TV Tattler: Celebrity Interviews

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So, you've been cast in an NBC pilot, 'Heroes.' Does this spell doom for 'Bedford'?
Not necessarily. This happens with all actors in television. You're in a show, and you don't know the fate of the show. As optimistic or pessimistic as it is, you gotta work. So, for me, Heroes is an opportunity to keep busy and work. My first obligation is to 'Bedford' and in second position is 'Heroes.'

Warner Bros. seems to be a big fan of yours. That must be nice.
It is. I've actually worked with Warner Bros. studio for about 7 years. This deal was, I think, my sixth contract with them. To continue it with the network, to continue [the relationship] with Peter Roth and the studio, it's very nice.

Both 'Bedford' and 'Heroes' are ensembles. Is that something you look for in projects?
The positive is you know you're going to have days off. The negative is if you really hunger for that work. I would much rather be in an ensemble cast than be a primary character who would really have to carry the show. It's really a lot to put onto a person. You hear about Vincent D'Onofrio being the central person on 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent,' and I think they brought Chris Noth back to help balance the weight of an hour-long episodic show.

You're making another guest appearance on 'Gilmore Girls' April 11. Will Jess be making a move on Rory?
No, well... kind of. It's not really him pursuing it so much as being pursued, and reacting to what he's hearing. He lives in Philadelphia now. Luke, who's in town with his daughter April, stops in. That's actually a really, really nice moment between Jess and Luke. They get to catch up a little bit and strengthen their bond. You realize that Jess is a little more grown up and Luke is a little more accepting of the way Jess is. Then, Rory shows up and they start catching up. Maybe a move made. You'll have to wait and see.

And you're in the new 'Rocky Balboa' movie.
Yeah, it comes out Christmas Day.

What was that experience like?
It was pretty amazing. The day after I moved home from New York from shooting 'Bedford,' I auditioned for Rocky. Then a week later, I'm sitting down with Sylvester Stallone and I got the part ten minutes after I left the meeting. For me, it was a good feeling to finish one job and then book another job immediately. I didn't even register that it was part of a 30 year legacy. And I would tell my friends and parents, yeah, I'm doing 'Rocky,' it was like "Holy sh**!" I started to focus primarily on the work, the character, his relationship with his father. I still haven't even thought about being part of this movie that's loved by so many people.

What's Sylvester Stallone like?
Such a smart guy. Such an intelligent person. I found myself on the set just quietly watching how he works with the crew, how he speaks with his actors and the cameraman. And then to see him turn on the character of Rocky ... I think a lot of people understand that he's not like that, that it's a character he plays. But to really understand the shift from Sylvester to Rocky, it was a lesson in acting. I really hope that people recognize Sylvester as a director, an actor and a writer.

I never see you or your girlfriend Alexis Bledel in the celebrity tabloids. Is that a policy you have?
I just try not to subscribe to the ways of celebrity. I'm not a celebrity, I'm a working actor. A lot of the events -- the parties and the premieres that people go to to get noticed -- I'm just not into. I'll hang out with my friends, go see punk shows, read at home. At the same time, I have a production company, which is a lot of work.

You're into punk? Any particular bands?
Nothing new. There hasn't been any new good music that's come out in a while. I've been listening to a lot of old stuff, a lot of Johnny Thunder, Stooges, a lot of older Operation Ivy and Rancid. There's this void of new music. It's kind of a bummer.