The Dynamic Duo of White Collar

The first season of USA’s White Collar was the biggest surprise of the fall 2009 TV season. It was fresh, different, fast-paced and starred Tim DeKay and Matt Bomer.  The show gained in popularity so fast, and soon people were jumping online for any news and interviews they could get involving these two talented actors. I was one of them.

In my online travels, I came across the video Q & A with Matt and Tim answering fans questions. The two of them together were very funny and I was happy to see that the off screen relationship is just as convivial as it feels on screen. What makes these two click as friends? “I don’t let Tim look at me, unless we’re shooting,” says Matt in a recent conference call I sat in on. Tim confirms this. “Yes, it’s just better for me, that way I know the rule. Matt will have other
production assistants come up to me and remind me, “Mr. Bomer does not want you to make eye contact with him.”  All joking aside, though, they do agree that life on the White Collar set is far from hum-drum. “There aren’t many days when we’re not laughing pretty hard, so how could we complain?” says Matt.

As for the characters they play on the show, I found it very interesting how they assess each other. Tim on Neal Caffrey: It’s going to seem odd, but this is my first instinct and I think I have to go with it. One is smartest individual I’ve met. And two, one of the most devoted. Yes, he’s one of the—oh my gosh! I think because of this question, I’ve hit something here that I think that Peter sees in Neal; that he respects and adores, for lack of a better word. Yes. He (Peter) sees a strong devotion in Neal. And it makes sense. Look how devoted he was to Kate. Look how strong he stayed with Kate and was devoted to her. And if he can do that for her, he can do that for the bureau, and certainly for his friends.”

Matt on Peter: “I would say that Peter is incredibly intelligent, dedicated, devoted, a family man. I mean, he has the white picket existence that I completely admire and respect and wish that I could have, but don’t really ultimately believe that I can.”

One of the other characters I love in this show is Mozzie, played by Willie Garson. In last season, we say him working exclusively with Neal, but this season, that is going to change a bit. Because Mozzie and Peter both call Neal their friends, they are worried about the fallout from Kate’s death. After listening to the guys talk about Willie, it’s clear they too feel the love for the guy. “I just love the relationship of Peter and Mozzie. He’s this nuisance, but we need him every so often, and he’s good to go to. And he’s also one of these guys who does some—he goes above and beyond every so often, and Peter hates to say it, but he says thank you to him,” Tim explains. “And here’s the other thing about the world of White Collar is that even though Mozzie is a conspiracy theorist and there is a combative element between Mozzie and Peter, never, never, never would Peter ever not trust him with—no, let me rephrase this. There isn’t that element of violence, and because that element is not there between certainly Neal and Mozzie and Peter, it gives it great flexibility. It gives that relationship a great more flexibility. Peter’s never worrying, “Oh, Mozzie might draw a gun on
somebody.” That’s just not there. And because of that, you’ve got much flexibility. Peter’s never worrying, “Oh, Mozzie might draw a gun on somebody.”  That’s just not there. And because of that, you’ve got much leeway in the relationship.”

Matt adds his thoughts: “I think Willie is great and fun and he always brings something extra to the role, and it’s been fun for Neal to get to bridge two worlds that were very different for him in the first season, and to see people who he respects and admires and likes working with in two very different ways, come together and sort of being the intermediary in their dynamic at times, and also watching them get along famously at other times.”

That’s a wrap for this interview, but one more thing, for my fellow Chuck fans out there. Matt Bomer addresses the question of what would happen in a showdown between Bryce Larkin and Neal Caffrey. “Oh! Neal could outsmart him, but if you’re talking about a UFC cage match, Bryce would definitely win.”

White Collar returns with all new episodes Tuesday, July 13, at 9/8 central, on USA.