social media. But once in a while for my ego I will take a look and see what people are saying, but it’s very rare. I’m not so interested in the online stuff and I guess I could maybe get drawn down a rabbit hole with it and I don’t want to. I don’t pay much attention to it frankly.

 

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure we share with our readers about the new season of “Young Sheldon?”

A) I think there are going to be some good surprises here with some guest cast and storylines that fans may not anticipate. So, tune in!

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

A) Just keep watching. I couldn’t be more grateful and I only say that once in a while in an interview or online, but I hope I’m able to keep putting out good work that people enjoy and that people keep enjoying it. Before there was social media people appreciated work and those making the work were extremely grateful. So, that’s the camp I’ll stay in, I think.