James Lafferty Interview at Alloy.com

Posted on May 12th, 2008 by Amy

Thanks, Katherine, for pointing us to this. Yay! James is a Leyton fan!!

This season of One Tree Hill has been one of the best yet! From the Lindsey-Lucas-Peyton love triangle, to crazy Nanny Carrie, to Kate Voegele’s guest starring role as Mia, season five has had us hooked. We recently got the chance to chat with OTH star James Lafferty about the show’s past, present, and future — read on to find out what his favorite storyline has been, how it feels to sit on the sidelines during basketball scenes, and who he thinks Lucas should be with!

So what are your thoughts on this season so far?
It’s been really great. The four years jump ahead has, I think, injected a new life into the show, and everybody has really enjoyed playing their characters and their new arcs and playing our ages. So it’s been different in a very good way.

Do you get input into your storylines?
No, not really. Mark Schwahn, the creator of the show, is really our storyteller. He does talk to some of the actors about what they’d like to be doing because we are pretty invested in our characters at this point. We like to see good things happening for them and good arcs. We like to tell good stories and have good material to work with, but for the most part, it’s in his hands. We put in our two cents here and there, but ultimately, it’s his show.

What’s been your favorite storyline for Nathan?
Actually, what I’m doing right now has been my favorite. Nathan does sorta come back from something very tragic that happened in his life, and I’m looking forward to playing the role of a guy who needs to redeem himself to his family and to himself.

Has there ever been something you really didn’t want Nathan getting into?
Not really. There’s been some silliness along the way, but ultimately it was funny. Things like Nathan trying to raise money by stripping with Skillz and Mouth — that was a little… But that was more something that I was just mortified to do and less of what I actually thought was good for the character. It ended up being really funny and really good for the character, but it was more my stage fright that deterred me.

What are you talking about? That was a great episode — I loved that episode!
Exactly! See? So it turned out well.

OTH will be back for another season. What do you want for Nathan in season six?
I’d like to see Nathan come back a bit. He’s been making a lot of giant leaps toward physically rehabbing and putting his life back together, so I’d like to see that continue. And I think basketball is an important part of Nathan’s character as a human being, so I’d like to see that involved as well too in his comeback.

Have you missed playing basketball this season?
A little bit. It was definitely interesting to be on set during basketball scenes. We have days when there’s a whole different set of Ravens players playing basketball, but I’m sitting on the sidelines, so it’s a little different. I was chomping at the bit to get out there. Those are some of my favorite days to shoot when I get to play basketball.

Did you ever think the show would’ve lasted this long?
Not really. This is the first year that they told us we have an early pickup. Usually, they wait until the very last minute to tell us, and we’re scrambling to figure out what’s going on with our lives. It’s made it interesting and all the more fun we’re never expecting it, so when it happens, it gives us reason to celebrate.

Has the dynamic on set changed since Jackson, who plays your son, joined the cast?
He brings a whole different energy to the set. He’s a great kid, and everybody loves him. He knows everybody’s name, from cast to crew to writers to producers. He’s incredibly smart. You can sit there and have a conversation with the kid like you would most adults, so it’s pretty cool. He’s a happy kid, brings a lot of light to the set, and everybody likes working with him.

Do watch the show when it’s on?
I do — especially this season, I make a point to catch the episodes because there’s so much going on in every episode, and I think every actor is challenged at least once an episode and the story has developed so well. I’ve become an even bigger follower of our show than I was before.

Who do you want Lucas to end up with — Peyton or Lindsey?
I think this year, they’re playing on the trifecta, and it’s Lucas Scott up to his old games with the girls. I guess it would be nice to see the Lucas-Peyton thing work out because that’s how our show started — Lucas pining for Peyton and Lucas helping Peyton finding who she really is. The characters really grew together, and it was sort of tragic how they drifted apart during the years, but it would be kinda cool to see them together again.

What other projects are you working on at the moment?
Right now, nothing. We’re only gonna have five weeks off, so I’m just gonna set up in LA and get my life together up there and then come back and shoot probably our final season.

You recently had your fifth annual charity basketball game. How did it go?
It went really well. We started doing it the first season of the show. Initially, we just wanted to give back the community a little bit that embraced us so well, and we wanted to do it through the game of basketball because that’s such a central theme of our show. Over the years, it’s just grown, and the fans have really supported the event. We’ve been able to sell it out the past three years, and this year was no exception. We raised a lot of money and a lot of people showed up, so it was a success.

What’s the funniest thing a fan has done to get your attention?
We do these signings, and people come and wait on big lines and have us sign things. The funniest thing is when people have us sign something completely random, like this year at the charity basketball game, we had someone bring an inflatable pink flamingo through to sign. I don’t know what the relevance of that was, but it was funny.

The cast has always been subject to rumors. How do you deal?
I haven’t been the target of too much of that, but regardless, I think all of us ignore it and move on and go to work. The only people that actually know are ourselves and our good friends, so it’s like we just do our jobs as good as we can — people are gonna say what we’re gonna say, but that’s not really any of our concern.

Watch the season finale of One Tree Hill tonight at 8 ET on The CW!

Interviews, James Lafferty/Nathan Scott

37 Responses to “James Lafferty Interview at Alloy.com”

Brittney Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 10:57 am

a Leyton fan I love it!
Mandy Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 11:13 am

Did anyone besides myself notice that he said he was going to set up in LA and then come back to film “their last season”? So does that mean that after next year that’s it?? UGGGGH!!! I love this show!!! I get into these shows, ie: O.C., they run for a few years, and then that’s it!!!! I wish it would run for a few more years.. I’m getting frustrated with really getting into something and then it is gone…..I hope he mis-spoke!!
Madde Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 11:16 am

I noticed that too ! Season 6 can’t be their last season i love the show too much. it can’t just end like that !!! Like you said Mandy i hope he misspoked. james lafferty <3
lilcky Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 11:17 am

I agree=))))Leyton forever. + it’s good how he describes Leyton’s past, that Luke helped her to find her way, maybe in Season 6 Peyton can help Lucas to find his way, and then they get together=D
Stef Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 11:17 am

I did catch him saying that and the moment I read the words my heart broke in two. I’m crushed. It also said at the end that tonight was the season finale which isn’t true did anyone catch that? weird.
lilcky Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 11:19 am

god, i really hope season 6 will be not the end of OTH=(((((
Deegan Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 11:20 am

He said possibly…their contracts might be up, and it will be up to the network and the actors….someone has to foot the bill.
lilcky Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 11:21 am

It can also mean that Nathan’s story ends somehow…that would be sad but not as much as the end of OTH
Christyanne Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 11:38 am

I got all that… the leyton line, the end of the show next year & the season finale tonight…. ITS not the season finale, us crazy fans know tonight is 5.17, & theres 18 eppys this season. Sooo dont worry everyone! & about next year being the last season.. idk, it kinda makes sense that if it does continue it could be like the show is dragggggging… unless Haley does get pregnant, then we better see her have her baby! who knows!!!
Liz Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 11:38 am

It sounded to me like Season 6 will be the end of OTH too
Betty Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 12:03 pm

He says PROBABLY the last season. But what was up with the end saying watch the season final tonight?
Philly Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 12:08 pm

oh my god! lAST SEASON????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
brucasfan Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 12:48 pm

Im with you Philly I just read that as well….. LAST SEASON I THINK I MIGHT CRY…
lilcky Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 1:11 pm

if they say the last season probably…they can change their mind…or maybe after some year they do a season like the 5th…so x year later=PP
brucasfan Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 1:22 pm

Hopefully the CW will do what it did with Gilmore Girls…..and bring it back even for half a season… I dont see the CW letting season 6 being the last as already alot of their shows are alst season next year… lets all have happy OTH thoughts
lilcky Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 1:30 pm

we’ll see it=)) there’re so many people who love the show, so they have enermous profit from it=DD
brucasfan Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 1:52 pm

that is true…. Im just not ready for only one more season.. Im tired of my favorite shows ending hahahha I need more OTH
Liz Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 2:16 pm

I know - why is it that whenever there is a great tv show on like OTH they always seem to end it.
lilcky Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 2:20 pm

we hope OTH will be the exception=DD
Tb Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 2:24 pm

oh come on he said probably.what does he know.if the show rocks next year is pretty sure they gonna ask Schwahn to write another season.
lilcky Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 2:31 pm

ok i believe you(=DD
brucasfan Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 2:32 pm

that is true but the actors CONTRACTS are up so if they dont want to do it they dont have to which is why james said probably cause they cant bring it back without the core 5 it wouldnt be the same… they have to sign the contract….
Larissa Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 2:51 pm

james lafferty <3
Tb Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 2:57 pm

yes i know that.i know its not sure the actors would agree to continue.its not what i said though:)
brucasfan Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

lol I know what you mean TB….sorry if it came across as I didnt
Tb Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 4:13 pm

its ok.u just brought up another another point..lool
Lara Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 4:17 pm

Last season?!!!
Noooo!
I didn’t know that.
Sooo sad.
HKD Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 6:16 pm

haha…i wished they’d ask if he was dating sophia!
otherwise liked the interview…
TLALP Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 6:36 pm

I think now all the actors are starting to do thier own things as far as movies and stuff and thats usually when a show ends as much as i hope and pray that a seventh season will come our way maybe even an eighth but if you logicly think about it from thier point of view(the cast) prob not i think season 6 will be it
HKD Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 6:42 pm

yeah…but there’s always hope!!

i really hope they have a seventh season if not then they better have a really really awesome season 6!!
annazhx Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 6:54 pm

I’ve already heard that Season 6 would possibly be the end of OTH. I surely will feel extremely sad when the show ends…
But I do LOVE the stripping episode. It cracks me up every time!:)
HKD Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 6:55 pm

haha…yeah same here!

after that episode i was singing tricky for so long! lol
Leyton=TLA Says:
May 13th, 2008 at 3:40 am

WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!
even James Lafferty wants Leyton!!! haha
Christy Says:
May 14th, 2008 at 9:00 am

i love james!!!!!!! and maybe he just thinks season 6 will be the last one. i mean, you never know, right? i hope oth goes on for a long time!
Jazmin Says:
May 14th, 2008 at 9:10 am

Noooo!!!! Season 6 cant be their final season, i mean he said probably, so i guess it all depends how it goes for them to make that decision….
MichelleluvsLP Says:
May 18th, 2008 at 5:16 am

It’s sad too think this might be the last season of One Tree Hill on another note it’s good to see he wants Leyton back together just like alot of us do.

Leyton <3
Kayla Says:
May 20th, 2008 at 8:59 pm

This show is my life, So so sad if it ends, I will cry for the rest of my life lol.. well probably not, but I will watch all the seasons over and over again, I really hope we get a season 7, if not they should make a movie after season 6 like the original idea before they started the show. OTH = L.O.V.E! <3