HitFix Interview: Adam Baldwin talks reuniting with Nathan Fillion on 'Castle'
This Monday's episode is a 'Firefly' reunion for Mal and Jayne
Nathan Fillion and Adam Baldwin on "Castle"
Credit: ABC
Nearly a decade has passed since Adam Baldwin played the hero of Canton, the man they call Jayne on FOX's criminally short-lived "Firefly."
Since that time, Baldwin hasn't exactly been absent from the small screen. He was a regular on "The Inside" and "Day Break." He did guest appearances on shows including "Angel" and "Stargate SG-1." There was also that little five-season run as John Casey on "Chuck," one of the few shows capable of giving "Firefly" a run when it comes to pure cult dedication.
But for all of those credits in the intervening years, there's still something instantly and specifically pleasing about seeing ABC press stills of Baldwin sharing the frame with Nathan Fillion on this Monday's (April 16) "Castle."
In Monday's episode, titled "Headhunters," Baldwin plays a gritty detective named Ethan Slaughter. There aren't many actors who can get away with playing a character named Detective Slaughter, but with Baldwin, it seems only fitting.
I chatted with Baldwin last week about reuniting with Fillion. I don't think you're going to be able to mistake the respect that exists between these two.
Click through for the full interview...
HitFix: So how much of what drew you to this part was wanting to work with Nathan again and how much was just wanting to play a character named "Detective Slaughter"?
Adam Baldwin: Yeah. "Detective Slaughter"! I had thought that maybe we could call him "Captain Slaughter" so that the tables would be even more turned on Nathan and he would have to call me "Captain" in this show, but it didn't work out. So he's just Detective Ethan Slaughter. But the opportunity to play opposite Nathan again was one of the more thrilling ideas that had been thrown my way, because I miss him so much whenever I'm not around him, even though I've had the opportunity to work with great people. It's just that we had such a close family that was torn assunder back in '02 -- and of course then we got a little revival back in '04 with a little movie -- but just to be on-set with Nathan again and just have the laughs and the great professionalism and the good writing and the supporting cast was just a treat. It's the way every show should be.
HitFix: Is it the sort of dynamic where it's like no time has passed when you guys work together again? Or do "Firefly" and "Serenity" feel like ages ago?
Adam Baldwin: The first one. It's like putting on an old, comfortable brown coat or a nice pair of comfortable combat boots. When you sit down in a car scene or just hang out on set with Nathan, it's the same as it was, the same as it ever was, same as 10 years ago. He was leader then. He's a leader now. He carries a show on his shoulders, but the thing I love about Nathan so much is that he wants the other actors to do well and he's a very giving leader. So while our job as supporting actors for the main character, the title-role character, is to lift him up, he would lift us up or pull us up and push us up above his shoulders and make us funnier and make us better. That's why anybody who knows Nathan or wants to work with Nathan just realizes that he's one of the true gentleman and one of the most talented guys working in the business today. That's why he's so loved.
HitFix: And what is the dynamic like between Slaughter and Castle here?
Adam Baldwin: Slaughter thinks Castle's a piece of crap, but he brings him into the fold and is using him for selfish reasons, not unlike Jayne would, but fortunately, Slaughter this time has more authority over Castle than Jayne did over Mal, so it was sweet revenge, sweet revenge for me to have Nathan under my thumb for a while.
HitFix: You're just coming off a long run as part of a really close-knit ensemble on "Chuck." What's it like dropping in as a guest star on a different close-knit ensemble?
Adam Baldwin: Yeah, guest star work can be dicey, not knowing what the temperament or what the feel on a set is like that. But "Castle" is so welcoming and loving because it has, first of all, nice people, grizzled veterans on the crew, people I've worked worked with back on "X Files," the first assistant director was the AD on "X Files" and there were other guys I've been working with for a couple of decades now. So for me to walk onto that set was like just walking onto "Chuck" or another show that I've been working on, because there were so many familiar faces. And then there was Nathan, with the laughs and his arm around my shoulder like, "This is my guy, this is my guy," very welcoming, so that's very helpful and comforting.
HitFix: You've talked about how things are the same when you and Nathan work together now. How are you guys different than you were in 2002?
Adam Baldwin: Well, we're 10 years older and wiser. I think our choices are probably more grounded than they were then, being younger. I dunno. I've known him as a friend for 10 years, so that also plays into the dynamic. We're not scared anymore, I think. That's the main thing.
HitFix: Oh come on. I have a hard time imagining you scared. What were you scared of?
Adam Baldwin: Well, being unsure of where the show is going. On "Firefly," we were on the chopping block from basically the get-go and that's not the sense that we have now. "Castle" is an established show. I was on an established show for five years. There's a comfort level that comes from that not feeling like... Although "Chuck" was a bubble show, there was still a lot of confidence that we would return. So it's a confidence level that you have, I think.
HitFix: Obviously this show drew you in for a particular reason. What else are you looking for in terms of future guest appearances, other kinds of shows you might drop like to drop by? Or are you already looking for your next regular gig?
Adam Baldwin: Oh, I'm always looking for regular work. That's always nice to have. Didn't catch a pilot this year, but that's not unlike other years, so that's OK, too. It's a different landscape, the television business these days. There's less real estate available for newer shows and for scripted shows. So the key is to live below your means and not blow all your money. There's one thing that I did that I can't talk about yet, because it's hopefully going to be something that's a surprise. So, in the meantime, we punt...
HitFix: OK, then, what would the perfect Adam Baldwin vehicle be, do you think?
Adam Baldwin: I kinda like Ethan Slaughter. He'd be a perfect vehicle. That's just the kinda character that I grew up on, the kinda character I love to play. He's funny, but dangerous.
HitFix: And is this a guy who could return to "Castle," do you figure?
Adam Baldwin: That's above my pay grade. I would be honored if they asked me, but they have bigger fish to fry right now. They're gonna finish up Season 4 and figure out Season 5 and I doubt that... Again, above my pay grade, but if they invited me back, I'd run there.
Adam Baldwin appears on Monday (April 16) night's "Castle," airing at 10 p.m. on ABC.
A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.
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Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupPhilippa Chapman
April 15, 2012 at 7:37AM EST Reply to CommentWonderful interview with Adam. It's a crying shame that no-one has apparently picked him up for a pilot. He'd fit in well with a lot of the already extablished shows at the moment. Come on TPTB, make it so!
Burn Notice - another spy or an old comrade in arms for Sam Axe?
Community - a tutor or new security guard; heck even a return-to-college part.
True Blood - Adam as a vampire? Or maybe he'd work better as a werewolf.
Razorback Flippa! I love that you are so dedicated to the man. You should really be the president of his fanclub or something.
April 15, 2012 at 8:30AM ESTJack
April 15, 2012 at 8:24AM EST Reply to CommentAdam Baldwin seems like one of the few sane men in Hollywood.
r1pvanw1nkl3 Until you read his Twitter
April 15, 2012 at 8:28AM ESTIntellectual Ninja Reply to comment...
April 15, 2012 at 9:44AM ESTIntellectual Ninja Why, because he's not a braindead, lockstep Hollywood lib? Because he has a mind of his own, and that mind might have a different idea than yours?
April 15, 2012 at 9:46AM ESTWanna see how truly open, understanding, and tolerant a liberal is NOT?
Disagree with one.
r1pvanw1nkl3 I don't mind conservatives. I wouldn't mind if he used his twitter to tweet his views. But the fact that it's a constant barrage of the most vile, ignorant stuff that's spewed from the worst of the worst of the right is what gets me.
April 15, 2012 at 6:50PM ESTBrian Yeah, I love to watch Adam Baldwin in anything (hell, even his completely background role in Independence Day), he seems like an awesome guy in this interview, and I'm fairly conservative myself, but in his twitter he doesn't say anything interesting or insightful. He mostly just insults liberals, which isn't entertaining and doesn't help his political cause. (Plus I don't want to read a political twitter feed. Twitter is an awful medium for politics). Here's to hoping that's just his twitter schtick and the reality is the guy in the interview.
April 15, 2012 at 10:06PM ESTpuffin seems is the key word there...and i think he'd put himself in the libertarian box and not conservative as encompassing all the social issues...defintion-wise liberal is the diametric opposite of fascism and progressive is the counterpart to conservatism or so the english language conceived.
April 16, 2012 at 2:40AM ESTIntellectual Ninja So, wait... it's okay for Alec Baldwin, Keith Olbermann and other Hollywood and Media Libs to curse and abuse conservatives all they want (because you might agree with them), but it's not okay for Adam Baldwin to do the same, but to liberals, not conservatives?
April 16, 2012 at 3:40PM ESTSeems there is a double standard at play.
Brian Intellectual Ninja, you talking to me? I'm conservative. I hold conservatives to a high standard. But I also don't like Alec Baldwin or Keith Olbermann (at least as people. I like AB on 30 Rock). Adam Baldwin seems like a pretty great guy, but I don't like the way he uses his Twitter feed to insult liberals. I'd rather he get a blog and explain his views, or have a Twitter more like the other castmembers of Chuck-you know, just there random thoughts, and things like "Just wrapped up the finale of Chuck. Thank you for five great seasons." Tweeting "liberals hate freedom!" isn't anymore fun for me (as a conservative) than Tweeting "Conservatives hate the poor!" or anything like that.
April 17, 2012 at 12:41AM EST[and of course, when today I need an example, his twitter account is all stories about him being on Castle.]
gnorts Ugh..no. Even an individual of a liberal persuasion will tell you that Olbermann and Alec Baldwin are obnoxious dicks. Just because you agree with someone's politics doesn't mean you have to agree with his/her method of expressing those views.
April 17, 2012 at 1:05AM ESTIt isn't about politics. I love Adam's work, but his Twitter feed is abrasive and a little unhinged.
Razorback
April 15, 2012 at 8:29AM EST Reply to CommentFun fact: One of the detectives in the town next to mine has the last name of Slaughter. I went to school with his daughter. Anyway, looking forward to this... I am a huge FIREFLY and CHUCK fan... and I watch CASTLE with one eye open, so this should be fun.
PuterBoi
April 15, 2012 at 9:01AM EST Reply to CommentDaniel: Thanks for this interview. I have been a big Nathan Fillion fan for many years, and this just confirms all of the great things I have heard about him, even going all the way back to his OLTL days.
Captain Hammer
April 15, 2012 at 12:22PM EST Reply to CommentI've already decided that this will be my favorite episode of Castle, a show that I'm generally lukewarm over and wouldn't even both with if it weren't for Captain Tightpants. I don't care if they show the two reading a phonebook for an hour. I will watch and love every second of it.
And I do hope Baldwin finds another decent TV gig soon, either in next years pilot season or maybe even on a cable show.
Captain Hammer *bother
April 15, 2012 at 12:22PM ESTthe minister I hope Cap'n Tightpants finds a new role soon. Moonlighting Lite is somewhat awful. It's not like Moonlighting was all that heavy to begin with.
April 24, 2012 at 4:04PM ESTCastle is knocking at the door of syndication, and I doubt Nathan is too spendy, so that should cover his expenses ad infinitum, so he should quit and do something worthwhile.
...but of course he won't out of loyalty to the cast'n'crew. Irony.
qua
April 16, 2012 at 7:31AM EST Reply to CommentNathan Fillion seems like an amazing guy. I always read only super positive stuff about him, people go out of their way to tell how great he is, be it fans ot fellow actors. So much so that I feel I know a lot about him even though I haven't yet seen anything with him except Doctor Horrible. Guess I need to remedy that asap
O.B. Begin with Firefly (and then Serenity). It will blow out your mind :)
April 16, 2012 at 9:17AM ESTthe minister I suggest starting on a Friday night w/ Firefly, unless you wanna call in sick
April 24, 2012 at 3:54PM ESTOh, and watch the 2 hour episode first, not the one Fox slotted first.