Marty is Back on Gilmore Girls

Sometimes it sucks to be the “nice guy” and “the friend”, but that’s exactly the role that Marty was designated to by Rory on Gilmore Girls. Marty was MIA for a while but now he’s back, and he’s not the same old step-on-me-like-a-doormat-while-you-go-off-galavanting-with-your-boyfriends(s), Marty. For one, he’s trying to deny that he ever even knew Rory. But why?

TV Guide recently talked to Marty, played by Wayne Wilcox to discuss his return to Gilmore Girls, how he landed the role in the first place, and what he’s been up to lately. Oh, and on a personal note, I’ve always liked Marty and thought he would be a really good match for Rory. But, my love for Wayne Wilcox knows no bounds since I heard that voice of his in Rent (the movie). I’m a sucker for a guy that can sing, and I’m a Renthead to the core so I say “More Marty”!!

TVGuide.com: I know a lot of Gilmore fans, including myself, that have been waiting for Marty’s return! Did you know you’d be back eventually, or was it a surprise to you?
Wilcox: Thank you to all of you. It was totally a surprise to me. I actually had dinner with Lauren [Graham] [Sunday] night. She was in town to the see the play [Tennessee Williams’ Suddenly Last Summer] — she’s a friend of Carla Gugino’s — and we know each other in passing, we worked together once the first year I was on the show. So she came backstage and gave me a big, big hug, and she said, “There was one woman, a writer on the show, who’s responsible for bringing you back, and she was so excited because she thought you were such a cool character.”

TVGuide.com: Last week, Marty pretended he didn’t even know Rory, which was so uncomfortable. Do they have a friendship or possibly something more in upcoming episodes?
Wilcox: Well, I can’t say for sure — and just so you know, they run a tight ship over there, they’re pretty secretive about their episodes, even with us. I can honestly say that I don’t know — but what I’ve done so far… that awkwardness between them? It continues, it gets a little heated, which hopefully makes for good drama.

TVGuide.com: Do Rory’s friends find out about her past friendship with Marty and the fact that he liked her?
Wilcox: Well, I don’t know about that, but some things go down, I’ll put it that way. There are a couple of heated discussions.

TVGuide.com: Does Logan come into the mix?
Wilcox: Yeah, absolutely, because he’s her boyfriend.

TVGuide.com: So you can’t tell me more than that, huh?
Wilcox: No, I can’t! I wish I could, but they’d kill me.

TVGuide.com: Will anything surprise us about Marty’s return?
Wilcox: Marty’s kind of grown up. The thing I like about playing the character — especially what I’ve done with this season — is that he’s a little cooler, a little hipper, he’s got a girlfriend, he’s relaxed. And he’s not afraid to admit that he likes Rory, I guess.

TVGuide.com: So the feelings still linger after all these years?
Wilcox: I think so, yeah. [Laughs]

Click here to read the rest of TVGuide.com’s interview with Wayne Wilcox