It's been a while since Michael Constantine starred in a weekly television series. Nearly 26 years, as a matter of fact.
And, while he said he wasn't looking to re-enter the field, he jumped at the chance to reprise his role in the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" in the new CBS sitcom "My Big Fat Greek Life," which moves to its regular time slot Sunday at 7 p.m. on Ch. 2.
"I have no special desire to go back to series television. I have a desire to go back to this show," said Constantine, 75, who returns as the overbearing Greek father, Gus.
Constantine's most notable series credit was the five years (1969-74) he spent playing principal Seymour Kauffman in "Room 222." He also starred as a judge in the short-lived (1976-77) comedy "Sirota's Court," but since then he has worked in TV and theatrical movies, various guest shots and theater.
"Fortunately, in recent years I've been able to do only what I feel like doing," he said. "And I wanted very much to do that film because I loved that film when I read it.
"I don't care anything about series television, but I care a lot about doing this particular series, because the experience we had when we made the film was so incredible. Just the whole experience of working together. And everybody is so bloody talented and terrific to work with that I wanted to do that again."
THINGS CHANGE: "Greek" star and writer Nia Vardalos admits that her attitude about "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and all the hoopla that surrounds it has changed — against her will and better judgment. Like when she and her husband were watching the announcement of the Golden Globe nominations and her "heart was pounding." And she was "really angry that it mattered."
"I turned to Ian (Gomez) and I said, 'You know, everything that happened with this movie is absolute gravy. If it had made $5 million, I would've been thrilled and not felt bad that I made these people let me star in this movie.' And so we had this moment where I said, 'You know what? It doesn't matter.' And then Noah Wyle read my name and I went, 'Yes it does!' "
MARTINIZED: Andrea Martin is reprising her role as Nia's aunt — a role for which she underwent more than a bit of a physical transformation.
"If my ego will go away, then I'll just do the character from the movie," Martin said. "If it really fights hard, I might want to look younger and more attractive. Depends on my therapy that week."
UNRECOGNIZED: Vardalos based the characters in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" on real-life Greek-Americans — an audience that loved the movie, but . . .
"When the movie came out and we went to the premiere, my mom came up to me . . . and said, 'Oh, honey, it's so good — we are not like that,' " said executive producer Rita Wilson, herself the daughter of Greek immigrants.
"That's my favorite thing, when people come up to us at church and they've got the gold tooth and the dip glasses and they have so much polyester that no one should smoke within 10 feet of them," Vardalos said. "And they're like, 'That movie is so funny. Where are you from?' And I say, 'Well, we're from the Peleponnese.' "
To which the Greek-American fans reply, "Oh, that explains it — we're not like that."
"People want to disassociate themselves from any other stereotypes, but, in fact, they are," Wilson said.
It's not just a Greek-American phenomenon, however.
"The movie was number one in Greece all summer, and a (Greek) reporter said to me, 'Your movie is very successful here. . . . Do you know why?' " Vardalos said. "And I said, 'No, I don't.'
"He went, 'Well, we love to make fun of you Greek Americans.' "
E-mail: pierce@desnews.com