Gringo: The trusty Internet says that Teenage Mother was your first movie. What did you play, and what was your first taste of cinema like?

Fred:I played a high school baseball coach. I broke up a sexual assault on the sexy new female Swedish biology professor, and when I saw the movie for the first time, before a paying audience in Staten Island, the rather rowdy male audience booed my bravery and daring. I was quite amused by that.

The movie I took as a training experience for things like "hitting the mark" and "blocking" - you know, like walking around a corner in a high school corridor with a group and still stay in the proper camera angle. I also learned if you're in a teen exploitation film and you hear a woman scream in the boiler room, just keep moving.

Gringo: You were in Roxanne - what was your time on that set like? Was it tough sticking to scripted jokes instead of making it up as you go?

Fred: That was filmed mainly in a beautiful Canadian town called Nelson, so the scenery was beautiful, but the living conditions were a bit spartan. It was great being around Steve Martin whom I found to be quiet and private. It was not tough sticking to the script since it was written by Steve. Also, he would allow us to improv a bit. The cast was full of comics and that was fun too, not to mention Darryl Hannah who would drop by exterior shootings when she wasn't working, wearing a belly shirt. All the cast bought bikes the first day, but Matt Lattanzi and I were the only ones to use them.

Gringo: How did the role in Spinal Tap come about? Was it the first improvised role you'd done?

Fred: My agent called and said they wanted me for the role of an Army officer who welcomed a Heavy Metal group to the base. I thought it would just be a scene where I was made to look foolish. I said "no". Then he said Rob Reiner just wanted me to come out and meet him. I reluctantly went. Rob and his people were out to lunch when I got there but his secretary said he just wanted me to see the "demo" film they'd shot. It was about 10 minutes long.

I was so astounded at what I saw that by the time they returned I said I definitely wanted to be part of it. They said what about billing and salary, etc. and I said it didn't matter, just let me be a part of this . It was the first improvised role I'd done (on film) and I'd worked with Harry Shearer and Michael McKean before so I was a bit at ease. Plus I'd had a bit of military background so I knew the "military mentality".

Gringo: In Waiting For Guffman, did you all manage to get through the stage show Red, White & Blaine in one take?

Fred: Absolutely not. That was the toughest part of the movie. We thought we would just finesse the dance steps-you know, be comedically bad. But they hired a choreographer who put us through our paces on Saturdays and several evenings and it was tough. I would watch Eugene and Catherine and Parker to follow them and then realized they didn't have any more of a handle on it then I did. My happiest moment was when they said after the Stool Boom number,"O.K., let's move on." I high-fived the other actors and said, "We did it!". Eugene was a hero because he injured his foot early on and had to wrap it and take pain killers when we filmed.

Gringo: Of the two epilogues (Ron and Sheila make it as extras, or Sheila just ends up depressed) which did you prefer? Why?

Fred: Ron and Sheila end up as extras. I love dressing up like a cowboy and I thought it was funny that I was still giving directions to other actors until the director told me to shut up.

Gringo: Did you base your character in Best In Show on anyone? Did you have to do any research, like visiting real dog shows?

Fred: Chris Guest sent me a tape of the Westminster dog show and he said, "Notice that Joe Garagiola (ex-major league catcher and sports broadcaster) has taken no effort to learn anything about dogs." That was my cue. I was familiar with Joe from his baseball broadcasting and just picked up his rhythms and magnified the ex-jock habit of being self deprecating while at the same time reminding us of their sports background

Gringo: With improvisation, how much filming takes place compared to what we see on screen? Are a lot of jokes cut?

Fred: A lot - an awful lot. Of course you know going in that 80% can't be used. But it's like having a dozen well loved pets and having some taken away. I could only watch Guffman once and kept telling my wife what had been cut out - from all of us - and she would say "Oh, you were in it a lot." I would say, "Yes,but..." I was pleased when Chris put my favorite scene in the DVD. But he said during filming he wanted 82-84 minutes and in my non -selfish moments I know he was right.

Gringo: Of the three released Christopher Guest movies you've been in, what's your favourite line or scene? Why?

Fred: Favorite line in Best In Show was when I asked the host if he had any idea how much I could bench press. To me it represented the character's whole self involvement. In Guffman it must be the Chinese restaurant scene where I show Eugene Levy my "surgery". I am so fond of Eugene and his persona that I get a kick out of acting the insensitive boor around him.

Gringo: How long were you on set for Christopher Guest's new movie, A Mighty Wind?

Fred: A total of about 5 days. That can come off as a starring role or a bit part depending on the feared cutting room scissors.

Gringo: Who do you play in the movie? Was it a good experience?

Fred: I play a low rent comic's manager. I drew from a lot of past experiences. I bleached my hair a bright blond (with black roots) and bought a couple of outrageous suits. So, if I'm not funny I'll be at least noticeable. It's a joy to be in Christopher's movies as everyone is of the same mindset and the direction comes from Christopher and Eugene Levy, two people I couldn't have higher regard for.

Gringo: What was it like working with the Muppets (on Muppets Tonight)?

Fred: It was very brief. Less than half a day. I love working with puppets. Unfortunately it was after Jim Henson passed away so I did not get to meet him. I'd had a lot of experience doing a show called D.C. Follies. where I was the only human among life size puppets. The producers of that show, Sid and Marty Krofft, said I talked to the puppets as if they were real people. I took that as a compliment.

Gringo: Forgive my Britishness - I don't get to see many of Jay Leno's shows. What do you do on the show?

Fred: I play a different character every time, depending on who is in the news. Last week I was Liza Minelli and David Gest's lawyer. I've played everything from Clinton's dog to Christopher Columbus to the owner of a nude grocery store.

Gringo: You've done lots of voice-over, TV, movie and stage acting - which is your favourite, and why?

Fred: Voice over is quick and requires no make-up and you read off a script. T.V. provides fairly quick returns and movies are harder but more prestigious. So for the best of all worlds I'd say T.V.

Gringo: What's the hardest part about the job you do?

Fred: Just getting the job. Auditioning in a room is usually asking for disappointment. When an offer comes in it's a delight. Once on the job it's the long hours and early calls and the waiting in your trailer. I've decided to quit the business many times after sitting in a cramped "Honey Wagon" for hours waiting for the Production assistant to knock on your door. Once on the set, though,you decide you want to do this forever.

Gringo: And the easiest?

Fred: The actual acting,when you're "off script".

Gringo: What's the one role/show/movie/play you'd love to do?

Fred: Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man.

Gringo: What's up next for you?

Fred: Four episodes of the series Everybody Loves Raymond and a movie called American Wedding - a follow up to American Pie (actually a second follow up). I'll get to work with Eugene Levy again. I hope I can be boorish to him once more. It will be directed by Jesse Dylan, who is Bob Dylan's son and who directed me in How High last year.