EXCLUSIVE! James Maslow's Big Time "Crush"

We plan on getting around to all the hotties on this new making-the-band Nick show (Mondays 8:30/7:30 central, starting Jan 18th) but who did we corner first? Tall, dark and awesome hottie James Maslow.

The 19-year-old actor was on Nick's "iCarly" and, along with yummy newbies Kendall Schmidt, Logan Henderson and Carlos Pena, is busy shooting the new series on the Paramount lot in L.A.

We caught up with James during his lunch break and learned:

His celeb crush is a major teen-fave movie star.

He was injured on the show doing all the wacky stunts.

What you need to never do, if you want to date him.

And much more.... first, we're on the way to lunch at the craft services truck.

So, James are you hungry? Sorry to bug you on your lunch break.

James: Yeah [he laughs]!  We'll move to the truck but I can eat after.  

Okay. Your character James on the show has more confidence than his bandmates....at least on the outside. Do you think he really has low confidence and he's hiding it?

James:  I don't think James Diamond has low confidence. He's just always striving for perfection. It's that kind of unnecessary overload that maybe makes him a little nervous at times.  He knows he's good but he tries too hard.

Are you like that?

James: In that sense, in terms of motivation, we're very similar because, like James Diamond, in real life, I'm incredibly driven.  I try to be.  I try to train every day. But, I think our goals are very different. He is driven by fame and fashion and going to Hollywood and living this dream life whereas I'm really driven by the idea of being able to sing and dance and act and do this for a living for the rest of my life.  

I believe, that if I work really hard right now and take every day and every opportunity to try and get better and put as much as I can into the show, I'll have the chance to do that for the rest of my life. Fame or whatnot may come with it and that's great because that only provides me with more opportunities to do what I love.

Is all the physical comedy in the show fun or hard? You guys seem to be either goof/fighting or running all the time.

James: That absolutely continues on the show and that's the best part about the show.  That is so much fun. They've really let me do most all of my stunts.  I'm not jumping off 50 foot buildings but doing little things like playing hockey. Occasionally things go wrong.

And you get hurt?

James: Yeah.  [shows his right arm]. I've got a three inch scar from doing a stunt in a scene playing hockey because somebody wasn't playing attention but things like that happen.  The truth is we're all real dudes and I grew up playing sports. Of course, I don't wanna be getting beat up all the time but stuff happens.

We're all really just stoked to do it for the show but that's the best part. It's a cool aspect.  The younger kids love to watch us fall down and get pushed into pools. We get to do that for a living and that's cool.

How was the audition process putting this group of guys together? Who was cast first and were there chemistry reads?

James: It was an extensive process.  I started auditioning over two years ago when  I was 17. I was in the very first round of auditioning in Los Angeles. They had to find four guys who got along together and could really sing.

So, what we hear is really you guys singing, not somebody else and you guys fake it?

James: No! We're actually really singing on the album and really dance and act. They cast Logan [Henderson] in the show in the first round as well. He was auditioned in Texas. There were several callbacks and a screen test.  They flew in about 40 of us from all around the U.S. We did three hours of dance, three hours of singing, three hours of acting. They rotated, mixed and matched then cut. It was like that a lot. We did four of those.  Carlos [Pena] came in on the third one then Kendall came in on the very last one.

So you three guys were cast already.  Did you then pick Kendall?

James: Yeah, we already had the job, they brought us all in to find Kendall and all three of us were unanimous in choosing Kendall which was pretty cool. That nervousness (looking for him) really bonded us together.

Once they had all you guys, what did you do to bond because you are playing best buds on the show?

James: Logan and I had been in it a while as had Carlos and we'd kept in touch very well. We'd become close. We shoot a single camera show so we're together twelve hours a day five days a week and we're dancing and learning within the studio together.

All of us have our strengths and weaknesses and I really think this group complements each other. Kendall may not be the best dancer but he's getting so much better working with us and somebody may not have the highest range and we help out. This has happened so fast and we're together all the time. The bond is strong.

Do you hang out off set?

James: We do actually go out together when we get a minute because everybody gets along great.  It's somewhat surprising to us because we hear 'that never happens' so we're lucky.

Valentine's Day is coming up.  Who are you dying to send a Valentine to?

James: I've always had a crush on Emma Watson.  I'd love to meet her!

I've interviewed her four times.

James: [excited] You have?! Okay, next time you see her, tell her I said 'hi!'

There's a rumor that you guys will be on tour this Summer. True or False?

James: That's a goal of ours but right now we're focusing on the show. We are recording an album right now and we're gonna release songs individually as they come out on the show, and an album at the end of the season. If everything works out, there's a good chance we will tour.

In real life, who in the group is the prankster or troublemaker and who is the guy who says 'we've gotta get serious and get back to work'?

James: I'd definitely say Carlos is the biggest prankster in the group. We all have fun. We like to steal golf carts here at Paramount and go ride around the studio but, in the show, I think I'm the one who gets people focused.  

I'm not, by any means, a hard-ass but I like to get people rehearsing a lot more.  I'm of the belief that, the more you train, the better you can be.
We've gotta check back in with James later. He's got to eat and go back to work!