Matt Letscher – The New Adventures of Old Christine

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

A) Right now, I am working on a movie that Alan Ball wrote and is directing that is tentatively called Twin Falls. That will be shooting through the beginning of November. I am also working on a new play by Beth Henley.

Q) Please tell us about your character Burton from “The New Adventures of Old Christine.”

A) He is a lawyer and he meets Christine at a blind date mix up at a restaurant. They really hit it off so he decides to pursue her. He ends up really falling in love with her and she, in her very Christine like way, finds a way to screw the whole thing up. They come together, then they go apart, they come together again and then they go apart again. Something tells me this might become a pattern.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the show?

A) I knew the woman who created it, Kari Lizer, before because she was working on “Will & Grace” when I was working on “Good Morning Miami.” I knew her work and knew how good she was. When I read the character, I thought this was really great. When I met with Julia and we read it, it just worked instantly. We just sort of really worked well together. It was the combination of those two things, plus their director Andy Ackerman I’ve known for a long time. It was one of those jobs where all of the elements worked really perfect right off the bat.

Q) What is it like working with Julia Louis Dreyfus?

A) She’s amazing! She’s incredibly generous as a performer. She’s so funny, in her own right, but she leaves so much room for the person she is working with to be a part of things. Lots of times, actors with a comic sensibility can end up taking over a scene and she’s perfectly capable of that, but she also leaves a lot of room for the person she’s working with. She’s just a great person, very down to Earth and very fun.

Q) You have great comedic timing. Does it come natural to you or is it something that you constantly have to work at?

A) I don’t know. I think it’s something that develops over time the more you do it. I think maybe I had some of that starting out, but it’s definitely something I’ve learned to do better as I’ve done more situation comedies and other comedic projects.

Q) What is it about the show that you feel captivates viewers?

A) I think it’s truly a marriage of three really great creative people, Kari Lizer (great writing and a good vision for the show), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (who is just probably one of the premiere comedians of our time) and Andy Ackerman (who is one of the best situation comedy directors you’ll find out there). The three of them work so well together. It’s the perfect blend of elements.

Q) What was your most memorable moment from filming?

A) There are so many! There is a scene in the third episode I did when they first break up (he breaks up with her) and she comes to his house to extensively get back together with him, but ends up breaking up with him all over again (before they’ve even had a chance to get back together). The scene was so well written, it was so funny and so real and touching. It was one of those scenes that felt like it was just the perfect little scene. That’s what I remember most from it.

Q) How did you feel getting to work with director Andy Ackerman?

A) He’s very collaborative as a director and he knows the medium so well. The thing about Andy is that he understands the best kind of comedy is rooted in behavior and not in jokes. Jokes are funny, but they are that much funnier when they are rooted in behavior of a particular character. In other words, the comedy isn’t joke driven. It’s driven by the situation and the person in that situation. He really understands that. It’s a joy working with a director that is that open and easy to work with.

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

A) I do a lot of outdoors things like hiking, camping and I have a couple of boys so I hang out with them. I just enjoy southern sunny California.

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

A) Whatever fans and supporters, there may be thank you for being fans and thank you for supporting me. That goes for my family, as well.