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Holt McCallany talks 'Lights Out', Tuesday 'The Shot' preview too

By April MacIntyre Jan 24, 2011, 6:29 GMT

01/05/2011 - Holt McCallany - "Lights Out" TV Series New York City Premiere - Arrivals - Hudson Theather NYC - New York City, NY, USA © Mohammed Kasim / PR Photos

Forget that the latest FX series "Lights Out" took a rabbit punch in ratings out of the gate, the show is ramping it up in big pugilistic style and Tuesday's episode "The Shot" simmers the ring fever Patrick "Lights" Leary is nursing.

Leary (Holt McCallany) is desperately trying to manage his life, as his dad (Stacy Keach) gets the most promising young boxer Omar (Pedro Pascal) from Leary's Gym ready for a huge match, and in the process, "Lights" Leary becomes an unwitting bargaining chip.

Holt ran into Monsters and Critics this past week and shared his insight on last week's episode that sees Omar being groomed for the title shot.

"This is when it finally dawns on Patrick how bad things really are. My dream project 'Lights Landing' has become an albatross around my neck, the IRS has frozen my accounts, and everything is closing in around me. I remember shooting the scene where I'm doing a carpet commercial in a silly red robe with a plastic crown and thinking 'could I look any more ridiculous?' And I'm hiding things from my wife... our financial situation, my medical condition, and what I did for Bill Irwin, a local gangster. All of this is weighing very heavily on my mind," says McCallany.

"And to make it all worse I shot a boxing scene with Pedro Pascal who plays Omar, and dropped him with a body shot. I felt awful. He's a great guy but but those punches to the ribs will get to you after ten takes."

FX's new drama is dense and delicious as a big Irish boiled dinner. Patrick "Lights" Leary is heading for a rematch with Ray "Death Row" Reynolds.   Lights' entire inner circle and neighbors (even his priest) is expecting Lights and Death Row to return to the ring one last time to settle. 

Everyone except Theresa. Well, disapproving wives rarely trump imminent bankruptcy, so guess where it's all heading.

Lights' stint as a debt collector for the interesting and tragic Hal Brennan (Bill Irwin) is fleshed out more, as we see that Brennan has a real vested interest and deep admiration for Lights, and perhaps for Lights' sister too? 

Lots of interesting grey area is traversed, especially with Lights' brother Johnny (Pablo Schreiber) who really extends himself to ensure Lights is positioned perfectly for a rematch, and the hard-pressed and under the gun boxing reporter Mike (Ben Shenkman), looking for a scoop so he won't get shit-canned from his disappearing newspaper industry job.

Theresa (Catherine McCormack) senses things are not good and covers for Lights when the police question him. You know she is going to have to face the financial news sooner or later, as Lights cannot piece together the fallout of his situation any further.  Plus, he is trying to conceal his potential dementia issues that his daughter Daniella (Ryann Shane) is keenly aware of and quite rightly nervous about for her dad.

Last weeks "Cakewalk" reveal McCallany's top flight conditioning as Lights in his fighting scenes.  Having said that, episode four will see Lights face off with a leg breaker who works for Ernie Chen, played by Bas Rutten. You'll be on the edge of your seat as MMA takes on Boxing in the ring, orchestrated by Brennan, all under the radar.

Teaser bonus of great things to come: Outstanding cameos with David Morse as a boxer addled by blows to the head, and Eamonn Walker, whose scenes just kill with Holt.

Preview for The Shot: Lights, on the eve of his fortieth birthday, struggles to reach a young fighter who may be the Leary gym's best hope of a champion since Lights retired.

April MacIntyre is Monsters and Critics' smallscreen and people/celebrity editor. You can follow her on Twitter.