I recently had the opportunity to take part in a TV blogosphere conference call with Tate Donovan, who can currently be seen on the FX show Damages. Now, if you haven’t been watching one of the best new shows of this year (who needs Fall with Summer shows this good?), there’s still a chance for you to catch up before the finale. Just make sure you have plenty of time to devote to it because, as Mr. Donovan points out in the interview, once you start watching, you’ll be crack-addicted to it.

OK, so I added the crack part.

Also discussed in the interview:

• Tate hints at great things to come if there’s a second season (FX won’t give the official decision about a renewal until after the end of the season)
• He talks about being in the dark about the central mystery, and how none of the cast figured out David’s killer before the final episodes were shot
• How FX shows enjoy greater creative freedom compared to other networks
• Just how mysterious and creepy Uncle Pete is – what’s the deal with that guy?!

Oh, and did I mention that later this week we’ll also have an interview with none other than Glenn Close? She gives us the scoop on what every fan wants to know – what’s on her TiVo? Here’s a hint: she likes shows with strong female leads (and I’m not talking bionics).

Transcript of Tate Donovan Interview

Question: I was wondering if you know or have a sense when you’ll know about whether or not Damages is going to have a second season?

Tate Donovan: Currently the word is that FX doesn’t let people know until after all of the episodes have aired. But we’re hoping. We’re definitely hoping.

I know you obviously can’t reveal too much, but can you kind of give us some hint as to who the killer is?

Which killer? You know what I’m saying? I have to say it makes total sense like they’ve been sort of laying this sort of plot for a long time. And when you’re – when you find out who the killer is you’ll be like, “Oh, wow.” I have to say the – when I first read the final script I was like so impressed how they set up the second season – if there’s going to another season. They’ve set it up in a way that you’re just like – you cannot wait to see next season. It’s really cool what they’ve done.

What sort of influences did you pull from to play your character?

Well, I have an uncle who’s a corporate lawyer, and I spent a couple of days with him and I actually brought Rose Byrne with me to his law firm here in New York. And she spent a couple of days with a female partner. And so, I mean while personality-wise they’re not very similar, my uncle and Tom Shayes. Just to sort to get the sense of how corporate lawyers spend their day and what they do, how they talk, how they relate to each other and their clients. He helped me out quite a bit.

I have a couple of things I wanted to address. One is throughout the series to this point Tom has been more or less the “go-to” guy who is not the number one chair. And he pretty much jumps when, you know, Miss Hewes says jump, but at the same time he also has the confidence to bring different points of view to the discussions they have and he’s not afraid to back his point. Where did you draw from experience to handle a character who has those shadings?

That’s a good question. Let’s see. You know, I don’t know. I mean it’s just sort of like when working with Glenn Close, you know, she’s a pretty formidable actress. So, to sort of listen to her and think that she has said something that’s, you know, completely correct and a bit of sort of a legal genius is pretty easy to do. So, I think Tom really, really respects, almost more than anybody, Patricia Hewes’ sort of certain legal mind. And so that’s the easy part and I think Tom himself is a very bright guy, and, you know, so he’ll know when to sort of step up and defend himself, but overall he really has a great allegiance. And I think he’s just deeply impressed with Patty Hewes. And he’s never sort of met anybody like her and I think he just recognizes that she has just an extraordinary mind. And, you know, in the legal world it’s the smartest guy in the room wins, you know. So, he’s definitely able to put aside his ego to listen to the smartest guy in the room, even if it’s a woman.

And the second thing I was wondering, I mean you’ve got an all star cast here with Glenn Close and you and Rose Byrne…

Ted Danson.

…and Michael Nouri. You’ve got recognizably A-list TV directors like Greg Yaitanes, and, you know, it’s a wonderful situation, how did the role come to you?

I just like, you know, everybody else just auditioned, you know. And thank God they picked me. You know, they picked over like some actors that I was sure I would never beat out. But it was – I just feel very fortunate, very lucky to be part of this whole group. It’s really, right down the line from the producers to the crew and the whole cast, it’s pretty A-list I got to say.

I was going to ask you a question about the October 2 episode, “Sort of Like a Family.” There was a phone number on Ellen’s voicemail and I actually decided to call it.

(laughs) You’re messed up, man. You’ve got a problem.

Yeah. I got a little bit…

You have too much time on your hands.

But, you know what it does, it actually takes me to like Hughes & Associates voicemail thing like for a real company.

Come on.

Yeah. I’m serious. It’s all set up through FX. I was just wondering if the cast…

That’s brilliant.

…knows about this stuff?

No. We had no idea.

Yeah, it’s really cool. You should check it out. You want the number?

Yes.

212…

Yeah.

752-4708.

That is – how did you figure out the number? You just heard it?

It’s – yeah, you can hear it. Plus if you go to the official website on Sony…

Uh-huh.

…it’s listed right there. It’s like the company’s phone number.

That’s outrageous.

Yeah, so you didn’t know about that?

No. I had no idea.

You should check it out.

I will. I will.

Well, actually I just wanted to see if you knew. And there’s actually another thing on the site because they have an online blog that started when the show started.

Uh-huh.

Have you ever read it?

No. I’d never had and had never gone on. I’m kind of scared to read it, you know.

No, it’s a kind of neat. But I wasn’t sure if it was from your perspective or somebody else in your office. But it’s a guy for sure and he just kind of lays out what he sees during the day.

Uh-huh.

Yeah, it’s really neat. I was just wondering if you knew about that or if it was from your perspective.

Is it somebody who’s on the set or something like that or…?

Basically, I think it’s a false character like, you know, just a sideline character and he’s like…

Uh-huh. Uh-huh.

…just talks about what he sees. It’s really cool.

Huh.

And actually, my last question was what’s the story behind Uncle Pete?

I know, isn’t he a mysterious character?

Yeah.

He only gets more mysterious, by the way. The final episode you’re just like, “Oh my God! What is…?” You’re really like, “What is the story with Uncle Pete?”

Actually, it ties back into that online blog thing I was talking about because whoever writes that has this really interesting theory about him. You should go check it out.

All right. I will. Yeah. I mean that show definitely brings up a lot of theories. A lot of people, I mean people come up to me with most crazy theories about what they’re going to, you know, what Tom is up to. It’s so funny.

Basically, I’m thinking Uncle Pete is Patty’s cleaner, if you know what I mean.

Or dirtier actually, I think.

The storyline has just been so intricate woven throughout this first season and it’s really been an amazing thing to watch. And one of your co-stars, Peter Facinelli, spoke to the fact that as an actor it’s really as exciting to read the script as has been for us the viewers to watch the show, because we never really know what’s coming. I was just curious some if you agree with that or how you felt your (frame) was with respect to that?

Yeah, it’s been kind of a very sort of freeing experience. You know, it’s sort of like we have no idea what, you know, what our characters are going to be doing next. And it’s not like they’re secretive, they just sort of, you know…these guys are really bright and they have, you know, a few ideas in mind and they literally come up with stuff. Sometimes the, you know, the morning of we’re going to shoot something they’ll literally e-mail the pages to the set and then we’ll get them and then we’ll have to, you know, memorize and then do them right there. It’s kind of – it’s an amazing experience. It’s sort of like you really let go of like thinking you’re in control of your character…

Sure.

…and you just react and do the best you can and just give it up then it’s kind of fun actually.

Great. And I just wondered I know you got a chance to direct an episode and I was just curious how is that for you when you’re directing a show in which you’re also the star? Does it make it easier? Is it harder? What’s kind of the most challenging aspect of wearing kind of both those hats?

Well, actually I haven’t done it on Damages. I’m hoping to do it next season.

Oh, I’m sorry…

Yeah. I did it on another television show I was on called The O.C.

Ah, okay.

But hopefully next season I can really answer that question. But basically, you know, it’s surprising that directing really helps your acting and I think acting really helps your directing. It really, you know, you just – the more you know as an actor for me is the better. So it’s not as hard as I think a lot of people think. I mean there are people who watch the monitor, you sort of set up the shot with a stand-in and then you go and do it and you have a feeling because you’re there. And also, you know, people behind the monitor sort of…you trust and the producers are there. And it’s not as difficult as one would imagine.

If you would look back on the first season, what do you think you’re going to really take away with most? Or is there one thing that you’re really going to really remember the most about it for you personally and professionally perhaps?

Oh, gosh. Yeah. You know, we just finished last night at 4 o’clock in the morning.

Anything that sticks out maybe an experience or one particular episode you really enjoyed or just working like that?

Well, I had a great episode like I think it’s episode four or five where I, you know, it was a lot about Tom and that was a great experience to sort of have the show be about Tom and…

That was a great episode. I really love that one.

Yeah. It was really…

Because it really showed kind of a different side of Tom and that was sort of cool.

Yeah. You sort of got under his skin and saw, you know, what he was going through. And I really – I loved shooting that. I really – so I just, you know, and I hope that there’s just more episodes like that, you know. But let’s see. So that was my sort of favorite episode. And, you know, just working with such a good group of people they really are – the producers are – I’ve never really worked with producers like these that are so sort of bright and so sort of inclusive. And…I don’t know. They just work so hard. You just admire them so much. I think that’s what I’ll walk away [with] the most. It’s just admiring the producers so much.

Great. Well, let’s hope for a second season.

Yeah. I know, say a prayer.

So you said that they don’t really let you know that far in advance to that, you know, where the story arc is headed, what you’re doing?

Yeah.

I’m curious: how do you prepare for that like how do you as an actor to get ready to be able to fly by the seat of your pants?

You just let go, you know. I think when we first started we were really like, “Where am I going? Am I good a guy? Am I bad guy? What do I do? You know, why am I lying to Patty, or, you know.” And then you just sort of go, you know what that, you know, sort of like life itself, you know. You just like, there’s a plan for me and I’m not necessarily sure what it is but I’m going to do my best. I’m going to just be as good as possible in the scene. For what I know, this is where Tom is going, so I’ll try to do my best to create it. And it’s very – it’s an interesting – it’s a very Zen-like experience, you know.

Now, as an actor I’m sure you’ve done stuff where you did know the complete story arc and where you didn’t. Is there one way that you prefer over another?

Well, I think, you know, you like to know the story arc, I mean, you know. But, you know, I tell you this has been one of the best experiences of my life. I think ultimately you just want to know that the people who are in charge are really bright and really good. And these guys are really are super bright and really good at what they do. So this is tremendous about a trust in them, you know it’s sort of like, well, like, you know, I know that they’re going to come with something great. So it’s just great to be part of it, you know.

As someone that’s done drama, comedy and animated stuff, is there one genre you like better than another?

Not really, you know, it’s funny because I always try to add a little comedy to the dramas and I’m always adding a little drama to the comedy. I guess that – you sort of – my instinct is to pull it in the opposite direction that it’s going, you know. And I’m always on the set. I’m always trying to, “Hey, it would be funny if I did this.” You know, like, “Hey, it’s not really about being funny. You’ve got to get this plot here.” I mean I think there’s like one laugh on the entire season of Damages. I’m proud to say that I think it’s me. You know, this is, you know, in the pilot. But there’s just, you know, I guess my sort of instinct is to sort of poke fun or try to find some sort of levity in the serious situation. Because I found in my life that in the most serious, dire circumstances there’s always humor.

In touching on something you mentioned before, I’m wondering what it is like to play characters that are up against some such strong women like Patty Hewes or Julie Cooper?

I don’t know I’m used to it. You know, I just was raised I guess in a family where women were very strong. And I just – it doesn’t come as some sort of odd surprise or, you know, blow to my ego or something like that, you know. I’ve always sort of seen women as authority figures or, you know, some of them can be. So, you know, show business is filled with really powerful women. So it hasn’t really been that big of a deal. I mean she’s – both are great actresses like both of them that you mentioned. It’s pretty fun, you know.

This is a show that really plays loose and free with morality and I’m wondering then if you view Tom as evil or as just sort of humanly flawed.

I, you know, it’s so funny. I have to say I’m shocked by how people see me as evil or awful and terrible and – I’m kind of personally taken aback. I see Tom as a very, you know, a guy who’s really just trying to do the best he can in pretty precarious world. And I think he’s an – he’s a good father. He’s a good husband. He’s a good employee. He’s a good partner to Ellen – I mean to Patty – and I think he’s treated Ellen for the most part really well. I mean he’s sort of, yeah, he had a moment of weakness. But who doesn’t, you know? And he’s lied and he sort of fudged the truth and he’s sort of gone behind people’s backs, but it’s a pretty tough competitive world out there. And yeah, I see Tom as far more sort of, you know, good or understandable than I think a lot of the audience.

Well, I’m hoping in the 11th hour he’s going to be to our hero and, you know, spring Ellen from jail. Also, I’m just wondering if there is a second season of Damages where you would hope that the producers and writers take your character?

Oh, gosh. You know, I would love them, you know, there are two kinds of lawyers, you know, I read this great book by – oh, God, it’s called “Letters to a Young Lawyer” by – oh, he’s such a good lawyer and really famous lawyer. I just sort of spaced on the name. But anyway I read this book and he said there are two kinds of lawyers one who wants everyone to like them and the other doesn’t care at all and maybe even prefers to be disliked. And Tom is definitely a guy who wants to be liked. So I think it would be fun to take Tom into maybe the realm of politics. And, you know, that sort of world where being liked is super important. And he can use his talents of as affability, you know, towards that. But, you know, it’s really up to them as long as I have lots to do I’m happy camper. They want to me make a mass murderer, that’s fine with me. If they want to make me a hero that saves people in the end, I’ll take it, you know. I just like to be in the mix.

My question was we’ve kind of seen Tom go from being Patty’s lap dog to standing up for himself and making sure he’d become partner and what not. So how important has this growth over the season’s been and finding out how it happens and the pieces coming together in that two last episode?

How important is Tom’s growth connected to like what happens in the end of the episodes?

Yes.

I trying to answer that as carefully as possible.

Without giving anything away?

Yeah. I wouldn’t say it has much to do with it.

Okay.

Yeah. I don’t think it has much to do with it. But I could be wrong, you know. Maybe, you know, sometimes you can’t see your character as clearly as the audience or as the producers can see it. But to me it almost had nothing to with the finale.

And then is kind of funny kind of question. I know that you’re not sure that you’ve been picked up or not for next year. But does FX know the Jimmy Cooper role, like that you’re written off the show or don’t make it after the finale that, you know, ratings could drop like 20% like The O.C. did?

I don’t know but you should let them know that. Okay? I really appreciate that. But it is oddly true. But, yeah, that was funny. That was funny. I think that The O.C. sort of made a shift in focus, you know, when they dropped my character they were like, “Let’s not have it be about the family, let’s make it more about the kids.” And I think they lost a lot of the adult audience when they sort of did that. But I don’t think, you know, and I like to think I’m a good actor and everything. But I think if the tragedy is come or to leave the show I don’t think it will affect the ratings. I don’t know, maybe that’s – not thinking highly enough of myself.

You should because it’s a great character.

Oh, thank you, you know, thank you very much I appreciate that.

With the season finale coming to an end, is it pretty much completely wrapped up or will it kind of rollover into next season?

What’s pretty cool is that they, you know, they really answer a lot of the major questions. I mean really certain, big mysteries are wrapped up. You know, you find out who kills David. You find out what happens in the Frobisher case.

The big central sort of mysteries are solved. But what they’ve done is they’ve set up a dynamic for next year that is fantastic. I mean when I finished reading it I was like, “That is so good!” It totally makes you, you know, it’s satisfying and then it totally makes you go, “Oh, my God, I got to check out next season because that’s going to be amazing.”

All right, so at this point unfortunately with being at the end of the line a lot of questions I had have been answered already. So I’ve got a few more specific ones.

Okay.

This is just that I’ve been beating around with a lot of friends of mine, a lot of different theories. But I’ve heard good arguments for both sides: pilot episode, was Tom in on the firing?

You know what, is so funny. I can tell you that while we were shooting it, the answer was no.

Okay.

But, you know, I asked them that and then the producers are like, “No. Tom has no idea he’s getting fired. He has no idea about Ellen.” and that scene in the stable I am telling the truth. I literally was talking to when the producers yesterday and he’s like, “Well, you know, Tom knew about the firing and he knew why she hired Ellen”. And I was like, “Hold on a second, you guys switched that because in the pilot we talked about it” and they were like, “Yeah, I know, we switched that.” So it really – the answer is both that…

Both? All right.

…while we were shooting the pilot we thought one thing. And I think as the year goes on I think a lot of people don’t realize that actors and just, you know, the schedule all sorts of things influence the story. And, you know, the writer sort of just come up with stuff and insert it and hope they can get away with it. And it’s not like it’s all laid out, you know, in the pilot and we all know where we’re going. I think a lot of this stuff is sort of changed and switched and changed in editing and with performances and stuff like that.

Okay. All right. So another question with the pilot because there’s just another one that just has kind of been bugging me and I just want to get your thoughts on is when you paid off Uncle Pete…

Right.

…for killing Katie’s dog. Did he know what he paying off over there was he…

Tom? No. He had no idea. It was…

It was just a money exchange for him?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, exactly.

That just makes the character better for me if you ask me. All right you talked about the The O.C. a lot here. And I just wanted to know that – what was it like shifting from a network show and then moving into a cable series like Damages. Is that a challenge for you? Like what do you find different about it? What do you enjoy more/less?

Well there’s a lot more freedom, you know, there’s a lot more. You know, the notes that you get sort of handed down from the network or whatever are far more, you know, interesting. And, you know, working for a, I mean FX is a pretty amazing network. I mean the guys who run FX are extraordinarily bright people, you know. It’s not that the people who run Fox aren’t really bright. But I’m – they’re just – I don’t know I’ve been sort of really impressed with them. And they sort of let the shows go a little bit more than I think other networks. And that’s kind of freeing and fun. And the only thing is that you don’t get paid as much. But, you know, it’s worth it to be on a good show.

Early in season when I got the press material mailed to me I remember reading from the description about Tom’s character it said something along the lines like, you know, he’s dedicated and what not. But he’ll show his teeth when he needs to do. And thus far this season there’s been a few moments and obviously you mentioned the episodes where he almost, you know, went out on his own when – what’s his name, Donal Logue guest starred – but in these last two episodes are we going to see a moment where Tom really kind of makes our jaws drop?

I don’t think so. No.

Okay.

Sorry.

And I think you mentioned 4:00 am yesterday you finished wrapping yesterday at 4:00 am?

Yeah. Yeah.

It’s kind of a mystery the whole season has been a mystery and everybody watching it has been trying to figure it out. Were you on the cast as on edge and trying to figure it out and the surprises and shocking ending or, you know, as the audience might be where you as involved in trying to figure out the mystery as we are?

I would say more involved. Yeah. I mean, you know, we’re all like, you know, “Is it me?” you know, like we all want to know what, you know, we were heavily involved. Absolutely and, you know, it’s always sort of like you want to ask the producers a lot of questions. But you also like don’t want to bother them all the time, you know. So, it’s always like trying to find the right time or like, “What’s going on with this? And why is that happening?” you know, and so, it’s always sort of like because those guys are just – they just work so hard. You know, you don’t want to like annoy them with questions. But trust me, yeah, we were deeply involved with what’s happening.

Anyone figure it out before the final script?

No.

No? Okay.

No. Not at all. Although, when you find out who, you know, say who kills David it makes total sense, you’re like, “Oh yes, of course.” But they’ve been very quietly laying down the track for that for a couple of episodes. But it’s great. You’re going to enjoy it, I guarantee.

It sounds like FX is going to run a marathon of the first 12 episodes before the finale. What would you say to someone who hasn’t yet watched it to try and convince them to dedicate their day to do that and catch up and watch the finale?

When I say it gets them to do it. You know, I almost, you know, I’d say, “Look if you don’t have a lot of time on your hands you don’t want another addiction in your life because the show is just unbelievably addicting. I would stay away from it. Don’t watch it unless you’re ready to be completely hooked.” If you don’t have a lot of time on your hands then I wouldn’t start up, because it’s going to ruin your life.

I was wondering if you could give us some insight as to what it’s like to be behind the scenes on the show, like did you guys joke around a lot, did you hang out much? What’s that like?

Yeah. Yeah. The set of course is far more fun than the sort of, you know, when you watch it. You know, I mean Glenn is – she’s giggly, she’s funny. She tells really good stories, you know. Rose Byrne by the way is like one of the most fun, you know, relaxed, cool people I ever worked with. I mean she really – she’s from Australia and she is just so kick back. Yeah. I mean, Ted Danson is hysterical. We’re all just cracking up and saying totally inappropriate stuff, you know, and making fun of the show. You know, I’m sure there’ll be good gag reel, you know what I mean?

You mentioned earlier that you were surprised that some of the actors you beat out for the role. Can you name names or is that just not kosher?

Well, yeah, you know, I guess it’s not kosher. I don’t know.

One of the theories that I had going in was that Tom had a little bit of a crush on Patty, and I’m wondering what your thoughts are on that if there’s, any sort of romantic interest that he had towards her.

Well, that’s interesting. I think Tom had a crush definitely had like a legal crush on her. You know, like I think Tom is truly in awe of the way she – her mind works. I mean she’s three to four steps ahead of everyone. And I think he really admires that. And I think that, you know, that sometimes especially when you’re working together that can sort of, you know, turn into some sort of romantic ideas. But in terms of like actually expressing them, I don’t think Tom is ever thought about it. I think Tom is pretty happily married guy. And – but I do think he has at least a professional crush on Patty. Yeah.

I’d like to revisit your statement that doing this show has been a fairly freeing experience in that you pretty much leave things in the hands of the writer’s, things pop into your hands – you know, just before you’re starting to shoot an episode sometimes that sort of thing.

Uh-huh.

And I was just wondering with that kind of situation how much influence do you have on the development of your character? And if you could give us any examples of where something that you’ve thought or said to someone has, you know, born fruit in terms of your performance in the way the character was written henceforth?

Well, you know, there’s certain like little tiny specific things like they know I’d do triathlon and I ride bikes a lot. And so when I – they did an episode of more about Tom they started out with me on a bike, you know, that kind of stuff. Very simple, you know, stuff that they know I can do. But in terms of the major arc of Tom, I’m not too sure. You know, that’s more of a question for them. You know, like I’m not too, you know, you’ll never really know how you influence somebody, you know. I’m not too sure whether how I influence my part in it at all.

If you could have a conversation with Tom or tell him one particular thing what would that be?

That’s a good question. Let’s see. If I could have one conversation with Tom…

It could be advice or just maybe, you know, shoot the breeze, it doesn’t matter. Just curious what you would say to him.

You know, this may sound kind of odd but, you know, it’s sort of like I don’t really feel sort of a huge difference between Tom and I, you know. I mean – so I guess, you know, I try to be a little bit more honest and more upfront than old Tom.

But then again, I’m not in world where this kind of stuff is going on, you know. I just make, you know, films and television and theater and, you know, trying to have, you know, a decent, nice relationship every once in a while.

But, you know, it’s sort of like, you know, he’s in an entirely different world. And sometimes being a little underhanded, you know, I think I’m far more naïve than Tom. I think Tom is far more jaded and is in a tougher world than me.

So I think he’d probably have some advice for me. Like, “Hey pal, why don’t you talk to the producers and, you know, get your own show,” you know?

No, that’s good. Why not have Tom give you some advice? That’s all right.

Yeah. I think Tom would have far more advice for me than I would for Tom.