Boy Meets World Star Returns
Tuesday, June 19, 2001
Boy Meets World's teen dream Will Friedle, 24, is finally coming of age in Hollywood. Ready to graduate from playing high-school kids, he plays their teacher in NBC's new comedy Go Fish — which debuts tonight at 8 pm/ET and co-stars Andy Dick and Kieran Culkin (that's Macaulay's little bro). "Most of the stuff I've been in has been geared toward children," Friedle says. "This is an adult show, which I'm looking forward to." To keep him from getting too immersed in his character's Medieval Lit syllabus, though, TV Guide Online phoned up the amiable actor with a sass-filled pop quiz. Brace yourself, summer school's in!
TVGO: Your co-star Andy Dick always talks about being in recovery. Were you scared to meet him?
Friedle: The first thing that goes through your mind is, 'Oh, I'm working with somebody who talks about his sordid past.' But the second I meet Andy, he's the nicest guy and he's got his [expletive] together. So the trepidation goes away as soon as you meet this man. He was one of the reasons I decided to do Go Fish as opposed to other shows.
TVGO: [Yawn] That's nice. I'm doing the TV Guide Crossword now. Tell me something juicy before I nod off.
Friedle: I'm a white kid from Connecticut. I got nothing juicy. I'm sitting here with my leg elevated because I destroyed my ankle playing basketball.
TVGO: Your ex-girlfriend Jennifer Love Hewitt turned down Shannen Doherty's witchy role on Charmed, which has gone to Rose McGowan. Was that a mistake?
Friedle: No, I think she made the right choice. Love is a very talented actress and a really nice girl, and she's too big for that show. I know that sounds bad — but she's worked her butt off since she was eight years old and she's now starring in movies. She's exactly where she should be. Of course, I didn't get a call to replace Shannen Doherty, and I would've jumped at that!
TVGO: So you'd play Alyssa Milano's long-lost brother?
Friedle: No, no. I want to play Shannen Doherty. They can just put me in a wig, maybe pad me up a little bit and I can go out there and play the character. I'm versatile, man.
TVGO: But are you sassy enough?
Friedle: [Makes a "pfft" noise.] Am I sassy? I'm saucy, that's how good it is. I graduated sassy when I was like 14, my friend. I'm way ahead on the curve.
TVGO: Would you do a celebrity edition of Survivor?
Friedle: Oh god. I don't have a lot of celebrity friends, so I can't imagine being surrounded by 15 actors on an island. I'd probably kill myself.
TVGO: Well, would you rather lie in the rat-filled pit on Fear Factor?
Friedle: My brother and I watched the first episode, and we agreed we could've done everything that was on. Stuff like the rat pit and eating the mealworms wouldn't bug me. It's mind over matter. You get in there, shut your eyes and find a happy place.
TVGO: My greatest fear is bad cinema. What's the worst film you've seen this year?
Friedle: I got built up to see Cast Away, and frankly, I think the volleyball was the best part of that movie. My family and I were sitting there thinking, 'Okay, [Tom Hanks] is on this island. The first night, wouldn't you take a walk just to make sure there's not a Club Med on the other side?'" — Daniel R. Coleridge
