It's difficult to stay grounded in Hollywood. There is never a shortage of film crews hanging out on The Grove, shooting the latest blockbuster action scene, paparazzi following the town's new "It Girl," or a new club opening hoping to attract high-profile clientele. The life can be even more difficult when you come from a Hollywood family, but it is possible, as I learned when I talked to Jason Ritter, the star of NBC's new hit show, The Event. Taking a break from filming the heavily serialized new show, Ritter talked extensively about growing up in an entertainment family, why he decided to commit to television, dealing with NBC executives and what we can expect for the future. Ritter struck me as down-to-earth, a far-cry from the pretentiousness that sometimes comes with playing the part of Hollywood superstar.
Growing up, Ritter embraced the acting legacies of his father John Ritter and mother Nancy Morgan. "I think it seemed [like] a good way to learn about people," Ritter said when asked why he wanted to start acting. "We're such a confusing species; it was a way to understand other people and [myself]." Although Ritter had the advantage of being born with a famous Hollywood name, he decided to do things his own way, starting with a move across the country. After growing up in California, Ritter remembered, "I wanted to be out of Los Angeles - I wanted to figure out how New York works as well - and I really loved it."
With the move to New York came a world of new opportunities, and Ritter enrolled at New York University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts. Through Tisch, he was able to work with the Atlantic Theater Company, an off-Broadway theater. "It was scary at first," Ritter said. "If you weren't there the second class started, you were shut out." Ritter spoke fondly of his time at Atlantic, and said the company helped him mature. "They're embarrassed by the reputation that actors get for being babies," he said.
Nevertheless, Ritter still lived within the shadow of his parents and sought to earn parts on his own merit. Perhaps not surprisingly, some of Ritter's strongest words came regarding this topic. "The idea of someone getting a part because someone else made a call really bugs me. I wanted to succeed on my own. If I had ever asked my dad for a part, I would have felt cheated," he remarked. Although he conceded that he understands outsiders may look at his success and question whether it's truly deserved, Ritter noted, "Regardless of what people might say or think, I know what I've done."
And what he's done is build up quite an impressive r
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