With what could be the 'Scrubs' series finale airing May 6, Faison is looking to jumpstart the next chapter in his career (and eradicate any lingering memories of his last lead turn, in 2006's 'Homie Spumoni') when the gangster-heist-comedy 'Next Day Air' -- in which he plays a stoned courier who accidentally delivers a box full of drugs to the wrong apartment -- arrives in theaters on May 8.
Faison, or Mocha Bear as we like to call him, took a break from a mani-pedi with his girlfriend Cacee Cobb ("It's good bonding time," he assures us) to chat about his "dope" new dope flick, dish on the future (and past) of 'Scrubs,' and reveal whether there's any truth to those rumors of a 'Clueless 2.' As if! -- By Tom DiChiara
Donald Faison Photos
In this TV publicity image released by ABC, Donald Faison, left, and Zach Braff are shown in a scene from the season finale of "Scrubs," airing Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. EDT on ABC. (AP Photo/ABC, Michael Ansell)
AP
Actor Donald Faison (R) and Cacee Cobb arrive at the Los Angeles screening of "Next Day Air" at the ArcLight Cinemas on April 29, 2009 in Hollywood, California. "Next Day Air" Los Angeles Screening ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood, CA United States April 29, 2009 Photo by Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage.com To license this image (57321597), contact WireImage.com
Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage.com
Actor Donald Faison (R) and Cacee Cobb at the Los Angeles screening of "Next Day Air" at the ArcLight Cinemas on April 29, 2009 in Hollywood, California. "Next Day Air" Los Angeles Screening ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood, CA United States April 29, 2009 Photo by Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage.com To license this image (57321594), contact WireImage.com
Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage.com
Actor Donald Faison (R) and Cacee Cobb arrive at the Los Angeles screening of "Next Day Air" at the ArcLight Cinemas on April 29, 2009 in Hollywood, California. "Next Day Air" Los Angeles Screening ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood, CA United States April 29, 2009 Photo by Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage.com To license this image (57321586), contact WireImage.com
Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage.com
HOLLYWOOD - APRIL 29: Actor Donald Faison and actor Chi McBride attend the after party for the screening of Summit Entertainment's "Next Day Air" on April 29, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Donald Faison;Chi McBride
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HOLLYWOOD - APRIL 29: Actor Donald Faison and actress Yasmin Deliz attend the after party for the screening of Summit Entertainment's "Next Day Air" on April 29, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Donald Faison;Yasmin Deliz
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HOLLYWOOD - APRIL 29: Actor Donald Faison and actor Mike Epps attend the after party for the screening of Summit Entertainment's "Next Day Air" on April 29, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Donald Faison;Mike Epps
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HOLLYWOOD - APRIL 29: Actor Donald Faison and actor Mike Epps attend the after party for the screening of Summit Entertainment's "Next Day Air" on April 29, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Donald Faison;Mike Epps
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HOLLYWOOD - APRIL 29: TV host Sal Masekela and actor Donald Faison attend the after party for the screening of Summit Entertainment's "Next Day Air" on April 29, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sal Masekela;Donald Faison
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HOLLYWOOD - APRIL 29: Actor Donald Faison and actor Chi McBride attend the after party for the screening of Summit Entertainment's "Next Day Air" on April 29, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Donald Faison;Chi McBride
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1. You've been on a TV show for a while now. Was it refreshing to work on a movie like 'Next Day Air,' with violence and profanity and what not, where you basically have carte blanche to do and say anything?Man, I'm going to be honest with you. I just wanted to be in something dope. I thought it was a great script. Wood Harris told me I should read it and meet with [director] Benny [Boom]. And I just wanted to work with Wood again [after 'Remember the Titans']. So when this came up, it was a no-brainer. And I personally really like the movie. I'm really excited with the choice that I made I guess [laughs]. ... But, yeah, you can't just make a movie with "motherf***ers" after "motherf***ers" and sh**. You can't just do that. But it was dope to have that free reign.
2. There are a lot of rumors floating around that a 'Clueless' sequel is in the works. Do you think a sequel is a good idea, and would you want to be a part of it?
I haven't even heard about it, you know what I mean? Somebody just said to me, "They're going to do a 'Clueless' reunion." And I was like, "Well, I hope they call me." But it's a rumor. Nobody's contacted me or reached out to me.
3. ABC has confirmed that it's in talks to renew 'Scrubs' for a ninth season. Do you think you'd come back if it does get picked up? And how would that affect the ABC comedy pilot 'The Law' that you have on tap?If 'Scrubs' does get picked up, I don't think anybody is going to say no. With 'The Law' -- just like 'Scrubs,' I have no idea. It depends what Steve McPherson decides to do this coming fall lineup. So I don't know what's going to happen. Will I be on 'Scrubs'? Will I be on 'The Law'? Or both? I don't know. Or it could be nothing. But I'm happy for the opportunities I'm getting right now.
4. Do you have a favorite episode and fondest memory of 'Scrubs'?
Of course. I got to be Indiana Jones in an episode. I got to go into somebody's anus [laughs]. It's not too often you get the opportunity to do that. That was a lot of fun. And my favorite memory from the set was singing 'Jolly Holiday' with Dick Van Dyke. That was the coolest thing ever: Me playing guitar and him singing it, and me singing background with him is just dope. You can't beat that with a baseball bat.
Summer 2009 Comedies
Summer Comedy Movies
Judd Apatow directing Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen as stand-up comedians ... Harold Ramis directing Jack Black and Michael Cera as inept cavemen ... Sacha Baron Cohen shocking even more innocent bystanders ... No, you haven't died and gone to comedy heaven. Or maybe you have.
From gigolos to Sleestaks and everything in between, read on to see which comedies you'll be quoting from this summer until the next summer rolls around.
Universa(2)l/ Sony/ Getty Images
'Next Day Air'
Opening: May 8
Starring: Donald Faison, Mike Epps, Mos Def
What It's About: When Faison and Mos Def's slacker parcel men accidentally deliver a giant box filled with cocaine to lowly criminals Epps and Wood Harris, gangsters are out to hurt them all (and by "hurt," we mean "kill"). It's a crime thriller with comedic elements -- it's sort of like a Guy Ritchie flick, except with a mostly African-American cast.
More on 'Next Day Air':
Summit Entertainment
'Dance Flick'
Opening: May 22
Starring: Damon Wayans Jr., Craig Wayans, Shoshanna Bush
What It's About: The Wayans clan couldn't sit back and let Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, the "minds" behind 'Epic Movie,' 'Date Movie,' 'Disaster Movie,' etc., corner the spoof market. Thus their latest effort, which sends up the 'Save the Last Dance' and 'Step Up' subgenre, and introduces fresh Wayanses (try saying that one fast) Craig and Damon Jr.
More on 'Dance Flick':
Paramount
'Year One'
Opening: June 19
Starring: Jack Black, Michael Cera, Olivia Wilde
What It's About: Think 'Superbad' meets 'Forrest Gump,' set in caveman times, starring Judd Apatow regulars, directed by comedy great Harold Ramis. Black and Cera play inept hunter-gatherers who set off for epic adventure when they're banished from their village. They meet biblical figures (David Cross, David Cross, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Hank Azaria), a hottie princess and a sexy slave (Wilde and June Diane Raphael) ... and leave their footprints on history.
More on 'Year One':
Get 'Superbad':
Sony
'Land of the Lost'
Opening: June 5
Starring: Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, Danny McBride
What It's About: Ferrell heads up this remake of the cult '70s Saturday-morning time-travel adventure. We were growing weary of Ferrell's sports spoofs, so we're excited for his take on the surreal show we loved to sort of hate (even as young 'uns, we recognized cheesy effects when we saw 'em). But even greater than our curiosity about Ferrell is the undying appeal of one word, drawing us like a Siren song to the theater: Sleestaks. Oh, and remember Chaka? Color us nostalgic.
More on 'Land of the Lost':
Get the original 'Land of the Lost':
Universal
'The Hangover'
Opening: June 5
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Heather Graham
What It's About: Todd Phillips ('Old School,' 'Road Trip') revisits the theme of boys behaving badly with a Vegas bachelor party gone awry -- which leads to hangovers, spotty memories and a missing groom-to-be (Justin Bartha). Will the three groomsmen reclaim their best friend and deliver him to the altar in time? If Philips' previous movies are any indication, there'll be plenty of raucousness, a touch of male-bonding sweetness, and at least 12 lines that call for "earmuffs."
More on 'The Hangover':
Get 'Old School':
Warner Bros.
'Bruno'
Opening: July 10
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen
What It's About: If you're under the assumption that there's no way Sacha Baron Cohen could top the envelope-pushing humor of his '06 hit 'Borat,' you probably haven't watched the red-band trailer for 'Bruno.' Once again paired with director Larry Charles, Cohen adopts the persona of a gay Austrian fashionista to wreak havoc on unsuspecting victims with antics that include destroying a fashion show, naming his adopted African-American baby OJ and using a prosthetic penis as a weapon. And that's just the stuff that's safe to print.
More on 'Bruno':
Get 'Borat':
Universal
'Funny People'
Opening: July 31
Starring: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Jason Schwartzman
What It's About: Writer-director Judd Apatow, who redefined the rom-com with 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin' and 'Knocked Up,' returns with his most dramatic flick yet. Sandler stars as a successful comedian who, after learning he has only a year to live, enters into a life-altering bromance with a struggling comic (Rogen). Sandler's character reevaluates his priorities, trying to win back the one that got away (Mann) -- and hopefully making audiences pee their pants laughing in the process.
More on 'Funny People':
Get 'Knocked Up':
Universal
'The Goods: The Don Ready Story'
Opening: August 14
Starring: Jeremy Piven, Ving Rhames, Ed Helms, James Brolin
What It's About: Taking cues from his Emmy-winning TV gig as a smarmy agent ('Entourage'), Piven plays title character Don Ready, the ultimate car salesman. Ready can seal the deal on any motor vehicle but has issues smooth-talking when it comes to the woman of his dreams.
More on 'The Goods':
Get 'Entourage':
Paramount Vantage
'Post Grad'
Opening: August 14
Starring: Alexis Bledel, Zach Gilford, Michael Keaton
What It's About: Recent college grad Ryden (Bledel), lacking a job or any real prospects, is forced to move back in with her oddball family and figure out a new path for herself. She may be experiencing an early-life crisis, but nothing helps the blow like a longtime best friend ('Friday Night Lights' star Gilford) ... and maybe some My Little Pony bedsheets.
More on 'Post Grad':
Get 'Friday Night Lights':
Fox Atomic
5. 'Scrubs' and a lot of your movies showcase your very formidable dancing skills, which put those of most mere mortals to shame. How'd you get so good?
Wow, I wish I could dance like freakin' Justin Timberlake. Oh man, that guy's a good dancer. Him and Beyonce -- pshew! [Laughs] You say I'm a good dancer? They're amazing dancers. I've just got a little bit of rhythm.
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