SF Universe » Ray Wise

The Devil You Say: It’s Ray Wise from Reaper

Cynthia — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:39:00 +0000

I spent part of my Friday the 13th, talking with Ray Wise who plays the smooth talking, utterly charming devil on Reaper. After a long hiatus, the series is back for its second season and it looks like the poor devil is up to his eyeballs in parenting problems. Disobedient children, slacker sons, it’s tough to raise kids right now a days and it’s even tougher to raise them wrong!

You have had an amazing career, Twin Peaks, 24, Charmed, Dallas, Charlie’s Angels and you did A-Team!

Ray: Yeah, I got punched out by Mr. T on that show. And at the time I was, of course, much younger and I think I could have taken him but the script said that I had to fall down.

Looking at your resume, you don’t do a lot of comedy and yet here you are on Reaper.

Ray: No, I’m not known as being a comic actor, but obviously I have it in me. I’m enjoying the whole humorous aspect of it and playing the kind of a devil character that I play, you know? It’s not the stereotypical kind of devil. I sort of liken him to a cross between a good used car salesman and a game show host, with a touch of Carrie Grant thrown in. He’s sartorially resplendent and he takes obviously good personal care of himself. The body that he’s chosen to use while he’s interacting with the humans here on earth is one I think that he likes very much.

What I find really interesting is that even though the devil is the villain of the piece, we like him. He seems like a real fun guy!

Ray: I think that would be the ultimate devil, the guy who makes you feel good when you’re around him. He would be able to make you feel confidence not only in yourself, but in him.

Is any of that in your personally? Are you a good salesman yourself?

Ray: Well, I’ve been selling myself for about forty years now, so I guess you’d have to say that I am.

Has there been anything that really surprised you when you saw it on the page?

Ray: Yeah, all the time. Our writers are very clever and they write great dialogue and it’s never the obvious, it’s always something different and even strange sometimes, and I enjoy that.

And as evil as they want us to believe the devil is, it does seem that he is genuinely proud of his son, Sam.

Ray: Absolutely, yes. He loves mixing it up with the humans here on earth. That’s his realm that was giving to him by God. The devil is the lord of air and he’s in control here on this planet. And then there’s the fact that Sam is doing a good job here on earth. He’s trying to capture those bad souls that escaped from hell and put them back where they belong and that’s a good thing.

And that’s what’s funny about the plot from the beginning… Sam’s working for the devil, but in the long run he’s making the world a safer place.

Ray: Absolutely. It’s given him a purpose, he’s not longer a slacker, and he’s doing good.

Would you give me your thoughts on his bumbling sidekicks, Sock and Ben?

Ray: I love those guys. It’s just as fun for the devil to watch them as it is for the audience to watch them. They’re just a hoot. They’re young, they’re inexperienced in the ways of the world and just to watch them operate is hilarious.

Reaper is back for its second season. So what’s new?

Ray: This season is revelatory! We’re getting away from the escaped soul of the week and new characters come into the mix [including] demon gargoyles. You’re going to see more of how the devil operates and relates to a number of characters that come into the story.

You know, we wondered if we’d come back at all and to be able to do the thirteen new episodes was certainly a gift and we took full advantage of it. They ratcheted up the level of the writing considerably with some new great ideas and for my money our second season is far superior to the first season and I liked the first season a lot so I think the viewers are in for a real treat.

Now that you’re finished filming, what are you doing with your days?

Ray: I just hang out in my backyard and pick oranges. (Laugh) I’m just waiting to see how well Reaper does because I would really like to continue playing this character for a while if that’s possible. It’s really a good one and you hate to let go of those good ones.

Ray Wise’s devil — definitely one of the good ones.

Watch Reaper every Tuesday at 8:00 on The CW.

Photos: Eric Ogden/Jack Rowand/Sergei Bachlakov/The CW

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Reaper Returns Tonight on The CW

Cynthia — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:14:49 +0000

It’s back to The Work Bench for Sam and his pals after a month long road trip (which was really a nine-month hiatus). But you know what always happens at work while you’re on vacation? Your desk gets piled high with the stuff no one else wants to touch and that’s Sam’s problem in this second season premiere of Reaper.

Forget one or two souls, he’s charged with taking down a group of 20 or so nasty hombres who have formed their own supernatural fight club! They’re going to need brains over brawn (which is a good thing considering the shape the boys are in) in order to take down this brood and when you’re the son of the devil, failure is not an option.

It’s been so long since I’ve seen a new episode of Reaper, I’d forgotten how much I really enjoy this show. I do, however, have a confession to make. I stopped watching after the first few months because I didn’t like all of the extra characters that they threw into the mix. I’m happy to say, this second season premiere focuses the camera on the basic quartet of Sam, Sock, Ben and Andi with Ray Wise’s devil riding shot gun as always.

That’s not to say that there aren’t a few new additions to the cast. Sock has a new, hot, step-sister living in the house with him while his mom and her new husband are away. That makes for a few laughs but I got bored with the joke very quickly.

During a speech that could have been Paul Lynde singing “Kids” from Bye Bye Birdie, we learn that the devil has lots of sons but none, so far, have lived up to the promise of their DNA. Later in the season, Arnie Hammer will put in an appearance as one of those determined to become the number one son, even if that means eliminating his competition.

Lastly, we have Sean Patrick Thomas as a saved soul who seems to have found a way out of his deal with the devil. That means hope and a whole new attitude for Sam by the end of the episode.

If you’ve never seen Reaper, this is a great time to give it a try. Everything you need to know is packaged for you upfront in this episode so don’t worry about coming in late to the movie. If you’re a fan who wavered, like me, give the show another shot. It’s a funny show in a quirky kind of way and the heroes are likable and not so bumbling as before.

The premiere is titled: Episode IV: A New Hope, and that alone should tell you where Reaper’s writers are coming from. Watch it tonight at 8:00 on The CW.

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Marsters and Wise on Numb3rs Tonight

Cynthia — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:08:25 +0000

As if there wasn’t already enough on to watch tonight, Numb3rs (one of my favorite shows) has a couple of guest stars you might be interested in.

James Marsters (Buffy, Torchwood) and Ray Wise (Reaper) both put in appearances in an episode called “Guilt Trip,” about a case of jury tampering. (Marsters Photo behind the cut)

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Reaper Returns Two Weeks Early

Cynthia — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 07:54:09 +0000

After spending the first 20 years of his life playing video games and hanging with his buddies, Sam Oliver (Bret Harrison) embarked on an exciting career as part of the Work Bench customer service team. But on his 21st birthday, Sam was told it was time he joined the family business — the business of hunting down escaped souls and sending them back to hell where they belong.

If you’re thinking Sam and Dean Winchester, think again. Sam Oliver works for the devil himself (Ray Wise) thanks to a deal made by his parents, who may not be his real parents at all. It’s Reaper and it’s returning to The CW for a second season starting on March 3.

If you’ve never seen the series, it’s sort of Supernatural crossed with Chuck. It’s mainstay is action comedy but you’ll also see a number of ghosts, ghoulies and other things that go bump in the night. If that’s not enough to draw you in, then watch for the talents of Ray Wise and Tyler Labine (Sam’s buddy Sock) both of whom steal every scene they’re in.

I have images of Reaper’s Devil sharing a drink with Supernatural’s Lilith — now that would be one mad tea party!

Want a little Reaper to tide you over? Click the cut for a fun promo vid.

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