An Interview with Alanna Ubach & Scott Grimes from ‘Ted’

TED -- "Desperately Seeking Susan" Episode 105 -- Pictured: (l-r) Alanna Ubach as Susan, Scott Grimes as Matty -- (Photo by: PEACOCK)

Alanna Ubach and Scott Grimes are two highly accomplished actors that have appeared in countless iconic franchises and stories. Currently they star as Susan and Matty Bennett in the upcoming Peacock series, Ted, and we here at Nerds That Geek had the distinct honor of sitting down with this pair of silver and small screen legends to discuss all things, Ted.
 
John Betancourt: I'd love to know what it was motivated each of you to join this project.
 
Alanna Ubach: Oh my gosh, I was lucky enough for the casting director to even consider me for a self-tape audition. And that's all it really was. I didn't really know. I thought, “Oh, you know what, they probably offered this to Alex Borstein.” And, and I thought, “Oh, maybe they're looking for backup.” So, that was it. I really did think in my head that that was what was going on. And I thought, “Well, I can't be her. I can certainly be something else.” And so, I brought that to the table. And it worked. It really worked for Seth (MacFarlane).
 
Scott Grimes: Mine was, you know, I was doing The Orville with Seth and have been working with him for a long time now. And I wasn't going to be part of this at all. In fact, I remember him specifically saying to me, “I don't think there's anything in this for you.” And that's when I went “Oh, yeah?” (Laughter from all) And he would show me these tapes of people that he was --(Scott gestures about) -- this is him at his house showing me people that he wanted for the thing. And I'm like, “Oh, yeah, that guy comes from Boston.”
 
Alanna Ubach: The montage of your life!
 
Scott Grimes: Oh, I know. And then it started, where he came to me! Because I was never going to talk a friend… because we were at this point, not working on Orville into anything. I felt too embarrassed. That it would look like that's all I wanted to do was work with him. He came to me and was like, “What do you… you think you could come up with something here?” And I'm like, “Yes, I do.” And it was a slow process of putting myself on tape and an audition. And then you know, it was right at the ground floor. And then, it just happened, where this guy, where Matty Bennett came to life through… just whatever. Man, look, you have to you have to be I think, an okay dramatic actor to do this comedy. I think that was in my favor. And also, just why did I want to do this? Just to continue to work with Seth. Because it just doesn't get any better.
 
Alanna Ubach: He’s so cool. He’s the coolest.
 
John Betanncourt: So, I have to ask to ask more about the acting portion of it. Because you two, are virtually unrecognizable because of how well you transform into your characters, and I have to know how the two of you pulled this off.
 
Scott Grimes: It took a lot of pizza for me.
 
Alanna Ubach: A lot of pizza for him. Yeah, he gained weight for this originally. And, and for me, it was just trusting hair and makeup and wardrobe and props. And the dialect coach. And that was it, really. And then, you know, the minute you walk on set, and you see all of the set, everything… the furniture, the bedroom, the bathroom, all of this, everything sort of comes together in your head and you think, “Ah, this is who this person is. I've met them before.”
 
Scott Grimes: For me… I've worked with amazing people. But it was never imperative that that person be amazing for me. This person right here. (Scott points at Alanna) When I started acting with you on the first day of rehearsal, or maybe it was our auditions, because we auditioned together. I just didn't realize until that moment as an actor, 40 years in this business, how necessary it was for her to be as good as she was for me to be, okay. You know, and that it was that thing like, “Oh, wait, there's a connection here. That makes it real for me.” Husband and wife, because it's easy to fake it. Or it's not easy to fake it right? It's not easy to fake a relationship like that. And she just that brought my character to a whole other place when she was who she was.
 
Alanna Ubach: He's very lovable.
 
John Betancourt: Last question that I have for you today. What are you most proud of when it comes to work on the show?
 
Alanna Ubach: The seduction scene with the banana? (Laughter from all)
 
Scott Grimes: The seduction scene with the banana, that I got through it. Then I was able to get through that with this wonderful clown.
 
Alanna Ubach: It was a good time.
 
Scott Grimes: I'm also really proud that it worked. Because when you're on, like I said, on the ground floor of something, and Seth has an idea, and you want that for him so bad. And now we're sitting here being interviewed by you. So that means we did something, and it got finished. And so that… I'm really proud that we could do something that he likes just so we can work with him again. That's really what it is.
 
Alanna Ubach: He’s the coolest.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

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