While the name Jack Plotnick may not roll off gay tongues with the frequency of one-word icons like Madonna or Cher, you’ll definitely remember seeing this darling actor on TV or the big screen. He’s made you laugh in Girls Will Be Girls and squirm in “Nip/Tuck” in the scene where he played proctologist to Rosie O’Donnell (did we mention how brave he is?). And now he’s sharing his on-the-set secrets with Gay List Daily. We’re all ears.
Q: Although you've had roles in just about everything in the homo canon of TV and film including Ugly Betty, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gods & Monsters and Straight Jacket, your biggest queer coup has to be the acid-tongued Evie Harris in the cult classic Girls Will Be Girls. Do people recognize you on the street as Evie without the wig and makeup? Do you find yourself performing as Evie for friends and fans?
A: I guess I should count myself lucky that people don't often recognize me as Evie. I wouldn't want to think that I resemble her AT ALL! When someone does recognize me, they always want to share their favorite quotes from the film. It's fun to see what line sticks in their heads. Often, it's the one in which Coco asks Evie if she's had an abortion, to which Evie replies: “Coco, I've had more children pulled outta me than a burning orphanage!”
Oh, and speaking of the “homo canon”, you left out a big one. I was actually in Ellen’s coming out episode. I had one line and they cut it, but getting to be there and see everything firsthand (including standing alongside Laura Dern in the parking lot during a bomb threat) is a memory I will treasure.
Q: Evie has some wicked one-liners (usually slung at the poor, benevolent Coco Peru). What's your favorite insult that has passed through her whiskey-kissed lips?
A: Not an easy question, with so many evil quips to choose from. I'll give you a few…
About Olivia Newton-John – “Grease is the word for what she'd slather on that dildo-belt. No thank you, I said. So Stockard Channing got the part, which is just as well, because she was so good and fat in that movie.”
About June Allyson – “You know they offered me that commercial for Depends, and a lot of money, but there's just one problem, I don't shit my pants.”
Some incredible writers have put words into Evie's mouth: Seth Rudetsky, Dennis Hensley…but it just so happens that those lines were written by Richard Day, the writer/director of Girls Will Be Girls.
Q: Many people don't know that in addition to the Girls Will Be Girls movie, there's also a series of shorts online. Can we expect any more surprise cameos like Kids In The Hall alum Scott Thompson?
A: We had such a blast bringing our characters back to life for the webisodes. Watching them gives people just a little taste of what a Girls sitcom might've been like. We tried a couple times, in vain, to get LOGO interested, but they must just have so many other WONDERFUL shows that take precedence (please read with bitter sarcasm).
The final webisode (“Girl Stalk Parts 1 & 2”) was our favorite because Varla was in town to join us and make the triangle complete. In it, we have binging, blood, musical numbers and an ending that could get you fired if you watch it at the office! There won't be any more cameos because we're all done working for free for now. Letter writing campaign to Logo, anyone? Hint, hint!
Q: Congrats on your new CBS pilot, The Mentalist, getting picked up for next season. Gay List Daily readers are very busy (or at least like to pretend like they are), so give us five words why it's the best new show on television?
A: I – AM – ON – IT, BITCH!
A: You've created many a wacky character for Reno 911. Were any of them inspired from your own brushes with the law?
A: My only brush with the law wasn't quite so wacky. In high school, a group of friends and I were headed for a midnight skinny dip in the local river and were hauled into jail. Why does this sound like the beginning of a Chi-Chi La Rue film?
Q: Lastly, and this is a highly respectable, true-journalist question, we've heard tales of something about an Ian McKellen striptease/exposed junk incident during the filming of Gods & Monsters. Care to dish?
A: Sure! I wasn't actually present to witness it, but the day before they filmed the big ending sequence in which Brendan Fraser's character completely disrobes for Ian McKellen, apparently Brendan had agreed to do full frontal nudity when he signed on to do the film. However, his film
George of the Jungle had just premiered, and because it looked like it would be a big hit Brendan changed his mind last minute about showing his privates. I guess Ian thought Brendan was being a big baby, ‘cause the story I heard was that Ian spent the day running around with his penis hanging out of his pants just to tease him. And having met Ian…I don't doubt it for a second!
See more of Jack Plotnick as Evie Harris in Girls Will Be Girls Webisodes at http://www.girlswillbegirlsonline.com.
