An Interview with Matt Shively from ‘Lopez vs Lopez’

LOPEZ VS LOPEZ -- "Lopez vs Confessions" Episode 209 -- Pictured: Matt Shively as Quinten -- (Photo by: Nicole Weingart/NBC)

​Matt Shively is an accomplished actor that has appeared in many a film and many a show. Currently, he stars as Quinten in the hit NBC series, Lopez vs Lopez, and we had the opportunity to sit down with Matt to discuss the show before its season three premiere.
 
John Betancourt:  I'd like to start by getting to know what it means to you to be back for a third season.
 
Matt Shively: It means the world to me. I've never gotten to a third season, it's incredible. You know, it's weird to say that you've never gotten to a third season, but like every season, kind of things change a little bit. People, people change a little bit. And so, coming into a third season and never having experienced it, I'm realizing it's so much more fun, like everybody is very much in the groove of their character and of our work days, and everything like that. So, it feels like, you know, it's work, but it really isn't like we really are just having an absolute blast, and it's just been incredible.
 
John Betancourt: Another element I want to dive into today, because I think this is the show is pretty much a phenomenon at this point. I think it's safe to say. And I'm curious why you think this is a series that resonates so well with people.
 
Matt Shively: I think it resonates so well with people… because not only is it relatable in a bunch of different ways, but we're we really do lean on topics that otherwise would not be considered funny. And we find a way. My mother always said, “If you don't laugh, you cry.” And so, I've always had kind of the point of view of, like, you know, no matter how bad something is, if you can find some form of light in it, then it'll make it easier, and then it's easier to get through. And so, when it comes to sobriety, or, you know, being cheated on and losing the love of your life, things like that, like we really kind of tackle these things head on. And then it's also very personal to both mine and George, where they really, as the seasons have gone on, they are growing as a relationship as well. And so, seeing where we started and where we are now, it just is kind of a thing where audiences are not only along for the story, but they’re also along for the ride of these real people, and it showcases on the show. So, I think what stands out really, is that we tackle things that otherwise wouldn't be funny, and we find a way to make it funny so that people can feel like they're not alone in that.
 
John Betancourt: Speaking of relatability, too, I think one of the big reasons that happens is because of yourself as an actor, and the cast. You all play your roles with honesty. And I'm curious how you create the realistic nature of Quinten.
 
Matt Shively: Well, when I got the role, I didn't think I was Quinten. I was like, “Oh well, I'm just acting on this guy.” But the longer the show is gone, the more that I've done, the more I'm like, I think I am a lot like Quentin, and as a person, I'm progressing at the same speed that he is. And so, it really is kind of -- the writers are incredible. And there are times where I'll get to work and it's, you know, time to do the table read, and I'm reading the script, and I'm like, “Were they in my room last night?” Like, “Did they hear what was going on in my head last night? Because this was the problem that I'm having in real life.” And so, it makes it very easy to bring it to the stage, because I'm going through a lot of this stuff. I'm not getting married, but I'm growing up, and I'm having to face mortality and getting older, I tell you, I turned 30 and I was like, “Okay, I'm 30,” and now I'm 34 I'm like, I don't know what happened to those years in between. The older you get that it just flies by. So, it's like, I'm trying to, like, slow down and enjoy everything for what it is, but the character and myself have kind of molded into one, and so it makes it very, you know, easy to kind of just slip in and out of what I'm doing, because I'm basically carrying what I'm actually going through into the show.
 
John Betancourt: Well, that explains a lot. But now I have to ask a follow up to that. Is it ever tough then to have that, that merging of the two minds? When you go home from work?
 
Matt Shively: You know it's not, really, because it all happens at the same speed. So, like when Quinten finds a solution to something, it usually helps me find the solution to something, and work has always done that for me as well. So, it's kind of one of those things where, like, when I'm working, I'm able to prioritize and organize my own problems and situations that I'm going through in a better way than when I'm not working. It's, as they say, idle hands are the devil's workshop. So, when I'm working, it makes it a lot easier. So then top that on, with Quinten going through similar things that I'm going through, it's like, coming home is like a breath of fresh air, because I'm like, “Okay, I feel like I went to therapy this week and I got it all out, and I feel so much better now.”
 
John Betancourt: Now this is an important show in general. In my eyes, it really, as a Mexican American, I think it's a huge deal to have this show on the air. And I'm curious what it means to you to be a part of such an important show.
 
Matt Shively: You know, I was… I was thinking about it recently, but I've been very fortunate that every kind of show that I've been a regular on and I've been a part of, the theme of the show, usually is surrounding kind of underrepresented communities and people of that nature. You know, I did a show called The Real O'Neals, and that was very much about a Catholic family dealing with a son coming out of the closet, and how you go about that. And my character was always very like, he was the jock. And usually, the jock would be kind of like the bully and all this, but he was the most supportive character there was. He didn't care that his brother was gay. And so, with this show, it's like I get to be kind of that person standing behind these people and helping lift them up as much as possible. So, it's been… it's just like, it's really kind of a treasured thing to be able to be a part of different projects that bring to light things that have kind of been snuffed out for so long. And so, I know how much it means the community. The area I grew up in, most of my family are, are Latino or Mexican. And so, it's like, I'm getting all these calls being like, “it's so great to finally see myself on television.” And I'm like, that's… I love that I'm even a part of that in any way, shape or form, because it's not often that people get to feel like the spotlight is on them. And that's, I feel like what we're doing.
 
John Betancourt: Now, obviously we’ve got to talk about, you know, season three. Without any spoilers in the mix. What are you most excited for audiences to experience this year?
 
Matt Shively: I'm excited. It feels like this year, you know, the first season was dealing -- kind of leading up to George coming to terms with the fact that he needed to be sober. And the second season felt very much like it was focused on him going through that journey of sobriety, and because of the strike and everything, we had only done the 10 episodes. So, it was very much that was what season two was leading up to, us getting engaged. This season feels a little more kind of spread out every one of us is going through different things. Mayan and I are trying to plan a wedding. George is dealing with his sobriety, but also finding new life in his family, and Rosie's dealing with the split from who she thought she was going to marry, and Chance is growing up, and kind of his mind is being able to absorb more, so we're having to be more careful of what we're teaching him as a family.
 
And so, it feels like everybody's kind of going on their own journeys this season, while also keeping everybody together. So, it feels like there's a lot more episodes where it's like, “Oh, it's me and Rosie are doing one thing, while George and Mayan and out doing another thing and then the next week, it's me and George.” And whereas I feel like the other two seasons, it was a little more contained, it was more kind of focused on big family group scenes and things like that, this feels like we're kind of splitting off a little bit, which opens up the door for just so many different stories and crazy situations to get in.
 
John Betancourt: The last question that I have for you today, what are you most proud of when it comes to your work on this show? So far,
 
Matt Shively: I'm proud of the belief and confidence that I've been able to keep going. I think I spent most of my career not thinking it was possible to be where I wanted to be and be happy and get what I want, and I feel like this show opened that door for me, and I as a person have just become so much stronger and so much more independent and so, I'm proud of the person that this show has made me.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

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