Last week I had the privilege of speaking with SouthLAnd‘s own Arija Bareikis (pronounced Ar-ee-yuh), Officer Chickie Brown. It almost seemed as if the interview as doomed to failure, as the original interview was plagued with a bad phone line that canceled the interview on Wednesday after 3 failed attempts to start the call. Thankfully Arija was very gracious with her time and rescheduled for the next day.

Graciousness is the overall theme of this interview – in fact, the entire 30+ minute that I spent speaking with this wonderful lady. Soft spoken, intelligent, laughter always just under the surface – often bursting through – this was one interview that was more like a conversation between friends than an an interview between celebrity and fan. For that, I will be eternal grateful to Arija. While words on the page cannot convey the same tone of voice and emotions and the spoken word can, hopefully fans will get a sense of that conversation from what is written here.

Arija Bareikis as Officer Chickie Brown

SouthlandTvFans.com [STF]
At the very beginning of the show Chickie had aspirations for being in the SWAT team. Do we have any idea if that’s still something that she wants to do?

Arija Bareikis [AB]
I think so and I hope so. That was the story line I was really excited about. That and surfing. So I hope so. we’ll see what happens if we’re lucky enough to get the opportunity to keep the story going. I think it would be really exciting to see somebody come back from a place that seems less than excellent to more than excellent.

[STF]
We notice that all of the other characters, of the 8 main ensemble characters, we seem to have gotten some peek into their private lives, but we haven’t really seen anything of Chickie’s.

[AB]
Well, you did see a scene, I think just one scene with my son. So Chickie has a son who is probably about 13 and she’s a single mom, as far as we know. I’ve come up with an elaborate back story that works for me, but I don’t know what’s going to happen and I’m so excited to find out.

[STF]
We’re all feeling pretty confident, and I know we got the ratings numbers for this week and it stayed pretty consistent with last week.

[AB]
Oh, we did, I’m so happy to hear that. I had no idea.

[STF]
I haven’t seen the exact numbers myself yet, because I was so busy yesterday, but I understand they were pretty consistent about 2.3 million.

[AB]
All right.

[STF]
We’re happy with it, and I know the DVR numbers are coming out consistent increase about 40% above live.

[AB]
Isn’t it so funny now, there’s all these different ways that things have to be looked at that are not the way they were done before. It’s so amazing, isn’t it?

[STF]
Well I know the fans are confident, I’m confident. (continue reading…)

Friday I got a chance to chat with Shawn Hatosy, SouthLAnd‘s Detective Sammy Bryant, about SouthLAnd and this week’s episode What Makes Sammy Run? that focuses on his character. It was an enjoyable time me talking with him, which hopefully carries over in text here for you the fans, as his passion for the show and the character was clearly evident in every word that he spoke.

Shawn Hatosy as Det. Sammy Bryant

SouthlandTvFans.com [STF]
Thanks for doing this, I really appreciate it. I know the fans are really going to love it.

Shawn Hatosy [SH]
Well thanks for the support.

[STF]
You did get to see your birthday greetings?

[SH]
I did, yeah, I saw them. I did. On your site, there?

[STF]
Yes.

[SH]
Yeah, that was awesome, and unexpected. I think my father pointed me to it and I it was unexpected and it made me feel great, so thanks.

[STF]
The fans had a great time doing it and you and Michael started a tradition there.

[SH]
Well good. Well, we have the same birthday, which is unique.

[STF]
It’s kind of unique to have two actors in the same show with the same birthday like that.

Your father is great. You have an amazing champion there, especially on Facebook.

[SH]
Yeah. I think that my father’s enthusiasm for the show, as well as the fans’, it speaks to what a wonderful show it is. For me, it’s really the first time I’ve had the experience of working on something, while also at the same time I’m a fan of the show. I really enjoy everything about it, even the episodes I’m not in. I watch it like you guys and I’m so curious to see what’s going to happen next. It’s quality television and and I’m excited to be a party of it.

[STF]
I think that’s pretty evident to everybody watching the show.

[SH]
Yeah and it really is a unique experience because I think all of us feel that way. We’re sort of in it together and we really care for it. We’re protective of this thing. No matter what happens, even if it’s just these 13 episodes, I’ll always to these last 18 months as a very special time in my life. You know, fingers crossed, I hope we do more.

[STF]
We’ve got a pretty strong feeling about it. We feel pretty positively about it.

[SH]
That’s good. You know, I don’t think we’d be where we are if it wasn’t for the fans. I really don’t. I know that people say that you guys are responsible, but I really think what people are saying on Facebook and Twitter and the Cudlitz Army, all that stuff it really has had an effect on TNT’s decision. I hope it continues, I really do.

[STF]

Well, we all have our fingers, crossed. (continue reading…)

Surprise!

This morning I was privileged to spend a few moments speaking on the phone with Kevin Alejandro, who plays Detective Nate Moretta on SouthLAnd. Kevin was doing a series of interviews on a “Press Junket” to promote next week’s episode of the show, What Makes Sammy Run?, and TNT graciously scheduled me in to an available slot. So here, on behalf of all you fans of the show, is the interview.

Kevin Alejandro as Detective Nate Moretta

SouthlandTvFans.com [STF]
Thank you for taking the time to talk with me this morning. I know your schedule is crazy busy.

Kevin Alejandro [KA]
No, thank you you. I appreciate what you and the fans are doing for the show.

[STF]
So Nate and Sammy have always had a great chemistry, but with Season 2 we are seeing a bit of a change up with their roles now.

[KA]
Yeah, Shawn and I have always worked well together. I love working with him. This season is definitely different for the characters, but without giving away anything, things are coming around, coming full circle. This next episode things really come together.

[STF]
You mean What makes Sammy Run? – we got to see a sneak preview on the TNT site and it definitely looks powerful.

[KA]
Yeah, man. I got to see it last week and it’s definitely one of the best episodes so far.

[STF]
And with Laz Alonso’s character Gil Puentes, he brings a whole different dynamic to the situation, too.

[KA]
Yes, he’s just great. He brings something totally new to the show, something we haven’t had before. He really shakes things up and keeps it real.

[STF]
Well, the fans really love you two as partners, I know that. I mean, I know that Cooper and Sherman get a lot of attention as the patrol officers, and of course Lydia, who doesn’t love Regina King. But when it comes to chemistry, you two really seem to have such a great chemistry together all the time, it’s been so much fun to see more of you two interacting this season. (continue reading…)

Michael McGrady Talks SouthLAnd, Art and Living Life

By Bob Parker
Interview conducted February 1, 2010
Posted on March 5, 2010

Michael McGrady as Detective Daniel "Sal" Salinger

Last month I was privileged to spend quite a bit of time on the phone speaking with Michael McGrady, who plays Detective Daniel “Sal” Salinger on SouthLAnd. While it took a while to get this interview written up for the website, I think all you fans will be as pleased with the results as I was talking with him.

SouthLAndTvFans.com (STF)
Thanks for talking with me, I know you’re extremely busy right now. I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me today.

Michael McGrady (MM)
It’s my pleasure. Anything I can do to get the word out that there’s a great show on TNT called SouthLAnd. I don’t think it’s any secret that as a cast, and as a group, that we’re just as much behind the show as the fans are. We think we’ve got a real winner on our hands here. I’m not just saying that because I’m in the show, because I’ve been in a few shows and some films and you know, you get excited about them but certainly not like you do a project like this. Because all the elements are there, the people behind the camera, the people in front of the camera are the best at what they do, and to be apart of the mix of an ensemble cast with this level of talent is a very rare and unique opportunity. So anything I can do, of course, to promote the show… I’m all for it. Thank you so much for having me.

STF
Not a problem, I appreciate it. It’s great for all of us to get a chance to hear from the individual stars from the show. Not many shows have given us access to the individual stars the way y’all have given us access. It’s a very rare opportunity and we very much appreciate it

MM
It’s my pleasure.

STF
So, the first question is, you obviously play “Sal” Salinger on the show, and as we go through the season and watch the show, it quickly becomes obvious that Sal is a character that is quite a bit more complex than he first appears. (continue reading…)

1-on-1 With Michael Cudlitz
By Bob Parker, SouthlandTvFans.com
December 17, 2007

Michael Cudlitz as Officer John Cooper

So, on a slightly chilly Monday afternoon I found myself checking Tweets from fellow Southland fans on my Blackberry, in a coffee shop near the studios in Burbank, when a very familiar voice called my name. I didn’t have time to be nervous at my first celebrity interview any more – Michael didn’t really give me a chance. He was too friendly and personable for that.

We ordered our coffees and made some small talk while we waited, noting our shared love of good, strong espresso. I have to admit, I’d never even heard of the drink that he ordered, but I have to admire anyone that orders a drink with 4 shots in it, especially that late in the day. Drinks in hand, we headed outside to escape the overly loud Christmas music playing inside the store to start our interview.

SouthlandTvFans.com (STF): The question asked by the most people was: You’ve described yourself as an analog man in a very public digital world on Twitter.

Michael Cudlitz (MC): (laughter) Yes.

STF: What has it been like for you to go from an almost no online presence at all to such an active one, especially – and this was a big part of it – with the formation of the “@Cudlitz Army”?
(continue reading…)