9021One on One: Wendy Benson

other through a mutual friend named Tammy Morgan. Yes, okay, So I was excited when you came on the show. I was very excited to come on. I was like a friend. And you played Darla, who we always heard from Brenda about Darlin Minnesota. Now we get to see her. But I didn't know you're early on two episodes. I felt like you were on way more than two episod oats, you know what, I know, it don't really seemed like more, maybe because I was always auditioning for two and a lot. Yes, yes, yeah,

wait did you audition for the original main cast? You know I was thinking I definitely I think so, I mean, I was in New York then, but I think I did. Maybe you're a role Jenny, I don't. I mean, I definitely auditioned for the The Mail Rose Place. I know that the original. Um. I remember that because obviously nine o two and I was already established, so everybody knew about it. Um. But I could have I could have out of New York. You totally were a Kelly Taylor.

I mean I was watching you in the scene with Brendan. I was saying, he looks just like Kelly Taylor, and I was like, why didn't she get my role? Like she would have been great if you were amazing, But we had the same hair and everything. You still rock the bangs. I like it, you know what it's like sometimes I do. I cut them myself. I'm like, have you always had bangs? Always some sort of bang ish

kind of thing. Yeah, so they're so perfect. Our producer and co host Amy Sugarman, who is not just our producer and cost but like the most major nine o two and Oh fan ever, wanted us to ask you and we were like, we can't ask that if you shot those scenes in Minnesota or in l A. And We're like, no, that didn't happen. That doesn't exist. She's like, both viewers think that's what happened. I'm like, oh interesting in l a where you know and deep in the

heart of the valley, n I, Tori. Do you remember that there was all these straight kittens. Okay, so I was really excited to ask you this story because we found straight kittens and you took one home too, right, Yes I did. And we got ring worm. Yes we did. Yes, you know, all these little cute kittens, we all took them home. We were so excited to find them, and we all got ringworm. Yeah, we all got ring one.

I mean I didn't even know what it was. What is you got like on your skin or on your hair with skin I couldn't, like on my skin, like on my arm. Yes, you and it was like rowdy circles. And we were all game back to set like what Everyone's like, oh my god, it's ringworm. Yeah I don't. I don't think I kept the cat after that, did you I did? I did, Yes, And I got another disease and died very young. It was like it was

not it was not a healthy strike hat. Well, that was sweet that you guys took the kiddies home, which we would have not been working that day or you would have had Yes, I was she definitely would have taken one home. Yeah. So do you remember getting the role of Darla? Like what was that process? Like, I mean, here's the thing. I really wanted to obviously be on nine or two and oh because it was such a popular, you know, benchmark for everybody our age and now obviously

continuing on. So yes, I desperately. I mean I really auditioned a few times. I mean I remember walking down that huge office of your father's tory and he would sit in the middle and he had all of these people. I mean, you know there were ten people in the room. I I mean I must have auditioned for that show ten times. I mean different, I mean a lot, a lot um. So obviously I was ecstatic to like, you know,

finally get a job on nine or two one? Now and when when you got the part, did they say it's for two episodes or did they say it might be longer? Yeah? I think they said, like it could you know obviously that you never know where things are going.

So but clearly Brenda didn't like being in Minnesota. I don't know what happens in the next episode, because I haven't seen in the show, so I'm assuming she doesn't say in Minnesota though, But what was that like to be to come on the show and be playing the you know, Brenda's best friend and having this like reconnection

with her. She you know, obviously she like talked a lot about Darla always like kind of a character that people, even though it was just two episodes, people remember because I think they always she always talked about, you know, going back home. Um. So it was like it was really kind of like a big deal. I mean, I you know, it was fun. Like I also think it was the beginning of a season, Am I right? It

was like right in the first episode of season four? Yeah, so I remember, like it was I mean, obviously you guys were in the press and there was so much you know, hoopla, and I was like, oh, this could be also like a not a nice working environment walking into but it was amazing and nice. And do you remember who the first person you met was on set? Um or which of the guys it might have been?

Jason Priestley? It was pretty nice. Hm. I actually think like it might have been him, because did you have scenes did Darla have scenes with the other cast members or was it always just Brenda in Minnesota? Just Minnesota? So it was like isolated, which is probably why I didn't meet you. Um it would have, you know, Tori. Was there something doing something? Obviously a scene switch, Yes, collect Darla, it does. It's hard to believe that Darla

was only in two episodes. I know, because remember my memory, I thought this continued. I was like, oh, yeah, Wendy was on the show for like a good part of the fourth season, and then they were like, no, two episodes. That's crazy. And Rachel True was in it. This is before she did the craft, I think. So I was super excited. I was like, oh my god, I forgot she was in this too. It was like every whole group of girls, everybody passed you. It's true. It's true.

They either passed through it or they wanted to for sure, Like, yeah, it was it was a good job to get where. So you were born in New York City, but where are you living now in l a A. Yeah. I always say I've only been an adult in l A. I never And you've just been working, working, working, working, working your whole life. Now, I like work as a as a mother, like, which is the most challenging job? As I know you guys probably what do you what

do you have? I have an eighteen year old girl and a fifteen year old Stop it, they're not eighteen and fifteen. Yes, yes, And you know we have all these animal connections. My daughter's name is Mimi, and you had a pug named Mimimi LaRue. Yes, yes, I'm sure Mimi LaRue is no longer alive. This is true. She'd be like yeah, she'd be like in her thirties at

this point, and now I'm just kidding. Um. Yes. I also just to tie it a little bit back to um Darla and my daughter just started college a month ago, and one weekend, she facetimes my husband and I on a Friday night and she's on the East Coast so it's earlier here, and she's like, I just walked in on my roommate having sex, and and I was like, no, my husband and I didn't go to college. But I was like, I got this episode of nine O two one oh, and I was the college girl having you know,

sexual relations in my room. And I said, here's the thing, you just have to tell your roommate to tie a little like put a little you know, tie on the door knob or something. And she was like, Mom, this is everybody has a cellphone, she can text me. I was like, okay, I'm sure that's the most Yeah, I never even thought of that. I do know what. I like your version, federm Darla was very chic like she she didn't feel like a Minnesota girl. Yeah, you were

dressed like very like collegiate. Yeah that's I'm sure. Yes, I remember that. And I of course wanted to dress like you guys. I was like, I want to be the cool like you know. Um, but yeah, so you have to look like the collegiate Minnesota girl exactly. Yeah. I think I was in some kkies that were pleaded, weren't. Well, I'm still in collared shirts, I know, collegiate. You so you have two kids and you're living in l A

and you just, what's the last thing you worked on? Like, tell us because you've been on everything, even on Ugly Betty, You've been on ghost whisper X files. Um, yeah, what was the last thing I worked on? I can't even remember? Um? Mr Mayor, did I make that up? No? You didn't make that up. Yes, and that was so much fun. And I played like a wretched Brentwood woman that was called by you know some things that the mayor is doing, which you know, I don't know how I can play

appauled Brentwood women I played. I played the worst version of Tammy hard Copy that this is Amy the producer. But learned everything and your husband's yes, your husband around the time you did nine O two one oh. No, I met him definitely after that, No, because nine O two I was like early nineties. I would say, you guys were and then he and I did a Christmas movie other you guys were together when we did that. That was probably in the late nineties, yes, early yea, Yeah,

we met a ninety eight I wrong? Or is your husband from Lois and Clark Jimmy, Yes, you were absolutely correct. Okay, which makes it so interesting because Dean Caine was on nine O two one oh in all six degrees of nine O two one because he imagine six degrees of nine two Kevin Bacon for nine O two and oh jillion times too. I can't remember if he did. I mean I didn't know him at the pilot, but I mean you said he was on nine or two and o two he was, He wasn't, but I'm sure we

auditioned for it. I don't think he actually ever did spelling stuff. I mean, everyone listening needs to google Wendy and I go land this because you will immediately go, oh my god, oh my god. Yes, he's a he's a he's a lifer. He just did that show called Cruel Summer that was on. It was so good. Wait it's coming back for season two? Right? Oh yes, yes, But they didn't tell the cast that until a year later, the entire cast, So it was not It was not that I love that show and I saw Michael and

I was like, oh my gosh, good for him. He looks you both look you both have an age there. You guys were always such a dreamy couple. But like, he was great in the show. He was great, he is, he's very good. Yes. Do your kids want to be actors? Um? No, not. You know, they don't really know what they want to do. My daughters like kind of leaning into film right now, like she shoots things on like Super eight. You know, she hasn't said the acting And I know everybody always

says I never want my kids to be actors. But I also kind of it's the best job in the world. Like actors are artists, and we show up and we connect and we live and it's it's a wonderful. It's a wonderful. I mean it's horrible and it's wonderful. I think the actors get a very bad rap sadly, and I want to say that if you want to be an actor, you know, follow your heart and do it. Actors, we play this game called kiss Mary or kill? Will you indulge us? Wendy Benson landis please? Um? So, out

of the boy characters, who would you kiss? Who would you marry? And who would you kill? No? Kick to the curb? Sorry, we don't kill anybody here, Um kick to the curb? Well, hey, I'd kiss all of them. I mean, why not, They're all cute? Right? Maybe not? Can I say it? Vince Young? Yeah, hasn't come on the show yet that We've never had anyone come up with that name. What made you say that? Because he was my roommate, Tori what. Yes, when he moved to l A he lived with. Have you and I ever

talked about this one? Yes? You're like, yes, yes, yes, okay, just kidding. Oh it's coming back now, Okay, okay, sorry, Wait, did you guys know each other through Vince? No? We knew each other through my friend, through our friend, Tammy Morgan, and then he because we had known each other since we were teenagers, like late teens. Yes, with Tammy, and then No, and then Vince. I don't know, I mean yeah,

years later. I mean he lived with me for like six eight months before before he got you know, so he wasn't a good roommate. That's why you'd want to kick him to the curb. He was totally he was. He was. She's made a joke that I literally didn't get at first. I was just like, what, yes, we have circled backs? Yes, yes, okay, And who would you marry?

I don't know. I don't know any of them well enough, but just the character, so like Brandon or Dylan or I think Dylan probably would have probably been the one I liked the most. H Yeah, yeah, that's a common answer, yeah, sorry usually Okay, Wait did people recognize you from nine

two one? Oh? Like from any after? How? Like I know you from somewhere, but I don't know what it is they do that and then so like now, the next generation, like my daughter's age kids a few years ago started I think after the second the reboot, they came back and they started watching the original, so that all of a sudden I had like young you know, my daughters they're probably fourteen fifteen at the time, would be like, oh my god, your mother was on ther Wridge,

So that would that was that was kind of funny. And then I will every once in a while literally be like somebody will say you were on nine of two or no, and it's I mean, I'm staring right at you and you look exactly the same. You. You need to stand a little closer, do not in person? You'll be like, oh, yeah, she does have bad vision, but you do look great. My glasses on, I can see everything. What are you working on these days? Like do you have a project coming out? And just being

a mom? I'm really being a mom. I've actually started writing a little bit. I have a have a nine dea that I don't know if I can write the entire thing, but I'd like to get it to a point where I could show it to somebody else that could write it. We have a lot of writer friends and like the people we hang out with mostly are funny enough. Are are a lot of very successful writers,

so we you know, perfect of writing. I'm gonna I'm gonna try that well now to give him a little treatment or something something like, do you think you would go back to acting now that the kids are getting old? Tori? If anybody were to call, I would in a heartbeat, so you know, like I mean, it's just, you know, I feel like I never got famous enough to be able to have enough of the name right now where people are so every once in a while you say

what I did. I also worked on a soap opera cup maybe last year, and that was kind of fun and nerve wracking because you have so many lines and you get one take. I was like, my god, my memory. Um, but yeah, so I would again like it's I think it's it's a wonderful profession, so that's not It is a hard business, though, once you have removed yourself to be a mom and be a wife and then try to go back, it is I would assume quite difficult.

It is hard, but I also being removed, like I understand now why I wouldn't get certain jobs where I remember going like, well, why can't I play this? I can do this, And now you're like, no, you you actually look like a mother of college age kid who's making bake sale cookie. I mean like I get I get where you know, the typecasting and all of that stuff comes in, you know where I think I used to take so many things personally, Like I can play golf, I can be you know, a cop. I always wanted,

always always wanted to. Really, yes, I want to play a cop too. That sounds fun. I don't think I could play a cop. I wouldn't be believing. I feel like we might have played cops on Mystery Girls, like as a joke, but I guess stripper cops or something. Yeah, are you sorry? Oh? Well, your two, your time is well spent for sure with your children. That's the I

can ever have time with you guys too. It's really nice to reconnect with you and see you in in the flesh kind of Yes, you two give Michael my love. I will. I will, thank God, Thank you guys. This was really fun. Thank you for beank you, thank you for doing this so last minute to thank you. We appreciate it. Well, thank you. Not a lot going on, that's I can't be true. No, when you're a mom, you're always But yes I was. I was. It's either I'm gonna go cook dinner right, exactly. Good to see you.

I'm sliding into your d M s later and get a refresher on the Vince Young story because I was probably drunk when you told me you you've, you've, you've put this away you you I probably yes, I mean, I know what you're probably gonna tell me, but yes, um and we'll always have um ringworm in common. Yeah, what a what a great connection. Yes, I know. I'm so happy that you remember that story too. I was

never forget it. Nope, Wendy, thank you, thank you. Good to see you, to see you, by you, to be well.