On the set of 24

By: Lovey

When Lovey spent time on the set of 24, we expected some big time scoops and insights. Instead, she spoke to Mary Lynn Rajskub – who plays Chloe on the hitshow - about her wardrobe, her character’s ex-husband, and the sparks between her and Jack Bauer. There is one scoop though!

Lovey: Can you believe that your on such an amazing show?
Mary Lynn Rajskub: No, I can’t. I thought, I’d be fired after four episodes. I spent the first three years being hired for – OK, two more… three more… four  more… And then, early on, they gave me a baby to put under my desk. I don’t know if anyone’s seen that one? I was like, “Oh, I’m so out of here. This character is so gone.” But then it worked. They started writing me helping Jack and being his confidant. And then people decided I was OK. So thank the writers for that.

Was it your idea to make Chloe more sexy this season?
Oh… Let’s talk about it.  Well, in real life, I’m becoming more sexy. I’m developing as a woman. I started wearing a training bra this year. But as far as the show… I had a conversation this year with the executive producer and the head of wardrobe. Because of what Chloe has been through in the past few seasons, she has grown up a little bit more, she has more responsibility and she’s a little more serious. So, she’s decided she’s going to brush her hair this morning.

She’s also getting back on track with herr ex-husband, isn’t she?
Yeah… It’s pretty sexy… That’s been really fun for me. This is the first dramatic part I’ve ever done. And seeing as it’s really only four days in this person’s life, it’s the most character development I’ve had. So it’s been really fun from going just being an annoying, sort of, vaguely rude person who spouts of rules, to be this person who has all these different sides to her and then, next thing you know, is working alongside her ex-husband. That’s really exciting. I think we should do a Moonlighting show. You remember, Cybil Sheppard and Bruce Willis? Cause we have some stuff that we’re doing later in the season and it’s just been really fun. We’re just bickering now. There’s a whole bickering scene, which I also love (laughs). All this bad stuff has happened and we’re just sitting there arguing with each other.

Have you noticed that about the only time in  the show that we see Jack smile is when he’s with Chloe?
I noticed that too. It’s funny because I watch the show every week that it airs – unless I miss it because I’m at some fabulous Hollywood party; see that’s the new me! I was struck by that too. I was like, It’s about time he stopped and had a moment with me. Because it really never stops.

Even though 24 is such a serious show, I hear there are a lot of laughs between takes…
Yeah, there are actually. It’s pretty silly. You know who’s hilarious? Bill Buchanan – James Morrison. He’s got some pretty good dance moves. Singing. Dirty jokes. It’s pretty fun.

And you do stand up comedy as well as acting. Is that something you like doing as an antidote to 24?
I do. I love doing live performance. And I’m very lucky because there are so many storylines on 24 that I have a lot of days off. So I try to do some live performance and stuff like that.

What kind of material do you do?
Well, you know, I used to be this girl who was just really uncomfortable and I could barely stand on stage – which was based on the reality. I would get laughs just because I couldn’t say my name, I was so uncomfortable. And then I started playing with that idea. I would trip. I would trip on the way up to the stage. Sometimes people would be Oh, is she OK? It was this idea of this person who was so uncomfortable. Now, people recognize me. And they’re also thinking of Chloe. So sometimes when I talk about my personal observations, I look out and I just realize they’re all like, So what’s Kiefer really like (laughs). Why do I bother? Alright, let me just talk about 24.

Would you like to do a sitcom?
Sure. I’ve done them before. I will do them again. I would love to do some romantic comedy movies. I’d like to be a wacky detective. Or an action star. A funny action star (laughs).

Are you getting better with computers now? I remember hearing that when you started on 24 you weren’t that good with them…
Oh yeah, I’m really good now. I’m pretty much close to where Chloe is with computers now. I’ve taken some courses in my downtime.

Would you enjoy more actions scenes?
Yeah, it’s really fun. Most of the show is on location and action. But, you know, when I did some of that stuff, the camera is focusing on the bullet hole. Yeah, that’s really cool looking. And I’m like, ‘What about me and my dialogue’? That’s a whole different animal. It’s really cool to see how they do all the action stuff. I had a stunt double and stuff like that, so it was pretty cool.

Do you take part in the DVD commentaries?
I have. But I’m usually drunk when I do it (laughs). I don’t know where that came from. I did it once for Joel Surnow, I think for season three. And then I did it once for Howard Gordon, I guess, for season five. What happened to my commentary on season four? I don’t know.

What kind of reaction do you get from your fans?
Sometimes people hug me.

Sounds scary…
Scary. But nice. Depending on what mood you’re in. I mean, the reaction is great. People love the show. I’m kind of amazed at how many people come up to me and say stuff. Because, personally, I would never go up to somebody (laughs). But it’s really nice because it’s a testament to how into the show they are. People want to tell you their experience of watching the DVD’s. “I watched it for 48-hours straight…. I missed the birth of my second child because I was busy watching it.” And I think, that’s really nice! It’s really addictive, isn’t it?

Do you get much choice in your wardrobe?
I’m getting better in my choices. I made some pretty bad choices my first season. I had the flip hairdo and the pinstripe vest. Which at the time, I’m like, “Chloe would totally wear a pinstripe vest.” Halfway through the year I wanted to kill myself. She really had to be this girl. But yeah, we sort of discuss it together. I was saying earlier about her being more responsible and more grown up. That was a conscious choice to have her be a little more sleek and serious this year.

Did they go out and buy you 40 little black shirts?
No. I keep forgetting to mention this to the press… Every time I run into the wardrobe guy, he’s like, “You know your shirt is Armani. You should start talking about how it’s Armani.” So, anyway, I think there’s only one of them. I’m like, “My shirt stinks.” I think there’s two, maybe. It’s Armani.

How was it starring in Little Miss Sunshine?
I have known the directors for years and years. They’re a husband and wife team, Jonathan (Dayton) and Valerie (Faris). They have been comedy fans for years. It’s taken them a really long time to pick the right script. And I knew that it was a special script. So to see what’s happened to that movie is just amazing. They’re great people who are interested in doing good things. So I was happy for them. I showed up for a couple of days and, you know, did my thing and got to be around those… They used a lot of the real pageant girls, so that was kind of a trip to see that too.  

How would you like to see things turn out for Chloe?
I’m kind of curious. I’m worried that she’ll – which could be cool for the character – that she’s going down a similar path as Jack, where he sort of lives by his own moral code. I think she admires him… I’d like to see her be president and be more like Jack.

Are you saying next season Chloe could be president?
It could happen. Weirdly.

That’s a scoop!
Yeah. If I have any power…