James Marsters, Live! Lost Boss Reveals Secret Treasures, and Steve Carell Blasts Billy Bob

by Kristin Veitch | Aug. 19, 2005

It's not every day I get to chat up a man who gets more mail--sent to my own mailbox, mind you--than I do.

That man with the mass-mailing, cult-frenzy appeal is, of course, James Marsters, with whom I chatted exclusively about his new gig on the WB's Smallville. And because I love him so (and you fans have been waiting patiently) I'll give you James before getting into scoop from other faves like Lost bigwig Damon Lindelof, Gilmore Girls boy Matt Czuchry, The O.C.'s Rachel Bilson and 24's Mary Lynn Rajskub--not to mention the funniest damn clip you could ever imagine from The Office's Steve Carell, who has a few choice words regarding Billy Bob Thornton, Angelina Jolie and the Daily Show's "Bring Back the Couch" controversy. You will laugh. Oh yes, you will.

Picking James' Brain: In case you've been living under a rock and James' fans don't yet have your mailing address, you should know that James Marsters has been cast as Clark Kent's (Tom Welling) new nemesis on Smallville in the coming season. His name? Brainiac, which is quite fitting for the man I still contend to be one of the smartest in Hollywood, a man who throws around words like verisimilitude. That said, it seems best to not let my nonsensical blathering get in the way of his words and just give it to you straight up Q&A style.



You know the fans are flipping out about you being on Smallville, right?
Yeah, and holy crap! It's so cool. I mean, I'm very excited about Smallville. God, I had the best dinner with [executive producer] Al Gough, and granted, he was trying to seduce me into signing a contract with him, but I was struck with how normal he was, how down-to-earth and how much we talked about our families, and then about art. He was interesting on a number of subjects, and I think he's got a good mind. I like his brain with the Superman mythology. You know, [Smallville] is a coming-of-age drama again, like Buffy, and those are fabulous, because we're all coming of age constantly. I'm always trying to grow up, so you know, that story never gets old for anybody. "Become yourself." When are you not gonna need to hear that? And so, I love that.

You're gonna have a completely different look than we've seen on Buffy. A tan, darker hair, no British accent. Do you ever slip back into the accent?
No. When I first got the role, I did all the time, but I don't, no. I'm so happy just to be brown-headed James, like, 'Oh, hi!' I hope people like my American accent.

Now, your character is a college professor named Dr. Fine who transforms into Brainiac, right? So, are you starting off as Dr. Fine? Will we see that transformation?
You're gonna see it very early, and that's all I know. I think I'm gonna start as something almost unrecognizable and become Dr. Fine. You'll see me in the very first episode.
Rumors have been swirling about a Spike project. I know you had said you feel like there's a time limit on doing something like that. Do you still feel the same way?
Yeah, I do. It's weird. I just got off the phone with someone who talked to Joss [Whedon] yesterday, who claimed that it was very much on the front burner. Joss has never told me anything like that. He's checked with me twice, to see if I was interested. I said yes twice, and both times he's been very clear that this doesn't mean that anything's going forward, [he] just wants to have [his] ducks in a row. What he told me was, the first question to answer is if there's a story worth telling. I thought there would be a lot of stories worth telling for Spike, but I think it has to be a story that he feels is worth telling, one that excites him enough. And I think if he finds it, there will be a Spike movie, and if he doesn't, there probably won't and there probably shouldn't be.


Have you talked to any of your former Buffy costars about their new projects?
No. I've been so myopically focused on my own needs and concerns, as I guess most actors are. I'm afraid the constraints of parenthood makes a difference in your social life, especially when you're an actor, and you don't have as much time as you'd like for your kids.

Is it hard to be away from your kids while you're shooting in Vancouver?
Of course, yeah. But there's money to fly them in and out, and I'm not in all of the episodes, so I can come down. It's workable.

Do you know how many episodes you'll do?
I'm contracted for six to 10, so I hope it's 10. If I suck, it'll be six. I guess if I really suck, it'll be one. Like, "Wow, he died in the first episode?!"

Doubt that! Smallville's now on Thursdays at 8 p.m., up against Joey, Survivor and Alias. They need you.
Wow. It is? That's gonna be interesting. [Deep, Terminator-esque voice.] Oh, we will smash them, Survivor with their weak story plot points. We will smash them with fiction. We will cream them with metaphor. Verisimilitude, my junky bottom. [Laughs.] We're creating an immaculate reality that beats reality any day.

[Scratches head and reaches for dictionary.] Thanks, James!

Now, a special announcement for all you Marsters maniacs: James will be in Toronto the last weekend in August for a convention, where he will be performing a VIP private concert, doing a Q&A and much more. The convention info can be found on James' official site, JamesMarsters.com.

Prizes! If you're stuck at home, check out our next chat, this Monday at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT., where I'll be giving away signed copies of James' new CD Civilized Man and the Roswell Season 3 DVD, which just hit shelves. It has all 22 episodes of the third season of the show so many of us still sorely miss. (Read the rules for the Roswell DVDs giveaway and the Marsters CD giveaway.)

Thanks for posting this!

Your welcome. Anybody remember the pop song "Verisimilitude" by Teenage Fanclub?

thx for the interview ber

good to hear more from him

Yes,I don't always know what he's talking about (cream them with metaphor) but I always love listening.

i agree but yeah i'd listen all the time anyways

he is just so passionate about sum stuff that he just warbles on and on

We probably need a new thread" James Marsters' Vocabulary Expansion for Bewildered fans........verisimilitude.....myopic.....effulgent......junky bottom!!!

I wonder if anyone has told James yet that Tim Minear is saying Joss asked him to direct the new "Spike" movie? Am also wondering how long it will take from now until we see it.....I'm guessing at least a year or two.

u can try probe james more in oct for info

I don't think we are going to get any opportunity to talk to him. At least it isn't set up that way to my knowledge. But keep your fingers crossed for me. With James,you never know!

My fingers are crossed for ya!

After the concert we are supposed to get a "special gift" from him. No clue what that means....but my hyperactive little imagination has been in over-drive.

I can imagine!!

I've got a "special gift" I'd like to give him!!!
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Oh,go wash your brain out with soap!!! I do needlework and I made a little cloth game board that would be portable and could be played by children or adults.

That is so cute!!

Whenever he gets a present of embroidery or needlepoint,he tells how he has done that sort of thing to pass the time on sets. So,he appreciates how much work can go into it. I've seen people give him some amazing stuff.

That's great! We have a talented man!!

Definitely. He acts,he sings,plays guitar,whistles,paints,does needlework,martial arts,and rollerblades....a true Renaissance man!

definately!!!

Here's some Q&A's from Ask Ausiello at tvguide today:

Question: You say, like, nothing about Smallville. I can't wait for the
season to start again! Tell me anything you can, please! - Hil

Ausiello: Someone's got a short attention span. Anyway, exec producer Al
Gough confirms that James Marsters' Brainiac could appear in as many as 10
episodes this season - beginning with the Sept. 29 premiere. And don't
expect him to resemble a certain bleach-blond vampire. "He doesn't look
anything like Spike," Gough says. "He doesn't have an English accent, he
doesn't have blond hair. But it's still James. I mean, he has those
incredibly chiseled cheekbones. and he brings a great sort of sinister edge
to the show."

Quote:
Question: Did you hear the news? Joss Whedon asked Buffyverse vet Tim Minear
to write and direct the Spike movie you suggested. You've got power, Mike! -
Katel

Ausiello: Yes, I heard! Theresa over at SupportSpike.com forwarded me the
link over the weekend, and, needless to say, I was ecstatic. Now I'm just
waiting for confirmation of that producing credit.

Quote:
Question: Let me congratulate you on your successful campaign to bring back
our Blondie Bear! - Janice

Ausiello: I can't take all of the credit for the Spike movie, folks. Oh, who
am I kidding? Of course I can. Thanks, Janice!!

ber you funny

i have a gift i'd wanna give james too

man i just finished watching smallville s3 on dvd but cant beleive i gotta wait for s4 and then 5 on dvd....

I'm pretty sure there will be sites on the internet you'd be able to download it from.

nah my computer is too slow and crap 2 download

Guess you're stuck with screencaps and transcripts for awhile.

Well,at least it will be out on DVD eventually.

true..it could be end of next yr hopefully and maybe s4 start of next yr??

i'll just rely on lotsa screencaps and spoliers here

You are going to DIE when you see the screencaps from the premiere episode...Sept.29th! Not spoiling anyone, but "Whoa,Mama!!" .

I want to see caps!!!!

So does this mean that a Spike movie is almost close to becoming a reality????

No,it means that Joss Whedon told people in Edinburgh that he was doing his level best to put together a Spike movie right now but that it wasn't a "done deal". He has his actors and writer/director lined up. He still has to sell it to someone and get contracts signed. It'll be a year or two before we get to see it,I'd say.



But it's now or never,I think....and I'd put money on Joss' "level best".

Me too!!!

And we know that David Janollari,the head honcho at the WB has said that he is interested in a Spike movie anytime that Joss and James are,so it shouldn't be hard to find a home for the movie. I do think this will be happening.

hey hey

yeah our latest tv week had a snippet about a poss. buffy/angel movie but didnt mention who..but i was thinking spike and hoping

do u have caps already ber?? share share!!!

go to www.kryptonsite.com for the latest in SV pictures. There are 7 of them up so far.

None of James though.

ohh damn

thats the pix i wanna see

well let us know when they appear or post em here in a caps thread

Will do. Can't be long now before promo pictures get posted.

Thanks for the link.. I love the poster with James!

Yeah,it's like "The Battle of the Cheekbones"...and James is winning!

cheekbones indded is what sums james up

Ah,no....cheekbones is just the beginning....any "summing up" would take into account much much more than that.

ber!!!



i agree theres a whole lot MORE james
and i wanna c it all!

apparently,in the first episode.....we will.

Really???

I don't want to sully the unspoiled...but just look forward to those screencaps!

I am!!!!

hooly dooly i cant wait

Just 2 more weeks to go...and then hang onto your hat...I think it's going to be great!!

Just think,brand new screencaps of James wearing different outfits almost every week....sweet.