Scott Speedman is going the extra mile for his beloved L.A. dog while playing a Florida detective in ABC’s “R.J. Decker,” which kicks off Season 2 on Sept. 15 (10 p.m. EDT/PDT).
The “Felicity” star, 51, drives between his Los Angeles home and the South Florida “Decker” set – a roughly 2,700-mile trek each way – to ferry his 9-year-old Labrador companion, Bode.
"I have a 100-pound yellow lab with me, and I refuse to fly," Speedman tells USA TODAY. "He just looked at me like, 'Yeah, you're not getting me on a plane.' And I would never put him in the bottom of the plane. I just couldn't. So me and Bode have driven back and forth six times."
That’s true animal dedication for Bode, the Labrador named after the actor's longtime friend, Olympic skiing
great Bode Miller. Canine Bode reclines in his own seating row in Speedman's Jeep Wagoneer for the cross-country drives, which require an assistant to help keep the dog's anxiety in check.
"We have it down to a science," Speedman says. "I fly my assistant in because I have to run into places like a gas station and I can't handle Bode being alone in the car. And if you put him in a hotel room alone, he would bark for an hour. He calms down when driving, sort of. He understands now."
The dog plan seems almost part of the emotionally arrested ex-con and former news photographer Decker who becomes a Hawaiian shirt- and facial scruff-loving private investigator. As an ex-convict, Decker can’t carry a gun and lives alone in a beat-up Florida trailer park.
Joey Graziadei and 'DWTS' pros star in 'R.J. Decker' Season 2 premiere
Season 2 will delve deeper into the emotionally stunted Decker’s backstory, including expanded appearances by his estranged father, Reggie Decker, played byBeau Bridges, and more time in the cramped trailer.
"Shooting in the trailer is difficult. The physicality and where to put the camera is tough," says Speedman. "But Season 2 is going to bring that back. I enjoy that."
The new season premiere kicks of with an elaborate flash mob setup featuring moonlighting “Dancing with the Stars” pros – with former “Bachelor” and "DSTS" champ Joey Graziadei playing an opportunistic small-time thief who takes advantage of the distraction.
“Joey was a great pickpocket no question. He seemed to have the moves down," Speedman says of Graziadei's first acting role. "He was a great scene partner. Showed up. No ego. Did a great job.”
Speedman relates to ‘Decker’: ‘I was a late bloomer maturity-wise’
Speedman sees some of himself in Decker – or at least his younger self after breaking out as Ben Covington on Warner Bros' "Felicity" (1998-2002).
"There are similarities there," Speedman says of the Decker comparison. "I'm in a totally different place in my life. But I understand where (Decker) is, let's put it that way. I was a late-bloomer maturity-wise. Some would say it never happened."
Oh, but he has matured. Speedman’s life now is decidedly grown-up, living with his swimwear designer partner Lindsay Rae Hofmann, and their two children, daughter Pfeiffer Lucia, 4, and son Indy Roy, 2.
Pfeiffer, who visits her father on set, is oblivious to his fame.
"She loves the set," says Speedman. "She loves craft services, especially the chocolate. She doesn't get that at home."
His daughter is not ready to watch dad in the TV-14 rated "Felicity," if ever.
"Oh my gosh, no way," says Speedman. "Right now we're on old Disney movies. That's what we watch mostly. I don't even like the newer (movies)."
Scott Speed wants to raid RJ Decker's closet
Playing the responsibility-free Decker is fun. Speedman doesn't mind the facial scruff and loves the Hawaiian shirts. Decker has so many floral shirts, that the show designers have started custom-making the creations.
"Before every episode I get a look-book of what Hawaiian shirts I'm going to be wearing. We don't do a lot of repeats," says Speedman. "They're not all Hawaiian shirts, but they're heavily dominated by Hawaiian shirts. And I love them."
The shirts are tailored to fit the physically fit Speedman, setting a dangerous Hawaiian shirt precedent in America. The fitted, flashy wardrobe is so beloved that key shirts will end up in Speedman's Wagoneer – with Bode – whenever "R.J. Decker" ends its run.
"The first thing I'm going to do if they don't let us make any more episodes, I'll be raiding the wardrobe truck," says Speedman. "Nobody will know what happened to those shirts. They'll be in my car."
How to watch 'R.J. Decker'
The season premieres Sept. 15 at 10 p.m. EDT/PDT on ABC and airs on Tuesday nights. New episodes stream the next day on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Scott Speedman refuses to fly for 'R.J. Decker'? He only drives with dog Bode
