Riley Voelkel and James Badge Dale are a pair of highly accomplished actors that have appeared in some memorable stories throughout the years, such as The Newsroom and The Pacific, respectively. Currently, they both star as Renee Segna and Ray Abruzzo on the hit STARZ series, Hightown, and with the show beginning its farewell journey, we here at NTG had the distinct honor of sitting down with both of them to discuss their three-year journey on the show.
 
John Betancourt: What have each of you have learned from your characters and the show since we kind of take something away from these kinds of stories?
 
Riley Voelkel: Oh, man. Well, as an actor, I've learned a lot. This was a dream role. Mostly because I knew it was going to be my biggest challenge, yet. So, I've learned just a ton as an actor, especially getting to work with such incredible actors in production and crew. And I think, Badge, you had kind of talked about this earlier. But I think when you're having to understand the perspective of a character whose life is so different from yours, you learn a lot through that process, you know, on the surface, you're very, very different. You really, how can I understand, here I am playing an ex-addict, you know, a struggling mother, an exotic dancer, all these things, but through exploring their perspective, you learn a lot and kind of find that you have empathy for your character and understand them a little bit more. So, I learned… I learned a lot from Renee.
 
James Badge Dale: What did I learn from Ray… what not to do? (Laughter from everyone)
 
John Betancourt: Spot on.
 
James Badge Dale. No, but what Riley was saying is like, yeah, you need to learn to love yourself a little better, you know, what I mean? And, you know, in the cycles of addiction and our behavior and the things that you know, our bad decisions, you know, we tend to compound it, and we can make it worse, you know, and we all have these little voices on our shoulder telling us, “Hey, you're doing great. No, you're not doing great,” you know, and it's, it's constant, and it's part of it. And, you know, Ray has those, and I'm just trying to, like, take him on a journey, trying to take him on a journey and being like, “Hey, man, it's okay. It's okay.” And in turn, I'm trying to tell myself that… it's okay. You know.
 
John Betancourt: This has been a very long and winding and powerful journey over the past three years. What has this journey meant to you personally?
 
James Badge Dale: Oh, what a cool thing to be a part of. This is the longest I've ever played a single character, I've been lucky enough to be part of this amazing Hightown family. And, and we, we were surrounded by good positive people who bring a creative kind of passion to their work. And we always felt like we were doing something different and special, and we got to push the envelope a little bit. And hey man, all stories come to an end. But I'm really grateful we got a chance to end it properly. You know, we didn't get the rug pulled out from under us. We told the story that we wanted to tell. We told it together as a team, and that’s pretty fucking cool.
 
Riley Voelkel: I mean, it's… it was just absolute fulfillment from so many angles, I think I was… I was in a place in my career where I was really craving a challenge and a real and a raw role. And there it was, on the page, this incredible writing Rebecca Cutter did. And it was equally exciting and terrifying. And, and like Badge said, you get on that set, and you're just surrounded by the best of the best, the most incredible, most supportive, most talented people I've worked with. It was just a dream all the way through, and it's meant the world to have that opportunity.
 
John Betancourt: The last question that I have for you today because we have to talk about the sizzle this season. What are each of you most excited for audiences to see in this final season, without any spoilers, of course.
 
James Badge Dale: Oh, it's hard without the spoilers. I mean, here's the real cool thing, man, this thing is gonna ramp up really quickly. You know, we did seven episodes. So, we're coming at you fast, and it's gonna get down and dirty before you know it. And it was, this was a fun season to shoot.
 
Riley Voelkel: I'm excited for the audience to see everything kind of come to the surface, all these deep, dark secrets, all these lies, all of this, this kind of intricate web that everyone is intertwined in, come to the surface and I think you really get to see the characters pushed to their limits, pushed to rock bottom, and you get to see how they come out on the other end.
 
This Interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

J. Smith-Cameron and Carl Tart are a pair of accomplished actors that have appeared in multiple popular franchises throughout their careers. Currently they star as Barb and Carl in the upcoming Peacock series, In the Know, and we here at NTG had the distinct honor of sitting down with both of them to discuss their characters and the series.
 
John Betancourt: I would love to learn what it was that attracted each of you to this particular project.
 
J. Smith-Cameron: Well, in my case, I just thought it was really witty. I mean, I got to read the whole script, and see where it was going. I just thought it was really well written. And I thought it was really funny that for a straight man, my character was still actually funny in her own right as well. I mean, I just really responded to it. The writing, which is always what draws me into a project, first and foremost, and the characters, the characterizations were really interesting and defined. And yet, as it turned out, when we got to do it, they also really collaborated with us and like took in who we are and what we came up with, which made it really fulfilling.
 
Carl Tart: What drew me to it, of course, was having so many friends attached to the project. And with Zach Woods and Brandon Gardner, who are both UCB guys, one of my improv teammates, Ronnie Adrian is one of the writers on the show. And then the opportunity to work with Mike Judge is paramount. You know, he's a legendary person. So that was really great to be a part of anything that he puts out, you know, be immortalized in the Mike Judge universe. That was really awesome for me too. And it's super funny. Like, like J. said, the script was dope. And it was really cool to be a part of, and I'm excited for people to see it.
 
John Betancourt: Something I was deeply impressed with was the depth of the characters and how realistic they feel. How did you as actors bring these incredible characters to life.
 
Carl Tart: I think that came with the freedom that Brandon and Zach gave us during the recording process. And also, we didn't know what the character was going to look like when we were first recording, we didn't know, so we kind of got to create them ourselves. And we collaborated together -- we recorded together initially. And that's kind of rare in animation and stuff. So that kind of helped us, just they really encouraged like, “Oh, if you sneeze like don't be afraid to… don't stop the flow of the dialogue. If you cough, if you sniff or anything like that, like we'll be putting that in because it's real.” So, they wanted it to be kind of dirty, kind of gritty. And so, it was not like perfectly edited and stuff like that. It's kind of like, they want this to seem as real as possible, even though it's animated. And I think that's what makes what gives it its edge and what gives it a really cool thing about it.
 
J. Smith-Cameron: Yeah, they really focus on that they're human beings. These characters are like really detailed, nuanced humans. Who might have allergies. (Laughter)
 
John Betancourt: What does it meant to each of you personally to have this unique project finally air?
 
J. Smith-Cameron: I'm really excited and curious how it will be received, I think my friends, the kind of people that I know, up close, will really recognize the humor, because I tend to be the kind of person who listens to NPR shows, and I think it's a lot of sort of inside humor, that, you know, people who are really into that culture would love to see this, you know, see it through this lens. Because it's kind of, you know, it's usually sort of sane and thoughtful. You know, it's about thoughtful, thought-y people making reasoned arguments and exploring something and then you see this chaotic workplace, and they're a bunch of nuts. Like, that's fun for people. I hope. I think it will be.
 
Carl Tart: Oh, yeah, I think what it means for me, personally, I'm excited for everybody see it, too. I think it's really unique and really funny. And it's something that hasn't really been done before. There have been like, mixed animation and the real-life stuff, but with the puppetry and how much work has gone into it. And, I mean, the brilliant minds of Zach Woods and Brandon Gardner, Mike Judge putting out something like… it's just I'm excited to add it to the, to the landscape of television. I think it's important. I think it's gonna be super fun.
 
John Betancourt: The last question that I have both of you today, is what are you most proud of when it comes to work on this show?
 
Carl Tart: I don't even… like I take pride in everything I do. I'm proud of the fact that we got it done so quickly and painlessly and how much work was put into it, I, I'm proud of the people, the artists who did way more than what I did on it. I just came in, said a bunch of stuff. But everybody else who's put so much work into it, and I'm proud, I'm proud of all of them and proud for all of them. The people behind the scenes that we don't get to see. The crew members, the animators, the writers, the producers, everybody, I'm proud, I'm proud of them. And I didn't do nothing, I didn't do nothing. Nothing. (Laughter)
 
J. Smith-Cameron:  Well, I guess I would say that I'm proud of the fact that, you know, I'm used to working, you know, having my face and other parts of my being to communicate with. And so, I'm new to the voiceover world, relatively, certainly compared to Carl and Zach and Brandon, and, of course, Mike Judge, et cetera. So, it's a unique thing. And I remember after we'd done the group stuff, and when we got to the individual and the ADR, you know, the post work that we did the fine tuning, like notes, I'd be given on things, like to “now do it this way, and insinuate that, and just with your voice,” you know, and it would be sometimes very, like very specific things. And I just, that was really fun for me and a really great feeling to feel like I was developing that skill.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Dohn Norwood and Atkins Estimond are two highly accomplished actors that have appeared in some notable franchises over the past few years, such as Mindhunter and Lodge 49, respectively. Currently, they star as Alan Saintille and Osito in the hit STARZ series, Hightown, and with the show nearing its end, Dohn and Atkins were kind enough to honor us with a little time out of their busy schedules to discuss the farewell season of this acclaimed show.
 
John Betancourt: I am curious to know what each of you took away from your characters and the journey, since we all kind of take a piece out of a story.
 
Dohn Norwood: A greater awareness of what this world is and how it's affecting life today. A deeper understanding, because with other police officers I've played, I don't think they played into his personal life as much. So, you see the sacrifice away from family and other things that are made when you're divested to doing the job. So really having to experience that with the character was fulfilling and really seeing a three dimensional, fully realized person in doing the show. And of course, working with my peers, Mister Estimond here and his talented self, and all the great scenes we had together, as well as other actors on the show and crew, you know, Radium, all those guys, our DP and Eagle, and they're just, you know, obviously can't name -- it's like the Oscars, right? When you start seeing names, you'll never stop, or you'll leave somebody out. So, then just the great work of Rebecca and her writing staff. And it's been… so it's been fun, it's really been a joy.
 
Atkins Estimond: Yeah, takeaways from this project, and from the character is just like, understanding, be more understanding, you know? Like in the show, we talk a lot about, you know, addiction, and, you know, understanding that it's not, it's not easy, it's not an easy cycle to break. And a lot of times from the outside, you can have a judgmental point of view of those who are struggling with it. But when you see that, a lot of times people are trying, trying to do better, to get better, but it's not easy, you know, the path to sobriety is not linear. And I definitely learned a deeper understanding of that after working on this project.
 
John Betancourt: What has this journey meant to you?
 
Atkins Estimond: Man, being a part of this show has been an amazing opportunity as an actor, I have just, I have to be so thankful to Rebecca. And her staff, the writers… the opportunities that they placed in front of the character, you know, they really set up some really interesting scenes and moments, and also allowed me to just really take a hold of the character. And I think that for everybody that is, you know, if you look at the entire cast, such interesting stories, such interesting terms for all of the characters, the arcs, the growth, the changes, the things that they deal with, is not something that you as an actor are afforded in every role that you get. Sometimes you get a role, and it's like, “Alright, I gotta really, I gotta turn this VW into a Ferrari.” (Laughs) But in this situation, we started off with a Ferrari. And I was like, “Alright, I can just drive,” you know? So, it was a really cool experience.
 
Dohn Norwood: Same here, same here. It’s been enjoyable. And again, consummate professionals, we all were able to fly in our scenes and really delve into some things. I had mentioned this in another interview, like, oftentimes, Atkins and I would do a scene and things would just spontaneously grow from those moments. And then we always wish that there were more than we could have shot, because there was still some meat on the bone, right? And so just all that, and that's what does it for you as an actor. So, when you walk away, and you're very gratified, in your performance and with another actor and being able to really work with talented people who also come to just really enjoy and relish in what's going on. It's been great. No complaints.
 
John Betancourt Of course, we do have to talk about just the high-octane nature of season three in general. But without any spoilers, and this will be our last question for today, what are you most excited for audiences to see this season?
 
Dohn Norwood: Wow, yeah, like you said, it's a bit much. There's quite a few… I'll say this, every episode has something for everyone, there's going to be a surprise, and the stakes are bigger and the risks are bigger and everybody's really pushing that envelope in their journey. So, tune in I say, you know, got seven episodes, you know, to get it all in and we don't waste a second so definitely pre watch the first two seasons. And then then this final season, enjoy. You know, it's like a good meal that you finish with those last few bites. Those last few bites that you want to have that last flavor in your mouth.
 
Atkins Estimond: Yeah, I mean, this season… it's a treat. You know, for the fans of the show. I'm really excited for them to see, because every character has just gone through it. From season one to two to now you've really seen these people just try to find their way. And I've said this before that somehow, we managed to, you know, heighten the intensity every time and that is very much the same for this final season.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Caitlin Reilly and Charlie Bushnell are a pair of rising actors in Hollywood and are quickly popping up often on our television screens. Currently, they play Fabian and Chase in the upcoming Peacock series, In the Know, and we here at NTG had the honor of sitting down with both of them to learn about how they brought their characters to life and more.
 
John Betancourt: I would love to know what it was that attracted each of you to this project.
 
Caitlin Reilly: The money.
 
John Betancourt: The money, easy enough.
 
Caitlin Reilly: (Laughs) Okay. No, I thought it was such an original idea to have, you know, stop motion animation. I, you know, I'm such a fan of ShadowMachines’s work. I think that what they do is so genius. And yeah, I heard about the project. And I sent in a tape, and it was the funniest thing I'd ever read. And I really, really wanted to be a part of it, and I blackmailed them into hiring me. (More laughter) And I'm glad I did. And it's such an original idea. I think these characters are so well written. And, you know, sort of the mixed media aspect of the show, I think people are gonna really like, and I love it.
 
Charlie Bushnell: Yeah, basically, same as Caitlin. You know, I thought it was just such a cool and unique and interesting idea. I love the fact that it's, you know, we're animated puppets but at the same time, there's, there's real world human guests that are being interviewed as well. And I like that aspect of it. But also just, the writing is hilarious, and it's so much fun. And, but, um, I think more than anything, just the people involved as well. You know, I got to meet with Zach (Woods) and Brandon (Gardner). And right off the bat, like, that meeting lasted like an hour. And we just were just running through the scene and just talking about the character and just laughing the whole time. And I just really wanted to be a part of it, you know, even after that. And then, of course, I heard like, Mike Judge and Greg Daniels were involved. And I'm a huge fan of The Office. And so that was a big part of it for me as well. And, yeah, I mean, it's like a workplace comedy, similar to The Office. And so, I think, if you're a big fan of The Office, then I think you'll, you'll enjoy this one as well.
 
John Betancourt: And you two are amazing in it, and I do want to talk about your characters. Because they are so well fleshed out and feel so real. How did you as actors bring such depth to life?
 
Charlie Bushnell:  Um, yeah, I think, the main thing for me was just, uh, you know, doing some research. I mean, of course, like the writing is brilliant. And so that was there just to begin with, and so they made my job easy in that regard. But, you know, I think we all kind of know, someone like Chase in our lives a little bit, just sort of like a free spirit and just kind of like doing their own thing. And like, not worried about much just like, just carefree. And so, and I definitely know, like a few people like that from, you know, like, school or whatever. And so, I pulled a lot of inspiration from there. But also just, you know, watching movies with characters that are kind of similar to Chase was a big part of it for me as well.
 
Caitlin Reilly: I think doing voice work is so fascinating because it really releases your inhibitions. And I just, I tapped into a part of myself that I don't like. (Laughter) Which was Fabian, just sort of know it all stubborn, needing to be right. set in her ways. And yeah, I mean, I've said before, I think I think Fabian sort of represents the comments section of the internet. And I feel like that was a big inspiration for me.
 
John Betancourt: What are you most proud of when it comes to your work on this show, Caitlin?
 
Caitlin Reilly: Um, I'm just sort of proud of sort of the range that we got to play with these characters. It was such a collaborative process. And Brandon and Zach wrote these characters all so well. And there were so many highs and lows and I feel like I kind of went everywhere with Fabian. It was sort of nice not be afraid to get ugly in your performance. And by that I sort of mean, you know, tapping into a part of yourself that you're insecure about, you know? So, this is the first time I've done voiceover work and I'm just so proud to be part of this project. So, I'm proud of that.
 
John Betancourt: Charlie, if you had one word in mind to describe this show, what would it be?
 
Charlie Bushnell: Hilarious. So, you know, I'm gonna go with that.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Brandon Gardner is a writer, producer and actor, that currently serves as Co-Creator, Co-Showrunner and Executive Producer of the upcoming Peacock series, In the Know, and we here at NTG were fortunate enough to speak with Brandon to discuss this dynamic new series.
 
John Betancourt: I would love to know what inspired the creation of this show.
 
Brandon Gardner: So yeah, the first step was Mike Judge had an idea, a very loose idea that it would be fun to do an animated interview show. And he was thinking about where it'd be fun to set that. And he was thinking, “Oh, public radio is something that hasn't been done for that,” like Space Ghost is something that people think of all the time as it is something that’s similar. But he was like, “Oh, it'd be different if it was set in a public radio setting.” And I think when he thought of public radio, he almost immediately thought of Zach (Woods), who had he had done Silicon Valley with. I think he thought of Zach, both because Zach is a longtime listener of NPR. But also, somehow, he would admit, he sort of like embodies an… “NPR-ness” to himself. And I think I do to a certain degree as well. And also, he knew that Zach was an improviser. And he knew he wanted the interviews to be unscripted. And so, Zach, and I had been writing together, we originally met, doing improv at UCB together and started writing together. And so, Zach brought me on to help develop the world. And the thing I think, that got us really excited was less making fun of NPR, but more the chance to sort of make fun of people like Zach and myself.
 
John Betancourt: To kind of expand upon that further, because we don't really see a lot of interview shows like this, in fact I think Space Ghost is the only one that comes to mind for me, what inspired that particular format?
 
Brandon Gardner: Part of it was that when Mike first had that idea, it was in early 2020. And the very beginning of the pandemic, where practically people, were just trying to come up with other ways to do interview shows, even shows like The Tonight Show, were done remotely. And so, I think that was a big part of it with the very beginning of the idea was like, “well, maybe this would be a show people could do safely while interviewing people.”
 
John Betancourt: What does it mean to you to have such a unique and original show hit the airwaves so soon?
 
Brandon Gardner We're very excited about this. This is the only show I've ever worked on (as an executive). So, I have nothing to compare it to. But like the thing that Zach and I have said to each other many times in this weird period where we're waiting for it to come out. Is that, whether or not people like it or don't like it or watch it or don't watch it. We're so grateful for how it came out, that the people at ShadowMachine and the writers, and the cast… all were so good. And we're so proud of it. That if it's one of those shows that people just don't hear about it, at least it's a show we had such a great time making and can be proud of.
 
John Betancourt: What are you most excited for audiences to experience when they when they tune into this?
 
Brandon Gardner: I think one thing that we're excited about is the interview part of the show because it's iso unusual. And I think one thing that we're excited about, our viewers coming in maybe because they're a fan of one particular guest, like maybe they're a Finn Wolfhard fan, or they're a Mike Tyson fan or Roxane Gay fan. And then they end up being surprised, both by what those people reveal about themselves, maybe people that they already really liked or like, “Oh, I didn't know this about you, or you were a little bit more playful than I've seen you before or intellectual in a way I haven't seen you before.” But then also that they might see people who they only know vaguely, and get excited about them and be like, “Oh, wow, it's like I've maybe like read a Roxane Gay column that was very serious and sort of intimidated me with how smart she is. But I didn't know how playful she could be.” And so that's something I'm excited about, too, is for people to see different sides of these people that are famous, but maybe you've only seen one way.
 
John Betancourt: Now since you mentioned this was you know, your first major show along those lines. What does that mean to you to be able to be a part of this?
 
Brandon Gardner: I mean, I'm like very proud of it. Like my most of my adult life. I've done improv, which is how Zach and I know each other. And I still love improv, but improv, like part of it is that you have to be there and then it's gone. So, it's really nice to have made something. It took a long time to make it, it took over a year to make it but it's nice to like, oh, now this is something that at least for a period, you never know with streaming, will be something that will live and people can enjoy.
 
John Betancourt: And that leads me to my last question that I have for you today. What are you most proud of when it comes to this show?
 
John Betancourt: I think what I'm most proud of is that even though we really want the show to be funny, and the show is a satire, that I think we did a pretty good job of never having the characters only be sort of punching bags for jokes. That we really wanted them to always feel like real people and to be complicated, and I think sometimes we would think of funny stuff. But if it couldn't be rooted in who they were as people, we let it go.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
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Monica Raymund is a highly accomplished actor that has appeared in a bevy of big-name television shows and Rebecca Cutter is an accomplished producer and writer that has also left her mark on the television landscape. Currently, Monica plays Jackie Quiñones on the STARZ series, Hightown, and Rebecca Cutter is the series’ showrunner and with the show coming to a close, we here at NTG had the distinct honor of sitting down with both of them to discuss all things Hightown.
 
John Betancourt: I would love to learn what this journey has meant to both of you.
 
Rebecca Cutter: Oh, wow. Well, I'm I am so proud of the show that we made. And I'm really proud of the final season. I think it goes to a really unexpected but also very satisfying conclusion. And hey, I learned how to be a show creator on the show. This was my first, this is my baby. So, it's been on a personal level, I've made so many friends and a real family and professionally learned so much. So, I honestly, I have nothing but gratitude for the whole the whole thing.
 
Monica Raymund: I second that. Nothing but gratitude.
 
John Betancourt: This is a story that features so much depth and so much messaging. I was wondering when all is said and done, what do you think the legacy of the show will be?
 
Monica Raymund: I think the storytelling is the most important. The writing for me, that’s what I'm most excited about in Hightown. That's why I want to do the job because the writing is so good. So, I hope the legacy is the experience of staying with these characters and seeing them going through incredible journeys and struggles and obstacles to hopefully come out and getting what they want. And the people who you know, find their redemption. Hopefully that happens. People who need to serve justice, hopefully that happens. So, I think that the legacy is really stays within the characters and their own personal journeys.
 
Rebecca Cutter: From a business standpoint, I'm really grateful that I got to tell such a very personal, nuanced, character driven story. And I hope that our business continues to encourage people, women, especially, to tell stories that are more personal and smaller, smaller, maybe. I hope that still is a viable business model moving forward because I think audiences really connect with character driven shows.
 
John Betancourt: Without offering up any spoilers, what are you most excited for fans to experience in this farewell season?
 
Rebecca Cutter: Oh, well, there's some big moments and you haven't even seen the finale yet. So yeah, I think just ride the Jackie goes on. But also, I think some real crazy pulpy exciting plot that will really blow your hair back. But also, that every character ends up in a place that feels, you know, satisfying. That's what I guess I hope people get from it.
 
Monica Raymund: It's like a bullet train. Like there's, there's so much happening. It's so fast. And you don't expect, there's just so much you don't expect, and like, like she said it’s like flipping your hair back. For me it like… left my jaw on the floor. Because you think one character is going to go one way and something happens. And they end up making a different choice and sometimes it's life or death. So, it’s just always exciting.
 
John Betancourt: What are each of you going to miss about working on this show?
 
Monica Raymund: I'm going to miss working with Rebecca and my co-stars, the people who are involved in telling the story, that's for me, that's one of the most important things about a job is who I'm working with. And so, I love that I got to work with like the best team in Hollywood, truly. But I'm gonna miss playing Jackie, I've been with her since day one. And I you know, I'm trying to give her hugs as I'm finishing season three because she's been through a lot but hopefully she's… whatever happens off screen in her future… hopefully that she has a little bit more of her identity and confidence.
 
Rebecca Cutter: A little bit of peace.
 
Monica Raymund: Yeah. A little bit of peace.
 
Rebecca Cutter: I think what Monica said, the people, the family. You know, it's especially you know, we went through COVID together. We moved from New York to North Carolina together. We've just been through a lot and it's such a good group of people. It's just a kind, caring, group of people, and they’re fun. So just that whole very, very special time in my life is what I think I'll miss the most.
 
John Betancourt: Last question I have for you today. If you could describe season three in one word, what would it be?
 
Rebecca Cutter: I want to steal her words, but it's two. Bullet train.
 
Monica Raymund: Fire.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Alanna Ubach and Scott Grimes are two highly accomplished actors that have appeared in countless iconic franchises and stories. Currently they star as Susan and Matty Bennett in the upcoming Peacock series, Ted, and we here at Nerds That Geek had the distinct honor of sitting down with this pair of silver and small screen legends to discuss all things, Ted.
 
John Betancourt: I'd love to know what it was motivated each of you to join this project.
 
Alanna Ubach: Oh my gosh, I was lucky enough for the casting director to even consider me for a self-tape audition. And that's all it really was. I didn't really know. I thought, “Oh, you know what, they probably offered this to Alex Borstein.” And, and I thought, “Oh, maybe they're looking for backup.” So, that was it. I really did think in my head that that was what was going on. And I thought, “Well, I can't be her. I can certainly be something else.” And so, I brought that to the table. And it worked. It really worked for Seth (MacFarlane).
 
Scott Grimes: Mine was, you know, I was doing The Orville with Seth and have been working with him for a long time now. And I wasn't going to be part of this at all. In fact, I remember him specifically saying to me, “I don't think there's anything in this for you.” And that's when I went “Oh, yeah?” (Laughter from all) And he would show me these tapes of people that he was --(Scott gestures about) -- this is him at his house showing me people that he wanted for the thing. And I'm like, “Oh, yeah, that guy comes from Boston.”
 
Alanna Ubach: The montage of your life!
 
Scott Grimes: Oh, I know. And then it started, where he came to me! Because I was never going to talk a friend… because we were at this point, not working on Orville into anything. I felt too embarrassed. That it would look like that's all I wanted to do was work with him. He came to me and was like, “What do you… you think you could come up with something here?” And I'm like, “Yes, I do.” And it was a slow process of putting myself on tape and an audition. And then you know, it was right at the ground floor. And then, it just happened, where this guy, where Matty Bennett came to life through… just whatever. Man, look, you have to you have to be I think, an okay dramatic actor to do this comedy. I think that was in my favor. And also, just why did I want to do this? Just to continue to work with Seth. Because it just doesn't get any better.
 
Alanna Ubach: He’s so cool. He’s the coolest.
 
John Betanncourt: So, I have to ask to ask more about the acting portion of it. Because you two, are virtually unrecognizable because of how well you transform into your characters, and I have to know how the two of you pulled this off.
 
Scott Grimes: It took a lot of pizza for me.
 
Alanna Ubach: A lot of pizza for him. Yeah, he gained weight for this originally. And, and for me, it was just trusting hair and makeup and wardrobe and props. And the dialect coach. And that was it, really. And then, you know, the minute you walk on set, and you see all of the set, everything… the furniture, the bedroom, the bathroom, all of this, everything sort of comes together in your head and you think, “Ah, this is who this person is. I've met them before.”
 
Scott Grimes: For me… I've worked with amazing people. But it was never imperative that that person be amazing for me. This person right here. (Scott points at Alanna) When I started acting with you on the first day of rehearsal, or maybe it was our auditions, because we auditioned together. I just didn't realize until that moment as an actor, 40 years in this business, how necessary it was for her to be as good as she was for me to be, okay. You know, and that it was that thing like, “Oh, wait, there's a connection here. That makes it real for me.” Husband and wife, because it's easy to fake it. Or it's not easy to fake it right? It's not easy to fake a relationship like that. And she just that brought my character to a whole other place when she was who she was.
 
Alanna Ubach: He's very lovable.
 
John Betancourt: Last question that I have for you today. What are you most proud of when it comes to work on the show?
 
Alanna Ubach: The seduction scene with the banana? (Laughter from all)
 
Scott Grimes: The seduction scene with the banana, that I got through it. Then I was able to get through that with this wonderful clown.
 
Alanna Ubach: It was a good time.
 
Scott Grimes: I'm also really proud that it worked. Because when you're on, like I said, on the ground floor of something, and Seth has an idea, and you want that for him so bad. And now we're sitting here being interviewed by you. So that means we did something, and it got finished. And so that… I'm really proud that we could do something that he likes just so we can work with him again. That's really what it is.
 
Alanna Ubach: He’s the coolest.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Max Burkholder and Giorgia Whigham are a pair of rising stars in the industry that have already appeared in some pretty iconic franchises, such as The Orville and The Punisher, respectively. Currently, they star as John Bennett and Blaire, respectively, in the new Peacock series, Ted, and we here at NTG had the distinct honor of sitting down with both of them to discuss this delightful new chapter in the Ted saga.
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John Betancourt:  I would love to know what it was that attracted each of you to this project.
 
Giorgia Whigham: I mean, it was easy from the jump, we, you know, I got the tape and how could you not want to be a part of this franchise and work with Seth MacFarlane and, you know, that talented group that he's just kind of created. And so, it was really, it was just an immediate for me, you know, I put a tape down as soon as I could.
 
Max Burkholder: Yeah, same immediate, absolute, no brainer. I mean, my brother and I used to stay up late and watch Family Guy on a laptop in secret because we weren't allowed to. (Laughter from all) Seth MacFarlane’s sense of humor is what created my own sense of humor. So, the second that something like this, the second the email came in for the tape, I was just like, “Oh, if I got to do this, it would just be… it'd be perfect.”
 
Giorgia Whigham: It was almost too far out of reach. I couldn't even imagine.
 
Max Burkholder: Oh, no, I sent in the tape being like “Alright, well, not gonna get this. Hopefully they bring me back in like a guest spot later in the season.” That was my first thought.
 
John Betancourt: So, I can hear the sheer joy the sheer in your voices over being able to do this. What did each of you enjoy the most about being able to work on Ted?
 
Max Burkholder: I mean, probably just getting to do just a straight up farce comedy, which I've never really been able to do before, as well doing it with Seth (MacFarlane), Giorgia, Scott (Grimes), Alanna (Ubach), just an absolute, A-tier team of people to like bounce stuff off of and like develop that sort of back and forth. It was… it was a pleasure going into work every day, no matter how early it was or how late I had to stay.
 
Giorgia Whigham: it was just I mean, the thing that I enjoyed the most, or one of the things is just how much we laughed and how… and it was also a challenge though, because I never really saw myself in doing too much comedy, honestly. And so, it was a good challenge for me to kind of find the humor in Blaire even though she's pretty serious and kind of naggy sometimes. And so, it was it was just the challenge of trying to balance that, but also try and keep a straight face because we were laughing all the time.
 
John Betancourt: Now, obviously, this is a this is a huge franchise, and I’m curious to hear each of your thoughts as to why Ted continues to endure.
 
Giorgia Whigham: Because it's so, you know, there's I just think it's a little bit ridiculous, the concept, but it's also very touching, you know, to have a toy that you loved as a kid come to life. And it's about friendship, and this season, you know, that we did… it's about family, in my opinion. It's about growing up, and then growing pains and but it's about like, love. So, I think not to be corny. But I think that that's a really nice aspect. And I think people can you know, see that when they watch it.
 
Max Burkholder: Yeah, I mean, I agree. It is about love. And it's about friendship. And also, it's about a talking teddy bear that smokes weed, does cocaine, and loves shitty 80s movies. I think that is inherently like funny and grabs you. But I mean, it is about love from the first scene, this boy loves a bear so hard, it comes alive. Like, that's the whole premise. That's what it's really about. And I'm glad that we got to do this because it just, it shows us a different point in their lives that I think is really special.
 
John Betancourt: Last question that I have for each of you today. What are you each most proud of when it comes to your time on this show?
 
Max Burkholder: I think just from the limited amount of the show that I've seen… it's really funny. I mean, there's nothing else to say, I think that really comes through. Like I said, I've never really had the opportunity to do straight comedy before. And I'm really proud of myself that that we were all able to deliver such a truly, truly funny product.
 
Giorgia Whigham: I think that I'm super proud of… you know, sometimes it's hard to, you know, it's always hard to watch yourself. But certain things I watch and I just I cringe, and I just can't because I am so uncomfortable with watching it. But this, I watched some of it, and I was like, “I think everybody did such a good job. And I'm proud of the work that everyone delivered,” including myself. So that's, you know, and that's kind of sometimes rare, biggest critic, but yeah, so I think everyone just did such a good job and it was so grounded but hilarious at the same time. was horrible.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Chiké Okonkwo and Jon Seda are a pair of accomplished actors that have appeared in iconic franchises in multiple mediums. Currently, they star as Ty and Dr. Sam on the hit NBC series, La Brea, and with the show now coming to an end, we here at NTG were fortunate enough to speak with both of them about their time on the show.
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John Betancourt: What are each of you going to miss the most about working on this series?

Chiké Okonkwo: It's, you know… it's always people, isn't it? It's like being in a family, and there are things that are difficult, and there are things that are wonderful. But you always look back and you're grateful for the elements that were in that family. So as much as it was tricky being on the other side of the world filming in Australia, that was also joyful and beautiful in lots of ways too. It always comes down to the people for me, and that's, that's the reason I do the job. And it's the thing that I love most about the job, the people you get to work with along the way. So, it'll be that for me.

Jon Seda: Yeah, I agree. I mean, you know, outside of missing the fact that, you know, working with this amazing cast and crew and, and just being able to experience that in Australia, you know, maybe down the line, we’ll have the opportunity that we could potentially work together again, and you know, that that would be fantastic. But the show itself, you know, is what I will really miss, you know, the surprises in the scripts, and getting the scripting and seeing where David Appelbaum was thinking of taking our next journey, you know, and going “Oh my gosh, he wants to do that? How are we going to do that?” What I'm gonna miss the most is the show, filming, and the surprises. It was so much fun. And from the beginning, you know, I always felt this was a special show. I think it was unique and great for us to be a part of.

John Betancourt: What are each of you most proud of when it comes to your work on the show?

Jon Seda: Oh, yeah, you know, I'm just so proud of being able to get to know Chiké and to get to know the rest of the cast. You know, just it's an incredible group of people, you know, from Natalie Zea, Eoin, Jack, Zyra. Just, on and on, you know, Scott, you know, it's just… I’m not gonna list everybody, but just an incredible group of people and the crew, which I had an opportunity of working with on another project out in Australia a few years back, so to meet up with so many of them again, and, you know, I'm just, I'm just proud to have been a part of it, you know? I thought, like I said, I thought it was something that was gonna be special. And I'm proud… I gave 100% all the time. And hopefully, it's something that, you know, people will be able to watch over and over again, and feel, the passion that we put in, and how special it was to us. And hopefully, they'll feel that. So, I'm proud of that, I'm proud of, of how passionate everybody was to try and make La Brea the best thing that we could.

Chiké Okonkwo: Yeah, and I'll jump on that and say, I'm really proud to be able to complete a story, you know, to be able to tell a story from beginning through the middle to the end, and to be part of such a cohesive whole in doing that. Because, you know, as a kid, when I was first thinking about being an actor, it was that. It was always the stories. It was the ability to be able to throw yourself in with a group of people and tell this unique story. And then, you know, when you get into your career, it's not always the case that that you get to finish it. It's not always an option for you. So, I feel really proud of David Appelbaum, what he created, and the fact that we were able to stick the landing like we did.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. The final season of ‘La Brea’ debuts on NBC on January 9, 2024, at 9p-10p ET/PT and will be streaming on Peacock, the next day.

Lily Santiago, Josh McKenzie, and Rohan Mirchandaney are a trio of talented actors that currently star as Veronica, Lucas, and Scott, respectively on the hit NBC series, La Brea. And with the series nearing its end, they took a moment of their busy schedules to discuss what this incredible journey has meant to all of them.
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John Betancourt: Let’s talk a little bit about what this journey and your time on this show has meant to each of you.

Lily Santiago: Oh, well, gosh, I love this show. I've learned so much from my fellow actors, but also just in general, like being consistently on a TV show for three seasons and creating that little sense of family and having new pages with writers that throw everything at you all the time, in a world that is always insane, where you might die at any minute, and you never know what's like popping out of a hole in the ground. It's been… it's very close to my heart. And I feel really lucky that I think especially with season three, we get to just grow and grow as actors, but also our characters are just shifting constantly. And we have so many new things to play with and adjust to.

Josh McKenzie: Yeah. I mean, it's the whole show. It's like, I'll always say to people, I don't know if you'll ever see another kind of show like this, you know, we're kind of into the new age of streaming shows and stuff like that, and its kind of the last vestige of like, original network content that's truly original. And truly just out the gate, you know, like, so it's been like, very, very special and very bittersweet to wrap it up in the third season. But in that, I think the show has kicked up another gear. All the actors have come with like a brand-new energy, everyone's grounded in their characters. And I think this season, really should show the audience's how much the show actually means to us as actors and also the characters themselves, you know, I hope it is a satisfying conclusion that… will be bittersweet.

Rohan Mirchandaney: I felt it's been an absolute blast coming on to this show. It's been my first major TV project, or major project in general and working on this for like, close to three years. It's… we've been through a lot, you know, I've grown certainly a lot as a person, as an actor. And I've got to meet a really lovely group of friends in the both the cast and crew. And following these characters journeys from two years ago to now, we've come such a long way, and there's been so much development and growth, and the whole process has been really rewarding. And I think it finally comes to a head in this particular season, which is so explosive, and action packed and got all the twists and turns in the right places. And yeah, we end on a real high with this one. It's been great.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. The final season of ‘La Brea’ debuts on NBC on January 9, 2024, at 9p-10p ET/PT and will be streaming on Peacock, the next day.