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Interview: Buffy's Tom Lenk

No doubt you’ve watched Buffy from season one to seven over and over again. Obviously, you’re familiar with the whole Scooby Gang. However, Andrew Wells, who is more commonly referred to as “Tucker's brother” and “the other guy”, could have slipped through the Hellmouth cracks as it were. After all, although Andrew has been bothering Buffy since 1998, it isn’t until he joins the Trio that we really come to understand him. Here Tom Lenk talks about his favourite moments as Andrew and tells Syfy where fans can see him next – maybe even in the UK, in the flesh.

In the sixth and seventh seasons, we really get to know Andrew. What do you think your character brings to the show?

Laughs and unicorns?

And?...

Ok, yes, it has been quite major for my character and for me personally. I felt so lucky to have the experience of working on a groundbreaking historical show. I mean, I don't think we would have the current vampire craze had it not been for Buffy.

Indeed. I take it you have fond memories playing Andrew? What are your favourite moments?

As a character actor, it was a dream come true. Take the writing on that show, could it have been any more awesome? My favourite moments as Andrew were filming ‘Storyteller’ (seventh season). It was an amazing moment in my career that I will never forget. Although, I was riddled with anxiety that whole episode because I really wanted to make it as funny as possible.

So, it has been a while since Buffy wrapped, what did the show mean for you professionally? How’s life now?

Buffy certainly was my big break, and I’ve been having fun working in TV, film, commercials and stage. I did my first Broadway musical last year and got so many hilarious stories from the experience that I spent the end of 2010 touring my standup show, Nerdgasm, around the US, Canada and most recently London. I’m trying to figure out if I can get out to Edinburgh for the Fringe festival this year - fingers crossed. I've taken a little break from the show and I think I’m ready to hit the road again and make people laugh live in person. It's really the most challenging, exciting, and thrilling thing I've got to do in the last few years.

You’ve not exactly put your feet up though, have you? Can you tell us a bit about Hello Caller? Will you be bringing it to the UK anytime soon?

Hello Caller is a vanity project, erm, I mean short film I wrote and starred in with my friend Tara Karsian, and directed by Andrew Putschoegl. It's an inappropriate, dark comedy about a suicidal woman who calls a support line and ends up with me on the other end of the phone. Did I mention it was a comedy? I'm not sure when it will make it to the UK. We premiered it at Slamdance (Utah-based film festival) and just hit South by Southwest (film festival in Austin) and Vail Film Festival. So, hopefully, it will get programmed somewhere in the UK. I think it will eventually be available on iTunes at the end of this year. We have a small distribution deal to play in 12 US cities before we can release it online.

What can we expect to see you take on next?

I just filmed the Vampire-themed season premiere of Psych, titled ‘This Episode Sucks’. Right before that I was filming an independent movie with my friends called Girls Will Be Girls 2012, which is a sequel to the cult hit Girls Will Be Girls. Hello Caller director Andrew Putschoegl and I just filmed our epic short film follow up piece titled A Slightly Exaggerated Reenactment of an Actual Voicemail I left for Tim Gunn, based on, well, an actual voicemail I left for Tim Gunn. Hopefully, it will be making its way to festivals soon. Also, I have a fun role in Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard's epic movie, Cabin in the Woods, though I am not sure when it comes out. Oh, and, I think my latest Pepsi Max spots have just hit the UK so keep your eyes peeled.

Finally, you’ve previously said that after Buffy finished you believed the cast would still be friends and hang out. So, do you still keep in touch with everyone?

I’m glad that I’m still in touch with many of the writers and actors. Of course, I have also remained friends with the main man himself, Joss, and I’m so glad he gave me such an amazing opportunity on Buffy.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer continues every weeknight at 6pm on Syfy.

Written by Rhian Owen

Rhian Owen blogs for Syfy and is a features writer for Progressive Digital Media. She has written for What’s On Stage, The Big Issue, Snow, Go Active and Wired. Interests include sci-fi TV and films, gaming and technology. She is on Twitter as @rhiowen.