I try to watch only real things, which basically amounts to C-Span for me. I like real people in real situations. I learn from that.

When you go to a movie, it's about what's not being said. I tried to bring that to Greg Sumner. It was always about what's not being said.

I'm trying to find a character that's my age and I can sustain week after week. I'd like to do a series.

Joey, my older brother, had his own TV show in the '50s, along with Cathy Callahan.

Even though shows like NYPD Blue are soaps in my opinion, but they're individualized to an extent that you can still follow what's going on if you miss a week.

Writers are not always right however, but then again, I've been on shows where the actors have complete control and change everything and it's terrible.

And I have to credit David Jacobs with the opportunities he gave me. He was totally into sharing the creation of characters. David put together a show that told the story of people over many years' time and that was greatly enjoyable. Though nowadays that is frowned upon.