Timothy Busfield Interview - Questions from the Fan Forum Mailing List, January 2004

 From Andrea S:

1. The charity you played for on Celebrity Poker was Planned Parenthood.  Do you work with or support any other organizations?

Tim:  My wife chose that charity.  I have done work for dozens of others.  My own is Theatre for Children Inc. in Sacramento, CA.

2.  Is the children's theater in Tennessee that you and your brother started still in existence?

Tim: Very much so.  There are three theatres now.  The Fantasy Theatre for children which reaches over 130,000 children a year, and The B Street Theatre which does plays for all the family, and The Children’s Theatre of Sacramento which does plays aiming at Jr. High and High school. 

3. We know that Mel Harris wanted Hope to be less sweet after the first season and Melanie Mayron wanted Melissa to be a photographer and also to be at the end of years of therapy.  In my opinion, Elliott is a wonderful character.  Did you encourage the writers to make Elliott a certain way or did you simply work with what they gave you? 

Tim: I worked with what they gave me.  I never mentioned to the guys what I would like Elliot to be.  I did mention that as long as I was a good father I could get away with anything.  That’s why I am so affectionate to the kids.

From Dean Carlson:

1.Was there a big difference between how Marshall Herskovitz & Edward Zwick originally conceived of Elliot and where you took him?  If so, what led you to tweak the character as you did? 

Tim: I’m sure they took as much as they could from me, but it’s my job to be able to play whatever they write.  They say that Elliot came from something they didn’t plan… I don’t know.

From Jan L:

Thirtysomething seemed so real, especially Elliot.  I wondered how much leeway they gave you and the other actors with their scripts?  (Mostly I just want to sit at Tim Busfield's internet feet and let him ramble on and on and on about the show).

Tim: How sweet.  I had a lot of leeway.  More than others.   Often Kenny and I would swap lines or cut a speech in half with him taking half and me talking half.  Some of the writers didn’t like it when I changed the dialogue but Ed and Marshall never mentioned it. 

From Amy L:

1.You’re a creative guy, Timothy.  Instead of acting, do you think you could have worked in an ad agency such as DAA?

Tim: Sure.  I think the job was perfect for me and I think I would be good at it.

2.Did you approve of disapprove of Elliott's wardrobe?

Tim: Patrick Norris would say that I would wear a barrel if it was in my trailer.  I was very much a part of the wardrobe concept and had totally approval of everything I wore.

3. Do you have the series on tape, and if so, do you watch it?

Tim: I don’t have any of the episodes on tape.  I watched early cuts and often never saw them on TV.  There are several episodes I’ve never seen.

4. Are you surprised by the interest still shown on the series today (various websites, purchases on Ebay, etc)?

Tim:I am.  I recently discovered the internet interest and that has brought me here.

5. What do you miss most about the show?

Tim: I miss the people.  I miss Kenny and Patti, and I miss the writing.

6. If there were a 50something series created in the future, would you sign on?

Tim: In a heartbeat.

7. What was your favorite and least favorite episode?

Tim: My favorite was Therapy.  My least favorite was the Gary funeral episode. 

8. Are you anything like Elliott?

Tim: I always felt like playing Elliot was like playing the immature version of myself (if that’s possible).  Elliot is the part of me I’m glad I’m not.

9.Do you still keep in touch with any of the cast?

Tim: I saw Ken Olin in the fall and last Thanksgiving I dropped by their house with my kids unannounced, and we hung in the kitchen and talked and laughed for hours.  I love them very much. 

10. Do you feel 30something was the highlight of your career?

Tim: If TV was pro baseball they would have been championship seasons.  Those are the ones you play for.  Maybe you’ll get a bunch, maybe none.  I hope I get a chance to get back to high level of appreciation, but if not then yes 30something will forever be the highlight.

From:  Alex G:Do you know what Marshall and Ed may have been planning for the proposed series 5 of thirtysomething? If not, where do you see Elliot in the show in a 5th series, if at all? 

Tim: I hope I get the chance to play Elliot again.  Ed was always against it but who knows.

From Petra in Germany:1.How do you think Elliot would be living today in 2004?

Tim:I think that Elliot would be very lonely.  I think he would be struggling with not being young anymore.

From Chris:

1. Did you find any of the cast members or guest-actors challenging to work with?

Tim: Not one bit.  The cast was fantastic, and our guest actors were so happy to be there that it was always fantastic.

2.Do you have any moments in your performance as Elliot you feel particularly happy with? 

Tim: My stuff with Patti in the Therapy episode had many wonderful moments.

3. "A Stop At Willoughby" (click on this link to review the episode http://home.kc.rr.com/bobfahey/lb-30s/episodes/421stop.htm ) is just great. You clearly had a unique, energetic directing style. Did this episode come out the way you had hoped? 

Tim: I was very happy with that episode.  I thought it was my best of the three I directed.  

4.Was it easy to get that directing gigs? Or did you have to campaign for it?

Tim:I only had to ask.  Then after I delivered the first episode on budget the studio ask me to do more.

5. What souvenirs from the show did you keep, if any?

Tim: None.

6. In your opinion, will TS be out on DVD any time soon? What's the hold up do you think?

Tim: I hope so because I want to see it again.  

7. Can you sum up in what principal way your personality is different now from when the show went off the air?

Tim: Wow.  I am older, wiser, softer, but not as fun.

9. Of the other credits listed on you at Tome TV, (click on this link to review http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-5205/), what particular TV or film acting roles are you most proud of?

Tim: Revenge of the Nerds, Field of Dreams, and First Kid are all favorites of mine.  A Few Good Men on Broadway.

From Gtmoore1015: 1.How extensively, if at all, did Elliot's relationships with characters such as Nancy, Michael, and Hope influence your real-life connections with the other actors, especially considering the length of time you all worked together?

Tim: Identical in many ways, I loved Patti would never want to sleep with her, and I love Kenny and would never want to work for him. 

From Amy: .How did you enjoy working with the two actors and Director Dennis Dugan ("Happy Gilmore")?I love Dugan. 

Tim: A great friend and director.

2.What are you looking for in a movie/television script for his future?  Would you prefer to stick with comedies, dramas, or both?  And why?

Tim: I’m just biding my team until 50something.  I look for a good role, a good story, and a good director in that order.

3. Do you see any opportunity for himself or Herskovitz & Zwick to begin working with HBO in the future?  I mainly ask this because there seems to be such freedom afforded to actors/creators who are developing a series for HBO and I'd love to see what might happen with you, Herskovitz or Zwick there.

Tim: I would work with Marshall and ED on any network, but they don’t seem interested in working with any of the former cast of the show.  David Clennon acted on Once and Again but that’s been it.

4) As a viewer, what are your most recent favorites in television and movies?

Tim: Movies.