From Gwen:
I'm a big fan of
your work and I want to thank you for taking the time to answer fan
questions. I'll dive straight in to mine.
I recently watched the Season 1 DVD of Oz with your commentary over the
first two episodes. I seem to remember some other guy on there too, but
I can't be sure. Your commentary was insightful and often very funny
(especially over the pilot episode). My questions, which I've always
wondered when listening to DVD commentaries:
Was it awkward at
all to speak over the episode? And, in general, how does the process
work?
What they do is they
sit you in like a control room, kind of like when people record an
album, but it's more like a looping stage, which is something we’re
sort of used to. There’s a little table, and there was a couple of
microphones, and we’re watching a big-screen TV. In this case, Tom and
I hadn’t seen the episode... I mean, he probably hadn’t seen it for
even longer than I hadn’t seen it, and I definitely hadn’t seen it
for a couple of years. So, no, it wasn’t awkward to talk over it. I
think we were listening to it on headphones, far as I remember; we had
it on headphones so that we would be able to hear it and then we would
be able to talk and hear ourselves. Anyway, it’s something we were
pretty familiar with, so to look at it, and to talk over it -- you know,
people go to the movies and talk over the movies, right? It’s the same
sort of thing, except they asked us to do it. So no one was shushing us.
What they did was, we
actually just watched the first one twice, and we talked over it both
times. The first time we just sort of did what was on the first episode.
Tom got called – I’m sorry, I’m going to sidetrack for a second
– Tom got called to do it, and.. the first DVD I bought when I got my
DVD player was "The Wall", and that has this great commentary
by Roger Waters and the guy who did the animation near the end of it.
And at some points they were talking about how they come up with certain
things and where it was from, and at other points they were really
irreverent, it was funny. And so I was like, this makes it much more
entertaining than just two people sitting there going, “Oh, beautiful
shot. Oh, yes.” So when Tom told me they had asked him to do it,
I was like, "Dude, you have to have me come with you! It’d be
great for us to sit there," -- because he and I have such a good
banter thing, you know? A good relationship. So he was like, "Yeah,
that’s a great idea."
So they played it the
first time and we did that, and then the second time they played it
again, and the guy who was sort of producing it was asking us questions,
and that’s why... the second episode, it gets a little drier. Although
the weird thing is, we were watching the first episode (both times). But
it fits; you can’t really tell, because we’re not speaking as
specifically as we were the first time.
And I have to say that
I’m sort of responsible for the fact that we have a DVD at all! There
was all this complication because of the production companies, because
we weren’t... like, The Sopranos is HBO Studios, and the first few
years we weren’t. We were Rysher Entertainment, and then there was
another company that overtook it, that was under the Paramount/Viacom
umbrella. Anyway, so one day I’m in my video store, and I turn as
I’m waiting for the guy to ring me up, and I see the box set of The
Sopranos and Sex in the City, and I’m like, “I want a DVD!” So I
go over to Tom and ask him, why is it that we don’t have a DVD? And he
actually called HBO a few days later, like "What is going on?"
They had talked it about a few times, but it never happened. And so it
turned out that they had called Rysher, who had now sold the show to
HBO, and when they called Rysher about the old seasons for the DVD, no
one called them back so they just let it drop. So when Tom called, they
called back, and they were able to hammer out a deal, and now we have
DVD’s coming out every year. So, you’re welcome. [laughs]
Also, do you
expect to do more commentaries with new DVD releases?
I really don’t know what’s
going to happen with that. I think that one of the things there will be
more of is scenes that were left out, and stuff like that.
My next question is
totally unrelated. Do you just get sick to death of answering questions
about Chris Meloni? I read all the questions that come in about your
relationship with him and the relationship between Beecher and Keller
and I think that you have to get tired of it. Sometimes I do and I don't
even have to answer them. (If the answer's yes, I hope it helps to know
that he has to answer just as many questions about you on his web-site).
You know, I think
this person should worry more about what's going on with them. [laughing]
I love Chris Meloni, and I’ll talk about him as much as anybody wants
me to!
Thanks for the concern, actually, is what I should say, I guess.
Again, thank you for your time. You're my favorite actor on Oz and I
loved you in Weird Science. I'm hoping to see you in a lot of different
projects after Oz is wrapped.
------------------------------------
From Giovanni:
Stop me
if you heard this before? So, when are you going to star in the Jack
Lemmon biopic? :)
Are you
casting it? I’ve been told I look like Jack Lemmon.
How did
the GLAAD Media event in DC go?
Oh,
Giovanni... my dear Giovanni. It went great. Sorry that it took me so
long to get to these questions! You know, it was a lot of fun,
interesting to go down there for the day, everybody was really very
supportive and I was really happy I did it.
Looking
forward to the grand finale next Season. Keep up the good work. All good
things to you.
--------------------------------------
From
Sid564:
Dear
Lee,
For the past five years, I have been dissecting the show “Oz” in
sickening detail. To the point where my family and friends all hate me.
Now that Oz is ending, and since you have been so very generous with
your answers, I’m jumping on the chance to ask you about your own
thoughts and interpretations of the show.
1. Boy,
Beecher sure has changed over the years! There have been several
Internet polls asking fans to choose their favorite Beecher incarnation.
I’d love to know yours...? (If you need examples, I’ve included some
below. Or feel free to use your own.)
A)
Wussy, praggy, “Please sir, may I fuck my wife?” Beecher
B) Rhyming, dick-biting, face-shitting “Seig heil, baby!” Beecher
C) Nail-filing, hack-slicing, Andy-seducing, Keller-shanking vengeful
Beecher
D) Pod-praying, wound-kissing, wishing-on-a-star “I wanna be
forgiven!” Beecher
E) “Self-hate will do in a pinch” slutty Beecher
F) Almost-but-not-quite enlightened, “How is love wrong?” Beecher
God, they’re all so good! [laughs]
It’s funny, this kind of question, because I don’t really think of
it as different incarnations. You know, Beecher is Beecher to me.
Whatever his reality was at any moment is just what his reality was. I
mean, I feel inside the same way I did when I was in high school, you
know? Which was a looooong time ago.... So, you know what I’m saying?
I mean, if I had to choose from those incarnations, I would say my
favorite is... I don’t know, it’s a tough one. It’d be between
"Self-hatred’ll do in a pinch slut Beecher," and the
nail-filing Beecher. I really don’t see it as being different things,
so it‘s hard for me to really say.
Sorry,
after all that work of dissecting, I can’t answer the question! But,
good work! And keep dissecting! See, dissecting is more your job,
not mine.
2. My
all-time favorite moment is from Season 2: Beecher is alone in his pod
just after his first kiss from Keller, and he finally breaks down and
drinks the alcohol. So there he is, whimpering, rhyming, kissing the
glass -- you were so great. I get chills every time I see it! Can you
indulge me a bit and tell me about filming that scene? Was it difficult
to do? Did you get it one take? How did you feel about it, the first
time you saw it afterwards?
It’s
funny because actually, I don’t know why, but I just recently saw that
one. I have to say that was one of those scenes, and there’s been a
lot of scenes like this in this show, where you sort of throw yourself
off into the unknown. It’s not the kind of thing – not that we
rehearse anything that much, but you know, things like that, or when I
found out my son was dead, they’re exciting scenes to do because you
just don’t know exactly where it’s going to go, and what’s going
to happen. So I have to say that I like those scenes a lot.
I don’t
remember if kissing the mirror was in the script or not, but it just
felt so... you know, he was just so sad. And what I love about
that show is that I was able to go and dig around in those places that
are in all of us. And a lot of times, people in their day to day life,
we all carry sadness and loss, but a lot of people don’t allow
themselves to experience it, to go to those depths of sorrow and stuff
like that. And you know, it’s cathartic in some way. Doing them is
always full of a lot of images, a lot of different things, a lot of
thoughts go through my head rather quickly, and so -- it’s exciting.
That's what I said and I stick by that.
3.
Would you believe there are fans out there who believe that Beecher was
NOT the one who shanked Keller in the storage room? What would you say
to those crazy people?
I would
have to say – Never convicted! [laughs] Look, you
know what? There is no answer to that question. It’s completely
subjective. It’s up to the person who watches it to decide what they
think. I mean, I know when I talk about it to Keller I scare the shit
out of him. But was that just a coincidence, that I knew he was stacking
paper? And then also that I would say, “boom, boom?” Honestly,
I don’t know. That’s a question you have to ask Tom. And I don’t
think he even knows. It was very dark in that fucking room. The Warren
Commission thinks there was a second stab-man. And they never
think there’s a second one! The magic knife!
3. In
the scene where Beecher is getting ready to go to his son's funeral, he
asks Chris if he has ever felt this way about another man, and Chris
says no. In your opinion, why doesn’t Toby believe him? To me, it’s
always seemed that there’s a certain degree of ambivalence in
Beecher’s feelings for Keller, like he wishes he didn’t love him.
But that’s me. How would you, personally, describe Toby’s feelings
for Chris?
Well...hmm.
It’s ever changing. He loves him. But does he trust him? I’m not
sure. Especially back then... I mean, I think after that season, after
Keller confesses to hiring somebody to kill Hank, the feeling of trust
deepens. I think he wants to believe, you know? But he knows what he’s
dealing with, that’s the thing. He loves Keller, but he knows that
Keller doesn’t fully understand that, how much Beecher loves him and
that he loves him unconditionally. And he knows that Keller thinks that
sometimes he still has to work him, when he really doesn’t.
5. In
“Famous Last Words,” as Toby prepares to leave Oz, he claims:
“Prisoner 97B412 is dead. I’m putting all that shit behind me.”
The fans I talk to tend to have very strong feelings about that
particular line; some think Toby was finally showing a healthy dose of
optimism and faith in himself, while others felt that he was deep in
denial about how Oz had changed him and how he would have to come to
terms with it. What do you think?
They’re
both wrong. It was a fucking dream. Prisoner 97B412 was asleep!
6. In
Season Five, you had this incredible scene where Beecher was talking to
his mother about the death of Adam. Mrs. Beecher tells Toby how she felt
glad that Adam’s family would know how she felt, and then she
practically collapses from guilt. Beecher just sits there and gapes at
her, his own guilt and tortured emotions in plain view. That was such an
amazing moment, so perfectly done. I don’t really have a question
about this, I just wanted to thank you and tell you how wonderful you
were.
Well, in
answer to your question... Beecher in that scene has this
moment where he realizes something about himself... so much that came to
him through his parents, and especially his mother. That’s a huge
moment for him, because he realizes that his mother is as sick and
twisted as... as Schillinger! And him! You know? It’s a big moment for
him, it was a huge moment for him. And because, see, at that point,
he’s so far... well, he’s not so far past it, but he’s done a lot
of work on himself, you know what I was saying? Anyway, thanks for
asking that one. That was my favorite question! [laughs]
webmaster:
You’re such a bitch, Lee.
I
appreciate that. Are you gonna put that up there? That you said I’m
such a bitch?
webmaster:
Should I?
Yeah.
That’s funny.
7.
I’m curious. Why, oh why, do you think we’ve been able to witness
any number of violent sexual acts in Oz – Adebisi’s rape of
Schibetta, Keller sending Barlog off with a bang, and Beecher’s game
of Blow and Bite with Robson are just three that come immediately to
mind – and yet the camera fades out whenever Chris and Toby start
kissing? Are you all trying to drive us batty? Is Tom Fontana simply a
cruel, sadistic cocktease? Or is the pointed lack of love scenes in Oz
the result of a greater moral or philosophical statement being made?
"Why
oh why?" How
about, where oh where has my little dog gone? Don’t start with nursery
rhyme beginnings. Okay? Next. It’s Bite and Blow! You gotta bite
before you blow the dick off, not blow and bite. Or, it’s Blow - Bite
- Blow, because I spit it out... Come on! Hello? Dude,
you’re driving me crazy. Okay, listen. I’m only gonna go through
this once. Your answer is in your question. If you were to
continue to see us do anything, one of us would have to end up dead or
maimed! You talk about Adebisi’s rape of Schibetta, me biting
whatshisnames’s dick off -- and I say whatshisname because I don't
*respect* him -- and the blowjob/snap the neck? Dude! It’s love!
We’re talking love! It’s nice, it’s a nice moment! Jesus
Christ! Oh my god! Stop dissecting!
webmaster:
But you just told him to keep dissecting.
I know, I
know, yeah, but you know what? I said that’s his job, but you know
what? I’m firing him. From dissecting. You are fired from dissecting!
Just let the show wash over you. If you think about it too much, you
will end up driving me crazy!
8.
Lastly – tell me honestly. Am I thinking too much?
[laughing]
I think I’ve covered that. Yes, yes, yes! Why oh why would you
have to ask that question?
-----------------------------
From
Gunstreetgirl02:
Tobias
Beecher's intense and ever-changing circumstances and development have,
in my experience anyway, made some of the most intriguing and complex
emotional scenes I've seen on t.v.- Any t.v. shows come to mind that you
have actually become addicted to because of watching a character's life
like a car wreck (and then the hospital, the physical
therapy, etc...)? Thanks, me
Tobias
Beecher? Who’s that? Next question! This is Ask Lee,
okay? [laughs] God, I am such a dick. Yeah, actually, I was
into the "Six Million Dollar Man" like that.
-----------------------------
From
dalphine112:
Hi Lee
love your answers to the questions you really take time out and give
long answers which is really appreciated.
Not
anymore they won't be. [laughs]
Okay my
question is what will be your next project after Oz is over with. Do you
think Mr. Wolf would give you a job on Law and Order SVU with Chris.
Thank you
for appreciating my long answers. You know what they say about a guy
with long answers, don’t you? Long-winded... Anyway. I did this
episode of " ER" that’s going to be on this Thursday. And
actually, Dick Wolf was at the wrap party for this season, and so was
this woman Roz Weiman, I’ve known her for a while, and she said to me,
“You got to let me introduce you to Dick” -- who I’ve actually met
before – and I go, jokingly: “No no no no no, I can’t meet him.
Then he’ll hire me!”
I just
like to say you guys had some great chemistry together. You and Chris
did some hell of acting because if I didn't know you both were
straight you would have fooled me.
You know,
I was a lot straighter before I did these scenes with Chris. [laughing]
You
both gave your all to those character which we fans really enjoyed
and are sad its coming to and end. Oz will always
be one of the great shows that will always stand out in my mind it was
done very good. It also had some great acting and some great actor
especially you and Chris and Eamonn Walker.
---------------------------------
From
Nikolas:
Hi,
Lee. I have to start off by saying that Beecher is one of my very
favorite characters, and this is coming from someone who likes almost
everybody on Oz!
Oh, that
makes me feel good! No, I’m fine with that. Really, I’m
okay...
You are
a great actor, and I always enjoy watching you. Now, here's for the
quesions:
1. You
mentioned that in the scene where you kissed Keller's bullet wound you
felt oddly feminine. Almost like your character was a woman. It seems
that a lot of other people, including Meloni, feel that your character
is the more "feminine partner" in what they see as being a
very non-egalitarian, almost gender - typed relationship, and this
also seems more in line with what they have been portraying on the show
as of late. This is confusing to me, because even though Beecher was
having sex with a man, I always considered him to be pretty masculine,
and both him and Keller to be equals (at least sexually---I know he
has at times definitely been under Keller's thumb). What are your takes
on this?
You know,
I am not going to give these kind of answers if you’re going to
misconstrue what I say! [laughs] What I was talking
about was, as an actor, sometimes images come through, and
feelings, and stuff like that. So it could be an image -- of my mother,
of whatever. It’s not about the character, it’s about what
happens to me in the scene. Beecher is not feminine. They have an
equal relationship. Now, here’s your assignment. Go back to the
question, find that answer, read through it again, and I want you to
write a little essay. For the next time I come around. Telling me that
you understand it now. What I was talking about was what goes on as an
actor, which is that there’s like four or five different levels.
Knowing the lines, seeing what the other person is doing, thinking about
the character, the history of the character, what’s going on in the
scene... and then also, there’s free-flowing images. I’m sure this
is almost exactly what I said. And that was where all of a sudden a
flash of like, nurturing, or mothering, or femininity, something like
that, flew into my head. Now... I’m serious about this essay! And you
better be like, "I understand that now, and I’m sorry about that.
I understand so little, but I use such big words." That should be
how that essay ends.
2. When
you first sat down with Tom to talk about the character of Beecher, were
there any character traits that you guys had planned on at first and
ended up rejecting down the line? Was the Beecher that was first in
your guys' head different than the Beecher we saw?
When we
first talked about it, it was very general; about a guy who comes into
prison, you know, and has none of the skills he needs, everything is
stripped away, what does he have to go through to survive? That was
basically our first talk about it. And you know what? There’s no way,
from before anything of Oz was written to when it’s all completed,
there’s no way to know everything that’s going to happen. It has a
flow to it. It’s like life. You may think, “Oh, in ten years I’d
like to have a house and a Porsche,” but in ten years those two things
may or may not be true.
3. Tom
Fontana says that he will be finishing the story he
"originally set out to tell" in Season Six, and that means
that the focus will be returning to the characters (left alive) and
storylines of the first season. What do you think about this, and are
you worried for your character, lol?
I don’t
ever worry, because worryin’ is a waste of my time. (That’s Guns 'n
Roses, people.)
Finally,
do you have a favorite season of Oz? What season do you think was the
best, and what one do you think was the "worst?"
I don’t
have any favorites.
If you
couldn't play Beecher, what characters would want to play?
Nooter!
Thank you so much.
Good luck shooting the final season.
----------------------------
From
Alexa:
Dear
Lee I'm a huge fan yours. I have some questions for you.
Do you have any tattoos in your body and where do you have them?
I have a
tattoo on my right calf.
What
color is your favourite?
I don’t
know. I don’t really have any favorite color. I used to always say
blue, but it depends on what it’s on, or where it is. Black is a great
color sometimes, sometimes there’s pinks in a sunset that are really
awesome. I go on a case-by-case thing! I try not to... you know,
whenever I’m grading something on a scale of 1 to 10, I never give
anything a 10. Because what if you find something that’s just a little
better than a ten? You see? So I don’t pick favorites. I don’t
believe in superlatives.
I think
bands that put out albums... I just came up with this today, this is a
great one. For example, Poison? Poison’s album, that they put out with
all their hits? That should be called “good hits”. [laughing]
I actually did come up with that today! Because how can you really
call them great hits? "Good Hits."
What
food is your favourite? Thanks for your answer.
Wait, hold
on -- I do have a favorite food. It’s called kumpe, it’s a Norwegian
dish. And there’s a dollar in it for you, if somebody makes it for me!
---------------------------------
From
Beth:
What kinds of things move you to tears? Do you hide your tears? Have
you ever broken down in front of a friend?
Jesus
Christ, like three times this week. I actually just connected with a
friend of mine, this girl Karen that I went to high school with, about
two weeks ago, and I started to cry like three times. I did. We hadn’t
seen each other in like fifteen years! The second thing that she said to
me was, "I’m sorry I wasn’t there when your mom died."
That kind of shit crushes me. People make me cry, you know? My
relationships with people.
How are
you when people you love cry? Do you feel uncomfortable or do you try to
comfort them?
No, you
know what? Neither. Generally, I let them be. I do not get uncomfortable
when people have outbursts. And I think that one of the things that –
even though I’m an actor, and good acting is reacting – I think in
the real world, a lot of times what we need to do is not react,
when people have an outburst, whether it's of anger, or sadness. You
know? There’s no reason to feel uncomfortable, because we’ve all had
experiences like that; there's no reason to comfort them, because in a
way, when you finally let go of emotion like that, you are sort of
comforting yourself. I usually just, I’ll be there for them, and not
make them feel like anything is wrong with what they’re doing. And you
know, if they say, "Hey, hug me," or they take your hand or
something, then sure, you do that – but you know, to offer it up, I
think that being uncomfortable and trying to comfort are both you
being uncomfortable, and trying to do something to make it go away. And
there you have it. Good question! That’s a good question.
Are you
and Chris close enough, comfortable enough to cry in front of each
other? Thanks
If we had
to. Yeah, I guess, yeah. I never hold shit back. That’s not how I
work.
Please
name the last book, movie, piece of music that moved you to tears.
Please?
This is
going to be weird, but there’s a Jethro Tull song that I’ve been
listening to a lot lately, off of Aqualung. It’s called
"Wondering Aloud."
-------------------------------
From
Candace:
Do you
believe in God? If so, would you describe yourself as someone who
prefers the sense of belonging of organized religion, the take what you
need and leave the rest, or the atheist/agnostic stance?
I like to
think of myself as a dyslexic agnostic insomniac. I stay up all night
wondering if there is a dog. [laughs] I don’t know,
I don’t want to talk about that. Because who cares what I believe?
---------------------------
From
Jerry:
Hi Lee;
Are you piss off that Oz season 6 is going to be last season? Have you
talk to Tom Fontana about keeping the show on for at least 2 more years?
No, I
didn’t get angry, and no I didn’t try to convince Tom to do
anything.
---------------------------
From
SP:
Hello!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I have loved reading all the answers
you have so graciously given us. Of course, I'm greedy. I want more. So
here goes--
Being a fan of your luscious body, I would like to know what
diet/exercise you do to keep your body, well, luscious? Also, did you do
anything in particular to lose the weight you've lost for Toby?
I am
luscious. [Lee laughs. A lot.] Well thank you thank
you thank you. You know, I run a lot, that’s the mainstay of my
workout. And when I get to the gym, generally I’m doing sit-ups and
push-ups and pull-ups. In the beginning -- I think I weighed like
190-something pounds --anyway, I just controlled my diet. And my idea
that I sort of came up with during the first season was that gradually
the character would come more into focus, physically and mentally, and
so part of that was losing the weight, and doing different things with
the facial hair, which was sort of hiding.
Does
your lovely wife Leslie get jealous when we talk of your luscious body?
Or does she do as I would and grab for certain parts, give a bodacious
smirk and say 'MINE!!!!!'?
Oh, she
doesn’t care.
And
most importantly, according to sources (you), your answers are chatty if
they are verbal and short if you must type. So, just how many fingers do
you use to type?? 'Enquiring' minds want to know? Yours ever so humbly
(and greedily) -- SP
Well, I
can use all ten, but only one at a time...
* * *
return to Ask
Lee
