James Van Der Beek on KTLA ch.5 Morning News on Monday, January 19, 1998.
The interviewer’s name is Sam Ruben, who is the entertainment reporter on this
news show. (NOTE: The other news reporters are Carlos Amezcua, Barbara Beck, and Mark
Kriski. Their names may be mentioned or they may have spoken sometime during the
interview and I’ll refer to everyone by initials.)
Sam Ruben: Here’s a man, who, on his slender shoulders has the... if Mark Kriski’s 3
children are gonna go to college, this show better work. (laughing, saying to James)
No, don’t feel anything. It is called Dawson’s Creek, oddly enough. (not knowing the
correct pronunciation) James Van Der Beer, Van Der Beek is Dawson Leery.
JVDB: You got it wrong last time too!
SR: I know, I can’t get it right!
JVDB: Van Der Beek.
SR: Van Der Beek.
JVDB: Three words.
SR: Three words. There you are. Welcome!
JVDB: Thank you.
SR: Um, how heady is this?
JVDB: It’s, very heady. It’s quite a trip. I, uh, set my alarm clock this morning,
um, you know to wake up at 6:30 or whatever and it was actually my voice that woke me
up. Um, on Star 98.7 [it’s a local radio station here in LA], a commercial running...
SR: Oh, really!
JVDB: So, yeah.
SR: (interrupting) Oh how weird that must be!
JVDB says something but I can’t understand because SR was talking at the same time so I
can’t understand anything.
SR: You must have felt like you were having a strange dream!
JVDB: Yah.
SR: That must have been very strange.
JVDB: Yah.
SR: Now, you’re going to New Orleans for this TV convention as well...
JVDB: (interrupting) Yes.
SR: Where will you all be to watch the show?
JVDB: Um, we’re probably all gonna be in hotel room with a bunch of suits. Kinda
schmoozing.
Probably.
SR: (laughing) How many suits have they made you wear? (JVDB starts chuckling)
I mean talkin’ to drones like me is more than about enough....
My cable is digital and it started screwing up so what was said for the next 10 seconds
or so did not come out. I have absolutely no idea what was said until.....
SR: Very racy show, maybe too racy.
JVDB: Well, that’s what he said, yah [I don’t know who the “he” is referring to]. I
mean, yah. I really don’t think it is. He seems to think that uh, The Wonder Years is a
more accurate depiction of uh, adolescent life. And maybe when he grew up it was, but I
don’t think it is today.
SR: Well said. Let’s take a look Dawson’s Creek premieres tomorrow on channel 5.
Here’s a look.
This is the clip from the opening of the season premiere.
JVDB:(talking to Joey) Come on, explain yourself.
Joey: I just think our merging hormones are destined to alter our relationship and I’m
trying to limit the fallout.
JVDB: Your merging hormones aren’t developing a thang for me, are they?
Joey: A thang? No, I’m not getting a thang for you, Dawson. I’ve known you too long.
I’ve seen you burp, barf, pick your nose, scratch your butt. I don’t think I’m getting a
thing for you.
JVDB: Then what’s the problem?
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end of clip
SR: Ooohhh. (somewhat unsure) And there’s another romance.
JVDB: Yah, uh, Jen Lindley played by Michelle Williams moves in next door to Dawson
from New York. She’s got kinda, a shady past and throws everything into a frenzy.
SR: We, uh, spent some time in Pasadena with your, uh.....
Shall we introduce the world to the rest of your colleagues?
JVDB: Sure, yah. There’s, uh, Katie Holmes is the dark-haired girl..
SR: (interrupting) Mmhmm
JVDB: ...that you saw. Um, she plays Joey Potter, Dawson’s best friend from the wrong
side of the creek so to speak. And,uh, Joshua Jackson whom you’ve also met plays Pacey.
SR: We were in Pasadena. Here are some of, uh, James’ pals. Take a look.
Clips of interviews with Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, and Katie Holmes. Sam
Ruben is the interviewer again.
MW: No. I was driving down the street listening to the radio, and, out of the corner
of my eye, I see myself... really big. And, um, I had no idea.
JJ: I nearly had about 13 accidents since I’ve been here going “Hey our poster! Hey our
poster!” Cause they put us up *all* over the place. I was going... I was in one of
those, I can never remember their names, *huge* pink malls. I can’t think of the name.
SR: They’re all truly to some degree pink.
JJ: Well, I’m going up the escalator, and, uh, this girl is going down the escalator
and says “Hey, you’re like that guy from Dawson’s Creek!” The show hasn’t even come on
the air yet. It’s outta control.
KH: It’s crazy. I was just actually in Boston with my, uh, older sisters and my
brother and, uh, they’re all over the subway stations. So we’re taking pictures (starts
laughing)and you know, being stupid, but, um, it’s amazing. I can’t even begin to, you
know, process it.
SR: (talking to KH) So here I am. I’m in Toledo, Ohio your home town, I’m reading the
Toledo Blaze and there’s this whole thing about the dubba dance. Now, will you actually
*do* the dubba dance?
KH: I’ve never been asked to do the dubba dance.
SR: But if asked to do the dubba dance. (pauses) Look, Buffy won’t do the dubba
dance, you don’t have to...
KH: I might decline.
SR: You might decline.
(talking to MW) But you refuse to do the dubba dance?
MW: Wouldn’t you?
(SR chuckles) Wouldn’t any self-respecting human?
JJ: I can’t, you see, I can’t dance. That’s the thing. I would guys, really, but uh, I
just have no rhythm. Very unfortunate.
--------------------
end of clip
SR: Now James, do your uh, do you ever do the dubba dance?
JVDB: I’ve never done the dubba dance.
SR: Well then we like you better. Good for you.
both JVDB and SR start chuckling .
The show premieres tomorrow. Good luck, and we’ll see you in New Orleans.
JVDB: Alright.
SR: And will you come back when you’re big and famous and hugely successful?
JVDB: Sure.
SR: You won’t forget us?
JVDB: And will you have me back even if I’m not?
SR: Yes, absolutely. Whoa look at that. Very good.
Barbara Beck: Very good.
SR: You’re booked on anytime you want.
BB: Well said.
SR: Thanks a lot.
JVDB: Thank you!
