Vella Lovell and Grace Palmer Talk ‘Animal Control,’ the Lovable Lemur, and Group Dynamics on Set [Interview]

The workplace comedy Animal Control recently finished its second season, and cast members Vella Lovell and Grace Palmer attended the ATX Television Festival to talk all about it. 

I caught up with Lovell and Palmer during the festival’s opening night red carpet to discuss some of their favorite animal interactions from the show, why the group dynamic on set works so well, and what they love most about their characters. (You can watch the full video below.)

Lovell and Palmer agreed that the thing they’re most proud of is how well everyone works together on set. 

“I’m really proud of our group dynamic,” Lovell said. “I feel like there’s really no ego in our cast.”

“I think as well, a lot of the crew say they wanna come back, and I know it’s a job that they enjoy,” Palmer added. “It’s a good environment for people to work in.”

Of course, the actors aren’t just working with other actors. This is a comedy about animal control officers, so they’re regularly working with animals on set as well. 

Lovell even managed to make good friends with a lemur for Animal Control Season 2 Episode 9, “Beagles and Lemurs.”

“So here’s the story with the lemur,” Lovell said. “The lemur handler that came on was like, ‘So no one can look at the lemur. It’s just with Joel [McHale]. Don’t touch it.”

“So, I didn’t look at the lemur,” Lovell continued. “And then I just feel this hand, and he was just like, ‘I’m coming up.’ And he just came to me, and I was like, alright then!” 

“I need a lemur now,” Lovell joked.

Watch the full interview with Vella Lovell and Grace Palmer:

For Palmer, even though there are many different kinds of animals that have been on set, there’s one kind in particular she’s always excited to see.

“This sounds boring, but I love dogs. I’ve wanted a dog for a long time. My life does not permit a dog, and so when a dog comes to set, I’m always really stoked. And we get some super clever dogs, they’re so smart. They have been trained by their wranglers; they’re amazing.”

“You can’t really direct an animal, but if you could, it’s a dog,” Lovell added.

With two seasons complete and a third coming up, I was also curious to know what each of the actors liked most about their characters on Animal Control.

“Victoria’s such a free spirit, in a way that I always hoped that I was, but I’m not. I’m a little bit of a control freak. And she is such a yes person,” Palmer said. “She lets the world throw whatever it has at her, and she takes it, and she rolls with it and has fun with it.”

“I think Emily’s just — and it’s her strength and weakness — she’s just really kind and really cares about everyone and is really sweet. But it’s also like, you can’t do that when you’re a boss,” Lovell said. “So it’s her downfall as well, but she means so well. She really does.” 

Check out all of our coverage of the ATX Television Festival right here. 

Animal Control returns next season on FOX.

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