Fans of the ABC Family series The Middleman are perhaps more than familiar with the title character's offbeat nature—his gadgets, his love of gadgets, his humor, and the way he fights the bad guys in each episode.  It's something that the lead actor Matt Keeslar enjoys. The role of a superhero is something that he's always wanted to do, and playing the Middleman, who was inspired by the comic book of the same name, certainly fits the bill.

In an interview with iF Magazine, Keeslar talked about the beginnings of his involvement with the series.  “I got involved after I met Javier [Grillo-Marxuach, the show's creator] for coffee,” he said.  “I had read the script and thought it was well-written and funny.  Javier said he wanted me to audition for the executives at ABC Family.  A week later I auditioned and got the part.”

Keeslar also revealed that his pursuance of the role in The Middleman was inspired by his love of comic books.  “My love of comics has influenced many of my choices as an actor,” he related.  “I used to tape record myself reading them aloud, doing the voices.  In a way, comics led me to acting.”

It's perhaps a challenge, then, when Keesler is confronted with his character's colorful, if not complicated, lingo.  “The Middleman has his own lingo that takes some time to learn,” he said. “Anyone could learn the speeches if they were willing to spend the monotonous hours repeating them.  It usually means at least three takes to get the monologues up to speed without any flubs.”

And he's enjoying the gadgets he has to use, too.  His favorite would be the ‘truth grenade'—“it disperses a fine mist of Hyper-pentothal that makes everyone in the immediate vicinity tell the truth,” he said.  “Not the most useful gadget for the Middleman, but lots of fun at a party.”

Another episode of The Middleman airs tonight from 10pm on ABC Family.


-Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: iF Magazine
(Image courtesy of ABC Family)