Playing the part of a dog owner doesn't sound so challenging, but when the dog is a crude Australian man in costume, things like keeping your composure or dignity can be tough. Fiona Gubelmann can attest to it. She plays Jenna, the owner of the titular man-dog on FX's hilarious and dark Wilfred alongside Elijah Wood and Jason Gann. The actress, who's done a guest spot on just about every sitcom in the last five years, filled us in on the new season, airing Thursdays, and the enduring legacy of Galaxy Quest.
ESQUIRE.COM: When the show's on, does the cast get together to watch it, or do you watch from home? Or do you not even watch at all?
FIONA GUBELMANN: I definitely watch. I'm actually a huge fan of the show, which is awesome to get to say. You never know when you're on a show if you're actually going to love it. For the episodes that I'm not in, I read them, but I try to just forget it, as long as it isn't important to my character. That way when the episodes air I get to watch it like a fan and actually enjoy it.
ESQ: It's such a crazy cast you have. Elijah Wood, Chris Klein who we know from American Pie. It seems like you've been in every sitcom in America. And an Australian in a dog suit.
FG: It's the most fun group of people. We've had guest stars come on who've worked for twenty years in the industry, and they're like, "This is the best show I've ever worked on." It's because our cast and crew is so much fun and so down-to-earth. We all hang out outside of work and that's so rare.
ESQ: What's new with your character this season?
FG: Jenna just got married. So the end of season two was definitely a high point for her. This season we find her settling down to married life and figuring out where she is in terms of her career and her family and her other relationships. There's a lot more self-exploration. But I feel like they've really brought a lot more humor back this season. Wilfred does plenty more things to embarrass me. There are going to be some answers to questions that fans have. There was a script where I read the last scene and I was like, "What? What?!" I couldn't believe it.
ESQ: It's not going to turn out that Wilfred is really just a guy in a dog suit, and everyone was crazy the whole time?
FG: I can't say. But maybe we will find out that Jenna really does have a dick. Season one there was this whole episode about Wilfred trying to convince Elijah, Ryan, that Jenna had a dick. There are some really great surprises this season. I'm interested to see how people react. That's one of the really cool things about tweeting live for the show.
ESQ: It can also get kind of nasty, can't it?
FG: I take everything with a grain of salt. You take the negative with the positive. One of my great acting teachers would talk about how good press and bad press are both equally damaging.
ESQ: It must feel weird to see Jason Gann out of the dog suit, in normal clothes.
FG: In the audition, I started doing his lines to him instead of the casting director, which is not really what you're supposed to do. The end of the scene, I just started laughing and going, "Oh my God, I can't believe I did that to you!" There was instant banter and connection. So I can recognize him without it. I will tell you, though, the few times that I have been recognized in public, I'm always not wearing makeup. I'm like, "Really? I look like a homeless person right now." I'll be wearing ratty clothing at the farmer's market and people will recognize me.
ESQ: What has it been like doing so many sitcoms, going to so many sets?
FG: It's fun because I really do love meeting new people. Comedy can be so different from show to show and from writer to writer and actor to actor. People don't set out to make a bad show. One of the things I've learned — before I would go on a show, I was like, "Oh God, I hate that show" or "That show is gonna get canceled." But now after being full-time on a show, you see how difficult it is and how much work goes into it and how so many decisions are based on finances or people's schedules or talent or location issues. It's a miracle that anything gets made.
ESQ: It must be nice to have a job to report to day in and day out.
FG: It is. It's starting to sink in a little. I was waiting tables when I booked the show, so... I've worked my booty off for years to get there. I'm still kind of like, "Wait, this is really happening?"
ESQ: Any favorite moments from the show so far?
FG: One of my favorite things was the squishy tits episode. Jenna ends up fondling herself and I had so much fun with that. I was ready to pull my shirt off and we had this bra on underneath. But we had to tone it down a little for the censors. When I found out they were remixing it in season two, I was so excited because I love those Auto-Tune remixes. Our show runner David Zuckerman sent it to me to watch to make sure I was comfortable with it, and I was like, "That's the best thing ever!" There's one episode where Wilfred was sniffing my panties in his cage. I had to tell the crew, "Okay, let's make sure these are not grannie panties, guys." I was definitely a little bit embarrassed about that.
ESQ: Just throw your sense of shame out the window.
FG: Exactly. I have a dark and sick sense of humor, so I definitely fit right in.
ESQ: What other projects are you working on?
FG: Right before I shot this season I worked on the We Are Men pilot. It's a CBS pilot and the series got picked up. It's Tony Shalhoub, Kal Penn, Jerry O'Connell, and Chris Smith. It's such a blast. That's airing this fall.
ESQ: Congratulations.
FG: Thank you. I'm excited. Talk about working with someone you look up to. Tony Shalhoub is incredible. It was fun getting to ask him about Galaxy Quest, which is one of my favorite comedies.
ESQ: Galaxy Quest?
FG: Have you not seen Galaxy Quest? It's amazing!
ESQ: I know exactly what you're talking about, but I don't think I've seen or thought about it since I was 13.
FG: Oh, it's genius. Watch it again. It's the most incredible cast. Like Missi Pyle. I think that was one of her first projects and she's one of my favorite comedic actresses. And then Sam Rockwell's in it. I would re-watch it. I think you'll find it funnier. I just saw it a few years ago and I was blown away.
ESQ: I'll definitely go back. I actually love Tim Allen.
FG: He's incredible in it. I grew up watching him. My mom loved Home Improvement. "Arr, arr, arr."
ESQ: That's what you can work into Wilfred, a good little catchphrase or grunt.
FG: Right? Squishy tits is close to it. People always tweet at me "#squishytits." It's suddenly become my thing. They haven't really made a t-shirt of it, but I'm sure someone will somewhere.
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