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EXCLUSIVE Interview with Michael Willett of FAKING IT

Mike Vicic - October 14, 2014

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Michael Willett, who plays Shane Harvey on FAKING IT, recently spoke with TV Tango while he was on set filming the eighth episode of Season 2, and he answered 20 questions about the series and his own life. In our one-on-one interview, Michael gave us the inside scoop about Shane's love life, dished about Shane's frenemy Lauren, previewed Lauren Cox's guest performance, and talked about DANCING WITH THE STARS and THE WONDER YEARS.


 

 

 

Tonight (Tuesday, October 14, 2014), MTV airs a Season 2 mini-marathon from 7-8:30pm ET/PT, with encores of all three episodes so far in the new season so you can catch up. Then, at 10:30pm ET/PT, MTV premieres the "Lying Kings and Drama Queens" episode of FAKING IT. In this new episode, ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK star Laverne Cox plays Margot, the director of Hester High's elite drama club, who holds auditions for the next member. (Main photo credit: PHOTOGRAPHER: Nikko Lamere // STYLIST: Joey Thao.)

 



Photo Credit: MTV Press

TV Tango: How will the Lauren/Shane friendship evolve this season, especially after your character worked hard to help her keep her secret so she could reveal it kind of on her own terms?


Michael Willett: His motive was selfish, but he realizes it's causing her a lot of pain. He sort of counseled her, telling her "You need to be comfortable with this part of you or else you're never going to be happy." Ultimately, they share some sort of bond, but they are definitely best when they are hating each other. They're true frenemies at heart. They are too much alike, and they both love power -- but they end of sort of joining forces, because they realize they're more powerful together.

TV Tango: What was your favorite part of shooting the scenes where Shane staged and snapped sexual blackmail pictures of Tommy?


Michael Willett: That was a great scene! It was so cool being all together, because in most of the first season we were only in scenes with a couple people, like me and Amy or me and Lauren -- kind of these one-on-one scenes. It was nice to be in a scene where we're all together, and so much comedy. You're going to see a lot more of that this season -- these really big funny scenes where we're all in a room together.


TV Tango: Was Shane being selfish (again) with this incident or was he truly trying to be selfless and doing her a favor?


Michael Willett: I think he's always up for a good time and a new adventure, even if it's at someone else's expense -- especially if it's at someone else's expense.

 

TV Tango: Who has the pictures?


Michael Willett: I don't know, you'll have to ask Katie [Stevens] or Rita [Volk]. Probably, they do.


TV Tango: What were Shane's expectations of being with Pablo while he was in pursuit?


Michael Willett: I think Shane really likes the beginning of relationships, when they're exciting. He also likes a chase or a challenge, and Pablo was definitely that. You'll see that more this season when Shane reacts, because something is a challenge. And he's always up for a challenge.

 

TV Tango: So Shane is more about chasing someone new than trying to convince someone, like Pablo, to change his mind about being celibate?


Michael Willett: Exactly. He's respectful enough to say that this is what someone else wants and it's not what I want, and I'm not going to change his mind.

TV Tango: Have you ever Instagram-stalked anybody, like Shane did to Pablo?


Michael Willett: Actually, not. Social media is a new adventure for me. I don't feel very social-media savvy, but I do enjoy it. It's been kind of a fear of mine -- fame, in general, is something I was taught not to pursue. Being exposed as I am is enough for me.

 

TV Tango: What's your best story of unrequited love?


Michael Willett: I once wrote a song about a straight boy when I was in high school, and I actually performed it. [laughing] He liked it, but no minds were changed.



Photo Credit: MTV Press

TV Tango: What can you tell us about the show's new characters, Regan (Yvette Monreal) and Theo (Keith Powers)?


Michael Willett: The theme this season is guilt. Everyone has something they're guilty about; everyone has a secret. Shane definitely will have some secrets. Definitely there's tension between all the friends, and there's also a new love interest.

 

TV Tango: How does Theo affect Shane's relationship with Liam?


Michael Willett: It definitely is a struggle for Shane. At first he was not feeling very close with Liam, because of where we left off in Season 1. They end up sharing interests that Shane can't relate to or he's threatened by. That raises a definite challenge.


Photo Credit: MTV Press

TV Tango: Do you have any scenes with Season 2 guest star Laverne Cox?


Michael Willett: Absolutely. There's a really fun scene where we're all there for auditions for the drama club. Laverne Cox plays an over-the-top drama teacher, and she looks like a goddess. [According to an MTV press release, Cox will play Margot the director of Hester High's elite drama club who holds auditions for the next member. The competition heats up amongst friends as Karma, Lauren, and Shane show off their singing and dancing talents and compete for the one spot in the club.]

 

TV Tango: At the end of Season 1, Shane crashed Amy and Lauren's parents wedding. Have you ever crashed a wedding?


Michael Willett: No, but I would love to. In general, I don't crash parties.


TV Tango: In the first season you did the paso doble with Bailey. Who from DANCING WITH THE STARS did you work with?


Michael Willett: It was Dmitry [Chaplin, who competed in Seasons 8, 9 & 12 of DWTS, finishing as runners up with Mya in Season 9].

 

TV Tango: Do you watch DWTS now?


Michael Willett: I have occassionally, but they're hasn't been a lot of television watching recently.



PHOTOGRAPHER: Nikko Lamere // STYLIST: Joey Thao

TV Tango: Shane definitely has his own fashion style. How much influence do you have on his outfits?


Michael Willett: They ask my opinion a lot about what I would like to wear, so I definitely had a big say in his style. From the beginning, it seemed like they hired me because they liked my style. They just want me to be comfortable.

 

TV Tango: What's been your favorite outfit so far that wasn't something you woud've already owned?


Michael Willett: My favorite thing about Shane is that he gets to wear costumes. From the first season I liked the paso doble costume [during Shane's dance with Lauren] -- I got to be a matador, so that was fun. This season I got to dress as a character from FROZEN [in the second episode, "You Can’t Handle the Truth or Dare"], and that was hilarious.

TV Tango: Who would be Shane's fave designer?


Michael Willett: I like Vivienne Westwood, so I think he would definitely appreciate her, too.


TV Tango: What TV character, anytime from TV history, would you like to play at some point?


Michael Willett: Kevin Arnold on THE WONDER YEARS. I've been compared to him as a kid.