LiveWorld Transcripts

Boxtop presents

Peter MacNicol
"Ally McBeal"

May 18, 1998

Actor Peter MacNicol chats about his acting career, in particular the success of his characters on “Chicago Hope” and “Ally McBeal.”

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CCCMyst: Talk City Presents in association with BoxTop Live (tm) welcomes you to tonight's Feature Presentation! Welcome Peter McNicol!

Mysterygirl: Peter, welcome to Talk City! I loved you in “Chicago Hope,” and now “Ally McBeal.” Tell us about your role on “Ally McBeal,” and do people ask for legal advice?

Peter MacNicol: I know any number of lawyers who would like to borrow my Clicker, but for specific advice, no. And I think that's to their advantage!

Gumby1: Did you have to do a lot of research into the law for your part? I am a paralegal major.

Peter MacNicol: I did intensive scrutiny of the entire Perry Mason series!

Ugachaka: You are on one of the most original shows on TV-might I add the funniest-did you know your show would be so successful?

Peter MacNicol: No, but I'm always surprised by wonderfulness! I always expect defeat and obscurity, and that's just from my other experience in television. But I never expected anything in the speed this show has taken off. Fox has said this is the fastest growing show in the history of their network. And for the first time people know they recognize me as an actor - they always seemed to suspect I was that waiter they knew! Many of them even know my name, which is very nice, actually.

Gorgonzola: Your “Ally McBeal” character has been described as a bundle of neuroses. How do you go about capturing such an edgy character?

Peter MacNicol: Sadly, I don't have to look all that far! I don't know. I suppose I am a bundle of neuroses, and a large bundle at that! I don't quite know how to answer that, but I'll be thinking about it, and trying to come up with a smart answer to a smart question, instead of this dumb rambling answer!

Lavern: What is your favorite querk your character has?

Peter MacNicol: I suppose the sinus whistle, which is actually based on life! And here I must report on a possible bugging device, which I believe is planted in the makeup and hair trailer. I was telling one of the makeup women that in 1980 I had sinus surgery, and for a year following that surgery I had in my right sinus cavity, a little silicon tube, which at very inopportune moments produced a high, shrill, alarm sound. A little like those disaster sirens they play when there's been a coal mine disaster, and all of your brothers have been buried beneath rubble. The day after I told makeup and hair about this, I find that a new script describes my nose emitting a high, mysterious sound! Is the place bugged, or what?

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