‘Carpoolers” star Fred Goss has a secret: He doesn’t. Carpool, that is.
“It’s funny, because the concept behind carpooling is a great one, but I’ve been riding my bicycle to work, because carpooling in L.A. is a tough prospect,” he explains. “The diamond lanes on the 405 are slower than the regular lanes. Maybe that’s a good sign that means a lot of people are carpooling. Our public transportation system here is pretty terrible.”
Goss sees Gracen, the harried married guy he plays on the ABC Tuesday night sitcom, as being the voice of reason on the series, and he loves how the show’s concept throws together four very diverse characters.
“The carpool is sort of our Central Perk (from ‘Friends’), in that we all spend a little time there to trigger the story lines for each episode,” he says. “You have four guys who normally would never hang out together in real life. They just happen to live and work somewhat near one another.”
At age 14, Goss started performing in school and community theater productions. By his mid-20s, he had more than 50 stage credits, but his improv studies were more about preparing for a scripted role than doing off-the-cuff comedy riffs.
“When I created the pilot that led to ‘Sons & Daughters,’ I wanted to make a half-hour dramedy and use improv without anyone knowing it,” Goss says. “I didn’t want it to seem indulgent, which is why I was a little disappointed when ABC stuck in that disclaimer at the top of each episode (about the improv element).
“We didn’t want to call attention to it, because I don’t really think (viewers) care. That turns it into a sideshow.”
– – –
Born: March 25, 1961, in Orchard Lake, Mich.; grew up in Redondo Beach, Calif.
Family ties: Married to wife Arlene for 17 years; three kids.
Fun fact: He met his future wife while they were illegally blocking the Brooklyn Bridge to shoot a Chrysler TV commercial. She got arrested.
Pets: Two dogs, Sara and Parker.
Previous TV series credit: The Bravo comedy series “Significant Others.”
Deadhead cred: An avid Grateful Dead fan, Goss attended 100 of their concerts.
