LAist Interview: Greg Grunberg of "Heroes"

The cast of "Heroes" went on a world tour this summer. How many cities did you visit and was the strangest thing that happened on the Heroes World Tour?

We went from here to Tokyo. They are so respectful in Tokyo. It was very conservative. The fans, they watch it online. They haven't seen the show yet. Though everywhere we went there were hundreds, sometimes thousands of people.

Then we went from there to Hong Kong. Hong Kong has seen the show for a year but they have a lot of stuff going on. Hong Kong is busy and there is all this business, but still there were crowds of people and it was crazy.

Then we went to Singapore. And that place is first of all the most beautiful place I've ever been and secondly the most nutty huge crowds. I have never experienced anything like that. We were like the Beatles. I had eight policemen around me everywhere I went. Literally when I went shopping, there were eight policemen. Which first of all draws everyone's attention to you, like who the hell is that guy. The show is HUGE there. And Singapore is this island, this hub for all these other countries. We had an appearance at a mall. There were supposed to be five hundred people there. Ten thousand people showed up. People could see that at NBC.com in the Singapore section. It's insane. We couldn't make it through. Kids got trampled. It was crazy. Fifteen hundred people waited for us at the airport. When we got off the plane, it was like "What?!". Come on, it's a TV show. It was great. It was great. That's the craziest thing that happened on the tour. It was "Heroes" mania.

The plots for "Heroes" episodes are extremely detailed and complicated. Remind us what was happening with your character Matt Parkman at the end of last season.

First of all the show is nowhere near as complicated as other shows I have been on. I have to say. When I was shooting "Alias", people would ask me, especially my parents. My dad would ask 'so what exactly is happening?". I would say, 'Dad I have no idea'. I just get the scripts and I say the words. I can't tell you who these terrorists are and what we are going after and what exactly is happening. "Heroes" is at least easy to follow. You can easily pick it up season two. You'll know everything that is going on with in five minutes. Last year Matt Parkman was trying to find out exactly what was happening to all of these people and especially to himself. He used this little girl that he rescued in the first episode to track down and find people that are in charge of this. Season two goes back to the origins and the original group that was affected. We are sort of another group that's coming together. Some of the character's families were involved in the original group. They were trying to change the world. Way back.

What can you tell us about Officer Parkman this season?

Mind reading is just the tip of the iceberg for my character. I am much more an important part and an integral part in the history of what's happened in a way that I didn't expect.

I got the scripts and I was like what? Really? Fantastic.

I love it all the time, but people have always said, "man you are kind of on the outside. You are kind of a fringe character." I am incredibly involved in the story of the show this year.

Are your still enjoying your character's super powers or would you trade it for slicing heads like Sylar?

Not at all. I think from the minute I got the first script and I saw that this character was a mind-reader, that to me was the most interesting. It was the most relatable. Even though it is a fantasy and even though obviously all these powers are made up. It's a huge leap of faith to believe any of these things actually exist. I think mine is the most relatable because you are dealing with emotions. It's a more grounded power. I love it. I wouldn't change it for the world. Especially this year. People are going to freak out. My powers are crazy. They really expand on what they have already set up.

I knew you have worked a lot, but when I looked you up on IMDB, they list 55 credits for you including 61 episodes of "Felicity", 68 episodes of "Alias", and 19 episodes of "Heroes". I looked up a few other actors. Paul Dooley born in 1928 has 139 credits, Christopher Walken born in 1943 has 108 credits and uber character actor Stephen Tobolowsky born in 1951 has a whopping 183 credits on IMDB. Are you aiming to take them down?

(Laughing) Yes! I want to be the Tiger Woods of the character actor... category. That's fantastic. To be in the same breath with those people. Stephen Tobolowsky is on our show right now. He is playing this guy, Bob, who is incredible I love his work. I love everything he has ever done. And that's the benefit of doing a show like this. You get these incredible guest stars, because there is such a big audience and the show is so well written. It's one of the huge perks for me is working with a guy like that.

Look I am the type of actor where is somethings good that it can be the smallest role in the world, I will a least consider it. I am in a position now that I can pick and choose, but I am not very picky. I love to work. I just love it. Stephen Tobolowsky you are going down baby. Give me another year.

Do you have any other projects coming up?

I have a movie with a very good friend of mine. Lawrence Trilling. One of the most talented writer directors in TV and film. We worked together on "Felicity" and "Alias". Larry discovered me and gave me my first starring role in a movie called "Dinner and Driving". Now we are doing a romantic comedy that I co-wrote, he's directing, we are both producing and I am starring in it. So that is taking up all of my time right now. I also have a couple independent movies that I did. One is called "Magic" and the other one is called "Fast Glass".

You play drums in Band from TV with James Denton on guitar, Hugh Laurie on keyboards, and Bob Guiney from "The Bachelor" and Bonnie Somerville from "Cashmere Mafia" on vocals. How did that collaboration come about?

I got asked a few years ago for a little, they probably thought it was going to be dumb, 'oh let a celebrity get up at the House of Blues and play'. It turns out we got tons of press from it. The band that I put together at that time was pretty good. So when I guest starred on "House" I asked Hugh to come play with us. When I did this charity event with James Denton, I knew he played guitar, I asked him. Suddenly we had a band. We have raised over half a million dollars for charity in one year. We each represent a different charity. It is so much fun. We just played the TV Guide part at the Emmy's. John Legend and Kanye West opened for us. They will kill me for saying that. They just happened to play before us. It was a great night. We are just a bunch of actors. Familiar faces playing familiar music. We try to have a good time. What we lack in musical ability, we make up for in fun. It's shows and people have a good time. Those guys, I'm telling you, when you are standing backstage and you are watching John Legend. He's incredible. And Kanye West. They are both unbelievable. It was very intimidating, but we don't let it stop us. We had a great time.

Do you have any gigs coming up for Band from TV? A world tour?

We have been asked to play Vegas once a month and we are working out the details on that. We do have an album coming out. We have two songs on the "House" soundtrack that's out right now. Those two songs are selling really well on iTunes, which is great. The album is called "Hogging All the Covers". And if people want to get information about it they can go to our website.

One morning, I saw Jack Coleman ordering coffee at the Aroma Cafe. I have to admit he made me a little nervous. Where would we find you on a morning off?

You'd find me a Lable's Table being served by Pam getting lox eggs and onions. But I am not as intimidating as Jack. I bet you he wasn't wearing his glasses. So you had nothing to worry about.

Where is your favorite place to visit in LA?

There is an artist that I love named Eric Joyner. He does robots and donuts. There are two artists that we love to check out their work. Michael Kalish and Eric Joyner. Where ever their art is, that's where we go.

Is there a spin-off on your future?

It would be cool. I guarantee you that there are a lot of frustrated writers going to the network right now going' okay so it's about a cop who can read minds'. Heroes. 'Okay so it about a politician who can fly'. Heroes. I mean how many people have spent years writing things and Tim Kring put all their ideas in one show? I hope my spin-off is a sitcom. The Parkmans. Life at the Parkmans where no one need to speak because they all read each other's mind.

What is the greatest thing about your job?

Is that I have one. Having nice people to come to work with everyday. Luckily we have a really nice crew, really really talented people in every department. You come to work and everything is taken care of and everyone is on the top of their game. And the cast, we like hanging out. When it's this well written, that's where it starts out. If it's not well written it's a struggle and this is the easiest job and the most fun job I have ever had.

Greg and Adair pose for a photo with an important prop.

What's that in the fish tank?

The City backdrop

"Primatech"

more Heroes mini films here, all on one page, for easy viewing

Even though he can read my mind and already knows, I want to thank Greg for an amazing day.

Grunny Tears It Up

Photos from the set by Julie Wolfson, photos of Greg and the cast in Singapore via NBC.com. The first photo of Greg in uniform by Michael Muller