Weeds’ Whacker

The blessed Mary-Louise and her flock(from left): Maulik Pancholy, Kirk, Nealon, Andy Milder, and Romany Malco

As the third season of Weeds fires up, Justin Kirk talks about getting the munchies, dropping trou on-screen, and why Mary-Louise Parker is so not innocent.
By Abigail AronofskyLast season on Weeds, Justin Kirk’s Andy Botwin—the good-natured ne’er-do-well brother-in-law of Mary-Louise Parker’s character—was put through the wringer: He applied to rabbinical school to get out of military service, fell in lust with the supremely sexy director of admissions (Meital Dohan) and found himself on the business end of a large strap-on dildo, lost some toes, and got caught taking his barely pubescent nephew to a massage parlor. (If you missed any of this, check out the recently released season-two DVDs.) Although Kirk’s biggest previous part was in the moving, sexually explicit AIDS drama Angels in America, he had no trouble embracing the sex, swearing, and bong ripping on Showtime’s addictive dramedy.

What sold you on Weeds?
The material. I worked with Mary-Louise on Angels in America and I’d heard she was doing this show about a pot-dealing mom. Then I got a call about it and they sent me the material where it was my character IM’ing his nephew’s girlfriend pretending to be him and masturbating. And I was like, I’m home.

Guess you were comfortable in the pervy uncle role?
I was. The magic of that particular scene is when Silas confronts him. I believe Andy when he says, “Listen, I did it for you.� Because he warmed her up. He made the moves that Silas wouldn’t know how to make and, you know, if a side part of it is that he gets to jerk off at the same time … It’s hedonism with benefits for others.

That’s very generous.
I honestly think Andy’s got a lot of love and generosity for his family. And yet he’s also chasing the dream. And the skirts.

What was your favorite storyline from the second season?
Well, it was always a pleasure being on-set with Meital Dohan, the lovely Yael. I’m so into the third season. There’s a little thing we’re doing, and all I’m allowed to tell you is that it involves pornography and a bellhop uniform. I can also tell you that despite what we may think from season two, Andy may have another opportunity to serve his country. Mostly with pornography and a bellhop uniform.

That sounds right up our alley. Are the writers taking ideas from Penthouse “Forum� letters?
I’m sure that’s where our writers write from.

Speaking of Meital, was the infamous dildo scene awkward to shoot?
[Laughs] I’ve done a lot of weird things on camera in my life, so nothing fazes me. I do remember I had a pimple on my butt, and asking the makeup woman to cover it was-God bless her-all in a day’s work. And then I don’t think we ended up seeing the butt. But it was good for Meital, because she had to stare right at it and I’m sure it helped her performance.

You bared it all in Flannel Pajamas. Are you a risk-taker in life or do you just play one on TV?
Only on camera, darling. I live a dull little life and save all the excitement for work.

We’ll pretend to believe that.
I wish it weren’t true.

What is it about Mary-Louise that’s so hot and innocent at the same time?
There’s nothing innocent about Mary-Louise. She’s just hot. It’s 2007-who’s innocent?

Do you think her character, Nancy, is a bad mom for dealing drugs?
I don’t think she’s a bad mother. At the very least she’s doing the best she can. I think it’s interesting to have the two sides: someone who loves their children very much, and possibly the other side is someone who didn’t realize that being a parent was going to be part of their lives. And all of a sudden she has found herself in the role of a drug kingpin.

Does she appreciate having Andy in the house?
She likes to pretend she doesn’t but the fact is, I’m raising those kids. Often
I’m spending more time with them than she is. I cook, for God’s sake. That’s my big go-to on the show.

What do you crave when you get the munchies?
First of all, munchies are for amateur pot smokers, if I remember correctly. I used to love stuffed jalapeños, but they were starting to hurt my insides. I eat horrible fast-food breakfasts all the time, like Jack in the Box. I eat things in plastic; I’m much too old to be behaving that way.

Do you or the producers ever get any antidrug hate mail?
If we do, it doesn’t get to me. It’s surprising how little negative excitement
we’ve received. It’s possible the addition of Mary-Kate Olsen this year as Silas’s love interest may bring in some new eyes and ears, so maybe that will stir things up.

Any fun projects lined up?
I have a Hot Pocket from 7-Eleven that I’m about to enjoy.

Excellent choice.
Thanks.

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