Jake Smollett plays Noser on ABC Family’s The Middleman.  Noser, of course, is the wise man of the hallway who dispenses wisdom on a weekly basis to Wendy, The Middleman’s assistant.  Jake recently stopped by TV talk do discuss the series, and just how much fun it is to work on such an unusual show.

What did you think when this role came up?  It’s like this wise man that dispenses wisdom every week in the hallway.

Jake> You know, I thought this character is so quirky and so weird, it drew me in immediately.  It’s just the funnest role I could ever imagine playing, honestly.  It’s so similar to me, it’s not hard work playing it.  It’s just your average chilled out guy?

Do you like Noser?

Jake> I love Noser.  Noser is somebody that I would kick it with, like I’d just chill out at the beach with, all day just chillin.

Where do you think he gets his pearls of wisdom?

Jake> His long, long list of musicians.  I think that’s where he draws his wisdom from, the love of music. 

I really liked the episode with the art show where he did the stump the band thing.  He just said, “Know it” and didn’t play the music at all.

Jake> Oh my God, was that not so funny.  When I read that, I was like, “What the hell is this?”  That was so funny.  People just take his word that he can play the guitar.  I’m interested to see though if they will ever have Noser play the guitar.  I don’t know.

He’s awfully attached to that guitar.  He was crushed when it was busted up on him on the pilot.

Jake> I know.  I was crushed.  It was heartbreaking. 

What’s the reaction you get for being on The Middleman, when you tell people about it?

Jake> Everybody I’ve come across has love the show.  I feel like viewers would either die for the show, or be like, “I don’t know.”  I don’t think there’s any in-between.  This show has the potential to be one of those shows that you just have to tune into because you just have to see what is the new quirky stuff we’ll be doing this week.

Will Noser ever get into The Middleman headquarters?

Jake> Oh gosh, you’ll have to wait and see.  I don’t even know that answer.  If you visited the set you’d see how interesting the headquarters is, with so many gadgets and so many crazy fun things.  I pray to God that they have Noser and Ida team up and do some crazy stuff. 

The one question we’ve been waiting to ask you; who’s the man?

Jake> You know, out of every question I’ve gotten, this is my favorite question because I know the answer to it, I don’t even have to think about it.

You’re going to get that question, probably 80,000 times throughout the rest of your career!

Jake> But I love it though, because it’s so funny.  People ask me that, and I’m like, “That would be Shaft, what else.”  One time this guy asked me that question, and I was like, “That would be me.”  He was like, “No, that is not the answer; you need to answer the question right now.”

How is Javi to work with?  Is he as crazy as he seems?

Jake> Oh, he’s crazy!  You need to come to a read through.  Then you’ll see.  For each script, he reads all the directions, and he’s so animated.  He makes the reading for me.  I’m dying laughing whenever he has to impersonate a character that they haven’t cast.  He’s the greatest.  He did a cameo already, but I wish he would play a character with a mask on or something.  That to me would just be iconic.  You know, how Hitchcock uses to be in all his movies, if Javi just walked through a scene where no one was supposed to be walking through the headquarters.  I think that would be crazy.  Nobody do any expression or anything that he is there, just like it’s normal.

Where did he play his cameo?  I don’t think I caught that. 

 Jake> Actually in the first episode, it was a play on Scarface.  There was a poster of him in the Italian restaurant.

It’s a very smart show that does quirky things.  How do you guys keep a straight face when you are reading these scripts?

Jake> Oh my God, you have no idea.  We don’t.  We don’t.  All I tell people is that you need to come on set and see how fun it is.  I honestly have been on so many sets, and this would honestly be one of the most different sets I’ve ever been on in my life.  And by different I mean crazy.  Everybody from the props guy to Brit Morgan, everybody is absolutely crazy.  We’re just having a ball all day.  It doesn’t feel like work.

How does this compare to your earlier series, On Our Own?

Jake> On Our Own actually was with all of my siblings, so that says it right there.  But thank the lord that The Middleman feels like it’s family.  On Our Own was so comfortable because I was working with all of my family, but The Middleman, from day one from the first read through, everybody kicked off and it was like an instant chemistry.  No one on the set has a problem with anything.  It’s so laid back, it’s just awesome. 

So where are you in the production schedule?  Are you working on the finale yet?

Jake> Yeah, the finale is the next show.  We’re filming the 11^th show right now, and the 12^th starts Thursday.

Have you actually read the comics yet?

Jake> I have.  The first graphic novel was basically to a T, the pilot. 

I know you can’t reveal anything, but are we going to get a cliff hanger ending in the finale?  Volume 3 just sort of ends, and you’re really wanting more.

Jake> I can’t say anything, but I just read the outline.  It’s great.  Javi has created a work of art, it’s amazing.  It’s going to be very fun shooting it too.

What’s been your favorite moment to film so far?

Jake> My favorite scene… I don’t know if I can give a spoiler, but my favorite scene to shoot was when we were supposed to be on the Titanic.  We had to dress up in these tail tuxes, and Lacey had to put on a gown.  One of the producers on the show, his wife had to teach us the Waltz.  That was the funnest show we’ve shot so far.  Every episode has been fun to shoot, but there are always going to be memorable times from each show.  Hands down, I’d have to say that would be the funnest.

Have you learned anything about yourself playing Noser?  He comes across as very low key.  Does that apply to you in your real life. 

Jake> Oh yeah, I just got back from sleeping on the beach.  That’s what I do.  What Noser does, I wouldn’t call him lazy at all.  But nothing could get him really, really worked up.  He definitely is a lot like me, very chilled out. 

Do you have a specific cause that you’re involved with?

Jake> I do, it’s called Artists for a New South Africa. It deals with HIV Aids in South Africa, and is an organization working to stop the illness and to get the youth out there to vote; all kinds of stuff. It’s really great?

Wasn’t there a set visit with you that was auctioned recently?

Jake> Yeah, there actually was.  I’m not sure if it’s still up.

So someone gets to come and hang out with you for a day?

Jake> Yeah, Javi and I are going to do a set tour.  Someone gets to come and chill out on the set with me and Javi, and we just show them around.  They spend the day with us and have fun.

What was it like growing up with all of your siblings being involved with acting?  Was it set that you were going to go into that too?

Jake> Oh yeah.  By the time I was born, my whole family had been it.  I was born into it.  When I was two, I did my first little thingy on a show, Hanging With Mr. Cooper.  I would never have thought of doing anything else but this.

Do you eventually want to get into writing or directing, or do you see yourself staying in acting?

Jake> My eventual goal is that I want to direct.  Right before the show, I was doing college.  I was taking film classes, and that’s where my heart is; film and being behind the scenes.  I love both, I don’t think I could ever not be in front of the camera.  But I definitely see myself as being in stuff I direct.

What’s your favorite genre?

Jake> I probably wouldn’t be the kind of person who would do one genre.  I like everything from Sin City to Sudden Fear, back in 1952.  I always mention that movie.  I like everything from suspense, drama, action, to sci fi.  I like everything.  I’d be the kind of person that you couldn’t tell what I directed. 

How do you feel about television now?  Do you think television is a place you could spend your career?

Jake> Definitely.  I love TV.  I think that TV is so good because all the way back to the ‘50s, it’s been something that families could sit down and watch together.  You ain’t got to go to the theater and spend $10 to see The Middleman.  I love how it’s evolved.  I love everything about TV. 

Who did you look up to as an actor when you were growing up?

Jake> Yeah, my mom is such a movie buff, every movie I see.  I couldn’t tell you any one person that I idolize or aspire to be.  My mom knows every movie.  I idolize people like Carey Grant and Clark Gable and from that era.  Also from this era, people like Wil Smith and George Clooney.  But it’s a wide span of admiration for movies. 

How do you think this show fits in with the Family channel?

Jake> You know, the show is different.  But ABC Family is one of the few networks trying to do stuff that is different.  They have stuff like Greek, and Kyle XY, but there is no comparison of The Middleman to Greek.  I think networks should have a wide band of different shows for people to watch.  This obviously is a very large comic book audience, but who is to say that the comic book audience doesn’t watch Greek.  I think it fits perfectly on there, because they are trying to move towards something different.

What are your feelings on the SAG strike?

Jake> Of course I’m with the actors, but I hope SAG just settles and they give us what we want. It’s fair and it’s right.  You can’t move something to the internet and just show it online.  I’ve been talking to people who say it’s going to get to the point where you won’t even have the internet.  People will have their internet hooked up to their TVs and watch a show like The Middleman, watching it online, but through their TV.  If cable is completely pushed out, we all have to move in the same way, and be fair.

Do you have a Myspace page or website?

Jake> I do.  myspace.com/jakesmollett, pretty easy.