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David
Chokachi and his co-star, Yancy Butler, continue their fight
for justice in the new TNT series Witchblade which premieres
on Tuesday, June 12, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT). Chokachi resumes his
role from the original two-hour movie as Jake McCartey, a
homicide detective and the partner of Sara Pezzini (Butler),
the woman who wields the Witchblade.
Witchblade
is based on the Top Cow comic book of the same name, about
an ancient gauntlet so powerful it can battle Earth's darkest
evil forces, and the woman destined to wear it. The series
picks up where the movie left off, as Sara and Jake deal with
a police review board and take on a new murder case.
Chokachi
is internationally known for his role as lifeguard Cody Madison
on Baywatch. He has also starred in the Showtime film The
Unspeakable, CBS's A Crime of Passion and ABC's Bad to the
Bone. Feature film turns include 12 Bucks and Psycho Beach
Party.
Chokachi
spoke to Science Fiction Weekly about Witchblade, science
fiction and keeping his shirt on.
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Tell us
about your new series.
Chokachi:
Basically, we pick up right at the end of the two-hour movie
and launch forward as if we're taking off from planet Earth.
The series is amazing, considering everything I've seen so
far with what we've shot, and script-wise. I think overall
it's even another level higher than the movie. Everyone's
character is up a level as far as what's going on. There's
hardly a time in the series where you sit back and take a
deep breath and just relax, because there's so much going
on for everyone's character.
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What about your character, Jake McCartey?
Chokachi:
Jake has evolved. In the pilot, it took a while for my character
to get going because of the story. In the series, which I
was totally excited about, they just gave me a higher level
of credibility as a detective and as her partner. Where he
starts and where he ends up, people are going to be amazed
regarding what's really going on with my character.
There's
a great subplot, about corruption. He gets somewhat involved,
and everything becomes very, very murky as far as what my
character is doing. In the end it's all going to be somewhat
revealed. It's great because they started me off as an all-American
type.
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What do you and your character have in common?
Chokachi:
I think what we have in common actually is that ... sometimes
[people respond to you] based on your looks. For some reason
you're not considered educated or you're not smart or you're
not streetwise. It's very true for myself and it's very true
for Jake. There's just a lot more going on with both of us
than meets the eye.
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Jake doesn't know about the Witchblade. What does Jake think
about his partner, Sara?
Chokachi:
He's kind of in a tough position, because he really wants
to be let in, and in order for him to be a better cop he needs
her to fill him with a lot more information ... and she doesn't
trust him yet. She's waiting for me to prove myself. She doesn't
trust many people just because of what's gone down in her
life. You don't walk into a room with her and earn her trust
instantly. You have to prove it. It's going to take a little
time for that to happen.
As far
as the Witchblade, as the series progresses, he becomes more
and more aware that something's going on with her. She has
some sort of weird thing that you can't even explain, but
I actually trust her [as my partner in the series].
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That's what I'm wondering, if you'll find out about the Witchblade
by the end of the 11th episode.
Chokachi:
See, I don't know. Because there's this whole other B story
with all these corrupt cops. I don't even know if they'll
cross that bridge. We may have to wait till the second 11
[laughs]. I don't know how much they're going to let me in
on the Witchblade.
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What's it like working with Yancy Butler and the rest of the
cast?
Chokachi:
It's phenomenal. I mean, Yancy, I give her all the credit
in the world, because she's got to work every day. It takes
us eight days to shoot a show. She works every day. She's
got the best attitude. She's doing a superb job with this
character. It's inspirational to see. If I get bogged down
with four full days of work, it's like ... she's fine. She
nailed it. She's taking it like a pro. And everyone else is
phenomenal. Anthony Cistaro, who plays Kenneth Irons, and
Nottingham (Eric Etebari). And our ghost, Danny Woo (Will
Yun Lee). It's a tight, tight group.
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What happens when the cameras go off?
Chokachi:
When the cameras go off, we all head toward the local tavern
[laughs]. It's pretty funny, because we're all so different-looking
but very eclectic in our own way. And if you see all of us
out together ... it's a good-looking crew.
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How is making a genre series like Witchblade different than
your experience with Baywatch?
Chokachi:
This is a more intelligent show, obviously. Baywatch was really
fun to make, but there's only so far you could take those
characters. For me, with this show, there's a lot more talent
as far as the levels of where your character really exists.
It's a lot more challenging, and it's fun to be challenged
as an actor.
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I'm assuming you use less sunscreen than you did on Baywatch.
Chokachi:
Yeah, exactly [laughs]. I don't even think I've had my shirt
off yet.
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I'm sure that will change by the end of the series.
Chokachi:
Oh, yeah [laughs]. I've already seen a couple shower scenes
coming up.
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Are you a fan of comic books or science fiction?
Chokachi:
I'm definitely a big fan of science fiction, and I am of comic
books now. I've really gotten into the Witchblade comic book.
As far as comic books, I really wasn't because when we grew
up we were involved in athletics 24 hours a day. But now with
Witchblade, I have stacks of them. I get into them. They're
great reading.
I love
science fiction. You know, it opens your mind. No one really
knows. No one can say for sure that none of this stuff could
exist. I love that about science fiction. No one has the answer.
There isn't a yes or no that's right or wrong as far as science
fiction. The things that people come up with, it's amazing.
It's great where it takes your mind. It sort of takes your
mind on an absolute, amazing roller-coaster ride. Just strap
your cranium in [laughs].
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Do you have a favorite science-fiction television show?
Chokachi:
I used to love Star Trek. The old one with Kirk. We used to
watch reruns and skip class in college.
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Now all your college professors know that.
Chokachi:
They knew it anyway [laughs].
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Many genre shows wouldn't exist if it wasn't for cable and
syndication. How do you feel about being on cable rather than
being on network television?
Chokachi:
I think as far as being an actor and as far as a series, it's
the best place we could possibly be, because a network like
TNT is willing to give you a shot. They're going to take the
time, and they believe in it, and they'll air the 11 [episodes].
They won't balk. On any major network, they are so quick,
so quick. I just think it's wrong, because a lot of shows
get dumped that shouldn't be dumped that don't pull in the
numbers. I think you get a cable network like TNT and they
give it a chance, and they put the publicity behind it. Especially
for this one. They've gone gangbusters. Witchblade, I think,
is a great match for TNT, as far as their audience and what
they have going on. I just don't think our show could be in
better hands.
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What makes Witchblade unique, considering the different science-fiction
and fantasy shows that are on television right now?
Chokachi:
I just think it's intelligent the way these writers have come
up with a lot of facts, a lot of history, as far as where
the Witchblade has been. Like the thing with Joan of Arc and
where it takes your mind. It just goes further. I think it
has more elements. I'm not taking anything from other shows.
They all have good things going. But there's just a little
bit or maybe a lot more going on as far as where the show
allows you to go.
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It has a mystery about it.
Chokachi:
Yeah, it really does. And wait 'til you see the episodes unfold.
It just gets better and better.
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Does the series have a story arc going all the way through
it?
Chokachi:
Absolutely. It's like 11 mini-movies. There's a continuum
that's very strong, from the first episode all the way ...
I haven't seen 11 yet, but through the first 10. And it's
amazing how things seem like they're circling away, then they
circle back and connect. And it relates to what Sara (Butler)
says at the end of the two-hour movie, and she realizes that
all things are connected.
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Can you give us a little teaser about what's coming up?
Chokachi:
There's some great ones. We've got Roger Daltrey, who plays
the devil. He's phenomenal, too. He plays a priest who turns
out to be somewhat suspect. He's an amazing actor. I was shocked.
He's great on this. As far as the shows, I think each episode,
each character, especially the main five of us ... everything
goes up a level as far as what's going on in their world.
So things become more high-stakes and it becomes really interesting
to watch ... I'm still waiting to read our last one, our 11.
They're going to spend some time on this one. It's going to
be the knockout.
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That's good, because you want people to keep watching so you
can do 22.
Chokachi:
Exactly. That's the goal, 22. I'd love to be here playing
Jake for a couple years.
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