Southland – Interview with Tom Everett Scott
The good news for Tom Everett Scott is that he’s been a regular on Southland, a critically well-received and popular new series that’s been renewed for a second season on NBC.
The bad news: His character, LAPD Detective Russell Clarke was shot in the chest in the season finale by a neighbour who had lost his job and his marbles (said neighbour then killed his wife and himself).
Shades of 24, where Jack Bauer’s wife didn’t live to see Season 2.
Okay, maybe not so bad.
“I looked at the script and thought, ‘Okay, who did I piss off?’ ” quips Scott, who’s been spending the hiatus shepherding Glock, a short film he directed and co-wrote, to festivals such as New York’s Tribeca and, this week, to Toronto’s Worldwide Short Film Festival
“But they were really nice about saying, ‘Hey, you don’t die.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, good.’ But I haven’t seen the script yet so I can’t say that it’s official.
“I’m glad to be coming back, I’m in a good place right now, being at home, working in L.A. and being with my family.
“I liked from the beginning how it was an ensemble show, and each character really had their own voice.
“And the violence, when it happens, you don’t see it coming.” Clarke’s shooting, he says, “was based on something that really happened to a cop.
“He works this dangerous job and he’s off-duty and goes next door to see if everyone’s okay during a domestic. The guy opens the door with a gun in his hand and is in a crazy emotional state and shoots the cop.
“Life is strange.”
I’m going to celebrate while I can and work hard on the show, because I’ve learned in this business you never know what’s going to happen next.
“I’ve always respected (exec producer) John Wells, and the cast is great. Michael Cudlitz (Officer John Cooper) and I have known each other for years. And I’d heard great things about Regina King (Det. Lydia Adams), we have the same manager, and then having her playing my partner, well, I’m a lucky actor.
“But I will keep writing and hopefully directing. You’re only as good as the next thing you do.”
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