Giving pot-selling Sanjay plenty of sass on Showtime’s “Weeds” (which has its third season finale Monday, Nov. 19 at 10 p.m./9c) and anxiously hanging on every order his network exec boss barks as Jonathan on “30 Rock,” Pancholy is in the enviable position of being on two of the most critically-acclaimed shows on the air.
Pancholy opened up about marijuana “field research,” the differences between selling pot and working in network television and having Alec Baldwin and Mary-Louise Parker as his TV bosses.
When you started as Sanjay on “Weeds,” did you have any clue how big your character would become?
I did not know, actually. When I got it, I was doing a little independent film in New York and the people were like, “What? You’re gonna leave to do an episode of ‘Weeds’?”…this show that no one had even heard of. But I was like, it’s a really cool part and there’s potential there. So I did kind of like shut the film down for a few days, which is not a very cool thing to do. [Laughs] At the time I’d heard it might be two or three episodes, and then it just kind of grew from there.
And now Sanjay is out of control—have you ever worn so much leather in your life? Or was that pleather?
It was real leather, and it’s weird because I’m actually a pretty die-hard vegetarian. I remember showing up for a fitting and being like “You guys. If we go any further with this…” Again, I’m not a diva at all! [Laughs] But I don’t know if I can be fully encased in leather—it’s a little weird. It’s skintight! But I think Sanjay probably enjoyed it. [Laughs]
And how did you get the gig on “30 Rock”?
I actually auditioned for it and, in the pilot, it was just this guy who talked with Post-It Notes. So I literally went in for the audition and just handed out a few Post-It Notes! [Laughs] I had a call-back with Tina Fey and they were like, “Explore the physical comedy.” So I kind of went crazy. I dropped Post-Its everywhere and then I was trying to take notes on anything I could find, including my hand. At the time I was like, “God I don’t know if I really want to do a part that just speaks in Post-It Notes.” But it was such a great team of people involved.
Who’s a better boss—Nancy Botwin or Jack Donaghy?
[Laughs] That’s a tough question! [Laughs] No one’s ever asked me that! To me, these two characters are so different, yet I think from the outside you can see they have very similar relationships with their bosses. It’s definitely a little more exciting to be around Nancy Botwin because she’s like crazy appealing. But I think Jack Donaghey gives me a lot more to look up to. Jonathan aspires to be like Jack Donaghey, and Sanjay just kind of likes being around Nancy Botwin, if you know what I mean.
Alec Baldwin is just such an iconic, enigmatic character of a man—is he just a normal dude or does he have that noble air about him, even on Mondays?
He’s actually surprisingly normal. I think it takes a while to get to know him—and not through any fault of his own—because he is such a brilliant actor and such a commanding presence that people around him take a while to settle in. It’s kind of like being around a superstar. [Laughs]
And which business do you think is more cutthroat: Selling weed or working in network TV?
Working in network TV. [Laughs] And that answer is completely based on the clientele. I think pot smokers are chill and laid-out and selling to them is a little bit easier. Working in network television is high-paced and frenetic and Jonathan’s about the kill himself at the end of every workday. [Laughs]
Have you done a lot of method acting or “field research,” if you will, for either role?
[Laughs] You know what’s funny? I feel like the field research finds me. I have literally been on the subway in New York and [people] have been like (in his best stoner voice), “Hey man, you’re on ‘Weeds.’ Can you hook me up?” Suddenly it’s this entree into what it’s like to deal pot.
[Laughs] You’ve got too much work to do to partake! You have like five movies coming out soon…about everything from the war to swing dancing to bridesmaid-zillas, and even a movie with your “Weeds” costar Justin Kirk. Did he get you that gig, or vice versa?
It was completely coincidence—it was so funny. We both separately heard that [the other person] might be doing it. He was a big reason why I was like, “Of course I’m going to do it.” He’s such a great actor. We actually had worked together a few times before that as well, so we were like, we have to do a movie together. And “27 Dresses” is coming out in January—it’s a much different part for me. It’s a comedy and I play a sportswriter. Katherine Heigl is in it…she’s one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.
Both shows are known for getting pretty stellar guest stars. Anyone you admire that you’ve been dying to work with?
Meryl Streep was bandied about last year a little bit on the set of “30 Rock”…I feel like I would be like, “Oh my god!” But I’d also be terrified to show up to work that day. [Laughs] That would be pretty amazing if that happens. I feel like if you put it out there, it comes true.
And what’s your favorite guilty pleasure show now?
Reality TV is kind of dangerous. You get really involved and then you get really disappointed when your friends get kicked off. And I say “friends” very loosely. [Laughs] I was really into “Top Chef” for a while, but last season they did an episode where they had exotic animals that you couldn’t recognize. I was traumatized. It kind of ended it for me. I don’t want to give too much play to reality TV though, because I do hope that we come back from the strike.
The season three finale of “Weeds” airs Monday, Nov. 19 at 10 p.m./9c on Showtime.
“30 Rock” airs Thursdays at 8:30 p.m./7:30c on NBC.
