Tell Us About Yourself(ie): DJ Qualls

The Z Nation actor takes our Q&A!

Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty. Andrew Richard / BuzzFeed

What's the wallpaper on your phone and/or computer?

A photo of a painting called Kamikaze by Shannon Crawford. It hangs in my dining room. I travel so much for work and that painting reminds me of home.

When you walk into a bar, what do you typically order?

Southern Comfort, Diet Coke with a lime. It’s an easy, sipping drink. Plus, I’m Southern and it’s comforting. I dare you to drink 5 of them and disagree. In every new city I move to, I pick one bar that becomes my local spot. For me, a local bar is an extension of my living room. In New Orleans, it’s Vic’s. Most recently, I lived In Vancouver and I called The Moose home.

What's the one word you are guilty of using too often?

Fuck. All day, everyday. It’s not original, but it’s a fucking great word.

What is the last thing you searched for on Google?

I googled the image “small ginger cock” (you asked) and sent the photo to several people claiming it to belong to my buddy, Jesco. If you saw him, it’s astonishing how much it looks like it belongs on his body. You wanna see it?

Who is the last person that called or texted you?

I got a text from my friend Kellie expressing how excited she and James (her husband) are that I’m going to be in London next week and telling me how much fun we are going to have. I responded saying that I needed to buy 2 pillows from John Lewis and some orange Kit Kats. If you've never had an orange flavored Kit Kat, I suggest you go to the UK and try them. Look at me, I’m like Gwyneth Paltrow advising you to try something awesome that will cost several thousand dollars to obtain. I still say a trip overseas to try a candy bar is more practical than a $2000 pair of sweatpants.

What was the last awkward situation you were in and how did you handle it?

I was at the Entertainment Weekly party at Comic Con. It was, perhaps, the largest number of wasted famous people I’d even seen in once place. Well, at least, in a long while. One of the kids from Teen Wolf told me he was a huge fan of mine since childhood. He had tears in his eyes and I didn’t know what to say. It was actually more sweet than awkward. Later that evening, as things got weirder, I wound up kissing Seth Green on top of the head. That was probably more of an awkward situation. I handled it by getting on a flight and going back to Vancouver.

When is the last time you went to a theater?

I honestly cannot remember the last time I saw a movie in a theater. I was dragged to The Commodore Ballroom to see some hipster bullshit about a month ago. Does that count?

Andrew Richard / BuzzFeed

What TV show should everyone be watching?

I dunno. I don't watch a lot of scripted TV. The Price is Right is good. Mila Kunis learned to speak English from watching it.

And what is your TV guilty pleasure?

I hate the term “guilty pleasure.” Fucking HATE it. Any pleasure that doesn’t result in harm to myself or another person, I don’t feel guilty about. When someone says, “That is my guilty pleasure,” what they are really saying is, “I really like this thing but I have to shit on it so you won’t judge me.” There is an exception. Someone I know saw me leaving a 7-11 with a giant carton of those gas station style nachos. You know the ones? Round yellow chips and that orange liquid cheese…pickled Jalapeños? I love them, but unless you’re in a ballpark or movie theater, they can be embarrassing to been seen with.

What's the first CD you bought?

I’m from the record and cassette tape era. My first album was the Flash Gordon soundtrack by Queen. My first tape was Purple Rain by Prince. I bought it at a yard sale and WORE IT OUT! Darling Nikki was the dirtiest thing I had ever heard at that point. I still like that song.

What is the one food you cannot resist?

Gas station nachos.

What music are you currently listening to?

70’s R&B, 80’s pop, Classic rock (that is new for me) and the occasional mid 90’s dance hit. I don’t have a great passion for music. I envy people for whom music touches this magical spot deep inside them. I’m fighting so hard not to tell you how you can touch that magical spot deep inside me. I’m not going to do that because I’m a serious actor now.

What movie makes you laugh the most?

Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. That movie fires on a bunch of levels and it holds up. I also recently rewatched Arthur. What a perfect movie. It broke my heart when they remade it. If you’ve never seen either of these movies, trust me. They are beauties.

Andrew Richard / BuzzFeed

What drives you absolutely crazy?

I hate mouth noises. Loud chewing, lip smacking. I fucking hate them.

What's your favorite day of the year?

Thanksgiving. I love the idea of getting together with people you love and sharing a meal. I also love ditching them after and getting wrecked with other people you love.

What was your first online screen name?

I’ve never used an online screen name. I have an email address. I still have the first one I ever opened. I don’t like change.

What's your favorite emoji?

A hammer. I actually just found out where the emojis are on my iPhone. I was at The Moose, my local spot in Vancouver, and the DJ was killing me. He was playing all this obscure 80s hair metal that no one in the place knew. I felt like I was listening to him masturbate. After I returned from attempting to buy ear plugs from a nearby store, I saw someone on their emoji page and asked where it was. I found it and then I saw the hammer. I threatened to kill Sheldon with it in a text. I’m not an emoji guy, though.

Honestly, when someone sends me some sort of smiley face or that kind of thing, it (temporarily) dents my opinion of their intelligence.

Pick one: Kittens or puppies?

Puppies.

New York or Los Angeles?

Love both cities for different reasons, but London is my choice for a big city. My heart is in New Orleans, though.

Andrew Richard / BuzzFeed

Comedy or drama?

Comedy to watch, drama to perform.

Bacon or Nutella?

Bacon.

Coffee or tea?

I hate coffee so tea, I guess.

'80s or '90s?

'80s.

Britney or Christina?

I know them both. I was famous in the early 2000’s.

NSYNC or BSB?

NSYNC. Dirty pop.

Beyonce or Rihanna?

I’m a boy.

Hannah Montana or Lizzie McGuire?

See above.

And finally: tell us a secret.

Anything you would want to know probably involves other people. I never talk about my friends’ business. I love them deeply and keeping their confidence is important to me.

Andrew Richard / BuzzFeed

Z Nation Season 2 premieres on Friday, September 11 at 10/9c.