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October
2nd 2005
Mel
Fair will guest star in the
upcoming 2006 season four
episode “Mr. Monk Bumps
His Head” as a state
trooper. Mel, age 41, was
born on March 22, 1964 in
Homestead, Florida. Once an
award winning sportscaster,
Mel is probably best known
as the writer/director/producer
of TNN's (Now SpikeTV's)
Trucks and Car and
Driver Television.
Mel
has appeared in many episodic
and daytime shows including
CSI: Miami, Buffy
the Vampire Slayer, The
District, Miss Match,
General Hospital
and Passions.
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He
is also a talented voice-over
artist who can be heard in
numerous commercials and video
games. Mel has been a happily
married man since July 31st
1993: "12 years, two
months and two days,"
he says unhesitatingly. He
and his wife Cari have one
daughter, Taylor Brooke, 6,
and another daughter on the
way. I recently spoke to Mel
about his experience on Monk.
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How
did you get the role on Monk?
"That
story is fascinating,"
says Mel. "My daughter,
Taylor Brooke, got called in
to play a little girl for the
episode 'Mr. Monk and the Astronaut.'"
Taylor
Brooke has been acting for a
few years. "Her first commercial
was for Best Western,"
Mel recalls, but she's been
around show business for longer
than that.
"Ever since she was a year
old she's been going to producer-director
auditions with me. I'm not one
of those parents who doesn't
want their children to have
anything to do with the business,"
he admits.
Mel felt the atmosphere on Monk
was a positive one for Taylor.
"There was a rapport she
had with Corbin [the casting
director.] He was brilliant
with her.
"When
we went in and got the sides
for her, I saw there was a role
for a reporter. I was familiar
with casting director Corbin
Bronson, so I took him aside
and asked him about it. The
role was not available, but
during the pre-read, two weeks
later, he said they had a part
available... as a state trooper,
not a reporter. I know it was
a blessing. I play a state trooper.
I worked with Tony and with
Charles Napier who plays the
sheriff, Sheriff Bates.
The
atmosphere was apparently very
positive for Mel as well. "You’re
only as good as the actor you’re
working with" and with
Tony and with Charles Napier
it was easier to be good. "All
you have to do is listen,"
says Mel. "It's a real
gift to work with them... and
working in this business is
a privilege not a right."
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Where
were your scenes shot?
"Out
in Santa Clarita," Mel
remembers. "It’s
where CSI films. There’s
a lot of filming done there.
It’s sort of non-descript."
Did
you work with the entire cast
or just Tony Shalhoub?
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| "Yes,
just Tony. I was just there
for the day," says Mel.
"But, you know Tony's brother,
Michael Shalhoub, was there."
What
was his role?
"The bee wrangler,
but they don't call it that....
He's the beekeeper. That
guy was a real pistol,"
Mel remembers. "Very funny.
And with him, it has nothing
to do with nepotism. He's been
on the show before ['Mr. Monk
and the Missing Granny'] and
he said he tried out for the
role of the brother, that went
to John Turturro. ' They even
knew the DNA's all gonna match,'
he said.'What are you gonna
do?'
Are
the brothers much alike?
"The
brothers are very different,"
Mel admits. "Michael has
much more energy. You might
think it would be the opposite.
Tony is just a prince, but more
reserved."
Is
Tony Shalhoub fun to work with?
"We
filmed the Friday before the
Emmys, but that didn't make
a difference with Tony he was...
he really was just a prince.
He was very focused, of course,
and he's under a lot of pressure
because he's the lead and the
executive producer. He's pulled
in all directions, but he's
normal and nice to everbody.
And in the scene I'm in he was
covered with a thousand bees,
just covered in bees. When the
scene was over he was just very
happy to have them removed."
There
were no bees on you? [I'm a
tiny bit cnidophobic
so this part of the conversation
was freakin' me out a little.]
"I
was in a bee suit. You may not
be able to see much of me,"
says Mel. "You never know
what the editor is going to
do. You learn not to build up
your expectations, but even
is you sometimes end up on the
cutting room floor, you know,
work begets work. [The role]
was such a blessing. Everyone
one was just so genuine."
What was working on Monk
like compared to other work
you've done?
"I
don’t believe in luck,
I believe in blessings,"
Mel declares. "This is
a great show. I’ve worked
on a lot of shows and very few
were as genuine as they are.
The director, Steve Surjik,
called me before we started,
to say 'Welcome and thanks for
helping us out.' It's very unusual
for a director to take the time
to do that. It
really was a gift and true blessing."
Did
you watch the show before you
got the role?
"Well, yes, I try to watch
at least one episode of any
show I work on," says Mel
"but
my wife’s mother and my
wife’s grandmother, Granny,
are both Monk fans. It’s
a job to you, but sometimes
it can be more of a thrill for
your family and watching their
reaction makes it more exciting
for you. It
was a thrill to get to work
with Tony."
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Was
there any ad-libbing in your
scene or was it pretty much
according to script?
"With TV everything is
pretty solid, you know, standards
and practices. The series regulars
have a little more opportunity
for that, but as a hired gun
you don't want to do that. It's
about respecting the writers.
It's your responsibility to
make it work as written. |
Even when Tony had suggestions
or changes, the writer (Andy
Breckman) and Tony worked shoulder
to shoulder to make them. Tony
was very respectful and humble
that way when he worked with
the writer."
Any
phobias of you own?
"Heights. Now that
I've said that I'll probably
get something to do with heights,
but I'd take it I'd overcome
it. Russell Crowe got very seasick,
but he took Master and Commander
and one reason he took the role
was to to overcome that."
So
if you were offered a role as
a parachutist, you'd take it?
Yes,
I would.
With a background in broadcast
journalism and documentaries
like Trucks, what is it about
acting that’s attractive
to you?
"The
creativity and fun. I do a lot
of different things: sportscaster,
writer , director, film, TV,
stage. I just booked a pilot
with the people who do Rugrats.
I'm the voice of beefcake [does
voice]. It it were live
action at
175 pounds I can’t hope
to play this guy, but with animation
it works."
What's
the show called?
"Big
Babies. We'll see if the
pilot gets picked up.
"
When I was a little kid I was
overweight," Mel remembers.
"I was 290 ponds in high
school. When I was nine years
old my Uncle took me to a theater
where I saw Rich Little perform.
It was amazing and I learned
how to do voices, because when
I got picked on in school I
could use humor. If someone
said 'You look like Baby Huey,'
I would just do the Baby Huey
voice [does voice]
and make them laugh."
It's
a talent that still comes in
handy for Mel these days, too.
"Of course, if it was on
camera I'd never get hired to
be a 65 year old black man [does
voice], but I can if it's
the voice."
What’s the one thing you’d
like to do that you haven’t
done yet?
Mel
pauses thoughtfully. "I'd
like to be a better husband,
a better father and encourage
other actors. When all is said
and done I'd like it to be said
that guy was encouraging. Acting
and entertaining is very important.
It’s a big responsibility
and sometimes that responsibility
is wasted. I want to look in
the mirror and ask what can
I do to be a more positive influence.
We have the power of the medium
to bridge so many gaps. The
lesson I've learned is don’t
let your disappointment make
you one to those around you.
In 2004 I didn’t work.
I never know, but you just look
in the mirror and be better.
At the end of the day, I’m
a cheesy guy who believes inspiration
matters."
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