Episode Report Card Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT "I Think Selling Pot Becomes a Way For Him to Have Something to Do"
By Mark Blankenship | Season 2 | Episode 13 | Aired on 08.06.2007
MB: Is it hard to convey all that in, like, ten words per episode? MP: Creating that with no words is sort of the way you play any character. You know who you are and then you just try to bring that to the scene. I don't really think of it in a different way than if I did have lines. And sometimes I do get some lines, which is nice. Plus, on television you still get to discover a character as it's written, so you come in with an idea, but then you allow it to be shaken up a bit. You're constantly finding the reason for any discrepancies, and when the writing is strong like it is on 30 Rock or Weeds, it's not hard to see how the discrepancies can fit into the mosaic of one human being. MB: In the way you describe these two characters, it sounds like they overlap quite a bit. Both of them stand outside the action, and they both have someone they idolize. Is that a connection that informs your work at all? MP: It could be. Huh. I think both Sanjay and Jonathan are sort of the low rung on the ladder, and they're both seeking some upward mobility. And yeah...structurally, they both have these strong bosses that they love for different reasons. But I don't think Sanjay is so concerned about being put together, and for Jonathan, it's about making sure that every paper clip is in exactly the right place. So the way they pursue objectives is quite different, although they might be going for similar things. MB: Is there ever going to be an episode where Jonathan and Jack McBrayer's character take over? MP: I'd love that! Jack is hilarious and so much fun. It would be so fun to do the "assistants episode." MB: Does not being in every episode of a season affect the way you work with your co-stars? I mean, I know you come from a theater background, where half the point is developing strong relationships with other actors through the rehearsal process. So I'm wondering: How do you create a connection with actors when you're only with them for a limited time? MP: It does force you to speed up the process. Rehearsal for me on both shows is pretty much limited to, "Read the scene once. Read the scene again to block it. Read the scene one more time to let the cameras watch, and then go get changed." But I'm lucky that on both of these shows, I'm working with really great actors. I think it's coming in with a strong choice, playing it off another person, and just allowing it to be quicker than if you're in a play.