David DeLuise: I’m shocked that there is not a Stargate show shooting right now.
GateWorld: You and the rest of the fan base. [Laughter]
Let’s talk Wizards for a little bit. You spent five years on that, not too long after you finished up with Pete.
DD: Yeah, we did four seasons. You know, I want to say one more thing about Pete.
I did my first episode, I was still married, and I got a pair of boots on that show and a jacket, a tan jacket that I wore. As my brother told me to be more grown up and I was playing Pete, I became more grown up in my life and I realized that I was not in a marriage that I wanted to be in anymore. Whenever I think about that first episode, I think about me being a man in my life, like Pete. I just wanted to say that because it’s very pertinent to me. And I still have the boots and there’s frickin’ holes in them! The jacket’s fine, but the boots need to be tended to. [Laughter]
Wizards, we did four seasons, five years, we did 109 episodes. I directed six of those and that was a huge, big undertaking to get them to allow me to direct. I sat in on production meetings, I camera-blocked shows, I did a lot of homework about what it was to be a director of the show. I really wanted another possible career path because I am not going to be this handsome forever! [Laughter]
Selena [Gomez] was 14, I think, when we started and I just was so amazed with her timing. Because when you’re doing a sitcom, there’s a certain tempo to it.
GW: There’s a certain stereotype or stigma, I think, that a lot of the Disney Channel shows have right now. In that the Disney Channel has become less about producing quality series with people that have true charisma, and more like this factory for producing these “triple-threat” kids that just dance, sing and act. But at least with Wizards, and I think to even more of an extent with Miley [Cyrus] on Hannah Montana — at least with those two shows, there was more honesty and quality and overall likability that you saw make it onto the screen.
DD: Like, they didn’t suck? [Laughter]
GW: Yeah! You had scripts that were solid and actors that can handle the material well. I truly think with Selena, she’s the real deal. Actually, I’m impressed with her career path and where she’s going now. Her album just dropped not that long ago, and she’s on the radio a lot.
DD: Yeah, her movie and her album came out at the same time. Monte Carlo came out and she was doing something that was a little more grown up but I think that movie was still in the same vein, even though it wasn’t Disney. I think that we have yet to see her real capabilities. When she’s — I don’t want to say “allowed”, but whatever the better word is than “allowed” — when she’s able to do a part where she really gets to sink her teeth into something, she’s going to fly. She’s going to be working for the rest of her life.
And she’s nice! I talked to her the other day, she called me and she said, “I miss you.” I was in New York taking my daughter to college and I said, “I miss you, too. Your fake father.” But I talk to her on the phone and it’s surreal, her life. She’ll get one day, one day in like three or four months, off where there’s nothing to do, there’s not an interview or a fitting or a this or a that. It’s a lot. We all need some time to ourselves and she rarely gets that. And if she goes out in public, it’s impossible for her to be in repose or relaxed or to go out with her friends and go see a movie. It’s just so rare.
Although, this was funny. I don’t remember what movie it was, but Louis Ferreira went out with his girlfriend and they went to go see a movie and Selena and Justin [Bieber] were in the same movie theater and it was just the two of them and the two of them. Isn’t that funny? I was like, “Did you say ‘Hello’?” and he goes, “Of course I said ‘Hello’, but then I left them alone. But I said ‘Hello’!”
GW: You’ve also done voice work and I think I was one of the three people who actually ate up Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles. Are you looking to do more?
DD: I will, I just did. They’re doing the new Spiderman and I played Uncle Ben. Now, you feel old when you play Uncle Ben. I guess I have that voice. [Puts on voice] “With great power comes great responsibility.” So, I did that, I did Roughnecks, I did Heavy Gear and I did Megas XLR for Cartoon Network and it’s so fun.
It really is the best thing. I’m totally open to doing more cartoons and stuff. I really enjoy it and it’s the best because you don’t have to shave, you can do it in your pajamas and there’s free food. What’s to complain about? I auditioned for voiceovers like “Mazda, zoom zoom,” but I’ve been on hold for that. I’ve never really gotten those.
GW: I’m going to ask you about Last Call with Christopher Lloyd.
DD: Yeah! I’m actually, tomorrow, in L.A. doing the looping for that movie. How do you know about Last Call?
GW: I keep track! [Laughter]
DD: Well, Christopher Lloyd was awesome. I could tell you the most embarrassing story I’ve ever experienced in my life. Two stories. My dad was doing some project that didn’t go through but Christopher Lloyd came in and auditioned and my Dad was like, “Don’t look at the lines, let’s play cowboys and Indians!” and the casting director was like, “What the hell is going on? How are we going to get anything done?” and he said, “It was the best audition of my life.”
So, I had just done an episode of Wizards, I had shot, I was done at 10 and then I went to the set of Last Call, working with Christopher Lloyd and it was a night shoot. I got there at like 12 and then I worked all day. So I was a little tired. I’m sitting outside with Christopher Lloyd and I’m talking and I’m like, “This is so cool! I love this hanging out with him!” and I said, “Have you ever thought about doing a sitcom? Now? Do a sitcom?” and he looked at me and he goes, “You mean other than Taxi?” and I was like, “Awww!!!” I was like, “Yeah, other than Taxi, of course that’s what I meant!” I felt so stupid! I don’t know if he caught on or not how idiotic I was.
He had one a show with Pamela Anderson called Stacked, they only did like six episodes or something, but he said, “I tried to do that,” he said she was a hard worker and he had a good time and it was fun. He’s very interesting. When he’s on and he’s working, he’s in there and he’s doing his thing and “Cut!” and then he sits down and he’s as calm and as passive as he can possibly be. He was great to work with.
GW: Any message you want to give fans?
DD: Stop hating on Pete Shanahan! [Laughter]
And I’m crossing my fingers that somehow, some way, either there’s an SG-1 movie or they figure out another way to do another series. And I’ll say this, Red Faction, are you familiar with Red Faction? My friend is on there and if you see Red Faction again, if they happen to rerun it, watch it! Because it’s good and my friend Danielle is on there and I’ll just put the blast out for her. [Laughter]
Interview by Chad Colvin. Transcription by Lahela.
I always think of dom DeLuise in his best role as the Voice of Itchy in all dogs go to heaven/american tale/secret of nimh and always forget he did stargate stuff except for the one episode and damn it was funny.
OHh and cannonball run.
But really we all know his best gig was the voice roles I have been watching since I was a kid. cant be replaced
http://content6.flixster.com/photo/13/71/82/13718216_gal.jpg