May 09, 2005

GBM Interview: George Clooney

By Brad Ferndale
GBM reporter

In 1994, a highly anticipated new medical drama made its first rounds on the nation's airwaves. Featuring a cast of mostly unknown and last-chance-for-fame actors, "ER", with its intense, realistic trauma scenes interwoven with numerous personal-interaction story threads, was just what the doctor ordered for milions of viewers; for several seasons, this drama was a top ratings grabber.

Leading the cast was a versatile actor who had previously only worked in throwaway comedies and B films. George Clooney, as the head-bobbing, velvet-voiced Dr. Ross, made millions of women, and probably a few men, wish they were hypochondriacs every Thursday night.

Since leaving the show in 1999, Clooney has graduated to an impressive string of hit films. From action star in The Peacemaker and Three Kings to romantic leading man in One Fine Day and Solaris, he has remained on top of his game, and will most likely continue this success for years to come.

GBM caught up with Clooney at a small Italian eatery outside Baltimore, where he was just finishing up some re-shoots for his newest film, Syriana, which opens September 16.

GBM: You've had a busy year. With Ocean's Twelve under your belt, you've been finishing up two feature films. How have you been holding up?

Clooney: sssshhhhwwwwkkkkkk whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh

GBM: Tell us about Syriana. It looks to be pretty politically charged, given today's climate concerning intelligence and how much funding it deserves. What kind of research did you have to do to prepare for this role?

Clooney: whoosh whoosh whoosh WHOOOSSSSHHHHHH whoosh

GBM: Really. When you were in Langley, did you get to play with some cool spy toys, like James Bond?

Clooney: swshkk swshkk whoosh wshwshwshwsh shkwwwwkkkkk

GBM: Do you ever miss playing Doug Ross? Will he be making an appearance when Dr. Carter hangs up his stetothoscope? After all, you two buddied up to play doctors on "Friends" that one time.

Clooney: sssshhhhwwwwkkkkkk-k-k-k-k shw-k-k

GBM: Let's chat about Ocean's Twelve. Now, the first movie was called Ocean's Eleven. Aside from the gambling and heist training, was there any other math involved to get in the Twelve mindset? I understand that twelve is one more than eleven - sounds like calculus to me.

Clooney: whoosh whoosh sssshhhhwwwwkkkkkk whoosh whoosh sssshhhhwwwwkkkkkk whoosh

GBM: Any romantic roles in your personal life?

Clooney: whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh WHOOOSSSSHHHHHH whoosh

GBM: Wow, I didn't even know you two knew each other. Where did you two meet?

Clooney: ssssssswsssssswssssswssssswshhhhhh

GBM: Oh yes, Batman Forever. That was the role that many had claimed was "downfall of George Clooney". How do you feel about Bruce Wayne today? Does Christian Bale have what it takes to be the Caped Crusader?

Clooney: whoosh whoosh whoosh WHOOOSSSSHHHHHH whoosh

GBM: No, I suppose you wouldn't care, would you...

Clooney: whoosh.....whoosh whoosh

GBM: Thanks so much for your time, George.

Clooney: whoosh whoosh

(A Bosch B30 Benevenuto Espresso/Coffee Machine contributed to this report.)

May 08, 2005

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