Rich brightens, visibly relaxing. The last of the embarrassed flush fades from his face. An actor who claims genuine interest from others isn't what he lives for is lying.

"Well, sort of," he says. "It's been, uh, for a very specific audience so far, but we're going to be expanding it on the next go-round. It's going to be very challenging. I've had plenty of time to get to know the character, though, so that should be all right."

There are other aspects of it he's less excited about, but he read the contract before he signed it. He knew what he was getting into.

If only the moral center of his brain would stop trying to remind him that Dr Watson didn't have that same advantage, he'd feel much better about it all.