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UNCOMMONLY GROUNDED
by Dennis Hensley
For many of you, seeing Jonathan Taylor-Thomas on the cover of the Advocate may not be an entirely foreign concept. Over a year ago, there was a Internet-bred rumor circulating that the 18-year-old Pennsylvania-born, California-bred actor, who played Tim Allen's son on the sitcom Home Improvement from 1991-98, was gay and coming out as such right here in these pages. However, like many such fables that somehow gain a modicum of momentum -- the Keanu Reeves-David Geffen marriage hoax comes to mind -- this one simply wasn't true. Jonathan Taylor-Thomas is not gay.
He does, however, play gay in the new Showtime movie Common Ground, an If These Walls Could Talk-style trio of vignettes about what it's like to be gay in small town America in the 50s, the 70s and the 90s. In the middle 70s-set section, penned by Tony-award winning gay playwright Terrence McNally (Love! Valour! Compassion!), Thomas dazzles as Toby Anderson, a high school swim star, who, after enduring the homophobic taunts of his team members, opens up to his favorite teacher, Mr. Roberts (Jeffrey's Steven Weber) who he senses is also gay. Unfortunately for Toby, his beloved Mr. Roberts is poised to become the school's next principal and is too afraid for his own reputation to do much empathizing. After Toby's fumbled attempt to prove his manliness with a female hooker, the piece builds to a harrowing locker room scene in which our golden boy is forced to service one of his teammates while the rest do nothing to stop it. Not exactly the kind of plot points one would find in an episode of Home Improvement, not even a very special one.
Director Nicholas Perry, who cast Thomas in his first more adult role, as a bisexual hustler in the pre-Common Ground, Vegas-set indie Speedway Junky, applauds Thomas's willingness to turn his teen idol image -- born from eight years on Home Improvement and film roles like Tom and Huck, Wild America, and the voice of Young Simba in The Lion King -- on its adorably-coifed head. "It's a brand new Jonathan Taylor-Thomas," proclaims Perry, whose film hits theaters this spring. "I think what he's trying to do [with these roles] is show that he's a talented, serious actor and capable of a lot more things than people think he is." Perry sites as an example a scene in Speedway in which Thomas has a three-page speech on how to be an effective hustler. "Because we were running out of time, I had the inspiration of doing the entire scene in one steadicam shot with no cuts," recalls Perry. "My favorite moment was that look on Jonathan's face when I told him what I wanted to do. But then, he just did it and completely pulled it off."
Common Ground director, Donna Deitch (Desert Hearts) echoes Perry's admiration. "Jonathan was up for everything," she says, adding that Thomas was both her and Showtime's first and only choice for the role. "A great deal was demanded of him and he was completely committed. He even went for the Speedo."
His televised state of undress is one of several provocative subjects Thomas addresses in the following interview, which took place at the L.A. photo studio where the accompanying photographs were taken. Though long on boyish charm, Thomas, in person, is more measured and articulate than his Teen Beat image would suggest. "The Speedo wasn't something I was looking forward to but it was relatively minimal," says the actor, clad today in jeans a gray sweater, baseball cap and Skechers. Hold on a second, Jonathan, the Speedo was minimal? "No," he says laughing, "how much you see is minimal." The ten-year show biz veteran takes a swig from his Diet Dr. Pepper then adds, "The suit itself is minimal as well, but that's the nature of the Speedo."
Granted, Jonathan Taylor-Thomas doesn't need to explain Speedo coverage to the readers of the Advocate. Luckily, this remarkably thoughtful and quick to laugh young actor has plenty of other things on his mind.
What appealed to you about Common Ground?
It was really well written by Terrance McNally and I like the character because he's very driven, very smart, and he just wants to be accepted.
I liked that Toby was an overachiever. Can you relate to that?
Yeah. He's confident, he's proud, he's smart and he's incredibly alone. I liked that he doesn't want to let other people's hatred and insecurities prevent him from being the best he can be.
I've read that you're a straight A student.
Well, I know I'm capable of it, and I know that if I'm disciplined I can do it and when I'm not disciplined, I beat myself up later on.
You got to do a 70s thing without too many bad clothes or hairdos.
Which was good. When I first read 70s, I was thinking bellbottoms, Afros, all kinds of wild things. When I got there, there was a little bit of flair on the pants. Not too bad.
Did you train to do the swimming scenes?
I had a couple quick lessons and certainly the camera angles helped.
But the part where you throw the race and kind of flounder? You nailed that.
Well, I can sink well. (Laughs) When I read that scene I went, 'Wow.' I liked that it wasn't a purely rational thing. It was selfish in a way. I felt bad for the character that he was driven to the point where he felt he needed to ruin it for his teammates to make a statement.
Before this project, you did an independent film called Speedway Junky in which you played a bisexual hustler. I believe your first line was, "So did you get fucked in the ass today?"
(Laughs) Right, right, yeah. Nice character.
In taking these roles, were you trying to shake your wholesome image?
I thought, 'If I am going to grow as an actor, I need to challenge myself.' I wasn't trying to change my image. I didn't do these pieces for anyone else. I did them for me. I had an attachment to these characters.
What about your agents. Were they like, 'It's great that you want to stretch, Jonathan, but could you maybe squeeze a Disney movie in too?'
They were completely cool. They understand that my goal is to have longevity. I'm not trying to tap out and spend the rest of my years on a beach in Bali. I want to act. I want to get better.
Your mom is also your manager. Was she cool too?
Completely. I watched Speedway Junky sitting right next to her, where every third word out of my mouth was a cuss word. It was a little awkward but she knows who I am.
Do you think your Speedway character made good money as a hustler or was it all talk?
I think he probably did pretty well. (Laughs) That's what I like about acting; you get to live out these fantasies and then you go home at night to your normal life, go back to just being Jon. I love to create characters and be on the set. All the other stuff is necessary but it's not why I'm here.
Speaking of all the stuff that comes with fame, there was a rumor going around about a couple of years ago that you were coming out as gay right here in the pages of the Advocate.
The whole thing started on this Web site called CyberSleaze, which should probably tell you something. I was working at the time and my agent called me and said, "There's this stuff going around." Then I would get phone calls from my friends saying, "What are you going to do about this?" What was so odd about it is that there was no incident that triggered it. It was just a blatant lie that got put on the Internet, and then it was just like a feeding frenzy. And I'm sure it was validated by my recent roles. (Laughs)
Did it make you angry?
No. I was completely fine with it until my grandmother, who is 95 years old, happened to hear a radio station in Pennsylvania talking about it and she was a little upset. Until that point, I was like, "It's a rumor, blah-blah-blah." But then it got a little close to home when she heard it in my hometown. The reality is that it happens to everybody.
I don't think you've really made it in Hollywood until people think you're gay.
(Laughs) Exactly. What startled me was how willingly people accepted it. They were talking about it on the radio station here, KIIS-FM, and I know Rick Dees, I've been on his show and I was just shocked at how willingly people went, "Well if it comes up on CyberSleaze..."
Did you ever log on and read it?
No, I really didn't want to really deal with it and I was working on a film at the time, for Disney.
I'll Be Home For Christmas. Or as they like to call it on CyberSleaze, I'll Be Homo For Christmas.
Oh, man. (Laughs) So that was that. But to be honest, I didn't get pissed off. It wasn't like, "Shit, I've got to go on every program and dispel this awful, awful thing." My friends know the truth, I know the truth, my family knows the truth, and that's what matters.
Do you ever get razzed on at school, if not for the rumors, then for these recent roles you've chosen?
Part of being an 18-year-old is, 'Okay, rag on your buddy.' But I gotta tell you, this stuff never comes up when I'm with my friends. It's just not that interesting. If you're in the public eye, there is automatically a wall that is built between you and everyone, your friends, even your family sometimes, and you have to continually fight to maintain a normal human relationship where it's not celebrity and non-celebrity. It is so important to have people that you can be with solely for the reason that they like being with you. They don't get a kick out of seeing you in a magazine or going to a premiere with you.
I think the idea that an actor your age is sitting here talking to the Advocate reflects how attitudes about homosexuality are changing.
Do you sense your generation is more enlightened than previous generations?
Yeah. I think people overall are becoming more accepting, partly because it is more prevalent in the media. Part of what Common Ground does really well is express the humanity of these people. It's difficult to have any animosity if you recognize that on so many levels they're exactly the same as you.
What do you think would happen professionally if a successful young actor like yourself were to come out?
I don't know but I hope that, like anyone else, they would be measured on their merit and their talent.
Do you remember your first exposure to a gay person?
Not really. Working in Hollywood since I was eight, it was never a big deal. Over the years I've working with so many smart, funny, talented, gay people and you just don't think about it. They're your friends and you have a common goal; to make the best project you can.
A few years ago, I was at the Showest convention in Las Vegas and you and Ellen Degeneres were both promoting films. She hadn't come out yet but it was in the air and I remember her getting on the mic and saying, "Jonathan Taylor-Thomas won't stop hitting on me."
(Whispering) "He doesn't know."
Right. What was going through your head when she said that?
I burst out laughing. I mean, I certainly knew and I completely got it. But yeah, it was a funny situation.
Do you remember how you learned about sex in general?
I think it was just from hanging around grips for eight years. (Laughs) You just hear everything and it all kind of filters in and lodges in your brain and you just know these things.
What's it like to go through puberty as an actor on TV? Did you ever think, 'Please God, let me turn out cute.'
To be honest, it never crossed my mind. It wasn't like, 'My God, people are going to see my awkward stage.' I was just out there trying to have a good time.
So what if the make-up girl's going to have to work a little harder this week...
Exactly. I'm going to have pimples. So what's the big deal?
You left Home Improvement at the beginning of the final season. Why?
I wanted to go back to school, primarily. Junior year is a big year as far as colleges go and I wanted to do well. Frankly, it was just time, but there was absolutely no hostility.
In all your years in show business, have you ever thrown a star tantrum?
No, not that I've never been pissed off because I have. I've always viewed people who have done that as being really obnoxious and out of control and I don't want to be like that. It takes as much effort to throw a tantrum and be nasty as it does to be nice and just do your thing.
One of your first roles was playing Greg Brady's son on the ill-fated 1990 series, The Bradys. What do you remember about that?
One of my favorite things was Florence Henderson went to a Super Bowl and came back and gave me a commemorative ball. I thought that was incredibly nice of her.
That explains that Internet rumor about Mrs. Brady balling her TV grandson.
(Laughs) Exactly. That stuff happens.
Do you have a tabloid story about yourself that made you laugh?
There was this one that said Tim (Allen) and I were duking it out on the set over the number of lines we each received.
I would have loved to have seen that.
Did you and Tim get along well?
Absolutely. I went to work everyday and I knew I was going to laugh because of him. He's a good guy. He really is.
You were the voice of Young Simba in The Lion King. Children and gays must worship you.
I get a kick out of it when people enjoy it, but my voice has changed. I'm no longer Young Simba. That's very clear.
If they remade it today, what Simba would you be?
Post-prepubescent Simba or SAT Simba. (Laughs)
You seem remarkably self-possessed for someone your age. Where do you think that comes from?
I don't know. My mom always made sure I got the things I needed in life. I think in the end, it does all come down to parenting.
Your parents divorced when you were eight. Is your father still in L.A.?
No, he's in Northern California. (Pauses) But I had a mom who was strong enough to compensate for the losses there, and she raised two kids.
When are you the most juvenile?
When I'm with my friends. I'm a complete goofball. If you get a group of 17- and 18-year-old guys together in a room, the stuff that comes out of our brains is just frightening. It's fun sometimes to be with your friends because you know it's safe. It's not going in any paper.
What's something you'd like to do in a part that you haven't gotten to do yet?
In a park?
No, a part, a role. I'm saving the park question for George Michael.
(Laughs) Oh, in a part. Hmmm, play someone who's crazy. It would be fun to walk around for three months being nuts.
What's your idea of the perfect day?
Fly fishing in the morning in Montana, then come home and watch a great football game.
My God, you are straight. Any big movie star crushes in your past?
Cameron Diaz in The Mask. I met her really briefly and she pinched my cheeks and then she told me that I reminded her of her brother and it just crushed me. If there was anything that I didn't want to hear, it was that, but she was nice.
Is your prom coming up?
Yeah, but first there's the Vice/Versa dance in February. That's where the girls ask the guys.
Any strong contenders?
Yeah. There's a lot of people that would be fun to spend an evening with. It should be fun.
So you don't have a girlfriend?
Not at the moment.
You're applying to colleges now. Do you know what you want to study?
I'd love to take some theater classes and maybe government, political science, history. I've always been interested in those things.
So we shouldn't be surprised if someday we have bumper stickers that say "Jonathan Taylor-Thomas for President?"
(Laughs) You never know. If Donald Trump can do it...
All About Jonathan Taylor Thomas
This is a site about Jonathan Taylor Thomas!
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This site is ALL about Jonathan Taylor
Thomas. From his early years to his later years. He is now 27. There will be
everything from Pictures, Intervews, About His Life, and much more. You name it
we got it! Please enjoy your self! If you have any questions or anything I can
add to the site PLEASE feel free to email me at peaceandlove26rockon@cox.net
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How The Site Works!
1.) You can read the facts of Jonathan Taylor Thomas.
2.) You can take the polls under the facts.
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4.) Then You can read the intervews.
5.) And at the very end there are games!
Hope You Like It!
2.) You can take the polls under the facts.
3.) Then you look at the pictures of Jonathan Taylor Thomas from every year.
4.) Then You can read the intervews.
5.) And at the very end there are games!
Hope You Like It!
Facts About Jonathan Taylor Thomas...
Real Name: Jonathan Taylor Weiss, Jonathan had to change his name when he became an actor because someone else already had that name. He chose Thomas because that is his brother's middle name.
Screen Name: Jonathan Taylor Thomas.
Nickname: JTT (by his fans), JT (by Tim Allen), NO ONE calls him Jon or Jonny. He does NOT like his nicknames he wishes people would just say his full name.
Birthdate: September 8, 1981.
Birthplace: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He wants to move back.
Grew Up In: Sacramento, California and Los Angeles, California.
Current Residence: He is currently attending college.
Collects: Autographs of his favorite sports stars .
Eyes: Blue.
Hair: Light Brown .
Favorite Meal: Tofu and wild rice, Jonathan has been a vegetarian since the age of 4.
Favorite Foods: Pastas, artichokes, and Caesar and Greek salads .
Favorite Drink: Low-fat milk.
Favorite Fruits: Honeydew and Cantaloupe.
Favorite Sports: Fly-Fishing, Snowboarding, Roller Hockey, Tennis, Baseball, Basketball, Football, and Boxing.
Favorite Music: Boyz II Men, Shai, Silk, Billy Joel, Dave Matthews Band, Radiohead, Fiona Apple, Wallflowers, Ben Folds Five.
Pets: One Dog- MacCormick (Mac), Two Cats Samantha(Sami), and Simba.
Brother: Joel Weiss, 4 years older than Jonathan. He only has a brother.
Two Nephews: Ben (Born In 2005) and Jordan (Born In 2007).
Parents: Claudine and Stephen.
Favorite Toothpaste: Rembrandt.
Favorite Deodorant: Speed Stick.
Shoe Size: Men's 8.
Favorite Shampoo: Kirkland.
Favorite Vacation Spot: Baniff National Park in Canada.
Favorite Movie: Rocky.
First Car: Black, 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser.
Favorite Colors: Black, blue, and turquoise.
Favorite Actors: Robert DeNiro and Anthony Hopkins.
Favorite Actresses: Jodie Foster and Glenn Close.
He: Ranked #25 in VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Kid Stars
He: Studded History and Philosophy at Harvard. [Fall 2001]
He: Has done voice overs for cartoons and video games such as "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" (1994), "The Adventures of Spot" (1987), The Ivy Cottage, and Scooter's Magic Castle.
He: Enrolled in Columbia GS (2007-2008).
His: Brother, Joel, is an Assistant Coach for a college in Louisiana.
He: Attended Harvard University.
He: Featured on the cover of The Advocate, a gay and lesbian magazine.
He: Loves to watch college basketball.
He: Was the first actor to win the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '99 (1999) (TV) for his memorable nine year role as "Randy Taylor" on "Home Improvement" (1991).
He: Visited Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, as a possible college to attend.
He: Received 1996 NATO/ShoWest YoungStar of the Year Award [1996]
He: Graduated from Chaminade College Preparatory High School in West Hills, California with honors [2000]
He: Uses barbless hooks when he fishes because it is more of a challenge.
He: Sometimes wears lipgloss during photo shoots.
He: Washes his face 4 times a day with Neutrogena.
He: Was engaged to Natalie Wright in 2007, but he called off the wedding the same year. He never said why.
Screen Name: Jonathan Taylor Thomas.
Nickname: JTT (by his fans), JT (by Tim Allen), NO ONE calls him Jon or Jonny. He does NOT like his nicknames he wishes people would just say his full name.
Birthdate: September 8, 1981.
Birthplace: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He wants to move back.
Grew Up In: Sacramento, California and Los Angeles, California.
Current Residence: He is currently attending college.
Collects: Autographs of his favorite sports stars .
Eyes: Blue.
Hair: Light Brown .
Favorite Meal: Tofu and wild rice, Jonathan has been a vegetarian since the age of 4.
Favorite Foods: Pastas, artichokes, and Caesar and Greek salads .
Favorite Drink: Low-fat milk.
Favorite Fruits: Honeydew and Cantaloupe.
Favorite Sports: Fly-Fishing, Snowboarding, Roller Hockey, Tennis, Baseball, Basketball, Football, and Boxing.
Favorite Music: Boyz II Men, Shai, Silk, Billy Joel, Dave Matthews Band, Radiohead, Fiona Apple, Wallflowers, Ben Folds Five.
Pets: One Dog- MacCormick (Mac), Two Cats Samantha(Sami), and Simba.
Brother: Joel Weiss, 4 years older than Jonathan. He only has a brother.
Two Nephews: Ben (Born In 2005) and Jordan (Born In 2007).
Parents: Claudine and Stephen.
Favorite Toothpaste: Rembrandt.
Favorite Deodorant: Speed Stick.
Shoe Size: Men's 8.
Favorite Shampoo: Kirkland.
Favorite Vacation Spot: Baniff National Park in Canada.
Favorite Movie: Rocky.
First Car: Black, 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser.
Favorite Colors: Black, blue, and turquoise.
Favorite Actors: Robert DeNiro and Anthony Hopkins.
Favorite Actresses: Jodie Foster and Glenn Close.
He: Ranked #25 in VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Kid Stars
He: Studded History and Philosophy at Harvard. [Fall 2001]
He: Has done voice overs for cartoons and video games such as "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" (1994), "The Adventures of Spot" (1987), The Ivy Cottage, and Scooter's Magic Castle.
He: Enrolled in Columbia GS (2007-2008).
His: Brother, Joel, is an Assistant Coach for a college in Louisiana.
He: Attended Harvard University.
He: Featured on the cover of The Advocate, a gay and lesbian magazine.
He: Loves to watch college basketball.
He: Was the first actor to win the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '99 (1999) (TV) for his memorable nine year role as "Randy Taylor" on "Home Improvement" (1991).
He: Visited Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, as a possible college to attend.
He: Received 1996 NATO/ShoWest YoungStar of the Year Award [1996]
He: Graduated from Chaminade College Preparatory High School in West Hills, California with honors [2000]
He: Uses barbless hooks when he fishes because it is more of a challenge.
He: Sometimes wears lipgloss during photo shoots.
He: Washes his face 4 times a day with Neutrogena.
He: Was engaged to Natalie Wright in 2007, but he called off the wedding the same year. He never said why.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 1991
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 1992
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 1993
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 1994
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 1995
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 1996
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 1997
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 1998
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 1999
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 2000
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 2001
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 2002
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 2003
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 2004
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 2005
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 2006 (He Is On The Right)
Jonathan Taylor Thomas In 2007
A Jonathan Taylor Thomas Intervew
UNCOMMONLY GROUNDED
by Dennis Hensley
For many of you, seeing Jonathan Taylor-Thomas on the cover of the Advocate may not be an entirely foreign concept. Over a year ago, there was a Internet-bred rumor circulating that the 18-year-old Pennsylvania-born, California-bred actor, who played Tim Allen's son on the sitcom Home Improvement from 1991-98, was gay and coming out as such right here in these pages. However, like many such fables that somehow gain a modicum of momentum -- the Keanu Reeves-David Geffen marriage hoax comes to mind -- this one simply wasn't true. Jonathan Taylor-Thomas is not gay.
He does, however, play gay in the new Showtime movie Common Ground, an If These Walls Could Talk-style trio of vignettes about what it's like to be gay in small town America in the 50s, the 70s and the 90s. In the middle 70s-set section, penned by Tony-award winning gay playwright Terrence McNally (Love! Valour! Compassion!), Thomas dazzles as Toby Anderson, a high school swim star, who, after enduring the homophobic taunts of his team members, opens up to his favorite teacher, Mr. Roberts (Jeffrey's Steven Weber) who he senses is also gay. Unfortunately for Toby, his beloved Mr. Roberts is poised to become the school's next principal and is too afraid for his own reputation to do much empathizing. After Toby's fumbled attempt to prove his manliness with a female hooker, the piece builds to a harrowing locker room scene in which our golden boy is forced to service one of his teammates while the rest do nothing to stop it. Not exactly the kind of plot points one would find in an episode of Home Improvement, not even a very special one.
Director Nicholas Perry, who cast Thomas in his first more adult role, as a bisexual hustler in the pre-Common Ground, Vegas-set indie Speedway Junky, applauds Thomas's willingness to turn his teen idol image -- born from eight years on Home Improvement and film roles like Tom and Huck, Wild America, and the voice of Young Simba in The Lion King -- on its adorably-coifed head. "It's a brand new Jonathan Taylor-Thomas," proclaims Perry, whose film hits theaters this spring. "I think what he's trying to do [with these roles] is show that he's a talented, serious actor and capable of a lot more things than people think he is." Perry sites as an example a scene in Speedway in which Thomas has a three-page speech on how to be an effective hustler. "Because we were running out of time, I had the inspiration of doing the entire scene in one steadicam shot with no cuts," recalls Perry. "My favorite moment was that look on Jonathan's face when I told him what I wanted to do. But then, he just did it and completely pulled it off."
Common Ground director, Donna Deitch (Desert Hearts) echoes Perry's admiration. "Jonathan was up for everything," she says, adding that Thomas was both her and Showtime's first and only choice for the role. "A great deal was demanded of him and he was completely committed. He even went for the Speedo."
His televised state of undress is one of several provocative subjects Thomas addresses in the following interview, which took place at the L.A. photo studio where the accompanying photographs were taken. Though long on boyish charm, Thomas, in person, is more measured and articulate than his Teen Beat image would suggest. "The Speedo wasn't something I was looking forward to but it was relatively minimal," says the actor, clad today in jeans a gray sweater, baseball cap and Skechers. Hold on a second, Jonathan, the Speedo was minimal? "No," he says laughing, "how much you see is minimal." The ten-year show biz veteran takes a swig from his Diet Dr. Pepper then adds, "The suit itself is minimal as well, but that's the nature of the Speedo."
Granted, Jonathan Taylor-Thomas doesn't need to explain Speedo coverage to the readers of the Advocate. Luckily, this remarkably thoughtful and quick to laugh young actor has plenty of other things on his mind.
What appealed to you about Common Ground?
It was really well written by Terrance McNally and I like the character because he's very driven, very smart, and he just wants to be accepted.
I liked that Toby was an overachiever. Can you relate to that?
Yeah. He's confident, he's proud, he's smart and he's incredibly alone. I liked that he doesn't want to let other people's hatred and insecurities prevent him from being the best he can be.
I've read that you're a straight A student.
Well, I know I'm capable of it, and I know that if I'm disciplined I can do it and when I'm not disciplined, I beat myself up later on.
You got to do a 70s thing without too many bad clothes or hairdos.
Which was good. When I first read 70s, I was thinking bellbottoms, Afros, all kinds of wild things. When I got there, there was a little bit of flair on the pants. Not too bad.
Did you train to do the swimming scenes?
I had a couple quick lessons and certainly the camera angles helped.
But the part where you throw the race and kind of flounder? You nailed that.
Well, I can sink well. (Laughs) When I read that scene I went, 'Wow.' I liked that it wasn't a purely rational thing. It was selfish in a way. I felt bad for the character that he was driven to the point where he felt he needed to ruin it for his teammates to make a statement.
Before this project, you did an independent film called Speedway Junky in which you played a bisexual hustler. I believe your first line was, "So did you get fucked in the ass today?"
(Laughs) Right, right, yeah. Nice character.
In taking these roles, were you trying to shake your wholesome image?
I thought, 'If I am going to grow as an actor, I need to challenge myself.' I wasn't trying to change my image. I didn't do these pieces for anyone else. I did them for me. I had an attachment to these characters.
What about your agents. Were they like, 'It's great that you want to stretch, Jonathan, but could you maybe squeeze a Disney movie in too?'
They were completely cool. They understand that my goal is to have longevity. I'm not trying to tap out and spend the rest of my years on a beach in Bali. I want to act. I want to get better.
Your mom is also your manager. Was she cool too?
Completely. I watched Speedway Junky sitting right next to her, where every third word out of my mouth was a cuss word. It was a little awkward but she knows who I am.
Do you think your Speedway character made good money as a hustler or was it all talk?
I think he probably did pretty well. (Laughs) That's what I like about acting; you get to live out these fantasies and then you go home at night to your normal life, go back to just being Jon. I love to create characters and be on the set. All the other stuff is necessary but it's not why I'm here.
Speaking of all the stuff that comes with fame, there was a rumor going around about a couple of years ago that you were coming out as gay right here in the pages of the Advocate.
The whole thing started on this Web site called CyberSleaze, which should probably tell you something. I was working at the time and my agent called me and said, "There's this stuff going around." Then I would get phone calls from my friends saying, "What are you going to do about this?" What was so odd about it is that there was no incident that triggered it. It was just a blatant lie that got put on the Internet, and then it was just like a feeding frenzy. And I'm sure it was validated by my recent roles. (Laughs)
Did it make you angry?
No. I was completely fine with it until my grandmother, who is 95 years old, happened to hear a radio station in Pennsylvania talking about it and she was a little upset. Until that point, I was like, "It's a rumor, blah-blah-blah." But then it got a little close to home when she heard it in my hometown. The reality is that it happens to everybody.
I don't think you've really made it in Hollywood until people think you're gay.
(Laughs) Exactly. What startled me was how willingly people accepted it. They were talking about it on the radio station here, KIIS-FM, and I know Rick Dees, I've been on his show and I was just shocked at how willingly people went, "Well if it comes up on CyberSleaze..."
Did you ever log on and read it?
No, I really didn't want to really deal with it and I was working on a film at the time, for Disney.
I'll Be Home For Christmas. Or as they like to call it on CyberSleaze, I'll Be Homo For Christmas.
Oh, man. (Laughs) So that was that. But to be honest, I didn't get pissed off. It wasn't like, "Shit, I've got to go on every program and dispel this awful, awful thing." My friends know the truth, I know the truth, my family knows the truth, and that's what matters.
Do you ever get razzed on at school, if not for the rumors, then for these recent roles you've chosen?
Part of being an 18-year-old is, 'Okay, rag on your buddy.' But I gotta tell you, this stuff never comes up when I'm with my friends. It's just not that interesting. If you're in the public eye, there is automatically a wall that is built between you and everyone, your friends, even your family sometimes, and you have to continually fight to maintain a normal human relationship where it's not celebrity and non-celebrity. It is so important to have people that you can be with solely for the reason that they like being with you. They don't get a kick out of seeing you in a magazine or going to a premiere with you.
I think the idea that an actor your age is sitting here talking to the Advocate reflects how attitudes about homosexuality are changing.
Do you sense your generation is more enlightened than previous generations?
Yeah. I think people overall are becoming more accepting, partly because it is more prevalent in the media. Part of what Common Ground does really well is express the humanity of these people. It's difficult to have any animosity if you recognize that on so many levels they're exactly the same as you.
What do you think would happen professionally if a successful young actor like yourself were to come out?
I don't know but I hope that, like anyone else, they would be measured on their merit and their talent.
Do you remember your first exposure to a gay person?
Not really. Working in Hollywood since I was eight, it was never a big deal. Over the years I've working with so many smart, funny, talented, gay people and you just don't think about it. They're your friends and you have a common goal; to make the best project you can.
A few years ago, I was at the Showest convention in Las Vegas and you and Ellen Degeneres were both promoting films. She hadn't come out yet but it was in the air and I remember her getting on the mic and saying, "Jonathan Taylor-Thomas won't stop hitting on me."
(Whispering) "He doesn't know."
Right. What was going through your head when she said that?
I burst out laughing. I mean, I certainly knew and I completely got it. But yeah, it was a funny situation.
Do you remember how you learned about sex in general?
I think it was just from hanging around grips for eight years. (Laughs) You just hear everything and it all kind of filters in and lodges in your brain and you just know these things.
What's it like to go through puberty as an actor on TV? Did you ever think, 'Please God, let me turn out cute.'
To be honest, it never crossed my mind. It wasn't like, 'My God, people are going to see my awkward stage.' I was just out there trying to have a good time.
So what if the make-up girl's going to have to work a little harder this week...
Exactly. I'm going to have pimples. So what's the big deal?
You left Home Improvement at the beginning of the final season. Why?
I wanted to go back to school, primarily. Junior year is a big year as far as colleges go and I wanted to do well. Frankly, it was just time, but there was absolutely no hostility.
In all your years in show business, have you ever thrown a star tantrum?
No, not that I've never been pissed off because I have. I've always viewed people who have done that as being really obnoxious and out of control and I don't want to be like that. It takes as much effort to throw a tantrum and be nasty as it does to be nice and just do your thing.
One of your first roles was playing Greg Brady's son on the ill-fated 1990 series, The Bradys. What do you remember about that?
One of my favorite things was Florence Henderson went to a Super Bowl and came back and gave me a commemorative ball. I thought that was incredibly nice of her.
That explains that Internet rumor about Mrs. Brady balling her TV grandson.
(Laughs) Exactly. That stuff happens.
Do you have a tabloid story about yourself that made you laugh?
There was this one that said Tim (Allen) and I were duking it out on the set over the number of lines we each received.
I would have loved to have seen that.
Did you and Tim get along well?
Absolutely. I went to work everyday and I knew I was going to laugh because of him. He's a good guy. He really is.
You were the voice of Young Simba in The Lion King. Children and gays must worship you.
I get a kick out of it when people enjoy it, but my voice has changed. I'm no longer Young Simba. That's very clear.
If they remade it today, what Simba would you be?
Post-prepubescent Simba or SAT Simba. (Laughs)
You seem remarkably self-possessed for someone your age. Where do you think that comes from?
I don't know. My mom always made sure I got the things I needed in life. I think in the end, it does all come down to parenting.
Your parents divorced when you were eight. Is your father still in L.A.?
No, he's in Northern California. (Pauses) But I had a mom who was strong enough to compensate for the losses there, and she raised two kids.
When are you the most juvenile?
When I'm with my friends. I'm a complete goofball. If you get a group of 17- and 18-year-old guys together in a room, the stuff that comes out of our brains is just frightening. It's fun sometimes to be with your friends because you know it's safe. It's not going in any paper.
What's something you'd like to do in a part that you haven't gotten to do yet?
In a park?
No, a part, a role. I'm saving the park question for George Michael.
(Laughs) Oh, in a part. Hmmm, play someone who's crazy. It would be fun to walk around for three months being nuts.
What's your idea of the perfect day?
Fly fishing in the morning in Montana, then come home and watch a great football game.
My God, you are straight. Any big movie star crushes in your past?
Cameron Diaz in The Mask. I met her really briefly and she pinched my cheeks and then she told me that I reminded her of her brother and it just crushed me. If there was anything that I didn't want to hear, it was that, but she was nice.
Is your prom coming up?
Yeah, but first there's the Vice/Versa dance in February. That's where the girls ask the guys.
Any strong contenders?
Yeah. There's a lot of people that would be fun to spend an evening with. It should be fun.
So you don't have a girlfriend?
Not at the moment.
You're applying to colleges now. Do you know what you want to study?
I'd love to take some theater classes and maybe government, political science, history. I've always been interested in those things.
So we shouldn't be surprised if someday we have bumper stickers that say "Jonathan Taylor-Thomas for President?"
(Laughs) You never know. If Donald Trump can do it...