SUNSET BEACH lifeguards Michael Bourne and Casey Mitchum are the best of friends. The live together, they work together, they help each other out in times of trouble. And if Jason George and Timothy Adams make it look absolutely effortless, it's not just because they're good actors. Turns out, they're best buds off-screen, too. Here, they shoot the breeze about what makes them click, why Casey needs a chick and how they get their kicks.
DIGEST: When you initially got together, did you think you'd be friends?
ADAMS: The first time we met was in Aaron Spelling's office and we read for him. I knew right away that we clicked.
GEORGE: The day that we really connected was the first day we were shooting. he and I were on this truck and we're sitting there, wearing these lifeguard shorts, looking at all these beautiful women in bikinis. So we looked at each other and we both said, almost simultaneously, "We're getting paid for this, man!"
ADAMS: We still think that. I'm thinking that right now.
GEORGE: People decided we're pretty much split from the same egg. We knew we had the same mentality and sense of humor.
DIGEST: If you were to play Batman and Robin in a movie, who would be who?
ADAMS: I'd be the joker [laughs].
GEORGE: Tim would be Batman because he's bigger, but I'd be a sly, hip version of Robin.
ADAMS: I'd definitely be Batman and he'd be a cool Robin.
GEORGE: Plus, remember in the film, Robin had a huge codpiece.
ADAMS: You have to understand, on a smaller person, a codpiece looks bigger - but I have a bigger body, so we'd still have the same size codpiece.
GEORGE: And Tim doesn't wear underwear, which means...
ADAMS: No underwear in the bat suit. Absolutely not.
DIGEST: We know you have nicknames for each other.
GEORGE: He's T-Bone.
ADAMS: I call him J-Dog.
GEORGE: I don't think you can print why I call him T-Bone [laughs].
ADAMS: He's the Atomic Dog.
DIGEST: Tell us about the pants incident.
ADAMS: I was doing some Austin Powers impersonations on the set and my pants split.
GEORGE: And remember, Tim doesn't wear underwear.
ADAMS: Jason thought I was kidding, so he came around and looked and saw I was flapping in the wind. I never saw Jason laugh so hard - and they're still shooting the whole time.
GEORGE: So I spent the next half hour rounding up everyone and saying, "Go ahead, say hi to Tim."
DIGEST: How did the two of you come to share a dressing room?
GEORGE: We requested it. We're supposed to be best friends on the show, so we figured it was the best way to get a crash course, get to know each other and bring some reality to the show.
ADAMS: The best thing is that I get to see him every time I come in, rather than come into a cold room with no life and no energy. We catch up on our lives outside of work. he's a great guy to talk to; he has a great capacity for intellectual conversation.
GEORGE: We talk about a lot of serious stuff, but it never gets stodgy because it's always undercut by really crass humor.
DIGEST: Do you ever get in trouble for your behavior?
GEORGE: We've gotten in trouble a couple of times.
ADAMS: I think I'm the one who gets in trouble; he's the one who just laughs.
GEORGE: Once we were getting some coffee, and they were shooting on the other side of the door. We were enacting Abbott and Costello Meet The Wolfman, and we were loud and obnoxious. All of sudden, the stage manager comes through the door and says, "We're shooting." We put our tails between our legs and ran down the corridor.
DIGEST: Jason, do you ever rub it in that you get to do love scenes with Tim's girlfriend, Sherri Saum [Vanessa]?
GEORGE: He doesn't watch those scenes, but sometimes I make sure they're on when he's around.
ADAMS: Every time they do something. Sherri helps out as well.
GEORGE: He's like, "Don't talk to me," It's a game we play. I flaunt it in his face and he pretends not to be upset.
ADAMS: It's the only thing they've got on me and I'm not watching. I'll get back at them someday, but I haven't figured out how yet. It's all out of love and fun, though.
DIGEST: What's your favorite on-screen scene?
ADAMS: We did a scene were I pulled him out of the ocean and yelled at him for trying to kill himself over nothing. I physically removed him from the water. There was a lot of emotion and history in the scene. It was on-location, and I thought we ripped it - it's one of my favorite pieces that we've done together.
GEORGE: I like an early scene when the two of us got to do this Action Jackson sequence. We were running down the alley trying to chase a guy with a gun. We got to do our own action flick for 15 minutes of the show. That was a blast; I'd love to do more of that stuff. I think Casey and Michael should ditch being lifeguards and start being detectives, more like BAYWATCH NIGHTS.
ADAMS: That would be cool. I think it would be fun to do some more high-end rescues. Something with boats and helicopters. Something real treacherous.
DIGEST: Let's say Casey became interested in Vanessa. Would that affect Michael and Casey's friendship - and who would win her heart?
GEORGE: At one time, we thought that would be a possibility. It would be wild.
ADAMS: I think it would rip Michael's heart out, his best friend taking his woman. I don't think it would be too kind.
GEORGE: Two best friends fighting over over a woman and trying to be good guys about it - but you can't really be a good guy when it's about your heart. True love would win in the end.
ADAMS: I'd have to say that Michael would win, because they belong together.
DIGEST: Jason, what advice could Michael give Casey about his lack of love life?
GEORGE: Michael would say, "Dude, how many women are there in Sunset Beach? You are Casey Mitchum, king of the beach. You need to get back out there again!"
ADAMS: Casey's ready! Bring on the girls!
GEORGE: I think they're coming; I hope your ready.
DIGEST: If you guys did a remake of The Odd Couple, who'd be Oscar and who'd be Felix?
GEORGE: Tim would be Oscar and I'd be Felix
ADAMS: Definitely, I am more of a nonconformist and that pretty much sums up Oscar. I think Jason's a little more conservative than I am. It has nothing to do with messy and clean.
DIGEST: In what ways are you guys different from each other
GEORGE: I think I have more book learning and Tim has more life experience, so that's kind of where we end up trading.
GEORGE: We like to think, challenge our minds and discuss heavy issues but still have fun with it. He has a side to him that would be a little crazy, and I have a side that could be a little conservative. That's why we work well together.
