 | Internet Interviews |
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| Nowhere Man |
Sally[HOSTESS]: Welcome to our Conference with Nowhere Man star Bruce Greenwood and Larry Hertzog, Executive Producer and creator of our favorite show. Larry and Bruce are at Larry's. Larry will type for both of them, but he is not editing Bruce at all.Matthew Milam: To both Larry and Bruce: Have you two been looking at what we did so far in trying to save Nowhere Man (I know this sounds late)?
LarryH: Yeah. I've been watching the web sites and Bruce is well aware of the efforts, particularly the number of hits on the Disney site.
Kimberly Orr: Bruce, I would like to know what your dream role would be?
LarryH: Bruce is digging for an answer - hang on -
Bruce: There are things I get consumed with on every character. Once I'm involved with that character, you could ask me then - and then I'd have to say, "that's my favorite one."
LarryH: While we're waiting, Bruce just remembered a really deep role he played in Malibu Bikini Shop.
Wicked: Bruce, how did you feel about the direction the show took near the end of the series?
Bruce: It was a result of too many cooks and ultimately we ended up with what I felt was a thin soup.
LarryH: If we can't get the conference together real fast, Bruce and I are going to dinner. So either get it together or let's blow it off.
John Cisar: Larry, first THANK YOU for giving us NwM. You know we appreciate it more than you'll ever know. I look upon NwM as a gift. It was an absolutely wonderful ride, and the scenery was breathtaking at times. Now, my biggest (and most loaded) question is this: How would *you* have ended NwM given enough time, control
, and money? LarryH: As I've said in the past, we never had a fixed ending in mind for NwM. Tobe and I discussed a Manchurian Candidate type situation. It made sense that to erase Tom Veil, he probably couldn't have been Tom Veil for very long. That got us into what ended up being the Gemini concept, but we had hoped to pop it earlier and have Tom off, tracking Gemini, never knowing that it was himself.
LarryH: As far as the trend the show took toward the end, Bruce was referring to Marathon when he said "thin soup." He thinks the Gemini concept was very creative and had tremendous possibilities.
Rick Mansfield: Bruce, was the fact that Tom Veil is Gemini a surprise to you?
Bruce: Yes. Floored me.
Kevin Locke: Larry, first I would like to commend you on having a very vivid imagination. Without a doubt my favorite show on television is Nowhere Man. Your show along with the talent that Bruce Greenwood brings to the part of Tom Veil is incredible. Larry, do you have any current ideas for shows that you could give us a hint as to possibilities you could be working on in the future?
LarryH: Currently, I'm cruising, helping out on a new NBC show called Profiler. I'm not sure about its possibilities but we'll see. I'm just a "helper." As for my own stuff - I'm giving myself a break. I'll keep you posted.
Linda C.: Larry and Bruce, is anyone you know about writing a Nowhere Man companion book? If so, do you have an idea if/when it might be published, and who the publisher is?
LarryH: We don't. Call Disney. They're omniscient.
Debby M. Desjardins: I'd like to say to Larry and Bruce that Nowhere Manis the best show on television and the only one my family looked forward to watching this season. I was wondering which episode was Bruce's favorite?
Bruce: My favorite was Through A Lens Darkly.
Brett: What efforts are being pursued to have ABC or an alternate network pickup NwM? Any positive progress?? NwM is by far the most creative show on TV, and should be allowed to continue.
Ingrid: Bruce, how do you feel about our efforts to save the show? Would you like it to come back?
LarryH: Hold on, we'll take Brett, then Ingrid -
LarryH: As far as Bruce knows, they're still hammering on Fox, but no progress that we know about has been made. There has been some talk about MOWs but no news yet. I should mention that my involvement with the show is at an end as long as Disney holds the reigns. But Bruce is still with us. In fact, he just heard from Mike Sullivan at UPN and he asked him about the MOW concept. Bruce said that if the writers and producers are the right people, he's interested. Now for Ingrid.
Bruce: I think it could've been approached differently. But if it were to have come back the power configuration would have made it difficult to come back onto the show.
CartwheelChrstina: Bruce, I was wondering... do you like to travel much for pleasure? If so, where are some of your favorite places to go?
Bruce: New Zealand, Switzerland, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Columbia and anywhere where the rates are cheap.
Pam: I'd like to ask Bruce when - for him - Tom turned against Alyson.
Bruce: Christmas Show.
LarryH: But then again
Mike Holmes: Multi-part question. Bruce, do you feel any ties to Canada? What does Canadian citizenship mean to you? Larry, is it totally inconceivable that another studio might buy NwM from Disney, and give it an opportunity to come back with you?
Bruce: I'm very tied to Canada. I go back to B.C. and Toronto all the time. I'd love to live there but I still have to knock on doors to get jobs and the doors are down here. Canadian Citizenship keeps me in touch with a sense of my past and my heritage and it's safer for me to travel worldwide with a Canadian passport.
LarryH: Disney owns NwM and I doubt that they'll ever give it up. It's money at this point and I'm just a PITA.
Alan Joyce: Tell us please, where did you film the small town episodes? I especially like the look of the place where The Organization was trying out TV Mind Control. Would like to live there.
LarryH: The eps were all shot in and around Portland. If you'd like to live in TV town (which was right in Portland), tune in. Watch carefully. Enjoy.
Paul Block: How much of an inspiration was the old show The Prisoner? By chance did you visit "the Village" (Portmeiron, I think) in Wales where The Prisoner was filmed?
LarryH: The Prisoner was clearly a HUGE influence. It was the "seed" that began my thinking for the show. Though most of the parallels people saw were not intentional. Nope, never been to Wales but I've watched them.
Wicked: Larry, the ending you wanted sounds similar to what was aired. What problems did you have with the final episode?
LarryH: Wicked - if you followed my last answer, you'll know that we had the Gemini concept but wanted to handle it differently. Intro it earlier and play with it more.
Steve Quinn: I was next but I actually don't have a question per se. I'm just here 'cause I LOVED the show, and I'd love to see it continue as it started (w/LH et all). Just THANKS GUYS for the best season of TV America has had the privilege of viewing.
LarryH: You're more than welcome.
Matthew Milem: Larry, besides the terrible way this conference is going I wanted to know what will happen to the show now?? The ABC thing sounded like it was happening...
LarryH: Matthew - ABC had so much of their own product that it didn't seem "politically" expedient for them to put a show on the air that they hadn't developed.
ALFFAN: First off, I heard a rumor that the reason UPN canceled NwM was because Disney wanted to hike the budget and UPN didn't want to? Also, congrats to Larry, Bruce, and everyone who makes NwM the most riveting series on TV. Thank you. An Emmy is waiting :)
Bob: Larry, if the show by some reason is not renewed, can we expect a TV movie?
LarryH: Alffan - I'm not sure about what you heard. The only thing I've gotten from Disney was a rotten piece of Limburger. But it's true, the show needed more money to continue but I doubt they'd cancel it for that reason. Bob - question already answered.
Sean Gugler: Bruce, any musical performance plans near San Francisco or Los Angeles? Even just jamming? Or is acting priority #1?
Bruce: Yes, I do have a musical thing coming up. I was just talking to Atom Egoyan today, the director of Exotica, and in his next film, we're talking about me playing guitar and singing a little. I'm getting kind of excited about that. And I'm still recording at home, of course.
Teegan: On a series whose premise was so serious... were there ever any humorous incidences on the set of NwM that either of you remember?
LarryH: While Bruce thinks, I wasn't on the set mostly, but hang on, maybe he's got something - Bruce says that he was so tired most of the time that everything was funny.
Bruce: In Enemy Within, when I'm being towed on the litter behind the horse back to Emily's house and my head is right below the horse's you know where, every step he took - there was probably a cubic foot of "internal air" that was released with every step. Everyone on the set was howling as I was expecting to be wearing the horse's lunch. As it turned out he just dragged me, farting, across the field. We had to mute the sound.
Pam Larson: To Larry or Bruce - I'm visiting Portland with my kids this week. We've already seen OMSI and the History Center. What other Nowhere Man sights can we go see? What restaurants do you recommend? What was your favorite place in Portland?
Bruce: Zefiros is a great restaurant and Wildwood. And you have to see the Tombs of China exhibit at the museum.
Greg: I am your biggest fan!!! If the show is renewed for the fall , as a budding actor could I possibly get a shot at a small role?? What do you think? Yo Bruce, you're the best, keep up the great work!!!
Bruce: Keep talking like that, Greg, you're a shoo-in.
Herman C. Belderok: Bruce, Larry, I love your show Nowhere Man. It is too bad networks have to cancel quality television. Seaquest, Earth2, Nowhere Man. What's next?... JAG? Space above and Beyond? ER? I feel like canceling TV myself by getting rid of my TV if they are going to keep canceling good quality TV such as just mentioned. I really liked your show!!!! I hope it comes back, if it doesn't that will be a tragedy. Gee whiz! That's all I had. Thank you both for coming tonight.
LarryH: Herman - gee, thanks.
Jose Perez TFC: Bruce, I just wanted to drop by and say that Nowhere Manis my favorite show. I like the suspense, Larry! Great Job! I wanted to know where the show is taped, and what you think about your character (in terms of his character, personality)? Keep up the great work, Bruce!
LarryH: It's filmed not taped. Thanks for the compliments.
Bruce: With the advent of Gemini - his character is an empty slate and I would hope that he would take things more with a sardonic sense of humor and a fist full of salt - or five.
Paul Block: Bruce, I loved you in St. Elsewhere. Was that your first TV series, or were there others in your past?
Bruce: The first one was called Legmen. It was a light-hearted adventure, comedy, romp, thing on NBC that miraculously survived 7 eps before being unceremoniously yanked.
Dale J. Roe: Let me try again: Larry, are you and Bruce good friends? Or just recent co-workers? What is your history together? Thanks (looking forward to the inevitable, big-screen, big-budget, nostalgic NwM feature film in 20 years!)
Bruce: Good friends as a result of being recent co-workers.
LarryH: Me be friends with an actor? Get real.
David Sheedy: Bruce you mentioned how tiring it was doing the show, and being the only star I can imagine it was difficult (you did a great job by the way). How hard was it doing the show knowing what was happening with Larry and Disney? How do you feel about the prospect of continuing without him?
Bruce: Well since he's buying me dinner tonight, I think I couldn't do the show without him, but - it was tough - a lot of political positioning and I'm not very good at it.
Connie: I apologize if this has been asked already, but I got here late... Is there any possibility that the episodes are going to be released on video? I love the show, but I travel a lot for my job and missed a lot of episodes. Then when I did land somewhere for a while, it was on at 1 AM on Friday night, and I kept forgetting... Bruce, I've been a fan since St. Elsewhere, but I admit to liking Thomas Veil a whole lot better than some of your previous roles.
LarryH: Connie, Disney makes the decisions about video release and they haven't said anything to me and probably won't. You may want to call their home video dep't and ask them.
Bruce: What do you mean, you don't like murderous back-stabbing psychopaths - it's been my stock in trade for a decade.
SonjaRose: Hey, Larry, long time no talk, except in email, I'll ask you questions later. Bruce, love your acting, you are now among my select few favorite actors. I saw Summer Dreams a month ago or so and was wondering if that was really you playing the drums and singing?
Bruce: The drums I was playing along to a track, copying what Dennis Wilson did. The singing was mine.
Kimberly Orr: Bruce, are you planning to put an album out of your music? I would love to hear you jam on the guitar! :)
Bruce: Someday, someway, maybe it'll happen. I'm not pushing it, I'm just getting better at it. That's my goal.
Toxic Witch: On a lighter note... Bruce, would you mind providing Sandra with a picture of your new hair for the web site? I'm a big fan of short hair on men (not that I didn't like it the other way ;>) ) If either you or Larry are ever in New Jersey, you're invited for a home-cooked dinner!
Bruce: That's a good idea about the hair. I'll get on it. I'm tired of looking like a cross between a collie and Joey Lawrence.
ShaneR: Larry, I'm not looking for specifics, but was the breaking glass really just a "neat effect" and nothing more? And what brand cigars were used on the set? :)
LarryH: ShaneR, it really was. If you followed some of my posts from "day one," I really said that the show had no clues and wasn't about clues. But it was NIFTY, wasn't it? Macanudos.
MargeB : Mine is for Larry - If you had it to do over, is there anything you would have done differently in dealing with the suits?
LarryH: Good questions, Marge - yeah -
MargeB: Will you elaborate?
LarryH: I think I would've realized that playing to their egos was as important as doing the business of the show. I was so busy writing scripts and developing stories that I didn't always call them back as quickly as they wanted. Erasure was right around the corner.
the Devastator: Bruce, did you play the part of the Big Boss Guy in Gemini, or was it just someone who looked like you with a shadow over his face?
LarryH: Devastator, unfortunately, Bruce doesn't know what you're talking about or what you mean by big boss guy?
the Devastator: The head conspirator guy... The one with the cigar...
Bruce: Good idea, but no.
David Litwack: Sorry for barging in but I was called on and my question was never answered. What are the chances of the show getting renewed, and any idea which direction the show will take if it gets renewed? Also are there any spinoff things like comic books based on the show?
LarryH: The renewal subject's been discussed. Doesn't look good but there may be a chance for MOWs. As for books, etc., only Disney knows.
LeeAnn: Guys, I really appreciate your being here and dealing with all this, uh, stuff. Thanks also for a fantastic show. - Bruce, I wasn't aware that you're a musician. What kind of music do you play/listen to/are inspired by? (pick one
) Bruce: I listen mostly to blues and hack away at blues and R&B in general.
Lisa W.: Bruce, I just want you to know how much I enjoyed your work on NwM. And Larry, what can I say? Thanks for a great show. I was going to ask about the breaking glass, but you've already answered. Good luck to both of you.
LarryH: You're welcome, Lisa. Thanks for being part of it.
Allen: Hello Bruce & Larry! You are the bomb! I loved NwM. It was so awesome. I read an article, that NwM got cut because it wasn't going anywhere. What do you think? Was it going to go somewhere? I thought it was cool when you were violent. NwM rocks!!!
LarryH: Allen, it's hard to say exactly why NwM got axed. UPN certainly had a problem with our "not finding" a direction that they liked. But according to them, the reason was that their local stations were bringing in the numbers. They told us it was "business all the way." They might've been inclined to bring the show back if they felt that it was "going somewhere" so I guess it all rolls together. And, er... Rocks!
Peggy: Larry, have you given any thought to writing or producing in the feature market? And does Bruce have any desire to write, produce, or direct?
LarryH: Hey, what if I act in Bruce's next picture. That'll be "turnabout," don't you think?
Bruce: I'm hoping to produce something in the not too distant future and Larry and I have noodled some ideas with each other.
bgfoss: Bruce, what were your initial and/or subsequent reactions upon hearing of NwM's cancellation by UPN? And what kind of (hiking) boots did you wear on the show? Thank you both for a great show.
Bruce: Important questions all. My first reaction was complete and total deflation for 24 hours, then I bounced back into a heavy state of denial, full of mirth and "hey it's no problem," to be followed 2 weeks later by a more profound sense of loss and disappointment that has now given way to a somewhat fatalistic and somewhat happy acquiescence - it wasn't meant to be. Reeboks.
LarryH: Boy, try typing for this guy!
SandraJ: First of all, I'd like to say how glad I am to "meet" you, Bruce, and what a treat this is. :-) My favorite director of Nowhere Man episodes is Ian Toynton. He seems to bring out a special quality in Thomas. Could you explain what it is that Ian, or any other director does to bring this out of you? And since this is going so (ahem) well, I'll ask if you've seen Pam and my Bruce Greenwood Homepage again and what do you think of it?
Bruce: Looking forward to seeing the Home page again. I haven't seen it since Larry first showed it to me a coupla months ago. Ian - I trusted Ian from the moment I met him and I was surprised at how much of a difference that made in performance. It made me much free-er emotionally with him. And guess what - we had more fun.
LarryH: Ian is also an enormous talent who "gets" the script.
Joanna: Bruce, what exactly do you think of all the internet attention *you especially* have been getting, how much exactly do you know about what goes on on these lists, and is there any chance you might ever
lurk on them? Bruce: As soon as I type faster than 12 words a minute, I'd love to get on it. But lurking, right now, is the best I can do. But I'd love to be part of it.
LarryH: But then guess who'd have to teach him about computers?
ShaneR: Larry, what is your college background? What should I study if I want to get into your line of work?
LarryH: I am a proud dropout from Teaneck High School, followed shortly thereafter with leaving NYU film school. Wait, sounds like Disney, Nowhere Man, et al. If you want to write - write. And write. That's it. No tricks. Be good. Get your stuff around. And write more.
John Cisar: Bruce, I must admit, you really impressed me with your portrayal of Tom Veil. I can't tell you the number of times I posted a message with a "kudos to BG" line somewhere in it. I felt you got a stronger handle on Tom as the season went on. Given all that, how satisfied are *you* with your portrayal of Tom? Is there any one scene or episode that stands out as your "best" portrayal of Tom? (And guys, sorry about the conference room - it's not normally like this!)
Bruce: I think I could've done better if I hadn't taken it so seriously and if Tom hadn't taken himself so seriously. That's a regret I have. As far as a single scene, the season is full of little moments that I like to look back on though it's rare you'll find an actor who will ever point to an entire scene or a whole performance and, with honesty, tell you that he likes what he did.
Joanne Maguire: Was Max Webb - that wry, cuddly, cheerily sarcastic tormentor-in-chief of Tom Veil - a portrait of you, Larry? It's how I always picture you. Maybe Bruce could answer that better...
LarryH: Well, from me - not really, though from Bruce, he says, "can you see through this machine?" He's wrong, I'm right.
Pam: Bruce, did I hear right? You're making an Atom Egoyan film? Please tell us more. I loved Exotica but wonder if you'll be cast as much against type in the next film. Is this the film you talked about before to be filmed in Paris and Armenia? I read his next film is The Sweet Hereafter. Is that it?
Bruce : This film is The Sweet Hereafter based on the Russell Banks novel. The Armenian film was a different project that recently blew up in my face as things in Armenia are wont to do.
David Sheedy: Thanks, Larry and Bruce for being a part of some excellent television. What do the two of you consider to be good TV?
Bruce: NYPD Blue, Law and Order, Seinfeld and the Discovery Channel.
LarryH: I don't watch TV, my lips move and I get tired.
SkyLightng: I wondered if Mr. Greenwood had any plans on visiting the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area concerning work or vacation some time this year. And just to say that I've enjoyed Nowhere Man very much from the beginning. It had such a special quality to it and I was hooked from the start.
Bruce: Get me a tee time, I'll be there.
LarryH: Thanks.
Mike Holmes: This is not a "clue" question!!! Is it a coincidence that the lead character's initials are T.V.? Are/were you trying to say something about what TV does to us? And, by the way, thanks for the ride, guys. I've never seen The Prisoner, (I'll be correcting that shortly), but I can't imagine a better TV show than NwM. Thanks for coming out guys!!!
LarryH: Mike, thanks for the compliments (and all). T.V. was a complete coincidence. But I liked Veil for obvious reasons. Nothing more nothing less. As for The Prisoner - well, you're in for another great ride.
Chris Shepard: Larry, was Tom Veil/Gemini part of the Conspiracy? I was hoping you'd let us know what the real truth behind Veil is. I thought maybe he was a photographer for them and betrayed them. Was I close? Will you ever release the truth one way or another?
LarryH: The long and short of it was our idea that Tom was an FBI agent, infiltrating "Them." He took the real Senator photo but got caught and used for their nefarious purposes, the first being to see if they could implant his identity and then "play with him." That's about as far as we got.
Gary: Outstanding job, both of you. Thanks for bringing NwM to us. It was very believable and thought-provoking, a welcome change on TV (alas). Bruce, which of your co-stars or guest stars did you enjoy working with the most, and why?
Bruce: Wow - tough question. We got lucky a bunch of times. Sam Anderson, Maria Bello, Carrie Ann Moss, Sean Whelan - it's a long list - Dean Stockwell - Bryan Cranston - Jay Jones (J.C. from the pilot and Calaway) and Ted Levine and Meghan -
LarryH: I had to shoot Bruce to stop him.
Rick Mansfield: Bruce, what is your ideal scenario for the future of the show?
Bruce: Ideal scenario now would be MOWs with my favorite people and my own hand being strong enough in it so we don't run afoul of so many of the personnel problems we had during the season.
Pam Larson: Bruce, how did you achieve that "haven't slept in 9 days" look in the Calaway episode? You were great!
Bruce: Thanks for noticing. - It was weird, I just kinda "stoned" myself out without the use of any outside you know whats. Just with the power of suggestion, I guess and - it worked, I exhausted myself.
Snoopy: Thank you, Larry and Bruce. By the way, when Larry takes you out to dinner tonight, maybe you shouldn't take any short trips to the bathroom. You never know what may happen when you come back out.
LarryH: LOL, Snoopy.
Bruce: I really appreciated being part of this conference and look forward to maybe doing it again. And does the group care if I logged into the homepage and kept you posted on what I'm doing?
LarryH: First, sorry about the tech problems here online, it was a battle to get things going. As I've said maybe a hundred times in the past, you're all the best, you're all what it's been about - I'm sorry for the "group" that Disney turned things south - but because of that I can't say I'm too sorry that the show got pulled. I will continue to log into the NG and the forum. We'll have more chats (no clues) and we'll still be friends. I wish I had the time to stay for hours, but I don't. Big hugs and more soon.
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| Nowhere Man |