Three-Time Emmy Nominee Milo Ventimiglia Talks Returning to Television for ABC’s The Company You Keep in Emmy Magazine
Actor/producer Milo Ventimiglia returns to television this season as an expert con man in ABC's romantic thriller The Company You Keep debuting Feb. 19. Ventimiglia talks with emmy about bringing to life a character far different than his previous roles and how he believes working with friends is the best recipe for success. The award-winning official publication of the Television Academy is on newsstands Feb. 24
Less than a year after wrapping the Emmy Award-winning drama This Is Us, in which he starred as the beloved Jack Pearson for six seasons, Ventimiglia is back with a whole new on-screen family and much of his old behind-the-scenes family is also returning. He estimates he has hired back about 90% of the crew, including grips, electric, the costume designer and the cinematographer, along with craft services. "This Is Us was such a wonderful set to be on," he says. "How could I not try to put that magic into a new endeavor that we have? So far, it has really saved us, helped us."
Ventimiglia's co-star, Polly Draper, a writer, producer and director in her own right, appreciates this strategy, "It's like being part of a World Series team and then just trying to find that World Series again." Ventimiglia is also one of the new show's executive producers and is known to be the first and last one on set, often swapping stories with the cast and crew. "He's like the host of the party," says Draper.
There is one thing Ventimiglia was happy to leave behind, Jack Pearson. In "Good Company" Ventimiglia talks about shedding the character and becoming Charlie Nicoletti, a talented swindler who falls in love with an undercover CIA agent, played by Catherine Haena Kim. "When you do a show for six years, you know what the parameters are, what the challenges are," he says. "You don't have to discover anything with the character. With Charlie, I'm still discovering."
As a cover for his crimes, Charlie runs a no-frills bar with his parents, played by Draper and William Fichtner, his single-mom sister (Sarah Wayne Callies), and his deaf niece (Shaylee Mansfield)—a criminal in training. The roles offer the cast the opportunity to continually transform, often changing their looks to perpetrate a scam. "It's so fun—we get to wear different costumes and wigs," Draper says. Every episode involves the cast cycling through accents, personalities and lots of costumes.
Ventimiglia is reveling in his new role. "I think he's fun," says the actor of his new character. "I hope people enjoy who Charlie is." But it's not all fun and games. When pilot director Ben Younger told Ventimiglia, "I'm going to push you. I'm going to make you uncomfortable," the actor was ready. He was even game to work with an acting coach, per Younger's suggestion. Ventimiglia's response: "I'm willing to try some new things as an actor. I've been doing it for a long time. Got a couple Emmy nominations. But sure, I'm in."
Additional feature highlights from the new issue include:
- In “What He Leaves Behind,” emmy talks with fan favorite Patrick Stewart about his last mission on Star Trek: Picard, the third and final season of the Paramount+ show premiering Feb.16. Adventures come to a close for the captain but not without a plot twist to satisfy loyal Trekkers.
- The co-creators of HBO’s The Last of Us talk with emmy about bringing the post-pandemic dystopian video game to life. In “Built to Last,” Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann share that despite being set in a barren world populated by zombie-like ghouls, the show’s driving emotion is love.
- As the FX drama Snowfall begins its final season Feb. 22, producers and cast reflect on the show that John Singleton co-created before his untimely death. “Power Keg” explores the acclaimedseries inspired by LA’s crack epidemic of the 1980s.
- To kick off the 75th anniversary of the Emmy Awards, the magazine features a special section titled “Emmy Moments,” including flashbacks from the past 75 years, beginning with 20-year-old ShirleyDinsdale of KTLA receiving the first emmy ever, in 1949.
About emmy
emmy, the official publication of the Television Academy, goes behind the scenes of the industry for a unique insider’s view. It showcases the scope of television and profiles the people who make TV happen, from the stars of top shows to the pros behind the cameras, covering programming trends and technological advances. Honored consistently for excellence, emmy is a six-time Maggie Award winner as Best Trade Publication in Communications or the Arts and has collected 52 Maggies from the Western Publishing Association. Emmy is published 12 times per year and is available on selected newsstands and at TelevisionAcademy.com for single print and digital copies as well as subscriptions.
Download the press release here.
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