STAGE FLIGHT
‘This Is Us’ hunk tries to fix his crazy life
WHEN we last saw Kevin (Justin Hartley), he had fled the opening night of his play moments before taking the stage to attend to his brother Randall (Sterling K. Brown), who was in the midst of a nervous breakdown. Following Randall’s heartbreaking trip to Memphis, the season’s penultimate episode picks up with the entire Pearson family gathered at his house for an unusual party, while Kevin’s relationship with his ex-wife Sophie (Alex Breckenridge) deepens. Hartley, 40, spoke to The Post about where his character’s professional and personal lives go from here.
This show is known as a tear-jerker. Do you ever cry watching the episodes?
Yeah, I do. I get a little weepy even though I’ve read it. I could probably watch an episode right now and get a little misty. Part of being in an ensemble cast is you get the joy of watching something you have never seen — you’ve only read.
Can Kevin’s career recover from his latest walkout?
I think it can. People want to forgive, but that’s big. If he actually told the story of why he left, I think people would understand but I’m not sure that he can tell that story because it’s so personal and private. I can tell you going forward that he’s interested in mending that, [and figuring out] how do we get people back in those seats?
Will we get a resolution to whether the play is successful or a bomb by the end of the season?
That story will be told pretty much [to completion], but very much a la “This Is Us,” there’s also a cliffhanger. How Jack died, you’ll get a bit of that. But again, there are more questions that need to be answered in Season 2. The last episode … there are cliffhangers galore.
Kevin and Sophie have decided to give their relationship another shot. Is he truly a romantic, or is he just acting the part of who he thinks he should be?
I think it’s who he is. He wants to be everything and that’s part of his problem. You realize he’s been in love with this girl since he was 10 years old. He can’t help it. Look at his father — he was the same way, an extremely romantic guy. And that’s Kevin.
The series has been renewed for two more seasons. What’s a scene you would like to film in the future?
I always thought maybe Kevin and Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) should have a night out where they’re stuck being together.