That '70s Guy Got Funky with Wanda--and You
E! Online
Topher Grace stopped in for a chat. Hear what the Fox-y star had to say about dating Donna, streaking naked and being Luke Skywalker. Plus, Wanda spills some Dawson's Creek secrets.
Tune in every Monday at 6 p.m. ET to scoop up the TV dish--and maybe get your questions answered!
Topher is here. Let's go!
From Anita: I heard you had to put a hold on your studies. Do you have plans to go back to the university, or what? Um, I really want to go back to college, but since we've already been ordered for a full season, it's not going to work out for now. I went to USC and can't wait to get back.
From lucca: What was the school play you were in when you were discovered? A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. I had no idea that the producers were in the audience, and then I got a call from them a year later when I was in the midst of midterms.
From Eileen: I live in Darien, Connecticut, and people here say that Topher is from Darien. My 21-year-old friend said she graduated with him. Did you really grow up here? YES! Darien is my hometown. I spent the whole summer there--I just came back a few days ago. I always hang out at Post Corner Pizza.
From rain_mann09: My favorite episode has to be the one when everyone went streaking. Do you have a favorite episode? My favorite episode was "The Pill," where Donna went on birth control, because it dealt with a lot of nonsitcom issues. It's just as relevant an issue today as it was in the '70s.
From lilacgirl: Any 70's Show casting news or scoops? I think Lisa Robin Kelly, who plays my sister, will be joining us for a lot more episodes this year.
From dc_10: Hi, Topher! I love the show. What first made you love acting? I decided this was something I was interested in when I got the part on the show. That was my first real audition, and I love doing it. It's a lot of fun.
From dc_10: I've just got to ask: How do you prepare for the scenes when you're supposed to be high? Well, the real master of being stoned is Ashton Kutcher. I remember in the pilot, he showed us the way and made it really, really funny. (That's probably why it's written into every show.) Sometimes the people offscreen try to make us laugh.
From leia12: Did you enjoy kissing Joseph Gordon-Levitt? He was a gentleman.
From misspunkrock: Are you a lot like Eric in real life? Taller.
From mspotato: If you don't mind my asking, how did you get your name? Topher is just the second half of Christopher. I was sick of being called Chris, so I just changed it when I got to boarding school in the seventh grade.
From theater: What's going to be new in the lives of Eric and Donna? Oh, that's an interesting question. Throughout last season, Donna and Eric really became a couple. I'm not sure what this next year holds, but I'm excited. Laura Prepon, who plays Donna, is a great actress.
From muckatots: Topher, what kind of shows did you grow up with, and who were your favorite actors? Most of my favorite actors are from old movies, because my mom didn't let me watch TV. I like Bob Hope. I love Bob Newhart.
From jcbuffyfan: Is there anyone you'd especially want to work with? That's a tough one. Bob Newhart, he's a BIG idol of mine.
From austen19: Who's your favorite character on the show? Red, my dad, played by Kurtwood Smith. He's an amazing actor. When I first met him, he was that guy from Dead Poets Society and RoboCop, but then he just turned out to be the nicest guy.
From Susan: If you weren't acting, what would you be doing? I'd be a junior at USC. My major was "undecided"--which is also my life's motto.
From krystaluv70: What do you have planned for your birthday? I was at home with my parents and sister. It was my 21st.
From jcbuffyfan: Who influenced you most in life? The thing about being picked out of obscurity for a sitcom, is that I get to learn things from incredible people. Bonnie and Terry Turner are great; so's Mark Brazil. Hanging around with these brilliant people, you just hope it rubs off on you.
From brrgrrl: Do you find fame hard to deal with, or do you love it? I haven't really had a lot of time to figure it out. I spend most of the year working on the show. But there are a few girls who wouldn't give me the time of day before who are nice to me now.
From sogo: What's your favorite summer movie--so far? South Park. I just saw it. I think it's the most amazing film. It moved me a little bit. It wasn't just toilet humor. When Kenny goes up to heaven, I thought it was so nice. I also loved Tarzan.
From chlobo: Do you have any pets? Yeah, my roommate has three dogs and a cat, so they're around all the time.
From austen19: What's your favorite TV show right now, excluding That 70's Show, of course? Mr. Show. It kicks ass.
From brrgrrl: Do you get recognized on the street, since I doubt you're out there in bell-bottoms and Brady Bunch shirts? Um...you know, I'm not good at noticing when people see me, but I was walking around a lot with my sister this summer, and she'd point out when people were looking at me.
From austen19: What do you like to do in your down time? I wind up doing a lot of publicity in my down time, otherwise I just like to hang out with my friends and rent bad, scary movies.
From buffy_99: Who would you prefer in real life: Jackie or Donna? Definitely Donna.
From jessiann: Do you have fun with your costars? Yeah. I haven't seen them for a while. We've been on summer break, and I really miss them. I can't wait to see them on Monday when we have our first table reading.
From hyper_angel: Do you ever feel bad for Fez? Why should I feel bad for Fez? He's the funniest guy on the show. Wilmer Valderrama does a great job.
From anonymous: Do you miss living back East? Yes, very much, which is why I went home for such a long time.
From gleeby: Do you get a lot of fan mail? What's the strangest thing you've ever received? I got my first marriage proposal a few days ago, but she's 13, and I just don't think it's gonna work out.
From austen19: Have any crazed fans ever attacked you? I'm really not that famous.
From gleeby: What do you think of the clothes you wear on the show? I like the clothes, but I hate my haircut, because I have to grow my hair out. I'm used to wearing a buzz.
From stephie: Who's your favorite '70s artist? Bob Newhart.
From theater: I heard you went to school in New Hampshire. I lived in Nashua for four years. What part did you live in? I lived in Wolfborough. I liked it a lot. Actually, I have some friends from Nashua.
From sojo: Are you dating anyone right now? I'm gonna plead the fifth on that.
From charizma: If you could go back to the '70s right now, would you? Well, the neat thing about the show is that you kind of get to go back in time every week. But, yeah, I'd like to go back in time to be Eric Forman, because he has a neat life. I wouldn't just go back at any time, though.
From krystaluv70: You said earlier that you're not famous, but you kinda are. I mean, you are the STAR of That '70s Show, and I just love your facial expressions. Did you have to take a lot of acting classes, or does it come natural for you? I never took any acting classes. I did four plays in high school, though.
From rubyluna: What's your favorite food? Chili cheeseburgers at Carney's in L.A.--with lettuce, so it's healthy, of course.
From calista: Speaking of the Brady Bunch, who was your favorite Brady girl? Eve Plumb (Jan) plays Jackie's mother on our show, so she's my favorite. We talked a lot on the set. She's very cool.
From jessiann: What was your reaction when you found out that you got the role of Eric Forman? When I was cast, I didn't really know what I was getting into. I just thought I'd won the audition.
From jojo: What's your favorite movie of all time? Star Wars--the first one.
From hyper_angel: Would you have liked to be someone other than Luke in the Star Wars spoof "A New Hope"? No. Come on. Luke Skywalker--he's the best.
From betty6: Were you excited about the Star Wars episode? Not only did I really, really push for that idea (long before it was even being considered), I also took Josh and Jeff, the writers of that episode, to see The Phantom Menace because I was so happy with it. It was probably the best week of my life.
From betty6: Any other movies you'd like to spoof on the show? I'd like to do Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
From muckatots: Do you guys play pranks on the set? Yeah! Laura and Wilmer and I get into water fights all the time, and they get mad at us 'cause we waste all the Poland Springs water on the set.
From monkboy: What's your work schedule like? We have a table read, where we all just kind of read the script in a circle, on Monday, and then we rehearse all week and tape the show on Friday. On Thursday morning, we tape the 360 scenes.
From austen19: Topher, do you tape the show in front of a live audience? Yes. We tape in front of 300 people, which is really neat for me since I'm used to doing high school plays and love the audience feedback.
From lilacgirl: What type of car do you drive? I've got a green Honda. Had I known that the show was going to get picked up, I probably would have gotten a better car.
From muckatots: What do you guys do to each other during the "circle jokes"? I hear you all try to make each other laugh. I can't say, but it's very lewd and it makes us laugh a lot.
From buffy101: Do you hang out with the cast outside of work? Yes. We hang out together a lot. It's the icing on the cake that we all really like each other outside of work.
From echo2: Is your roommate in the business? Nope.
From monkboy: How tall are you? I'm not sure, like 5-foot-11 or something like that. I think Ashton is the tallest on the show.
From betty6: The show's set in 1977 now. Do you see the show becoming That '80s Show, or will it be on that long? For the most of next season, it will remain 1977. Maybe we'll go to 1978 at the very end of the season.
From cool_breeze: What do you miss most about the East Coast? What do you like best about Los Angeles (if anything!)? I loved going to USC. I had a really good time there. I didn't pick it because of acting.
From mjbco: Have you been asked to tone down the implied pot-smoking scenes? There was one scene at the end of "First Date" that we had to shoot a few weeks later, because there was so much smoke in the room, but the content and the acting was never toned down.
From ines_rio: Topher, when you can, say hi to Brazil!! Because we just can't believe we're talking to you. Hi, Brazil. Thanks for watching.
From cloudy: What is Mila Kunis like? Mila is awesome. She has a lot of energy, and I think she's the perfect Jackie. I have a great admiration for everyone who is in the show. I can't wait to start working with them again.
From kimberly98: Did you really eat all that chicken? [Laughs.] No. They had a vomit bucket below the couch.
From beckhansen: What were you like in high school? I was like Eric, but without the girlfriend.
From beate: What was your favorite subject in high school? English.
From kiki: What is your ideal date? Just watching E! Entertainment Television. Just kidding.
From kimberly98: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? That's a good question. I really like acting, and I want to go back to school, but beyond that I have no idea.
From chiligirl: Were you really naked in the streaking episode? I had a flesh-colored sock over my bits and pieces.
From cool_breeze: Topher, are you naturally wiry, or do you have an incredible workout/exercise schedule? No, I'm just really skinny.
From dc_10: What does your real wardrobe look like? I usually just wear jeans and a T-shirt. It's a good thing that I don't have to get dressed up for work.
From jessiann: I'm going to watch your show tonight! What about you? Do you watch the show? Yeah, actually tonight, Laura (Donna) and Wilmer (Fez) are going to watch it at Wilmer's house, and then we're all going out to dinner.
From rdu25: When you watch your own show, do you just sit and laugh, or is it more of a critique? I don't wind up watching it a lot, although my mom does have all of them on tape.
From joanne21: Do you ever surf the Net? Are you computer literate? Ever think of trying to start a Website? I'm ashamed that I don't own a computer. My dad bought an iMac over the summer--but I've got to admit that I'm pretty computer illiterate.
From ayezaye: Where is Fez from, or supposed to be from, on the show? Not only do you never know where Fez is from, but you never know what his real name is. Fez stands for Foreign Exchange Student. His name is too hard to pronounce.
From krystaluv70: Can you tell us what will happen in "Hyde Moves In"? Hyde's mom takes off with a trucker and doesn't come back. But Red can't really afford to take him into the house--oh, and we all go skinny-dipping.
From lilacgirl: So are they giving Fez a girlfriend, or what? Rumor is that he'll have a girlfriend this season.
From ines_rio: Do you play any sports? I play tennis and soccer! The U.S. Women's team ROCKS! It's so great that we won! USA!
From cool_breeze: Do you have a favorite professional sports team? Pete Sampras is my favorite. He's an amazing tennis player!
Thanks, guys, for chatting. Enjoy the show tonight.