Lucas Neff and Greg Garcia (Raising Hope)

“Raising Hope” is shown every Tuesday at 9:30pm on Fox. The show is about Jimmy Chance (Lucas Neff) (who has just become a single father after inheriting a toddler after the mother he had a one night stand with ends up on death row) and his crazy family. It was created by Greg Garcia, who has also worked on “Family Matter” and created “My name is Earl.” Shakefire had the chance to talk to Lucas and Greg about the show.

 

Shakefire: Hey Fellas!

Lucas Neff: Hi!

Greg Garca: Hello!

 

SF: My first question is for Greg.  How did the concept for the show come about?

GG: Well, I had a couple of ideas for movies, but I didn’t really know how this movie would end. So, then it was time for me to go and pitch new shows after Earl got cancelled. I went into Fox and pitched this show. I think I kind of wanted to do a domestic comedy, but a twisted domestic comedy.  So, this is what I came up with.

 

SF: Cool! The next question is for Lucas. What attracted you to the role of Jimmy Chance; and what are the differences and similarities between the two of you?

LN: Well, what attracted me to the role was twofold. One, I was really broke, and unemployed. It’s the best job offer I’ve ever received in my life. I’d have been a fool to turn it down.

Then, two, the writing is really good. It’s especially good considering it’s in the sitcom format, which can be difficult to write for. Greg obviously has a lot of experience writing comedies for television. So, it, just seemed like a wonderful opportunity for me, you know, a gift from the sky.

And, then as far as similarities between myself and Jimmy, I guess, sad to say, I think we both try really hard, but, we don’t always succeed on the first go around. We both have a learning curve. I think both Jimmy and myself have to learn to accept that we don’t always get it right out of the gates, and to keep trying and hope for the best, and know that we’re surrounded by good people.

 

SF: Wow! That was a great answer. I was wondering how did you guys get Greyson Chance to play the younger version of Jimmy (Lucas Neff’s character)?

GG: Well, how it came about was I have three sons. One of them was at a bar mitzvah. Grayson was playing at the bar mitzvah, which was one of these insane bar mitzvahs that they seem to have these days around here in an airplane hangar. My son came home and was raving about him. So, I looked him up on the internet and then I realized, “oh, yeah,” I had seen this kid’s YouTube clip. Then, as I watched him, I was like, gosh, you know, I think he could look like a young Lucas. Then, I just kind of got this idea that what if Jimmy used to have this crazy musical talent that nobody told him about. Then, we could do a flashback to that time and, then we figured out a whole episode about it. He’ll be back on the show and he will be in three episodes in the second season.

 

SF: Lucas, what do you think of having someone so talented playing your younger self?

LN: Well, unfortunately, I feel like you instantly start getting into a bit of a comparison game. There’s no way I’m going to beat this little tween phenom, who is super-talented. However, he’s also a really nice kid. You’re actually going to get to see him act a little bit too, which he’s got a lot of talent. I was really happy to meet him. His YouTube videos blew my mind along with all of the other teen girls out there. Yes, he was fun. I wish the best to him.

GG: This was nothing new to Lucas. My son plays the four-year-old version of Jimmy, and he’s way more talented than Lucas. So, Lucas has been getting used to this for a while.

LN: Yes. Greg’s son likes to say that I play his part.

 

SF: That is hilarious guys! Lucas, are there any episodes that are your favorites or enjoyed doing?

LN: That’s always a tough question for me to answer, because there are different episodes that are my favorite for different reasons. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the pilot, because it was the first episode of television I ever shot in my life. It was a huge door opening and life changing experience for me.  So, it’s, that seminal moment’s always going to be treasured by me. However, I also loved our season finale for a ton of reasons. There’s almost a moment or more moments in every episode where I just really love what I do. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it. I have a lame answer, but it’s just the truth.  I really like, and am proud of, all the episodes that we do.  On any given day, any one of them could be my favorite.

 

SF: That’s sweet man! Is there a particular line or scene that you either had trouble getting through or just gets quoted back to you all the time and really seems to define your role?

LN: I know a lot of people talk about the car seat moment in the pilot as being sort of a defining moment for the series as to what the show’s sensibilities are, which is that we’re a family that’s figuring things out. We make some, sometimes pretty loopy mistakes, like not tying a car seat to the seat, but, everything works out okay and she ends up fine. We learn from it. As far as an actor goes, there’s a scene almost every day that cracks me up. I think, maybe a little too much to the detriment of our shooting schedule, but, I think that and the execution scene in the pilot, I think, were real tone setters for us.

 

SF: Well, those are all of my questions. I can’t wait to check out the new episodes and thank you guys so much for talking with me today.

BOTH: Thank you!