Teddy Dunn – Who Dunn It

Q. We know the season finale of “Veronica Mars” is approaching.  But, what current projects are you currently working on?

A.  Well, right now I’m working on a TV movie for ABC Family, it’s called “Campus Confidential,” I am playing the love interest to the lead.  Does that sound familiar at all? Hah hah. It’s basically just a little TV movie and we’re going to try to shoot for a back to school some time in August release.  It’s funny, it’s a comedy, kind of an outrageous comedy, high school, that’s what I am doing right now.  Of course we have the second season in July so that’s pretty much it for now.

Q. With the show coming to a season finale, where would you like to see your character “Duncan” next season?

A.  Next season I would love to see, well, I don’t know who you have interviewed from the show, but everything this season, all the questions that are up in the air with Lilly’s murder and Kristen’s paternity issue and all those things get resolved by the end of the season.  So, I think, Duncan will start off the second season with pretty much a clean slate, obviously not a clean slate, his history will still be very dramatic.  But, I’d like to see Duncan kind of get back to the guy he was before Lilly’s murder and everything else that has gone on with his family this season.  He was in all the flashbacks we shot, he was depicted as this kind of like this king of the school, very charismatic, outgoing guy, he had the world at his fingertips kind of.  I would love it if he could kind of start to get back to his old self and start to I don’t know regain some of his old relationships.  If not, get back with Veronica romantically, at least rebuild the friendship there, and rebuild some friendships with Logan and other things.  I’d love to get more opportunities to work with Rico (Enrico Colantoni) and Percy (Percy Daggs III) and all the other regular members of the cast.  I had one scene with Rico this season but we actually were shooting dialogue and one scene I think Percy and I had like two lines all years.  I would love it if we could work out a way for me to I don’t know, interact more with the regular cast and kind of just back to his old romantic, idealistic self. 

Q.  The show has been slated as a guilty pleasure for adults.  Why do you think it’s such a guilty pleasure for them?

A.  It’s funny, how many people congratulate me on the show or compliment me on the show, most of them are much older than you would think our projected audience would be, teenagers.  I think that Rob (Rob Thomas) intended all along to build a show that would be good for not only teenagers, but for adults as well.  I mean I think part of the, obviously the mystery aspect of it, especially Lilly’s murder mystery and all that, really lends itself to adults.  I think it’s got a “Twin Peaks” appeal, I’ve heard that before, I’ve actually never seen “Twin Peaks,” I know it was a very popular show.  It’s got this dark quality to it that I think a lot of adults can relate to, you know it’s not, not everything is all good in the end, it’s kind of unlike al lot of the other teen shows in a way.  We don’t wrap it all up in a nice bow, with a little cherry on top at the end, you know what I am saying?  That’s not Rob’s style and I think that it lends itself to an adult audience and that on top of we have some very charismatic individuals on the set.  I think Rico, is somebody people can relate to very easily, I think Kristen is obviously extremely easy to relate to, for all ages not just teenagers, and I think that probably allows our show to be in a great spot for all ages. 

Q.  Do you have a most memorable moment from filming “Veronica Mars”?

A.  Well, there is a scene coming up I believe it’s in episode twenty-one, not the season finale but the second to last one, where Kristen and I have a very intense emotional scene.  It just kind of blew me away how much Kristen gave in that scene and I’ve gotten some really wonderful responses. I just remember just walking away from that day filming and really filling fulfilled in what I did that day.  It doesn’t happen everyday, sometimes I do have the scenes where I just kind of show up and say “Hi Veronica,” and wave and smile.  I walked away knowing why it is I want to be an actor and why it is I love what I do, and how lucky I am to do what I do.  That scene, I think Kristen and I have both gotten a lot of calls and just saying we really brought it that day so that was probably the best moment for me.  Kristen played a pretty great practical joke on me too early on in the year.  In terms of humor, she got me really good there, I think that’s probably the most embarrassing slash humorous things that have happened to me on the set too.  That’s definitely one of the most memorable as well, of course that was the night when I got to make out with two different girls.  We were filming this one scene and that’s always fun too! 

Q.  What is the dynamic like on set?

A.  Between everybody, we’re really fortunate, I said during the pilot that I hope we get picked up just so I can continue to work with these people. Because, in the pilot I only had three lines so it’s like I got to know everybody but I didn’t get to work with everybody and I just really admire and respect the way that everybody just goes about their business.  Of the six main cast members, and a lot of the recurring characters like my father which is played by Kyle Secor, there are just wonderful actors.  I think we have a great deal of respect for one another and also our job seriously we want to do a good job, we take pride in our work but at the same time we’re all very courteous of each other too, we’re friends.  I can’t say enough about how I’ve just become a good friend to Kristen and Percy in particular.  Percy and I hit it off right away, and we actually ended up living together last year in San Diego, he helped me when I went out to California, he helped me get set up and his family really took me in.  We have got a really special bond, and everybody else, Jason we play cards when we’re not working at night, everybody just gets along wonderfully.  Rico kind of takes care of everybody too, he has this paternal instinct thing going on with us, he kind of views us as his sons and daughter, which is awesome, because he just takes care of everybody, I think Kristen and Rico set the whole tone for the show, in that they just are extremely gracious and wonderful to be around.  We kind of just follow their lead, it’s a wonderful place to go to work and you can’t really have a bad day at work when everybody is there supporting you, you end up doing your best work, they all make you feel like you’re supported and you can take some risks and all that.  It’s been a really wonderful experience, I’m glad we got a second season to just continue and build on it. 

Q.  Why is it important for you to be a part of the group of cast members who attend mall appearances?

A.  I mean it’s six members of the main cast, and I think all six of us really enjoy doing it.  I don’t know why it’s important, I think you know, everybody has got their favorites on the show, Veronica is the obvious one.  I think that everybody else, if you’re a big fan of the show you have your favorite, whether it is Logan or Weevil or myself, Percy or Rico. I think that there is a different guy on the show that everybody can relate to and I think that it’s important when we make these appearances that we all represent because the show isn’t just about “Veronica Mars.”  It’s told from her point of view, and it is her story, but there is a lot more going on than just what is going on with her.  So, I think that it is important to make sure that everybody is there to make sure that everybody knows we are an ensemble cast and have fun and meet our audience, which is the most fun about it.

Q.  Originally the show wasn’t getting many viewers, now it seems the ratings have risen.  Why do you think the tables have turned?

A.  I don’t know, I haven’t even heard about the ratings so I am not even sure how many people are watching or what’s going on.  But, I think it’s starting to gain more attention, we’ve had great press all along, and had great reviews and the press on the show has been wonderful.  I think UPN has known all along that they’ve had a good show but I think we’ve just gotten better as we’ve continued to progress through the season.  I think UPN has really taken to that and they have started to put us out there more.  People, surprising to say, back in the fall when the show would air I used to say I was on “Veronica Mars” and people were like, “what’s that?”  They had never heard about it before, now when I say I’m on “Veronica Mars” people are like “Oh yeah, I’ve heard of that.”  They might not have seen it, but they know about it and they know that people are talking about it and it’s definitely become much more a part of the everyday dialogue or discourse on the television.  We’re starting to make a name for ourselves and I think it’s bringing in an audience.  Not to mention, Kristen Bell is all over the place, she’s been doing so much press, I don’t know how she does it.  She works all day and then on Saturday she’ll go to New York or something to film a talk show and then she’ll be right back Monday morning to start work again.  She’s really getting out there and doing a lot of press for the show, people realize that and I think are attracted to it.  

Q.  We read about your Punk’ing by Kristen Bell, did you ever return the favor?

A.  You know Percy and I both got pranked by her and we really haven’t returned the favor yet.  I did have her going for a little while thinking that I knew who the killer was all along, that Rob told me who it was.  I said I had to know for my character and all this stuff, for a little while there she thought that I knew what was going on and I was keeping it from her.  She got a little angry at that, that’s as far as I’ve gone, I really need to get her back.  Percy and I need to take some time during hiatus to figure out how we’re going to get her back. 

Q.  There have been a lot of famous guest stars on the show, anyone who you’d love to see appear?

A.  It’s really incredible to work with Kyle Secor, he was one of my idols growing up, he was on “Homicide: Life on the Street.”  That’s my favorite TV show, it’s an amazing show, and I thought Kyle was one of the best parts of it, he was my favorite character.  When I heard that he was playing my father I was like, “are you kidding?”  I got one of my first professional jobs and I get to work with one of the people in the business that I’ve really looked up to for a long time.  I don’t know how I can beat that!  Maybe if they got Don Cheadle to come, but I don’t think that’ll happen, he can play Percy’s brother or something.  But, I think I pretty much topped out with Kyle there.

Q.  What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

A.  Well, I don’t have a whole lot of it right now, I am shooting this TV movie in New Orleans and it’s great that I get to be here during Jazz Fest.  So, I go to Jazz Fest, I am going to Jazz clubs and hanging out in the French Quarter a little bit.  It’s just been incredible, I love the city, other than that I am pretty much a beer and a ballgame kind of guy.  I like hanging out with my buddies and watching the Red Sox pretty much, I’m a writer as well, but that goes along with the whole actor territory.  That’s more business oriented in my spare time, so that’s it.

Q.  Is there anything that you’d like to say to fans and supporters of your career and the show?

A.  I don’t really even know, this thing is all really knew to me, the TV show and everything, it’s not like we’re on FOX or anything and we’re an instant hit.  So, it’s not like I’ve been mobbed by fans and stuff, it kind of hasn’t really taken it’s toll yet exactly what I do and how many people watch it.  To those people out there that do enjoy my performances, all I can really say is thank you and thank you for watching and thank you for taking in my performance and enjoying it.  Wherever you go, whatever you do you’re going to have your supporters and your detractors as well, so I know that.  I know that my performance has earned some criticism from the show too and so for those people who do enjoy what I am doing and are supporting me and my career, I can’t do anything but say thank you, it’s always wonderful to hear that.  When you do these mall things and people come up and say “oh, you’re my favorite part of the show” or “I think you do a wonderful job,” it’s really wonderful.  You know I trained on the stage and I’m used to doing plays and your audience is right there in front of you laughing and crying along there with you, hopefully if you’re doing it well.  In TV we’re so removed from everybody, we’re removed from the fans and the audience but it’s a just a pleasure to know they are out there and to know that they are out there and receiving our performances and taking them in and enjoying it.  There is nothing you can really say except thank you and please keep watching.