By Kenn Gold

A&E’s drama series, The Cleaner, stars Benjamin Bratt as William Banks.  Banks is a drug addict who made a deal with God that if he was given a second chance, he would clean up his act, and help others to end their addictions to sex, drugs, and gambling.  Banks, along with a small team of other recovering addicts resorts to any means necessary (including illegal and unethical) to help end their client’s addictions.  The show is loosely based on the life of Warren Boyd, an addiction counselor who has helped such people as Mel Gibson, Courtney Love, and Whitney Houston.  As the show began it’s second season, series star Bratt, along with real life inspiration and co-executive producer, Boyd answered question about how the show came into being, and what we can expect from the new season.

Question>  How close is this show to your real life Mr. Boyd. How many dramatic liberties do you have to take?

Warren>   Well the mechanics of the show are very close to my real life, which sets me back about 13 to 14 years ago. And that's where I was - what you see on the show is where I was about that long ago and in the process and everything that you see. So it's pretty close and there's a lot of influence in the writers room and with Benjamin. So we keep things as authentic as we possibly can and Ben's really good at doing that.

Question>  Benjamin, how much do you sort of follow Mr. Boyd around and try to sort of get into his head?

Benjamin>   Well, you know, it's funny because it didn't really take too much research into playing the guy. As soon as you meet him and I don't know if you've ever seen a picture of him. It gives you an immediate insight into how to play him. He's a motor head, he's buffed, he wears black t-shirts and jeans and black boots, he rides a Harley.   He'll knock you out as soon as he'll smile at you and so with that first impression it gave me a really fine starting point, which combined with the script in the final words of Robert Munic from the pilot, gave me a really clear approach on how to portray him.   You know, all kidding aside there's also a lot of subtlety to who Warren is and what he does. And not a little mystery. I mean as well as I've gotten to know him now through two seasons of doing the show and feeling pressed and just hanging out in general. He's still one of those guys who whether it's cultivated or not and I tend to think that it's not because it's a pretty organic thing. There's an aura of gravitas to him and a little bit of mystery that you can't really penetrate.   And I think that's part of what made him appealing for me to play because I don't have any of that. So, you know, it was nice to put on someone's clothes it you will.

Question>  You you have a couple of really funny guest stars this season. The show is obviously fairly grim of the subject matter. Do Whoopi Goldberg and Gary Cole, anyone like that get to be funny?

Benjamin>   I think Whoopi gets to be funny just because she’s a funny lady but, you know, we never lost sight of the fact that she’s also an amazing, dramatic actress and so she comes on with her full skill set and she really did a beautiful job for us. We’re lucky to have her back as a recurring character as her schedule will allow. She will appear in three episodes this year so that’s good news for us. Gary Cole did a remarkable job in the premiere episode playing a nationally recognizable newscaster who is strung out on speed and in desperate need of help.   He happens to be married to a woman who’s suffering from terminal cancer and he’s spinning out of control. His performance required him to run naked across the beach as well as being, you know, tied down and sedated forcibly and he did it all with a smile and a lot of bravery in his performance. I think people are going to be surprised.

Question>  Okay, Benjamin, obviously Mr. Boyd has had a lot of experience with these types of things, but before you got involved with the series, I mean everyone has someone that they know who has had substance abuse problems and interventions. Had you had to deal with that previously and did that sort of make the character more intriguing to you once you read about it?

Benjamin>   Well the subject matter is all too close, you know, in my own personal life. I have an extended family and a wide circle of friends from various communities within and around San Francisco. And so I have very tragic stories in my own personal experience and you know, so of course that’s ever present in my mind, but what really drew me to the project was how it was rendered. I have never seen a one-hour fictional drama that at its central focus, the exploration of a second chance when you’re facing a substance abuse problem. I mean, the shows that remain popular on television today are procedurals that are either cop dramas or medical shows. And so it, to me, it just felt like the right fit where you have a show that has a little bit of that structural element there where it’s procedural, you know, in terms of its skeletal structure. And yet the subject matter that it explores, which is equally life and death stakes, is something that is here to before been considered taboo. An open discussion about substance abuse is not something people were really willing to talk about ten years ago, so the timing was really right.  And what I found in participating in this project and hearing the responses of the people who watch it is that it really resonates with folks who happen to tune in because of its prevalence. Because of the prevalence of substance abuse and how it really affects most of us, whether we have direct contact with it or not.

Question>  Do you find that working on cable opened you up to do certain things that you couldn’t necessarily do on the networks?

Benjamin>   Absolutely, I mean I’m a proud alumnus of Law and Order, a show which is as you all know, has just been picked up for its 20 season, which is a remarkable record and is a good show. But what I did as an actor on that show was really sort of as an expositional tool. The difference here and the difference is extreme, for as much as I loved that job, what I’m afforded the time and place to do on this show is to create a three dimensional character who has the complexity and dimension of someone from real life because it’s based on someone from real life.  And so while you have at the center of our story, William Banks, a man who was chosen as his location, the job of saving lives, which by all consideration, is a heroic feat. You have someone who is deeply, personally flawed, who in the balance of succeeding at work, fails miserably as a husband and often times as a father. And to me, I just thought that was an interesting tension to play against and one that, you know, I sometimes can relate to as an actor who works out of town.

Question>  In the doing of this show, have you absorbed a lot of the information, maybe even too much of the information at times, which is to say are you spotting warning signs real and imagined in people because it’s seeped into you because of the show?

Benjamin>   It’s funny you mention that because my wife continually (drives) me for me pretending to be a detective because I played one on TV for four years. Maybe I’ve always been suspicious of people and slightly paranoid, which, you know, landed itself to being a detective.  And in a way, you know, what Warren>  does and likewise what William Banks does, is a kind of detective work a lot of which is reliant upon gut instinct and experience that comes from, you know, personal history, so am I more aware of the symptoms? I think so. Am I more suspicious than I had been before of anyone I come in contact with? No because I’ve always been suspicious.

Question>  In the first episode when turning off the - closing off the toilet so it wouldn’t flush, so you can get a sample, that’s very classic detective work isn’t it?

Benjamin>   Boy, I’m glad you picked up on it. The great news is that, you know, we’re in a situation where art is imitating life and the source from which the life experience is drawn from is as colorful as anyone you can imagine. Hopefully you all will one day get a chance to meet Warren, he’s quite a character.

Question>  How much research has been done on the audience? Are they more or less likely to have been touched by addiction or are they watching the showing and saying, been there done that? Do you have even an unscientific survey or at least a gut feeling from your interaction with people that would tell you that that’s the case or no that’s not the case?

Benjamin>   We’re aware that the show is pretty popular with everyone, but I think if we were to be really frank, we’re skewing higher with women in the 30 to 40 range. And, you know, I don’t know if that has to do with the subject matter or if so much it has to do with the fact that, we hope anyway, that we’re succeeding at creating compelling drama. You know, all good drama comes out of conflict and when you’re dealing with it at the center of your show, a subject matter that does have life and death stakes in it, again things don’t get much more dramatic than that. I think also the fact that, you know, there’s a real deep emotional soul hopefully to what we’re trying to accomplish. The situations that our guest stars find themselves in, the struggles they’re going through, the obstacles they need to overcome.  All of these things become relatable because if the story telling is simple enough and elegant enough personnel enough in its approach something that anyone can relate to.  The last thing I would say to that is that, you know, at the end of the day, what our real aim is in creating the show and telling these stories is to always remind people of the possibility of a second chance. So whether you have familiarity with addiction or not, everyone knows what it’s like, want and to receive a second chance and that’s what the show is really about.

Question>  What can you tell us about the rest of this season, anything that you can let us know about what’s going to happen?

Benjamin>   We have a really impressive roster of guest stars who come to play with us on the show. Everyone from Christine Lahti to Joe Don Baker, Michael Beach, Shirley Jones, Rebecca Gayheart.   A lot of actors who are very familiar to audiences everywhere who really just want an opportunity like most good actors to do good work. And what that really means, what that translates to is that the writing is strong enough to draw this kind of talent a television series, which, you know, I think up until a short while ago, was considered like a disastrous career move. But I think the good news for everyone, both actors and viewers alike, is that the level of the game, the level of work being done on television is often times far superior to what you’ll find in a movie house.  And as a result, you only need to look through your local TV listing to find a lot of movie actors now populating the television landscape as series regulars. I think that says a lot about the quality of the work that’s being done on television these days and we’re hopefully following in step with that.

Question>  Have you had any specific examples of maybe people that you've talked to after the first season that were formerly drug addicts or maybe still are and how that touched them to watch a show like yours?

Warren>   Warren. Had a lot of people make contact either through the Web site or somehow get a hold of us and talk about, you know, how they were so easily able to relate to the episodes because of having an afflicted family member or an extended loved one of some sort that this problem took place with.  And thought, you know, all the feedback that I got was it was very authentic and it really, you know, really touched - comments like it really touched my heart and I had the same similar situation going on. And because of the authenticity that was carried out throughout the season, people continued to call and those calls still continue to grow.

Benjamin>   How many people have reached out on the Web site?

Warren>   There have been actually - there have been 100s of people who have reached out on the Web site and we've actually - we're crossing over 200 people that we've had contact with and done placement for or actually taken a case on ourselves. And still today there were about three that came in this morning that I was contacted about early this morning when I got in.

Question>Do you ever take any of those stories and maybe incorporate them into the show or give them to the writers or even tell the writers about them?

Warren>   In terms of taking someone's story, you know, who reaches into us, you know, because of the show, I don't really feel too comfortable doing anything like that. However, in my past 18 years I have taken bits and pieces from stories and from cases that I've been involved in and put them into episodes as far as the mechanics and the real aspects of those episodes.  And what we're trying to do now is put together a database so that people who want to reach in because we're really getting a lot of it. When people want to reach in and be able to have a database that they can go to and really try to get us to help them with placement and, you know, counseling and things like that.

Question>  Benjamin, so many good TV shows aren't given a chance to do a second season. How did you get the call that the show was picked up?

Benjamin>   I don't want to bite the hand that feeds me. So I'll be diplomatic. I obviously felt quite thrilled to get the pickup. It's really grim out there. I don't need to say that to anyone.  It's not new information that it's hard out there on everyone. And, you know, whatever the industry is that you're talking about, everyone's taking a hit. The jobs are fewer and far between. I count it as a major victory to not only be on a series that's had a full season run, but to actually be on one that's gotten picked up for a second season. I think the biggest leap for new TV shows is from Season 1 to Season 2 and then from there it gets a little bit easier certainly up to, you know, at least a fourth year. So hopefully the chasm will be less wide in the leap from year two to year three. But that said, yes, it was a little bit of time before (Amy) made the decision. But I think that they just really wanted to be sure that what we were doing had resonance. I mean, their new motto is real life drama and as a flagship dramatic hour of television for them this show seemed a perfect fit. And they were really encouraged, I think, by the initial response to the show. But they really were intent on having us get it right. And so with a little bit of research and then in a very open, creative discussion with ourselves and the head writers, there was a refocusing of the show and reformatting, which by all accounts on this side has lent itself to a much improved series. So as good as it was last year, I think it's dramatically improved this year. And that increase in qualitative level has resulted in bringing some really accomplished performers on board to play with us. So I'm really excited about the start of the season. I think that anyone who was a fan of the show will be impressed by what they see in the coming episode. And anyone who's not been familiar with it will make The Cleaner a part of their regular viewing.

Question>  They say in the industry when a show starts to bring in guest stars each week that it's heading towards jumping the shark. Any thoughts on that?

Benjamin>   Yes, far too early for that. I think what it means in our case is that the writing is top notch and like all good actors you can't really be a - all good actors understand you can't really be good if the writing's not good to start with.

Question>  I'm going to ask about William's team. They basically play a cop, kidnappers, therapists, et cetera, when they're doing their job. In this season, can we expect more consequence for their sort of rogue manner of working with their clients?

Benjamin>   You want to take that, Warren?

Warren>   Yes, I don't know, you know, I think that - this is Warren, hi. I think that we - there, you know, we did have consequence. I have had consequence like, you know, some lightweight consequences for some of the antics that were used to stop people from killing themselves. And some of those have already come to light. And, you know, you might see a few more things of - there's a lot to this show that people don't know about yet because we're really growing this show. The good thing is, is that we have about 18, 19 years worth of material that we can pull through. And there's so many really cool things that people haven't seen yet that I'm sure that all of this is going to shake out into a sensible fashion for the audience.

Question>  William's struggles with his own demons as far as his addiction aren't truly over. Can you discuss any possible temptation that he - that might come his way during the second?

Benjamin>   Well, I think it's, you know, I think it's important to remember and this is fact and I think that Warren would substantiate this, is that once an addict, always an addict.

Warren>   Yes.

Benjamin>   And as far as, you know, far as high regarded as William can be held for what he does, he is at the end of the day an addict. He's a recovering addict, but he's still an addict. And like any true addict he's replaced one addiction with another. In this case he may well be addicted to the high he gets from walking the high wire of saving people's lives. He - in something - and down to something as superficial as continuing to smoke, which at every opportunity when we have it on screen we're trying to - for the negative connotation to because it is a nasty, bad habit and will kill you.  I will say is that he like anyone else is human and in that he's human he's given into temptation just like you or me.

Question>  Warren, is it all hard for you at times to relive some of things whether it be in writing or filming or just watching the episode? Is it at all difficult for you?

Warren>   You know what I can tell you about that and I'm really glad you asked that question. What I can tell you about that it's actually sharpening my pencil to be honest with you because as I see these episodes and know that some of that stuff is drawn from the truth and in fact quite a bit of it.  It actually just really takes me back to school for a minute so I can, you know, so I can sort of sharpen my stick a bit. And no I don't have problems, I do feel emotion behind a lot of it, but I pushed it into an area where this is just a tune up, it's a tune up for me.

Question>  What is it about the show that you think continues to draw in so many viewers?

Benjamin>   That its good drama, I mean that's the short answer I think we're making good TV. The writings good, I think the construct of what the series is, is unique. I think it has enough familiarity in terms of the procedural elements that exist to draw people in, but also a unique enough take on its exploration of the human condition to keep people coming back. And I think we talked about it a little bit earlier is that the subject matter at the center of the series is fairly new in the public discourse. And as far as I know, I haven't, you know, done any research about it. But as far as I know we're one of the first if not the first one hour dramas to have at the center of our show a discourse on substance abuse and recovery. And again we have over 22 million addicts in this country and if you extrapolate those numbers into the numbers of lives that are affected by these addicts and their behaviors that's a whole lot of people. And so I think there's real resonance out there and that's partly why people are tuning in is that they're being moved by the drama, but maybe they're seeing a bit of themselves or their own people in their families in their lives being played out.

Question>  There's such great chemistry between you and Grace and Esteban and everyone on this show, how do you guys continue to maintain that?

Benjamin>   They're both wonderful people, you know, the reality is, is we all love our jobs. That's no exaggeration and our best days are when we get to do scenes together. More and more this season I've found myself alone or with the guest players, but the days when Esteban and Grace come to the set and we get to work out scenes together and go at that banter with one another are some of my best days.

Question>  Well, what would you like to say to everyone who is a fan of you and the show?

Benjamin>   Tune in, you're going to be pleasantly surprised at the new and improved version of The Cleaner.

Question>    Has there been any episode maybe in the first season or even in the upcoming season that's been filmed that has affected you more than any other?

Benjamin>   For me the episode that has affected me the deepest and that I feel is the best work we have done collectively so far is an episode that will air second in our lineup. And it stars Joe Don Baker and Michael Beach it's called Last American Casualty it'll actually air Tuesday on June 30 at 10 pm. And it's a very simple story and I think that's what allowed the show to be so compelling that the story telling was simple and elegant. It's about these parallel lives two struggling alcoholics who come from very different backgrounds, very different socioeconomic makeup's. And yet the devastation that alcoholism is wrought on their respective lives ties them together in a form of brotherhood. And I won't tell you what happens in the end, but Joe Don Baker and Michael Beach both killed it and they will break your heart, I promise you.

Question>  Do you get any input into your character?

Benjamin>   Yes, the good news is that, you know, I don't develop the stories, but when the scripts are finally rendered actually the writers and the other producers they listen to the input I have. Because I like to say that there's no one that knows my character better than me and that's the way it should be. You know, I share a lot of a ideas with Warren he shares a lot of ideas with me and again the templates for how I play this guy is right here in front of me almost daily. And so, as long as I'm being true to who that is, you know, the words at times are not necessarily even relevant sometimes.

Question>  Warren going back to when you were originally developing the series. Did you have anyone in mind? Was Benjamin in mind to play the role or any different actors and is it at all weird seeing somebody sort of portraying your alter ego on TV?

Warren>   Well that's a good question I can tell you that I really specifically couldn't, didn't know who to picture in the role. But I must say that I believe that everything with this TV show came together almost from a higher power to me. Because I can't imagine anybody else playing the role at this point then Ben. I - it's not fathomable to me I don't know - I feel like he was suppose to do it and I feel like when he stepped on that that's when everything changed and it all started to become real because of his interest in keeping things authenticate and, you know, and not trying to do a Spiderman show.

Benjamin>   Warren's prerequisite really was that of whoever they casted needs to be taller and better looking.

Warren>   That's right.

Benjamin>   And that was a joke by the way.

Warren>   But it's true, but it's true.