Interviews/Articles
This section is of any interviews and/or articles all about Neil, improv, Scrubs....etc. If it has Neil and/or features Neil, it will be here. And, again, like we have been saying all along, we DO NOT CLAIM THESE AS OUR OWN. They are (and will always be) copyrighted to their original owner(s), writers and of course - Neil Flynn himself.

New! Added August 5, 2008: Second City Interview

Neil Flynn Of 'Scrubs' - Tv Shows | CRAVEONLINE.COM

Starry Constellation Magazine (podcast - audio interview)

Starry Constellation Magazine (written text of above interview)

Entertainment- Interview: Judy Reyes and Neil Flynn of NBC's "Scrubs"

TV Guide interview with Neil Flynn, from the beginning of season 6

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Link: Neil Flynn changes scrubs for role in newest Indy film

Neil Flynn changes scrubs for role in newest Indy film

May 22, 2008

By JIM NEWTON jnewton@scn1.com
It may be a small role, but Waukegan East High School alumnus Neil Flynn knows his appearance in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is a slice of cinematic history.

"It's very cool to be in a big movie like this," Flynn said in a telephone interview Wednesday from his home in the Los Angeles area. "It's kind of a culturally iconic film. It's like being in one of the 'Star Wars' movies."

Flynn, best known for his role as the quirky janitor on the hit comedy series "Scrubs," has appeared in several movies, but this experience was different from the beginning.

He confirmed that the renowned secrecy surrounding the fourth installment of the Indiana Jones saga has not been exaggerated.

"I had to sign something -- basically that I could go to jail if I opened my mouth about any details," Flynn said, adding that it was a bit ironic because he did not know many of the details until he actually saw the film Tuesday night.

"I was given about four pages of script," he said. "While we were shooting it, I barely knew what I was talking about when I said the lines."

Flynn plays a character named Agent Smith and he briefly interrogates Indiana Jones in the movie.

"It was cool to have a scene with Harrison Ford," Flynn said, but added that it came with a price -- his back was to the camera for the most part.

I'm not sure everyone will recognize me," he said. "I knew it was a small part going in, but it was even smaller than I remembered."

The scene Flynn was in was shot last August, he said. He auditioned for the movie by doing a scene from another movie for the casting director. When he was offered a role in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" about a month later, he said he jumped at it.

Flynn said that after finally seeing the movie this week, he was impressed.

"I think it looks great," he said. "It's really fun, with great effects, stunts and laughs."

Flynn is also happy that "Scrubs" has been picked up by ABC and will be back with a new season next year following its seven-season run on NBC.

"It's all good news. ABC has owned us all along, so I think the show may be treated better by its biological parent," Flynn said, mentioning its multiple time slot changes on NBC.

Flynn's parents still live in Waukegan and he says he returns each Christmas and most summers to visit. Although "Scrubs" will be shooting this summer, he said he has special incentive to return to the Chicago area soon.

"I'm going to try to get there in time to get to Wrigley Field, since it looks like the Cubs have something going," he said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 'Scrubs' actor tries decor improv By Nina Metz Special to the Tribune E-mail story
Next week, Neil Flynn, who plays the tormenting janitor on NBC's "Scrubs," returns to his Chicago improv roots with a series of shows at i.O. Theater. Based in Los Angeles, Flynn and a group of his fellow Chicago ex-pats -- including "Anchorman's" David Koechner -- perform long-form improv together at iOwest, i.O.'s California offshoot. Collectively, the guys are known as Beer Shark Mice, and they take the stage locally Friday and Saturday.

A true-blue Chicagoan, Flynn, 46, was born on the South Side. "We lived on 37th Street until I was 9, when we moved north to Waukegan." Next stop, Wrigleyville, where he began working in theater. A move to L.A. in 1988 did not pan out: "I flopped." Back in Chicago, Flynn honed his comedy chops at i.O. and Second City for the better part of the '90s before giving the West Coast another try.

Today, home is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom Spanish-style house in North Hollywood -- "a few miles from the noise and traffic of Hollywood" -- purchased in the spring. He lives alone with a cat named Mike that he found last year in the parking lot at work.

"I'm not much of a decorator," he says, "so I'd describe the place so far as somewhere between a bachelor's pad and a kids' fort."

1. Most luxurious feature in your home: The master bathroom has a large walk-in shower with a rainfall-type shower head. It's the first time I haven't had to bend to wash my hair. [Flynn is 6'5"]

2. One thing on a wall in your living room: My brother, Tim, is an artist, and I have my favorite piece of his -- an abstract, colorful drawing -- prominently displayed.

3. One thing you have in your house from your childhood: I have some books of plays that I stole from my father's bookcase in about 8th grade.

4. What is the oldest thing in your fridge or freezer? I never finish milk before it expires, so there's always a carton in the fridge that I'm afraid to go near.

5. Weirdest thing in your house? A ceramic squirrel that somebody gave me. Maybe it should go in the yard, or in the garbage, but it's in my bathroom.

6. One thing on your nightstand: I'm trying to finish reading "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell.

7. Favorite household chore: Favorite chore? Wow . . . I'll be in charge of cleaning the stove, since I've never used it.

8. Most high-tech gadget or appliance in your home: I have an Xbox. Is that high-tech?

9. Best furniture bargain you ever got and where'd you get it? When I was younger, I wasn't above dragging some couch or bookshelf home that someone else had thrown away. Free is a good price.

10. What is the biggest collection in your home? Beanie Babies! Not really. I don't really collect anything, but I do have several signed jerseys of Chicago athletes.

11. Messiest room in the house? The kitchen. I'm not an avid dishwasher.

12. What reading material would we find in your bathroom? Magazines. There's a stack of ESPN and Sports Illustrated.

13. Biggest surprise we'd find in your closet: Surprise? Hmm . . . I don't think I have any "surprising" clothes . . . I'll say my wedding dress.

14. If you had to save one "thing" from your home, what would it be? I'll go with the [Michael] Jordan jersey.

15. Do you do any friendly snooping when visiting the homes of others? No. Do people do that? I might need to hide some things.

16. Your opinion of TVs in the bedroom? It's perfect for watching the rest of a movie when you have to go to bed but want to know how it ends.

17. What would we find in your garage? Well, I just moved in, so it's not too crammed with stuff. No car. Tools, weights, suitcases, an old recliner ... this is a boring answer. A live shark!!

18. What is your decorating nightmare? Me decorating.

19. What aspect of your home is the epitome of your personality? I've never been asked anything like that. Uh ... how about the lawn? It looks great if you don't come too close.

20. Biggest difference between living in Chicago early in your career and the way you live now? I never have to wait to use the bathroom.

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