Actor Ryan Guzman was in for a surprise while filming the season 9 premiere of the hit TV show ‘9-1-1′. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Guzman shared that he had no prior knowledge that Mark Consuelos would be making a guest appearance on the show until they filmed a crucial scene together. The season premiere featured Consuelos’ character, billionaire Tripp Hauser, getting swallowed by a whale. Despite being spat out by the whale thanks to Station 118, Guzman’s character Eddie still had to dive into the water to rescue him. The twist for Guzman came when he realised that Consuelos was the one he was saving, a moment that took him by surprise.
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Guzman expressed his amusement at the situation, sharing with PEOPLE, “Actually, funny enough, I didn’t know that it was going to be Mark Consuelos for that role up until the day I was jumping in the water and saving him.” He continued by recounting his initial realisation, saying, “I just happened to be on the pier, I’m looking down, I’m like, ‘God, that guy looks familiar.’ I started looking around, I’m like, ‘Does anybody know why that guy looks so familiar?’ And then finally, it clicked, I go, ‘Holy s—! I’m saving Mark Consuelos.'”
Consuelos, on the other hand, shared his perspective on the unexpected meeting with Guzman just before their water rescue scene. He described the moment as surreal, stating, “It was so cool because I mean, we were both looking at each other. He’s on shore. I’m in this kayak. I have to get in the water — I wouldn’t say it’s the cleanest water in the harbor of Long Beach — and we’re both staring at each other. I’m like, ‘Hey man, I’m Mark.’ He goes, ‘Hey, I’m Ryan.’ I’m like, ‘All right, we’re going to get in this water?'” This unplanned encounter created a unique bond between the two actors.
Despite the surprise, Guzman expressed his admiration for Consuelos, highlighting him as a down-to-earth individual and a pleasure to work with. Looking ahead, as ‘9-1-1′ ventures into space for the season premiere, Guzman teased that viewers can expect to see a different side to Eddie as the season progresses. After facing numerous challenges previously, Eddie will join forces with Aisha Hinds’ paramedic Hen, embarking on a new chapter in his journey. Guzman remarked on the shift in his character’s role, sharing, “I’m Hen’s new work husband. It’s a new role for Eddie. He’s no longer the action guy with Buck. Now, he’s a paramedic and he’s handling more of the medical stuff.”
Furthermore, Guzman expressed his excitement about portraying a lighter side to Eddie this season after navigating mental health struggles and grief in past episodes. He revealed his enthusiasm for the upcoming episodes, saying, “I’m really enjoying not being so dark. I get to have more scenes with Aisha and more scenes with Kenny [Kenneth Choi] … and it offers levity within certain settings of our show. Yeah, I’m so excited to showcase the funner side of Eddie this year.” With the evolving dynamics on the show, fans can anticipate a fresh take on Eddie’s character and his storyline in the upcoming episodes of ‘9-1-1’.
Stay updated on the latest entertainment news and exclusive interviews by signing up for the free daily newsletter from PEOPLE. Don’t miss ‘9-1-1’ airing on ABC on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the following day. Exciting twists and character developments await viewers in the new season of the acclaimed series.
The unexpected encounter between Ryan Guzman and Mark Consuelos adds a unique anecdote to the filming experience of ‘9-1-1’, showcasing the camaraderie and surprises that can occur behind the scenes of a popular TV show.