Dan McLellan who plays 'Fetch' was recently interviewed by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications.
SJF: Tell us about your character 'Fetch' in The Smartlys.
DM: Fetch Worthington Smartly knows he is the smartest and most "normal" person among his birth family. After all, he obtained an excellent education and career, earned his own money, and started a new family in San Diego, where he owns a condo in posh La Jolla. His birth family is a bunch of crazy eccentrics.
Unfortunately for Fetch, his wife got abducted by aliens, and his parents just won $300 Million. Now they have purchased the entire condo complex Fetch lives in with his daughters and brought the rest of Minnesota whackadoodles with them.
These circumstances would drive anyone to drink a bit more than they should, and Fetch is no exception. The worst part is, his crazy family thinks he is the crazy one, and that drives Fetch CRAZY!
SJF: What are 3 things about you we don't know about 'you'…(not your character)! DM: See below!
1) Dan McLellan spent over 20 years as a children's entertainer. He is an expert balloon twister, walks on stilts, juggles, and performs magic.
2) He has worked professional sports reporter, including three seasons as a Chargers beat writer for CBSsports.com. McLellan has made numerous radio and television appearances talking about sports. Now that the Chargers are no longer in San Diego, Dan continues to cover football from a fantasy perspective with a target audience for those who play daily fantasy sports (DFS).
3) Dan prides himself on being an excellent poker player and is the first-ever three-time champion of the annual Crest Invitational Poker tournament.
SJF: What compelled you to audition for The Smartlys?
DM: When I read the character breakdown for Fetch Worthington Smartly, I felt that it physically described me and was a character that I could have fun with. I was also excited that The Smartlys was going to be filmed in San Diego.
I came to the audition dressed as the description of the character and confident that I was going to get the role. I've reached the age where competition for roles has greatly diminished.
SJF: Words of wisdom/advice for actors?
DM: Never give up. Unlike a sport, you are never too old to be a professional actor. Listen to instructions and do your best to meet those expectations. There is no reason to be nervous at an audition. Everyone wants you to do well and make their job easy.
If you don't own a green screen with a lighting package, buy one. The industry was already trending towards self-tapes auditions before COVID. Now self-tape is likely going to be used even more frequently for at least the first round.
SJF: How can we follow you on social media?
SJF: Many thanks, Dan!
Dan McLellan as Fetch, with his daughter Sandra McLellan as Lettie May Smartly.