Comedy is a tough sell.
Comedy is arguably one of the hardest genres to master. For the timing, execution and skill required takes more than studying. It seems like it has to come from the soul. It’s something that is ingrained in the psyche of the individual, and comes out in an effervescent quality that is almost second nature.
And for an actor like Carl Weathers, it certainly seems like he doesn’t need to try to be funny. He just is. The star of the newest addition to the Dick Wolf-run Chicago universe, “Chicago Justice,” Carl Weathers and his fellow star Philip Winchester took the time to talk to us about their time working on the show, how close-knit the cast and crew are and how Weathers tries not to “twinkle.”
Speaking of his charming, natural comedic talents and whether that would come through at all in this somber courtroom drama Weathers riotously replied, “I try not to twinkle. I try my damndest not to twinkle. [Mark Jefferies] is not a twinkler.” Expanding on that, Weathers went on to say, “but the show isn’t comedic, the stakes are very high all the time because my character is an elected official. So he’s not a guy laughing about a lot.” That didn’t seem to affect Weathers who was in an especially jubilant mood.
But beyond the comedy that Mr. Weathers and Mr. Winchester provided, “Blindspot’s” own Sullivan Stapleton and Archie Punjabi chimed in with their own hilarity on the red carpet. During one of the questions, Stapleton whispered, “should we tell the photographers to be quiet?”
While Punjabi and I were dumbfounded, Stapleton had already begun leaning over to the idled photographers and bellowed, “Um, excuse me, um, camera men? Yeah, we’re filming over here.” He then turned back to us and added, “they boss us around so much that now I’m going to boss them around.” Afterwards, you could timidly hear one of the photographers tell his group, “guys, they’re filming!” to which Stapleton nodded his head in a victorious manner.
So no matter how intensely serious the TV shows become, these actors always find a way to loosen the comedy valve and let their humorous wit permeate the room.
Check out The Knockturnal’s full interview below:
