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A year ago, I was standing outside of the press room at Comic Con waiting for my first interview with the cast and creators of Supernatural. It was while I was standing there that I began to hear the rumble, someone was late. . . no, someone was missing. . . someone missed his flight and wasn’t going to be there at all.
That someone turned out to be Jared Padalecki. And as delighted as I was to talk with Jensen, and Kripke and the others, it wasn’t quite the same without Jared.
Fast forward to this year and a foreboding sense of deja vu. Jensen’s here, Kripke’s here, Sera and Ben. . .uh oh. I feel like I’m the cursed one keeping Jared at bay year after year.
“He’s just stuck in traffic,” they assure us and then I remember that this is his first Comic Con. Poor boy had no idea what he was driving into.
“I’m sorry, it’s a zoo outside!” Jared proclaims as he dashes in and takes his seat beside me. “Lots of craziness. Hi, hi, hi. . . ” Almost one for each reporter at the table. He looks my way and wow, he’s got gorgeous eyes! I’ve never seen him this close up and for a second I’m speechless. He’s taller and thinner than he looks on TV, tan and that emo Sam hair is falling into his eyes exactly as it’s supposed to.
It’s question and answer time and Jared begins talking a mile a minute, something common among us East Coasters but an unusual trait in a Southern boy. He’s talking so fast that he’s leaving words out and all of the thoughts are combining and crossing. He’ll hear his own words sometimes; a shy smile, a head duck — and before the day is over he’ll apologize 50 times for running late and not being all that he thinks he should be.
It seems that Jared even views the success of the show as someone else’s doing.
“People who are real fans of the show they love the story, the characters, but I’m still the actor, I’m not writing these scripts. I get paid to say the words that are on the page and I defer to Eric, he’s the storyteller.”
And if Kripke wants to call it quits at five?
“I love my character and I love exploring it, but I know Eric wants to keep the quality up. He doesn’t want it to be 39 seasons Bonanza and it’s like, shotgun in a wheelchair, c’m on Dean,” he quips, donning a Hillbilly accent, “with our sons running around fighting for us. If [Kripke] says four is good, then four is good. If he says five is good, then five is good. He hasn’t steered us wrong yet.”
As talk rolls around to the new season he jumps in with, “We feel like we’re stronger and more on track and it’s been really exciting and energizing to do something new. ‘Season One Sam’ who didn’t want to be there, or ‘Season Two Sam’ that was sort of messed up about their dad, and ‘Season Three Sam,’ I’ll get you out of your deal. . . now we see Sam and Dean kind of thinking about themselves, fighting for themselves cause obviously they’ve each spent four months doing something which I’m looking forward to finding out. We see them more individually, which adds an interesting dynamic to their relationship as brothers.
“I love the brother conflict episodes, I love going toe-to-toe with Jensen; Sam and Dean and how their stories are playing out and they’re becoming the archetypes. We started out as the reluctant heroes, two guns blazing, the Han Solo type character and I like watching the switch. Eric and the other writers have guided us through these paces, these steps. [They have a story they] want to tell and I’m here to tell it.”
Well, maybe “tell” it, is putting it too simply as Supernatural requires more of a ‘full-body’ commitment.
“Eric sat down with me and Jensen and said, ‘listen guys, I don’t pull punches anyway but this year, I’m really not going to pull punches’ and so we hit the ground running. We read the first script and went, ‘ahhh no time off for us.’ Jensen had just got done shooting a movie and I just got done shooting a movie, so we wanted to get back and laze around a little bit. It’s Season Four, time to relax. But no, we’re hitting it hard.”
Which left me to wonder, have you ever gotten a script that when you read it you said, ‘no way?!’
“I have a few times,” says Jared, smiling with the memory. “The one [I] specifically [remember] was in Season One, we did “Route 666″ and it originally had us dragging a truck out of the water. It’s November in Vancouver and we’re supposed to be knee-deep in water. We’re thinking, it’s snowing outside right now, and they want us in the water? They ended up changing it for us.
“[And then] you do those killer physical episodes! We just shot one, episode two of Season Four. Instead of there being the end climax fight scene, it was the beginning climax fight scene, and the middle climax fight scene, and how many fight scenes do I have!” He pants as if he’s out of breath, his voice rising into a higher register. “The next day. . . what am I shooting? Another FIGHT SCENE! Oh my God,” he squeals in a perfect imitation of SNL’s Chris Kattan, “And I’m crying?!? Aagghghg!” Then he turns to me and calmly, soberly says, “So, certainly yeah.”
Listen To Jared Tell the Story.
And with that, he’s told it’s time to move on to the next table of reporters. Jared stands and smiles and falls into his Texas accent with a sincere, “thank y’all so much.” And then he adds, “I’m so sorry.”
Jared doesn’t take any of this for granted; the fans, the press, the support. You can see it in his eyes and in his smile. He’s going to give this everything he’s got, full throttle until the very last second of the very last scene. You’ve come along way, baby and we can’t wait to see where you go from here.
Come back later in the week for my interviews with Eric Kripke, Sera Gamble and Ben Edlund.
All Photos by CBoris. Panel photos are from the Friday the 13th Panel. Orange photo is from the side of the Warner Brothers Booth.
1247 days ago
[...] the guys at ComicCon about the upcoming season of Supernatural. Click to read her interviews with Jared & [...]
I adore Sam. Jared has added so many fascinating layers that Sam has become my all-time favourite TV character. Sam and the simply brilliant way Jared plays him keep me hooked. Jared is just as good as Jensen, I just want to give him all the credit he deserves. Go, Jared, you have many loyal fans who think you are just wonderful as Sam. You are responsible for half the show’s success. Don’t forget that.
Okay guys, time for a truce. I haven’t moderated out any comments though I’ve come close on a couple.
Jensen and Jared and everyone on Supernatural work very hard to bring you a spectacular show every week. As it is they have to battle with the ratings, the budgets and being on the smallest of the main networks. What they need is a united front from all the fans to help make it through this coming year and the one after.
Many people think TV production is a glamorous life, and granted it has it’s perks, but when you remember that these guys put it all out there week after week — driving themselves to emotionally and physically difficult places — filming in snow and 100 degree heat. Filming until 3 in the morning, 14 hour days and that’s not including the press and the promos and scripts to be learned.
Yes, I know it’s not coal mining, but it’s a lot of work and they appreciate when you appreciate it. So let’s show them how much we appreciate what they do but talking in a positive way going forward.
Thanks!
Cyn
“Or better yet Kripke can end Supernatural at the end of season 5….and create his spinoff and call it ”Dean Demon Hunter”, and Jared at a young 27th by season 5 ,can continue with his career making movies. They can do the Gilmore Girls movie and Jared can go back to playing Dean Forrester and finally marry Rory. That would be so cool.”
True colors will out. So, you do want a Dean Show after all. And you managed to put Jared down, too. Nice one.
Honestly, I would not be surprised if Kripke did that.
At any rate, thank you for this interview with Jared. It was a very sweet article, and brings up so much of why I adore Jared and his talent in the first place. He is a truly beautiful guy. Thanks for showing that.
I was Right Jared does have nice eyes!!!!
I love watching Jared and Jensen fight. Unfortunately (sort of), I think they will be fighting each other for a good bit of the beginning of the season. Now, I loved Skin and when the guys fought each other, but Dean wasn’t really Dean then. I think the season is going to start with Dean not happy with the direction Sam has gone since he died and Sam not believing that dean is really Dean. If Sam thinks he is some kind of demon or a shapeshifter, they will be fighting for real… that will be tough to take. I hope they trust each other quickly. I am OK with secrets, but I need them to trust each other.
Jared describing the fight scenes for episode 2 was cool to listen to. I guess there is going to many fight scenes in that one. LOL
So we are going to be seeing a more darker Sammy. Can’t wait for season 4 to premiere.
Fan girls do need to come down….maybe Kripke can seperate the brothers….permanently? He can create a series for Dean….and call it ”Demon Hunter”, and create a series for Sam and call it Demonic Angel….then everyone can finally shut up, stop whinning and complaining and the rest of us can watch both shows fail….because Sam without Dean…or Dean without Sam = ‘s poor , poor , failer ratings. Or better yet Kripke can end Supernatural at the end of season 5….and create his spinoff and call it ”Dean Demon Hunter”, and Jared at a young 27th by season 5 ,can continue with his career making movies. They can do the Gilmore Girls movie and Jared can go back to playing Dean Forrester and finally marry Rory. That would be so cool.
I am definitely a Sam girl, but I think both the boys are crucial to the story and always have been. NO spoilers ahead… When I read the sides for episode 1, Jared was heavily involved… his scenes were in rooms, not all of Jensen’s were. Jensen probably started filming days before Jared because ‘saving’ Dean probably involves location work that Jared wasn’t needed for and maybe special effects like the Dean in Hell shot. Those take time.
When Jensen says he is going to have to work harder that doesn’t mean that Sam’s character is going to be pushed aside… I know I wouldn’t let that happen :-) If he has some kind of power and/or a particular part to play in the myth arc, that probably means more special effects and and/or acting out of his comfort zone (which actors usually like). They already work nearly every hour of every day for filming, so it can’t get much more than that.
Also, Jared mentioned more fighting… So, probably both of the boys are going to do more fighting. If Dean is going to be more involved in the myth arc, Sam is probably going to be more involved in the hunter arc. Sam was always back up for Dean or a victim that Dean had to save in the hunter arc and Dean was always protector for Sam in the myth arc… Now, we will probably have Sam more able to stand on his own two feet during fights/hunting, and Dean will probably have more powers (hopefully he will still be able to see demons and maybe have some super strength — if not more powers), that will help Sam & Dean fight the final war against the demons. It is just a handful of humans against a small army of powerful demons… they need all the help they can get. Dean might have a bit more screen time over the past 3 seasons, but I agree with some of the fans that it would be nice if he is more involved (translate that to powerful) when discussing the myth arc. There are only so many times he can give his life for Sam. If he is able to take a licking and keep on ticking; then kick some demons back to Hell, it can only make the story better for everybody.
So, this season is probably going to go deeper into everything we love. Jared has always said that he wanted to explore the dark side of Sam more. We are probably going to see that; he is probably going to be more like John and that Sam we saw at the end of Mystery Spot. It might take a while for him to relax back into ‘our’ Sam… But I trust Kripke and company… I have loved nearly every episode of every season (sorry, but I even liked Jo — not No Exit, Bela, and especially Ruby)… The only thing I thought was missing from Season #3 (besides the missing episodes) was the music… and I understand the financial reasons behind that. I would be willing to donate to a fund for music… I would donate a significant amount (for me) if I could get a set visit out of it.
So cheer up both sides, Dean girls you are getting a richer more involved Dean; Sam girls Sam is not going to be pushed into a corner.. Neither brother has ever been pushed into a corner (more than an episode or so), and it won’t be happening this season either. Kripke just likes to mess with people… and it works :-) Be happy, new episodes are 1.5 months away!!!!
Let me be a typical SNL fan:I dont care they are both OMG HOTTTTTTTTTTT!
“Season 2 was built around Dean’s Deal. Season 3 about the consequences of that Deal, Dean goes to hell. Season 4, Dean is back from hell, with a special mystery mytharc all his own.”
Last I checked, S2 was also about “What is Sam’s Destiny?”, “Will he go dark?”, and “Will Dean be able to save Sam or will he have to kill SAM, if he can’t?”
S3 also was about whether or not Sam would take on the mantle of the Anti-Christ, and whether he would give into his darker impulse in order to save Dean. I’ve also read plenty about S4, including themes of “What did Sam do while Dean was dead?” and of how Sam hit rock bottom, and how juicy that was for the writers to explore. From what I’ve seen, Saminator, Sam has hardly been sidelined plot-wise, and isn’t going to be anytime in the future. Could Sam have gotten some better characterization in S2, definately, but, IMO, he got quite a bit in S3 and seems to be getting more of the same in S4. And I for one can’t wait for S4 to get started!!!
Thanks for the interview, Cynthia!
I am a huge fan of Jared and his acting and I have to agree with those who haven’t heard Kripke praise Jared.
I feel bad that Kripke cares so little for Sam in the way that really matters: how Sam is presented on film, on the show, in each episode. Sam was KILLED as a Dean plot-point. Sam’s death was treated like an afterthought. Dean’s death has been given the grand treatment and they are building him a special mytharc out of it. The only plots that move forward are related directly to Dean, that’s been true since John died. Sam’s plot-points get one mention here and a little mention there, and then Kripke lets it slide away with no follow-up.
Kripke always mentions Jensen first, usually with high praise, Dean first over Sam, and addresses the concerns of Dean fans specifically. He does this almost everytime he talks about the show. To top it all off, Kripke specifically told a convention crowd in LA that Dean was the real hero of the show, “sorry Sam fans,” or words to that effect. He may not know it, but those words stung badly. Words hurt, Kripke. Oh, and what’s more Kripke once again defers to the Dean fans in a special commentary at the beginning of Supernatural magazine. And once again, it’s all about how great Dean is, how much more interesting he is than poor Sam with his destiny. You know what, Kripke, if you don’t like Sam’s sl, then change it into one you’ll pay some attention to. If you want psychological depth for Sam, put it in the show, and let him experience his sl for real for once, not have it blown off, and blown off, and blown off over and over again. Meanwhile, Dean gets structured themes and plots for each season. Deal or no Deal, it’s still the only story Kripke is doing on the show in a real way. Season 2 was built around Dean’s Deal. Season 3 about the consequences of that Deal, Dean goes to hell. Season 4, Dean is back from hell, with a special mystery mytharc all his own. Wow. Jensen also mentioned in an interview that the first few episodes of the season were, and I quote “all about Dean,” and that he was putting in more screen time this season. So, will Jared be washing his socks or something in the meantime? Jared gets 5 years of sad little trickle-trickles for his mytharc, but Jensen gets a block of episodes for his, even though he got plenty of material in previous seasons.
Jared really earned his keep last season on the show. He gave his all and it showed. I would like to take the time to praise Jared for his great work all last season. I love his enthusiasm for the show and his fantastic chemistry with Jensen. He has a special gift for making fans feel at ease when they meet him. He is also funny, energetic, and charismatic. Jared as an actor, seems like a force of nature. With time on his side, I’m sure he’ll do great work when and where he gets the chance to.
What a wonderful interview and what a sweet, genuine, self-effacing guy Jared seems to be. I started watching Supernatural having never heard of either actor and it didn’t take me long to fall in love with Jared’s Sam Winchester. I think he’s an amazing actor and I’m looking forward to following his career.
I’m doing my best to stay away from spoilers this year but I hope there’s great stuff coming for Jared this season. I can’t wait to see what happens with Sam this season.
Diana – would love to see a recent interview where Kripke praises Jared specifically – do you have a link? Because I have only seen generic praise where he is praising both boys in a general way and would love to see something different if I have missed it – I mean the kind of praise like he gives Jensen – cos as far as I am aware he just doesn’t do that about Jared.
1286 days ago
[...] http://www.sfuniverse.com/2008/07/30/supernatural-at-comic-con-jared-padalecki/ [...]
Well, Mai… Kripke praise both of his actors. I never heard him put Jensen over Jared.
Jensen and Jared auditioned for the role of Sam, and Kripke chose Jared over Jensen. He was willing to loose Jensen if he didn’t agree to be Dean instead of Sam.
Thank you so much! What a fantastic interview with Jared. It’s so good to finally be reading some stuff about Sam as the place sees to be drowning in Dean stuff at the moment and, as much as I like Dean, he’s not the reason I watch this show. Jared and Sam are. Jared is a fantastic actor, he blew S3 out of the water and I have never loved a T.V character as much as I love his Sam.
Have to say it, I too am worried about what is going to happen next season. Hopefully Dean getting some plot will equate with Sam getting some decent characterisation. But if Jensen is saying he’s going to be working even harder than before, which to me would seem to imply even more screen time for Dean, when he had equal screen time in the previous 3 seasons. Then…yeah…worried here too.
And Tina is right, it’s about time Jared got some love and praise for a change. Heaven knows we never hear it from Kripke.
@rider: all I have to say to your comment is: I totally agree with you.
Wonderful Interview,and a wonderful man!
Jared is just a complete sweetheart,and i love his portrayal of Sam!
sometime i got confused with the fangirls.
they always talking about this story is about Dean or sam.
cmon ladies this show is about the brothers.
we cant called it Supernatural if the show
just about Dean or sam.
the show is about brotherly bond.
kripke will make balanced for both character on season 4.
all we can do as fans is support this show for something more great and good.
thats all matters.