July 5, 2002

1. Are you ticklish? Where?

Nowhere. I mean it. Hee. Quit it! Im not ticklish, Im telling y-- hee hee hee hahahaha. Stop! Haw haw haw. NO MEANS NO snort ha ha haha ha haha haha hahahahahahahaha Im NOT tickli-- heeeheeeheeeeheeheeeeheeeheeheeeee--oooops. I tinkled.

2. Being that you and Peter are (or seem to be) so close in "real life", was it awkward to kiss in the finale? Do you like the whole "Emmett and Ted as Lovers" storyline?

I also had to kiss one of my best friends, Dawn Maxey, in the workshop of BEDTIME STORIES that I did this summer. The weirdness in both instances comes only in thinking about it ahead of time. Once you're there doing it and you're both "the characters" it doesn't feel awkward at all. It's also kind of a fun thing to know that two of your dearest friends are REALLY good kissers.

Both Peter and I, unbeknownst to each other, had pitched Dan and Ron story lines involving Ted and Emmett "gettin it on" at the end of last season. As I recall my version was more of a drunken falling into bed with each other that then had to be dealt with "the morning after." Ron very much wanted to explore it with more depth. The notion of friends becoming lovers and the wonders and dangers that are inherent in that intrigued him. I think he is right. Where it's all going I dont know. But it's absolutely a situation rife with dramatic (and comic) possibilities.

3. How do you stay focused, fresh, and challenged after doing the same character for what will be going on three seasons?

I change my boxers at LEAST twice a week. Seriously, you need help from the writers. Without good, challenging story lines it gets tough. Beyond that, every scene gives challenges to find the reality and ground it in that. Even when it's comic it's important to me that it be believable and not get cartoonish. Sometimes that can be a huge challenge. When it gets too forced it tips the scales of reality and becomes less funny . Perfect example: the gym scene in the last episode of Season 2. It's just a little TOO goofy for me. So every day, as trite as it sounds, brings new challenges.

4. I recently read in USA Today that Showtime has renewed QAF for 2 more seasons, but for only 16 episodes each. Was any explanation given as to why the number of episodes we'll in Season 3 and 4 dropped from the number shown in Seasons 1 & 2?

Well, I'm just a gun for hire so I'm not 100% sure of the network's reasons. It may be because of the escalating costs that a show takes on once it becomes a hit. It may also be because they're being kind to those of us involved in making the show. The 8 or 9 months that it has taken to do a 22 and then a 20 episode season is unusually grueling and it makes it near impossible for the cast to find outside projects to do besides QAF. I think in the end it will help the seasons be more focused.

5. I read somewhere that the cast of QAF has an opportunity to make suggestions about their characters direction. Were you given that opportunity at the end of Season 2?

Not yet. But Dan and Ron have been on vacation (FINALLY!) so that may be why.

6. What one horribly-bad-for-you thing would you eat if you didn't have to think about being naked on tv?

A entire Chicago stuffed spinach Pizza.

7. Your webmaster thinks you're crazy for growing facial hair in the hot summer (Annie says: I think all men are crazy for doing that, not just Scott). Do you do it because you're on hiatus and you want a change, or because you prefer having a beard/goatee and you can only grow one when you're not doing QAF?

Frankly I've always hated shaving and I think I look better with a goatee. So whenever I've known I have a break from jobs or auditions I've grown one. After a month or so, I usually get bored with it and either shave it off for a while or start another one. It's like gardening with your face.

8. Which would you rather be in the middle of: a blizzard, a hurricane, or an earthquake?

Did I do something terrible to you? Why are you wishing me to be in the middle of any of those things? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?!?

9. Is there any chance of fans getting to read an HTMLized version of your J.W. Booth play on your website someday? If not, can you give some details, such as the title, how long it is, how many characters, etc?

Perhaps. Although as a non-published, non-produced work-in-progress I'm a little wary to put it out there. The title of the play is: "Wilkes". It features a cast of 5 actors; one who plays Booth and 4 others who, as actual actors that Booth worked with (including his brother Edwin) portray all the other characters in his life story. The play is in three acts (as plays were in J.W.B.'s time). At this point in time, the first act takes place from Booth's childhood through his finding success as an actor and matinee idol. The second act, which is written almost like a play Booth might have performed (with soliloquies in iambic pentameter, etc.) covers his reasons for and failed execution of kidnapping Lincoln. The third act starts with a "you are there in the audience" reenactment of the assassination and ends with Booth's death in a tobacco barn. Throughout the play Booth tries to rewrite this ending to give him the hero's death he feels he deserves. While a very tragic tale on so many levels, the play is full of humor (of course), especially the almost farcical kidnapping and in the end it is really about fate and destiny.