Reid Scott Teases ‘Veep’ Season 6 and Dan’s Future Possibilities

Awards Daily TV’s Jazz Tangcay talks with Veep’s Reid Scott about his experiences during Season 5 and what to expect of Dan Egan moving forward.

Reid Scott knows the shady workings of his character Dan Egan on HBO’s Veep really well. Where Dan ends up is anyone’s guess, but I caught up with him to joke about the possibilities. During our conversation, Scott came up with an ideal political face off with Jonah Ryan (Timothy Simons). We can see that happening!

See what Scott had to say about working alongside Peter MacNichol during Season 5 of the hit show ahead of the new season which starts this weekend.

What on earth is going to happen in Veep?

It’s a really fun season. I think I can speak for everybody when I say this is one of the most fun and a unique season in that we take a turn. We see where the players go when an administration leaves the White House. To a certain extent, the band breaks up, and they scatter. They go off into different fields, professions, and areas of their very different personal lives. I don’t want to give away too much as to what those avenues are, but speaking logically, Dan at the end of last season got an offer from CBS News and he pulls that thread. We find Dan doing what Dan does best, smiling his way along, screwing up along the way up the ladder of broadcast journalism.

Politics is very similar to Hollywood in a way.

Oh god! it’s crazy.

So, there are some exciting things ahead for Dan?

I had a blast this season with Dan. It’s something I really enjoy about TV. You spend some time with that character, and you keep digging down on that character and finally get more about them. It gets easier to find the character now that we have these back stories that you helped create. Giving him something new to do keeps you intrigued in the character and keeps him interesting and makes you want to learn more about the character. It was really fun.

What’s it like being in a show about politics right now given where we are in the world?

It’s kind of funny, and Julia touched on it in her speech last year. To a certain extent, we’ve become like a documentary, and it’s weird that we are capturing this pulse. I wish I had better answers about real politics. What do you think of this administration, what do you think they should do, or what would it be like to work for them? The thing is we’re not political experts. We are a bunch of idiots on a television show playing idiots. [Laughs]

Having fun.

Having a lot of fun. It’s exciting because it’s this thing we’ve been watching for a very long time to help inform our show. Politics is always in the forefront and something we’ve always talked about and a Zeitgeist type of thing. To be on a political show now in this huge paradigm shift is interesting. The writers have done an incredible job and let the season speak for itself. I don’t want to spoil anything, but it’s really cool to have shows that are about politics.

It’s a borrowed from the headlines kind of show, and what happens out there in the real world definitely influences our show, but we’re not trying to mimic it or hold too glaring of a mirror to it. It helps inform this strange time.

You’ve been playing this character for a while. What’s it like playing Dan, going to set?

It’s really fun. Dan’s a character, and it’s like an amusement ride. It needs to be enjoyable to put on those shoes and put on those clothes, get your Blackberry fired up because it’s a departure from myself. Who doesn’t love to play a bad guy? It’s juicy and it’s fun. I also get to bounced this guy off of this amazing cast and that’s even better. These characters are becoming iconic. Selina Meyers is going to be remembered for a very long time.

One thing people may or may not know about Veep is you get the script, but you also have a lot of room to improv. What’s that like for you now that you’ve known each other for so long?

It’s still terrifying. I think everyone is always afraid that we’re going to butcher the scene or the moment or take a joke too far. It’s been that way since day one, like walking a tightrope. It’s still exciting how we get to spin off each other. That’s one of the things that makes the chemistry of this cast so unique. Even the responsibility of culturing our characters and to take them off the page and make them our own that was really unique. It’s all because of the show’s creator, Armando Iannucci.

What were some highlights of last season for you?

Oh man! So many and it was actually two years ago. Dan sleeping with Amy’s sister was a great moment. All the New Hampshire stuff was really special. We had these four stooges that included the wonderful Peter MacNicol and he would back me up. He was nervous when he first started like we all were, but he took to it and he was such an important part of last season. Our little show within a show was amazing. We were falling about on set just laughing. The chemistry was so great and that was the biggest highlight for me.

That totally comes across on scene and you can see it. You recently wrapped Home Again with Reese Witherspoon. When can we see it?

They’re aiming for a late 2017 release. It’s a non-traditional rom-com. There’s an age difference between the love interests and characters. Call it a family comedy, a workplace comedy. There’s a lot happening, and that’s why I really enjoyed it. I had worked with Nancy Myers years ago, and when her daughter wrote the script, she asked if I would do it, and I said, “Absolutely.” It was a great time, so that’s coming out.

Where do you see Dan in the next five years?

Oh man! Who knows? He bounces around so much and gets fired all the time. I wonder if he’ll turn to Hollywood. God help him. He’ll end up on Dancing With The Stars.

I was going to say, if he doesn’t make it in D.C. He’d probably end up here.

Yes!

Where would you like to see him go?

That’s a great question. I think the ultimate showdown would be for Dan to run against Jonah Ryan.

Oooh.

Battling politicians. I think that would be amazing.

That would make for great viewing.

Veep Season 6 premieres April 16 on HBO at 10:30pm ET.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DU_VyHcWL4