Sam Ayers: Online Chat

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bluecovede: Q: When Amir Aboulela was on tP in "Past Sim" and as Gar in "Bank" and "Bloodlines," did you work with him?

sam_sweeper: I did...he was a good Cleaner.

bluecovede: Q: Do you have any interesting or funny stories from the set? Any pranks?

sam_sweeper: We were doing a scene for "Stolen" and we were racing down the street -- Willie, MP, Syd and myself -- all coming from various directions. I'm not used to the curbs here...the height varies and sometimes they're really high. I came sprinting off and proceeded to take a tumble and rollout in front of MP and Syd. They all stopped, and starting laughing. Then everyone was worried I'd hurt myself, but because of my stunt training I just had some scrapes. As far as pranks, the teamsters used to chase me with their big trucks and I'd be running just a few feet in front. The driver would slam on the big brake and I'd jump off to the side...looked kind of like Indiana Jones! <G>

bluecovede: Q: What's the most fun/enjoyable thing you got to do on the show?

sam_sweeper: Doing my own stunts.

bluecovede: Q: You've had some memorable moments, like the classic scene with Miss Parker in which you got stuck to the floor with roach glue (loved the look on your face when you said, "I'm stuck") and finding the fake dog poo in "Every Picture Tells a Story." What's your favorite "Sam moment" and why?

sam_sweeper: The roach glue is one of them because I like to work in the moment. The bit with MP pushing me back on the bed was improv'd at the last moment. We didn't have time to use anything to keep my feet on the floor, so I had to make it look good...did it in ONE take. In another ep I had to rush to get in the Lincoln. The doors were locked, so I just jumped in through the window.

bluecovede: Q: What's the most memorable, funny or moving thing that happened to you on the set?

sam_sweeper: Memorable...first season when we heard we were picked up. I was by the catering truck and heard this wave of noise from the people cheering. Moving moment...finishing the season and having the first assistant director announce, "Ladies and gentleman, that's Sam Ayers' last scene for the season. Let's give him a hand." Then everyone applauded.

bluecovede: Q: Do you have a web site or fan club? Is there somewhere people could write for autographs or pictures?

sam_sweeper: I have a web site, but it's under construction....so pardon the dust. It's at www.samayers.com. You can e-mail me from the site.

bluecovede: Q: How long does it take to do a typical scene and about how many takes?

sam_sweeper: Depends on the scene and the director. It can last anywhere from a few minutes to half a day, and we do at most two or three takes for my scenes...sometimes one if I get it "right."

bluecovede: Q: Were you there when "Cold Dick" was being filmed? How did anyone keep a straight face long enough to get the scenes shot?

sam_sweeper: I wasn't there...I can only imagine how they managed it. ;-)

bluecovede: Q: Do you have any other projects coming up?

sam_sweeper: Yes I do. I signed a letter of commitment to do a film called Lord of the Wolves. You can find out more about it at www.aspendreams.com. I also may do a movie of the week called Harvester.

sam_ayers enters

kwb60: A Clone!

sjames_centre: Will the real Sam please stand up?

sam_sweeper: Harvester is a medical sci-fi "what if." It's about a special unit put together...an organ donor program. Also, The Aerobic Alphabet for Children...learning the alphabet through aerobics.

bluecovede: Q: Would you like to work with any of the "Pretender" cast again (on non-tP stuff)?

sam_sweeper pokes sam_ayers in the chest.

B_twin_2: LOL

sam_sweeper: Any time, any place.

bluecovede: Q: How do you feel about the show being cancelled and the possibility of TNT picking it up? Do you know how any of the other cast members feel? Are the cast/crew aware of fan efforts on behalf of the show?

sam_sweeper: We were dumbfounded. NBC treated us like a bastard child because we were a Fox production. I'm excited about the possibility of TNT picking it up...keeping my fingers crossed. Yes, many of them know of the fan efforts, and more are hearing about it every day. We appreciate all that's being done.

bluecovede: Q: What do you see as a good storyline for Sam? If you could write one line of dialogue for him, what would it be?

sam_sweeper: "We got his ass, Miss Parker!" That line was actually used in a scene in The Inner Sense, but it and the fight scene that accompanied it were cut.

bluecovede: Q: What's your favorite episode of "The Pretender" and why?

sam_sweeper: Getting knocked upside the head in Keys was good. The one that hasn't been written yet will be my favorite. Actually, I submitted a script to Steve and Craig...two days before we were cancelled.

bluecovede: Q: If you could have any role/play any character, what would it be?

sam_sweeper: I want to do LBJ...and Joe Namath. I want to do the Tony Connagliaro (sp?) story. He's a former Boston Red Sox player who got hit in the eye in their '67 pennant chase. He went on to try to be a night club singer and lots of other stuff. I'd love to do a western or anything with horses...I love historical stuff too.

bluecovede: Q: What's the best and worst thing about working in Hollywood?

sam_sweeper: Politics alert! <G> It took me sixteen years to get here, and I'm FINALLY able to work on my craft. The worst part is runaway productions leaving to film elsewhere because other countries will subsidize the costs. The governor of California won't do the same; what we're famous for in film making is going elsewhere.

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