CC: From
Mars To Paradise Island?
by
Matt Webb Mitovich
With the long-awaited next new episode of UPN’s Veronica Mars now just a day away (airing Wednesday at 9 pm/ET), TVGuide.com grabbed a (figurative) hold of Charisma Carpenter, who this season has been appearing as Dick and Beaver’s head-turner of a stepmother, Kendall Casablancas. Here is what the Buffy/Angel alumna had to share about her present in Neptune, her possible future on Paradise Island and the thing she cannot believe she revealed to Playboy.
TVGuide.com:
You next appear on Veronica Mars in "The Quick and the Wed," airing
March 22. I hear that Kendall makes some sort of offer to Aaron Echolls?
Charisma Carpenter:
Yes, I do have a nice offer for Aaron - a piece. [Laughs]
TVGuide.com:
A what?
Carpenter:
A piece.
TVGuide.com:
Meaning a gun? Or of a—?
Or of the
action?
Carpenter:
That’s the big question. Maybe a piece of the pie, maybe a piece of me....
TVGuide.com:
On the topic of whether Duncan actually ever succumbed to Kendall’s charms,
Mars creator Rob Thomas said here at TVGuide.com, "Duncan’s not built
that way."
Is that ego-deflating for you to hear or - and this is my theory - is
Duncan simply built the wrong way?
Carpenter:
The latter! [Laughs] I guess Kendall is just not very discerning about to whom
she gives her body. But, given some new insights I’ve been given from Rob,
apparently everything has a purpose and a meaning. My character’s IQ is about to
jump up about 50 points, did he tell you that? Things are about to become very
clear.
TVGuide.com:
What, has Kendall been putting on some sort of act?
Carpenter:
[Coyly] I guess.... Rob likened her to Annette Bening in The Grifters,
which as you know is an amazing role. I was like, "Really? That’s goooood!" I
just love those people [at Veronica Mars]. They’re awesome.
TVGuide.com:
So you’re happy with your role? It’s different enough from Angel’s
Cordelia? I know that has been an issue for you, always playing a bitch.
Carpenter:
You know what? That used to be an issue, but to be honest, I’m not trying to
play the heroine chick anymore. I grew out of that. Now it’s just about having
fun.
TVGuide.com:
After all, let’s be frank - God didn’t really design you to play the nice
girl.
Carpenter:
Not on television, anyway.
TVGuide.com:
Has Kendall had her fun and is she now all done with Logan?
Carpenter:
I don’t know.... She’s not very nice and Logan is the bad boy. Duncan was the
sweet-as-pie boy.
TVGuide.com:
Who would Charisma pick? What type do you gravitate toward?
Carpenter:
[Sighs] Well, in high school it was
the a—hole, and then as I got older I knew how to pick them better.
TVGuide.com:
Your son, Donovan, is about to turn 3. What sort of "tricks" is he doing
these days?
Carpenter:
His tricks are "kicking the ball," "discovering insects" and talking about the
"big giant monkey that’s upstairs, sleeping" - and being careful not to wake him
up....
TVGuide.com:
I assume the "monkey" is Dad?
Carpenter:
[Chuckles] If I said yes, my husband would die because that would give the
impression that he is hairy, and he can’t have that.
[On a tangent] My husband has decided he wants to take up motocross,
which is really pissing me off. I’m like, "What, are you going through a midlife
crisis?!"
TVGuide.com:
Better motocross than some chirpy 20-year-old.
Carpenter:
What?! That didn’t even enter my mind.
TVGuide.com:
I know. How could it possibly?
Carpenter:
How could it?
TVGuide.com:
Hey, are you going to star in Wonder Woman? [Buffy creator Joss
Whedon is writing and will direct a big-screen take on the superheroine, to be
produced by Joel Silver.] What a great fit that would be.
Carpenter:
I know! From your lips to God’s ears... or Joss’... or Joel’s....
TVGuide.com:
Speaking of Joss, you’re sort of known as the Buffy-verse alum who
doesn’t charge for autographs at conventions....
Carpenter:
I just think it’s wrong to charge - it feels sleazy and desperate. The only
reason I would charge now is because there are [disadvantaged] kids who need
assistance. I’m doing a convention [Wizard World Los Angeles] on March 18, and
in this case I am charging, but everything is going to charity. So my fans will
be helping out a very special kid, a 9-year-old quadriplegic who needs a
specially equipped van. If I can exploit myself in a way that helps others, I’ll
do that.
TVGuide.com:
So to everyone reading this: Go to the convention, get an autograph from
Charisma and help that kid get a van.
Carpenter:
Yeah!
TVGuide.com:
I missed your recent Lifetime movie, Flirting with Danger. What was
that about?
Carpenter:
[In little girl voice] I was naughty... again. I’m such a hussy! I guess
Veronica Mars warmed me up to be naughty.
TVGuide.com:
What about Voodoo Moon [a feature in which a psychic woman and her
brother hunt down a demonic being]? Will we ever get to see that?
Carpenter:
I wish I knew what was going on with that. Eric Mabius (The O.C.) plays
my brother, and I really loved working on it. It was a fun thing to do and it
should appeal to the people who watched Buffy and Angel. It’s got
fighting and zombies....
TVGuide.com:
What TV do you like?
Carpenter:
I just started the Season 1 DVD for 24, because I have never seen any of
it, and we just finished Season 1 of Lost. I tend not to watch shows
while they’re airing. I’ll just wait for the DVD and watch 13 hours or so in one
shot. That’s the best payoff - you can just go to the next episode without
waiting a week. I love Nip/Tuck, and I’m a huge fan of The Sopranos....
TVGuide.com:
Someone sneaked me the first four episodes of this season’s Sopranos.
If you’re nice to me, I’ll share.
Carpenter:
Are you in L.A.? No, you’re in New York. That’s not going to work. I would have
come over! We could have hung out and shared popcorn.
TVGuide.com:
Don’t
tease an old man. What else do
you have going on?
Carpenter:
I have three more episodes of Veronica Mars to shoot and it’s pilot
season, so I’m working my ass off to get a regular job. Hopefully by the end of
the month I’ll find out if I have one or not. If not, I’ll have another baby
or...
TVGuide.com:
Another baby?
Carpenter:
I’d like to eventually, but I want Wonder Woman right now. I’m not
holding my breath but I’m crossing my fingers and toes and praying.
TVGuide.com:
Well, I think that just about covers everything.
Carpenter:
You think?
TVGuide.com:
Well, save for a Q&A excerpt I stumbled across during research. You told
Playboy that you once had sex at an Oscars party?
Carpenter:
I said that?! Oh my god, I can’t believe I said that on a public level.
TVGuide.com:
Does the outside prospect of doing "that" become a factor when choosing a
dress for the Oscars?
Carpenter:
That’s a very witty question, but the answer is no - you just
make it work!