Law & Order: OC’s Tate Ellington Tees Up Vargas’ Vital Role in Stabler’s Undercover Op (Sneak Peek)
Over the past several years, Tate Ellington has stared deeply into a bunch of prop computer screens.
The Brave. Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector. And now, Law & Order: Organized Crime — on all of them, Ellington has played a computer whiz whose techie smarts prove pivotal to the operation.
At least in his current gig, as OC Season 4 addition Kyle Vargas, certain shots require graphics that actually exist on set as Ellington squints at the monitor, as opposed to being inserted during post-production. “But yeah,” he says, laughing, “most of the time, it is an absolutely blank green screen with some dots,” which requires imagination.
And given how much time he usually has to ruminate over a computer, “I do definitely have my bag of tricks for, you know, this is “really getting heated up” face, this is “intense face” and “big eyes face,” he jokes.
In the episode airing tonight (NBC, 10/9c), Vargas’ vast array of knowledge comes in handy at a crucial moment for Stabler and his team, which you can see unfold in the sneak peek above.
Below, Ellington — whom you also may recognize from Quantico, Lessons in Chemistry and FBI: Most Wanted — chats with TVLine about being a Organized Crime Control Bureau newbie, hanging with Randall and trying to win over Stabler.
TVLINE | Do you know anything about computers in real life? Or are you like me, and can turn the machine on, but that’s about it?
TATE ELLINGTON | Sorry to mild swear, I guess, but not a damn thing. My wife had to teach me how to use a smartphone. I was still on a flip phone, you know, way back when. The only time I ever get truly heated, and just like insanely frustrated, is with technology. If the Internet goes down, the most I know is turn it on and off, and then call somebody. [Laughs] So it’s always hilarious that I am usually playing the most tech-savvy person [when I don’t] have a clue.
TVLINE | It’s really clear what the OCCB team thinks of Vargas, right?
Oh, yeah.
TVLINE | Like, Jet is really respectful of him, and Stabler really isn’t. But I realized we don’t have a full sense of what Vargas thinks of the people that he’s working with.
I truly think he loves these people. He’s really a little bit of a puppy dog that just wants to be loved… I think he’s probably somebody who doesn’t have a gang. He doesn’t have a whole lot of friends, he’s probably a loner. But he desperately wants to be buddies and so I think he’s fascinated by them.
I think what he’s trying to create is to understand the people he’s working with so that he can help more. I think, yes, he absolutely loves Jet, respects her and she’s better than him. You know, he’s normally like, “Oh, crap, all right. She can teach me a lot.” I think he wants to be buddies so bad with Reyes and especially with Stabler. And then I think for Bell, he fully respects her… She’s kind, but also the boss and in control… I’m not acting a lot because I’m the type of person who wants to, like, get in the group and be you know, “Hey, I’m part of the team!” So, not a whole lot of acting there. [Laughs] Slowly but surely working my way into hearts.
But there’s a definite build, which I love that they’ve been adding in. Like, he’s not an adversary, he is just a big dork. I’m not having to fake that either; I’m a big dork. [Laughs] But it’s a nice build I think, and we come to a nice place with the team. He’s I think slowly being accepted for, “Oh, you can help, and you’re doing your best, and you want to help.” So, yeah so I like where it’s going, and it makes me very happy.
TVLINE | I loved the Randall-and-Vargas scenes. Are we getting more of those by the end of the season?
Unfortunately, [Episode 10] was the one scene with him. I am hoping there’s future things somewhere down the line, but it was, that was a blast for me… A lot of times, I don’t meet other cast members who are regulars and stuff because you just don’t have any scenes with them.
So I was hoping I’d get to work with Dean, at least for something, and when I read that I was like, “Oh, thank God, this is great.” And while reading it, as I’m going down the page, I was like, “Let it be a smart car, let it be a smart car. A smart car, great!” [Laughs]
Press PLAY on the video at the top of the post to watch a sneak peek from tonight’s episode, then hit the comments with your thoughts!
Vargas is such a likeable character. A good addiation I wish we get a case where he works closely with Stabler. But I find it unbelievable Jet doesn’t know Morse Code.
I like Vargas character. A good addition despite they neglect his AI project lately. I wish he get to partner with Stabler someday on a case.I find it unbelievable Jet doesn’t know Morse Code
I like the addition of his computer nerd character on the show. I hope they bring him on as regular next season (finger crossed for a season renewal, of course).
I hope Organized Crime is not moved to Paramount. I am not going to pay for a streaming service; as much as I like this show, I don’t have the money to pay for a ton of streaming services.