Written by: Blake Larsen
Mary and Blake had the pleasure of speaking with Outlander writer’s assistant/ writer Richard Kahan on Outlander Cast recently. You can find the audio interview here. But this article is completely separate as we explore twelve personal questions with Richard that were not included in the original interview. Click “read more” to find out more about the person Richard Kahan – including his favorite show, dream job, celebrity crush, his little known sock fettish and much more.
OC: Favorite episode of Outlander?
RK: You know I gotta go with The Garrison Commander and not just because I watched it come together but for me it’s a satisfying episode of television. It has everything that I as a viewer outside of this show, it has everything I look for. There’s great perfomances, there’s drama, there’s action, intrigue, I think it’s a pretty perfect episode of television
OC (Blake): Richard, I knew I liked you, that’s my favorite episode too.
RK: Look at that, we’re bonding (laughs)
OC: Favorite television show?
RK: Ohh, I gotta go The Soprano’s, with Breaking Bad being right there too.
OC: Favorite food?
RK: I love a good vegan pizza
OC: What book is on your nightstand right now?
RK: I’m not afraid to that I’m a “book slut.” I’m always in the middle of like many books. So there are several. But usually one of them is always something by Kerouac. I’m a big Kerouac fan. I’m constantly re reading them, but right now I know for a fact that Beautiful Losers by Leonard Cohen is on my nightstand, and I hope to get into that very soon.
OC: What was the last song you played on iTunes?
RK: Hmm…definitely something by Tom Waits. I’m a huge Tom Waits fan – something like “Tabletop Joe.”
OC: Celebrity crush?
RK: Ohh man, you’re gonna get me in trouble here – I’m a married man! (laughs) Ya know, how can I not go with a Jessica Chastain? She’s talented, she’s a redhead, she loves Outlander, she’s a fellow vegan, I mean, not hard to look at either – I gotta go with Jessica Chastain.
OC: Favorite movie?
RK: Tough. Two. If we’re gonna go older I gotta say Sunset Boulevard. If we’re going newer – it’s pretty hard for me to not wanna just sit down and watch The Big Lebowski any day.
OC: I understand you have a sock fetish? Fancy sock fetish. Tell us more?
RK: Well, I’m not going around smelling people’s socks! (laughs) I just like socks! I do! I have a sock fetish and I also have a huge watch fetish. I think that as guys (and I’m going to tread carefully here) we don’t get a lot of, you know, accouterments. You know we don’t get that so I think that a funky pair of socks, like some, oh I don’t know, some T-Rex socks, or I’ve got some Narwalls vs. Unicorn socks – and when you got that on you’ve got a little bit of flare! You know, it’s one of the things you can do as guys.
OC: Do you have a dream Job with particular actor/producer/director?
RK: Oh yeah – on the actors side: being able to write for Gary Oldman or Daniel Day Lewis, or someone newer like Mark Ruffalo, would be incredible. Directors would be Scorsese – that would be incredible too.
OC: If you could have ever picked a staff to be on as a writer, other than Outlander, what would it be?
RK: Again, I have to go back to my favorite shows. I think being on the staff of Breaking Bad working for Vince Gilligan would have been incredible. Or The Soprano’s working for David Chase – I mean my mind is totally blown just given the thought of it.
OC: Did you like the ending of the Soprano’s?* Did you “get” it? Or did you think your TV was broke like a lot of people?
RK: I got it! I thought it was amazing! It’s one of those things that even if you don’t “get it” (or whatever that even means) I think that every piece of art (and that’s what television and film is) everyone should take something different away from it. You know, when two people stand next to each other staring at a Jackson Pollock, everyone has different opinions. You should. That’s why when I’m at an art gallery I never read the little thing even though that’s what the artist wants you to know. I want my own interpretation. I think if you sat up and said, “wow that’s amazing!” Or, “um, is my TV broken?” and you start hitting it, or throwing your shoe at it, I think that all of those takeaways are valid. And, as it should be.
*spoiler alert
OC: Favorite show that’s on TV right now other than Outlander?
RK: Ohhh that’s tough. I’m gonna have to go with Louie. I love Louie CK’s show. I think it’s so brilliant, sardonic and just specific and, I’m ashamed to say this but I’ve never been to New York, and I watch that show and I feel like I understand why one would love the good and bad of New York as someone who lives there. And I think that’s a huge thing. I love that. I also love Peaky Blinders which I’ve been watching on Netflix, and House of Cards too. But Peaky Blinders is really quite smart and, specific. I love it.
OC: Did you like the ending of the Soprano’s?* Did you “get” it? Or did you think your TV was broke like a lot of people?
RK: I got it! I thought it was amazing! It’s one of those things that even if you don’t “get it” (or whatever that even means) I think that every piece of art (and that’s what television and film is) everyone should take something different away from it. You know, when two people stand next to each other staring at a Jackson Pollock, everyone has different opinions. You should. That’s why when I’m at an art gallery I never read the little thing even though that’s what the artist wants you to know. I want my own interpretation. I think if you sat up and said, “wow that’s amazing!” Or, “um, is my TV broken?” and you start hitting it, or throwing your shoe at it, I think that all of those takeaways are valid. And, as it should be.
*spoiler alert
OC: Favorite show that’s on TV right now other than Outlander?
RK: Ohhh that’s tough. I’m gonna have to go with Louie. I love Louie CK’s show. I think it’s so brilliant, sardonic and just specific and, I’m ashamed to say this but I’ve never been to New York, and I watch that show and I feel like I understand why one would love the good and bad of New York as someone who lives there. And I think that’s a huge thing. I love that. I also love Peaky Blinders which I’ve been watching on Netflix, and House of Cards too. But Peaky Blinders is really quite smart and, specific. I love it.
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