Seann William Scott stated his position within the new Fox sitcom “Welcome to Flatch” reminds him of a few of his favourite reveals.
“The one different expertise I had doing a half- hour TV present was after I [guest-starred on] an episode of ‘It’s All the time Sunny,’” Scott, 45, advised The Submit. “I believed when these reveals actually work, it seems to be like it could be loads of enjoyable to do. And two of my favourite sitcoms are ‘Parks and Recreation’ and ‘The Workplace.’ I simply actually love that type of faux documentary format.
“So, after I heard about ‘Welcome to Flatch’ being that type of vibe, it was thrilling.”
Premiering Thursday (March 17) at 9:30 p.m., “Welcome to Flatch,” is predicated on the British collection “This Nation” and revolves round a documentary crew following the mundane day by day lives of individuals within the fictional city of Flatch, Ohio (inhabitants 1,526).
Among the many city’s residents are “Father Joe” (Scott), a reverend who has lately relocated from the massive metropolis; ne’er-do-well prankster cousins Kelly (Chelsea Holmes) and Shrub (Sam Straley); Cheryl (Aya Money), who moved to Flatch with Father Joe earlier than he dumped her and caught round to run the native newspaper; Kelly’s overachieving nemesis Nadine (Taylor Ortega); and oddball Large Mandy (Krystal Smith).
It’s a uncommon small-screen position for Scott, who’s greatest identified for motion pictures equivalent to “American Pie” and the “Ice Age” franchise – though, he stated “American Pie” stays the undertaking that followers method him about probably the most continuously.
“I nonetheless can’t imagine I’m a working actor. Once I obtained that film, I used to be simply so excited for the chance, I attempted to benefit from it. I really feel blessed and fortunate that individuals nonetheless keep in mind that character. It blows me away.”
He’s additionally appeared on the action series “Lethal Weapon,” and, as he talked about, “It’s All the time Sunny in Philadelphia” in 2013.
“I don’t actually have a desire [between TV and movies]. I feel it simply relies on the undertaking,” he stated. “One of many issues with ‘Welcome to Flatch’ was that I wasn’t actually trying to play a lead character – I wasn’t trying to be on set 16 hours a day. I wished to spend extra time with my household. And after I heard [Father Joe] was a former lead singer of a religious boy band, I used to be like, ‘I’m in. Oh, that’s the man.’ As soon as he determined to go solo and that fell aside, and his complete life fell aside, and he’s by no means actually gotten previous his outdated glory days…that’s a personality that might be enjoyable to play.”
It additionally helped that Scott has an analogous background to the characters on the present, since he grew up in a small Midwestern city of Cottage Grove, Minn.
“It was a bit larger than our fictional city of Flatch, Ohio, however I may undoubtedly relate to the closeness in group and all people figuring out one another, and having a bunch of eccentric personalities,” he stated. “And good people who find themselves doing one of the best they will and supporting one another and attempting to get by.”
To organize to play a religious chief, nevertheless, Scott didn’t dive into scripture.
“Once I met with [showrunner Jenny Bicks and exec producer Paul Feig], I used to be in fairly good condition. And so they have been like ‘We don’t actually assume Father Joe must be a man who’s exercising daily,’” he stated. “And I used to be like, ‘Okay, I’m a way actor,’ which I’m not. ‘I’m going to achieve just a little weight for Father Joe.’ So, I did, and after I confirmed up on set, it’s not like they have been shocked, it’s not like I used to be Marlon Brando displaying up on ‘Apocalypse Now,’ however I undoubtedly was just a little husky. That’s the primary prep I did for the character, that’s the type of actor I’m – ‘I’m going to eat some pizza, let’s shoot!’”
