'FORD NATION' EXCLUSIVE: Interview with the hit TV show’s creator and star

Much has been said about the supposed “Golden Age” of television drama currently taking place on cable and online streaming services, but Canadian programming has remained on the sidelines…until now.

Ford Nation on HBO Canada, which had its season four premier last month, has not only captured the attention of viewers across the country but also the much-coveted American following that has eluded Canadian drama.

I sat down with Ford Nation’s creator and showrunner Aemon Pfeffer and its notoriously reclusive star Teddy Chalmers-Headley who plays the embattled Mayor Rob Ford.

Ford Nation creator Pfeffer, left with star Chalmers-Headley

S.J. – Aemon, where did you get the idea for Ford Nation?

A.P. – The idea came to me near the end of the W. Bush administration. I noticed that, at least among my American friends, there was such a vocal loathing for the President, but still he got re-elected. No matter what fucked up shit he did -- or I should say he got caught doing -- he stayed in power and there was nothing to be done about it. I kind of just took that idea and turned it up to eleven.

S.J. – Teddy, you’ve been working as an actor in Canada for a long time, how does it feel to finally get your break playing such a divisive character?

T.C-H. – To be completely honest, it’s a mixed blessing. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful to finally be able to show people what I've always known I could do, but playing someone so… (Long pause) I used to be afraid that I’d only ever be remembered for playing Duncan the retard boy on Road to Avonlea, but now, no matter what I do, I’ll always be recognized as the guy who played Rob Ford. It’s tough.

S.J. – You’re a very private person, how have you dealt with the sudden attention from the media and internet?

T.C-H. – That’s all part of it. I used read the reviews and message boards, but you can only read so many negative comments about your weight, and your teeth, before it starts to affect you. But one day I said to myself, you know what? I’m going to use it. You either feel sorry for yourself, or you channel it and I think I owe a lot of my performance to those feelings.

A.P. – I think it’s really obvious that a lot of Rob Ford’s motivation comes from insecurity. That’s why we went with Teddy in the first place. He’s no one’s idea of a Hollywood lead, no offense, (Teddy nods) but he can project this stubborn, jock-like bravado that is one of Rob’s most defining characteristics.

T.C-H. – Luckily I have the support of an amazing person who has helped me a lot. (Chalmers-Headley is married to actor Jeff Wagner, who plays Giorgio Mammoliti)

S.J. – This season certainly took off with a bang, with Chief Blair (played by James Laszlo) holding a press conference to declare that the “Crack Tape” from season three was real. Was this a conscious effort to cut to the chase?

A.P. – Definitely. After watching these two characters circling each other like sharks for three seasons, we felt that it was time to throw down the gauntlet. We knew the viewers were ready to see it happen.

T.C-H. – When I first read the script I said to Aemon, ‘How are we going to get away with this?’ In my mind there was no way Rob could go on being the Mayor, but apparently there’s nothing in the City of Toronto statute that says that a sitting Mayor can be kicked out of office without actually being convicted and incarcerated first.

A.P. – It’s true, we do our research.

T.C-H. – That’s why I live in Vancouver (Laughs).

S.J. – One thing we haven’t really touched on is the show’s wicked sense of humour, especially the slapstick element. Where does that come from?

T.C-H. – There’s the age-old adage in comedy that if you’re not laughing you’d be crying, and that’s been very important to me in my portrayal of Rob Ford. If he was just being played as this villain, doing all these horrible, horrible things without any levity, I think it would be a whole different, and much less enjoyable show. Rob Ford isn’t in control of himself, if he won’t admit it verbally, I try to show that physically.

S.J. – I have to say, you’re pretty nimble for a big guy.

A.P. – He’s amazing. Half the time it’s not written in, he just surprises us all. Like in season three episode four when he walked into the camera? We had no idea that was coming.

S.J. – My favourite was the football fall.

T.C-H. – I have to admit, that was unintentional. (Laughs)

S.J. – Another favourite joke of mine is that we never see Rob’s wife Renata. Is that an homage to Frasier and Cheers?

A.P. – Yeah, I wrote for Frasier for a few years, and I always liked the unseen wife gag… But truthfully, Renata is meant to symbolize Rob Ford’s loss of humanity. I mean, at one point he must have been a normal guy, he has a wife and kids, but now all he cares about is his life in politics, which is very much symbolized by his brother Doug.

T.C-H. – That’s the thing that has frightened me most about doing this show. As time goes on I realize there are people who don’t seem to get that it’s satire, these people who view the character of Rob Ford as sympathetic, when he’s not supposed to be at all. When people on the message boards say they would actually vote for Rob Ford, I know most of the time it’s a joke, but it’s kind of scary.

S.J. – That brings me to my last question. Toronto is the fourth-largest city in North America, and by all appearances a pretty liberal city. How are viewers meant to believe people would actually vote for a person like Rob Ford?

A.P. – I don’t know, I think you might be surprised…

Phil Moorhead is a freelance writer and comedian in Toronto. Ford Nation airs on HBO Canada Sundays at 10, and is currently in negotiations for a fifth season.