The unusual assortment of mismatched characters in You, Me and the Apocalypse are figuring out just that when they find out a comet will collide with the earth in 34 days. Each has to cope with the impending end of the world in his or her own bizarre way and some are determined to make it to a bunker deep beneath the English suburbs of Slough in order to survive. As a result, this eclectic group of seemingly unconnected characters might just become the incredibly unlikely, and totally unsuitable, future of mankind.
CelebSecrets4U spoke with Rob Lowe about his decision to play the rebellious and foul-mouthed Father Jude Sutton and what we can expect from his character. He also talked to us about what it’s like to film two separate TV shows (he also stars in The Grinder) and he told us what he would do if there were only 30 days left in the world – make sure to read our Q&A below!
You, Me and the Apocalypse airs Thursday, January 28, 2016 at 8pm ET on NBC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k8XY4hNhPE
CS4U: How did this project come about for you?
Rob Lowe: “I – it was sent to me. And the minute I read the first Father Jude scene, I knew I was in. There aren’t many scripts that grab you like this because Iain did such a great job in terms of tone of it being very, very dramatic and very, very irreverent and witty all at the same time. And the character of Father Jude in particular for me was a standout. And certainly nothing like anything I’d ever played before.”
CS4U: You’ve been acting for years but this is the first time that I can remember that you played a priest. Obviously, Father Jude is very flawed and has his doubts about things. But as an actor, did you have to find a different sort of head space to play that character? And did you talk to any priests or anything to get ready for the role?
Rob Lowe: “Well, it was a great excuse to do something that I’ve been putting off forever which was really, really, really spend some time reading the bible cover to cover. You know, I’ve read bits and pieces of it over the course of my life. But I never really sat down and taken it all in in a sort of scholarly way. So, that was great, a great opportunity to do that. And in terms of playing a priest, for me, it was like there are certain archetypes that an actor should play before they you know move on you know. Cop, check. Cowboy, check. President, check. Priest, check. So I’m working my way down the list now.”
CS4U: As far as being the devil’s advocate, what kind of scenarios are we going to see you play that in?
Rob Lowe: “Well, the – as the world unravels, you know the church teaches that would be not only the time for the savior to return but also the time for the Antichrist to return if it is indeed the end of the world. And when we realize it is the end of the world, you need the devil’s advocate to sort out and find the Antichrist, the real one or the real savior. And so he’s a busy man. And you know I think up until the show opens with the announcement of the media, I think the job of devil’s advocate was probably not as exciting as it sounds. But the minute – the minute the apocalypse is on it, you know all bets are off.”
CS4U: Now, it’s very rare that an actor gets the chance to have two major roles in two big series at the same time. How do you juggle the time between this series and The Grinder? And what’s it like to have both of those going at the same time?
Rob Lowe: “It is really exciting. Two completely different characters in two completely different types of shows on two networks at the same time is really for me sort of an actor’s dream. And we had finished – I would travel back and forth. I’d do three mon – three weeks in Europe on You, Me and the Apocalypse and then I would fly back here and work on The Grinder. And so to do it – not only to be doing them both at the same time was a challenge, but also really fun. And then we finished Apocalypse in a time where I could then really do the meat of The Grinder which I’m still doing today. I’m actually on the set.”
CS4U: I was wondering with 30 days left, what would be on your bucket list?
Rob Lowe: “I spent a good amount of time thinking about that during the show. And while there may be you know a couple of things you know that you’d consider. I’ve never been to the Rain Forests or whatever. When really faced with it, I would want to do exactly what I’m doing. You know which would be work hard, be with my family and live the life I’m living. And it actually makes me feel really good and satisfied about – about my life. I’m blessed. And you know it’s all good because I don’t feel like there’s a lot of stuff out there that I would feel like I missed out on if it was all coming to an end.”
