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How would you describe your new show?
"NCIS: LA is a spin-off from NCIS. It’s set in a new city and it has a new cast – but we have the same light, witty banter and comedy they’ve achieved. The first show is special because it’s a procedural show with a comedic element, so we have that, but we’re also different because there’s a buddy element with the new characters that LL Cool J and I play. Our characters are very different to each other, but they’re also very similar and they drive each other crazy."
Were you a fan of the original NCIS series?
"I am a huge fan now, but I didn’t watch it when it first aired. I picked it up on reruns. I didn’t realise how popular the show was until we worked on some crossover episodes. After the crossover episodes aired in the US, people came up to me all over the country to say how much they love the show. Everywhere I travelled, people were going crazy and telling me how NCIS was their favourite show on television."
Why do you think the original show is so successful?
"A great group of people work on NCIS and I think it’s wonderful that they’re getting success and attention because they do good work. They have great chemistry and great banter, which works well together. Although the show is a procedural, there are always elements of it that remind me of Moonlighting. That’s so unusual in a procedural, but it’s great. It feels like they’ve been under the radar for a while, so it’s great to see them get some time in the spotlight."
How does it feel to be part of a spinoff show?
"I’m very excited to be part of a spinoff to a show as popular as NCIS because we’ve been fortunate enough to get a lot of their viewers tune into our show to check it out. It’s tough to get a show to work these days and it’s very gratifying to have people tuning in."
How is NCIS: LA different to NCIS?
"Hopefully NCIS: LA will be able to maintain the spirit of NCIS because I think that’s what people love about it. It’s a great procedural, but it also has a certain degree of comedy and really great characters – and that’s why you watch a show. I think that we focus on undercover work more than the other show and there are many little differences that you will notice as you watch it."
What can you tell us about your character in the show?
"I play G Callen in NCIS: LA, but I don’t know what the G stands for at the moment. I guess I’m going to find out at some point, but the writers are slowly revealing his character as we progress through the season. Callen is somebody who bounced around a lot of different foster homes when he was a kid, so he experienced a lot of different families and traditions. Ultimately, he’s a bit of a loner and the office of NCIS is his family now."
What can you tell us about the stunts in the show?
"I really enjoy working on the show’s stunts. We’ve had a couple of elaborate fight scenes, which have been fun to work on. I’ve got some bruises and my back acts up on me every once in a while, but I try to do as many stunts as possible. Usually, I get too over-eager and I jump in there, but then I realise that I might kill myself, so I stand aside for a stunt double."
Is it important for you to try out as many stunts as possible?
"I try to do as many stunts as possible because it looks better on screen, but sometimes it just doesn’t work. If you’ve got a stunt guy who is an unbelievable martial arts expert and that’s what the scene calls for, then I will stand aside."
What’s it like to fire a gun for the role?
"It’s crazy. You forget how powerful guns are until you fire one. They’re also extremely loud, but I’m alright as long as I’ve got my earplugs in."
You wear earplugs on the set?
"Sure. I jam earplugs way up in my ear so that you can’t see them – but they’re definitely there."
Isn’t that a bit embarrassing?
"I don’t care. To be honest, it was much more embarrassing the other day when I forgot to take off the huge earphones I wear over my ears when we rehearse scenes. I ran out of a building for the first take and the whole crew just stared at me blankly because I still had giant earphones on. We had to start all over again because of me, but thankfully mishaps don’t happen all the time."
NCIS: Los Angeles premieres tonight at 9pm on Sky1.
