Pop-Culturalist.com

Matt Shively is one of the most charismatic and sought-after young actors of his generation. He’s starred in projects including Winx Club, The Real O’Neals, True Jackson, VP, and has over fifty credits to his name.

Currently, he stars opposite George and Mayan Lopez in the laugh-out-loud series, Lopez vs Lopez. The muti-cam sitcom is a working-class family comedy about dysfunction, reconnection, and all the pain and joy in between.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Matt about Lopez vs Lopez, how the series is a second chance for him to soak in the experience, and what’s ahead for his character.

PC: You’ve said that Lopez vs Lopez has been a dream come true for you and one of the greatest jobs you’ve ever had. What has made it so special for you?
Matt: I started my whole career on a multi-cam. I was eighteen years old at the time, and I did that until I was twenty-one. Honestly, I took it for granted. I didn’t realize how lucky I was to have that job. Since then as I’ve grown up I’ve been like, “God, I really want to get back to multi-cam.” I really missed the opportunity to soak it all in. Coming back to it was the gift of a second chance.

Then to be able to work with people that I’ve grown up watching and people that I’m still currently watching on television, that’s why you do it. Every time we do a live taping, we do a curtain call at the end. I always take a second and a deep breath, and I’m like, “Remember this. Look at where you are. Look at how long it took to get back here. Don’t take it for granted because it doesn’t happen every day.”

PC: You’ve also said that when you started this series they asked you what you wanted from your character and your response was to be the polar opposite of every TV dad that we’ve seen, which we’ve seen unfold throughout the first season, especially in Episode 9. Now that you’ve accomplished that, what else do you want to see from Quinten?
Matt: So, now I want to be the worst TV dad. [laughs] I’m kidding. I’m excited to do more. The more comfortable Quinten gets with George and with the family, the more he’s able to speak up and voice his opinion on things. That’s the first part of the season. It’s about my character being quiet and letting it all happen. He lets all the drama unfold and lets it be what it is. Whereas now we’ve come to the back nine and these scripts, and I’m seeing that Quinten is starting to take jabs back at George and take hold like, “This is my house, not yours.” He’s starting to get this courage that he didn’t have and this comfortability where he’s like, “He’s going to serve it? I’m going to serve it back.”

I’m excited for a potential second season. It’s going to be this thing where Quinten and George are going to be able to go back and forth with the insults. I have a list in my phone because George loves to call me different names. I have a list of names that I’m going to call him at some point. I can’t wait for that day because I literally have a list of fifteen names. I’m like, “Writers, I’m ready. I’ve got a whole list of things I can call this guy.” That’s exciting.

PC: Episode 10 is going to continue to focus on Quinten’s relationship with George. How has that collaboration with George evolved over time? What impact has he had on your craft?
Matt: I was terrified because it’s George Lopez. When you’re around people that you grew up watching, especially when you’re acting with them, it can be terrifying. I at first was like, “I’m going to be quiet. I’ll let it happen.” But he welcomed me with open arms. He’s the opposite to me as he is to Quinten on the show. He gave me so much freedom to collaborate. There would be times where I would come up with a line under my breath, and he’d be like, “What did you say?” I would say it again, and he’d be like, “Use that! Do that next.” Being able to be given that gift is very hard to find. It’s surreal being a part of it. I wake up every day and I’m like, “I can’t believe this is what I get to do.”

PC: The series does such a great job balancing comedy with these more grounded moments. For you as an actor, is one more challenging than the other? How much of the finished product is scripted versus improv?
Matt: Comedy is my bread and butter. I was born into it. I’ve learned everything from television. That’s where I’ve picked everything up from. So drama is definitely a little tougher for me because I haven’t really had that many opportunities to do it. That was one of the things I couldn’t stop thanking the writers for when we took our break. They’ve given me so much material in the first thirteen episodes. It was everything that I wanted to do on previous shows, but my character never fit that role. So I’ve gotten to do so many different things in those first thirteen episodes that I’ve always dreamed of doing on television.

As far as what’s scripted and what’s improv, there are so many one-liners that George saves until the taping day that end up flooring everybody. I’d say only ten percent is not scripted. The writers are incredible. They’ve got a hundred alternatives for every joke. It’s a constant. We’re always moving pieces around and always trying new things. It’s a very collaborative place.

PC: Has any one-liner caught you off guard?
Matt: The thing that catches me off guard is when he pretends to be disgusted and pretends to be throwing up. He did it in the last episode we were doing in front of the live audience. He hadn’t done it all week and then randomly did it in the scene. I lost it because there’s something so funny about the sound of somebody throwing up. George might be the king at doing that. That usually catches me off guard and makes me laugh.

PC: The series has been incredibly well received. What do you think is resonating most with audiences? Is there an episode in the back half that you’re excited for audiences to see?
Matt: Everyone has to realize that every family is dysfunctional. A lot of times in these types of shows we see it from one point of view. It’s told through one person’s point of view, whereas in this show it’s everybody’s. We’re seeing it from everybody’s point of view and seeing the dysfunction on every level from everybody in the family. That’s different. I think when people watch this show they’ll see themselves in it. It’s also saying that it’s okay to talk about these things. If George Lopez is going to get on screen and let all his dirty laundry out, why can’t I? It’s a gateway like, “You can have these conversations too.”

As far as the rest of the season, I’ve only gotten a couple of the scripts. We just finished this one. We have our cousins coming into town in this new one. It’s hilarious. We have so many guest stars coming. We’re taking this back nine and running with it. I’m pumped.

To keep up with Matt, follow him on Instagram. Watch Lopez vs Lopez on NBC every Friday at 8/7c.

Photo Credit: Martin de Boer