CTV’s The Listener returns tonight with what promises to be an action-packed and mind-twisting Season 4 premiere (and season!). Having caught on as an addictive and not-to-miss weekly sci-fri drama with viewers across the country, Season 3 was the show’s most watched season yet. We caught up with the cast – who are both new and longtime household names – consisting of: Craig Olejnik (Toby Logan), Lauren Lee Smith (Sgt. Michelle McCluskey), Ennis Esmer (“Oz Bey”), Tara Spencer-Nairn (Sandy Wardwell), Peter Stebbings (Alvin Klein) and Rainbow Sun Francks (Corp. Dev Clark), who shared a little about what we can expect from their characters this season, their favourite scenes, and life as an actor. Catch The Listener tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV Mobile.
In a nutshell, can you offer any hints as to what we can expect from your character in this season of The Listener?
As Toby becomes more committed to the seriousness of his job, he shares more ease in his private time with his new girlfriend Tia (Melanie Scrofano). And more kickass crime solving.
– Olejnik
You can expect more action from Michelle in season 4! We will also dive a bit more into her personal life and see some of the struggles that she is going through.
– Smith
Oz is the man now. As in management. As in blazers and ties. So, it’s a pretty big deal. He has so much to consider: Match the shirt and tie? Windsor knot or Waldorf? Is Waldorf even a style of tie knot? No wait, it’s a salad right? So there’s a LOT going on with Oz.
– Esmer
Certainly the most surprising to viewers will be Sandy stepping out of her scrubs to fight crime film noir-style in this season’s webisodes.
– Spencer-Nairn
I get a little fling with a district attorney…and I get a little fling, of a different sort, with my superintendent, my new overlord…who likes to brow beat me whenever she can. In fact, I suspect she’s angling for my job.
– Stebbings
Dev has more than ever to do in season 4. He is at the centre of every case and, much like Toby, makes the impossible possible. You can expect him to crack his fingers and hack and slash and digitally crack anything and everything that stands in the way of the IIB team. He will also be eating a bunch of ‘cheesy poofs’ and sippin’ on some ‘grape drank’ as he does it all. This season has a lot of crazy and amazing things going on.
– Francks
Do you have a particular episode or scene that was a favourite to film this season?
We shot an episode that had a few scenes with actual kid patient ambassadors from SickKids hospital. It was satisfying to be able to use our platform to highlight them and the incredible work they do. It’s so great to be involved from the beginning with an idea that required a lot of people saying ‘yes’ to make it happen.
– Olejnik
There is an episode where I get to go very undercover with a guest star (Gina Holden) and we had such a blast – we get all dolled up and then seriously kick some ass, so I had a lot of fun on that one. Also the season premiere. The episode takes place in Vancouver, so we got to fly out and shoot a few days there, which was great because it’s my hometown.
– Smith
The whole episode where Oz thinks the painting of Sandy’s grandmother is haunted and watching him was the most fun I had this season. And the webisodes are always a nice departure from the intensity of the series.
– Esmer
Oz and Sandy have a funny storyline where circumstances force Sandy to temporarily move in to Oz’s place…what he doesn’t know is that she travels with some rather surprising family keepsakes.
– Spencer-Nairn
Well, as you may (or may not) know, the upper-ups at The Listener gave me a couple of episodes to direct this year. Those tend to be my favourite episodes because I get to wear more than one hat. But there are other directors, besides myself, that I get to work with, that I learn from and who set a great tone on set. But I can’t name names. It would be the same if I told you who my favourite guest star was…which I can’t do either. But she was great, and an excellent actress.
– Stebbings
Without too much of a spoiler alert, I have some really fun little scenes with Alvin Klein (Peter Stebbings) that we were allowed to ad lib and riff on a bit during shooting. I haven’t seen them so I’ll be watching with everyone else when they air. To be honest, I get to work with close friends whom I love very much on The Listener, so every scene has some memorable moment that is special to me. I can only hope that everyone else feels the same once they see them.
– Francks
What is the most challenging part of being a series regular on a TV show?
Putting the blinders on to the rest of your life; there is no space or time for anything else to exist. It’s fully consuming on a level that is hard to prepare for, and demands every ounce of you.
– Olejnik
The hours. You always forget when you’re on hiatus, but after the first episode it all comes back! 14-16 hours every day is a real challenge and takes a toll on you physically, mentally and emotionally – but very lucky for us, we are all in it together, and we all truly want to be there and love each other’s company, so that helps immensely.
– Smith
I think it’s the constant onslaught of attention that is the biggest challenge. It’s like, how do you receive heaps of attention and still find a way to constantly crave attention? Now THAT’S a challenge for the actor. Word to Uta Hagen.
– Esmer
As an actor it’s a great experience, but like any other job it’s striking the balance between work and family.
– Spencer-Nairn
Each show is different. On this show the most challenging part is keeping track of the suspects. Seriously though, being a regular is about energy management…especially for our two leads, Lauren and Craig. Those two work 70-hour workweeks. They’re pretty tired by end of the season. We’re all tired, cast and crew, but Lauren and Craig get gold stars for the amount of work they put in.
– Stebbings
The most challenging part for me this year was stamina. I had to shoot all my scenes for each episode in a day, or sometimes two days. This meant that I had a ton of dialogue to do and Dev speaks in a language and speed that tests me in most scenes. Dev has a charming wit and a sharp tongue. I’m also usually in charge of conveying a ton of information, including names and various ‘techno babble’ to the team (and audience at home) to move the case along. It’s a constant challenge for me to find a way to insert some humanity and make it interesting to watch while doing so. I can only hope that I accomplished that this year *wink.
– Francks
Any advice to pavement-pounding Canadian actors?
Advice: do the work, sacrifice, focus, have patience, spend less, be ready for change, and when you get this thing you’re dreaming about, you’ll have to let go of a lot in order to go where it takes you. I certainly did a lot of surfing in my early to mid-20s; those were some of the best days of my life.
– Olejnik
I would say just make sure you want it more than ANYTHING else, you have to have some very thick skin, and be prepared for a lot of rejection. But if it’s truly what you want and need to do, then don’t give up!
– Smith
I feel like the best advice I can give is to have three names. Look at the cast of our show: three-named actors all over the place. It’s not just kids like Jonathan Taylor Thomas (aka Johnny 2 Teez) anymore. They’re taking over.
– Esmer
My advice? It’s a hard life. Even with success, you submit yourself to an uncanny amount of rejection. You need a tough skin, and talent, and self-awareness. Ask yourself: do I have endurance? Do I have a good work habits? Am I willing to live on tuna fish while I pursue this dream? Will I shrivel and die if I don’t express myself as thespian? If the answer is affirmative to all of those things, go for it. Be honest in your appraisal of your own ability, that’s crucial. And then go for it. Generally, the cream rises. That’s my theory. If you’re really good, the world will know. It’s just a matter of time. And if you meet with success, head to LA…you have to spend a little time here. It’s a mecca for actors; make that pilgrimage when you can.
– Stebbings
Advice? This is the toughest biz, really. Grow a tough skin to match. You won’t get jobs that you know you’re perfect for and you’ll never know why. It’s constant lows with the highest of highs when you do what you love. Diversify your skill set as much as you can so that you can do any job opportunity that presents itself. Watch everything you can from Oscar-worthy films to great docs and even the reality crap. There’s something to learn in every word that’s been broadcast. If you can write, then cultivate your ideas and create your own work. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals. There’s always money and people looking for great projects, so put the work in. I always think that there’s a thousand people that are hungrier than I am, and I have to do all but kill myself to be the one that gets the call. Unless you’re Will Smith’s son, there’s not going to be a lot of handouts. WORK. WORK. WORK. Did I mention WORK?
– Francks
What is the best part of the job?
The insane challenge of holding it all together, getting in there every day and working to turn what’s on the page into a contained reality.
– Olejnik
The best part of the job for me is getting to play all these different characters, getting to dive in and let yourself “play” such varied and different people for small periods of time. I guess it goes back to when I was a kid and loved to play dress up!
– Smith
They have Nutella sitting there. Like all the time. And the people. Oh yeah, I love all the people.
– Esmer
I get to play every day that I’m at work…what’s better than that?
– Spencer-Nairn
The people you meet along the way, the places you go, all the travel… and the paycheques. I’ve always thought it’s somewhat ridiculous that I get paid to pretend.
– Stebbings
Happiness. Fulfillment. Love. A magic I can’t describe.
– Francks
