On October 10, 2013, I had the pleasure of participating in a conference call with Matt Bomer and Tim Dekay, stars of USA Network show White Collar. Both provided a fun look at the upcoming season premiering October 17. Despite having done several of these calls for various shows, those who have been following me know White Collar is my favorite show. Being able to speak to these wonderful actors means a lot to me on a personal level; needless to say, this was an exciting opportunity for me. I had screened the season premiere a few days earlier and had a million questions to ask Matt and Tim. I decided to go on Twitter instead and ask White Collar fans what questions they would like answered. I was amazed to get replies from all over the world. That amazement became my first question. I was not surprised by how humble Matt and Tim are and how much they appreciate all their fans. They have a sincere realization that without the fans, there would be no show. I also enjoyed listening to how grounded Matt is. His birthday was Oct 11th, and he told us he plans to stay at home with his family and make homemade ice cream. I hope you enjoy reading this transcript as much as I enjoyed participating in it. Be warned, though, there are a few minor spoilers. Below are my questions, followed by the remaining questions and answers from the call. ———————
Greg Staffa: Thanks for taking my question, gentlemen.
Matt Bomer: Thank you.
Greg Staffa: When I posed to our followers and readers that I’ll be talking to you today, I was amazed that the response that I got were from Nicaragua, Amsterdam, all over the world, of people wanting to ask their questions today. What is that like for you guys to realize that your show has had that kind of impact all over the world? And what is it about the show that brings people in to watch a show like White Collar?
Tim DeKay: Well, I can certainly speak to how it feels to know that the show is welcome in many parts of the world. It’s wonderful. I love it when I’m in New York or filming in New York and somebody from another country comes up and starts talking about an episode or is, you know, is complimentary to the show. I just – I think it’s great that there’s something about this relationship between the, you know, the cool criminal and the lawmen that is so universal.
Matt Bomer: Yes, I had a really pivotal moment when we were filming a scene in Central Park this season and in between I was trying to take some time to visit with some fans and take pictures and things, and it was like a map of the world between the pictures I was taking. One couple would be from Japan, the next was from Italy, the next was from Amsterdam. And it just went on and on. And it was a really profound moment for me in terms of, you know, things you learn to appreciate as a show continues on into a fifth season, is that, you know, there’s something the writers have created and helpfully we have too in the relationships and the characters that does transcend cultural or idiosyncratic bounds of one country or another and seems to relate to a lot of different people.And then of course the second place in my mind was, where are my foreign residuals? I’m kidding. It was a really great moment to – a moment that made – reminded me of how grateful we should all be to be there on the show, because it meant a lot to get that kind of response from all these different places.
Greg Staffa: Thank you, gentlemen. The show means a lot to me too.
Matt Bomer: Thanks.
Tim DeKay: Thanks. (Later in the call)
Operator: Our final question comes from the line of Greg Staffa with Your Entertainment Corner. Greg Staffa: Thanks again for taking my call.
Matt Bomer: Thank you, Greg.
Greg Staffa: New York. So many shows, like Suits, another USA program, film out of the country and make you believe that they’re New York. But New York has played such a — I’d almost call it a character for White Collar. What is it like shooting in New York and how do you think that changes some of the feel for White Collar for the viewers to kind of create that realism? And is there some place that you’re looking forward for the audience to see or a location like, you know, Yankee Stadium? What was some of the more exciting places for you guys to film in?
Tim DeKay: I – there is something about filming in New York for New York that is – it’s liberating, at least for me. The – creatively you just get – you could just stretch out and not have to contain yourself both visually and creatively. There are no restrictions. I love it when we have a walk-and-talk in New York. And undoubtedly, the director, the VP, (Bob Kantz) have created some gorgeous shot where you see a beautiful skyline and it pans down to the two of us walking. And you’re aware of that as an actor. And it’s wonderful. And it’s, you’re right, New York is another character. And I love working with that other character.
Matt Bomer: New York is my favorite city and place. I first moved as a young artist. So whenever I’m there, I have that excitement and that enthusiasm that I think I had to channel that from when I first lived there. And it just never runs out of surprising new places. The first few seasons were so – it was – I like a kid in a candy store because we were filming in all these iconic locations that when you first move to New York you think, oh, that’s near Columbus Circle or that’s in Central Park. And we were filming at all these places and it continually surprises us. I mean we – the finale films in this place called Fort Totten that’s out in Queens, and who knew that that place, this giant old military base, was out in Queens, (on a water). I mean there are always places like that every season. Getting to film, as a New Yorker, everyone has access to the amazing exteriors of places, but getting to see the insides of these amazing brownstones and…
Tim DeKay: Yes.
Matt Bomer: …and Brooklyn and Manhattan, had been a really incredible and I feel that we’ve been privileged to see some of the most beautiful homes in New York.
Tim DeKay: I agree. I found myself being equally as excited to walk in and discover some amazing townhouse or penthouse that has an amazing view as much as I was blown over when we were at Yankee Stadium.
Matt Bomer: Yes.
Tim DeKay: All these, you know, just open these doors to these townhouses or, you know, you take a private elevator up to some penthouse and the door opens, and you’re just amazed as to the…
Matt Bomer: Yes.
Tim DeKay: …beauty that – the view that place has and the beauty of the place itself.
Greg Staffa: Well, thank you…
Matt Bomer: It’s always a litmus test for me, people will sometimes come up and say, talk about the show or I’ll engage them in conversation, then say, where do you film that? And as soon as they ask that question, I know they’re not – they don’t watch the show.
Matt Bomer: Because you can’t watch the show and not have an appreciation for New York.
Greg Staffa: Thank you. It’s been an honor to talk to you guys. One quick follow-up, Matt, are we ever going to get you to actually tweet?
Matt Bomer: I feel like it’s a real responsibility beyond just staying in touch with people. And so I’m still weighing out what that responsibility means to me and the good versus the bad. And when I figure that out, I’ll – you’ll know one way or another.
Greg Staffa: Thank you gentlemen.
Matt Bomer: Thank you.
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Kristen: Hello everyone and thank you for participating in today’s conference call for White Collar. You’re going to be speaking with Matt Bomer, who plays Neal Caffrey, and Tim DeKay, who plays Peter Burke, to talk about the new upcoming season five premiere, which airs on an all-new night, Thursday, October 17th at 9:00 p.m. on USA.
Tim DeKay: Hello. How’s it going everybody
Matt Bomer: Hello everyone.
Operator: And our first question comes from the line of Barb Please proceed with your question. Barb: Hi, Matt and Tim
Tim DeKay: Hi.
Matt Bomer: Hi, Barb.
Barb: Matt, I had a specific question for you in regards to your new handler, specifically Warren Kole, and could you tell us a little bit about how Neal handles this, what’s the chemistry like with you guys, and when are we first going to meet him?
Matt Bomer: Neal’s initial reaction to Warren’s character Siegel is one of trepidation because he is very by-the-books, by-the-numbers, and he’s an agent who’s gotten to where he is because he plays by the rules. And that’s – it’s obviously very threatening to Neal. And Warren did a great job of bringing lots of different aspects to the character and somehow making him charming and entertaining at the same time as being sort of a paint-inside-the-lines guy.
Barb: Okay. And Tim, could you talk about your relationship and how it will be with this character? Are you friends with him?
Tim DeKay: Well, Peter was – he was concerned about this guy even though he brought him on and felt that he would be right for Neal because he felt that Neal needed somebody with – that could give some tough love from a – that has a distance to Neal. Peter thought somebody from outside the New York Division would be better. But there were some – there was trepidation as well on Peter’s part because with that, with handing over the reins, he no longer get to, you know, no longer gets awry. And that’s something Peter was going to miss. But as Matt said, I thought Warren did a fantastic job playing the role, and was able to find the right tenor for what was needed on our show and the kind of genre that we have.
Barb: Thank you.
Tim DeKay: Sure.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Curt.
Curt: Hey guys. Thanks for doing the call.
Curt: I wanted to talk about your relationship, Peter and Neal, because I thought there was an interesting (rant) from Peter in the premiere episode the network sent, where he says that Neal wouldn’t do (a ton) or go off his anklet without a good reason. And I wanted to talk about, it seems like Peter doesn’t necessarily trust him still, but it’s a different kind of not trusting I think than early on in the relationship, because just with that statement, it seems to be that case. And I wanted you guys to sort of talk about where they are right now.
Tim DeKay: Yes. I remember that line. That was – it was a big line because it – it’s huge moment for Peter to recognize Neal going off anklet and even responding because at one point in the relationship it would have been cut and dry. He wants off the anklet, he’s going back to prison, no bones about it. But, you know, this relationship has grown in such a way where Peter knows, for the most part, where Neal was coming from. But to address your, you know, your question of trust, I still maintain that if Peter ever implicitly trusts Neal about anything, I think then the relationship and the show for that matter takes a very sharp turn, and I think we lose a great tension if that trust is complete – is gained completely.
Curt: All right. And then for Matt, I was wondering — Neal doesn’t say this — but I can’t help but think that maybe he’s thinking it, that, you know, when Peter does that and gives him an anklet, that he’s thinking, you know, “Didn’t I just save your bacon? Get off my back,” a little bit. Do you feel that he’s thinking that too or does he understand also where Peter is coming from?
Matt Bomer: This season for Neal is about best intentions going awry. And he’s feeling the sins of the father and, you know, has to skirt issues of trust to try to find some wiggle room to make reparations for what ultimately was his fault in terms of Peter’s future as an FBI agent, as a husband. And so – but what I found the writers built over the course of this season which was interesting, was this sort of mounting resentment that he had these best intentions and was putting forth his best efforts and doing everything he knew how to help Peter, and that went, in his opinion, somewhat unappreciated.
Curt: All right. All right, thanks guys. Tim DeKay: Thank you.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Greg Staffa with Your Entertainment Corner. Greg Staffa: Thanks for taking my question, gentlemen.
Matt Bomer: Thank you.
Greg Staffa: When I posed to our followers and readers that I’ll be talking to you today, I was amazed that the response that I got were from Nicaragua, Amsterdam, all over the world, of people wanting to ask their questions today. What is that like for you guys to realize that your show has had that kind of impact all over the world? And what is it about the show that brings people in to watch a show like White Collar?
Tim DeKay: Well, I can certainly speak to how it feels to know that the show is welcome in many parts of the world. It’s wonderful. I love it when I’m in New York or filming in New York and somebody from another country comes up and starts talking about an episode or is, you know, is complimentary to the show. I just – I think it’s great that there’s something about this relationship between the, you know, the cool criminal and the lawmen that is so universal.
Matt Bomer: Yes, I had a really pivotal moment when we were filming a scene in Central Park this season and in between I was trying to take some time to visit with some fans and take pictures and things, and it was like a map of the world between the pictures I was taking. One couple would be from Japan, the next was from Italy, the next was from Amsterdam. And it just went on and on. And it was a really profound moment for me in terms of, you know, things you learn to appreciate as a show continues on into a fifth season, is that, you know, there’s something the writers have created and helpfully we have too in the relationships and the characters that does transcend cultural or idiosyncratic bounds of one country or another and seems to relate to a lot of different people. And then of course the second place in my mind was, where are my foreign residuals? I’m kidding. It was a really great moment to – a moment that made – reminded me of how grateful we should all be to be there on the show, because it meant a lot to get that kind of response from all these different places.
Greg Staffa: Thank you, gentlemen. The show means a lot to me too.
Matt Bomer: Thanks.
Tim DeKay: Thanks.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Michelle.
Michelle: Hi guys. Great to talk to you this morning. Matt Bomer: Hi, Michelle.
Michelle: Hi.
Tim DeKay: Hi, Michelle.
Michelle: Hi. One thing I’m fascinated by going into this next season is that basically Neal and Peter has switched places for all intents and purposes. We’ve got Peter in the orange jumpsuit, he’s locked up, Neal is out. How does that play out? And I’m just wondering what it was like for both of you, both as actors, to play that? And then as the characters, was it like for them to be in those opposite roles?
Tim DeKay: Matt, you take it away.
Matt Bomer: Yes. There was a moment when we were filming a scene in the prison and I saw Tim in an orange jumpsuit, you know, clearly complete role reversal and the coin being flipped. And I found that really interesting. Neal can obviously relate in many ways. He has a real sense of responsibility about everything that’s transpired, even though his father was largely responsible. He’s certainly feeling the weight of that as well. And as someone who’s been where Peter is, I think that resonates with him even more, and makes him dig even deeper into his bag of tricks to figure out how to fix it. Like a typical guy, he wants to fix everything. And…
Tim DeKay: Right.
Matt Bomer: So I found – that’s how I view this from the character. And from an actor’s perspective, I guess it wasn’t terribly different because we had – I guess it was just more surreal for me personally because we had filmed the opposite side of the coin before, so, first of all, Tim looks great in orange. Fantastic color for him. And secondly, you know, it was a bit of a – it was a trip to see him on the other side of things and see how he handles it. And of course he’s such a great actor that I was just watching him planning on what I would steal in the next ten hours (in orange).
Tim DeKay: Well, it was a trip to – I wish that – I wish that actually we explored that for a longer period of time even.
Matt Bomer: Me too.
Tim DeKay: I think that was – but, you know, story-wise we couldn’t, but I thought that would have been interesting had we kind of stretched it out a bit longer.
Michelle: Okay. Great. Thanks so much guys. Matt Bomer: Thank you.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Matt.
Matt: Hey guys. Thanks for your time today.
Matt Bomer: Hey, Matt, how are you?
Matt: Hi. Tim, you and Matt had that great scene in the premiere where Peter basically acknowledges that he doesn’t have the objectivity anymore to keep an eye on Neal. Were you glad to see him take that moment and have that speech? Do you think it was a humbling moment for Peter at all?
Tim DeKay: I – you know what? That’s an interesting question. I don’t necessarily feel that it was – it should have been a humbling moment for Peter. It was a disappointing moment for Peter. And he was upset because it meant – he had – unfortunately, he had to throw out the baby with the bathwater and it was upsetting for Peter because it meant not being able to do the things that he love to do with Neal which is, you know, pursue a case and do the chase.
Tim DeKay: So that’s what Peter found most upsetting. And also I think Peter finds Neal a- now has a personal investment with this guy. And if he fails- if that relationship, that partnership fails, then Peter has failed.
Matt: And Matt, can you give us a taste for some of the things that Mark Sheppard’s character is going to have Neal doing over these next couple of weeks?
Matt Bomer: Mark is an amazing baddie as I’m sure you all know from the many TV series you’ve covered when he plays baddies. You know, it’s that deal with the devil. He has Neal under his thumb, which is obviously, especially for someone like Neal, not a very comfortable place for him to be. He has him at his beck and call and, you know, the – basically he can have Neal do whatever illicit behavior he doesn’t want to have to take responsibility for to himself. Neal can’t really put that much of a fight about it.
Matt: Yes.
Matt Bomer: I can’t go into too much detail without giving away certain episodes, but it’s not a fun place for Neal to be and really doesn’t have a leg to stand on in terms of opposition.
Matt: Right. Thanks again guys. Matt Bomer: Thank you, Matt.
Tim DeKay: Thanks, Matt.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Caryn.
Caryn: Hi. My question is for Matt. I love the interaction in past seasons between you and Treat Williams who portrays your father, because we really get to learn more about you as a character. Will we be seeing that again this season?
Matt Bomer: That was a storyline that I feel like needed to be fleshed out at some point, you know, at a certain point as television series progress, and have everybody get a little bit more into people’s backstories. I think with someone like Neal, it’s a little dangerous if we start to know too much about him because he is, you know, essentially, Jeff said, an almost a fantastical character in some ways. I had a blast playing out those storylines with Treat and, you know, putting some of those pieces together for Neal, but we will not be exploring that any further in this season. This season really gets back to more of the early season White Collar mythology, strong themes of good versus evil and trust and without going into too much detail about Neal’s past. Although – what Neal experienced from his relationship with his father and the things that I got to explore with Treat really resonate throughout this season and ultimately the emphasis for everything that transpires this season — the sins of the father weighed pretty heavily into all the decisions Neal makes and sort of spur us into action this season. And so you feel that relationship even though it’s not there.
Caryn: Right. Great. Well, best of luck with the new season. Thank you.
Matt Bomer: Thank you.
Tim DeKay: Thank you.
Operator: The next question will come from the line of Sammi.
Sammi: Hello. It’s an honor to speak with the both of you again.
Tim DeKay: Likewise.
Matt Bomer: Oh, thank you. Tim DeKay: How are you?
Sammi: Thank you. I’m doing well. I want to know, is, how do you view the Neal and Peter relationship? Do you see each other as brothers, as friends, as coworkers? I’m interested to see how you feel about that.
Tim DeKay: I’ve always – I have this image of these two guys as very close friends. And I have this image of them playing poker together and enjoying it and realizing that nobody could really play the kinds of poker, the level of poker the other one does except with that other person. And I see them enjoying a game and having a good time with it, but never ever, ever showing each other’s hands, and constantly bluffing or trying to bid differently. But again, never showing the other hand to the other person. But yet needing that game and learning from that game. I don’t know, sometimes Peter is a father to Neal, sometimes he is a friend to him, and other times he’s his boss. It’s layered. It’s a lot of different relationships.
Matt Bomer: Yes. It changes a lot. But for me, it always goes back more to the familial with Peter, whether that be fraternal or paternal or sometimes, you know, a family member you have to work with. But for me it always goes back to the more familial because, much like a family member, Peter is the one character who is a source of stability in Neal’s life in a strange way because he has – the only person Neal has been spending time with and there’s healthy boundaries. In regard of what happens, what transpires, he knows what the mathematical formula is with Peter. If he does X, then he will get Y. And to me that’s sort of like family, because you can, you know, go out into the world and make mistakes and grow or change and you come back and family is still there with dinner on the table.
Sammi: That’s beautiful. I love the way you put that.
Matt Bomer: Thanks. I’m in a very poetic mode.
Sammi: I love it, I love it. And my last question for you both is, how do you think this whole thing with Peter ending up in jail is going to affect his relationship with Elizabeth?
Tim DeKay: It affects it greatly, and Elizabeth’s main concern is to get her husband back regardless of what it means to his career, what it means to anything. She just wants her husband back and out of prison. And when big things like this happen, these two people, you know, they take a look at their lives and they take a look at how they – how Peter got to that place, and they, you know, they reassess and figure out what is the best way to go forward. And as Matt said, it’s a lot of – big issues come up this season with where people are headed, what people are made of, and what they want to make of with their lives.
Matt Bomer: He’s fed up with Neal’s antics and rightfully so. He’s got his own life to get back to. Matt Bomer: And that’s (going to be played in this).
Sammi: Well, we’re excited to see what happens. Thank you so much both of you. Matt Bomer: Thank you. Have a great day.
Tim DeKay: Thank you.
Sammi: You too.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Kate.
Kate: Hi. Thank you so much for your time today.
Matt Bomer: Thank you.
Tim DeKay: Hi, Kate.
Kate: Hi. I was just kind of wondering if you could elaborate a little bit on what’s coming up for Neal’s love life this season. We saw a juicy promo already, so I was wondering if you could elaborate on that.
Matt Bomer: A juicy promo. There is a really incredible girl who comes in Neal’s life named Rebecca Lowe played by the gorgeous and talented Bridget Regan, who is (initially) sort of atypical in terms of what Neal finds attractive in a woman, with the exception of the fact that she’s a redhead. And their relationship grows over the course of the season and I think the writers did a great job just making the character really multidimensional. And she’s – her character is sort of like an onion, every episode a new layer, peels off, and we get to – Neal gets to know more about her and becomes more attracted to her.
Kate: Great. Thank you so much. Matt Bomer: Thank you.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Barb.
Barb: Great. Hi again. I had…
Matt Bomer: Hey, Barb.
Barb: …a question in regard – hey guys – Willie makes his directorial debut I understand for you guys. I was hoping you could maybe share like a fun story, like how was he directing, was he nervous, you know, any neat touches he put on the show?
Matt Bomer: Willie showed up to work on the first day for the first scene in full Cecil B. De Mille regalia. I’d like to put that out there.
Barb: Of course he did.
Matt Bomer: He had on the (rider pants), the (riding crop) in his hand, and the megaphone, with a beret. Yes. So that was our introduction to Willie as director.
Matt Bomer: Once he’s… Tim DeKay: Yes.
Matt Bomer: I found him to be profoundly organized, really hands-on when he needed to be and really hands-off when he felt like the show was in its – in a zone that everybody at this point knows how to keep it in, and a real joy.
Barb: Great. How about you, Tim?
Tim DeKay: Yes, I agree. He was – he came prepared to the party. And was ready to just be there for you when you needed him as an actor. Yes, he was – he knew what he wanted. And it was – directed the episode where we had the great, lovely and talented Kim Dickens who played Peter’s old girlfriend. And Willie was able to add some wonderful pieces to that and give us a nice tone to that.
Barb: Okay. Thank you. And hey, Matt, happy early birthday. I understand your birthday is tomorrow?
Matt Bomer: Thank you. Correct. Thank you.
Barb: So any exciting big plans for you? That you can share? Matt Bomer: Just spending some time with the family, that’s it.
Barb: All right. Well, happy birthday again.
Matt Bomer: And I’m making homemade ice cream from scratch. Tim DeKay: Oh.
Barb: Sounds good.
Matt Bomer: Look out now we’re going to be swinging from the chandeliers.
Barb: Well, have a good one.
Matt Bomer: Thank you. You too, Barb.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Lisa.
Lisa: Hi. Thank you guys again for taking time to speak with us. And Matt, of course, happy birthday.
Matt Bomer: Thank you, Lisa.
Lisa: Good to speak with you guys again. And my question is – my first question is kind of for the both of you, but I’d like to find out the most important things that Peter and Neal have learned from each other during their partnership.
Tim DeKay: The most important thing that I think Peter has learned from Neal is how…
Matt Bomer: How to wear a suit.
Tim DeKay: …how to wear a suit, how to wear a tie, and be able to do your cuff links on your own.
Matt Bomer: Uh-huh. ((Crosstalk))
Tim DeKay: Which is, yes, that’s the most important. And then below that would be to look at the grey a little bit more than just the black and white all the time. And perhaps realize that the grey can get you to the black and white in a good way.
Matt Bomer: That’s lovely. I would say that Neal has learned to look at the black and white kind of a little bit more and not always live in the grey. And not to repeat myself too much, but I think he’s learned about boundaries and responsibility, and a little tiny bit about managing impulses.
Tim DeKay: Yes, that’s the thing. I mean in a way it’s – boy, that touches – I – there will be a part of Peter that wouldn’t want Neal to manage all of his impulses because that’s part of Neal that’s incredibly valuable to Peter’s job. See, that’s – I think that’s what’s great about this relationship, is that it, you know, – the bad line for Neal is, well, Peter, this is why you grabbed me, because I do this kind of stuff. And if you change me completely, you lose what – the value that I give to this partnership. Lisa: Well, my second question is for Tim, and I’d like to find out, has directing changed your perception on acting or influenced your vision of the White Collar as an actor?
Tim DeKay: I’m sorry, you broke up. Could you ask that again?
Lisa: Has directing changed your perception on acting or influenced your vision of the show White Collar?
Tim DeKay: Directing hasn’t changed my perception on acting. It has opened my eyes more to what it takes to produce a television show in just seven days and how amazing our crew is and how they are able to make wonderful creative and logistical decisions on the fly to create just an incredible-looking show in the short amount of time that we have to produce 42 minutes of television. And I have to say, it’s a joy. It is a joy to sit down at the monitors and watch my fellow cast members act. It really is. There’s a scene between Matt and Bridget in my episode that just I could have – I could have just watched it all day. And it’s just the two of them sitting down talking, and just how facile both of them were and realizing what story points needed to come out, it was a joy. So I get to do that, I get to watch the monitor and watch my – all my fellow actors, including not just Matt, Willie and Tiffani and Sharif and Marsha. Because Matt knows all his lines. That’s the thing I’m most impressed about him.
Matt Bomer: That was very sweet of you, Tim.
Tim DeKay: Well, it’s true though.
Lisa: I think he’s giving compliments for your birthday.
Matt Bomer: It is. It’s just a blast to be there.
Lisa: Thank you so much. Matt Bomer: Thank you.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Jen.
Jen: Hi guys. Thanks for taking time to talk to us today
Matt Bomer: Thank you.
Tim DeKay: Thank you.
Jen: With the…
Tim DeKay: Thank you.
Jen: Do we see any other guest stars coming or anybody in particular you want to work again with?
Matt Bomer: Yes. There’s an amazing actress named Elizabeth Marvel who’s a great stage actress in New York and is also in a lot of the Coen Brothers movies. And she came on and played a psychiatrist in one episode. And Neal gets to have (similarly) fun scenes with her in her office undercover, and she was a blast to get to work with. We had an amazing time together. We have Zachary Booth from Damages who’s great. Aforementioned Warren Kole, Mark Sheppard, Bridget Regan, and this cool other girl Kara Hayward from the movie Moonrise Kingdom who is really fine, sweet.
Tim DeKay: And another person that was great to play with was Zelijko Ivanek.
Matt Bomer: Yes, great actor, on the New York stage a lot of times. And we just got the whole cast of Damages basically.
Jen: Is there any guest stars that was in the past season that you guys would want to work with again?
Tim DeKay: It would be great to see all of them back in one way. I thought – maybe because I ran into him in the hallway, Aidan Quinn, who’s doing now Elementary, and so it was – it reminded me of his episode. I thought it would be great to have him back. You know, everybody. You know, I hate to just point out one person because we’ve been very lucky with guest stars. And you know, here’s somebody who I consider almost a series regular but is not, strong recurring, would be James Rebhorn. I’d love to have Hughes come back.
Matt Bomer: Yes, that would be great. You don’t want to single anybody, you know, because we’ve – I think we’ve had incredible guest stars who we’ve all learned a lot from and had a great time with and we never had a bad egg in the bunch. So I’d welcome anybody…
Tim DeKay: Yes. Beau Bridges. Matt Bomer: Oh yes.
Matt Bomer: It’s like you start mentioning people, you feel like, well, we got to mention everybody, but.
Tim DeKay: Yes. Yes. But I’m not going to single anybody…
Matt Bomer: The thingthink about James Rebhorn, is not only is he a great actor, but he has some amazing recipes that he brings.
Tim DeKay: He does.
Matt Bomer: So he – so he’s, you know, there’s that. He’s a good cook.
Jen: Thank you so much for your time guys, and have a happy birthday, Matt.
Matt Bomer: Thank you.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Valerie.
Valerie: Thank you. Good morning guys.
Matt Bomer: Good morning.
Valerie: First of all, it’s already Friday in Sydney, Australia, so, happy birthday, Matt. And I’ll have some ice cream in your name later today.
Matt Bomer: Thank you. What an honor. This is my first birthday wish from Australia.
Valerie: There you go. Many more. I’ve had many tweets from people saying, can you please tell him happy birthday. So you’re very much loved everywhere.
Matt Bomer: Tell them thank you. Tell them thank you.
Valerie: Is Peter going to regret bringing in Warren Kole’s character as new – your new handler just as I’m sure he regret bringing in Kramer in the past to investigate U-Boat treasure?
Tim DeKay: Yes. Oh, baby. Let’s see. Do you think we’ll regret having brought him in, you ask?
Valerie: Yes.
Tim DeKay: I don’t think we’ll regret it at all. I think if anything, it would have been nice to have – to have seen more of Warren, and certainly David Siegel, agent David Siegel. You know, I think just that whole – that goes back to my talk about having to have done maybe stretched out a little bit more Peter in prison, I think would have been fun to stretch out Siegel. But, you know, this is not a comment on the writing. You completely understand why they have to do the things they do. But it’s more of a comment on how much I thought Warren brought to the role and just the dynamic between Peter, Neal and David Siegel.
Valerie: And Matt, do you have anything to add to that or?
Matt Bomer: Well, the way the question was framed seemed to be from Peter’s point of view. So for me to add something on that would be highly subjective. I love working with Warren though, I thought he brought a lot to the role and made a lot out of the role, so, had a great time.
Valerie: Okay. I’m going to use a Breaking Bad analogy here. I feel like Neal is a bit like Walter White. He does bad things, he breaks the law, but we still want him to win and we still back him. But it gets to a point where it feels like he’s hurt enough people, especially the people who love him, and you just want him to really pay the price. And I don’t mean, you know, having people he loves pay the price. Why should the audience and why should Peter still keep believing that he can be redeemed?
Matt Bomer: You have to look at the motivations for the behavior. And if you look at Neal’s intentions, really from the beginning of the series, even when he’s still on things in his past, in his early years, he always says to Mozzie it’s never about the money. It’s more about the game. And certainly in the framework of this season, everything he does that (trades) around in the gray area is motivated from a place of love and best intentions. The execution I think that happen is where he gets into trouble. But at the end of the day, his motives are somewhat pure. And if I were Peter, I would have kicked the sh*! out of Neal by now, to be honest with you. But I do think that if we (moved) that mutual respect and appreciation, the show would really lose its – a big part of its central relationship. And I think, credit to Tim, is as far out as the writers have Neal go to execute things, he, over the course of the years, has really done a great job of (rounding) the show. You know, Peter is really the roots of the show. He is the one who is our stasis, is our solid ground. And Tim has found a great way, and the writers, have found great ways to have Peter still respect and value Neal in spite of all the grief he’s caused everyone.
Tim DeKay: I think – I think that there had been times where Peter would like to beat the sh*! out of Neal. But Peter also see that Neal is coming from the right place. He sees that the guy is not greedy, that he certainly doesn’t want to ever physically harm anybody. But sometimes jeopardizes other people’s lives and maybe doesn’t quite think that through. But yes, that’s the thing. If we went – then it would just be – then it would — I don’t know. It’s like Tom and Jerry. If Tom really wants to – I mean, yes, he wants to get the mouse, but. If Peter were just wanting to get Neal and get him back into prison and realize, ah, I should not hire this guy, I shouldn’t have brought this guy out, I don’t know, that’s kind of been done and that’s not nearly as interesting as a constant tug of war.
Matt Bomer: And that goes back to Tom and Jerry.
Tim DeKay: It does. It does. Always comes back to Tom and Jerry. With a little bit of Abbott and Costello mixed in there.
Matt Bomer: Sure. For sure.
Matt Bomer: And just a pinch of Simon & Simon. Valerie: Okay. Thank you very much.
Matt Bomer: A pinch, just a pinch. Thank you so much. Valerie: Thank you very much. Have a good day. You too. Tim DeKay: You as well. Bye.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Stacy.
Stacy: Hi guys. Happy birthday… Operator: Please proceed with your question. Stacy: Thank you. Happy birthday, Matt.
Matt Bomer: Thank you. OMG, thank you.
Stacy: You’re very welcome. The show never gets old and it’s always enjoyable. How long do both of you guys foresee being able to do the show?
Matt Bomer: Tim, I defer to you.
Tim DeKay: No.
Matt Bomer: If the show were — I’ll be honest with you — if the show were in Los Angeles and me and my family, I would do it for 25 years. I would do it until Neal was in the walker and Tim – Peter was in a (jazzy) and we’re doing walk and talk that way down the street. Because it’s not, it is a great role and…
Matt Bomer: Roll and talk.
Matt Bomer: Yes. I feel the same way. It doesn’t – I’d never been bored on this show, ever.
Tim DeKay: No.
Matt Bomer: Ever. And I – I mean the writers have just given us a slew of interesting and layered bad guys and a slew of different worlds to pursue those bad guys. And we have a crew that cares and it’s wonderful and has invested in the story.
Tim DeKay: Yes.
Stacy: And you have an audience that’s also very invested in it. Tim DeKay: Of course. Yes.
Stacy: So thank you…
Tim DeKay: Thankfully.
Stacy: Yes. And throughout the five seasons, both Peter and Neal have gone through so many changes. Which ones have stuck out to you and which ones have you like read in the script, went, oh my God, we’re doing that?
Matt Bomer: Mine would relate mostly to I guess previous (season) when we were divided up into two seasons, the mid-season finale and the finales, because I feel like that’s generally when Jeff Eastin would reach way into his bag of tricks and suddenly I was (dazed) jumping off the top of a building or, you know, doing just some drastic extreme in terms of Neal’s own physical well-being and welfare, whatever it may be. So it would definitely, you know, there’s cliffhangers that Jeff would write that I would read and say, wow, okay, this is what it’s all about (too). But I’d never — very rarely, I think if ever — read anything I thought, oh, this is too far, this doesn’t make sense, or this is. There is sort of a fantastical, whimsical element to the show that, you know, you have to suspend your disbelief a little bit on the show, otherwise you’re, you know, if you’re looking at this as a sheer procedural or cold hard facts, it all makes sense, you know, you’re going to bump into some walls. And so I think because we gave ourselves that permission in the first season, you know, it’s been fun for us to get to come up with ways to justify and back up why our characters do what they do.
Stacy: Very cool. And thank you again for putting on a show that everyone can enjoy.
Tim DeKay: Thank you.
Matt Bomer: Thank you.
Operator: Our final question comes from the line of Greg Staffa with Your Entertainment Corner.
Greg Staffa: Thanks again for taking my call.
Matt Bomer: Thank you, Greg.
Greg Staffa: New York. So many shows, like Suits, another USA program, film out of the country and make you believe that they’re New York. But New York has played such a — I’d almost call it a character for White Collar. What is it like shooting in New York and how do you think that changes some of the feel for White Collar for the viewers to kind of create that realism? And is there some place that you’re looking forward for the audience to see or a location like, you know, Yankee Stadium? What was some of the more exciting places for you guys to film in?
Tim DeKay: I – there is something about filming in New York for New York that is – it’s liberating, at least for me. The – creatively you just get – you could just stretch out and not have to contain yourself both visually and creatively. There are no restrictions. I love it when we have a walk-and-talk in New York. And undoubtedly, the director, the VP, (Bob Kantz) have created some gorgeous shot where you see a beautiful skyline and it pans down to the two of us walking. And you’re aware of that as an actor. And it’s wonderful. And it’s, you’re right, New York is another character. And I love working with that other character.
Matt Bomer: New York is my favorite city and place. I first moved as a young artist. So whenever I’m there, I have that excitement and that enthusiasm that I think I had to channel that from when I first lived there. And it just never runs out of surprising new places. The first few seasons were so – it was – I like a kid in a candy store because we were filming in all these iconic locations that when you first move to New York you think, oh, that’s near Columbus Circle or that’s in Central Park. And we were filming at all these places and it continually surprises us. I mean we – the finale films in this place called Fort Totten that’s out in Queens, and who knew that that place, this giant old military base, was out in Queens, (on a water). I mean there are always places like that every season. Getting to film, as a New Yorker, everyone has access to the amazing exteriors of places, but getting to see the insides of these amazing brownstones and…
Tim DeKay: Yes.
Matt Bomer: …and Brooklyn and Manhattan, had been a really incredible and I feel that we’ve been privileged to see some of the most beautiful homes in New York.
Tim DeKay: I agree. I found myself being equally as excited to walk in and discover some amazing townhouse or penthouse that has an amazing view as much as I was blown over when we were at Yankee Stadium.
Matt Bomer: Yes.
Tim DeKay: All these, you know, just open these doors to these townhouses or, you know, you take a private elevator up to some penthouse and the door opens, and you’re just amazed as to the…
Matt Bomer: Yes.
Tim DeKay: …beauty that – the view that place has and the beauty of the place itself.
Greg Staffa: Well, thank you…
Matt Bomer: It’s always a litmus test for me, people will sometimes come up and say, talk about the show or I’ll engage them in conversation, then say, where do you film that? And as soon as they ask that question, I know they’re not – they don’t watch the show.
Matt Bomer: Because you can’t watch the show and not have an appreciation for New York.
Greg Staffa: Thank you. It’s been an honor to talk to you guys. One quick follow-up, Matt, are we ever going to get you to actually tweet?
Matt Bomer: I feel like it’s a real responsibility beyond just staying in touch with people. And so I’m still weighing out what that responsibility means to me and the good versus the bad. And when I figure that out, I’ll – you’ll know one way or another.
Greg Staffa: Thank you gentlemen.
Matt Bomer: Thank you.
Operator: Ms. Hynes, I will now turn the call back to you. Please continue with your closing remarks.
Kristen: Just want to thank everyone for participating in today’s call. And again just as a reminder, next Thursday is the season five premiere of White Collar at 9:00 p.m., followed by an all-new episode of Covert Affairs at 10:00 p.m.
Matt Bomer: It’s an all-new — all-new Kristen: All-new night…
Tim DeKay: All-new night guys,
Kristen: Thanks everyone.
Matt Bomer: We are not on Tuesday, we are on Thursday.
Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, that does conclude the conference call for today.
END
Greg Staffa
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