Breckin Meyer talks Franklin and Bash Season 2, debuting Tuesday, June 5 at 10 PM ET on TNT

Breckin Meyer is an actor who has found success in practically every medium imaginable, from movies, live-action television, and animated television. He returns to the small screen as the enigmatic lawyer Jared Franklin, alongside Mark-Paul Gosselaar's Peter Bash, in the TNT series Franklin & Bash, which returns with Season 2 Tuesday, June 5 at 10 PM ET with Episode 2.01: Strange Brew. I recently had the chance to speak with this talented actor over the phone. Here's what he had to say about the new season.

A second season is always very important. Do you feel you're in a better groove, with Season 1 under your belt? Is it more fun? Is it easier?

Breckin Meyer: It's definitely been as fun, if not more fun this season. We had such a good time making the first season. We were just excited to come back and do a second season, because we felt we were not done with these guys. It's such a fun atmosphere at work.

Claire Coffee guest-starred last season. I was wondering if she was coming back this season, because of her role on Grimm? Did you find a way to bring her back?

Breckin Meyer: Yeah, we definitely found a way to bring Claire. She comes back in like two or three episodes.

Are there any new faces you can talk about for this season? Any guest stars you're excited about?

Breckin Meyer: Yeah. In an episode I wrote with Kevin (Falls), our creator, we have Seth Green and Eric Mabius. They come on, and they're kind of like the bizarro Franklin & Bash, and we go toe-to-toe with them. Obviously, I wrote it and called Seth and said, 'Hey, I'm writing you a part. You don't really have a choice' (Laughs). Then we meet Mama Bash, Peter's mom, played by Jane Seymour. Sean Astin comes on as a real-life superhero, Chris Klein comes on as a disgraced political figure. There's Cybill Shepherd, Rick Fox, Kevin Nealon, Beau Bridges comes back. Yeah, we've got a good stable of guest stars.

When you say a 'bizarro' version of you guys, can you elaborate on that more? How much crazier do they get?

Breckin Meyer: Well, they're not wannabes. They're their own guys, but they're similar to Franklin & Bash, and they kind of think that they're slicker, so to speak. We go toe-to-toe-to-toe-to-toe (Laughs).

Can you talk a bit about wearing both hats as a writer and an actor?

Breckin Meyer: That was a really good time. It's just another outlet to have fun with it. I knew writing an episode of Franklin & Bash, the first thing I was going to get, right out the gate, Mark-Paul was going to have a problem with some line of dialogue and say, 'Who wrote this sh%t?' I think it took about 16 seconds before he did. That's all in fun, and we're a family. It's really just such a good job to get to go to.

Are there any really defining moments this year that really set this season apart from the first season?

Breckin Meyer: The big thing this season is that right from jump street, Franklin & Bash become equity partners in the firm. While it gives them more cash to buy toys, it also gives them a lot more responsibility, and there are a lot more repercussions to their actions. If they screw up in court now, it's not just getting thrown in jail for contempt, you could actually be getting 500 people fired from their jobs, because the law firm could crumble. There's a lot more at stake for them, and they have to represent and make rain. They have to bring in clients now. They're used to just bringing in the occasional stripper or hot dog vendor. This time, we have to bring in corporate clients. These are guys who are used to fighting against them. How do you stay true to your values?

Are they trying to clean up their act a little then?

Breckin Meyer: I think everyone else thinks they should. They are understandably reluctant.

I love seeing Malcolm McDowell in basically anything.

Breckin Meyer: I know. He's so good.

Can you give us a glimpse of getting the chance to work with him, and what he really brings to a show like this?

Breckin Meyer: He is incredible. Malcolm has made probably 700,000 movies. He's probably making three while we're talking right now. He shows up like a 15-year-old on his first day of work. He's so excited and professional, but also really fun. He shows up and does his lines, and then you can play. That's what we've been lucky enough to get with Malcs. He kind of set the tone from the get-go, and he was so much fun to work with. It's a really easy vibe on the set. As long as everyone shows up and you know your lines, we'll have a good time.

What can you tell us about Men at Work, and where the idea came from to create a show like this?

Breckin Meyer: I'm sad to say, it's all based on a true story. It's all based on really embarrassing relationship snafus I've had throughout my life. One day, I just sat down and started writing down some of the things that happened to me, and I couldn't believe it all happened to the same person. The next thing I knew, we were filming it. I can tell you that everything in the pilot is exactly how it happened.

Once you had all those stories in your head, was it all about just finding a place for these people to be?

Breckin Meyer: Yeah. I knew I wasn't going to be on it, and it wasn't going to star me, since I have a day job already. It's just based on me and my friends and our relationships and our jobs, and I put together this framework for the show, and cast it with these amazing guys. I think every paycheck I get now comes from some Turner organization. They also own Adult Swim, where I write Robot Chicken (Laughs).

I read about the new Robot Chicken specials starting up. Is there anything you can say about that?

Breckin Meyer: We collaborated with DC Comics, and we did an all DC special. We wrote it, I'd say, eight months ago, and we're just finishing production. It's great. It literally has everybody. Nathan Fillion, Paul Reubens, it's just so much fun to play with that many superhero characters. We called in every big name to come play.

Is it like a Justice League kind of thing, or are they all just popping in here and there?

Breckin Meyer: There's a linear story to it, and it's similar to what we do with our Star Wars specials. It's like, 'Well, what if this happened?' In my opinion, if you had that much power and that much responsibility, you're going to be a cock son of a bitch.

What would you like to say to fans of the show about why they should keep tuning in to Season 2 of Franklin & Bash?

Breckin Meyer: I think this year on Franklin & Bash, you get more of what you had last year, and plus these guys now have more power. As Spider-Man taught everyone, with great power comes great responsibility. They're not very good with responsibility.

That's all I have. Thanks so much. It was great talking to you, Breckin.

Breckin Meyer: All right man. Take care.

You can watch Breckin Meyer on Franklin & Bash, which kicks off Season 2 with Episode 2.01: Strange Brew Tuesday, June 5 at 10 PM ET on TNT.