Holt McCallany at a 'Crossroads,' talks Feb. 22 episode and music in 'Lights Out'

By April MacIntyre Feb 21, 2011, 15:47 GMT

“Crossroads” (Airs February 22, 10:00 pm e/p) – Lights, at a crossroad, attempts a difficult comeback both in the ring, and in his home. This episode was written by Robin Veith and directed by Ken Girotti.

FX's superb boxing drama "Lights Out" continues with episode seven, titled 'Crossroads" where the momentum for Patrick "Lights" Leary (Holt McCallany) is ramping up, and there are many in Lights' inner circle, including the current heavyweight champ, Richie "Death Row" Reynolds (Billy Brown) who want to move forward with the big rematch.

There's a lot at stake after five idle years of "what ifs" for Lights, and speculation on who really won the heavyweight championship that night.

“Crossroads” (Airs February 22, 10:00 pm e/p) – Lights, at a crossroad, attempts a difficult comeback both in the ring, and in his home. This episode was written by Robin Veith and directed by Ken Girotti.

Holt McCallany has been speaking with Monsters and Critics weekly, giving insight on upcoming episodes, as Lights has made the decision to go back into boxing to save his family from bankruptcy.

"Lights is set to return to the ring for the first time in five years against a very dangerous opponent, 'El Diablo' Morales. My old nemesis 'Death Row' Reynolds warns me about the dirty tactics I can expect from this fighter," explained Holt.  

"He wants to make sure I win so he and I can have the long-awaited rematch he believes is our destiny. Billy Brown (Death Row) does a superb job in the opening scene of capturing the nuance of our relationship - mutual respect, mingled with tension, and the uneasy feeling that whatever lies ahead of us won't be pretty."

Holt continued, "I've been training hard for Morales but my right eye is injured from a sparring session, and I'm under-weight and having difficulty focusing my attention on the upcoming fight. Also my relationship with my wife Theresa is growing increasingly distant and my daughter Daniella has been acting out to try to force us to communicate."

"When Theresa confronts Daniella about her behavior we really get to see the conflict in the young girl. She's keeping my dementia a secret but it's tearing her apart inside until she finally reveals it to her aunt Margaret (Elizabeth Marvel). It's yet another excellent performance from Ryann Shane as Daniella who continues to shine in her role as the studious, kindhearted good girl."

Holt praised his costars who have done exceptional work in key roles, especially that of Margaret (Marvel), the middle sister between Lights and Johnny whose cooking and optimistic sass and good cheer keeps the Leary family connected.

Holt says, "In one of the most interesting scenes in the episode my sister Margaret visits my dad and for the first time we get a close look at their relationship. Stacy Keach and Elizabeth Marvel are great together. I saw them recently at Lincoln Center in the new play by Jon Robin Baitz titled 'Other Desert Cities' and they're a big part of the reason that show got the best reviews of any play in years."

"Family is the most important thing in the world for Lights. I'm trying to keep everyone happy, make sure training goes well with my father, convince my wife to be ringside at my fight, and ensure my daughter keeps our secret. But when you spend time with boxers you come to understand that in the ring you have to fight for yourself. You have to want to be there, need to be there - for yourself. When your loved ones benefit from your success it's wonderful, but you fight for yourself. Every fighter does. I'm digging deep to find that fire again. I've been away a long time and I'm rusty. I know I'm not a hundred percent physically but I still believe I have what it takes to beat this opponent," says Holt.

McCallany is surrounded by talented players who each add so much flavor to this addictive series, especially in the casting selections of Lights' opponents, such as MMA legend Bas Rutten, as Eddie Chin's heavy in episode four, and Gavin Keith Umeh, who turns on the aggro, machete-wielding charm as Morales, when appearing in press tours with Lights promoting their upcoming fight.

"Part of what makes this coming episode so entertaining is the outrageous, flamboyant performance of Gavin-Keith Umeh as 'El Diablo.' This actor has something unique. He's as colorful a nemesis for me as Mr. T was for Sly Stallone, and our fight scene is one of best of the year.  Gavin-Keith is a former Golden Gloves boxer and his ability to create a Ricardo Mayorga-style brawler complete with head butts, low blows, and an awesome triple left hook - courtesy of legendary trainer Teddy Atlas - make this fight a nail-biter."

Also shining is the continued complex fraternal push-pull relationship between Lights, the more mature brother, and Johnny (Pablo Schreiber), the flashy, short-cut artist who gets Lights and the Leary gym into financial straits.

If you notice too, the music in this series is as poignant and well-placed as another FX series, "Sons of Anarchy," where showrunner Kurt Sutter carefully selects the right music for a pivotal scene.

"Lights Out" is no different, with showrunner Warren Leight putting great thought into the music used in each episode, buoying the mood and moment at hand. One of my favorites was the use of The Waterboy's "Fisherman's Blues" song overlayed in an earlier episode.

Holt explained, "Another important element that makes our series special is the music. Show-runner Warren Leight, whose father was a professional jazz musician, and music supervisor Anthony Roman got it right from the very first episode in which a key piece of music was changed with Rory Gallagher's 'Wheels Within Wheels' replacing Keb Mo's 'Life Is Beautiful.' I like Keb Mo but Gallagher's song fit the scene perfectly. I was also grateful to them for allowing me some input on an important piece of music in the final episode - my ring walk. The moment when a fighter walks through the crowd and into the ring is one of the most exciting in all of sports."

"I've always loved 'Fortunate Son' by Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was written in 1969 about David Eisenhower,  the son of Dwight, who married Julie Nixon, the daughter of President Richard Nixon. John Fogerty said he wrote it because he had the feeling none of these people would ever be involved in the war in Vietnam... 

But my father (Pops Leary) went to fight there, and it cost him his boxing career. Part of my motivation to become a champion was to accomplish something my dad hadn't because of the war. My character is from Bayonne, New Jersey, from a family of boxers, Irish working class. I'm no fortunate son," says Holt, finishing with these thoughts: "I'm also glad to reconcile with my brother Johnny. Blood is thicker than water and no matter our differences I love my little brother and need him in my life. His words of encouragement before the fight feel like a weight lifting off my shoulders."

*Please also read this excellent interview David Hiltbrand conducted with Holt for the Philadelphia Inquirer: here