Reid Scott – My Boys

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

A) “My Boys” is my new show and it takes up most of my time.

Q) Please tell us about the premise for your show “My Boys” and about your character Brendan.

A) “My Boys” is told through the eyes of the P.J. character (played by Jordana Spiro). She’s kind of tomboyish, but a very successful young woman who is surrounded by a lot of guys in her life. She has her closest buddies and her brother. That is sort of how she navigates through her professional life, her social life and her love life being the girl among a group of guys. Within that, I play Brendan who is her long time best friend. We were roommates in college and we have a lot in common. We really are best friends. It’s the kind of relationship where I’ll break up with my girlfriend and crash at her place or she’ll have guy problems and she’ll turn to me for advice. There is a lot of ribbing involved, it’s kind of easy going and sort of a no holds bard relationship.

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

A) I was given the script in late January or early February and I was asked to look at a different character. Immediately, the character Brendan jumped out at me because he was so much like myself that it was kind of shocking! I was like, “I would love the opportunity to play someone so much like myself because I could explore all of these little nuances about yourself that you never really get to about yourself within a character.” Usually, you are bringing parts of yourself to the character because it’s an opportunity to bring a lot more of myself. Beyond that, it was the executive producer and our head writer Betsy Thomas. You are just not going to find a classier lady in Hollywood. She’s incredibly fun and funny. She put together a great cast and lets us do our thing without a lot of handholding. She doesn’t really make us fit the mold. She writes a blueprint and she lets us sort of flush it out.

Q) How do you feel about being a part of TBS’ first original comedy?

A) It’s great! It’s the best place to be right now. I think a lot of great programming is moving to cable because cable sort of loosens the reins on everything in terms of subject matter and language. To be a part of the forefront of TBS’ movement to capture an audience with original programming, without blowing too much smoke, really is an honor. If you look back at shows that started at a network, like “Married With Children” on FOX, that was their flagship that launched that network. To be a part of a show that a network feels could really launch them is very flattering. It’s a big challenge, but a welcomed one.

Q) What is your most memorable moment from filming?

A) I don’t know if I have one. I have certainly laughed a ton! The chemistry that we share as a cast is something that has been pretty unique, in terms of an experience I’ve had on the show. I’ve worked a lot, done guest spots here and there and done little movies and some series. I’ve always been very lucky to work with talented and likable people, but this cast just stands out. From day one, it was immediately apparent that we all felt the same way. I would actually hang out with these people in my personal life and I think it overwhelmingly shows through on screen.

Q) You play a DJ. How did you prepare for your role?

A) I am kind of a music guy myself. The music side came pretty easily to me. I have a huge music library so the music knowledge was something I already had. As far as the in’s and out’s of the DJ side, I haven’t gotten the chance to prepare. Luckily for me, it hasn’t really been written anything really specific to the in’s and out’s of what DJ’s go through. I have met with some DJ’s and as soon as we finish wrapping, I am going over to the local stations here in LA to sit in with some of the DJ’s and really see what they do. That way, I can get my hands dirty a little bit and hopefully bring back some real experiences for season two.

Q) Why should viewers take the time to tune in to the show?

A) I think you are going to find something incredibly refreshing. I think comedy is a genre that I love. I mean, who doesn’t like to laugh? I think in recent years, unfortunately, comedy has gotten really watered down. Whether it is a particular network deciding that they only want to produce a certain brand of comedy and they don’t allow themselves to explore other things, I think what we have going on with “My Boys,” you’re going to know these characters. You are going to have people in your own life that are like the Brendan character, the P.J. character or even the character Andy (played by Jim Gaffigan). The humor is real. It’s something that you’ve never seen before in television. You’ve seen, obviously, great comradery and chemistry like from “Friends,” but you’ve never seen humor so effortless. It’s not a set up joke. You watch these people in their every day lives and it’s just so funny. You just can’t turn your eyes away.

Q) You have been a part of a few sitcoms. Does comedic timing come easily to you or is it something you have to work at?

A) It has always come kind of easy. I’d just never try standup because I’d be terrified. I have a huge respect for standup comedians. Cast member Jim Gaffigan is a huge standup comic and so is Jamie Kaler, who is kind of a fairly well known up and coming standup. I love humor and think of myself as a funny guy. I think humor is always the best medicine and it’s always been something I’ve loved to embrace, everything from dark comedy to light comedy. Most actors find it more satisfying to do the dark gritty dramatic brooding stuff. I think that humor is just so important. It’s one of the most important things to do in our art form, as well as to do in your personal life. To show up every day and laugh is a dream job.

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

A) I play a lot of music. I play guitar, I play bass, I record out of my house and help out bands with production and things. I surf a lot and snowboard. I have two dogs that I love to take up to the mountains and go swimming with and things like that. Anything outdoors and music are things I’m into. When I am not inside playing the guitar, I try to be outdoors as much as possible.

Q) What would you say is your latest obsession? A book? A movie? A sport?

A) I got into scuba diving a few years and I haven’t had a chance to go in a while. I am going to Bali in the middle of October and I am really looking forward to getting down there and taking some underwater photography. That’s another thing that I’ve kind of gotten into. I’ve tried to buy some really cool cameras and mess around with photography. It’s always been an art form that I’ve enjoyed.