The 4400: Inside NTAC with Tom Baldwin
We visit the set of the sci-fi series and talk with star Joel Gretsch.

by Eric Goldman

August 23, 2007 - It may look like an unassuming studio lot from the outside, but on the Vancouver set of The 4400 there is a growing war between those with and without special abilities. Earlier this summer I was able to pay a visit to the set of the USA science fiction show, which is now in its fourth season. A tour of all the main soundstages The 4400 uses revealed some amusing aspects that would be hard to ever spot on the show, including some fun pictures of Joel Gretsch ("Tom Baldwin") and his TV son Chad Faust ("Kyle") goofing off in Tom's house.

The interior sets for The 4400 Center revealed Shawn's (Patrick Flueger) attractive office, and an appropriately cluttered office down the hall for Kevin Burkhoff (Jeffrey Combs). There was plenty of medical equipment around, including syringes, but alas, none filled with promicin - hey, I'm a leftie, so I have a very good chance of getting a power, and not dying! Then it was over to a mysterious set that clearly was some kind of underground bunker, complete with beds and shelves filled with books. The friendly production assistant taking me and another visiting journalist around the soundstages couldn't reveal what this set was, but we guessed it was likely a new hiding place for Jordan Collier (Billy Campbell), and I was happy to see our guesses were correct on an episode of the show that aired shortly after the set visit.

Of course the most impressive set of all is the one for NTAC, where many a scene on the show takes place between Tom, Diana (Jacqueline McKenzie) and their colleagues. There's the Theory Room, where Marco (Richard Kahan) works to figure out what the latest 4400 threat is able to do with their powers. The Theory Room is a huge mess, filled with dry erase boards, pieces of paper, and toys. From there, a collection of hallways -- which on the show can be filmed to look even longer -- leads to the center of NTAC, where desks and computer screens fill the large room. Off to the corner is the interrogation room, were 4400 prisoners are questioned. To one side of the room is the office of NTAC's commander, currently held by Meghan Doyle (Jenni Baird), with her favorite movie posters on the wall.

On the other side of the room is the office belonging to Tom and Diana. Like Meghan's office, there are case files sitting about, and in a nice touch, each of the two desks (which sit facing each other) have "From the Desk of…" pads of paper with both Tom and Diana's names printed on the respective character's desks. Gretsch has doodled on his pad of paper a bit, filling in the o and the a in his character's name.

We then went to the set of Diana's apartment, where McKenzie was in the midst of shooting a scene with Conchita Campbell ("Maia"). The episode being filmed was the second to last of the season, and while I won't give away too much, I can say that Maia is feeling a bit ill in this episode, and in the scene in question, Diana's comforting her as the young girl goes to bed. And yes, you'd be right to suspect her illness isn't quite one of the normal variety.

While the crew were moving equipment over to begin filming another scene on a different soundstage, we went outside to the craft services areas and spoke to Allison Liddi-Brown, who was directing this episode, entitled "Tiny Machines." Liddi-Brown is a busy television director, having directed episodes of many notable series, including Boston Legal, CSI and Friday Night Lights, and this was her second episode of The 4400, having previously directed the Season 3 episode "The Starzl Mutation." Asked what attracted her to The 4400, Liddi-Brown replied "I think the scripts are really good and they take you in very interesting places and the metaphors are there for you to see or not see, in terms of how we're living now, so it's exciting."

When it came to the cast of The 4400, Liddi-Brown said "They're totally great. I love them because they take it seriously -- it's a job -- but they take it to the point of where it should stop being serious, you know what I mean? They want to make it great, but they also have a good time doing it, and it's a lot of fun. It really is a lot of fun for me, and I don't say that a lot! It's usually way too much work and sort of an impossible job, but these guys make it fun. It's a good crew too."

Back on the set, we watched as a dramatic scene was filmed with Tom and Diana, which took place in their NTAC office. I can't give any details of course, but suffice to say it has to do with the storyline building this season about The Marked, a mysterious group from the future who are at odds with the majority who first sent The 4400 back and whom we now know -- from the most recently aired episodes -- have taken control of Tom. Gretsch and McKenzie did a few takes of the scene, briefly pausing at one point while crew members repaired a file cabinet that Gretsch has to open during the scene, which had a damaged piece. The crew quickly fixed the problem, and the duo went back to work, soon moving on to another portion of the sequence.

Earlier in the day, before Gretsch had to return to the soundstages to resume filming the episode (which airs September 9th), I was able to sit down with the actor during a break, for an exclusive discussion about his role on The 4400 and the new storylines for Tom Baldwin in Season 4.

IGN TV: You're filming the second to last episode, right?

Joel Gretsch: Yes. Starting today, the second to last episode. It's been a fast year! Fast and slow.

IGN TV: Fast and slow?

Gretsch: Yeah. Fast from the standpoint of you're going to miss everybody, and slow from the standpoint of wanting to go home to your family.

IGN TV: How has Season 4 been for you?

Gretsch: I know it's a cliché to say, but I think it's our best yet. As we mature as characters and playing the roles, I think the writers have done the same thing, continuing to kind of find a rhythm from a show standpoint. I think this season has been indicative of that. I think we really hit a stride. I've always enjoyed reading the scripts, and Jacqui [McKenzie] and I always talk about that. When we get the scripts, we go "Have you read the next one?" So we still have that enthusiasm. Four years, and we still have that. It's quite a treat to be on a show that continues that way.

IGN TV: Do you remember when you first auditioned for the role and what you thought of the character?

Gretsch: Not really. I remember a certain aspect of it. I remember from the character aspect something they wrote that I really liked, which made me be excited about it. But no, because I'd just gotten off Taken, which was another sci-fi thing, and I was like "Ahh, another sci-fi…!" I really did. I wanted to try something different. I wanted to try a different kind of genre. And then when I read it I thought "God, it's so cool that they have that kind of character driven [element] with sci-fi." It's not just one or the other, it's has the duality; it has both of that. It's nice to have that. It's great storytelling. That's the best part of sci-fi, is when you have great, really character driven stuff, with this great fantasy of "What if?"

IGN TV: I really love the friendship between Tom and Diana, and that you didn't go the usual "Will they or won't they?" route. Initially, did you assume that's probably what was going to happen, since it's almost always how it is on TV shows?

Gretsch: Yeah, but it's been great, because we kind of mature and it's more reality based. We don't all of the sudden slam two people together into this great relationship. We really have to earn it. It's all been about trust, Diana and Tom. I think for Tom, the only person he really wants to go to and trust and to help me or solve something or talk about a case, or whatever, would be Diana. But we started off on rocky terms and we had to earn that through trial and error. We've really been through everything together, so it's us against the world.

IGN TV: It was interesting to see Tom working without Diana as the season began.

Gretsch: I thought it was really great last season when we ended up saying goodbye, because if you really love somebody, you let them go, and Tom just really wants her to have a great life. And the fact that I'm connected to The 4400 from the future aspect of it leaves me to be kind of bound to The 4400, but I want her to go and have a good life. But he's so happy to have her back! It's like in the episode where I say to Meghan "No offense to Garrity, but if Diana's here, she's my partner." So it's a relief; it's a great thing to have her. Also in a selfish way, from Joel's standpoint, I love having scenes with Jacqui. We click. We go through our scenes very fast and it's very enjoyable.

IGN TV: I spoke to [4400 executive producer] Ira Behr recently and he said he was hoping Tom and Meghan could be a couple that really works on the show.

Gretsch: I think the greatest thing is -- all the kudos go to Ira and the gang -- but did you see Jenni Baird?! I mean she's beautiful! Every fan out there has been going "Is he an idiot!?" I mean, god, the women on the show are all beautiful. You don't have to watch our show [closely]; just watch the show from that standpoint.

IGN TV: I was going to say that it's not like Tom's last love interest wasn't beautiful too.

Gretsch: Yeah, yeah, Alana, are you kidding me? Karina [Lombard]… [puts up hands as if weighing his options] Karina? Jenni? Hmm… Yeah, but to make a love story work... If you look at the stakes of what's going on continually, in each episode, it's so life and death driven kind of suspense, and yet you try to throw some normality into your life. So Tom tries to throw in some "Ahh, I'm gonna have a drink" or "I'm gonna have a glass of wine with Alana" or with Meghan. It's a fine line to dance, because we have 43 minutes per episode, and we throw in the arc of the show and the whole storyline and then you try to add some kind of personal life. I think Jenni's terrific in the role. It's been a great experience. It was with Karina, but it's different with Jenni. The way that they set up her character, being that she likes the films that she does and she redecorates the office, and she dresses the way she dresses, there's a lightness to it which is nice to have, considering what we're all going through. You go into her office and she brings a certain level of beauty and… [laughs] I joke with her all the time, looking at the outfits that she wears - "How can you not be looking at you?" Kavan Smith ["Garrity"], my god… He can't stop. When he talks and we're doing scenes, watch him, he's looking at her all the time. He's never looked at me! So yeah, it's nice, and I think they did a great job of hiring her and how they've written the character.

IGN TV: Tom is one of the longest running characters on the show who still has no 4400 ability. Do you have super-power envy, or do you like Tom being the normal guy in the midst of it all?

Gretsch: Yeah, I do. I like the fact that he's not [super-powered] and I think it probably should stay that way. Being that he wasn't one of the original 4400, and then taking promicin, there's a 50/50 chance you're gonna die! Being in the position that he is at NTAC and seeing the things that he's seeing, and the people who have died, and wanting to prevent anyone from getting hurt… Yeah, I like the fact that he doesn't have an ability. But you know, Shawn's ability is I think the most extraordinary. In that one episode, being able to help the kid… You know, we've all seen pain and suffering, and the world is fraught with that. To be able to have that, where you could heal somebody… Wouldn't it be great to go to St. Jude's and be able to heal kids? F**k man. So yeah, it's hard not to have the envy of that. It's great to have a nephew who has that kind of ability, and go "Hey, Shawn! What are you doing?"

IGN TV: Tom has interesting relationships with both his son and his nephew. Is it fun to be able to explore how he interacts with both Shawn and Kyle?

Gretsch: Yeah. I mean Kyle, jeez… Chad Faust is one of my dearest friends. I love Chad. Chad is… You would not find a better kid than Chad Faust. He is a terrific, terrific human being. He's also a terrific actor. He's so committed to his life and so committed to his acting, and he's just a treat to be around. Patrick is different. He's one of those guys who's very blessed, that little Patrick Flueger. He's a handsome guy and all the girls love him. He's living his twenties fully, you know? [Laughs] But he's so talented, and so gifted, and when we do scenes, I always feel like there's more to the story and I always wish we could do more. I always say to Patrick after a scene, "We should continue this!" Like in the episode when we walk outside after he's healed the kid of autism, [I said] "I wish we could sit down and talk now." Because in our relationship we've always had "Uncle Tom, can you do this for me?" or "Shawn can you do this for me? I need you now!" As opposed to, what about sitting down and having some kind of private beer moment. So yeah, I feel that way. It's interesting, Patrick and Chad, I adore both of them, and I'm kind of the older guy here on the set and I've been around, and I see the talents that both of them have, and I'm very protective of them. They always talk about that. "Oh Joel, just relax!" I'm like "Patrick, it's twelve o'clock! Get home!" He goes "I'm 20! What am I supposed to do at home?" But yeah, they're the best, both of them.

IGN TV: I interviewed Billy Campbell earlier this summer, and he referred to you as a "giggle monster."

Gretsch: Oh really!?

IGN TV: [Laughs] Yes.

Gretsch: Oh, dear god.

IGN TV: He feels there's something about him that makes you laugh.

Gretsch: It's a treat working with Billy, because he has such a level of ease with him and he's got a really wonderful self-confidence that when you do scenes with him, he has no idea what he's gonna do. So when you're watching him, he'll be like… He'll just go off and I think he surprises himself. And when you're working off of him it makes you laugh, because it's like "Alright, what the hell are you going to do now Billy?" So it makes me laugh and I can't stop working with him. A really big compliment to him is that he's so in the moment. He's so playful. Here's a guy who got on a ship and went around the world! That's the guy we're talking about. He's that level of exploration, but he does that in his life. He's completely exploring every moment, and he's extraordinarily bright. So that, coupled with kind of this mischievous kid, and being really, really smart, makes a great person to watch. And he's Jordan Collier. Come on, he's Jordan Collier! And he plays it so beautiful. I love watching Billy. Doing scenes with Billy, I start to sweat, because I know I'm gonna laugh. So I'm like "Aw s**t, don't blow this, because the crew wants to get home tonight!" But I love Billy. We're very fortunate to have such a great cast. I really think this is one of the best casts on television.

IGN TV: It's really funny on the Season 3 DVD to see all of those takes of you turning towards Billy and just cracking up when you see him.

Gretsch: Oh, there's many more that aren't on there! I mean that went on for awhile!

IGN TV: Ira said he really likes being able to touch upon real life issues, which obviously sci-fi is able to often do so well.

Gretsch: I think any good storytelling is that way. I think you're aware of it or subconsciously aware of it, that something's affecting you when you're watching something. Our show, yeah, the future's in trouble. It doesn't take a big leap to think that the way we're treating our world right now, that pollution or over-fishing - you can go endlessly - or how we're screwing up our world, there is going to be ramifications. In the future, we're in trouble. And then with technology… The iPhone comes out and… Have you seen the iPhone?! Oh my god!

IGN TV: Yeah, several of my coworkers got them.

Gretsch: Is it as unbelievable as it seems? I mean my god, revolutionary! So we have that technology. I remember having a brick phone not long ago, that was about this big [holds his hands far apart], and now we have an iPhone. So if technology continues, it's not a huge leap that in the future, maybe we'll be able to send people back to correct the problems that we're going to have in the future. So yeah, it's sci-fi, but it's rooted in some kind of reality. We are f**king up our world. We are doing things that we know in our subconscious… I mean god, you fly anywhere around the cities, you have smog everywhere that is hurting the world. And if that's so, then we are losing mankind as we know it, so what are we gonna do about it? And then these people come back with these abilities, and we've all had that kid in us who goes "What if? What if you could fly? What if you could see through clothing?" All that crap that we've always [imagined]. It would be a fun little leap. So we touch on a lot of things I think that are wonderful and scary, thinking of life.

IGN TV: What's your interaction been like with fans of the show?

Gretsch: They're very specific. They know a lot more about what's going on than I do. That's been the through line. "Remember when you did that? Why did you do that?" I have to say "I don't remember. I have no idea! I don't know why I did." So they're sophisticated fans. Sci-fi fans and our fans are smart people

IGN TV: Is there something about the show or your character fans bring up a lot?

Gretsch: Well, I have some perverted friends back in Los Angeles who always ask me about Alana. [Laughs] I get a lot of compliments on the relationship between Tom and Diana. And it really makes me feel good, because Jacqui's a very dedicated actress and she's really bright; really on top of things. You've got to be on your game when you work with Jacqui. She requires everyone to do well, and she's a lot of fun in that way. There's no complacency with her. She can improv any scene and you go along for the ride with her. And I love how we've developed our characters and relationship. As Tom and Diana grew, I think Joel and Jacqui grew together, and it's nice. I'm really proud of that relationship.

IGN TV: What can you tell us about the last few episodes of the season?

Gretsch: The show doesn't always go where you think it's going to go. We kind of make these turns all the time and I love that aspect. I know for my character specifically, you're gonna see a lot of Tom Baldwin not being Tom Baldwin. So I do some really opposite things, not by choice, but because something's happened to me. That's been a lot of fun to play. To play not the good guy anymore.

IGN TV: What would you like to see happen down the line for either the show in general, or for your character?

Gretsch: I love that we throw in a little more humor. I think this season we've had a little more humor in the show. I think that's missing a little bit, just from my perspective of what I would like. Because even when horrible things happen, it's almost human nature to find some polite moment to break the craziness of it. Several times I think they've done that and it's been nice and they've written some stuff that's just fun.

IGN TV: Things move very quickly on this show.

Gretsch: I love that. It's not four episodes later. It happens all in one episode. They're very brave that way. I think Ira and Craig [Sweeny] and the group gets a lot of kudos that way, because they're not afraid to do a great plot point and then just reveal it - There it is! Right there in the face.

IGN TV: Are you the kind of actor who prefers to find out what's next for your character script to script, rather than knowing weeks in advance?

Gretsch: More or less. Just whatever happens. I know we're in good hands. We've been here for four years, so I trust the guys. It's kind of fun to see. And we're also pretty heavy with the set; I mean Jacqui and I work almost every day. So I just wait until this episode's over and then get the next one and then we try to get on top of that one. But nah, it's nice to not know what's gonna happen and be surprised.

Link to Interview

Good article. Thanks for posting it.

Maia ill?? Ooh what is happening I'm looking forward to the "dramatic scene was filmed with Tom and Diana, which took place in their NTAC office."

Not loving the... "I spoke to [4400 executive producer] Ira Behr recently and he said he was hoping Tom and Meghan could be a couple that really works on the show." Arggghhh please no

IGN TV: I interviewed Billy Campbell earlier this summer, and he referred to you as a "giggle monster."

Gretsch: Oh really!?

^^ Hahaha!

We then went to the set of Diana's apartment, where McKenzie was in the midst of shooting a scene with Conchita Campbell ("Maia"). The episode being filmed was the second to last of the season, and while I won't give away too much, I can say that Maia is feeling a bit ill in this episode, and in the scene in question, Diana's comforting her as the young girl goes to bed. And yes, you'd be right to suspect her illness isn't quite one of the normal variety.

Maia is sick again Thank God this time Jordan is around. If the government is responsible they won't get away with it like before.


IGN TV: I spoke to [4400 executive producer] Ira Behr recently and he said he was hoping Tom and Meghan could be a couple that really works on the show.

They already have a couple that works on the show and that is Tess and Kevin.


IGN TV: I was going to say that it's not like Tom's last love interest wasn't beautiful too.

Gretsch: I think Jenni's terrific in the role. It's been a great experience. It was with Karina, but it's different with Jenni. The way that they set up her character, being that she likes the films that she does and she redecorates the office, and she dresses the way she dresses, there's a lightness to it which is nice to have, considering what we're all going through. You go into her office and she brings a certain level of beauty and… [laughs] I joke with her all the time, looking at the outfits that she wears - "How can you not be looking at you?" Kavan Smith ["Garrity"], my god… He can't stop. When he talks and we're doing scenes, watch him, he's looking at her all the time. He's never looked at me!

I am so going to be looking for that.


IGN TV: It's really funny on the Season 3 DVD to see all of those takes of you turning towards Billy and just cracking up when you see him.

Gretsch: Oh, there's many more that aren't on there! I mean that went on for awhile!

PTB show all those takes on the season 4 bloopers.


IGN TV: What would you like to see happen down the line for either the show in general, or for your character?

Gretsch: I love that we throw in a little more humor. I think this season we've had a little more humor in the show. I think that's missing a little bit, just from my perspective of what I would like. Because even when horrible things happen, it's almost human nature to find some polite moment to break the craziness of it. Several times I think they've done that and it's been nice and they've written some stuff that's just fun.

I remember these moments. April asking if Tom has had fantasies about Diana and Jordan and Tom's weird phone conversation . Also Rebecca showing up in Tom's bed

I wonder if other 4400 or P+ will be ill again, too... (Thinking of the Tomatoes...




Oh, I forgot... My idea about that 4400 could sitll be realized when Tom's a bit longer one of The Marked... Or Phanta's Idea of the dogs detecting foreign entities...