If you’ve been watching “Harper’s Island” all along, then this was probably the least surprising death of the series to date. It’s not that you necessarily saw it coming this week, per se; it’s simply that, due to an event in an earlier episode, you sensed that the character had been living on borrowed time, anyway. And while I don’t want to say that I’d actually been rooting for that time to run out, I have to admit that this was an interview I’d been looking forward to, due to the other credits found within this person’s IMDb listing…one of which will be returning to the airwaves next month.

Oh, but I’ve said too much. Let’s move onward before I give away anything else…

Bullz-Eye: Hey, it’s my close personal Facebook friend, Chris!

Chris Gauthier: (Laughs) Hey, how’re you doing, buddy?

BE: I’m good, man. I was very excited when I saw you were going to be on “Harper’s Island,” because as soon as I spotted you, I was, like, “Hey, it’s ‘Eureka’ Dude!”

CG: Ha! Yeah, that’s right: Vincent. Thank you!

BE: Absolutely. My wife and I are huge fans of the show.

CG: Oh, that’s great! Thank you very much!

BE: So for the first time, I might actually get a good answer for this question: did the producers of “Harper’s Island” actually know you and seek you out, or was it just a standard audition process?

CG: Just the traditional casting process, yeah. I went out for a couple of rounds of auditioning, and all of us had originally read for the part of Booth…well, a lot of us had, anyway, and I think they were casting the groomsmen from that.

BE: So what were your thoughts when you first heard about this show, given that it’s a different kind of series model?

CG: I loved it. For me, I’m a horror-genre fan, so this was right up my alley. It was ideal for me.

BE: I was going to ask you if you were a horror guy or not.

CG: Oh, yeah. Totally. A lot of horror and sci-fi shows shoot up in Vancouver, but it also just happens to be one of my favorite genres as well. So I’m a very fortunate guy!

BE: So how much of the character of Malcolm existed before you came onboard? In particular, I was curious about the whole microbrew aspect. It just seems like a very specific detail about the character.

CG: I’d guess it was probably an idea in the producer’s head. As you may or may not know, we weren’t told a lot of our characters’ backgrounds, so when we got the first script, they did say that I had this Sacred Turtle microbrewery, but little did I knew it would lead to my seeking money for it in Episode 4. So all of it came as a surprise as the weeks went by. There were a few things, like that we were college buddies, but nothing poignant.

BE: A couple of the other cast members had mentioned that their sides had nothing to do with their eventual character.

CG: Yeah, because that was for the pilot-presentation thing that we did. Some of it was on the internet, I believe…?

BE: Right, I saw it when CBS sent out a preview DVD.

CG: But that was a totally separate shoot, once we got into filming the actual series.

BE: So how did you find out about your impending demise? Was it a tap on the shoulder, or a phone call?

CG: It was really sad. It was a phone call. Some people had gotten told face to face. I know Sean (Rogerson) was told face to face; I was there right after, which was a really sad day. And I think we assumed it was going to be done that way. For me, in Episode 6, I had a couple of days off before going in to shoot Episode 7, or before we got the script for Episode 7, and Karim had phoned me and basically said, “Are you sitting down…?” (Laughs) And I think I said something like, “Give it to me straight, Doc.” I mean, we were all aware of this as an inevitability, so I think you were waiting for it every episode. So when it finally did come, it was kind of heartbreaking, but at the same time, you were very well prepared from Episodes 4, 5, and 6. So 7 was my time, and I knew it was imminent with the stuff that had gone on in Episode 4.

BE: I was going to say that, once Sean got his, I’m sure you figured it was only a matter of time.

CG: Yeah, for sure. I’m actually surprised that I lasted as long as I did after that. (Laughs)

BE: I’m not going to lie to you: I was, too. (Laughs) I thought you might’ve been next in line after Sean, though I guess that would’ve been a little too easy.

CG: I did read some blogs and saw that people were, like, “He’s gotta be next to go! He’s got to be!”

BE: Sean said that you and he really built a friendship over the course of your work on the show.

CG: Yeah, it was really good. I mean, in and beyond doing his death scene, Sean was and is just a really charismatic, really caring guy, and it made that scene that he and I did that much easier to do. And there was a real kinship there, too.

BE: He and I talked about that. In fact, when we talked, he was planning to watch the next episode with you.

CG: And he did. We watched Episode 5 together.

BE: Excellent. Yeah, he said that the fact that you had that bond made the farewell scene less difficult than it otherwise would’ve been.

CG: Yeah, and we had been talking about his demise because, of course, he knew at the end of Episode 3, in preparation, so it didn’t come as a shock to him when he got the script, so we got the chance to kind of mull over that scene and talk about it. I particularly was upset that he was going, y’know. It seemed as thought we had only just gotten started, and we wanted to cram in as much good times as possible. It was a really fun experience.

BE: How hard is it to play paranoia? I would think it’d be a tightrope walk, so as to avoid going too far over the top.

CG: Well, I was less of a red herring than a lot of the cast, so you’re right, I was curtailed a bit in terms of…your instincts are to be very reactionary, so there was a lot of pulling back for me and the directors.

BE: I felt bad for that poor girl, coming to your room in Episode 7, only to be sent away.

CG: (Laughs) Oh, I know! There’s also a side story to that. She and I did have a subplot where she and I had sort of a bond going, and that was sort of the lead-up to that point. She was going to come to my room, and I had to shut her down. So the stakes would’ve been a little bit higher if they’d kept that sub-story in there, in terms of me turning her away.

BE: So how did you enjoy being part of the wedding party and participating in the bachelor-party aspects of the show?

CG: It was so much fun! It was a great group of people, so it was easy, and you looked forward to going into work. You were part of a team and part of a bond that hasn’t really been done on television before, I don’t think, with this format. So we were all experiencing something fairly brand new, you know?

BE: But do you know who ended up with the blow-up doll?

CG: No, and you know what? She was missing, too, so I think she should be added to the victims list if she doesn’t get found. (Laughs)

BE: Sean was convinced that Booth had her.

CG: Oh, he would. (Cackles)

BE: So you might be off this show, but “Eureka” is getting ready to come back next month.

CG: Uh-huh. The second half of the third season. They’re calling it Season 3.5, I think.

BE: Yep, and they’re slipping the first half of Season 3 onto DVD just in time to get people ready. How do you enjoy working on the show? It’s such a creative series.

CG: It’s so much fun. And as we go further, Joe (Morton) has directed an episode, Colin (Ferguson) directed an episode. I’m more of a periphery staple on that show, which I just really enjoy. Vincent is sort of the nexus point for the socialization on the show, and it’s a blast. It is a very creative show, and obviously the possibilities are limitless. It’s just a blast to work on, and you greatly anticipate getting a new script.

BE: How did you enjoy getting to play the Toyman on “Smallville”?

CG: That was really cool. When I auditioned for him, they had him down as something…not Winslow Schott. It was, like, Malcolm Frott. I’m just using Malcolm as a convenient name, it wasn’t actually Malcolm, but the point was that they used a name so that people wouldn’t know it was the Toyman, so they wouldn’t go back and research it. So it was really cool to come back and find out that I was getting to play a villain!

BE: Are you enough of a comic book fan that you would’ve recognized the Toyman’s name if they had used it?

CG: I probably would’ve done some research on it. I’m not that much of a comic book fan. I do like cult shows and things like that, though, so I would’ve done my research, and I probably would’ve found out. And I think there would’ve been a lot of other people who would’ve, too.

BE: Yeah, you’re all over the cult shows: “Dead Like Me,” “Stargate: Atlantis,” “Kyle XY,” and “Reaper,” just to name a few. Do you have a favorite from that bunch of one-off appearances?

CG: I think one of my favorites to date is probably “Supernatural.” I got to play a really cool character, a paranoid sort of fellow who turns out to be right. I don’t know if you saw the episode, but it was very cool to play that, and to be right. I love playing that type of character, sort of a conspiracy theorist, impassioned and a little bit naïve and vulnerable. It’s a very fun thing to get to play.

BE: And, lastly, what’s your favorite anecdote from the set of “Harper’s Island”?

CG: Well, there was one thing: when we were talking about what we would do for people who were going off the show. We were all discussing this in the first episode, sitting around to shoot some of the boat scenes, and Elaine said that, when we find out who’s dying, we should set them in the corner and all point and laugh at them. (Laughs) That was really funny. But there were many…there was a lot of fun stuff and tomfoolery, as you can imagine. The fun we were having on screen, like on the boat and all that, we were actually having that fun for real. It was great.

BE: Everyone says that Richard Burgi was a hoot.

CG: Richard Burgi was hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. And Jim Beaver as well. He’s a great man. A great, great man. Somebody to look up to.

BE: And will you be continuing to watch the show in the coming weeks?

CG: I will, for sure. I think it’s great…and I have to see how it goes!

BE: Okay, Chris, thanks a lot, and see you on Facebook.

CG: (Laughs) You, too, Will. Take care!

* Missed our interview with Victim #1? Go check it out!
* Missed our interview with Victims #2 and #3? Go check it out!
* Missed our interview with Victim #4? Go check it out!
* Missed our interview with Victim #5? Go check it out!
* Missed our interview with Victim #6? Go check it out!
* Missed our interview with Victim #7? Go check it out!

On a related note, please be aware that there will be no interview next week. Why? Because there’s no episode of “Harper’s Island” this Saturday. And why isn’t there one? Because CBS is opting instead to show a rerun of “The Mentalist.” As for why they’re doing such a thing, your guess is as good as mine. I can’t imagine I’m the only person mystified by the maneuver. I mean, presumably, it’s a way to gauge if the “Harper’s Island” fans who’ve followed the show to Saturdays and aren’t watching it on DVR or TiVo will come back if they skip a week, but, damn, come on, CBS, you’ve already annoyed us by shifting it to the weekend. Can’t you at least just run the remaining episodes uninterrupted? Surely we deserve that much.

And just one last thing before we get to our interview: when the show does return, the Victim of the Week interview won’t happen on the following Monday, because that’s Memorial Day Weekend. It will instead take place on Tuesday…and since I’ll be out of town on Tuesday, it remains to be seen if I’ll even be able to do it.

Damn. “Harper’s Island” fans just can’t catch a break…

Premium Hollywood: Hey, Richard, how’s it going?

Richard Burgi: I’m well, thank you, Will. How are you?

PH: I’m good. It’s a pleasure to speak with you. I feel like I know you already, since just about every other “victim” I’ve spoken with has made a point of talking about how working with you was one of the high points of their “Harper’s Island” experience.

RB: (Laughs) Oh, that’s delightful! Well, it was a great group of young actors, and I was honored to be part of it.

PH: So you definitely now have the best death scene to date.

RB: I thought they could’ve gone a little further, you know? They could’ve splayed open the fruit a little bit and shown the seeds.

PH: (Laughs) Well, I was hoping that’s how they’d open next week’s episode.

RB: That’d be pleasant.

“Say, is it just me, or does that chandelier look like it’s getting closer?”

PH: So how did you get involved with the series? Was it a standard audition, or did someone on the series ask for you?

RB: No, I got the offer, and, God, I just thought it was interesting, with interesting people and shooting in a place that I really love.

PH: Were you intrigued by the idea of the show, given that it’s a model that’s different from the average?

RB: Yeah, I was intrigued by the writing, I was intrigued by the character, and I was interested in working with Jon Turteltaub, who I’d heard a lot about. We had a great time together. Everything sort of came to a wonderful fruition.

PH: Are you a horror or mystery guy by nature?

RB: You know what? I like it, yeah, but it’s not a genre I devour assiduously. My brother is quite the fan, but, no, I’m not a large consumer of that genre.

PH: So how did you find out about your impending demise on the show? I know some people have gotten the cold tap on the shoulder from a producer.

RB: Oh, I found out when I got the script.

PH: Okay, I didn’t know if you’d been approached before that.

RB: Well, I knew when I started the show that I was not going to make it past Episode 5 or 6.

PH: Oh, so they gave you some warning, then?

RB: Yeah. They always threw little bones here and there, saying, “Ah, you know, if it works out, you could be here a little longer.” But I had no attachment to it one way or the other.

PH: When I talked to Harry Hamlin, he said that one of his favorite scenes in the show was when he was smoking a cigar with you.

RB: Yeah, we had a good time. That was a lot of fun. I enjoyed working with him and getting to know him.

PH: How did you enjoy playing not really a villain, per se, but a character whom the audience rarely knew what to make of?

RB: You know, I kind of like those amorphous characters where you aren’t really sure how to take them. I enjoy the idea of having a clean slate for a character to begin with, and then people put all sorts of content on him or her. It’s fun to set them up in certain ways, and you’re part of the process to fool the audience into going a different way, in terms of the characteristics and traits. So, yeah, I enjoyed this supercilious kind of one-dimensional rich white guy veneer, and revealing the facets underneath it that created a more complex being.

PH: When I talked to Sean Rogerson, he referred to you as “the funniest dude ever.”

RB: (Laughs)

PH: He said, “That guy’s got stories.” So I was wondering: when you look back on “Harper’s Island,” is there a particular story that stands out from your time on the show?

RB: Um… (Very long pause) Oh, God. Funny…? I like to keep people loose, and that whole area of kind of shaking up what appears to be this serious…well, the same kind of thing happened on “Hostel: Part 2,” where we had so much fun because the material was just so disturbing, and I think a lot of times on “Harper’s Island,” the same kind of thing happened, where my intention is just to keep things light. Out of laughter or tears, something new emerges when people get out of their heads, so my intention was to work in this way that constantly keeps people…and myself…in this state of discovery. So, God, what stands out? Maybe going to work with my son. My youngest came up, and we just had a lot of fun. I had so much fun on that show, but having him behind the monitor, with his headset on, and Jon Turteltaub allowing him to say, “Cut,” and, “Action,” and yell things at me and talk to me over the headset, that was great. Turteltaub is just a joy, and everybody else…I can’t think of one salient feature. I could probably expound upon some discomfort, but… (Laughs) …it was just such a gas, the whole shoot.

PH: I would think that some of the scenes with you and Katie, when you’re running outside, would’ve been less than thrilling to film.

RB: Uh, that was not my favorite episode. (Laughs) However, my working experience with Katie was exquisite, and I adore her. There were just some extenuating circumstances that I, uh, had a difficult time with. And that was the only time. Other than that, every episode was a lot of fun. So, yeah, my time with the cast and most of the directors was really great.

PH: (Laughs) Although I’m very tempted, I’m going to restrain myself from following up on that caveat. Did you find that the father-daughter relationship with you and Katie was easy to fall into?

RB: Oh, yeah. Katie’s so open and curious and fun. I love her laugh, and I love making her laugh. I sort of revert to when I was a kid. I grew up with a lot of female cousins, so my desire was always to cut up and make them laugh, and I just dropped right into that with her. I had this sort of fraternal / paternal thing with her. It was great.

PH: I wanted to ask you about a couple of other projects you’ve worked on over the years. First off, what project have you worked on that didn’t get the love you thought it deserved?

RB: Well, actually, there was a show that was brilliant but cancelled, called “Action.” It was with Jay Mohr.

PH: I have the complete-series set on my shelf as we speak.

RB: (Laughs) And “The Sentinel” ran, and it was a great show, and I understand why it…that, too, had its problems internally. And, well, probably “One West Waikiki,” the one I did with Cheryl Ladd in Hawaii. It was kind of caught in this political turmoil, a changing of the guard at CBS. The pilot debuted at #14 or something, and it was doing great numbers, but due to political reasons…well, most likely, I dragged the whole thing down. (Laughs) But it didn’t receive the love it should’ve.

PH: I always liked “Point Pleasant.” I thought it had a lot of potential.

RB: “Point Pleasant” was a lot of fun. Yeah, I liked “Point Pleasant” a lot. I loved working with those folks as well, and in San Diego. That was a kick: I could surf on my way to work and on my way home. It was great.

PH: So you’re an avid surfer, then?

RB: Yeah.

PH: In that case, I’m sure that “One Waikiki” was a joy to do.

RB: See, you don’t even know the name of it? (Laughs) I thought it was the silliest name for a TV show. It was actually called “One West Waikiki.”

PH: Oops. Sorry about that. Yeah, I saw it on the IMDb page, but I wasn’t familiar with it.

RB: No, no, it really was just such a terrible title. But it was a really fun show, and it just got caught in a lot of turmoil.

PH: How did you enjoy your stint on “24”?

RB: “24” was lovely. I had a great time with all of those folks. Again, a first-rate group of people, and, y’know, it was just a gas. It was one of those shows that had kind of a grisly tone, and I tried to make as much merriment as possible around it.

PH: So with “Harper’s Island,” are you one of the cast members who watches the show religiously every week?

RB: No, I actually just saw it for the first time accidentally, when my son and I were flipping around after the basketball game. I’m not an assiduous consumer of television, so I don’t watch what I do. Not as a choice, but…it’s just one of those things.

PH: What would you say was your favorite episode of the ones that you were on? Does one in particular stand out?

RB: Um, let’s see. (Pauses) I think it’s the one where Victor Webster’s character (Hunter Jennings) dies. I really liked that one.

PH: Actually, that episode includes one of my favorite scenes of yours, when Henry and Mr. Wellington are skeet shooting. You definitely put on an ominous performance, where you totally see why Henry’s paranoid that he wouldn’t ever be able to get into your good graces.

RB: Right! I had a lot of fun doing that as well. It was a beautiful day, and, you know, anytime I can have a party with some guns, I’m set for a good time.

PH: (Laughs) That sounds like a good closing line to me. Well, Richard, it’s been a pleasure talking to you. I really enjoyed your performance on the show.

RB: Thanks very much. Cheers!

* Missed our interview with Victim #1? Go check it out!
* Missed our interview with Victims #2 and #3? Go check it out!
* Missed our interview with Victim #4? Go check it out!
* Missed our interview with Victim #5? Go check it out!

Speaking of that victim, let’s check in with the poor soul and see how they feel about the way they met their demise, which was, in its own way, as surprising as anything we’ve seen thus far on the series.

Bullz-Eye: Hey, Sean!

Sean Rogerson: Will!

BE: How’s it going?

SR: (Laughs) Good, buddy! How are you?

BE: I’m good, thanks! Well, you didn’t make it to the end of the series, but you did, at least, get to go fishing.

SR: I know, right? And a man loves his fishing…

BE: Well, sure. So how was it to film on the open water like that? Or, actually, how far out did you film those scenes?

SR: You know what? We did a couple of different stages. Most of the stuff where we were discovering the body and everything like that was right off a big dock or a platform. I love watching the show and remembering all of that, because there was a big group of people in front of us, and we’re barely even in the water! But we did get to go take it for a spin.

BE: Excellent. Who ended up taking Muffin home?

SR: (Laughs) You know, I heard she stuck around for quite awhile, but…it was definitely Sully. Are you kidding me? I think he might’ve gone back and gotten her after she floated around for awhile.

BE: So how weird was it filming the bachelor party’s strip-club scene? Because I have to figure that, even though you weren’t actually in it, you surely must’ve been around the set…

SR: Well, you know, thanks for that question, because I was a little upset that I wasn’t at least scheduled to be on set! I tried to talk to Dan (Shotz) and Karim (Zreik, executive producers of “Harper’s Island”) about that, but it didn’t work out. But I heard it was a blast. I also heard that the young lady was a little bit nervous, but she seemed to do a pretty good job.

BE: You can’t tell it from her performance.

SR: (Laughs) That’s right.

BE: Booth might’ve been the most surprising death since Uncle Marty in the first episode, since Booth was barely even explored as a character until this episode, and then he was gone.

SR: Yeah, I think it might’ve been one of those things where they were playing along with people, leaving them in the background, making them the suspicious characters in the back who lay low, and you never know what’s going to happen. It was kind of surprising either way. I was listening to what everyone else was saying, and I knew everybody would be surprised either way, so…

BE: Did you know this was going to be your final episode prior to getting the script, or were you just reading along when you hit the words, “Booth draws the short straw,” and went, “Well, hell”?

SR: (Laughs) I found out…we had just done the scene where Sully runs by, where he’s covered with feathers. It was the third episode, I think. We were all in our robes, and honest to God, I’m laying back there, just having the best damned time. I’m sitting there with Richard Burgi, the guy’s the funniest dude ever, and we’re just having a blast. It’s late at night, and so we all get walked back to transport, and we’re on our way, and I kind of hang back a little bit, just taking it all in. Karim walks by, gives me a little tap, and says, “Hey, buddy, can you, uh, come talk to me for a second?” “Sure, bro, what’s up?” We walk around the corner, and as soon as he turned around, my response was just, “No, no, no, no, no, no, no!” But there it was. “I’m sorry, buddy, but this is it.” (Laughs) So it went from the greatest couple of moments of my life, just hanging out, to getting a little bit of harsh realization. But, you know, I couldn’t have asked for a better few months.

BE: That’s funny that you mention Richard Burgi. Just about everyone I’ve spoken with thus far has made a point of saying just how awesome he is.

SR: Oh, my GOD! He is the coolest dude on the planet. I’m serious. I mean, that guy’s got stories, and it’s never a dull moment. Ever. Ever, ever. I don’t care what you’re doing, man. You could be just hanging out, having a coffee with the guy, and he’ll just be doing something hilarious. Everything that comes out of his mouth is hilarious. He’s great.

BE: So here’s the traditional question I ask everyone: how did you find your way to the show in the first place? Was it just a standard audition?

SR: You know, mine was kind of a process. I did the first audition, and it was great. Karim was the guy in the room, and right away, he said one of those things where you hear a director or a producer say something that you think will never come to fruition. I did the audition, and Karim was, like, “Yes! That’s great! You’re our guy! Thank God!” And I was, like, “Um, alright, thanks,” and I kind of backed out of the room, thinking, “Oh, great. I’m not getting this part. No way.” But then I saw him on set, and he said, “I told you!” So that was the basis our relationship started on. But then after CBS did its thing and there was the possibility of a lot of people being recast, and we had to go through another audition process, so they could be sure that they’d found the right people. So it was about a two-month go-round, with a few auditions here and there. But it just happened to come my way.

BE: You had one of the more unexpected manners of death, too. What did you think when you found out that you were going to be a victim not of the killer but simply of your own clumsiness?

SR: (Sighs) Oh, man. I was so bummed. SO bummed. And, y’know, Karim tried to tell me in such a way where it was, like, “Oh, it’s gonna be so heartfelt, because you’re going to go into the woods and…” Actually, he told me a different thing right off the bat. He said, “You’re gonna go into the woods, you’re going to go bury the money, and you’ve got this gun, but then you’re going to trip and fall and you’re gonna shoot yourself.” And there was just silence on the phone call before I went, “WHAT?” But he said, “No, no, it’s gonna be great!” “Really?” (Laughs) “Because I don’t want to tell anybody about this!” But as the writing evolved, when I got the script, I found out that it turned out to be a lot more heartfelt, I suppose, and a lot more innocently accidental, and not stupidly accidental. I just didn’t want to be a total idiot. That’s all I was thinking in my head: “Do I really have to be a huge idiot and trip, fall, and shoot myself?” But this, I thought, was a little bit better, a little more heartwarming, I guess.

BE: How hard was it to play dead with Chris (Gauthier) hanging over you?

SR: You know, it wasn’t, because Chris and I had felt such a bond, especially over this episode, and just kind of getting to know each other through the show. We were just so there for each other as far as the scene and the moment. He was upset about me having to leave the show, anyway, and it was kind of breaking up that groomsmen bond we’d started to have. And it was just getting going during this episode, y’know? I think a bunch of guys are always really interesting on TV, especially with all these antics. It was just starting to get to the good stuff! But it wasn’t hard. Everyone, the crew, was so awesome and so there for the scene, so it was easy.

BE: So are you throwing “Harper’s Island” parties every week, like some of the other actors I’ve talked with?

SR: (Laughs) You know, I think this next week, a few of us have been working and just doing our thing and getting back on track here. I just go tback from L.A. for the past couple of months; I’m back in Vancouver now. But Malcom…Chris Gauthier…and I are going to get together. I’m going to get together with his family to watch the next one, so it’ll be my first get-together up here back in Canada with people.

BE: Now, be honest: what was your first thought when you heard the show was being moved to Saturday nights?

SR: I was floored. I heard from one of the cast members, and I had no idea what it meant. I just thought, y’know, that they didn’t get it a big enough chance, and what are they doing? It’s just about to start…see, I thought the fourth episode really signified a big change in the show, because a friend is hiding something, and you start to wonder, “If a friend can do this, then who knows? It could be anybody.” I just felt like they didn’t give the audience enough of a chance to enjoy it. But then I got informed about the PVR ratings, and I know that every one of my friends out here is PVRing the show and watching it later, and it just kind of made sense. It’s, like, if people aren’t staying up for it and they want the viewers, then Saturday might be a bigger bet. And I had a ton of people calling me on Saturday, saying they were watching it at the time that the show was on, rather than just PVRing it. So I think it could be a smart move on CBS’s part for the ratings.

BE: I’m not saying I’m thrilled that it got moved to Saturdays, but it does seem like it could be a potentially interesting experiment.

SR: Absolutely. I don’t see how it can’t be an interesting experiment, for sure, but I think the diehard fans, which I thought would always be there for a mystery show or a horror show, whatever they consider it, they’ll follow it forever, wherever they put it. As long as CBS doesn’t cancel it or something like that, these guys will follow it wherever it’s going to go. And all of us, the cast and the fans, are doing our part to tell people where it’s moved to, so I think we might even find new fans!

BE: Just a couple more quick ones for you…

SR: Sure!

BE: What did you think when you saw the supernatural element start to kick in?

SR: Okay, here’s something I’ve got to tell you: I have no idea what’s going on with that. None. I’ve been informed throughout the process of the filming of the show of some of the stuff that’s going on, but that’s one of the things that I have no idea about, and I’m just wondering what the heck is going on like you are. I have no idea what’s going to happen.

BE: This might get the same approximate response, but…do you think that Booth’s death is going to be the one where they finally start to say, “Maybe we should cancel this wedding”?

SR: (Laughs) You know, it’s…my death is definitely one of the ones where it’s gonna be noticed. It will be noticed, although coming up in the next couple of episodes, there isn’t going to be a chance to worry about one person anymore. It’s gonna start piling up. So while I’d like to say that Booth could be a big reason why this thing isn’t going to happen, and he may be for a short amount of time, but the body count’s gonna start piling up real quick real soon.

* Missed our interview with Victim #1? Go check it out!
* Missed our interview with Victims #2 and #3? Go check it out!
* Missed our interview with Victim #4? Go check it out!

Let’s head on over to the interview, shall we…?

Premium Hollywood: Hey, Victor, how’s it going?

Victor Webster: Hey, Will! How’re you doing, buddy?

PH: I’m good. Good to talk to you. Well, I have to say that, as Hunter, you’re the first person to get offed on the show where viewers were probably rooting for you to get offed.

VW: Rooting for me to get offed? (Laughs) Yeah, I think so, too! It’s been kind of fun, though. I haven’t really played those kind of characters too much, and it’s nice to mix it up and play someone like that.

PH: How did you approach the character, given that he was someone almost designed to be disliked?

VW: Well, the thing about him, I think, is that he’s not a bad guy. He just doesn’t care about anybody else and he doesn’t think about anybody else. He wanted Trish, he wanted to be back in the good graces of the Wellington family, and it was a very selfish choice for him to come out there and do that. Very bold, also. I don’t think he was out there to hurt anybody as much as he just didn’t care if he hurt anybody, just as long as he got what he wanted. So when I came at it from that perspective, I just thought, “I need to do this, this is what I’m going to do, nothing is going to stop me.” That’s how I looked at it.

PH: At the very least, the scene with you and Trish in the dressing room was a turning point in the episode, where you just felt, like, “Man, this dude is a creep.”

VW: (Laughs) Yeah, that was pretty bold, even for him.

PH: You actually had the advantage of being a character who was prominent to scenes that you technically weren’t even in, what with your text messages and your phone calls showing up on the caller ID. Did you feel like you had a lot to live up to because of that prominence, that you needed to play the character almost larger than life?

VW: No, y’know, I didn’t really think about it that much. I just knew that I was there for a reason, and however bold I had to be, whatever lines I had to cross, I was willing to do so. Maybe that inherently makes the character a little bigger than life, since people don’t normally act like they that. They follow constraints and rules, and Hunter wasn’t about to do any of that, so maybe that made him seem a little more out there.

PH: So how did you get involved with the show in the first place? Was it just a standard audition process, or did they come looking for you?

VW: I would love to say that they searched high and low for me, but, yeah, it was just the usual audition process. I went in there, met with them, did the audition, had a lot of fun with it, and then I got a call about a week and a half or two weeks later.

PH: Were you excited by the prospect of the show, since it was kind of a different series model?

VW: Yeah, I was truly excited about that. That was one of the things that most interested me. You know, nothing has been on TV like this before, and to be a part of something that is as groundbreaking as this is always a good time. And to see how it all works out and see that the reception from the audience has been so gracious, and people are enjoying it so much…I think a lot of people are watching, and that’s always fantastic, because when you try something new, you never really know what’s going to happen. I think they were so confident in their idea, and it paid off, just because of the way they shot it and the way the show looks. They’ve got a great cast, and…well, it was something that I was very happy to be a part of.

PH: I’ve talked to a couple of other cast members in previous weeks, and one of them mentioned how they played a “Survivor”-like game and say, “Let’s see, which of you won’t be back next week?” How did you find out you weren’t going to be back?

VW: Um, I read the script. (Laughs)

PH: (Laughs) Okay, I didn’t know if they approached you beforehand to let you know, or…

VW: Well, I knew that I wasn’t going to be on for the whole run, but I didn’t know how many I was going to be on for. They left that kind of ambiguous. So I knew at some point before the end of the show I was going to meet my end. I just didn’t know how or when. So when I read the script, I was, like, “Whoa! That’s pretty drastic: getting my whole face blown off.”

PH: Yeah, that was nice.

VW: (Laughs) That was good! I liked it! Plus, it was a great ending for that character. That’s the way you want to see him go.

PH: Is there any sort of death pool going on amongst the cast members?

VW: No, there wasn’t. (Laughs) There was a lot of discussion about who the killer was, though, because nobody knew who the killer was. So anytime we’d be around the producers, going out for dinner or anything like that, it was always, like, “Who is it? C’mon, you can tell me. I won’t tell anybody, I promise!” There was some bribing going on, and things like that. But, no, no pool.

PH: So are you yourself watching the show unfold?

VW: Yeah, I am, and I’m going to continue watching it, actually. I really like the show. Even though I was on it, I think they’ve done a really good job of telling the story and developing the characters, so I’m kind of hooked into it as well. And I want to know who goes next! From here on, I don’t know who goes, so I kind of want to watch and place my bets with my friends and find out what’s happening!

PH: So who was your favorite person to work with on the series?

VW: I loved Richard Burgi, man. He played Mr. Wellington, and he’s a great guy, a really cool cat. Just an old school guy’s guy, a guy you want to go out and have a beer with.

PH: Harry Hamlin said he really enjoyed his scenes with Richard as well.

VW: Yeah, Richard’s a professional. He’s really good at what he does, but he’s always telling jokes and playing around, and he doesn’t take it too seriously. He’s been around a long time, so he knows it’s just work, and you’ve got to enjoy it while you’re there.

PH: Do you have any thoughts on who the killer might be?

VW: I don’t! (Laughs) They have me totally confused. Every time I think I know who it is, they do something that says, “No, no, that person can’t be the killer now,” you know? So I’m totally confused.

PH: I wanted to ask you about a couple of other things you’ve worked on in the past. You spent quite awhile on “Mutant X.” Did you enjoy doing the superhero genre?

VW: Aw, man, that was great. If I could do that again, for the rest of my life and not do anything else, I’d be a happy man. It was like a kid in a playground, that’s all. It was so much fun going to work, all the time.

PH: Were you as shocked as everyone else when it ended as abruptly as it did?

VW: Yeah, I mean, the show was doing really well, and we had a great fanbase. There were just problems with the production company, and Fox, with them threatening to sue, and then actually suing over the “X-Men” franchise and having to work all that out. It just became far too expensive legally if the show was to continue to go. That’s really the only reason it stopped.

PH: I’m still waiting for them to reissue the series on DVD. It’s out of print now, and it’s going for ridiculous amounts of money.

VW: Oh, really? Nice! I’ve got some copies I could sell some people. (Laughs) They actually just started airing it again in Canada from the very beginning.

PH: So how did you enjoy working on the final season of “Charmed”?

VW: Oh, man, you keep bringing up all of these great shows. I just had such great experience on all of them.

PH: Plus, on “Charmed,” you got to marry Alyssa Milano in the end.

VW: Yeah, shit, who’s gonna be mad about that? (Laughs) I’d had a crush on her every since way back in the day when she was first on TV. And she’s the sweetest girl ever. She’s so cool, and she’s not affected in any way by her success and what she does. She’s truly one of the exceptions to the rule. But that show was great because, y’know, they’d been around for seven years together, and they were a family. It was a well-oiled machine. You’d come into work, and you’d be done faster than on any show I’ve ever worked on. They would just fly through the day. So that always made it a really great experience. And, then, a lot of times when you’re working on a set, people disperse to their trailers and go back into their own little holes and relax. On this set, though, they’d stay on set and just chat and laugh and talk. That was an interesting experience as well, and it made for a real enjoyable time working on it.

PH: You also did a stint on “Lincoln Heights.” I’m a big fan of ABC Family’s series, anyway, but I’d guess that it would’ve been an interesting experience working on that series…or, at least, more based in the real world.

VW: (Laughs) Yeah, it was…although, again, I was a good guy, and I kind of fell for a girl that I worked with, who was married to a cop. So I had this love for her that I couldn’t do anything about, and it kind of tore me up inside, so I forced myself to go away, to leave. And I sacrifice everything, my life there and everything that was going on, because it’s just too difficult to be around her, and I don’t want her to risk breaking up her family and her marriage. So I basically put myself in exile.

PH: And I’ll keep you on target here, but, in closing, I have to ask: are you afraid that your Playgirl layout is going to haunt you forever?

VW: (Innocently) I’m not really sure I know what you’re talking about…

PH: I understand completely…but, hey, man, don’t blame me. It’s mentioned in your Wikipedia entry.

VW: (Groans) I’m sure it is. I can only imagine.

* Missed our interview with Victim #1? Go check it out!
* Missed our interview with Victims #2 and #3? Go check it out!

** WARNING: FIRST EPISODE “HARPER’S ISLAND” SPOILERS AHEAD **

There are/were a few reasons to be optimistic about CBS’s 13-part miniseries: 1) the premise — 13 episodes with one character dying each week until the murderer is revealed, 2) it has a good look and feel to it, and 3) it has an end date.

As I was watching the premiere, I was amazed by the utter lack of familiar faces. Anytime Harry Hamlin is the most famous actor on a series, it can’t be a good sign. (No offense, Harry. I do like your work, but you’re just not the carry-a-series type anymore. By the way, see Will Harris’ interview with Hamlin here.) I watch a lot of TV, and other than Hamlin, I only recognized three faces — Chris Gauthier (Vincent from “Eureka”), Richard Burgi (Karl from “Desperate Housewives”) and Jim Beaver (Uncle Bobby from “Supernatural”) — and I think it’s safe to say that each of these actors play supporting characters on those other series. This lack of “name” talent tells me one of two things: 1) they couldn’t cast the actors they wanted, or 2) they purposefully went with relatively unknown talent to keep everyone guessing. (One of the best ways to solve a television mystery is to see if there are any recognizable guest stars in the cast. If so, there’s a good chance that you’ve found your killer. For that reason, Hamlin’s casting and subsequent murder did surprise.)

One of the other problems with the premiere is that it really didn’t grab me. CBS put together a solid promo campaign for the series, but the first episode just didn’t live up to the hype. For one, the characters really didn’t make much of an impact. Even after watching each actress in a few scenes, I’m still not sure if I could pick the bride or the bride’s sister out of a lineup. Secondly, save for maybe Abby Mills (the groom’s best friend whose mother died in murders years ago), there really isn’t anyone to root for. I realize that they need to keep things close to the vest, but would it hurt to have two or three protagonists to cheer for?

I’m pretty sure that I’m going to save myself 12 hours and just check the “Harper’s Island” wiki page in a few months and see what happened. There is just too much good television on right now (and my Netflix queue is getting pretty backed up). Besides, other than the occasional comedy and “The Unit,” it seems anytime I start watching a CBS series, it just doesn’t end well.