Buffy The Vampire Slayer

For most people, having fake blood applied to your hands while you’re doing a phone interview might be distracting, but Christopher Gorham is good at multi-tasking.

There he was last Monday night, in the makeup trailer on location at UBC, chatting with me, and at the same time, getting all gored up for an upcoming fight scene for his new sci-fi drama series, Jake 2.0 which debuts tonight at 9 on UPN.

The sweet and lanky 29-year-old Fresno, California native (best known for his role as Harrison John on the WB’s Popular) plays Jake Foley, a computer technician who works at the National Security Agency in Washington, D.C.

In a freak accident at the agency, Jake is accidentally injected with nanites — molecule-sized robots — a totally untested new technology, which empower him with enhanced strength, speed, hearing and vision, and the ability to interface telepathically with any form of technology.

"He’s a modern hero, an everyman, with flaws and heart, you can root for him," says Gorham. "He’s a mix of Alias, The Bourne Identity and a regular uncool guy, stumbling through this world that he has no business inhabiting. Jake has always wanted to be an agent, he’s applied a couple of times, but doesn’t have what it takes to be an agent in the traditional sense, he thinks with his heart, not his head."

Even his college crush, D.C. congressional aide Sarah (Marina Black) thinks of him as a friendly geek.

There’s lots of physical work for Gorham on this show, "I’m always getting beaten up," he says with a laugh, "I always have cuts and bruises."

On a recent late night, when we visited Jake 2.0 in its new home, the former Chris Isaak set in south Vancouver, Gorham was being clubbed on the noggin take after take by a bad guy played by local actor Brendan Fraser. (Another local actor, Keegan Connor Tracy, plays research scientist, Diane; and our city’s Carly Pope, who played lead character Sam McPherson on Popular, is guesting on several episodes of Jack 2.0.)

Gorham has learned how to load and fire guns to play Jake, but in spite of his character’s superhuman skills and techie tendencies, Gorham admits that although he’s able to surf the net and do e-mail, his own technical abilities are limited.

"My computer is infected with a virus right now, as a matter of fact," he admits.

And, although he experienced "a bit of fame" from his roles on Popular and Odyssey 5 (as Neil Taggart), a recurring role on Felicity (as Trevor O’Donnell), and a one-episode stint on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (as a dead 1950’s student who possesses Buffy), he’s not sure how he’ll handle things if Jake is a huge hit. Depending on tonight’s ratings, Christopher Gorham may be a star tomorrow morning.

"I don’t know if you can be ready for it. I don’t want to expect too much, or too little, I’m just letting it happen," he admits.

I ask if he’s nervous about the show’s premiere.

"I don’t know if it’s really nervous, but I’m very anxious, you know, I’m excited, and I’m just very curious as to how it’s going to be received.

But I’ve been doing this for a little while now and there are so many other people involved than just me. But I guess I’ve never had this kind of responsibility before, (here he switches his cell phone to his left hand so blood can be applied to his right), but we’ll see, for better or worse," he says, chuckling.

"I just show up and do the job the very best that I can every day, no matter what the part is. And I’m having a blast."

And, no matter what happens with the show, his two-and-a-half-year-old son, Lucas, back in Los Angeles, will still be happy to see Daddy when he comes home Saturday morning.

Gorham has been commuting weekends (flying south Saturday mornings and returning Sunday nights) to visit his wife, former Popular castmate, Anel Lopez (she played Latina cheerleader Poppy Fresh for the first 12 episodes of the show) and little Lucas. (The couple, married in 2000, is expecting another baby in January.)

"My wife is putting together a little scrapbook for me of all the stuff that’s coming out," says Gorham proudly, "I think she’ll be watching the show by herself ’cause she’ll have just gotten Lucas to bed by the time it gets ready to start."

And, tonight, even though the cast and crew will be working, shooting scenes at a local paint ball emporium, they plan to watch the show together. "We have a curfew," says Gorham, "so we’re going to be done in time to go have a little shindig somewhere. I’m excited."

Jake 2.0 is created by Silvio Horta (The Chronicle) and executive-produced by Gina Matthews (Popular), Grant Scharbo and David Greenwalt (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel).

PLATT’S BACK

Oliver Platt has joined the cast of Showtime’s two-hour drama pilot, Huff, in production here until Sept. 18.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Platt plays a lawyer and best pal of Craig (Huff) Huffstodt (Hank Azaria), a shrink freaking about facing middle age.

Paget Brewster plays Huff’s wife and Blythe Danner is mom in the Sony Pictures Television project, written by Bob Lowry and directed by Scott Winant. Executive producers are Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Donnie Brasco) and Lowry.

Platt recently starred in two unsuccessful dramedy pilots, the CBS legal show, Queens Supreme, and the NBC journalism series, Deadline. You may remember him for his recurring role as White House counsel Oliver Babish on NBC’s The West Wing, which earned him an Emmy nomination.

He’s worked in Vancouver a few times before — in the feature films Lake Placid, Hope Springs (a.k.a. New Cardiff) and Liberty Stands Still.

TV GAL NOW

Tara Reid, who just left town last week after wrapping her role in Alone in the Dark with Christian Slater, will join Vancouver’s Sarah Chalke in Hollywood with a guest arc on NBC’s Scrubs this season.

It’s Reid’s first time on network primetime.

She’ll appear as Jordan’s (Christa Miller) younger sister in at least four episodes of the comedy series, which begins airing its third season on Thursday, Oct. 2.

She’ll also have a little romance with J.D. (Zach Braff), says The Hollywood Reporter.

Chalke, by the way, plays Dr. Elliot Reid on the show. This season, she’s going to have a little romance in her life again, for at least six episodes, when Scott Foley (Dawson’s Creek) reprises his role as her neurotic would-be boyfriend.

STARS VISIT FEST

We’ve just heard that Elizabeth Berkley and John Neville will attend the Vancouver International Film Festival for the screening of their film, Moving Malcolm, written and directed by Vancouver’s Ben Ratner. Dates and details to come.

VICTORIOUS VAUGIER

Emmanuelle Vaugier’s career continues to build, as her movie Secondhand Lions with Robert Duvall and Michael Caine preps for release on Sept. 19. (She plays the daughter of an Arab sultan.)

The glamorous Vancouverite, who keeps a place here, but is now based in L.A., also plays Dr. Helen Bryce, Lex Luthor’s wife on Smallville. This month she has an eight-page layout in Femme Fatale magazine, a page in Movieline’s Hollywood Life section, a cover and article in The Commuter, and next month, will be featured in InStyle and Self.

SPOTTED

Jessica Biel and Ryan Reynolds, here for their roles in Blade: Trinity, were seen sweating at Ron Zalko’s gym on Monday afternoon. But no sign of the movie’s star, Wesley Snipes.

thebacklot@shaw.ca

Lynne McNamara’s Backlot appears Wednesday and Saturday.