Tone Bell – FAM

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) The show “FAM” has been getting such great reviews and feedback. That must make you feel good!

A) It feels good! It feels good to have a series that people are looking forward to and our numbers and viewers are good. I think it’s only going to get better. Having been in a few sitcoms, it feels good to feel like this is a good one. It’s been nice. And working with this cast and crew where everybody gets along, we’ve become kind of like a family. Even though we finished shooting the series already, we are still together all the time. If you’re not out of town, we’re catching up for drinks, dinner or whatever. It’s been great.

Q) How was your character Nick originally described to you?

A) He was described to me as “Jay” because that was the original name. [laughs] We changed the name and I knew it wasn’t written for me, but it was something I wanted to tackle. I read it and I was like, “I don’t know if this dude is a black dude or a white dude,” which is great because it wasn’t in the words. That’s kind of what drew me to it. Nick is a smart, funny and kind of silly dude. He knows about the world because he’s a professor, but he is pretty sheltered and hadn’t seen a lot. Clem (Nina Dobrev) kind of opens him up to a whole new world and ironically enough he kind of gives her a little more solace and comfort. It’s a nice give and take.

Q) Sheryl Lee Ralph told me that’s why she loved this series, it wasn’t racially focused.

A) It’s an adaptation of our creator’s, Corrine [Kingsbury], life story. So, I’m like, “Oh, I’m playing her husband.” Her husband is not black though. So, hopefully people understand that people are people. People still have problems. I think it just works. It doesn’t look, sound or feel like we tried too hard. I think it’s pretty seamless.

Q) What was the chemistry read like between you and leading lady Nina Dobrev?

A) We actually didn’t have to do a chemistry read because we had a movie come out this past summer called Dog Days where we played love interests. When we met on that movie, it was our first day meeting for real and also our characters met for the first time. It actually went pretty chronologically to build a relationship and just be friends. Then, at the end of the movie we get engaged and at the beginning of our show we get engaged. So, it was not quite a continuation, but especially for fans of Nina and people that follow both of our careers it was kind of cool to watch one segue into the other. The chemistry was there. It was more of them seeing scenes of us, liking us together and asking if we’d work together again. We both said yes. There was no chemistry read. Her and I discussed it. The studio and the network discussed it and then brought it to us. We both gave it a thumbs up and it was like, “Cool. Be here on Monday.”

Q) Nick and Clem have their world disrupted by Shannon’s arrival and it also reveals Clem’s true past. How will Shannon continue to shake up their relationship?

A) You are talking about a young couple starting their lives together. They’ve moved in together and everything is going perfect. His parents love her, and everything is going smooth, but then this catastrophe just shows up in their living room. It’s kind of like when someone comes to crash with you for the weekend and then they’re like, “Hey, can I stay with you until Friday?” Then, you’re like, “Alright, that’s four extra days, but okay…” Then, they’re like, “Man, it’s going to be another week.” You’re like, “Okay, we’re not doing this.” That’s when the relationship changes because you’re like, “I don’t know what this is. You were great from afar. I knew you were out there, but I don’t need you being here all the time and you’ve taken over.” Everything that you thought you set up for yourself is now being knocked down. You set up all these dominoes and then when someone knocks one down it just ruins everything. We’re just steady picking up those dominoes and setting them back up. Shannon (Odessa Adlon) is a handful that nobody expected, and Clem was kind of quiet about it because it was embarrassing to her. Nick is a super loving dude so he’s like, “We can handle it.” He isn’t sure he can handle it. They’re not sure they can handle it. But they love each other, and they’ll make it work.

Q) Do you have much of a hand in how the character develops?

A) Being the only standup comic on the show, I get a little bit of freedom to play a little more and kind of adlib some jokes and kind of make it spontaneous. There are going to be some times when you watch the show that people who know me or have seen my standup or other work will see, “Oh that seems like Nick” and “That’s a little bit of Tone coming out.” The episodes are so funny. I’m sure there are probably times when they cut to me and I’m doing my best not to laugh because everyone is so funny. Sheryl Lee [Ralph] is one of the funniest people on television and Gary Cole is hilarious. Everybody does a really good job. I think Nick does a really good job. He has his own episodes coming up and his own conflicts. I chose to handle them a little more animated than maybe some other scenes. So, I think there are going to be a nice influx. If you watch the show and continue to watch the show, I think you’ll start asking yourself, “I wonder what he is going to do in this episode,” because there is always going to be something silly and over the top – which is a reaction somebody would have, but this is the TV version of it. People have something to look forward to.

Q) What do you think it is about “FAM” that has made it such a fast fan favorite series?

A) I think it is relatable. I think the show is extremely relatable. I think Nina said in an interview previously that it feels like the chemistry of “Friends,” but with a different dynamic. The conflicts can be small, but you can blow them out of proportion. That’s what’s great about sitcoms and the live audience aspect. Just the fact you have a young black dude in an affluent family, and you have a young white lady with a kind of dysfunctional family that she’s not proud of and they can come together and work things out. A lot of times families don’t, but hopefully more families do. You have to get conflict out, resolve it and move forward because that’s what families and friendships are supposed to do. And you want someone to be better than they were. That’s the lesson we’re learning and the lesson we’re trying to teach from the people that are either didn’t do us right or did do us right. My parents gave me everything I ever needed where as her’s gave her nothing. Then, her sister is going through the same thing. So, to not have another version of this, how can we evolve ourselves to try to make it better without going crazy in the process?

Q) You have great comedic timing. Is it a natural ability you have always had or something you have worked at over the years?

A) My standup is definitely…If you talk to me, I deliver it in the same way in a conversation that I do when I’m on stage. I’ve been doing it for over eleven years now, but I’m still finding my way with it. I’m also just a 90’s sitcom kid. I watched all the TGIF’s and “The King of Queens,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and “Martin.” So, I was a kid who absorbed all of that comedy and all of that physicality in the 90’s. When I was in junior high my mom asked me what I wanted to be and I said, “I think I’m going to be on TV. I want to do what Will Smith is doing.” And I still watch them to this day! It’s the best training tool. The old, old sitcoms like “Mel’s Diner” with Linda Lavin…Just watching it and trying to make sure you can catch an audience. We have a live audience on “FAM.” For some reason people don’t understand anymore, but there are three million people watching every week. It’s a different thing. Not every joke works at first. You have to be confident and see what I need to add or take away or if I need to give a reaction to my costar. Luckily, I work with a cast where we are so giving that if you need something more from me or you need something less from me, we share. That’s what makes a good comedy.

Q) What are the other upcoming projects that you are working on?

A) My first comedy special is coming out on Showtime on Feb. 22^nd called “Can’t Cancel This.” I’ll actually be on tour and on stage at the time when it premieres.

Q) What would you to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thank you for watching the show. I appreciate the years – the ones that didn’t work. I get messages all the time where people pat me on the back and say, “Don’t worry! I think this is the one.” So, hopefully, this is the one. I hope they see the special and catch a little bit more of my comedy. If you see me in your city, come to a show. Come say what’s up afterwards! I don’t bite.