Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
David Schwimmer who has a new show
Plays against type as brash NSA agent
ROSS Geller has left the building. He has packed up his neurosis and turned in his Central Perk free coffee punch card. Rachel, who?
In his place is Jerry Berstein, an NSA agent who is a brash guy, chauvinistic and even racist.
This is exactly why David Schwimmer returned to TV 16 years after “Friends” ended with his new Peacock show “Intelligence.” It’s about a maverick NSA agent sent to England to join forces with the cyber crimes unit of the security agency GCHQ.
“The character pitched to me was an opportunity to explore a guy who was … unlike many of the
characters I’ve played in the past and I like the challenge of playing someone so unlikable on paper while trying to find out how to make him likable, funny and sympathetic.”
Schwimmer, 53, reflected on life during COVID-19 and that much-awaited “Friends” reunion.
Las Vegas Review Journal: Describe an average Sunday in quarantine.
David Schwimmer: For starters, I cut my hair off, which might have been a mistake. Otherwise, it has been a lot of cooking, cleaning and home-schooling a 9-year-old. And lots and lots of hair cutting. On Sundays, we like to watch movies and do more cooking.
What went into the decision to return to TV for the first time in 16 years?
Three reasons. The first is I thought the idea was really great and strong. Second, it was an original show. Third, it was a workplace comedy in the most traditional sense with a cast of misfits, but set against the highest stakes possible. The work they are doing is critical and urgent because it’s about cyber-terrorism and cyber-crimes, which is the new frontier. All in all, a fantastic idea. I also wanted to work with Nick (Mohammed). We had so much fun doing improv before we shot the series and really fleshed out Jerry’s backstory.
Jerry is a brash, racist character. You’ve played that above-mentioned nice guy on TV, so was this a delicious change?
I have the lucky benefit of already having won the audience’s trust in a way because the main thing I’ve been known for is this lovable character of Ross on “Friends.” He has your trust because we loved Ross for his good heart. He also had the best intentions. To take that trust the audience has given me as an actor and turn it on its head is great. To play someone like Jerry who is so self-interested, arrogant, pompous and casually racist and homophobic, plus suspicious of others, but hugely patriotic was a real opportunity. I think of him as someone who makes up for what he lacks in intelligence with his confidence.
Tell us everything about the “Friends” reunion.
First of all, I hope I can tell you that there is some confusion about the “Friends” reunion. It’s not an episode of “Friends.” It is unscripted. We’re not playing our characters. It’s a lovely interview capturing the six of us on Stage 24 on the set. Being on the actual soundstage on the actual set for the first time in 10 years, the set that we shot on for 10 years, will be a really meaningful experience. It’s quite moving for us to be able to get together like this for the first time in 10 years. Hopefully, it will happen soon. Maybe in mid-August if it’s safe for us to do it. I just want to be in the room with my friends.
What’s it like for fans to see you guys out to dinner together?
We don’t go out that much. There was a dinner we had at Courtney’s house about five months ago that was great. Matt Perry was there and Jen. I love it when all of us are in the same room. It just feels great to be together.
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He’s unlike many of the characters I’ve played in the past and I like the challenge of playing someone so unlikable on paper while trying to find out how to make him likable, funny and sympathetic.
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