Peter Gallagher – Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) What made you want to be a part of “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist?”

A) For me, the most fun you can have as an actor is if you can contribute stories that have a place in the world that you live in and I’ve had that experience a few times on television. It was very distinct for me during “The O.C.” It was right after 9/11 and people were expressing all kinds of xenophobia and here was this character that came along who wasn’t afraid to be himself or what in my estimation was best about being an American – not losing your sense of humor and not being intimidated and not forgetting who you are. He invited a stranger into his home and in spite of living in a conservative neighborhood he wasn’t that and he didn’t want to lose himself. So, I love “Zoey’s” for so many reasons. Personally, it’s a great role and I’m particularly excited because we’re in this time in our history that we’re divided. Politics has been very divisive and we’ve been encouraged to ignore all sorts of groups of people. You’re not the right immigrant, you’re not the right religion or you’re not the right color or you’re not the right this or that. What our show does is show that everyone has a story. There is a greeting in the Zulu nation (which I don’t know how to say) and the notion is if you if you see someone you say “we see you” then the response is “I’m here.” The notion is you aren’t there unless you’re recognized. On our show Zoey (who is played by Jane Levy) at first is this introverted, shy person and then she’s able to hear people’s innermost feelings through song. So, whatever notions you might have about somebody what is really going on inside them is so powerful and the very thing that connects us all together when millions of people are feeling whatever they’re feeling – whether we’re grieving a loss or celebrating a win or all the feelings in between. So, I was really eager to be a part of this. I felt like we were swinging for the fences and all sorts of things could happen. I couldn’t imagine any more perfect show being done right now with the most wonderful people. Andrew Leeds (who plays our son) said, “I love everyone on the show.” I said, “I do, too.” It’s weird but it’s true. I’m besotted with Mary Steenburgen. I have admired her as an actor forever and we met on “Grace and Frankie.” She played my ex-wife and business partner. Now, she plays my wife and this. With the good projects that I’ve been in the cast has kind of energy and kind of cohesiveness. You can just feel that it’s part of this – what you feel that can make a show go. the whole is the greater than the sum of the parts and our creator, Austin Winsberg, has actually written a Broadway musical. It’s sort of that idiom, a use of music, and we happen to have the greatest songs ever written that we’re allowed to perform which is just like a conduit to people’s hearts because everybody has such powerful association with these songs. By virtue that the producers are willing to use these songs and use them in the context of our story is huge and I couldn’t be more excited. Also, I never really thought I’d get the chance to do the things that I’ve been doing kind of on the sly so to speak on Broadway…People don’t often associate me with my Broadway work unless you’re from New York and you’re familiar with Broadway work, but it was really kind of cool to be able to tell this story using song and dance…Although I wouldn’t call myself a dancer. So, I’m really excited to share this show.

Q) How was your character Mitch then originally described to you?

A) Just that I’m playing Austin Winsberg’s father, which is tragic. His dad had aggressive super nuclear palsy which is a brain disease. This wonderful creative father that he had suddenly what’s confined to the couch unable to move and unable to speak. There are similarities to PSP – it’s a parkinsonian kind of disease but there are similarities to Alzheimer’s, which I have a lot of familiarity with because my mom had Alzheimer’s. It’s kind of a challenging role for me. I don’t think my kids will want to see me in this world because it will kind of remind them of their grandmother and what might happen to me. [laughs] It’s also just interesting being that character with such a young cast because it’s just a reminder of mortality. In the same token I get to sing and dance and it’s kind of like the best role that I’ve ever had – the best roll that I’ve ever been offered.

Q) There is such a beautiful familial bond in the pilot. Was there a chemistry read for the family or was it simply seamless with your costars?

A) I wasn’t looking for seamless. It made itself apparent though very quickly. Mary and I didn’t do that many episodes of “Grace and Frankie” together, but we just hit it off and everybody thought that on “Grace and Frankie” that we had known each other forever. I felt that way when I met Jane Fonda. And when I met Jane Levy none of us knew what to expect from this show, even before we had done any of it. It’s in the doing of it that it slowly allows you to trust what’s going on and it just pulls you in deeper and deeper. We call it “Camp Broadway.” Let’s say if I only have two or three days shooting an episode then on a normal show I would come in the day before and shoot my stuff and get out of the way. But you don’t do that on this. I may have two days shooting, but you also have a week and a half of dance rehearsals. And I have to wait to learn a song and record it before we film it. So, you never leave. [laughs] We’re all up there all the time Unfortunately, we enjoy being in each other’s company. We also adore our choreographer in our assistant choreographer – Mandy Moore and Jeffrey Mortenson. And our Music Producer Harvey Mason, Jr. We have a full dance studio built up there in a recording studio that was an empty warehouse space. So, we’re all very much aware that it is unusual show and nobody knows if it’s going to work, but we all feel that it will and it will powerfully. We’re thrilled to be in each other’s company and share this with the world. We’ll see. With Jane, I loved her the minute I met her. But like everything else on the show, it just depends. I really love her now. [laughs] I’m gonna be concerned about her for the rest of my life, no matter what I do or she does. And I couldn’t be more impressed with what she’s bringing to this show because it’s such an interesting character that she’s developing and she’s so charismatic and real and funny and moving. She’s the hardest working person in show business. She works harder than anybody on the show and she’s in every scene of the show. So, I don’t know how she still up right.

Q) How did you shake off a long day of filming?

A) What’s harder on my body is the PSP because I’m so rigid with your muscles so tense. So, at the end of it my body hurts and my mind kind of hurts. Actually, the dancing and the singing is kind of the perfect antidote. I mean, I can dance and sing all day and my feet don’t hurt. I’m not saying I dance well all day. [laughs] What I lack in talent I try to make up for an hour spent rehearsing.

Q) What were some of your favorite songs to be a part of for the show or some favorite moments from filming?

A) I’m not going to say anything. I want them to be surprised. I want them to be engaged and to be surprised. Anything that I could tease…why would I? There are some great songs. All I’m going to say is there some great music. The kids in this show like Skylar [Astin], Michael [Thomas Grant] and Alex [Newell] and the young cast…I mean Alex, Michael and Skylar are phenoms. I’m like, “I’m sorry…Could you play that again? We don’t have to do this tomorrow, do we?” It’s great. They can sing and they can dance and they can do it perfectly. I know who to stand behind during dance number so nobody looks at me. That’s my trick.

Q) What do you think it is about “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” that is going to make it a standout new series?

A) It’s because I don’t think it’s something that people have seen before and I think they will be re acquainted with that we’ve been sort of led to believe isn’t there is just how deeply connected we are to everybody – even people you don’t think you are. By just expressing interest or understanding that everyone has a story and when you hear that story you just suddenly recognize all the ways that we are very much like that person. So, it’s reassuring. It’s like when you do a performance on stage and it works. For a moment everybody in that theater, in the house and on stage – for a moment – nobody feels alone. For a moment everybody feels like they belong. I hope that’s what people feel like when they watch this show. They will watch this show and they be reminded of all the beautiful varieties of humanity and all the things that we share and that unite us and connect us. Even if it’s only the songs but they are powerful because they reside…For some of us they’re generational. Hopefully, we’re providing for some people with each episode the soundtracks of their lives. And so I’m just hoping that the energy and the integrity and the commitment from all of the people who are trying to pull this show off that it’s going to come through and people will be relieved during an anxious and divisive time a reminder of all that connects us and that’s phenomenal – to not feel alone and to be reminded of what connects us.

Q) You seamlessly flow between characters in dramas and comedy. Do you have a favorite genre or medium that you prefer to work in?

A) Well, I really love it all. I’m really, really, really grateful for the years I spent and literally thousands of performances on Broadway. [laughs] Those ten shows. I’m really happy for those ten shows. I learned an awful lot about life, but I’m also really grateful for all of the movies and for other people in the experiences that I’ve had. I really love storytelling and I love when I get to do it with people who I admire and tell stories that that connect. When you’re telling a story that has a place in the world that you live in and people embrace it and love it it’s a great, great feeling. [laughs] I’ve had great experiences on shows that people didn’t love but the creative experience was great and the director was amazing. This is a game of at bats. You just have to keep showing up and swinging for the fences. Every once in a while, you get on base. I love it all. I’ve spent many years studying and still study and I don’t think there’s a big difference between drama and comedy. I like to find the comedy in the drama and the drama in the comedy. Find the way a human being would credibly behave in those circumstances. I’m just going to keep going until I get caught.

Q) What have been some of your favorite projects to work on?

A) I love my Broadway debut in the revival of Hair because that was my first professional job. I loved being in the original cast of Grease on Broadway. I still have dear friends from that. A lot of things were great but they were not necessarily happy yet they had value to them. I love “Grace and Frankie.” I love the show “Zoey’s.” I love doing American Beauty. I loved doing The Idolmaker. I love doing To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday. I love doing “The O.C.” I loved doing The Real Thing for Mike Nichols. There’s so many.

Q) People are still discovering your work on “The O.C.” and viewers continue to cherish the series. What did it mean to you to be a part of it?

A) It was very special. I’m still in touch with people who love that show are still have questions from that show and have a final exam coming up that they’re nervous about. I love being a father. I think it’s such an important job. You sort of appreciate how many fathers out there didn’t communicate well or were not present for them or gave them what they needed. It’s kind of great that they can have that awareness and seek out Sandy Cohen as kind of a touchstone. They can have a fantasy father that might have been him and I can respond. I can tell them “Sandy Cohen loves you” and that’s true. I thought the first season of that show was amazing. I thought it was an important story to be telling when we told it. I wish it would have lasted a little longer. I thought this was such an important family drama – a light dramedy to be telling during this period of time. It was a great show at the right time and I was really lucky to be part of it.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of you and your work?

A) I think people who are continuing to watch and enjoy my work. Keep believing in yourself and showing up in your lives no matter what the bastards say. [laughs] And know that Sandy Cohen loves them.