<3 JTF
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: I want to host The Tony Awards
There's no reason to mess with perfection, which is why distinguishing a season two episode of "Modern Family" from a season one installment is a nearly impossible task. And that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality is paying off in spades as the show continues to be one of the most consistently funny on television.
Being a part of the Emmy winner for Best Comedy has been incredibly beneficial for Jesse Tyler Ferguson -- not only has it helped him mack on Celia Weston and ogle a half-naked James Marsden, but it just might help him score the highly coveted gig of Tony Awards host!
PopWrap: Given how well season one went, I'd imagine you all came back with the mentality, if it ain't broke ...
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Yea, there was nothing to add - we didn’t discover a new family member or even change the opening for season two. Our goal was to do more of the same - we’ll wait till season four to introduce Cousin Oliver [laughs].
PW: But we are introduced to Cam's mom next week, right?
Jesse: Yes and as we’ve discovered, Mitchell has some issues with PDA while Cam is obviously quite affectionate. Well, that had to come from somewhere. His mom makes Cam look like Mitchell - that’s how affectionate she is. We’re talking full mouth open kisses here. She’s played by the brilliant Celia Weston, who I’ve admired for so long.
PW: So Mitchell hates the kissing, but Jesse secretly loved it.
Jesse: [laughs] Yea, I’ve actually shot a few episodes where I find myself in situations where I’m thinking, I can’t believe this is happening right now - and one of those was definitely open mouth kissing Celia Weston. The others were scaling down the wall in a Spider-Man suit and sitting in a hot tub with James Marsden.
PW: Yes, that's another upcoming cameo people are excited by.
Jesse: Yes - first of all, he’s quite a looker, so there’s that. But it’s a really fun part. He plays one of our next door neighbors who we find in our hot tub, mistakenly assuming it's for the whole building. But when he stands up from the hot tub to leave and we decide he can stay. James is another remarkably funny actor, I had no idea.
PW: It does seem that while "MF" has had its fair share of guest stars, you're more interested in finding the best actor for the part rather than the biggest name.
Jesse: And that’s our goal. We're trying to tone down the guest stars in season two, but it was great that so many actors supported us in season one, doing these chestnuts of roles, but I think our show succeeds the most when we focus on the family.
PW: Still, being seen as such a desirable show has gotta be cool.
Jesse: It’s flattering to have Kevin Bacon & Kyra Sedgwick saying they would do anything to be on the show. I don’t want to name drop, but I’m buddies with Al Pacino now and I think he would come on the show too. It’s hard not to be wooed by great actors like that.
PW: How was it sharing the stage with him this summer doing Shakespeare in the Park?
Jesse: It was pretty mind-blowing - I only shared a little stage time with him but it never went unnoticed that I was on stage with Al Pacino. He never does a scene quite the same way, so it was exciting to be a part of that.
PW: Did it feel good being back on the NYC stage?
Jesse: Absolutely, it felt nice to see something through. I came back a few summer’s ago to workshop the musical of “Elf,” where I got to play Buddy. I also flirted with the idea of doing “Angels in America” out here, but it just fell through. It just feels like home to do theater, especially the Delacorte, which is where I got my Actor’s Equity card. It felt like coming home.
PW: I'm sure leaving those shows stung less knowing what you were going back to.
Jesse: Oh yea, no doubt. Leaving a Broadway show to do an Emmy Award winning comedy is a high class problem to have.
PW: So I saw you were playfully stumping for the Tony Award host gig on Twitter the other day...
Jesse: Oh, it’s not playful. I’m not joking around.
PW: Well, please use this opportunity to tell the producers why you're the guy for the job.
Jesse: I never thought I would be, but thanks to "Modern Family" I’m in a place where I might actually bring viewers to the Tony Awards that might not necessarily tune in otherwise - which is awesome. I could use my power for good. But at my core I’m a song and dance man. It’s what I feel most comfortable doing. That’s where my roots are, that’s my first love, it’s my home. I’ve also never been nominated for a Tony, so I think it would also fill that void of being on that stage by myself with that community of people [laughs]. Basically, everything Neil Patrick Harris does I want to do.
PW: Well said. So lastly, what can you tell us about tonight's episode?
Jesse: There’s something so good that I can’t tell you .. oh god, it’s juicy. Hmm, ok, this won’t be as interesting but Cam stops to help an older couple. This guy is trying to get his wife’s attention from across the mall, but can’t really yell so Cam shouts for her and becomes their translator sort of. “Tell her I’ll meet her at the food court” that kind of thing. Then we leave the mall and something awesome happens, a really great surprise. The only thing I can tell you is that according to our writer, it’s the most expensive scene we’ve ever shot.
Source
Is Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson ‘Too Hollywood’ for ‘The Al Pacino Thing’?
Is Jesse Tyler Ferguson too big for Broadway? The Modern Family star appeared in the Shakespeare in the Park mounting of The Merchant of Venice with headliner Al Pacino over the summer, but he is not appearing in the Broadway transfer of the acclaimed production due to his shooting scheduled for the Emmy-winning sitcom. So, is Ferguson too Hollywood for the Great White Way?
“The short answer is yes,” joked the actor-dapper in a tie and Converse sneakers-as he stood on the red carpet of the opening night celebration for the Shakespeare play. “But I’m never too Hollywood for theater. I’m always supportive. I was so thrilled I got to be a part of the production this summer. I think Chris Fitzgerald is amazing, and I’m so happy he’s playing my role.”
As a crowd formed outside the Broadhurst Theatre, where Merchant is playing, Ferguson looked around and confided that the turnout was not for Shakespeare. “It’s because I’m here!” he laughed and then looked up at the marquee. “It’s funny because his name isn’t even on the poster up there; it’s just a picture of Al’s face-just his face! Some of my friends who are in the show have told me that people come up to the box office and say, ‘Is this the Al Pacino thing?’ I don’t think they realize it’s Shakespeare. But the fact that he’s bringing people into the theater who might not normally come is awesome.”
The ginger-haired actor also noted that being an audience member has its perks: “To actually be able to sit back and not be in a tweed costume in 90 degree heat and watch the show is awesome. [Pacino] was spectacular this summer, and I can only imagine he’s even more spectacular now. I’m thrilled to see him.”
Source
Poll JTF for The Tonys?
There's no reason to mess with perfection, which is why distinguishing a season two episode of "Modern Family" from a season one installment is a nearly impossible task. And that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality is paying off in spades as the show continues to be one of the most consistently funny on television.
Being a part of the Emmy winner for Best Comedy has been incredibly beneficial for Jesse Tyler Ferguson -- not only has it helped him mack on Celia Weston and ogle a half-naked James Marsden, but it just might help him score the highly coveted gig of Tony Awards host!
PopWrap: Given how well season one went, I'd imagine you all came back with the mentality, if it ain't broke ...
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Yea, there was nothing to add - we didn’t discover a new family member or even change the opening for season two. Our goal was to do more of the same - we’ll wait till season four to introduce Cousin Oliver [laughs].
PW: But we are introduced to Cam's mom next week, right?
Jesse: Yes and as we’ve discovered, Mitchell has some issues with PDA while Cam is obviously quite affectionate. Well, that had to come from somewhere. His mom makes Cam look like Mitchell - that’s how affectionate she is. We’re talking full mouth open kisses here. She’s played by the brilliant Celia Weston, who I’ve admired for so long.
PW: So Mitchell hates the kissing, but Jesse secretly loved it.
Jesse: [laughs] Yea, I’ve actually shot a few episodes where I find myself in situations where I’m thinking, I can’t believe this is happening right now - and one of those was definitely open mouth kissing Celia Weston. The others were scaling down the wall in a Spider-Man suit and sitting in a hot tub with James Marsden.
PW: Yes, that's another upcoming cameo people are excited by.
Jesse: Yes - first of all, he’s quite a looker, so there’s that. But it’s a really fun part. He plays one of our next door neighbors who we find in our hot tub, mistakenly assuming it's for the whole building. But when he stands up from the hot tub to leave and we decide he can stay. James is another remarkably funny actor, I had no idea.
PW: It does seem that while "MF" has had its fair share of guest stars, you're more interested in finding the best actor for the part rather than the biggest name.
Jesse: And that’s our goal. We're trying to tone down the guest stars in season two, but it was great that so many actors supported us in season one, doing these chestnuts of roles, but I think our show succeeds the most when we focus on the family.
PW: Still, being seen as such a desirable show has gotta be cool.
Jesse: It’s flattering to have Kevin Bacon & Kyra Sedgwick saying they would do anything to be on the show. I don’t want to name drop, but I’m buddies with Al Pacino now and I think he would come on the show too. It’s hard not to be wooed by great actors like that.
PW: How was it sharing the stage with him this summer doing Shakespeare in the Park?
Jesse: It was pretty mind-blowing - I only shared a little stage time with him but it never went unnoticed that I was on stage with Al Pacino. He never does a scene quite the same way, so it was exciting to be a part of that.
PW: Did it feel good being back on the NYC stage?
Jesse: Absolutely, it felt nice to see something through. I came back a few summer’s ago to workshop the musical of “Elf,” where I got to play Buddy. I also flirted with the idea of doing “Angels in America” out here, but it just fell through. It just feels like home to do theater, especially the Delacorte, which is where I got my Actor’s Equity card. It felt like coming home.
PW: I'm sure leaving those shows stung less knowing what you were going back to.
Jesse: Oh yea, no doubt. Leaving a Broadway show to do an Emmy Award winning comedy is a high class problem to have.
PW: So I saw you were playfully stumping for the Tony Award host gig on Twitter the other day...
Jesse: Oh, it’s not playful. I’m not joking around.
PW: Well, please use this opportunity to tell the producers why you're the guy for the job.
Jesse: I never thought I would be, but thanks to "Modern Family" I’m in a place where I might actually bring viewers to the Tony Awards that might not necessarily tune in otherwise - which is awesome. I could use my power for good. But at my core I’m a song and dance man. It’s what I feel most comfortable doing. That’s where my roots are, that’s my first love, it’s my home. I’ve also never been nominated for a Tony, so I think it would also fill that void of being on that stage by myself with that community of people [laughs]. Basically, everything Neil Patrick Harris does I want to do.
PW: Well said. So lastly, what can you tell us about tonight's episode?
Jesse: There’s something so good that I can’t tell you .. oh god, it’s juicy. Hmm, ok, this won’t be as interesting but Cam stops to help an older couple. This guy is trying to get his wife’s attention from across the mall, but can’t really yell so Cam shouts for her and becomes their translator sort of. “Tell her I’ll meet her at the food court” that kind of thing. Then we leave the mall and something awesome happens, a really great surprise. The only thing I can tell you is that according to our writer, it’s the most expensive scene we’ve ever shot.
Source
Is Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson ‘Too Hollywood’ for ‘The Al Pacino Thing’?
Is Jesse Tyler Ferguson too big for Broadway? The Modern Family star appeared in the Shakespeare in the Park mounting of The Merchant of Venice with headliner Al Pacino over the summer, but he is not appearing in the Broadway transfer of the acclaimed production due to his shooting scheduled for the Emmy-winning sitcom. So, is Ferguson too Hollywood for the Great White Way?
“The short answer is yes,” joked the actor-dapper in a tie and Converse sneakers-as he stood on the red carpet of the opening night celebration for the Shakespeare play. “But I’m never too Hollywood for theater. I’m always supportive. I was so thrilled I got to be a part of the production this summer. I think Chris Fitzgerald is amazing, and I’m so happy he’s playing my role.”
As a crowd formed outside the Broadhurst Theatre, where Merchant is playing, Ferguson looked around and confided that the turnout was not for Shakespeare. “It’s because I’m here!” he laughed and then looked up at the marquee. “It’s funny because his name isn’t even on the poster up there; it’s just a picture of Al’s face-just his face! Some of my friends who are in the show have told me that people come up to the box office and say, ‘Is this the Al Pacino thing?’ I don’t think they realize it’s Shakespeare. But the fact that he’s bringing people into the theater who might not normally come is awesome.”
The ginger-haired actor also noted that being an audience member has its perks: “To actually be able to sit back and not be in a tweed costume in 90 degree heat and watch the show is awesome. [Pacino] was spectacular this summer, and I can only imagine he’s even more spectacular now. I’m thrilled to see him.”
Source
Poll JTF for The Tonys?