'Veronica Mars' creator Rob Thomas' other cult hit, 'Cupid,' is officially returning to the small screen -- albeit in slightly different form.This updated version stars Sarah Paulson and Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale. Cannavale plays Trevor, (a role played in the original by 'Entourage''s Jeremy Piven), a love-struck New Yorker convinced he's Cupid, the god of love. Paulson plays his psychiatrist, Claire, whose traditional views on amour couldn't be more opposite from her patient's.
Will they continue to butt heads? Will they eventually grow to love each other? AOL TV recently sat down with Cannavale and Paulson to find out more about television's newest 'Cupid,' premiering Tue., March 31 at 10PM on ABC.
1. Did you watch the original 'Cupid' to prepare for your roles?
Paulson: I personally didn't watch it because I think Paula Marshall's a really good actress, and I thought if I watch her I'm gonna A.) get insecure, and B.) try to copy her. Because that's what I do [laughs].
Cannavale: I just didn't see it; it doesn't make any sense for me to watch it.
2. Do you think Trevor will ever get Claire to loosen up a bit? Is there a potential romance in the works, perhaps?
Paulson: Well, the real mythology of Cupid is that he does end up marrying a mortal named Psyche. It's the basic pretense of the thing that that's what would happen if we were lucky enough to go for 100 episodes. I think maybe at the end of the thing. But you know, I think there's definitely things along the way that get revealed that make you think "Ohh, they should."
Cannavale: The project was the relationship between Trevor and Claire. Every week we're going to see a different couple get matched up or not. We're going to see different sort of manifestations of relationships, and how they're formed and love at first sight and what-not, and the things that will be familiar to a lot of people. I think the other thing that's familiar to people is just how complicated love is, and how complicated it is to make connections. That's what really attracted me, was this relationship, because that you really can take 100 episodes. It's endless, the sort of exploration you can do there.
3. Do you think filming the show in New York City gives it an extra-romantic feel?
Cannavale: Yeah. New York is the capital of the world; it's the best place on the planet. New York makes everyone better. That's an easy one. If it was shot in L.A., we would be riding next to cars on the freeway going "Hey! You should go out with the guy in that car!" Except there would only be one guy in that car or one woman in that car.
4. Since so much of 'Cupid' is about love, what's the most romantic thing you've ever done or experienced?
Paulson: I don't know. I feel like I definitely had romantic things that don't involve presents. They involve flying across the country to be with the person [and] you only have 38 hours to do it, and I've done that a lot. I think that's a real romantic act. But, you know, you get flowers sometimes out of nowhere, and it seems like such a simple, trite thing, but it really made me cry; it was really sweet and thoughtful. I don't know. I feel like romance is everywhere; it's all around. I feel it everywhere, in every breath I take.
5. To sum it up: what's the no. 1 reason for viewers to watch the show?
Paulson: Bobby Cannavale.
Cannavale: She and I have a lot of fun.
Paulson: Cannavale is the reason to watch the show. And me.
Cupid' Show Photos
CUPID Bobby Cannavale as Trevor, Sarah Paulson as Claire, Rick Gomez as Felix and Camille Guaty as Lita.
ABC
CUPID Sarah Paulson as Claire Allen and Bobby Cannavale as Trevor Hale star in the "Pilot" episode - Trevor Pierce sincerely believes that he is Cupid, the Roman God of love. He claims that he's been sent to New York City by Zeus to bring100 couples together before being allowed to return to Mt. Olympus, in "Cupid," a new romantic dramedy. Premiering Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
ABC
CUPID Rick Gomez as Lita Arroyo stars in the "Pilot" episode - Trevor Pierce sincerely believes that he is Cupid, the Roman God of love. He claims that he's been sent to New York City by Zeus to bring100 couples together before being allowed to return to Mt. Olympus, in "Cupid," a new romantic dramedy. Premiering Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
ABC
CUPID Camille Guaty as Lita Arroyo stars in the "Pilot" episode - Trevor Pierce sincerely believes that he is Cupid, the Roman God of love. He claims that he's been sent to New York City by Zeus to bring100 couples together before being allowed to return to Mt. Olympus, in "Cupid," a new romantic dramedy. Premiering Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
ABC
CUPID Rick Gomez as Felix stars in the "Pilot" episode - Trevor Pierce sincerely believes that he is Cupid, the Roman God of love. He claims that he's been sent to New York City by Zeus to bring100 couples together before being allowed to return to Mt. Olympus, in "Cupid," a new romantic dramedy. Premiering Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
ABC
CUPID Camille Guaty as Lita Arroyoand Rick Gomez as Lita Arroyo star in the "Pilot" episode - Trevor Pierce sincerely believes that he is Cupid, the Roman God of love. He claims that he's been sent to New York City by Zeus to bring100 couples together before being allowed to return to Mt. Olympus, in "Cupid," a new romantic dramedy. Premiering Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
ABC
CUPID Bobby Cannavale as Trevor Hale, Camille Guaty as Lita Arroyo and Rick Gomez as Lita Arroyo star in the "Pilot" episode - Trevor Pierce sincerely believes that he is Cupid, the Roman God of love. He claims that he's been sent to New York City by Zeus to bring100 couples together before being allowed to return to Mt. Olympus, in "Cupid," a new romantic dramedy. Premiering Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
ABC
CUPID Marguerite Moreau and Sean Maguire star in the "Pilot" episode - Trevor Pierce sincerely believes that he is Cupid, the Roman God of love. He claims that he's been sent to New York City by Zeus to bring100 couples together before being allowed to return to Mt. Olympus, in "Cupid," a new romantic dramedy. Premiering Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
ABC
CUPID Marguerite Moreau and Sean Maguire star in the "Pilot" episode - Trevor Pierce sincerely believes that he is Cupid, the Roman God of love. He claims that he's been sent to New York City by Zeus to bring100 couples together before being allowed to return to Mt. Olympus, in "Cupid," a new romantic dramedy. Premiering Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
ABC
CUPID Bobby Cannavale as Trevor Hale and Marguerite Moreau star in the "Pilot" episode - Trevor Pierce sincerely believes that he is Cupid, the Roman God of love. He claims that he's been sent to New York City by Zeus to bring100 couples together before being allowed to return to Mt. Olympus, in "Cupid," a new romantic dramedy. Premiering Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
ABC
Reader Comments (1)
regcure license at 8:06AM on Jun 8th 2009
1. Did you watch the original 'Cupid' to prepare for your roles?
Paulson: I personally didn't watch it because I think Paula Marshall's a really good actress, and I thought if I watch her I'm gonna A.) get insecure, and B.) try to copy her. Because that's what I do [laughs].
Cannavale: I just didn't see it; it doesn't make any sense for me to watch it. I think that this was really nice question and they responded very well. Mike