Cheyenne Jackson Gets His New York Times Profile. (Sort Of.)

On Thursday’s “30 Rock,” Danny Baker, the earnest sketch comedy performer played by Cheyenne Jackson, is told that he’s going to be profiled in The New York Times. (“As filler,” Danny says, “because of dwindling ad sales.” Ha ha ha.) But due to the nefarious machinations of Danny’s television colleagues, we never learn if he gets his profile article after all.

To make it up to Danny (and to show there’s no hard feelings about that ad-sales crack), ArtsBeat has graciously offered to profile Mr. Jackson, the Broadway veteran (“Finian’s Rainbow,” “Xanadu,” “Damn Yankees”) who portrays him. Or, at least, do a quick blog Q. and A. with him. Mr. Jackson spoke with us from Los Angeles, where he caught us up on his career and even offered to sell a few ads for us.

You never did get your New York Times profile, it appears.

I know! I know. Just when you think things are going to start happening for little Danny.

To Danny, anyway, I apologize on behalf of The Times for the fake profile that so freaked him out.

I appreciate that.

So given that we have all this space we can’t seem to fill with advertisements, what should we do with it?

I know, that’s a good question. Hmm.

Stuff about you?

My mom would love that.

Have you finished your work on “30 Rock” for the season? Can you tell us what to expect for Danny in his remaining episodes?

The season’s totally wrapped and I have one more episode that’s going to air this season. I don’t think I can say [what happens]. You know how it goes. But when Tina first told be about the part — Tina Fey — she told me the arc of the character. So there’s still more to do! And hopefully we’ll have some time to explore it next year, because it’s just getting started. But they got renewed and I’m in L.A. filming a pilot. If this gets picked up, that’s going to dominate where I’m going to be and what’s going to happen.

This may just be me, but it does seem like Danny’s friendship with Jack Donaghy is more than just mutual admiration.

What are you implying?

He did seem especially flattered that Danny thought he was handsome.

Well, you know, Jack Donaghy has a big ego. But I love doing scenes with Alec – I’ve learned so much about comedy and professionalism from him.

You got to sing that ScotiaBank psyche-up song in Thursday’s episode, and earned a Juno Award nomination for it. Was that based in any kind of reality?

That was just part of the script. Tina’s husband [Jeff Richmond], who is the composer for the show, wrote the song. It was actually a little longer, we shot a whole music video, but for time they always have cut stuff. There was an ending to that phrase, a whole call-and-answer to the people of Nova Scotia, as it were. It’s a fantasy – when else can you do stuff like that?

I realize this is not your fault, but we heard from some commenters that Dave Coulier is not actually Canadian. He was born in Michigan.

Really? Wow. The general consensus is, most people think he’s Canadian. But he must have at least lived in Canada. At least long enough to inspire “You Oughta Know.” Somebody dropped the ball. Sir Dave Coulier.

What can you tell us about the pilot you’re working on?

It’s on ABC, and the working title is “It Takes a Village.” Leah Remini is the female lead. It’s about a husband and wife who have a 13-year-old kid and then they get divorced, and then they each get remarried, so two sets of parents are raising this kid. Hence, “It Takes a Village.”

Where do you fit into this?

Leah Remini, she’s married to a guy and they get divorced, and he ends up being gay — that’s why they got divorced. And I’m his new husband. And she remarries somebody else. So all there’s all of that.

Are the networks still apoplectic about how a gay lead character should be played? Do they try to modulate that at all — play it more flamboyant, play it more straight?

It’s whatever serves the situation best. And for me, it’s all about finding truth. Up until just recently, I’ve never really played gay characters on television or Broadway or anything. If it’s funny to me, and it’s real, I don’t care if you’re straight or gay or an alien or a dog. I want to make it real. This character, sometimes he’s flamboyant, sometimes he’s the manliest man in the West. I think they’re trusting me. They know, since I’m a gay man, that I know what is honest and what feels right. There is a little bit of a dance there. With the success of “Modern Family,” I think ABC is less skittish, so that’s very promising.

If this gets picked up, does Broadway lose you?

Oh, hell no. I’m a Broadway baby, through and through. It’s my first love and it’s what brought me to New York in the first place. In June, it’ll be eight years. I’ll do it all — that’s what I’ll do.

You want to sell a few ads for us, too?

You know, I used to work for a magazine in Seattle called For Rent magazine, and I sold ads. So yeah, if you ever need somebody, I could moonlight.