Art Eddy III
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Warren Leight and Jonathan Silverman Talk Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Yesterday there was a conference call with Executive Producer and Show-runner for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Warren Leight. SVU guest star Jonathan Silverman who will be in this Wednesday’s episode called “Comic Perversion” also joined the conversation.
Here is some of Leight’s and Silverman’s answers during the Q&A session over the phone.
Warren was asked about Benson’s attack by Lewis this season and her eagerness to arrest men. The question of Benson’s judgment seems at stake. Would her decline continue throughout this season or can we expect her to gain some stability?
Warren Leight: Okay, well this is Warren. I guess I’m responsible for her decline so I’ll take that. I think that, you know, she’s suffering from PTSD and I think she’s working through it. I think in the next few episodes we see her comfortably in command of her squad. Although in this current episode Comic Perversion, I think you see some of her – I think you see some anger still leaching through. But I feel like unless Lewis returns maybe the worst is over for her. That’s a big unless.
Jonathan Silverman was asked if actors like to play characters who are vulnerable. Silverman responded by saying the following.
Jonathan Silverman: That’s a great question. First of all, Warren Leight is a god in my eyes and he knows I would do anything to work with him again. I was lucky enough to be in the – at least the West Coast Premiere of his wonderful play, Glimmer, Glimmer & Shine at the Mark Taper Forum probably. When was that Warren, 12 years ago?
Warren Leight: 1904 I think something like that.
Jonathan Silverman: Yes, 1904. It was done in black and white even live on stage. Honestly he knows. I would do anything to work with him. So when he presented me with this script I was blown away by how powerful it was and a little scared about just the workload involved. And then of course my next reaction was, “Oh, can I do this?” You know it’s obviously a subject matter that is very delicate and to me, to my wife, to some of our dear friends.
And I was somewhat hesitant and even, you know, I had to discuss it with my reps, with my manager, with my agents. And we ultimately decided, you know, this is what I do for a living. And you don’t always get to play reputable characters. Sometimes you get your hands a little dirty literally and play the bad guy.
And I’m so glad I did. Obviously I hope people don’t respond to my character’s inclinations on and off stage. But it was a wonderful opportunity to portray and to get this message out so I’m thrilled I did it.
Warren Leight: I will say it was very brave with Jonathan. I will tell you now, there’s probably not a standup comic in the country who would have dared to do the part because and I am very comfortable with Jonathan because we had done this play together. And I knew he could land every beat of this thing.
And, you know, it has worked out well for Pablo Schreiber playing one of our villains. And I think it will – it should work out well for Jonathan. But it is interesting to me how many people tell me how much they want to be on SVU but they don’t want to play a pedophile or a bad guy.
And really that’s what we have for, you know, to offer. Our good guys are already on the squad. And I’m very glad that Jonathan stepped up. And he, you know, he’s – like Pablo, he didn’t flinch for a moment. You know you have to drive into the skate of these characters and man did he drive into this good.
Warren was asked about Twitter and social media. Does social media tend to affect the way the show is produced?
Warren Leight: I like it. I like Twitter. You know I don’t have – it’s great because you can just – if you have two minutes of downtime you can go on, see what’s going on. Drop a couple of bombs and get out. And I like doing that.
And it’s – I feel it does get a dialogue going with the fans. And of course with the haters which is also fun. But it gets – it’s a way – we’re 15 years in so it’s not – we have to figure out ways to reach our fans directly. We’re not going to – there’s not going to be a ton of promo for us or a ton of ads for us.
What I like about Twitter is we get to speak directly to the fans and kind of – it’s also good when there’s about 30 rumors a week that go out and trying to shut those down as fast as I can. So I enjoy it. Most of the time I enjoy it a lot and we have the entire writing staff now tweeting. We have an SVU writers of account, the entire cast tweets. And it’s also a way of just since none of us actually talk to each other in real life, it’s a way of finding out what each other’s doing all the time.
Jonathan Silverman: I’m amazed by it. And my wife is on Twitter. And actually she just got me on Instagram so I’m going to start playing around with that. I’m just always a couple of years late to the party on all this stuff. So I’ll join soon. I promise.
Warren was then asked if we expect to see for the end of this season, can we expect to see any more guest stars?
Warren Leight: Well I think word is out that we have Alec Baldwin will be coming up. I think everyone – he’s shooting today in a story. I hope the paparazzi are leaving him alone. And he’s shooting in an episode directed by Mariska that will air March 19th. We also have Donal Logue and Sherri Saum airing the week before that.
So we the guest stars will keep coming. It depends on how much money’s left in our budget. But I think that they’re going to keep coming.
Next Jonathan was asked about what it was like to go from comedic films that people knew him from to kind of doing a more serious show like Law and Order SVU.
Jonathan Silverman: I relish doing anything that’s a bit out of, you know, the norm and out of my wheelhouse. I supposed there’s a certain comfort level for me in doing comedy. But I’ve certainly done my share of dramas and anytime I get a chance to play a somewhat nefarious bad guy I leap at it. What was interesting about this is probably around 70% of what I do in this episode is up on stage being a comic.
Lastly Warren was asked if there was going be some big surprises this season. Is the squad going to get a new captain anytime soon and if so can you give us a hint who will play him or her?
Warren Leight: We’re not sure where we’re going with that. I have liked Olivia in charge a lot. But there is in certain – there are certain circumstances that could cause her to not be allowed to be in charge of the squad room.
And if – I’m being as – I think now I’m being kind of vague here. But there’s certain cases she would not be allowed to handle for her own safety. And if one of those comes up she may be in – she may get boot. She’s – as we speak Mariska has been redecorating the captain’s office by the way. She’s directing our episode now.
And she’s been moving in. She moved a plant in. She moved some survivor handbooks and things like that in. So she’s making that office a home. But I think technically she’s only a sergeant and she’s acting commander of the squad. So eventually NYPD may – and we play a lot about – of late we’ve been writing a lot about the politics of NYPD. Usually when something’s going well NYPD likes to muck it up bureaucratically.
And so I think the better the job she does as acting commander of the squad, the more likely it is the Peter Principle will apply and they’ll bring somebody else in. It’s – I’ve been loving watching her in command. She’s – it’s – she’s 15 years in. She knows what she’s doing, you know.
Make sure to check in to Law & Order: SVU this Wednesday on NBC at 9/8c
Feb 25th
Jack in the Box – Bacon Insider
Leave it to Jack to give bacon lovers what they want. A bacon triple-threat – the new Bacon Insider burger from Jack in the Box restaurants takes bacon to unprecedented levels with a “craveable” sandwich featuring a juicy beef patty with savory bacon pieces mixed right in, sandwiched in-between six-half slices of hickory smoked bacon, and topped with a creamy bacon mayo sauce. And if that’s not enough, you also get lettuce, tomato and American cheese – all served on Jack in the Box’s new gourmet brioche bun. The Bacon Insider is available for a limited time only at participating Jack in the Box restaurants.
MANjr is going to help you get to try the Bacon Insider by giving away some Jack Ca$h to some lucky readers. Just fill out the contest form and follow MANjr on Twitter.
Feb 24th
Johny Hendricks Interview
Top UFC Welterweight Contender Johny Hendricks can’t wait for March 15th. On that date he will look to win the Welterweight title when he goes up against Robbie Lawler in UFC 171. In his UFC career he has a record of 15-2. He has won eight of those fight by knocking out his opponent. Not that many people want to go into the octagon with Hendricks.
You might have seen Johny in action on TV with his Reebok commercial with fellow athletes Knowshon Moreno and Aly Raisman. When Hendricks is not training he spends time with his family and also loves to go hunting and play golf.
I was able to catch up with Johny while he was taking a break from training to talk about his upcoming fight, training, and the stereotypes of UFC fighters.
Art Eddy: You recently shot a great ad with Knowshon Moreno and Aly Raisman for Reebok. How cool was it shoot that commercial?
Johny Hendricks: It wa
s fun. It was exciting. The new ZQUICK are really great. The concept that they brought to it was great. They also made it fun. I was out there running and doing a bunch of different things. So they made it fun which makes it better for me.
AE: Yeah, I loved how you saved the day in the end to help get that lady’s workout gear back to her.
JH: Oh yeah. I had to kick him a couple of times. He took her shoes, but in the end I got them back.
AE: How has the Reebok ZQUICK running shoe helped out your workout?
JH: Yeah, they are really good on turf. I do a lot stuff on turf. I do a lot of stuff on the road too. These shoes have been great for that. They are very light and very flexible. They have been great for me since we do a lot of stuff without shoes on. Even though they apply a lot grip they still form to your foot. If you stop or if you are on an uneven surface it almost feels like you are not wearing shoes.
That is what is great about it for me. I can go out there and train with some shoes on, but it is not giving up that foot feel that I have every day.
AE: Speaking of training you are going to be facing Robbie Lawler on March 15th at UFC 171 for the vacant UFC Welterweight title. How has the training been going?
JH: I am a few weeks out. My mindset is good. I am training hard. My shape is getting better, better, and better. I am actually ahead of schedule than I was for my last fight. That is something that I am happy about.
I am super excited. I can’t wait for the fight to get here, but I also know that I have to wait for the fight if that makes 
sense. I can’t overlook the next few weeks of training. I have to get every bit out that I can out of each day. That is what I am really focusing on now.
I am training and not worrying about who I am fighting. You just have to worry about what you can do to make the fight go your way.
AE: You wrestled in college and then put your focus on MMA after graduating. What was it about MMA that appealed to you?
JH: MMA, well it really didn’t happen at first. I wasn’t a big fan of MMA. I trained in it. I like to protect my family. I know that I have a gun, but what happens when you can’t get to your gun? Those are the things that come back to me. I would much rather be able to protect myself because I can put a pretty bad whooping on someone right now.
I can make sure that this guy can’t do harm to someone else. Does that make sense? Maybe break a couple of bones. If someone tries to do that to my family that is why I want to make sure that they don’t threaten anybody else. That is sort of my mindset right now. I know that I can protect them in an easier way.
AE: For you what is the biggest stereotype of UFC fighters that drives you nuts?
JH: When people say that we are barbarians. That is what gets me very heated. People that say that sound uneducated. There are so many people out there like me who have their college degree. It is just turning into an athlete. That is why I think the sport is as popular. You have smart athletes in this sport.
Plus, there is the news and interviews on fighters so that people get to know who we are. I am just a family guy who makes a living by settling it in the octagon. In the same way for you. You have to fight for your job just like how I have to fight for my job. It is a little bit different, but we all have to fight in life.
That is what people are starting to realize. Sometimes it can be brutal. Yet in some of the last couple of fights I didn’t see any blood. Some people see all this blood from this or that and make an opinion. It is just one of those things.
AE: When you are not training what do you do in your free time?
JH: I play golf. I hunt. I spend a lot of time with my family. That is pretty much it. Realistically I would say probably 95 percent is family time. The other five percent is spent golfing and hunting. I try and do much as I can with the family because I know that these fights are getting bigger. The bigger the fight, the more I want to train. The more I want to train is the more I am away from my kids and my wife. That is why I try and get back to them as much as possible.
Feb 24th
adidas: Continues to Lead the Way With Energy Boost 2
adidas unveils Energy Boost 2 – the running shoe with cushioning returning more energy than any other foam in the running industry. Innovation is the engine of adidas running and Energy Boost 2 is a testament to that as it continues to be an industry first. Energy Boost 2 features a one-piece translucent heel to mid-foot fit cage that locks you on top of the full-length BOOST midsole to create an enhanced, more stable fit. Visually, the new design allows for more a more refined aesthetic.
Energy Boost, originally launched in 2013, changed the industry with BOOST technology. For 2014, adidas refined Energy Boost 2 so it continues to deliver unprecedented energy return. By 2015, the majority of adidas running shoes 
will feature BOOST and, this year, sports like basketball and baseball will benefit from BOOST technology. That news has already excited adidas athletes.
“I’ve never worn anything like BOOST,” said Joakim Noah, All-Star Center for the Chicago Bulls. “They’re soft and comfortable, but also responsive – the energy you feel is a difference-maker.”
Follow adidas on Twitter at @adidasUS and check out facebook.com/adidasrunning.
Feb 20th
Celebrate National Margarita Day
National Margarita Day is coming up on Feb. 22, and folks around the country will be celebrating with the CoronaRita – a deliciously fun twist on the margarita. The CoronaRita is a traditional or frozen margarita that is accompanied by an upside down Corona, which slowly seeps into the margarita while the cocktail is being consumed, infusing it with subtle yet distinct Corona flavor.
With the margarita as the #1 ordered cocktail and Corona Extra as the #1 ordered import beer, the CoronaRita is perfect for entertaining guests during National Margarita Day celebrations, Cinco de Mayo and throughout the Summer.
The CoronaRita below is made with Coronita, a 7oz. bottle of Corona Extra. Corona Extra is the #1 imported beer in the U.S. and the #5 beer overall. Corona offers the perfect balance between heavier European imports and lighter domestic beer, pairing well with spicy cuisine, casual dining, and of course, limes.
CoronaRita
Ingredients:
1 ¼ oz. Tequila
½ oz. Triple Sec
3 oz. Margarita Mix
1 Coronita 7 oz. beer
1 lime wedge
Margarita Rocks
½ Salt rim
Combine ingredients 1-3 in shaker with ice
Shake vigorously
Strain into glass with 2/3 ice
Invert Coronita in clip on glass, garnish with lime wedge and serve
Margarita Frozen
½ Salt rim
Combine ingredients 1-3 in blender with 1 Cup Ice
Blend until smooth
Pour into glass
Invert Coronita in clip on glass, garnish with lime wedge and serve
Feb 19th
Crown Royal Let Me #ReignOn for the 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend
If someone asked you to create the perfect sports weekend, what would some of the key ingredients be to make that experience special?
For me, I would say watching the top athletes of that sport compete against each other. You would enjoy great food and even better cocktails. I would add some of my good friends into the mix to enjoy those moments. There would be invites to incredible parties and events that you couldn’t go to on a regular basis. Maybe the chance of meeting legends of that sport in an intimate setting and be able to pick their brain about the game they love. Okay, I think you catch my drift.
I am very fortunate to say that I was able to have experienced just that. I was invited to be part of the Crown Royal #ReignOn campaign for the 2014 NBA All-Star weekend in New Orleans. Let me just say that this has to be one of the best weekends I have experienced in my life.
So with that being said, where do I begin? I guess the old adage is to start from the beginning.
I arrived in New Orleans Friday night with a lot of anticipation. I got to the hotel and made sure I got a good night 
sleep. I wanted to be ready for everything that was going to happen that weekend. I was going to the NBA All-Star game on Sunday to see the cream of the crop play against each other. Crown Royal had created an out of this world itinerary that included hanging out with NBA legend Julius Erving. That’s right Dr. J. Crown Royal set up a meet and greet with Dr. J and a whisky tasting with the living legend.
Crown Royal also scored me and my fellow bloggers NBA “Jam Session” media passes. This let us into some cool places during the NBA All-Star weekend. They took us to some premiere restaurants to get a real taste of the New Orleans cuisine. We even had a whiskey tasting with Master of Whisky, Robert Sickler. He gave us an in-depth education on the new Crown Royal XO, which was outstanding by the way. For those who enjoy a great whisky I suggest picking up the XO.
So as you can see this weekend looked to be one of those perfect sports weekend that I mentioned earlier.
So as I woke up Saturday morning I had an extra spring in my step. I was getting ready to seize the day. I headed off to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center to pick up my media credentials for the weekend. Once I picked that up I ventured into center in what the NBA called “Jam Session.” Picture Disney World, but catered for those who love basketball. There were meet and greets with former and current players. You could test out your basketball skills 
with certain games and challenges at the convention center. You could even check out the Eastern and Western Conference All-Stars practice on Saturday morning.
I did watch the All-Stars from the West take to the court to go over some plays for Sunday’s game. That is where I ran into NBA great Darryl Dawkins AKA “Chocolate Thunder.” He is such a down to earth guy and answered all my questions. Thanks Darryl.
After watching the West practice I used my credentials to go to the media section for the Q&A sessions with both conferences. I was able to interview LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Kyrie Irving. That was one of the sickest moments from that weekend. After coming off that high, I went back to engage in some of the 
other activities at the convention center.
I then met up with the Crown Royal team and other bloggers to go meet up with Dr. J that night. (That sentence alone still gets me!) Erving gave some of his thoughts on his work with Crown Royal. He followed that up by talking about his time in the NBA, players he admired growing up, and what he thought of today’s players.
Next he opened the floor for our questions. Just like the kid in school who wants to answer all of the teacher’s questions I raised my hand to ask the good doctor the first question. I wanted to get his take on the evolution of the league.
He answered my question with great insight. He feels that teams need to start looking to be stronger on the defensive side of things. From his answer I could tell he is still a student of the game. He then answered a few other questions. Dr. J is a classy guy to say the least. Our time with Dr. J ended by him giving us 
a gift! Yeah, you read that correctly. He gave us each some Dr. J flex fit hats. Just like my time with James, Wade, and Kyrie, this will be one of my favorite memories from that weekend.
After that I would be very content with calling it night, but that is not how the fine folks at Crown Royal work. They made sure our experience was a true “Reign On” weekend from start to finish. We met for dinner at St. Marie Brasserie. There we had a very scrumptious dinner. At St. Marie Brasserie the master bartender created cocktails with Crown Royal that was influenced by the city of New Orleans. We finished dinner with a tasty dessert and went to the Metropolitan for the Kevin Hart party.
At the Metropolitan we all gathered at the Crown Royal section of the club. We had a great time talking about our time in New Orleans. During the night the guest DJ came up to the booth. It was none other than Biz Markie. This was another amazing part of the weekend. I am a big fan of Biz and he was cool to chat for a bit and even take a picture with me.
On Sunday I checked out the French Quarter for a bit and picked up some things for my wife and my daughters. I even 
tried the world famous beignets from Café du Monde. For those at home wondering, yes they did live up to the hype.
Later that night it was finally here! GAME TIME. The Crown Royal crew and I went to the NBA All-Star game. Who knew a concert would break out right before the game? Pharrell opened up the night by bringing some of his closest friends like Nelly, Diddy, and Busta Rhymes on stage with him. As he was performing the Eastern and Western Conference players came out onto the court.
Once Pharrell was done performing it was time for tip off. The West took an early lead and looked to steal the show as high flyer Blake Griffin from the Los Angeles Clippers kept on attacking the rim with some ridiculous alley-oops. In the end though the Eastern Conference got the victory. Kyrie Irving was named the MVP.
The whirlwind that was the NBA All-Star weekend had come to an end. It was an amazing experience and one that I will never forget. From talking with NBA legends to learning about whisky, Crown Royal produced the ultimate sports fan experience. So to the fantastic people at Diageo, Taylor, and Crown Royal I want to thank you for an unbelievable time.
Crown Royal raised the bar on this promotion. Since they do that for their whisky I guess it is only natural for them to excel in anything they touch! I can truly say that I was able to Reign On for the 2014 NBA All-Star weekend!
For Crown Royal, to Reign On is to win. With that said please enjoy Crown Royal responsibly this NBA season.
Feb 18th
adidas Created an All-Star Experience in New Orleans
This week while I was in New Orleans for the NBA All-Star game I made it a point to check out the adidas store located in the French Quarter. When I entered the store you could see the New Orleans influence interwoven with the fresh adidas NBA gear. From official NBA apparel to the jazz themed decorations the store got folks ready for All-Star weekend in New Orleans.
Besides having a state of the art facility during All-Star weekend, adidas had made sure to bring the A-Game with the appearances of current and former athletes and a sick lineup of entertainers. adidas rolled out the red carpet for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dikembe Mutombo, Dwight Howard, Damian Lillard, John Wall, and Joakim Noah, as well as Harrison Barnes, Steven Adams, Tim Hardaway Jr. and hip-hop artist 2 Chainz.
The store was full of official adidas NBA All-Star merchandise. I saw sick jerseys, men’s and women’s tee shirts, jackets, (The East and West jackets that were in black with an “E” or “W” were money.) headwear and other great apparel and accessories. If you missed out on checking out the store this weekend, well you are in luck. The store will remain open to fans through Feb. 23.
Not only did I go to the store in the French Quarter I was able to go right next door and check out the adidas suite. There I was able to go home with the adidas Top Ten. Talk about going old school, man these shows are sick. The Top Ten harks back to the ’70s and ’80s. This one-to-one reissue of the men’s shoe stays true to the details, in a full grain leather upper with a suede toe guard, contrast 3-Stripes and perforated details, on top of a grippy rubber outsole. Sneakerheads out there know this is a must for their collection. I was able to score the red colorway and some All-Star gear.
adidas did mix business with pleasure when they were putting on spectacular shows in New Orleans. There was an adidas in the Quarter party at House of Blues in Saturday night with a packed house featuring 2 Chainz, Snoop Dogg, Pusha T, YG, DJ Mustard and a special appearance by NBA All-Star and Sprite Slam Dunk champion John Wall of the Washington Wizards.
2 Chainz celebrated the release of his adidas Originals Top Ten Hi “2 Good to be T.R.U.” this weekend and fans were invited to attend the Blues party through a special adidas Originals giveaway at the adidas in the Quarter store.
In my opinion adidas did the NBA proud. They had innovative gear and kicks for those who crave the new school look. For those who love taking it back to the old school adidas didn’t disappoint either. Shoes like the Top Ten and Kareem’s shoe “The Blueprint” paid homage to the past. For a company that looks to remember the legends from the NBA’s past and give love and support to the current and future stars they gave an MVP style performance for All-Star weekend.
Feb 18th
adidas Unveils New Messi Signature Cleat
adidas today unveils Lionel Messi’s collection of footwear and apparel highlighted by the four-time reigning FIFA World Player of the Year’s first signature cleat. The world record holder for goals in a calendar year will debut his signature adizero F50 this spring.
Messi’s new signature cleat is available on March 1 but fans can preorder it now HERE. You can follow the conversation on Twitter via @adidasSoccer.
Feb 18th
Titus Welliver Interview
Titus Welliver is starring in one of the first Amazon Studio’s series pilot called “Bosch.” He plays the lead role of a Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective named Harry Bosch. The series is based on Michael Connelly’s best-selling Harry Bosch book series.
Welliver is no stranger to being in critically acclaimed films and TV series. He was known as the “Man in Black” in the TV series “Lost.” He also played the role of Glenn Childs in the TV show “The Good Wife”.
Last year, Welliver was in both films “ARGO” and “Promised Land.” Titus didn’t stop working hard this year either. He finished wrapping up filming of “Transformers 4: Age of Existence” which is set to be out in theaters this summer.
Titus was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to talk to me about “Bosch,” “Transformers 4: Age of Existence,” fatherhood, “Lost,” and more.
Art Eddy: First off let’s talk about the new Amazon series called “Bosch” that you star in. Tell me about the series and your role.
Titus Welliver: “Bosch” is based on the Hieronymus Bosch novels written by Michael Connelly. In the pilot episode we combined two of the novels, “The Concrete Blonde” and “City of Bones” into the storyline. Harry is an LAPD robbery homicide detective. In the pilot he is on trial in a civil lawsuit.
He is being sued as well as the city of Los Angeles for a wrongful death shooting of a suspect. In the interim, because he is taken off the duty roster and since Bosch is such a driven character downtime is not something he does well with. He switches rotation with two other detectives. In that process a dog discovers a bone in the Hollywood Hills and brings it back to the owner.
They discover that it is a shallow grave with the remains of a child. Bosch then catches this case. It is his pursuit of this cold case since it is over 20 years old. It is some compelling storytelling that we got here.
AE: Like you said “Bosch” is based on the Michael Connelly’s book series. Did you read his books even before you started preparing for this role?
TW: I read one of his books a few years back. In preparation to shoot this above and beyond the script I read the two source books, “The Concrete Blonde” and “City of Bones” to get into the mind of Harry. Michael’s characterization since it is the source material is invaluable. Obviously you can’t tell and show everything. You got about 50 minutes per episode to do that.
The script is super tight. A large percentage of the dialogue has been lifted directly from the books. It is very true to the books because Michael is an executive producer and a writer with Eric Overmyer. The integrity of the books are there, which I think is really important. Often in the translation of these things the industry for whatever reason feels the need to cook it up or change it. That really alienates people. You are never going to please everybody. I am sure that there is a percentage of people saying Titus Welliver is Harry Bosch?
I understand that as a person who loves to read. Even with historical characters we have this preconceived idea in our heads about the physicality of the character, what they should sound like, and what they should look like. It is hard because you do want to please everybody, but that is a fool’s errand. There is no possible way.
AE: You are working with a great cast. How did you guys all come together to get the chemistry right for the series?
TW: I have been shooting “Transformers” for months and months. Every time I tried to meet with these guys something came up and I wasn’t able to meet up with these guys. I was really getting frustrated because I really knew that I wanted to do it. I just couldn’t get with them.
So when I finally did it was pretty fast. I had to go to Hong Kong to finish shooting “Transformers” and I was back for like 48 hours and started shooting. We were able to get Jamie Hector and I together. I am a longtime fan of his work. I wasn’t a stranger to his work, but I never met him before. Jamie and I were able to spend some time together with Jim McKay, the director, and talk about the dynamic of those characters and their relationship. They are partners and we sort of have to jump in there.
When we got to the table read, which I think is always interesting, I have to say looking around to see who was there I was just kind of knocked out. These are all people whose work I really, really respect. So I got really excited at the table read and just couldn’t wait to get started.
It was kind of fast, but I always feel that when you assemble a group or people, which directors and producers have a way of putting people who will complement each other, it will work. That is also the difficulty. You want to assemble a group of talent, but you also need to bring people together who can complement each other and work well together. That is tricky. There is always that social aspect of it. Will personalities clash? It is an interesting recipe.
AE: This series airs online at Amazon Prime. Are you happy with the way media is now being housed not just on cable anymore?
TW: It is a whole new ball game. I also think that realistically it is the future. The structure has always been when you do a network pilot is that you shoot the pilot and then they test it. Then we re-edit, we sometimes re-shoot, and even re-cast. Then it is left up to the decision of the executives and not even so much the producers. You are at the mercy of that.
Whereas with this you are still at the mercy with people who will ultimately have the decision to see if this project will move forward, but I think it is also very smart. People are paying for it. If you walk into a butcher shop you don’t ask for the cheapest cut. People want quality. If you are paying for something you want it to be good, quality programming. It is just a different time. There is so much more access now with the internet. People are able to express their opinions. It is kind of interesting.
AE: I can’t wait for “Transformers: Age of Extinction.” It comes out this summer. I saw the trailer. It looks awesome. What can you tell us fans about the film and what we can prepare for?
TW: It looks pretty cool, right?
AE: Yea.
TW: It is a reboot. There are some of the original Autobots. There are all new characters. Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, and Jack Reynor are the central characters. I think also it has been expanded to more of an adult audience. It still has its roots with the regular audience.
It is a little bit darker. It is a little bit rougher then what we have seen in the other films. For me the thrill of participating in a franchise that I have enjoyed, not only with my children, but also on my own. Michael Bay is someone I always wanted to work with. I always wanted to work with Wahlberg. Stan Tucci is in it. Kelsey Grammer is in it. It is a fantastic cast. Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor are great.
There is a lot of new stuff. It is very different from the other films on a lot of levels. I will say to you that no one will be disappointed. You get yoked and it doesn’t let you go.
AE: You have been on so many great TV shows and films. Do you have an all-time favorite role and what character do fans bring up most to you?
TW: Well I certainly will say “Lost.” The irony is that I only did four episodes of that show. Because of the whole 
mythology of the show, the history of the character, and because of the smoke monster and all of that I get a lot of shout outs from people. They will call me Smokey. People also really love “Sons of Anarchy.”
The films that I have done that standout are the ones I have done with Ben Affleck. As far as a favorite character it is difficult to say. They all have different merits. They each brought me a level of joy and challenge in different ways.
I will say that Harry Bosch is a character that is very nuance, really compelling, and a complex character. It feels like this is something I have been working towards. There is some age and some maturity to have a character at this stage like Bosch at this juncture is really exciting. I love this character and I feel that we have barely scratched the surface. It is my hope that we will be able to continue because there are a lot of books. I get to work with unbelievable actors. There is nothing more exciting to be in the middle of a scene with another actor who is great at what they do.
Feb 13th
Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Company
From Tennessee to Kentucky to Ireland, stories of old whiskies forgotten in the back of rickhouses and warehouses drift among distillers the world over. From lunch breaks to happy hours, their debates over which whiskey would taste best has become the stuff of legend. To offer resolution and introduce a new line of rare spirits to a growing base of whiskey aficionados, DIAGEO today announced the official start of the Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Company.
The goal of The Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Company is to locate lost and forgotten barrels of whiskey from around the world and share them with discerning adult fans. The first two variants to be released from the company will include the 20-year-old Barterhouse Whiskey and the 26-year-aged Old Blowhard Whiskey. Both brands are expected to begin appearing on select shelves throughout the U.S. in March 2014 under strict allocation due to limited supply.
Barterhouse Whiskey stocks were discovered in old warehouses at the Stitzel-Weller facility in Louisville, Ky. Rumor has it warehouse workers have already begun lining up for the first taste of this beautiful whiskey with a soft nose reminiscent of warm spice, biscuit and buttercream. The whiskey’s mellow taste includes notes of roasted grain, charred oak and a brown sugar finish. Barterhouse Whiskey is bottled in Tullahoma, Tenn. and will be expected to sell for a suggested retail price of $75.
Old Blowhard Whiskey was also found at Stitzel-Weller and is hand bottled in Tullahoma. At 26-years-old, the whiskey contains exuberant, rich flavors with undertones of smoke and honey followed by a gentle finish – dry and spicy with a hint of orange peel. Carrying a suggested retail price of $150, Old Blowhard Whiskey is meant to be sipped slowly and best enjoyed among gregarious friends and unyielding debates.
“The whiskey warehouses and rickhouses these spirits come from are special places filled with the incredible smells of seasoned oak, rough textures of weathered wood and amazing tastes of precious liquid,” said Ewan Morgan, Master of Whiskey for DIAGEO. “It’s every worker’s dream of finding that forgotten barrel of delicious whiskey and sharing it with their friends. That’s exactly what we’re doing.”
Like the rickhouse and warehouse workers who uncover them and the consumers who drink them, Orphan Barrel Whiskies have distinctive personalities in taste and packaging. Barterhouse Whiskey packaging nods to the inspiration behind the whiskey’s name. A vintage khaki and brown label features a sly fox front and center after he’s made a smooth deal at the local trading post. Because when there’s no money on the table, Barterhouse Whiskey turns give and take into an adventure in provocation and persuasion.
Based in a beautiful nautical blue, the Old Blowhard Whiskey label features a powerful whale exhaling through its blowhole before launching into another opinionated debate. Powerful fonts rooted in swagger proclaim the spirit’s impressive age statement and status as a Kentucky Bourbon.
The Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Company is headquartered in Tullahoma, Tenn. where the whiskies are bottled and owned and operated by DIAGEO, the world’s leading premium drinks company. DIAGEO continues to invest in the growing whiskey and bourbon categories via the Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling company and its existing line of whiskies including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal Canadian Whisky, Bulleit Bourbon, George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey, Bushmills and more.
Orphan Barrel whiskies have been waiting years to be uncovered so DIAGEO and the rickhouse workers who guard these rare spirits remind consumers lucky enough to get their hands on a bottle to sip slowly and responsibly.
Feb 12th
