I had a chance to sit in on a round table interview with Michael Vartan for the new season of HawthoRNe, which premieres on Tuesday, June 22, at 9pm EST/8PM CT on TNT. Let me tell you, if I did not already know that Michael Vartan is the hotness, after listening to his incredibly affable and charming voice for half an hour, I definitely did.
During the call, Vartan dropped hints about the upcoming season of HawthoRNe and responded to rumors about the Alias reboot, which he viewed in a total humorous light. Below find excerpts from the transcript.
Michael on his character’s development
“My character, which is really cool in the story, he quits being chief of surgery to get away from the red tape and the bureaucracy, and he’s now just a surgeon, which is what this guy always wanted to do. And he’s just really enjoying his life as a normal surgeon.
“Of course it’s television, and the writers are evil, so they throw a wrench in his plans and he has a life-altering accident that is going to cause a lot of problems for him and his potential future as a surgeon, and add a whole new level of intrigue and commitment, and problems with Christina’s character and the way she deals with it.”
Michael on his character’s relationship with Hawthorne
“Given these two, their history, the intense level of sort of passion and sort of feeling they have for one another is going to create a lot of problems for them, and also give us as actors a chance this year to really have a lot of fun, because you know conflict is always more interesting than flat seas; no one wants to see happy people having fun. We want to see (flaws) and people overcoming obstacles and drama.
“So, it’s really changed their relationship for sure, and there’s going to be a lot of conflict. It’s just very hard and very messy and very complicated. So, it’s been a lot of fun.”
Michael on the rumors of the Alias Reboot and if he’d want to do it
(Spoken in a tone of self-aware irony) “I heard rumors of it and to be honest with you I find it absolutely preposterous. I’m still young enough to run down a hallway, so is Jennifer (Garner). What is this nonsense of recasting Alias? Wait, give us 20 years at least. How dare they. No, I have heard more rumors of a possible Alias movie, but really not anything concrete about this new show.
“The one little thing I heard is that it would be with a new cast, which I find kind of weird because, like I said, we’re still all young enough to do that but – yes, no, I don’t know what any of that is about and don’t really think much of it until I hear more, unless you know something I don’t.
“To be honest with you, it would have to be the entire returning cast from the original series, and I venture to say that would be impossible to put together. People are scattered, their careers have changed, some people are not even in the business anymore, some people are movie stars.
“It just feels a little soon to reboot Alias. But hey, you know what, stranger things have happened so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Other fun facts I learned:
Clacked by An Nicholson 
on Jun 14, 2010 @ 14:00 EST5EDT
Thanks for your accurate reporting and conveying Michael Vartan so well. When you see and hear his interviews, the self-deprecating humor and gentle sarcasm and joking come through, but when you read his interviews, so much of that is lost and totally changes one’s impression if you don’t know how he talks. Thanks for keeping it in perspective. I could not agree more on “the hotness.” Vartan is super special and I just wish we could see more of him on TV and at the movies.
*POST AUTHOR*
Thanks, Janet. I remember that when he called the rumors ‘preposterous’ I broke out into laughter, the person who just asked the question broke out into laughter, and Michael was already laughing. He then followed that statement by humorously saying: “I heard that they’re rebooting HawthoRNe; I’d be much more interested in getting on [that]” which was again re-met by laughter.
When I read the transcript after the call, I realized that if a person had not sat in on the conversation they would assume something else altogether. So, I’m glad I was able to partially convey his ironic sensibilities (which you already appear aware of :)
And, yes, I would love to see him in more films/shows -
You are so right. When he’s being funny – which is 99% of the time! – he sounds outrageous and I worry people who don’t know his personality think he’s a jerk! But people always have fun interviewing him – there’s always lots of chuckling and laughing on both sides as you describe.
Let’s hope we both get our wish and see him more. Actually, he’s been in 3 or 4 films that aren’t getting released. I’ve seen clips on the internet and they are excellent and one (“Rogue”) is out in DVD. I don’t get Hollywood. But you can get Rogue and see a super film and “the hotness” – I got one in Border’s and I’m sure it’s at Amazon too. Let’s hope the other ones get released and in the meantime we have “HawthoRNe!”
Thanks again for the great column.
*POST AUTHOR*
I think we should start a fan club: ‘Michael Vartan is the hotness.’ I’ll admit, I was happy when he was on ‘Never Been Kissed,’ but I felt it didn’t bring out his personality as in ‘Alias.’ I loved him in ‘Big Shots,’ but his relationship with his best friend was the only thing that made me want to watch that show considering its hideous writing (despite the fabulous casting choices). I’ll have to check out ‘Rogue’ and, hopefully, I’ll see the others down the line. If not, I’m definitely looking forward to his return in ‘HawthoRNe’ (what a pain to type :) S2. Thx again for your comments!