Mary Lynn interview in "The Ausiello Rreport" on TVGuide.com
24 Star Rejoins Gilmore Girls
Chloe is a traitor! OK, that's not exactly true, but 24's Mary Lynn Rajskub is consorting with the enemy, guest-starring on the May 9 season finale of WB's Gilmore Girls. The actress will play one of several singers who invade Stars Hollow hoping to get discovered after an agent taps the town's troubadour to open for Neil Young. Rajskub - who honed her crooner chops as part of the improv comedy-music group the Girls Guitar Club - called me from the Gilmore set late yesterday to chat about the Girls gig, Chloe's upcoming "romantic challenge" and her plans to take Manhattan this summer.
Ausiello: I just want to point out that I interviewed you back in 2003 when you first started on 24, before Chloe became the superstar she is now.
Rajskub: Thank you. What's funny is the people at the network are always telling me, "Yeah, [Fox] hated you at first." I'm like, "Yeah, I know. That's the story of my life."
Ausiello: I liked you before it was cool to like you.
Rajskub: You should put that in your story.
Ausiello: I will. So this is actually your second appearance on Gilmore Girls.
Rajskub: Yes. I know Amy Sherman Palladino from Veronica's Closet. She helped me get that part, from seeing me do live shows or something.
Ausiello: Last time you played Kirk's girlfriend, right? I barely remember it.
Rajskub: It was really quick. I was kind of sad that they didn't bring me back to actually play [that same role]. Kirk had asked me to be in his short film; it's like a second long.
Ausiello: You're playing a completely different character this time.
Rajskub: Right. I am a...
Ausiello: Troubadour?
Rajskub: Yeah, troubadour. I was trying to think of another word. I was going to say singer/songwriter.
Ausiello: You think I'm too dumb to know what troubadour means.
Rajskub: (Laughs) No! I'm not totally comfortable with the word. I basically walk around and sing to people. I'm a troubadour!
Ausiello: So that's what it means.
Rajskub: I guess a bunch of troubadours come out of the woodwork to try to get discovered. So I get to take a break from 24 and sing a song.
Ausiello: Do you have any lines?
Rajskub: I have, like, two lines. I say, "Hey, I'm trying to sing a song here!"
Ausiello: What's the song?
Rajskub: A song I made up.
Ausiello: Oh, just a song you made up.
Rajskub: Not just a song. The song.
Ausiello: My apologies. What's the title?
Rajskub: "I Drive an '89 Volvo."
Ausiello: You wrote it exclusively for Gilmore Girls?
Rajskub: Yes.
Ausiello: Will you be releasing it as a single?
Rajskub: (Chuckles) Well...as soon as the offers start coming in.
Ausiello: You're under contract with 24. Did that present a problem in doing Gilmore Girls?
Rajskub: Well, it wasn't a matter of the contract, because I'm allowed to [do other stuff]. That's not a big deal. The big deal was trying to get the time blocked out, because we're wrapping up our shooting for the season and so it's a little bit hectic. It was hard to get an entire day blocked off, so I'm very grateful that I was able to come and have a little bit of fun today.
Ausiello: Do you watch Gilmore Girls?
Rajskub: No. I don't know what happened; I just stopped watching TV.
Ausiello: What happened?
Rajskub: I don't know, I just stopped.
Ausiello: In other words, you have no investment in Luke and Lorelai as a couple?
Rajskub: No. I watched it when it first came out and I was really into it. And now that I'm on the set I'm like, "Aww...I can't believe I haven't been keeping up with it." I'll have to buy the DVDs.
Ausiello: Switching gears to 24, what's it like not having Edgar around?
Rajskub: It's very sad. It was sad when we filmed it and it's sad to not have him there.
Ausiello: Edgar's replacement (played by Kate Mara) is a little nutso. How does it feel to have someone at CTU who's crazier than you?
Rajskub: It's kind of a relief. Chloe starts to seem like the normal one now.
Ausiello: What are you doing this summer?
Rajskub: I'm going to try to lay low. I don't have any big trips planned. I've never driven up the coast of California and I've lived here 10 years. I might try to do that. I might also go home to Michigan.
Ausiello: And for work?
Rajskub: I'm going to do some live shows, possibly in New York. I actually forgot the name of the theater; we just started booking it yesterday.
Ausiello: When?
Rajskub: Maybe July.
Ausiello: Madonna's coming to the Big Apple at the end of June. Maybe you could piggyback.
Rajskub: (Laughs) I love the way you think. You're like my...
Ausiello: Agent? Manager?
Rajskub: There's got to be a better word than that. You're like my...angel.
Ausiello: I'll take it. What's going on with the 24 movie? I heard it was supposed to start shooting after the season wrapped.
Rajskub: I heard that, too. I heard that they have a script written, like a rough draft, but there's no way you could get it together that quickly.
Ausiello: Are you in it?
Rajskub: I don't know.
Ausiello: Honestly?
Rajskub: I think Rachel McAdams is playing my part. No, I have no idea. (Whispers) It's not going to be a 24 movie without me, let's put it that way.
Ausiello: My thoughts exactly. Can you say anything about what's coming up the rest of the season?
Rajskub: Nudity.
Ausiello: Really?
Rajskub: No.
Ausiello: Relationship drama?
Rajskub: Probably.
Ausiello: Possibly?
Rajskub: Could be.
Ausiello: Romantically?
Rajskub: A romantically challenging situation could happen.
Ausiello: Is Chloe's CTU trick coming back?
Rajskub: I'm not saying.
Ausiello: You know, I was an extra on Gilmore Girls.
Rajskub: You were?
Ausiello: Totally. Go tell people you know me.
Rajskub: What's your last name?
Ausiello: Aussie-yellow.
Rajskub: Hey - I remember you!
Ausiello: We met at press tour two years ago, too.
Rajskub: I totally know who you are. We're practically best friends.