Five Burning Questions with Fred Willard of ‘Back to You’
Back at the end of February, the freshman Fox sitcom Back to You returned to the tube with two new episodes — “Cradle to Grave” and “Business or Pleasure” — after a three-month drought of fresh installments.
The series is coming back again tonight with “The Wall of Fame,” this time for an extended run to complete the interrupted rookie season.
Before the latest episode premieres, I’d like to share a few responses to intriguing questions asked of series star Fred Willard during a group interview before the February episodes aired.
Willard, who plays up-front but lovable sports anchor Marsh McGinley on Back to You, is well-know to many comedy fans for both his television roles (Roseanne, Everybody Loves Raymond) and film work (Waiting for Guffman, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy). He also has ample stage experience (Little Murders, Fred Willard: Alone at Last!).
Read on to learn some interesting and unique things about Willard that I’ll bet you never suspected.
On whether the role of Marsh McGinley was tailor-made for him:
FRED WILLARD: It was written for me by [executive producer and writer] Steve Levitan, and I assume also [executive producer and writer] Christopher Lloyd. So I was very, very pleased when my agent called and said they’ve created this role for you. And when you find out that those people have created a role for you, you say well, sure before even knowing what it is.
So when they said it’s the sportscaster, I was falling all over myself; that’s right down my alley because I love sports. They said he’s a little bit clueless, probably got hit in the head with a few too many balls, and I said that’s right down my alley. So I love that kind of character, and I am a sports fan in reality.
On which is most challenging: film, stage, or television:
FRED WILLARD: I think the easiest work is TV. The show I’m doing, Back to You, is just, it’s like doing a one-act play every week, with funny people and the hours aren’t too long.
But movies are the most prestigious. If you get into a film, it still, it’s not like the old days where a film actor won’t do TV. But still, if you’re in a movie, even if it’s not successful, you get your picture on the front of an entertainment thing, and I don’t think people really care about reviews for movies.
So that’s a vague answer, but I think that stage work is most challenging. You’re standing out there, it’s like doing stand-up comedy — you have to interact with the top-ranked Broadway-type people and you better damn well know your cue and say it well and know where to move. And on TV, if you fumble a line, the audience laughs and they stop the camera and shoot it again.
On which celebrity he would choose as a running mate if he were running for president of the United States today:
FRED WILLARD: I think I’d go for an old friend of mine, Norm MacDonald. He has a funny sense of humor. He seems to see through a lot of nonsense, and he has a very dry humor.
That’s my first thought. Now he may choose not to run. Also my old friend, maybe Martin Mull, yes, he could play the guitar. He’s into art. He could decorate the White House great with his paintings.
On what career he would want if he weren’t in the acting field:
FRED WILLARD: Well, one thing I’ve just realized I’d love to be is a sportscaster, a sports announcer. I always wanted to be a major league baseball player. I’m still kind of holding out hopes for that if they go to any more expansion teams.
But a sportscaster I think. And for a while I thought I’d like to be a guy that works up in the North Woods, you know, sits up on the lookout, a forest ranger.
But I think more in reality, what I would do is work something with animals, rescuing animals, taking care of animals, to work against these people. You see so many things that people are so cruel to animals, both in the food industry and just in pet shelters and all. And I’m very active with Actors and Others for Animals. I’ve done work for PETA, and I admire them. And someone has to speak up for animals. I think that’s what I would do. I’d volunteer my time to work with animals.
On whether he prefers improv or scripted comedy:
FRED WILLARD: I like scripted comedy, if it’s good. Sometimes you’re given some stuff that’s kind of lame and it’s hard to make — there’s best of both worlds. Sometimes in improv, you can hit like a streak where it just keeps coming and coming and you get funnier and funnier, and other times when someone says something and there’s nothing in your mind, you say boy, I wish I had a script.
But I think I’m in the best of both worlds with this because the writing is so good. So, right now, I’m very happy to be working with good writers. But it can be fun; improv can be very freeing and fun. It’s like walking a tightrope at the circus. If you make it, it’s great, but when you fail, you fall a long way and you look very stupid. I’m not much of a risk-taker.
BONUS — On which TV shows are his favorite:
FRED WILLARD: 30 Rock. I love it. I think it’s just that I was on Saturday Night Live once. I’m still a big fan of the show, no matter if every year they say Saturday Night Live is dead. But it’s still the show to watch for what’s happening in comedy. I never miss that.
I never miss Jay Leno, up through at least through his monologue. We try to watch David Letterman up through the top ten. And I love Conan O’Brien when he sits down at his desk and does those sketches.
Monk, I love. I’ve gotten involved in Monk.
Boston Legal, I watch mainly because I’m fascinated with William Shatner, his career. He’s become this beloved character. For a long time, people were making fun of him, and he’s turned it around. And I look at him and I say boy, I’d love to be doing what he’s doing now. He’s hit a beautiful thing.
And other than that, I don’t watch much television, except a few reality shows. I watch things like America’s Most Amazing Videos and Whacked Out Sports and a few things like that. But I don’t get into scripted TV too much. I don’t avoid it. I just prefer to read or something.
Nice — it sounds like Willard has great taste in TV, among many other things!
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