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TV Guide Online
November 24, 2003
Q&A with Kevin Weisman
by Daniel Roberts
Kevin Weisman is very different than the high-tech wizard persona, Marshall, he plays on Alias. Sure, he knows his way around a computer, and he even has his own web page, but that's where the similarities end. Far from being a geek, Weisman moonlights as a drummer for a Southern rock band called Trainwreck and even put us on hold during a recent interview to chat up a "lovely lady." An avid gamer (he owns all three consoles and plays Madden 2004 for money), Weisman chatted about his favorite digital distractions and how his role on Alias earned him a chance to work with legends like Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
TV Guide: Did you ever imagine you'd see your own face in a video game?
Weisman: Not at all. It was kind of a trip! Jack Black and I were talking about it because we went to college together. We used to play Star Patrol and a lot of games on the old PlayStation and I was thrilled when I found out. I think I finally have made it as an actor because I'm immortalized in a video game character.
TV Guide: What do you think of your face scans?
Weisman: I thought my ears were a little pointy. But Sydney looks pretty good and obviously that's what people are going to be judging the quality of the game on; the curvature of Sydney's uh... body parts.
TV Guide: Isn't every guy's fantasy to get their hands on Sydney Bristow?
Weisman: Well there's only a certain amount of things you can do with the character 'cause it's a PG-rated game. But [Jennifer Garner] has a very interesting look, very beautiful and I know they kinda wanted to recreate that. With me, they kinda just threw it together.
TV Guide: But your character plays a pretty significant role in the game.
Weisman: My character kind of guides you through the game, similar to my character in the show. I give you weapons, choices, I tell you "Don't go down that hallway, you might want to try this." I'm your tour guide. And then, I don't want to give too much away, but as the game progresses, my character is brainwashed and you have to fight me to get to the final level.
TV Guide: Nice!
Weisman: In the recording booth, I got to create sounds of getting my ass kicked and kicking ass, which was fun.
TV Guide: I like that they let you steal some scenes like you do on the show — well, I don't know if they let you....
Weisman: I just make it happen, whether they let me or not. When I first got the job, J.J. [Abrams] gave me license to improvise, which is a dangerous sword to wield.
TV Guide: You wield it well. Your character Marshall is very popular.
Weisman: It's fun. I like the fact that people really like Marshall. I get a lot of people that are in the technical world who say "Oh my god that character, that's me. I relate to it." You know, that's really cool. And I'm glad that the character's, like, a sweet character, as opposed to an evil villain.
TV Guide: I thought all actors preferred to play the bad guy.
Weisman: Yeah, I've played a lot of villains, but if I'm gonna be around for four or five years you kinda want people to like you.
TV Guide: People like Steven Spielberg?
Weisman: Spielberg's a big fan of the show. He just hired me for this new film, The Terminal — I didn't even have to audition! I'm only in one scene, but it's a great scene with Tom Hanks and it's just been great for me. I owe J.J. Abrams definitely a dinner. Maybe dessert too, we'll see.
TV Guide: You're also a drummer in a band called Trainwreck. What's that about?!
Weisman: We're kind of Southern rock, and I play this character Kenny Bob Thornton — no relation to the Academy Award-winning actor.
TV Guide: Sounds like a Southern version of Spinal Tap.
Weisman: There's comedy elements, but we also rock! We do a badass cover of "Footloose." Let me just leave it at that.
© TV Guide 2003
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