What is his guiding philosophy on securing the right person for the right role?
And always have a backup plan, always have someone in the wings, just in case.
I brought her up to our casting director for the role of Gooses wife, Carole, he says.
Richard Cartwright/Getty Images; ABC
I actually knew Megs work from an episode ofCharles in Charge!
She came in and grabbed her big break.
I remained a fan, and he was always good, notes Greenberg.
My only note was Not funny,' Greenberg says.
For thepart, he wasnt funnyhes been funny since.
Greenberg also passed on anAll New Mickey Mouse Clubalum named Keri Russell for the role of Model No.
1 onMy So-Called Lifea few years before she scored withFelicity.
But in my casting notes, I wrote, Star to be,' he says.
I tracked her career and observed what was inevitable.
It was that apparent.
It was on my shoulders to find the new leading lady, he recalls.
They wanted someone diametrically opposed to Dianesomeone ballsy and dark, an ice queen.
She was just so stunning.
She was my first idea.
I fell on my sword for her, and the online grid was resistant.
They hadnt seen her do it.
She didnt have a comedy background; she was a dramatic actress.
But we just stayed the course, and I was so committed to it.
It was gratifying when it worked out….
It rejuvenated the show.
(He also suggested casting Long as Jays ex-wife onModern Family.)
(The part went to Kiele Sanchez.)
How I Met Your Motherwas casting at the same time, he notes, and wisely plucked all three.
The recasting that hurt the mostFrasierturned out to be the easiest pilot that Greenberg has ever cast.
We tested them at NBC, and they chose Lisa.
At the radio station, not so much.
And they figured out it was because of Lisas version of Roz.
She was sort of spacey, and she was funny.But there was not going to be the conflict there.
At this point in the process, Jim Burrows, the shows director/producer, had an idea.
You need Peri Gilpin, remembers Greenberg.
He had worked with her a few times, and he said, You dont f around with Peri.
She holds her ground.
She didnt do anything wrong, but I had to make that call to her agent.
She said she understood.
It was a dark day.
After conferring with Gilpins agent, Greenberg then broke the good news to her himself.
She said, Nothing.
And I said, You want to come be our Roz?
She was just Roz.
That turned out to be a happy ending finally for everyone, because the next year, Lisa gotFriends.
But we couldnt make dates work.
We then made offers to Matt Dillon, Steve Zahn, Mark Wahlberg, and Owen Wilson.
As happens more often that not, the right actor ending up getting the part.
She was the most scared person to this day Ive ever seen in my life, he recalls.
She was visibly shaking.
Your heart broke because she was forcing herself to do it.
Because it was written as a male photographer.
Amy Hill is a fantastic actress, he notes.
Sometimes I do that, and I just dont ask permission.
I dont want them prejudging it.
It was a tough day to get through.
He read it and was a fan of the show.
I arranged for a car to pick him up, and he was going to shoot the show.
I went to tell Jimmy, Its all in place!
Joe Mantegnas going to do it!
and I knew Jimmy was a fan of his.
He said, Theres too much going on.
I think we should cut the scene now.
242: In casting, its never over till its over.
After that, nothing has ever freaked me out.
It was like, I can do anything if I could do that.
The toughestModernFamilyrole to castGreenberg auditioned 232 people for jester dad Phil Dunphy, including Tony Hale and Steven Weber.
The phrase that the networks often use is that [an actor has] baggage,' says Greenberg.
Ty is phenomenal.'
In fact, she was offered the role without an audition, and the table read confirmed their instincts.
Everything and everyone worked, he says.
It just fit her like a glove.
Its the most perfect piece of casting.
1 on his long list?
Id love to see Dustin Hoffman play Phil Dunphys one-of-a-kind uncle, he says.
Ill leave it up to Dustin and our brilliant writers to come up with what kind hes one of.
He feels Dunphy-esque to me.
Every time I see George, the wound reopens, and he roasts me a bit.
Im sorry already, George, okay?
