Harry Connick, Jr., talks about the cold, Zellweger and his new movie
The amazing Harry Connick Jr. - singer/composer, Broadway performer, TV actor and movie star - hit Chicago this week to promote his new film "New in Town," a romantic comedy set in Minnesota and co-starring Renee Zellweger.
I sat down with Connick at Chicago's Peninsula Hotel for a chat about his movie, which opened Friday, and the impending Super Bowl on Sunday.
Q. A lot of Chicagoans have been complaining about the chilly temperatures here during the past few days. But you shot your movie in Winnipeg, Canada.
A. We might have as well been on the North Pole, man, because it was cold. It was freezing. It got down to 50 below at times. If you're going from a hotel to car it's not so bad. When you have to stand out there all day, it really kind of gets tough. We're making a movie, so life could be a lot worse. But it was very, very cold.
Q. How did that affect your performance?
A. You just want to be sure you know your lines. Things as simple as that. It was uncomfortable, but knowing that the crew has been out there, and will continue to be out there after we got inside, put a slight burden on us to get it right.
Q. Last year, you threw a party for Super Bowl Sunday and invited your co-star Renee Zellweger. How did that work out?
A. It was very laid-back. My assistant and me and she had her assistant with her. I just made a pot of red beans and we watched the Super Bowl. She's from Texas, and she's used to a very informal get-together like that. It was great. We just hung out and watched the game. I made a little bananas foster afterward. It was fun.
Q. Got plans for this Sunday?
A. Nothing, man, just hanging out with my family. Just watch it and see what happens. It should be an interesting game. I'm looking forward to it.
Q. What was the biggest challenge in playing Ted, the local union rep in "New in Town"?
A. I didn't want to overplay (the character). I've seen reviews of this movie that are 10 paragraphs long. That's like reviewing a Snickers bar. It is what it is. It's a piece of candy and it tastes good. That's about all you can say about it. That's the same with this (movie). It's a romantic comedy, so you don't want to overplay it.
Q. You're mostly known on TV for playing Grace's flawed husband on the sitcom "Will & Grace." What's the difference between doing comedy for TV and comedy for the silver screen?
A. The writers, and it's plural in television, there's a team of writers, and they come and watch a rehearsal, there's 12 difference opinions on what's funny and what isn't funny. Normally, writers aren't on the set on a movie. The producers and the director are the only feedback you get on what's funny or not. That's the first difference.
The second difference is that "Will & Grace" was in front of a live audience. So if a joke doesn't work, they can immediately rewrite it, and even if a joke does work, they often rewrite it anyway because they have the writers to do it.
Q. What's the secret to success?
A. Just keep on. It's really about being the best craftsman you can be.