Q&A with Ernie Grunwald [Larry]

Ernie Grunwald aka the affable Larry sits down with the Call Me Fitz interactive team to give us the low-down on his alter ego, a sneak peak of the second season, and tell us what it was like wrestling with co-star Jason Priestley.

Q: We are now in the middle of the first season and viewers have now gotten a chance to get to know Larry a little bit better. What is the driving force behind Larry? What makes him who he is?
A: Larry is a good man, but he is also a very confused man. He is just a guy trying to figure out who he is - like all of us. As he says in episode 2, “I’m just a man”. Larry’s relationship with Richard is not just about helping him and guiding him to do the right thing; it’s also about helping both Richard and himself find out who they really are.

Q: Do you think Larry is really Richard’s conscience?
A: I think he thinks he is.

Q: In Episode 5, Larry helped Fitz create the perfect birthday gift for Ken - a custom tailored porno…
A: Jason [Priestley] has been begging me for years to wrestle with him in our underwear, so this was as good a time as any. It was actually a really neat dynamic on set. It was a very chaotic scene, but everything just seemed to fall into place.

Q: Do you and Larry share any similar traits? Are you polar opposites?
A: We are both compassionate and very good listeners. We are both very particular about things. We are both patient, although I am not quite as a patient as Larry. Where we differ is that I have a more edge than he does. I love exploring the moments when Larry gets to show his spunk – it’s fun for me as an actor. I also love it when Larry has to man up and show some balls. Not literally of course, well maybe in a few episodes…

Q: Is there anything that gets you in the right frame of mind to play Larry?
A: Mostly just the words and the situation – they’re my map.

Q: What was your favourite episode from Season 1?
A: I loved the second episode. You get to know Fitz and Larry, and understand them a bit better. I also loved the 12th episode when Larry undergoes an identity crisis. Larry is a lot of fun, but I also love exploring his confusion and his darker side. There are some great moments from the first season where Fitz shows just a touch of his softer side. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s poignant and memorable.

Q: Do you have any fond memories from filming Sunday’s upcoming episode?
A: There was a lot of vomiting. It was just fun and crazy.

Q: During the second season, viewers will see a slight change in Larry…
A: He unintentionally soaks up some Fitziness. Larry is driven by the belief that what he’s doing is the right thing, and therefore, ultimately good. Larry’s version of being a bad ass is telling a white lie, maybe a bit of petty theft and the occasional break and enter, but in the end, even if he has to bend the rules a little, he does so because he thinks it’s the right thing to do.

Q: What is your favourite episode of Season 2 so far? What was the most fun to film?
A: There have been several, but one of my favorites is when Larry and Richard break into an apartment. Larry goes all ninja, wearing gloves and a balaclava [ski mask] on his face, but a suit on his body. And of course, we were in broad daylight, so it was just great fun to shoot.

Q: Why should viewers watch Call Me Fitz?
A: I think this is one of the most fun shows on television. Every episode is just such an amazing ride – so easy to watch. The writing is bold and fantastic. You have the aesthetic of a beautiful, cinematically-shot show that is also laugh-out-loud funny, which is really a rare combination in this business. We’re lucky and I’m truly grateful; we have the right mix, and it works really well.