IN FOCUS
SCOTT BAIRSTOW IN 'TWO for TEXAS' on TNT
by Jay Bobbin Tribune Media Services
Since he starred in the series verson of "Lonesome Dove," a young performer
feels comfortable getting back in the midst of things... Scott Bairstow is
teamed with singer-actor Kris Kristofferson as TNT presents the new western
movie, "Two for Texas," 6,8 and 10 Sunday night. They play prison escapees
who join the volunteer army commandeered by Sam Houston (portrayed by Tom
Skerritt) to evade their pursuers, but they get more than they bargained
for when they face Mexican troops after the attack on the Alamo.
Peter Coyote appears as Jim Bowie; Irene Bedard, the voice of Disney's
"Pocahontas," also is featured. "This is about the West before it was the
West," says Bairstow, who admits he's had his share of westerns. "I think
it comes down to being right for the character - at least as far as the producers
are concerned - and besides that, I just love the outdoors. I love riding
horses and shooting guns and fighting for what's right." "I felt some of
the things Kris and I have to do or say in the film parallel our lives as
performers," Bairstow adds, "Kris being such a veteran and me being an
up-and-comer. When you're doing a scene and he says, 'Come and see me sometime,
you'd be welcome,' it's almost as if you don't have to do any acting. I loved
working with him, because he's right there for you 100 percent. I enjoyed
his company, and I definitely grew from the experience."
Re-using lessons from past jobs has been a big help to Bairstow, as he found
in applying his skills from "Lonesome Dove" to "Two for Texas." He recalls
that before doing the series, "I hadn't ridden a horse, for one thing, and
I didn't even know how to wear my hat. I didn't do that too well at times,
but I tried."
Though he's a married father, teen-idol status greeted the Seattle-based
Bairstow last year with his roles in the NBC movie "Killing Mr. Griffin"
and the feature film "Wild America." He states, "I've never really done a
teen-magazine interview, but because I did "Wild America" with Jonathan Taylor
Thomas and Devon Sawa - who are established with that audience - I sort of
fell into (that image) by association. Fans are great, though, whatever their
age." Another of them is Kevin Costner, who cast Bairstow in a supporting
part in the current movie "The Postman." The lengthy film has earned generally
negative reviews and below- expectation profits, but Bairstow "jumped at
the chance" to work with the Oscar-winning actor-director. "We went over
a couple of scenes together, then I was hired. I'm just glad to be working,
period." That's happening more steadily now, since Bairstow is taking a
contemporary turn: He's a star of "Significant Others," a new Fox series
from the producers of "Party of Five" scheduled to premier in March. He plays
a writer in the show about friends in their mid-20s.