“I can’t keep people tuned into our show. The best thing I can say is that they could watch our show, or they can change it and watch ‘Desperate Housewives.’ ” – Michael Rapaport

Michael Rapaport stars as stressed-out father Dave Gold on his new sitcom, “The War at Home.” Rapaport has starred in a number of roles with many big-name stars such as Robert DeNiro and Eddie Murphy. He has also done a number of voices for many video games including “Grand Theft Auto III.” UWM Post staff writer Duffy Hery spoke with Rapaport over the phone about his new show, the sitcom family, and his next movie.

Post: In the previous year your show was in between “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy.” I had a lot of friends calling it the long commercial between those two shows. This year you’re after all of the cartoons. What are you doing different this year that is going to keep college students watching?

Rapaport: That’s totally out of my hands; I can’t keep people tuned into our show. The best thing I can say is that they could watch our show, or they can change it and watch “Desperate Housewives.”

Post: You’ve done a lot of voices for cartoons and television shows. What has drawn you to doing these sorts of things?

Rapaport: You know they’re a lot of fun, and the money is pretty good. And they’re really easy to do.

Post: Your show is about a disgruntled white guy and a family with bratty children, I just want to know where did you guys get such originality?

Rapaport: We kind of tried to have a very honest, current depiction of a family in the sitcom world. I think that we are a very funny and entertaining group of people and I am happy the way things have turned out before.

Post: The opening of your show seems a lot like the previous show “Titus.” On that show Christopher Titus has a lot of control over every episode and was involved with the writing process. How much do you do on your show?

Rapaport: I don’t have complete control by any means, but my voice and my opinion is definitely heard. I think for the most part I agree with everything they put out, and we’re still trying to find a voice for the show, and we keep getting stronger and stronger, so I definitely get to put my two cents in there.

Post: What are the big things that are going to happen this year to the characters on the show?

Rapaport: We have a bunch of funny episodes coming up this year. One in particular, my character thinks he sees his daughter Hillary played by Kaylee DeFer on a “Girls Gone Wild” DVD.

Obviously he flips out — I won’t tell you the ending — but it’s the whole idea of an older guy watching the soft porn, and the chances of his daughter popping into one of the videos. I always think about how funny that would be whenever I see those ads on Television.

Post: So how do you manage to keep the show so fresh and funny?

Rapaport: The writers and the actors, we’re all hungry for the show to be good. I know I don’t rest easy unless the show is consistently at the level I want it to be, and fortunately I’m a group of people that feel the same way.

When we first came onto the air, everyone thought we were this that and I’m not trying to be compared to any current sitcom actors on television. I want the show to be great, so obviously we have to work hard and put out the best we can.

Post: So are there any serious movies you have coming out in the next couple of months?

Rapaport: Early next year I got one coming out that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival called “Special.” It’s a very dark, dark comedy that I am truly proud of and I hope everyone gets to go see it.

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