Mir ist es gestern via Facebook zufällig gelungen, nun selbst für unser Forum ein Interview mit Coleman Luck durchzuführen. Habe mich sehr gefreut!
01. How was the work with Edward Woodward?Working with Edward was a joy. I can honestly say that he loved every script I wrote for the series. It just doesn't get better for a writer than working with such a talented actor and a true gentleman, with a Brits dedication to his craft. It was the high point of my career. Also, he was one of the great storytellers of his generation. In person, he was hilarious.
02. In the third season, Mr. Woodward was in some episodes (/started with the 2 part episode with Robert Mitchum) like an also starring guest Was he ill or something?
03. In the 3rd season, Keith Szarabajka was in more episodes not in the show, but Richard Jordan was as Harley Gage on it. In Season 4 disappeared Jordan from the show and Szarabajka was back. Why?2 and 3 - Between season two and three Edward had a heart attack. When we came back into production, for months we had him for only a day a week. Mitchum and Jordan were hired to help us get through until Edward was able to work full time again. It was a very difficult time for all of us. Mickey appeared less because we didn't think his character worked well with Gage. With Edward back we had no more need for Jordan. Mickey reappeared.
04. After 4 Seasons ended the show. Was the ratings to bad?We should have had a season five, but Universal was at war with CBS over Murder She Wrote. CBS lost the fight with them over that show, but retaliated by canceling us.
05. Do you have an favorite episodes?Of course, my personal favorites are the ones I wrote, in particular "Blood and Wine". (Geheimoperation McCall Teil 1 und 2)
06. Denzel Washington stars as "The Equalizer" on cinemal What do you think to the new Equalizer ? Absolutely hated Washington's version of The Equalizer.
07. I think, the series was ahead of its time. The series was different from other series from the time. Almost equal to the series "Spenser: for Hire" with Robert Urich. What was the secret of success?Can't answer why we were successful. Edward certainly was a serious father figure. You don't see those very often on TV.
08.Why was there never a reunion of the series with Edward Woodward?I don't think we were quite successful enough for that. CBS moved us all over the schedule during our four years. Difficult to develop and hold an audience. Also afterward everyone was in different places. Edward was in England and I don't think he was anxious to come back to the states. It would have been a huge and expensive undertaking to do such a production.
09. I really liked Keith Szarabajka as Mickey Kostmayer. I was very happy to meet him at a convention in Germany a few years ago. How was the collaboration with you for you? None of us had a lot of contact with Keith. He would come in to do his part and then leave. But we certainly enjoyed his performance. He added a lot to the show.
10. A highlight of the series were the dialogues between Edward Woodward and Robert Lansing. Was the chemistry of the two actors also private?Both Woodward and Lancing were old professionals and private men. I don't think I ever heard of them socializing off the set. Perhaps once or twice over the four years they may have gotten together for dinner, but if that happened, I don't remember hearing about it.
11. In the four years appaers many Cops in recurring characters. They changed often. Why was not there a cop? By the way I liked Chad Redding and Ron O' Neal very well in the roles.We never felt the need to establish a single police officer who would deal with McCall. To do that, we would have had to make multiple episode deals with a particular actor, guaranteeing that we had to use that individual for a specific number of episodes each year. It would have brought a focus on a character that we simply didn't need. Working in NYC there were many excellent actors available. Chad Redding was the wife of my late friend and colleague, exec producer, Jim McAdams. She had very limited range as a performer. O'Neal just happened to be available.