Category Archives: Interview

Interview with Corin Nemec

In January, Corin Nemec found himself in the biggest real-life drama and perhaps the scariest unscripted role he could have ever played in his lifetime. “I thought I was going to die,” Nemec told NCISLA Magazine when the coast guard vessel he was on ran into a partially submerged barge, seriously injuring Nemec and some of his co-stars on the way to shooting a SyFy movie in Belize. Nemec was rushed to a hospital where he underwent an emergency procedure to save his shattered leg and received several blood transfusions to restore the huge amount of blood he lost during the accident. “It was a life altering moment and it absolutely changed my perception of life.”

NCISLA Magazine was able to sit down with a Corin during this recovery time and talk about his career, his guest star role as Anwar in the NCISLA episode The Chosen One and his future projects.

You came from a very creative family. Did they inspire and encourage you to also get into the business or was this a vocation that you decided to pursue on your own?

I was totally self-motivated with respect to wanting to become an actor at a very young age. I was 11 years old when I realized that’s what I wanted to do and I was 12 years old when I started working in a children’s theater company in Los Angeles called Center Stage LA which had a creative director named Kevin McDermott who was an exceptional teacher. His classes had so much talent and it was amazing how many young actors went through his workshops. He would have showcases for agents and managers every six months or so and after studying there for a couple of months I had a showcase and agents and managers showed up and I signed up with my first agency and then started auditioning. So it wasn’t some bizarre Hollywood success story where I was spotted on the streets. But I definitely was inspired by being around a creative environment that was fostered by both my mom and dad separately because they were divorced at when I was a very young age.

You have been a regular on various TV series and have done a lot of guest star roles. Which do you prefer doing at this stage in your career?

To be honest, I have kids and there is nothing better than stability and the ideal scene for myself as an actor and an artist is to be a regular on an on-going show for preferably an extended period of time. It’s a much more stable kind of life style. It’s always a roller coaster ride in the film and television industry never knowing quite when that next role is going to come from and you know that can become somewhat tiring and stressful at times but for myself personally I love what I do more than I dislike the stress. It’s kind of a win-win situation for me as long as everything comes through and I’m not afraid to continuing auditioning if it’s pre-reads or whatever. I don’t have an ego about that and even the auditioning process is good practice in the rehearsal process as an actor. I don’t have any issues there and that has helped me continue working instead of having an ego and expecting that they will offer me roles. And that does happen, I do get offered a role at times without auditioning but that’s not something that I rely on.

You are a multi-talented performer…actor, producer, writer, and director. If you had to choose only one hat to wear, which would that be?

I enjoy acting probably the most at this point but I have had the opportunity to do some directing and I really do enjoy that process, I just haven’t been really afforded that opportunity to director something like a feature film or something of that complexity because I would really like to challenge myself in that respect. I enjoy that creative process, figuring out what my shot is going to be, what my transitions are going to be like and how I’m going to approach the story and tell it through the camera…all those artistic challenges are certainly exciting to me.

You were really convincing as a Chechen terrorist and we enjoyed your performance as Anwar. His discussion with Kensi regarding human rights was chilling. How do you prepare for a scene like that?

For me, I have to ask what does the script dictate first and foremost and what does the dialogue dictate? It was very well written so within the context of the dialogue it was very easy to figure out what this character’s spine was and where he was coming from. I do innately kind of understand, as an actor anyway, that kind of radical self believe that it would take for an individual to reach that type of level of willingness to go to any means to achieve the goal they have set for themselves. I really felt that the character in his own mind was very justified in his position and also when you look at world politics it is easy to see from the other side of the tracks because I do a lot of traveling around the world and when you live inside the bubble of America it’s very difficult to see how other people perceive us if you have never traveled outside of the United States.

Fortunately for me I have spent a great deal of time outside of the United States and there is a very different point of view about our politics and specially our international politics and our militarism around the world…so it was easy for me to grasp on to that type of idealism from that point of view. Interesting enough I have worked over in Bulgaria about five times and I had just literally gotten back from Bulgaria just several weeks before the audition…having worked on another project over there and there are some pretty close similarities in a Bulgaria accent and the Balkan accent because regionally it’s very close. Although I have never done any formal training in doing those types of accents I kind of had that sound in my head at the time of the audition and they put me in touch with an incredible dialogue coach who worked with all of the other actors and myself. He really helped me to soften it and chip away the more kind of Russian sounding words that I was using and it was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed embracing that character with the accent, and figuring out his point of view. It was really wonderful couple of scenes to get to do.

Can you tell about your experience working on set and with this group of actors? How different was it working with the NCIS crew as opposed to the NCISLA team? Any special stories you can share with us?

For the most part the shows that I have had the opportunity to guest star on, NCIS, NCISLA and CSI Miami, CSI New York… the majority of these shows who have been on the air for a significant amount of times have pretty much worked out all of the kinks. Generally speaking they are all a very well done, oiled machine and my job is to know my lines, know my character and be open and willing to take direction from whoever is directing or from any producers who happen to be on set and take those suggestions and incorporate them successfully into the scene work. That’s really what my job is and walking into those environments where things are pretty much running seamlessly, well it makes it a very easy task for me to perform my duties because there isn’t that kind of arbitrary chaos that can occur, especially on the smaller films I do or features, where there is still a lot of rust in the system and there can be a lot more stress on set due to time constraints and issues of that nature. So it was a great pleasure to work on that show and it had a similar feel in terms of working on NCIS in the way the set operated…and the courtesy and niceness of the actors that were working on both of those shows. I found that the actors were very kind and courteous and that is always very appreciative when you come in as a guest star.

You have contributed to the Sci-Fi genre with your involvement on Stargate SG-1, among other titles and now you are entering into the world of Star Trek for a new TV movie next year. Will this turn into a series?

I don’t know where Star Trek Renegades is at this point in terms of getting it’s green light or securing all of its financing but my role at this point is attachment along with the rest of the cast that has been put together for it but I have not received a time frame for when it is going into production. My hope is that time frame is not too soon because if it is then they would have to recast because of my physical condition. I won’t be on my feet again for some months to come. There are a number of things I have had to back out of and cancel a number of appearances in the convention world and I have had to turn down several projects to date and it has definitely affected the speed at which this year had started out which was really good…so my accident has definitely brought things to a grinding halt. It might be closer to the middle of the year before I can start working again, but I plan on doing everything in my power to try to shorten the length of time for the rehabilitative process and get on my feet again.

Corin says he’s lucky to be alive and is looking forward to getting out of rehab and back on track with his career. “I’m in a physical rehabilitation hospital learning how to use the leg again. But my spirits are pretty high.” We wish Corin the best of luck as he goes through the rehab process and hope to see him back at work real soon! If you want to send some get well wishes to Corin, please do so below in the comment section and we’ll make sure he gets them. You can follow Corin on Twitter at @imcorinnemec and on his website at www.corinnemec.com.

An Interview with Evan Gamble

From Vampires to Divas, Evan Gamble has had guest roles in a number of very popular TV shows and now he lends his talents playing Chad Parish in this week’s episode of Kill House. NCISLA Magazine was fortunate enough to catch up with Evan before his appearance on NCIS Los Angeles and he was able to fill us in on his time on set. Welcome to the NCISLA family, Evan!

Without giving anything away in term of spoilers, can you tell us a little bit about your character, Chad Parish in Kill House?
Chad Parish is a guy who loves guns, NASCAR, a good Kodiak dip, and the glory of victory in his line of work. He’s also a bit of a hothead, letting his emotions run high at times. This has gotten him into trouble with his superiors and has led to some unexpected career changes…ha ha ha…that’s about all I really feel comfortable divulging about Chad at this point. You’re going to have to watch the show to know the rest about me.

What was your experience like on the NCISLA set? Which cast member in particular did you work with? And can you share any stories with us?
I had an amazing time on set. The whole cast and crew were very welcoming to me. There was definitely a sense of family there, and you can tell that everyone loves the subject matter and that they enjoy working with each other. I got to work with Chris, LL, Daniela, and Eric. In one scene, as I’m leaving the conference “area” where the team is sitting, Eric Christian Olsen is talking smack to me as I walk away. Each take, he said something different. My favorite was when he told me that my hair looked like Johnny (the bad guy) from the Karate Kid. I think there was a Cobra Kai reference as well, and he told me to “sweep the leg” at one point. That’s the type of improv that you just can’t teach.

How did you get started in the industry?
I lived in Austin, Texas originally, and was playing music in clubs all around town. All of that time on stage was sort of an intro into acting in itself. At the time I was dating a girl who was studying theater at the University of Cincinnati….she has since developed a great career on Broadway. I decided to give acting a shot myself so I enrolled in acting classes, got an agent, and booked projects like Vampire Diaries and the feature Brotherhood which got a lot of buzz and brought me out to Los Angeles.

You have done a lot of television work…what type of roles do you gravitate towards and what other areas would you like to explore?
I think with every role you play, there is the chance for fun and exploration. It’s less about the “type” of role and more about trying to find something relatable to myself in every character. I find that each role is a new and unique challenge and I gravitate towards roles and projects with great writing, and great people involved. That is the only pre-requisite I have.

Can you tell us a little about Meanwhile and Wild Cards? You seem to be very active in a lot of the behind the scenes activities as a writer, producer and director.

MEANWHILE is a sketch comedy web series that I helped start with a crew of my close friends. We release a sketch every Wednesday at noon on YouTube, and we shoot and have a “writer’s table” every week as well. Everyone writes, produces, acts, and directs on the show, and it is a lot like running our own web version of Saturday Night Live. The experience I’ve gotten both in front and behind the camera on MEANWHILE has been invaluable. Plus, I get to make comedy with my best friends. What’s better than that?

WILD CARDS started out a lot more casually, but has been equally as rewarding as far what I have gotten out of it. One of my good friends, Aaron Christian Howles (a very talented actor and musician in his own right), and I decided to film something. It’s as simple as that. Six episodes and two years later, we are finally about to wrap up the mini-series. I’m very proud of the work we’ve done. It’s important for actors these days to know and appreciate the ins and outs of what goes into a show. Aaron and I did all the editing, sound design, music, SAG paperwork, etc. I have the utmost respect for anyone who works in production.

Musician or actor…which area of the industry to you enjoy more?
Why should one have to choose? Being an artistic person, both feed the creative part of my soul in different ways. The challenging aspect of acting is very cathartic. As a musician, I have released all of my music and music videos on my own, and I will continue to write, perform, and release music in this fashion indefinitely. It’s a love-passion for me, and has been for most of my life.

What’s up next for you that we can look forward to?
Hmmmm…I have something very cool that is coming out in the near future but I am not liberty to reveal what it is at the moment. As far as music, I recently released a new video for the song “Deep Heart,” my band Smoking Sons (with Aaron Christian Howles) has just released its debut album, and I will continue to work on my own double album which should be done by the fall. In the meantime, keep watching MEANWHILE on YouTube…and NCIS: Los Angeles on CBS, of course!

Thanks go out to Evan for taking the time to answer our questions. You can follow Evan on Twitter @EvanGamble23 and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/evangamble23. You can also find out more about his future projects on IMDB.

Interview with Lisa Catara

Lisa Catara is definitely one tenacious human being. If you follow her on Twitter you will know that the enthusiastic and guru-talking actress likes to motivate her tweeps with daily statements of joy and inspiration. The Cleveland-born performer also loves trying out new skills, and figuring out how things work. This curiosity has led Lisa to a multi-faceted career that includes acting, modeling, choreography and stunt work. Lisa has also appeared in numerous commercials, TV and film, including Till Death, Charlie Valentine and Days of Our Lives. NCISLA Magazine caught up with the busy Catara right before the holidays and we had a chance to find out more about her career and the time spent working on the set of NCIS Los Angeles.

Can you tell us about your background and what path you took to get into the entertainment industry?

I came out here (Los Angeles) to meet people in this industry and I fell into acting…. which I think it’s funny to fall into something that is just so hard to get into. When I was a little kid I knew what I wanted to do and I set my sights on music which was my first love. Cleveland is an incredibly cultural city so I had so much in front of me. I had opera, I had the symphony, I had the best of the world, and I was always inspired by that. I started out singing and when I got out of high school, I went to the Eastman School of Music to study opera because what I wanted to do was to end up on Broadway and do musical theatre. I got to New York and retrained and got a chance to do understudy work at first which gave me my first big break.

But then unfortunately 9-11 happened and so many of us found ourselves without jobs and having to change our careers which is what happen to me. So a year and half later I found myself in California. My life had stopped after 9-11 because I was so personally affected by that and I had to find something else to do. I met an agent who said there was a lot going on out here, but I was sooo New York. But I also didn’t have anything (in New York) so it was easy to make the decision to come out here because there was nothing holding me back. So I drove across country and I thought I would figure it out somehow. My first jobs out here were modeling and choreography and background extra jobs like pretending to be a stripper, or a burlesque dancer. I finally got an agent and I started landing TV roles.

You seem determined to make it in this industry…what traits do you need to survive in Hollywood?

Durability. I think the key to surviving out here is durability. For every yes you get, you have to take 200 no’s. It’s difficult.

For people who have communication skills, like dancing, acting…we just say there is no other career. We just have to be an actor or a performer. You will find so many people out here that if they do one thing well… they do many things well and obviously the more skills you have, you are more likely to book something. One day they need a 5 foot 6 girl that can do back flips in a pool and you have to be able to say ‘I can do all those things’!

You are a beautiful and talented woman….so it’s easy to see how you would get into acting and modeling but how did you get into stunt work?

I fell into it! I got lucky and it was purely by accident because it wasn’t something I was pursuing at the time. I always was an actor who did a lot of physical action. Three years ago I had a lot of roles where I had to use a lot of physicality at the time and I started meeting stunt people…and I realized I was getting more roles where I was having to do stunts, fighting, and boxing. All of a sudden I started getting called on to do some body doubling and I wound up getting a job as Jennifer Lopez’ body double for the Fiat commercial. I had already worked with her and they had put out an SOS that they needed someone who looked like her and could move like her and be able to drive a car. They said I was going to have to prove myself and I said ‘no problem’! They didn’t really know that I loved and grew up around cars and was adept at driving them especially on the New Jersey Turnpike! So they literally threw me in and I had so much fun. I was working with such tremendous stunt people and if you saw the commercial, there was so much going on. So I got into it by accident.

Lisa with stunt coordinator Terry James on Fiat commercial

Did you have any training to prepare you for this aspect of the business?

No matter how much you prepare or how much you train, or how much you wrap your brain around the mental preparation of what it takes to do a stunt, a lot of it comes down to being in the moment. But you always have to train, you have to practice the fight choreography and you have to practice every single day to get your skills just so. But you do get that learning curve when you are on the job because no matter how prepared you are mentally things happen. It takes a certain person. You have to be ready for everything and be willing to change and adapt.

You got to be durable. It seems like it’s easy to grab (work) a little bit here or there and everybody would like to be a stunt person. They have an idea it’s this glamorous job and they get to be tough. All that aside, it’s very serious. Every year we lose somebody, somebody gets hurt and we don’t have them anymore. It’s very dangerous. It’s not hard to get in per say…but it’s hard to get in and establish a career. It takes a long time for people to be able to build up a trust with you, especially in car work or commercials. It’s highly competitive and you have to establish trust with the people you work with.

What part of the business do you enjoy the most?

I have always been passionately in love with storytelling and it’s been a great joy. It’s the days I’ve been on set and everybody is in the emotion of the scene and they are all present and you are with a team of people who are creating this wonderful experience from something on paper. Those are the moments that are so rewarding and the ones I seek out. When you really connect with people on a human and spiritual level…those are the moments I try and find.

Tell us about your time spent on the set of NCIS Los Angeles?

I have worked on a few different episodes of NCIS LA doing choreography….Lockup and Breach. The directors were Jan Eliasberg and Perry Lang. At the time my friend was the first assistant director and I would get the call that they needed a choreographer. And I would ask what they needed and she would say “I don’t know yet, but we know you can handle it.” So I would go on set and the first thing I would see is the stripper pole….ok, that’s not choreography but they would have a guest actor in a role who would be playing a stripper and they would want her to feel a bit more comfortable dancing and I would be called to help facilitate that.

Lisa in a scene with Chris O’Donnell

Can you tell us about working with the cast and crew of the show?

One day they called me in there as a choreographer and then asked if I would do something else. I wound up in a red outfit with more makeup and hair that I ever had and it was so much fun! They were doing a surveillance scene and there was this little camera on Chris O’Donnell’s lapel and I had to do a fake lap dance while he’s looking past me and watching the action that was going on with the actress they were watching.

I love that cast and crew. They are such tremendous people. The show is great. The writing is great but it’s so human. Sometimes you work on a set where everybody is yelling and there is so much tension. But even though there is a lot of pressure, it’s just such a magical show. They managed to get the right cast and crew together at the right time with the right scripts. It’s such a pleasure to work with all of them. Daniela is so open and warm and genuine. LL is so intelligent, he is such a smart cookie and so educated in a lot of ways. He’s a great family man. Chris is just fun, he has the right personality and doesn’t have that Hollywood edge that you hear about sometimes…the diva factor. There’s a way to balance the career and family life and they all do that very well.

Will we see you back on the show anytime soon?

I have a burning desire to land a guest star or co-star role on that show because it’s such a show I want to be a part of because I feel it as an actor. It’s a complete community and they work so well together. There is no tension and the work is great, the writing is great, the directing is great. It can all be done and it can be fun. I got a taste of that on that set and I have not forgotten it. There are so many stories there. Everyone’s got a story! It’s so great.

What’s up next for you?

I just finished a national comedy short that’s called Police Guys Movie to air in January 2013. Now it’s back to auditions, staying ready and hopefully getting back to seeing my parents in the near future!

We hope we get to see Lisa again on the set of NCIS Los Angeles very soon. You can follow Lisa on Twitter: @lisa_catara or on her website: www.lisacatara.com.

Interview with Stone Eisenmann

Stone Eisenmann with Eric Christian Olsen

Last season we had a chance to talk to Gabriel Suttle who played one of the Felton brothers on one of our favorite NCIS:LA episodes Neighborhood Watch.

NCIS:LA Magazine is thrilled to speak this time to his TV sibling, Stone Eisenmann who played the mischievous Jake Felton. Stone has been acting for only a few short years, but he has already been nominated for Best Young Actor in 2011 for his performance in Mini Mr. and Mrs. Smith at the AOF Film Festival. He has also won a coveted reoccurring role in the Fox hit show New Girl. We want to thank Stone and his mom, Zadrina for sharing a lot of great behind the scene photos on the set of NCIS Los Angeles and for taking the time to answer some of our questions!

When did you realize you wanted to be an actor?

I just remember when I was around 6 that my Mom and Dad asked me and my sister, HannaH if we wanted to be actors. We said yes! So my Mom and Dad got us an agent and we have been doing it ever since.

What do you like the most about it?

I like filming the most. I love being on set! It is very fun filming in front of the camera.

You have worked in television and film, which do you prefer?

I like filming both. I like going to the big studios and film on the sets. And I like going on location it is fun also! When I filmed my movie Firefall we were in the mountains for two weeks. It was hot and we had to put on a lot of bug spray but we had fun!

Stone Eisenmann and Gabriel Suttle being directed on the set of Neighborhood Watch

Can you tell us about your time spent on the set of NCIS:LA? Do you have any stories you can share with us?

I was really happy to get this part! I worked hard to get it. I practiced shooting a sling shot for 3 days before callbacks. I really wanted to break the window with the slingshot because I know I can’t do that in real life but it would be fun to do it filming. I did not get to do that part instead I shot cars with water guns.

It was fun filming NCIS: LA. We filmed in a neighborhood. All the houses were nice. We took the school pictures in a garage area behind one of the houses. Then we practiced chasing after the car and squirting our water guns. We wanted to play with the water guns when we were not filming but our moms wouldn’t let us. So in between filming we played video games and with a rollie polio bug. We also had fun watching the AD (Assistant Director) juggle just about anything we gave to him.

Which actors did you get a chance to work with?

I worked with Gabriel Suttle who played my brother and Mandy Jane Turpin, who played our mom. And I worked with D.C. Douglas too who played one of the neighbors. I also met Eric Christian Olsen who was really nice and said I was doing a good job.

Stone Eisenmann & Jordan Fuller (New Girl – Young Nick & Young Winston)

Congratulations on your upcoming role on the FOX show, New Girl with Zoey Deschanel and Jake Johnson.

Thank you! I play “Young Nick . I love playing this part!

Can you tell us a little bit about your character?

I work with another actor named Jordan Fuller (“Young Winston”). We have a lot of fun working together. Just like at NCIS:LA everyone on New Girl is really, really nice!

Any other projects we can look forward to that you are working on?

Yes I do. I have many projects I am working on. Some of the projects I have been working on are…..

Stone Eisenmann, HannaH Eisenmann & Bobbie Prewitt with their acting coach Cheryl Faye at the Lady Film Makers Film festival 2012

My short film (Mini Mr. & Mrs. Smith) that I helped produce with my sister HannaH Eisenmann (Criminal Minds Halloween episode). Our film was screened at the Lady Film Makers Film Festival last week. It was fun to go to the screening with my sister HannaH, my friend Bobbie Prewitt and our acting coach Cheryl Faye.

I am working on a music video with Jordan Fuller (New Girl). He is not just an actor he is also a rapper named “Cali Kid”. One of his music producers is Ace Young from American Idol. I can’t wait! Jordan and I get to drive a Land Speeder that my Dad built for our family to use at charity events. My independent film FireFall is going to be in a small number of movie theaters in California at the end of the year. I think it is going to be in some other theaters but I am not sure where.

Thanks go out to Stone for spending some time with us on NCIS:LA Magazine. We’ll be talking to him again in the future where we will find out more about his recurring role on New Girl and his future upcoming projects.

In the meantime check Stones IMDB page for updates: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3460673/.

Interview with Peter Cambor

It was less than three hours away from the East Coast premiere of Paper Soldiers on NCIS Los Angeles, and NCISLA Magazine was fortunate enough to sit down and interview the man of the evening… Peter Cambor! Peter, who was scheduled for a return visit as Nate Getz on Tuesday night’s episode was a delight to speak with and it’s no surprise that Peter’s fans always look forward to seeing him return to the show… even if it is not as often as we would like! With the show only hours away, we sat down to talk to Cambor about his emotional and intellectual relationship with Hetty, why he enjoys seeing Nate being ethically challenged and his current undercover roll as rock god (Eddie) in the Wedding Band.

Peter always enjoys returning to play his alter ego, Nate Getz, so right off the bat we wanted to know if it was easy getting back into character after being away from the series for so long?

Yes, it’s one of those things when you are doing a show, and coming in everyday you get used to doing it so much it does kind of become old hat and a lot of it has to do with the cast which is so great and the crew which is so great, you kind of just slip back into it. It’s always weird when you go and guest star on a show somewhere, all eyes are on you, but that’s not always easy. But here, when I do come back it’s just another day at the office. You all kind of slip back into old patterns, ribbing each other and all that comes with it… trying to kick box with LL Cool J and failing at it! There is such a great vibe on that set… so that’s what makes it easy. Of course I loved doing the show as a regular, but it’s so much fun to come back in this capacity because the story lines tend to be so extensive for Nate and it’s a mystery trying to fill in the gaps. It’s kind of fun to be on these secret missions as part of what I do. It’s a real treat and you get some great moving scenes out of it.

Nate’s come a long way in the past four years, including working in the field… what character changes are we going to see in his return to the show in Paper Soldiers?

I think the first time he came back in the episode, Lockup where we do the whole episode in the prison… I actually choke someone out. It’s like this whole other side of Nate where he’s really in the mix… it’s like Kung Fu Nate. But Hetty, is always putting you to the test, even if you are just painting the house, painting the fence, sanding the floor or waxing the car… she is making you into a great fighter. Hetty is an intellectual warrior and she is not going to be physically imposing but she is credibly capable. And she’s ruthless if she needs to be. Her intellect is honed as a real weapon. I think that Nate is on the way of going down that path.

Whatever the end result and if the show goes on, for god willing ten to fifteen years, he will be someone who is capable of that kind of skill set. A lot along the lines of where Nell is at… but Nell, as we found out, is a physical warrior too. But Nate comes into this episode and into a situation which he is very uncomfortable with but to that end I don’t think he wants to go and paint a house, he wants to go kick stuff and be a karate fighter. (In this episode) Nate doesn’t want to be involved in a complicated situation with someone who he has a lot of feelings for… that being Rose. But Hetty feels like she has to do that. I feel the road he is going down is a psychological, intellectual change but I think all the characters go through that at different levels. Hetty is always aware of that every time she calls someone up to the Ops centers, she says “You guys take this and you take this” and I think there is a method to her madness!

You and Linda Hunt look like you have a great time on screen. Are there any stories you can share from this episode?

The great thing about Linda is that she comes from a theatre background and it’s really challenging with Linda. She’s really fabulous to work with and talented. Besides the fact she has won an Academy Award, she comes from a time when theatre had some incredibly interesting people in it like Peter Brooks and the real cutting edge way of thinking about theatre in the 60’s and 70’s. I remember the first days I was on set and it was early on in the series and she said “So how did you get out here and wind up in the show?” So I said “Well I came to LA to do a production of the Cherry Orchard by Chekhov.” She said “Oh I was in a production of that which Peter Brooks directed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music”… and I’m like “Oh my God, Peter Brooks!” You can just imagine what that was like. And anyone who was a working acting in New York and spent time in New York, cutting their teeth as an actor, like Renee and myself, there is kind of a little extra spark every time you get to see Linda, especially on stage.

So this episode is a lot of fun in the sense, there is this element of a game of chess going on and I’m trying to outwit Hetty much to Nate’s folly and chagrin. Which is kind of impossible but whenever you play those scenes it’s always the stuff in-between the lines like Chekhov that’s important… we are fortunate to have some fantastic writers on the show. A lot of stuff happens in the subtext of what’s not being said which is why I love all those scenes with Hetty. Especially the ones with Callen and Hetty but Nate in this episode gets a little bit of intellectual jesting and sword play with her. And it’s fun whenever I see her on set. I’m a giant, I’m like 6’5” and she is so small… so it’s a wonderful game we play. And it’s great to have great people to act with and that’s one of the reason these NCIS shows work really well. There’s a terrific chemistry with everyone.

Shane Brennan has said he would love to have Nate return to NCIS:LA. If you have a say, what would you like to see happen to Nate in future episodes? More adventure, undercover work? Or back working at the Mission with the gang?

That’s a good question. We always joke around the set and wonder if there is this character bible locked away in some safe in the corner of Shane Brennan’s office with every secret about the characters. But of course there’s not… but in some ways there is because it’s always up to the creator. I think one of the great lines from television is by the guy who created the Sopranos who said he always knew how the show was going to end. The smart question to ask any of these guys like Shane who write these series is what is the end of the show… what is wrapping everything up? For Nate in a show like this you have to keep obstacles in front of him going forward… as many obstacles as possible for Nate because he is a physiologist and there is an ethical element to that because as a physiologist you have to take the Hippocratic Oath and there are all sorts of guidelines you have to adhere to.

Personally what becomes interesting to me is when he comes close to crossing the line ethically. In season two when I left the show to go on my mission, I was in the firing range firing a gun which was him taking that forward step. Doctors aren’t supposed to go out shooting people! It’s this element which puts him in danger or when things get compromised and make things difficult for him that’s great to explore. But I like that idea of him being ethically challenged and him having to go and do something he isn’t comfortable with which is exactly what happens in tonight’s episode. I’d also love to do things like jumping out of helicopters with Eric Christian Olsen and Chris O’Donnell too!

Congratulations on your new show the Wedding Band. It definitely looks like you guys are having a lot of fun. What’s it like working with this unique cast?

Because it’s an hour long show, there is a little bit of more space to work with in terms of the comedy. A lot of times when you are doing a half hour show, the jokes are packed on the page, but this is more situational. And I really liked that about the show and when they say cut, we’re like, oh you mean you guys are rolling? You don’t even know when we stop or when we’re starting because there is a great rapport between the cast. We’re like a boys club, when you see the four of us up there we are just kind of goofing off. It’s great to have a gig like that when you just roll camera and you have a good time and getting to play music which is a very important part of the show for me because I play music and I have for a long time. It’s just a lot of fun. Great fun;great group. It’s an offbeat quirky show and it’s been a real treat to do that.

You seem to be the only family guy in the band, complete with a wife and kids. How does your character juggle being the responsible/parental figure and the weekend rock god?

The two creators of the show in many ways their lives mirror Eddie’s in the show. They are both television writers and they work incredibly hard but they are also married and have two kids So they know the game and personally relate to the story on some level… it’s always great when it’s there on the page and the writing is really good because it makes it so much easier. He (Eddie) has two loves in his life. The band and his wife and his family and he loves them for two different reasons. Music is something that is important to him and his wife understands that. It’s all the passions in life that is important. It’s so real and important in my life. Having been in a band before, if you really have the opportunity to perform live in front of a crowd that is really into it, there is nothing like it. It’s intoxicating and to have that every week is fantastic and he’s got that.

What’s it like doing comedy after coming off of a drama like NCIS Los Angeles?

It’s funny because NCISLA is such a unique exception because it is a workplace kind of show instead of a crime show in the sense that fans want to hang with those people, you want to be in that atmosphere like Cheers or the Larry Sanders Show. When I think of NCIS LA you want to work in those cubicles and work next to those people solving crimes and fighting the good fight. You really are attracted to the lighter side of it. If NCISLA had been more dark and brooding like some other kind of crime show, I don’t know if I would have been necessarily into it.

But I think the way things are with that show, I fit into it because of my quirkiness and more comedic side because I did a comedy before NCISLA. I like doing the serious stuff as well but you got to find the humor in it, and find the jokes in it. The tragedies will take care of themselves. When you go out to hang out with the actual NCIS agents, they are so funny and they are not like ‘we got to go solve a crime’ or super serious guys. Obviously this is different because the stakes are lesser in something like Wedding Band. It’s not like life and death is at stake. But there is so much more that goes on with NCISLA and really helps the show and adds this human element to it. It’s really an enjoyable place to work as well.

You were in a staging of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy, As You Like It this summer. What was that experience like? Would you like to do more theatre?

I always would love to do more theatre. When you move to LA you think you’re going to do a play a year and you kind of keep that in your back pocket and then you start working and that becomes more and more difficult to do. Sometimes the timing doesn’t work out and to find the right play at the right place is kind of hard for that to happen too. It had been over 4-5 years since I did a play, and finally this Shakespeare play fell into my lap and I spent a week on this audition because I was so rusty on my Shakespeare that I just worked and worked on it and went in and had a ball and later that afternoon I was cast in this thing. There is nothing like being in front of a live audience and this was outdoors which I never done before which was great too. It reminds you why you became an actor in the first place. Not to be corny but it’s definitely chicken soup for the soul. I was humbled by it and it was challenging and a great experience.

What’s up next for Peter Cambor?

Saturday is the season finally of the Wedding Band and we’ll find out if it’s coming back. I’m in a holding pattern; maybe do some more pilots and comeback to do more NCISLA. That’s the life of an actor; you go where the winds take you!

To celebrate the return of Peter Cambor this week to NCIS Los Angeles, we have commissioned a special Nate NCISLA Magazine cover by Sweet Lu! Peter’s cover will be put in rotation along with the rest of the cast covers that you see above. Be sure to watch the season finally of the Wedding Band on TNT, Saturday, January 19 at 10 pm (EST). Thanks go out to Peter for taking the time to speak with us and we eagerly await his return to the set of NCIS LA. Also, be sure to follow Peter on Twitter: @petercambor and on IMBD here.