ONTD

HBO: Thanks to John Gallagher, Jr. for joining us for today’s Q&A. Welcome John! What do you think motivates Jim Harper?
A: I think he's somewhat of a perfectionist when it comes to his job and even though he's a realist he still strives for the truth to win as often as it can.

Q: The karaoke bar seems to be a recurring scene in the show- is there any possibility you'll sing at all on the show?
A:Jim never summons the interest or the courage to get up on stage at the karaoke bar but you just might catch a glimpse of him playing guitar with Will McAvoy in a later episode.

Q: Do you enjoy playing a character full of passion and motivation in his work?
A: I'm a workaholic when it comes to my job and Jim Harper is a workaholic when it comes to his so I definitely relate to that character and enjoy throwing myself into a role that in turn throws himself into his work.

Q: What was it about the show that stood out to you that lead to you audtioning for jim?
A: I've been a fan of Aaron Sorkin's since Sports Night and a fan of HBO's original programming since The Larry Sanders show so the combination of those two made the project a no brainer to me. Plus the script of the pilot episode was just so unbelievably good and the character of Jim lept off the page so much so that I knew I had to go after it.

Q: Hi John, What attracts Jim to Maggie? Toni
A: I think Jim sees a lot of himself in Maggie. A dedicated and hard worker with a lot of brains who is also flawed and nervous and clumsy and to top it all of she's beautiful. I think whether he fully knows it or not at least some part of him is aware that he's met his soul mate in her.

Q: How does the sense of community on "The Newsroom" compare to that of your theater productions? How does it contrast?
A: The camaraderie that is shared on the set of The Newsroom feels very much like the type of union that I've felt working on plays and perhaps it's because so many of the actors on the show have worked in theater and are aware of the importance of a strong ensemble. I look up to every single performer on the show and look forward to seeing them at work everyday.

Q: What would you consider Jim's biggest flaw?
A: I think his pride can certainly get in the way when it comes to his work. In his personal life I'd say social anxiety can get the better of him.

Q: I know you're a huge fan of bluegrass folk music. Do you have a favorite musician or band?
A: I've seen The Avett Brothers about 10 times live and never tire of the experience. While not a typical bluegrass outfit I've still never witnessed that style of music played better than The Punch Brothers do it. There is an incredible bluegrass guitar player/singer/songwriter named Michael Daves who plays every week in New York. I try to see him as often as possible even though watching him makes me feel like giving up playing guitar because I'll never be able to play as well as him.

Q: How do you think Jim's experiences while embedded have affected him? Will we get more glimpses into this side of his character?
A: Jim's experiences being embedded have made him a strong and fearless journalist but I think coping with his affection for Maggie terrifies him more than being shot at.

Q: I work in news, so I know how it goes. For your role, is there any one real-life person in the news biz that you modeled Jim Harper after?
A: Not especially but I'm very lucky to have Gideon Yago on set as a writer. He worked in journalism for years and has been embedded numerous times at a younger age than most people in his field. But if you saw him in a bar you could easily mistake him for a bass player in a rock band. That duality is so interesting to me. The difference being that Gideon is cool and Jim is a nerd but I still take some inspiration from him.

Q: Do you compare yourself with any previous Aaron Sorkin character?
A: I always couldn't help but relate to Josh Malina's character on Sports Night. I feel like Jim Harper and Jeremy Goodwin are cut from similar cloth.

Q: What's your favorite part about playing Jim? About the show in general?
A: It's so much fun to play someone who is really good at his job. I wouldn't last a day in a real bullpen but playing the role gives me a taste of what it would really be like. Also Aaron's dialogue really is just tremendously fun to deliver. I always particularly look forward to my scenes with Alison Pill and Emily Mortimer.

Q: Did you do any type of research on broadcast news before stepping into Jim's role?
A: Sadly I didn't have much time. I showed up on the set of The Newsroom just days after leaving a production of a Broadway play. I wasn't able to do much else than watch a lot of cable news and do some research online. After that I just joined in and went for it.

Q: What was your reaction when you were told you were cast as Jim?
A: Stunned mostly. I really didn't think I was going to get the part. It took a while to sink in but after my first day on set the elation kicked in and hasn't gone away since.

Q: How much of yourself do you see in Jim Harper? Are there any lines blurred?
A: I can definitely relate to Jim in that he is so obsessed with his work that often times he's clueless as how to act when it comes to his own personal life. I think both Jim and I could afford to work on that trait a little bit.

Q: What is the most challenging thing about working on a television show as opposed to working on a Broadway show?
A: Having to learn a lot of new dialogue with every day of shooting can be difficult. Also theater actors become so spoiled because once the show is up and running they can sleep in every day if they're so inclined. When shooting a TV show you will rarely have a call time that's after 8:00 am but it's well worth it so I'm not complaining.

Q: What would you like to see happen to your character on the show next season and seasons to come?
A: I'd love to find out a little bit more about Jim's backstory with Mckenzie especially how they met and what the experience was like with them being embedded together.

Q: Do you see yourself more as an actor or as a musician?
A: Music and acting both serve such different needs of mine but it all comes down to the enjoyment of telling stories I guess. The difference is with music that I get to write and control the stories. With acting I'm just one element of the story telling process.

Q: How would you describe Jim and Mac's relationship?
A: Jim and Mackenzie are sort of like the Batman and Robin of cable news producers if Batman and Robin were a married couple who fought all the time and finished each other's sentences. They drive each other crazy most of the time but there's a deep love and respect there and they basically can't live without each other.

Q: What are some adjustments you've had to make doing TV in LA after theatre in NY? What has taken some getting used to?
A: I've lived in New York City for almost 10 years and haven't owned a car since I was 18 so driving to and from work everyday was an adjustment for me.

Q: Out of all the characters you've played so far, what did you like and not like about each? What would you change if you were the director?
A: I've found something to love in every character I've ever played and I've been lucky enough to work with really smart directors who I always saw eye to eye with.

Q: Huge fan of your work on the show! Will we get to see more of Jim's relationship with Mack and how they came to trust each other so much?
A: I hope so!

Q: Who would you like to guest star on the show?
A: It's hard to say. We've already had such amazing guest stars on season 1. Jane Fonda, Adam Arkin, David Krumholtz, Paul Schneider. Hope Davis. It'll be exciting to see who else joins us in the future.

Q: How would you describe Jim's relationship with Don?
A: Jim and Don are both very stubborn people who do their jobs very differently from one another and so immediately they start butting heads. I think Jim is also a bit envious of Don for being in a relationship with Maggie and holds Don to a high standard when it comes to the way he treats her.

Q: What are your favorite shows on TV right now? Is there a show that you would like to be part of?
A: I'm absolutely obsessed with Breaking Bad, Mad Men and Boardwalk Empire. Haven't missed an episode of all three. I also really love Treme. I'm a big David Simon fan and a fan of New Orleans and am very much looking forward to the third season this fall on HBO.

Q: Why do you think it was important for the show to be set a few years in the past in terms of actual events that took place? Thanks!
A: I think we suffer as a nation from a collective attention deficit at times. Once a news story isn't popular anymore it disappears. Our show takes place in the not so distant past and I think it's a great opportunity to look back at what's happened to this world and how far we have come since it happened and what it's taught us.

Q: What do you hope for your character in the future?
A: Maybe he'll get his own office someday. Although I think Jim likes being in the bullpen with all the other staffers.

Q: Be honest now. do you think Jim and Don would be friends if Maggie wasn't between them?
A: I do actually. I think they would have a lot to teach each other that could probably make them both better at their job. I think they are stubborn and go up against each other from time to time but there is definitely a lot of respect between the two of them.

Q: How much have grown as a person and as an actor since your first appearance on a Sorkin show ("20 Hours in America," The West Wing)?
A: Considerably! Internally and externally. I was 18 when I shot The West Wing and I'm 28 now. I can barely remember the person I was back then but I know that he had an unfortunate haircut.

Q: What is the silliest song you've ever written about?
A: I wrote a song in high school that basically just listed all the films Linda Blair starred in. That was pretty silly.

Q: What is your favorite HBO show other then Newsroom? Oh by the way I'm a huge fan and your doing a wonderful job on the show!
A: I love Boardwalk Empire and I think The Wire is easily one of the top five best series to ever air on television.

Q: Who is your favorite Sorkin character (besides Jim)?
A: I really love me some C.J Craig and Leo McGarry.

Q: What Hogwarts house do you most identify with?
A: I don't even know what they all are. I've never read a Harry Potter book but it's on my list of things to do.

Q: If you could go back in time and see any moment in musical theater history, which would you pick and why?
A: I would've loved to see West Side Story.

Q: How does it feel to be reunited with Allison Pill after so many years?
A: Great!

HBO: That's all the time we have for today's Q&A. A huge thank you to John Gallagher, Jr. for joining us. Anything else you'd like to say, John?
A: Thanks much for joining the Q&A, I appreciated all the questions and all the love for the show. I had fun! Keep watching The Newsroom Sundays at 10PM on HBO.


Source!
I love this show (ya ya ya I know the criticism), and omg his character, hearts in my eyes...but bro, seriously, go read Harry Potter.