411Mania Inteviews: Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family)
Posted by Al Norton on 09.23.2009
411's Al Norton sits down for an exclusive interview with Jesse Tyler Ferguson, one of the stars of the new ABC comedy Modern Family
Jesse Tyler Ferguson is best known to TV audiences for his role as Richie on The Class, although theater goers may recognize him from his role in the Tony Award winning musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee or from his 2007 performance in Shakespeare in the Park's A Midsummer's Night Dream. He currently stars in ABC's new comedy Modern Family, which premieres tonight at 9 pm.
Al Norton: I want to start by telling you how much I loved The Class, which I am guessing you hear a lot.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Oh, thank you so much. I do hear that a lot and I love to hear it.
Al Norton: To be honest, one of the reasons I never really got into The Big Bang Theory is I looked at it like it was the show they replaced you with.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: (Laughing) The Big Bang Theory is pretty hilarious; you should check it out. I agree, though. I had a hard time accepting them at the very beginning. You'll learn (laughing).
Al Norton: How did Modern Family come to you?
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Honestly, I was hell bent on not doing another TV show. I had some theater stuff going on and had cleared my scheduled for that and my manager called me and said there was a script that had come in. He completely downplayed it, saying "I think you'll find it funny. You should read it." I did and immediately I thought, "ok, I have to audition for this one." And of course, it happened to be the one that I got. That's sort of how it came to be.
Initially I was asked to read for the role of Cameron, which is the role Eric Stonestreet plays, and I told them I felt like more of a Mitchell and could bring a lot to that role. They told me it was not going to happen, that they would not want to see me as Mitchell. I auditioned for Cameron and then (producers) Chris Lloyd and Steve Levitan said, "you'd be a great Mitchell" and I said, "that's what I've been saying, no one will listen to me." Two days later I came back to read for Mitchell and I got it.
Al Norton: How far along was the rest of the casting for the show when you got the part?
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: I was actually the first one cast, which was awesome and scary (laughing).
Al Norton: So then you got to sit there as they kept adding amazing people.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Yes. They kept saying they were trying to get Ed O'Neill but there were deals being made and phone calls happening. He wanted it but with the legalities of LA casting…I know Sofia (Vergara) had a development deal with ABC so that was easier, and they knew they wanted to pair them up. I was thrilled with everyone; I think it's the best possible cast for the show.
Al Norton: How much fun do you have working with Eric Stonestreet?
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: He is awesome. I kind of experienced the same thing with The Class that he is now. I was this new kid who came in from New York and generated some attention from The Class and I am loving seeing Eric go on that journey with our show. He is kind of this hot new thing and people are really responding to him. I am stepping back and watching him, and it's just so great.
Al Norton: How soon after everyone arrived on set did people realize what you might have there?
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: It was one of those things where the script was so good I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. "Well, they're going to cast it wrong, or we'll get the wrong director, or it's not going to translate well…something is going to happen to screw this whole thing up."
The script is so strong; I felt from reading the pilot that the show was going to be huge. Everything fell into place; we had the right director, they cast it really well, it had a really interesting look. After I saw the pilot I thought, "wow, that was really, really good." I showed the pilot to some of my friends and they really liked it and then they showed it at the up-fronts and all these reviews starting coming in…It has kind of happened slowly but I thought from reading the first page of the pilot that it was going to be awesome, although it took all these other things happening for me to believe it.
Al Norton: Obviously good buzz is better than bad buzz or no buzz…
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Yeah, I've been on the bad buzz side and that's no good.
Al Norton: Do great reviews ever make you nervous because it means people are sitting down to watch with higher expectations?
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: I guess. I have to admit I have googled the show a few times and have found some people saying, "I don't think it's as funny as everyone is saying." They go in expecting the world but it's a TV show; some people are going to like it and some aren't. It's a great TV show but when you start building something up really high there are always people who want to be the first to not like what everyone else likes.
Al Norton: Edward Norton is going to guest star on an episode.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Yes. Edward Norton is shooting an episode. He's actually doing the same episode that my good friend Liz Banks is doing, so I am doubly as excited. I just shot with her yesterday. It's thrilling that these awesome, talented movie stars want to slum it on TV with us. Sandra Bernhardt stopped me at the gym the other day and said, "I want to be on your show." I am trying to find her a part (laughing).
Al Norton: While I am not exactly sure why, there are still clearly people in our country who are not comfortable with a gay couple raising kids; do you think presenting it in the way that you do may help break down a wall or two?
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: I certainly think it's going to change at least one person's opinion; if we change even one person's mind, that's brilliant. We're definitely ruffling some feathers a bit and I know there are some right wing Christian Fundamentalists who aren't too excited about the show being on the air. I don't know if those people's minds will ever be changed. It's the United States of America, so everyone can have their own views, but it's also the United States of America, so there is room for everyone. Unfortunately for the people who don't want to accept it, there are people in America who happen to be gay and that's just the way that it is. I try not to put too much social responsibility on the show right now.
Al Norton: Give me the quick pitch as to why people will want to watch Modern Family.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: It's incredibly unique, it's uproariously funny, it's got an amazing cast, the writing is smart…I really do feel like it's going to be the show that people are talking about this year so you want to get on board early to be in the know. It's a water cooler show and you want to be able to be in the conversation the next day.
Don't miss the series premiere of Modern Family tonight at 9 pm on ABC
