TV Guide Online:  Tonight we are chatting with Bruce Campbell from the new 
television series "Jack of All Trades." Welcome, Bruce! Thanks for coming 
tonight!

Bruce Campbell:  No sweat. I just happened to be in the neighborhood. The 
neighborhood of the Southern Hemisphere. I'm coming to you pseudo-live from 
Auckland, New Zealand.

Question:  What is it your new series about?

Bruce Campbell:  My new series is about half an hour.... Actually, it's about 
the world's first spy team. I play a character called Jack Stiles. He is 
commissioned by Thomas Jefferson in 1802 to go to the East Indies and fight 
against Napoleon's advance. I'm teamed up with an English spy who happens to 
be a gorgeous woman. Every week, we stop hijinks on the high seas. There you 
go. Be sure to tune in January 17th. Check those local listings. It's 
syndicated, so you have to find it yourself.

Question:  Bruce:  What's it like living in New Zealand? Is it just as 
beautiful as we see on TV?

Bruce Campbell:  I don't officially live here, but I do for six months out of 
the year. It's a beautiful, tropical place that gets [sheets] of rain. It's 
as if the hands of time have been turned back about 10 years. There is a 
little less road rage, a lot less guns, a lot more drinking and a lot more 
civility in general. It's a great place to work.

Question:  What do you like about working with Sam Raimi?

Bruce Campbell:  I like the fact that Sam is, creatively, probably the most 
on-the-ball director I've ever worked with. He enjoys the process of 
filmmaking more than anyone I know. There are people I know who drag their 
feet and wish they weren't doing it. Having said that, it's been a while 
since I've worked with him directly. Since "Hercules," I've worked for his 
company, but indirectly. I put money in his pocket, and he doesn't even know 
it.

Question:  Did you have to learn any new skills for your new series, like 
swordfighting maybe?

Bruce Campbell:  I had to relearn swordfighting. I've done some basic 
swordfighting, but never to this extent. The thing about TV is you never have 
the time to learn. I just try not to get killed. I learned the basics and 
each week have to learn a new sword fight. I have a half-hour to learn it. 
What you're watching is an exercise at short-term memory -- which I'm not 
always good at. Thank God for editing.

Question:  Bruce, since "Hercules" is over, will you still appear on "Xena" 
every so often, or will you focus totally on your new show?

Bruce Campbell:  Right now, I'm completely submerged in the show and will be 
in till the spring of 2000. I would enjoy it, time permitting. However, in 
the off-season this year, I will be promoting the release of my book... plug, 
plug... which is due from St. Martin's Press in the fall of this year. I will 
hopefully be doing a book tour this summer. It has a working title called 
"Confessions of a B Movie Actor." I suppose as the series continues, I'll 
have to put out another one called "Confessions of a Syndicated TV Actor."

Question:  Did you have any input into the Ashes 2 Ashes video game?

Bruce Campbell:  Sam and I will have a reasonable amount of input, and it's 
only because of time that we don't have more. I will be doing the voice of 
Ash, so I can at least monitor and contribute accordingly. That's due 
Halloween 2000. It's the next best thing to another “Evil Dead.”

Question:  What movie you did was your favorite, and why?

Bruce Campbell:  A recent one that people can check out now is "Running Time" 
on DVD and video. It's cool because it's so ambitious for so little money. 
There are a lot of new filmmakers out there that think they are cool and hip 
and groovy. They've never seen “Running Time.” I dare them to see how we 
made it. It's one continuous shot. There is no conventional editing in this 
movie.

Question:  Hi, Bruce, I am a big fan. I love your work. How long have you 
been acting, and are you single?

Bruce Campbell:  I've been acting since 1979, and last time I was single was 
1982. But thanks for asking.

Question:  What was it like working with the Coen brothers? 

Bruce Campbell:  The Coen Brothers are great because they make movies like 
nobody else. By that I don't mean the types, but how they make them. For 
example, they enjoy a lot of rehearsal. Most filmmakers don't bother to 
rehearse, and I think that's a huge mistake. 

Bruce Campbell:  My advice to any filmmakers (low budget, medium or high) is 
don't neglect rehearsal. It allows you to edit out the bumps before you make 
any money. The Coen Brothers are very hip to that, which makes them cooler 
than they realize. They also make movies in a non-confrontation style. Joel 
works very closely with Ethan. Joel isn't just a writer, he's a director. 
Ethan isn't just a director, he's a producer, too.

Question:  Do you have a special affinity with the horror genre? What are 
some of your favorite horror films? 

Bruce Campbell:  Some of my favorite horror films are from some years ago. 
I'd like to see horror films get scary again. I have no particular love or 
hate of horror films, it just worked out that way. In Hollywood, perception 
is nine-tenths the law. Check out two horror movies. The original "Haunting," 
not the cheeseball remake, and check out Roman Polanski's "The Tenant." It 
freaks you out perceptionally. That's a lot scarier than monsters. Your mind 
is a lot more dangerous.

Question:  Hi, Bruce. Seen you in "Cherry Hill," and what a handsome man. As 
a kid, what were your favorite TV shows, and why?

Bruce Campbell:  As a kid, my favorite TV shows were just like "Jack of All 
Trades," and I'm not being glib. My favorite shows as kid, and I'm showing my 
age now, were "Wild, Wild West," "F Troop" -- and "Jack of All Trades" is 
like those. It's very silly, very fun, a little old fashioned, and the whole 
family can sit down and watch it. I like TV shows that entertained. Whether 
we succeed or fail, we're certainly giving it the old college try with "Jack."

Question:  Have you ever done any of your own stunts?

Bruce Campbell:  I do plenty of my own stunts, and for some stupid reason, 
always have. No actor can do all of their own stunts, and any actor that 
tells you that is a liar. I rely on the good graces of stunt people around 
the world. I enjoy the phrase my stuntman used to use -- he called me his 
"dialogue double." I think if an actor can pull it off, it's best if they can 
do some stunts. It allows the director more flexibility in how to perform a 
scene. Though I claim no expertise in that area.

Question:  So are they finally going to make an Ash figurine?

Bruce Campbell:  I've heard 9,000 rumors about the Ash action figure... but 
my phone has not rung regarding it. It would be cool to see one finally come 
to be, because it would stop all those nasty Internet rumors.

Question:  Why did you quit on "Brisco County Jr."? It was such a good show.

Bruce Campbell:  LOL. I didn't quit anything. It quit me. Television has a 
nasty little habit of requiring good ratings. "Brisco" started strong and 
ended well in rural markets. Because you, dear person, didn't have a Nielsen 
box, we were cancelled. Fox is primarily an urban network. "Jack of All 
Trades" will ease your pain.

Question:  Will there be other "Hercules" or "Xena" actors making cameos on 
you show?

Bruce Campbell:  If I can help it, yes. There are a lot of talented people 
who worked on those shows. I know there is a desire to distance ourselves 
from those shows, but in a long-winded way, I hope so.

Question:  How can your fans get in touch with you?

Bruce Campbell:  The best and only way, since I no longer have any PO box.... 
I've leapt into the new millennium by e-mail -- bcact@aol.com. It will take a 
month to respond, but unless you're a complete moron, I will respond. I'll 
sometimes even respond if you are a complete moron. You might not like it, 
though.

Question:  Bruce, is it true you will be doing a movie with *NSYNC?

Bruce Campbell:  Better check your sources, partner. The answer is no. BTW, 
the only accurate information of what I'm up to is check 
www.bruce-campbell.com. Go read, explore.

Question:  What made you decide to take the role in "Jack of All Trades"?

Bruce Campbell:  "Jack of All Trades." I agreed for a number of reasons. 
Primarily the material. The concept appeals to me. I like New Zealand, 
because we're left alone. Also, since it's a half-hour, we can complete a 
season in six months. Which almost allows me to have a life.

Question:  Bruce, hiya! Will you do another "X-Files" episode if they should 
ask? You did a great job as a demon/devil.

Bruce Campbell:  I'd be delighted. Of course, my character is pretty dead, so 
it would be tough.

Question:  Hello, Bruce. I am a young fan and would like to tell you that you 
have quite a following at Altadena Middle School in New York. Do you have any 
kids of your own?

Bruce Campbell:  I have two kids, one of them that I think is monitoring this 
chat right now. Her name is Rebecca, and I have a son named Andy. They are 
very groovy kids.

Question:  Will the "Evil Dead" continue?

Bruce Campbell:  Yes. When monkeys fly out of my butt. I always try and 
explain why it may be a while before another one is made, and it always gets 
misinterpreted. I love the movies. They have provided me with everything I 
have now. No one in the studios will wake up thinking they must make another 
"Evil Dead." When the college kids now become studio execs, then we'll do it. 
Till you have the financing, you can't make it.

Question:  Kudos for your performance in "Escape From L.A." Could you 
describe that experience/shoot...?

Bruce Campbell:  John Carpenter was great, because he's very comfortable at 
what he does. He knows what he wants and is a real gentleman. Just as cool 
was Kurt Russell, who is normal. He's the biggest big shot movie star that 
I've met.

Question:  What got you interested in acting?

Bruce Campbell:  I became interested in acting because it provided a way to 
never have to act like an adult. As a kid, it bummed me out thinking I'd have 
to stop screwing around and wear suits. When I was 8, I saw my father in a 
play at the community theater. It made me realize if I did that job, I'd 
never have to do anything real.

Question:  Do you have any experience on the stage?

Bruce Campbell:  Last time I did theater was 400 years ago. It's an issue of 
time. Theater takes a long [time], and the "Evil Dead" movies haven't 
prompted a call from Broadway. The scary thing about theater is you can't 
call “cut.”

Question:  Bruce, what other actors or actresses inspire you?

Bruce Campbell:  I like Bob Hope, Danny Kaye, Barbara Stanwyck. Jennifer 
Jason Leigh. Sometimes I like very conventional actors from the Golden Era of 
Hollywood. I also like actors that are more unconventional. I like actors 
that seem to be having fun. I think that's supposed to be the idea.

Question:  What are some things you enjoy doing in your life other than 
acting?

Bruce Campbell:  I like getting out to the great outdoors. I live in the 
boonies in the Great Northwest, and I wish I got there sooner. We have an 
amazing country, and I urge you folks to explore it on foot. It's the best 
video game you could ever play.

Question:  Bruce, have you ever considered directing an episode of your TV 
show?

Bruce Campbell:  I have, but time doesn't permit me to. You need preparation, 
and since I'm in almost every scene, it would be impossible. I'm going to 
mainly wear my actor hat this time. That's OK, too, since doing two jobs is a 
lot of work.

Question:  Do you think you are very similar to your characters?

Bruce Campbell:  I'm similar in certain ways. The character Ash might be me 
on my worst day. Another character might be me on my best day or toughest day 
or dumbest day. There are always aspects of every character that are like the 
actor. You tend to reach into your bag of tricks based on what's required. 
Some actors have more tricks, some actors have less.

Question:  Do you get to see your kids a lot even when you’re shooting and on 
the road and stuff?

Bruce Campbell:  You'll have to ask them that. Although it's probably not the 
best scenario, my kids are used to having a gypsy dad. It allows me to enjoy 
my time with them more than that of a 9-to-5 dad.

Question:  Bruce, what was it like to make a movie like "Tornado"? 

Bruce Campbell:  The television movie "Tornado" was done very quickly, 
because the whole goal was to get it on the air a week before "Twister." I 
can't say it's the highest quality of a movie I've done, but it's a great 
example of how fast you can get something done.

Question:  What would you say to your children if one of them came to you and 
said they want to act? 

Bruce Campbell:  I would say, "Think very carefully,” and I'd make sure that 
they realized the ups and downs. Then they can decide for themselves. I want 
my kids to do anything they want. I'm not going to pressure them either way. 
I want them to do it because they want to, and not because they were 
pressured to. I think too many people today have jobs they don't like.

Question:  Are you going to appear in any new movies anytime soon?

Bruce Campbell:  There are some that are floating around that I'm never 
really sure when they'll be out. There is a French film, "Patinoire," that 
may or may not see the light of day here. Also "Icebreaker," which is "Die 
Hard" at a ski resort, that may come out. Actors are always the last people 
to know when something is coming out. Very often I'll get a call saying, "I 
saw so and so on TV last night." It's news to me. Mr. Website will have all 
the details for you.

TV Guide Online:  Thanks, Bruce, for talking with us tonight! We had a great 
time and hope you can come back very soon!

Bruce Campbell:  Thanks for tuning in, as always. As supporters of actors' 
work, you are more powerful than you ever know. I hope that through the 
Internet and other methods, your voice can be heard. Sorry I didn't get to 
all your questions. It's never possible, but feel free to e-mail me.

TV Guide Online:  Check your local listings for "Jack of All Trades," 
premiering the week of January 17, 2000.