LiveWorld Transcripts

Boxtop presents

Actor Joe E. Tata
FOX's "Beverly Hills 90210"

June 23, 1998

The world will always know him as Nat, the owner of the Peach Pit on Beverly Hills 90210, and that seems to be just fine with Joe E. Tata. Find out what it’s like to be on one of the most popular TV shows in the world, while being able to watch the cast grow up in front of your eyes!

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Speaker: Talk City Presents(tm), in association with iXL Live(tm), welcomes you to a conversation with our special guest Joe E. Tata!

Speaker1: Welcome to Talk City Joe! Your '90210' role must have introduced you to an entirely different audience. What is different from working on this show to your other TV experiences?

Joe E. Tata: In the other shows I died. I was always a gangster! I was always a bad guy! This one I live. It's nice. He's a terrific character. He's happy; he's got his own stuff. And somehow he just kinda is there. Maybe one day he'll break out of his shell or something.

Micky: What's it like on the show - filming I mean?

Joe E. Tata: It's terrific. It's like being with the best of relatives. They're only there when you need them. We have the same respect for each other. Now don't you feel dumb asking that question?

Heyday: You had a love interest on 90210 last season, what happened to that relationship?

Joe E. Tata: 5700 Wiltshire Boulevard, Los Angeles 90316. Ask them. I'm getting to be a wiseguy! Well, I thought it was a great idea, so they decided to marry me and have a child. All in the same episode, and then never see my wife again - or my child. I think my child's in college.

Terris: Hello Joe! Did you always want to be an actor, of did you start out doing something else?

Joe E. Tata: No, all my life since I was ten years old, that's what I wanted to do. So I'm happy! Still doing what I wanted to do!

Nineoh21oh: Who is the most fun to work with on the show?

Joe E. Tata: The most fun? The dudes! All the guys. They're silly! They're just absolutely silly, which is what I love in life.

Houseofusher: Memorable bloopers, every show seems to have some, what is your favorite?

Joe E. Tata: Oh, we don't have those! We have none of those! I think Mr. Spelling doesn't carry outtakes like some other producers out there. The magic is there. And besides, what am I gonna tell him, he's wrong?

Jenbabe: What's your character up to next season?

Joe E. Tata: Oh, I wish I knew. I really, really wish I knew! My dream for Nat is to have some fun. I love comedy. He could do anything to have fun, to have silliness. We had Shannon on in one of the episodes, where she was the waitress, and it became totally silly. I loved that! Of course if I grow up it may change.

Core-e: Would you want kids like the kids on the show? Do you think they act like real kids would?

Joe E. Tata: I have a daughter who's very close to Shannon Dougherty. Next question!

Hillsbabe: What do you think made Beverly Hills 90210 such a big success?

Joe E. Tata: The stories. The people - the characters. There ain't no blue-eyed blondes in Sri Lanka, or in Japan. How come they watch it? And in 100 and some odd other countries. It's got to be identification with the stories and the subject. It's both message and entertainment, depending on where the story is, and the words in it.

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