Ben McKenzie Talks 'Southland,' Jay Leno and Upcoming "Kissy-Kiss Scenes"

In the settling dust of the 'Southland' cancellation scandal, star Ben McKenzie has an amazing attitude about the whole ordeal -- especially considering he's having to do interviews when he's technically on a break from working, and also under the weather. "This is not work ... no, no, no. I don't consider this work, I consider this a pleasure," he insisted. (Yeah, I'm blushing, too.)

But with continuing chatter about what TNT's 'Southland' pickup means for the show, its stars and its rabid fan base, there are certainly a few things to clear up, and McKenzie was happy to help us do just that.

Like the fact that 'Southland' will be premiering commercial-free, and with some never-before-seen footgage, on TNT Tues., Jan. 12, at 10pm ET. Fans will get to re-watch the show's first seven episodes -- which also gives new viewers a chance to catch up -- before brand new episodes premiere Tues., March 2.

Even though we chatted with Michael Cudlitz recently as well -- "'Southland'-o-rama, I love it!," McKenzie celebrated. "A 'Southland' sandwich!" -- there was still more to discuss, including new episodes, bleeping, "kissy-kiss scenes" and Canadian tuxedos. Get all this dish and more -- like McKenzie's well-wishes for former 'O.C.' costar Mischa Barton, whose cancelled show 'The Beautiful Life' will never be rescued by a cable network -- right here.

Wow ... 'Southland.' So much drama! What gives?
I know. It is the strangest show -- or the strangest work experience -- I have ever had. Normally the drama is on set, you know? The actors are bickering -- or the directors or producers or writers -- or the scripts aren't good, or the actors are jerks. And this is the exact opposite. It's like, the set couldn't be more functional and easy-going ... everybody shows up and does the work, and all the drama is sort of behind the scenes, in terms of the networks and the producers and all the back-and-forth between those two camps. It's been an interesting up-and-down little rollercoaster, but if everything works out at TNT -- which I certainly hope it will -- I think that it will be a great fit for us. It's a great place to do an edgy cop show.

And it seems like it's a mutually beneficial deal -- TNT needs 'Southland' as much as you all need a new home, don't you think?
Yeah, I think that's a fair assessment -- I think you're right. I think that they're looking to sort of expand their brand into maybe even a little more cutting edge, harder type shows, and I think we fit the bill. And, quite frankly, the show always sort of should've been on cable. It was kind of relying on -- as we now see -- obviously a mode of business that NBC is no longer interested in engaging in. 10 o'clock series dramas ... they just don't want to make them anymore. [Laughs] No, not so much -- so we're gonna just take our ball and go play elsewhere. [TNT is] looking to expand their programming, and we're looking to have someone put us on the freaking air! [Laughs] That's all we need, baby!

But ironically, you'll now be going up against 'The Jay Leno Show' ...
Yes. It's not exactly coincidence -- I mean, we were going to have to be on at 10 o'clock, wherever we were gonna move to, probably. Maybe not, but I would argue that we'd probably have to be on then if we're going to make the show we want to make. You know, they want to un-bleep some of the cursing that we've done, and kind of open the show up to an even grittier thing than NBC was going to let us do. That being said, I don't want to get anyone's expectations up -- I don't know that we're necessarily going to beat 'Jay Leno.' As much as fans of the show and members of our cast and crew would all take satisfaction in that, that's a little unrealistic perhaps, because the episodes have aired three times already on network TV. But it's interesting ... it's certainly interesting.

About the bleeping -- Cudlitz was telling us about a station in Norway that aired the show with the bleeps, then quickly apologized for censoring and ran the unedited version. Will TNT be cutting all the bleeps out?
They have to bleep f*** ... not to be too, you know ... but we're adults. They have to bleep the "F" word, but they don't apparently have to bleep sh** or sh**bird, which is one of John Cooper's favorite words. I don't know ... maybe like a**hole or something. I don't know what the cable standards are, but they are at least a little bit more lax, which just points to the fact that the whole system is kind of outdated. But whatever -- that's another topic.

It's important to note the schedule, because a lot of fans think we'll see the new episodes when TNT premieres the show in January, but we won't be getting them until they re-air the seven we've already seen first.
I know, I know ... look, in my ideal world, we'd shoot the 13 we were gonna do this year [on NBC] and they'd all be new [on TNT], but that's not the world we live in. TNT has quite aggressively pursued the show, and has smartly decided to put it on earlier rather than later. I think that they'll be aware that the first seven ... it's a little bit of a different thing than the six that will follow, which will be the new ones, because they will have aired before. But, a lot of people are rediscovering the show, or discovering it for the first time. I think interest has been piqued, maybe, by the press that we've gotten -- which, ironically, is the most press we've ever gotten. All from our cancellation, which is sort of enjoyable, if you're big into irony. [Laughs] But, you know, they'll take it from there. They'll decide pretty quick, based on the ratings, whether we're going to go forward. I certainly hope we do ... I love doing it.



So no hard feelings towards NBC?
I don't bear any particular animosity towards NBC -- I dressed up as Jay Leno for Halloween. [Laughs] I wish I'd gotten my picture taken [for proof], but I swear to God I did. It was a Jay Leno mask -- which they do sell -- and then the "Canadian tuxedo" of the jean shirt and the stone-washed jeans. And then, you know, you rub a little fake blood on your hands, and there you go, you've got your Jay Leno. [Laughs] No, I'm just kidding. I wouldn't do that -- that's terrible. [Laughs] It's all in jest. I didn't do the blood thing. That would be awful ... awful and amazing! [Laughs]

[Laughs] OK, but really ... you really aren't holding a grudge?
Life goes on, you know? I'm just thrilled that people will be able to see the episodes that we've shot. I pray that they will do well enough where we can shoot a whole new batch of new ones for hopefully years to come on TNT. I'm incredibly proud of this show, and I'm incredibly proud of everyone's work on it, including my own. I think that it is rare ... I've had a great work experience and I'd love to do it more. I don't burn Jay Leno crosses on my lawn or anything! Life's too short.

What can you tell us about the next batch of new episodes?
People that have liked 'Southland' before will definitely like the six [new episodes]. There's a lot of really great character development that's kind of slowly unfolding, with all the characters. People going through various stages of grief and suffering, and dealing with a lot of troubling aspects of their job -- the more traumatic elements of what it takes to be a cop or a detective in modern America, and particularly in L.A. And there'll be some romance, and there'll be some big action sequences -- you know, good ol' 'Southland' stew.

Romance, huh? Is there love in the air for Ben Sherman?
Yeah, there'll be a little bit of that. We got sort of cut off in the middle there, but there'll be some romantic elements. There are kissy-kiss scenes, I can offer you that. Not between me and Michael Cudlitz, but kissy-kiss scenes involving Ben Sherman and women.

You're not Cooper's type! [Laughs] Do you think they'll ever go there with Cudlitz's character, getting him a gay love interest ... or have they already?
They ... yeah, they start pushing towards that as well. Once again, I think that we got kind of cut off in the middle, but they definitely start making inroads to revealing his personal life more. We're trying to handle the fact that Officer John Cooper is gay as only one aspect of his personality, not the overriding, sole aspect of his personality. He is a cop who happens to be gay rather than a "gay cop." So, much like I don't play a straight cop -- I'm a cop, I'm also straight. I'm also rich, and I'm also ambitious ... [and] named after a fashion designer. [Laughs]

Watch our Michael Cudlitz video Q&A

What about the cliffhanger shooting from last season's finale?
Regina King's character is dealing with the shooting of Tom Everett Scott['s character] and all of that -- there'll be ramifications for him having been shot in the season finale of last year. I can't really speak to the other characters ... I think that's sort of outside my jurisdiction, but as we get closer and closer, we'll unspool some more things for you.

There was so much talk, even before the cancellation, about tightening focus, mainly on your character and Regina's character. Did that happen? And now, with the move to cable, do you think the cast could be downsized?
What we've shot ... I would argue it's been relatively similar to what we shot last year. Perhaps a bit more focused on Regina and her partner -- she has a couple of different partners -- and Michael [Cudlitz] and me. But everyone's still in the cast and everyone's still featured prominently in the cast that was in there last year. If the show moves forward onto TNT, obviously the budget will have to be trimmed somewhat ... I don't think it'll be quite as clear cut as people will just go away completely. I don't know -- the producers may have to go in and rearrange deals or whatever, but I think everyone who wants to remain part of the show will be able to. We'll shoot it guerilla style -- that's how we do it.

Are you taking any jobs during your little break?
I was gonna say I'm going to write jokes for Jay Leno ... [Laughs] No, I'm ... no. I'm going to try to not lose my mind over the ins and outs and fluctuations of the show. I'm going to see if I can squeeze in a movie before we go back, if we go back. If not, I'm gonna hang tight and continue to do some writing with a friend, and kind of hang out and enjoy my life.

It doesn't drive you nuts to not be working?
I'm pursuing movies but ... this sounds sort of pretentious perhaps, but I have had such a great creative experience on 'Southland,' that I only really want to do a movie if a) there's interest for me, which is not always the case, and b) if I think it'll be a good experience for me, creatively, career-wise, whatever. I don't need to stay busy just to make a movie if I don't think it's gonna be any good. That's always been kind of my thing, ever since I got 'The O.C.' -- every project I've done, I've had a reason for doing. I've probably worked less than a lot of other people might in my situation, but I don't look back with a lot of regrets. I'd rather work less on more high quality stuff, and work intensely and really focus on that, than do a lot more stuff that I don't believe in creatively.

Have you talked to your old pal Mischa Barton at all? Her new show 'The Beautiful Life' got axed right around the same time as 'Southland' ...
Right ... we got together and shared a tub of ice cream and just cried and laughed and watched old movies. [Laughs] No, no ... I have not. I'm sorry, this is not 'First Wives Club' or something. We did not get together and commiserate [laughs], but I certainly wish her well. This is the breaks of the TV biz -- most shows fail. I think everybody kind of gets it ... that's kind of just what it is.