Ricky Interview (3/14/05)

[♥~Mel Diffy~♥]

Monday, March 14, 2005


'Phil' looks to the future

Disney Channel's time-traveling teen TV star Ricky Ullman dishes on acting, politics and fun

By Brittany Carolla, Brandon Cook and Juliet Fallick / Kidsday

Ricky Ullman plays Phil, the teen of tomorrow. Among his previous acting credits are daytime TV's "Guiding Light" and as Peter Brady in the 2000 TV special "Growing Up Brady."

Ricky Ullman travels through time as Phil Diffy on the Disney Channel TV show "Phil of the Future."

But in real life the 19-year-old is happy with his life here and now. We spoke with Ricky recently.

Q. "Phil of the Future" is about a family living in the year 2121 who rents a time-machine to go on vacation and get stuck in this century. Would you like to travel back in time, and to what year?

A. I think the 1970s were cool; the music and the clothing. But I would really like to go back and meet my great-great grandparents and see what they were like as kids. Where you come from makes you who you are, so it would be interesting to meet my ancestors.

Q. What do you think the world will be like in 2121?

A. I have no idea. Just think, 20 years ago people couldn't imagine everyone would have cell phones or personal computers. I can't even fathom what life will be like in about 120 years or even 10 years from now, which is so exciting. We're the future, and I think it's going to be great.

Q. Did you do anything special on the audition to get the part of Phil?

A. I was older than everyone else auditioning because, originally, Phil was going to be an elementary- or middle-schooler, and later it was decided my part should be older. I just had a good time with the audition, and I got the part.

Q. We read that you like to play pranks on your TV co-stars. What has been a favorite prank?

A. I played a "cone game" with Amy Bruckner, who plays Pim, my younger sister. One day, I surrounded her family's car with large cones. The next day, my car had been surrounded by cones. I decided to up the ante, and the following day, I put cones on top of her car. The next day there were cones inside my car. We never talked about it, so that made it even funnier.

Q. Your relative (Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut) ran for vice president in 2000. Do you have a desire to go into politics?

A: Absolutely not. I don't think I have the mind-set or skill to make some of the decisions politicians have to make.

Q. Do you have a girlfriend?

A. I do in California. (He pulled out a photo of her from his wallet and showed it to us.)

Q. What is your favorite Disney amusement park ride?

A. Definitely Indiana Jones in Disney World. I heard there are thousands of different possibilities every time you go through it.

Q. What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

A. I don't know why, but I've always liked sitting in my car on a rainy day with the windows up, reading a good book and listening to the sound of the rain falling on the roof. There's something very relaxing about it. Also, sitting by the fireplace and coloring in coloring books. I did that one day recently with six of my friends, most are in their 20s, and it was a lot of fun.

Q. If you could trade places with anyone, who would you want to be and why?

A. I totally want to be me. It may sound kind of goofy, but I think individuality is an important thing, and you should always be proud of who you are.

Behind Phil Diffy

Actor's real name: Ricky Ullman.

Age: 19.

Home: Grew up in Fairfield, Conn.

His start: At age 8, took up acting after seeing a musical performed by a children's acting camp at his local library. The next summer, he attended the camp and discovered his acting, singing and dancing skills.

Fun fact: Was his high school's class president in 2004.


Credit: www.detnews.com/2005/events/0503/14/E06-115934.htm