Unknown Hinson is plays the lead of Early Cuyler in Adult Swim’s “Squidbillies”.  The show just started its sixth season and its looks like it is its best season yet.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Unknown Hinson about his role in the show and also his music career.

Mike Gencarelli: What do you like most about voicing the character Early Cuyler?
Unknown Hinson: As a voice actor, it is quite of a stretch for me.  I do it because it gives me a lot of freedom to improvise my lines.  I do incorporate a lot of myself into the character, which is a lot of fun. People get to know me through Early Cuyler and hopefully visa versa.

MG: How did you get involved with this show?
UH: Before the show took off, the creators got a hold of one of my CDs.  On that particular CD, there were sound clips of me talking and I guess they liked my voice.  I love cartoons and I was definitely interested. I have had a great time working on the show so far and hope to continue to.

MG: You are now into “Squidbillies” sixth season, do you feel that it has changed for you over that time?
UH: That is a good question Mike; I feel the character has evolved from season to season.  It is kind of like any character in any series, they get given a particular situation to deal with or react to.  It is really all about the days in the life of the character, one day might be good, one day might bad but you just react as it comes to you.  The main thing about cartoon characters is that they can get away with anything…obviously.  That is fascinating to me and gives me a lot of room, as I say, to be myself within the boundaries of the script.

MG: Do you ever improvise your lines during recording?
UH: Yeah, Jim Fortier and Dave Willis give me a lot of room to improvise and ad lib.  They let me put my own spin on it from time to time and I appreciate that.

MG: What has been your favorite episode of “Squidbillies” from this season?
UH: Well the season is just in process and I do not want to be partial to one particular episode.  I honestly like them all…I really do.  I do not have a favorite.

MG: How favorite episode about the show in general?
UH: I do remember an episode when Early and Lil had a litter of babies and there was one that survived.  Early took a liking to it and called it ‘Hershell Walker Cuyler Them Dawgs Is Hell Don’t They’.  I like that episode very much.

MG: You go from voice acting to musician, tell us about that side of you?
UH: Well I have been a musician all my life every since I was a little bitty boy.  That is the only profession I have ever done, it is my trade in life.  I am getting up in years but I am pretty sure I will do this till I die, I reckon. I have done for music from the show from time to time…a couple of songs. I have been able to lend some Unknown Hinson music to the show, which is a lot of fun.  I have gained a lot of new friends through “Squidbillies” and hopefully “Squidbillies” has gained friends through me.  I think one helps the other.  I enjoy playing music and doing the cartoon.

MG: Why aren’t there more musical episodes of “Squidbillies”?
UH: Well I do not know.  There is always the possibility we can do more.  The thing with me is I am always doing my thing, I have CDs to make and concerts to do.  I stay pretty busy.  But who knows may get into that more, I sure would like to.

MG: How do you find your unique sound for your music?
UH: I do not know Mike; I just write songs from my heart, sing them and play the guitar.  I record them, put them out and people seem to like it.  I am thankful to them because they come to see me play and buy my CDs. They seem to get something out of it and that is the main thing.

MG: Can we expect a new album anytime soon?
UH: Yes sir, a brand new Unknown Hinson album is due this Halloween. Yes! It will be available at UnknownHinson.com and my concerts.

Jim Fortier is the Co-Creator/Writer for Adult Swim’s “Squidbillies”.  Along with Dave Willis they have created one of the most unique shows on television.  With the show entering its sixth season, the series shows now signs of slowing down.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Jim about working on the show and what to expect from this season.

Mike Gencarelli: How do you feel that the sixth season of “Squidbillies” differs production wise from the previous seasons?
Jim Fortier: I don’t know that the production really differs from the previous seasons. Our team is just better at making the show now. We are very happy with this season. We think that the episodes are as good as any and probably are strongest batch yet. Dave and I still primarily write the episodes with the help of Chris Kelly who submits scripts to us. We are a well oiled machine.

MG: What is the turnaround for an episode from conception to completion?
JF: Usually we can write an episode in a couple days. Recording takes another couple days and then we give in to an editor in the building for about 8 weeks where they will do the audio and the rough animation cut. From there our animation studio Radical Access will get another 6-8 weeks usually. So it takes around 5-8 months per episode. We generally will record an episode every couple weeks so at any given time we could have all 10 episodes in various stages of production.

MG: What is the most difficult task about working on the show?
JF: The most difficult thing about the show is also my favorite which is getting to do all the different things Dave and I do related to the show. We both have a big hand in each step of the shows process. It can be very demanding as we generally are working on 10 shows at a time.

MG: How do you feel “Squidbillies” compares to the other shows you have worked on?
JF: The production method on those other shows was different than that on “Squidbillies”. Even the audio cuts were done differently. “Squidbillies” is different for me because it’s the first show that along with Dave I have been solely responsible for. When I worked on “The Brak Show”, I was kind of the right hand guy and helped write scripts but everything was really Pete Smith. “Squidbillies” is sort of paired down a bit to something that works well.

MG: How do you go about developing the over the top/offensive content for “Squidbillies”?
JF: I look at as redneck squids saying what they say. They aren’t speaking for us. A lot of times we have to defend the content of the show. It’s not always a bad thing to have to explain what you are doing. I can’t speak for Dave but maybe he really is thinking those things? I doubt it though [laughs]. Early really is a buffoon and we like to use him as the brunt of all the jokes. Hopefully everyone gets the characters overzealous humor.

MG: With Unknown Hinson’s musical background why haven’t there been more episodes featuring Early  singing?
JF: He has done two episodes that I can think of where he has gotten to sing. We have actually asked Unknown to do a cover version of the theme song.  I think he is going to do it but he has just been tied up getting ready to release a new album on Halloween. Unknown is a very hands on guy.

MG: Can you envision doing a “Squidbillies” movie?
JF: I can imagine me being interested in doing that. I can also imagine being told that it will never happen from the network.  I think we could give it a stab and it would be fun to do but I just don’t think there has been a call for it. However if a million rabid fans signed a petition and included 1 dollar we would start production tomorrow. Hint…Hint!!

Christopher Moynihan is the creator, writer and co-star in ABC’s new show “Man Up!”. It co-star Dan Fogler, Mather Zickel, Henry Simmons, Teri Polo and Amanda Detmer. This show is one of the funniest new show this year. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Christopher about his new show and what we can expect from the season.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you end up coming on board for the show “Man Up!”?
Christopher Moynihan: I created the show as part of deal I had for two pilots with ABC. This is the first one I came to as it has been in my head for a few years. My grandfather was wounded on the beach of Anzio, Italy in WWII and my father was a cop in the Bronx during the riots of the 1960’s. I am just a different breed of guy! I sit around and play video games and talk about “Spider-Man”. I think that we have the luxury in this day and age where we don’t have to go off and fight and do those types of things. Instead we have a person that volunteer to do those things for us which then allows us to be sort of over grown children. I always wanted to do something reflecting this modern man that doesn’t have a lot of chances to do manly thing. Things moved pretty quickly after I pitched the idea to ABC. They bought script and I wrote the pilot. We got really lucky with casting and everyone worked well. From there it moved onto series and things are going well.

MG: How do you go about getting into character and is it directly based on you?
CM: I kind of think that all the guys have pieces of me to them. My guy Craig reminds me of the guy I was in my 20’s. The way I break the three guys up is Will is really a man, Kenny is too much of a child to be a man and Craig is too much of a woman to be a man. I always think Craig is more in touch with his sensitive side and its all in the writing. We spent the whole summer writing these episodes, so its always in my wheel house that Craig is more touchy feely than the other two guys. I think there is a big piece of me that is that so its not too hard for me to get there.

MG: Do you guys have a lot of fun on set?
CM: Yes we really do. I think these television shows live and die by the casting and we really got lucky. It feels like we know each of from when we were kids. We have a lot of fun on set with each other. I feel very fortunate that we all get along.

MG: How do you feel that the show stands out from other comedies currently on television?
CM: I think what you do is you hope your voice is unique and distinct. I have a lot of great writers and I have some bizarre things in my head that I want to get to the screen. I’m hoping that our stuff is different in the sense that it is a network sitcom and its in the vein of what’s working on ABC but you try and set yourself apart by taking different approaches on popular subjects. You have to find a way to put a unique twist on a classic storyline. I think that’s how you set yourself apart.

MG: How many episodes have you filmed so far and do you have a favorite?
CM: We are currently in the process of shooting episode 105 which would make this the fourth episode since the pilot that we have shot. I am really happy with everything we have done so far. Everything comes out of the scripts you write in the summer time. We had six scripts in pretty good shape even before we started shooting episode 102. Everything we have shot so far has been pretty good. I have only seen episode 101 and its really funny however its kind of like looking at your own baby. You think its cute but what do other people think. I really believe its funny and the network seems pleased.

MG: How many episodes have been green-lit?
CM: We have been green-lit the pilot plus twelve episodes. We are shooting number four right now.

MG: Can you give us a sneak preview of what we can expect this season?
CM: We have eight or nine scripts written and the other ones are loosely put together. When we come back Kenny’s ex-wife Brenda has brought a new guy into the group by the name of Grant. Our first episode back Craig and Will try to get Kenny to be friends with Grant as he found out that the other were hanging out with this Grant guy behind his back. The episode is called “Finessing the Bromance”. A lot of the first season is going to be the three guys getting Grant to be a part of their group.

Adam Poch was a contestant on season 13 of the reality television show “Big Brother”. Adam quickly became known to his house mates and viewers of the show for his love of Heavy Metal, Bacon and all things “Beverly Hills 90210”. Adam took a few minutes out of his day to talk with Media Mikes about his experience on the show as well as getting to meet Tori Spelling.

Adam Lawton: Were you familiar with the show prior to auditioning?
Adam Poch: I have been a fan of “Big Brother” since the beginning. Thank God around season 6 of the show I got my first DVR, which turned me from a big fan into a huge fan! I was then able to watch every episode. From there I started getting on all the blogs and watching the live feeds as well as the after dark stuff on Showtime. I really like the concept of the show as well. When I saw Evil Dick on season 8, I realized that they could have a rock and roll type guy on the show.  So I thought about trying out.

AL: Had you auditioned for any previous season of the show?
AP: Yes. I had auditioned prior to season 10, however I bombed my audition terribly. I went in and talked about everything but myself. I was too busy at the time to audition for season 11, so the next time I went in was for season 12. I walked in this time and just gave it to them as to what made me unique. My opening line was “My name is Adam and my three passions are heavy metal, bacon and Beverly Hills, 90210”. You could see everyone in the room kind of look at me a little different. I made it all the way to the finals however they ending up not choosing me but they told me to keep trying.  This year I went back and gave them me again. I had some changes in my life since the previous year such as losing a 100 lbs. and having a girlfriend. I think my confidence definitely showed more and they loved everything that had from the previous year but they loved it even more this year.

AL: Having gone through the audition process a few times what was it like?
AP: They have you jump through hoops and answering questions over and over. There were a couple rounds of interviews with different people. For me there were a lot of sleepless nights waiting for phone calls about whether or not I made it to the next round. Open auditions started in April and it’s not until July that the show starts. For someone who got so close last year, I could taste it and there were lots of nights dreaming about how cool it would be to be on the show.

AL: Did you ever become annoyed with having the cameras around literally all the time?
AP: When you sign up for the show you know going in that the cameras are going to rolling 24-7, you really have no place to hide. I was never annoyed with the cameras but I was annoyed that I could never just get away and have a luxury reward. We had the episode where David Hasselhoff came into the house and four people got to watch the show “Same Name”. I was just praying there would another similar competition to watch a movie or television show. It would have been nice to get out of the game for just a bit,as being in game mode all the time did take a toll on me.

AL: You guys are completely locked out from the outside world correct?
AP: I had no idea about anything going on outside of the house. I remember some of the cast wanting to know what was going on with the Casey Anthony trial. Personally, I wanted to know what was going on with the NFL lockout. I knew I would be getting out of the house in September and a Fall without football just isn’t Fall. I also knew I was missing a lot of great concerts while I was in the house. I really missed an entire summer of new stuff. Being blocked off from society is not always a bad thing but you do miss the connection with people.

AL: What was it like living in an elf suit for a week?
AP: For me it was a good time! People weren’t looking at me as a threat because I was an elf. I was just some goofy guy running around the house making people laugh and drinking syrup. I think the suit came at a good time for me because there were lines starting to be drawn deeper in the sand. No one really thought of me as a threat. I was able to stay under the radar and be entertainment for the house. If anyone in that cast had to get the elf suit, I was glad it was me because I feel I rocked it! I actually still have the suit. I saved it to use later in the game if tension started to get high, but I never did get back out as I was afraid it would make people upset rather than happy.

AL: What do you think was the hardest challenge you participated in?
AP: Probably the food competition from week two. Dominic and I were strapped together in an ant contest. The other guys all got matched up with girls who were pretty easy to carry. Dominic and I are not the smallest people in the house. You put the two of us together in an ant costume crawling over picnic items really tore us up. I have a few scars on my knees from that competition. I’m glad I will never have to do that one again. The ski slope challenge was pretty intense, as well as the first part of the final Head of House competition. We were on the beaters churning butter. I had to stand on this small platform with size 13 feet and about 15 minutes in my legs locked up and I was done. I ended up sitting in the pool for another 10-15 minutes because I just couldn’t move my legs.

AL: Did you guys have an idea as what each competition was going to be ahead of time?
AP: We could hear banging and things like that going on outside but we could never see anything. We had no idea what we were doing until the curtain goes up and we walk outside. We would often speculate what we thought we were going to have to do. At certain times we had a pretty good idea what was going to be coming up but we couldn’t be totally sure until we were out there.

AL: Can you describe the Tori Spelling meeting?
AP: Tori who? [laughs]…..I know that I didn’t win “Big Brother” but Tori Spelling came into the house and knew who Adam Pock was. Tori kissed me on the cheek while I was drinking an appletini! I would have blown through $500,000 so fast but the memories of Tori Spelling kissing me while drinking an appletini in the “Big Brother” house are worth way more than $500,000! It really was a dream come true being on the television show. I figured I would meet Tori one day at a book signing or something, but the fact Tori Spelling knows who I am! was the biggest thrill of the summer for sure. She was just as cute and sweet as I expected her to be. I fell in “love” with her character on the show and I watched her other reality shows and I just couldn’t have expected her to be any sweeter.

AL: Any chance we will see you on the show again?
AP: If people want me back on the show, write to CBS and tell them you want the elf/heavy metal teddy bear back on. Right now, I am back to my day to day life. I am back working at my job and have moved in with my girlfriend. I lost so much in three months that I am trying to catch up on things as much as I can. If I was called to be on the show again I would have to seriously think about it. The show was very draining both physically and mentally but I loved it. If things all worked out at that certain point in time I would probably go back. For right now though I am not knocking on any doors to have me put back in the show anytime soon. I give respect to those people on the show who have done back to back summers. It takes a special person to walk through those doors!

For up to date info on Adam head over to Twitter and follow him @heavymetalteddy

Dave Foley is known best for his TV work in “The Kids in the Hall” and “NewsRadio”. He is currently co-starring with Kevin Dillon and David Hornsby in CBS’s new comedy “How to Be a Gentleman”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Dave about his new show, his work with “The Kids in the Hall” and what he has planned upcoming.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your role of Jerry in “How to Be a Gentleman”?
Dave Foley: The show is created by David Hornsby.  He was the writer, producer and performer in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”. He writes a column for men in a Maxim style magazine and I play Jerry his editor.  Jerry is a man around 50, who is scared of losing his job and trying to stay relevant to his 25 year old boss.

MG: You are no stranger to comedy, how do you feel this show differs from your other comedy work?
DF: It’s actually has more similarities to shows like “NewsRadio” or “Kids in the Hall”.  It is a really strong ensemble of great performers.  Everyone in the cast is really funny. Behind that just like “NewsRadio”, it has a great writing staff.  To me I have been very fortunate to be able to continue working with great actors and writers.

MG: Switching to sci-fi, tell us about your work on the season finale of “Eureka”, any plans to come back?
DF: I was hoping to come back but they just announced they have already shot the rest of the episodes for their final season.  I was a big fan of that show and was good friends with Matthew Hastings, one of the producers and directors on the show.  I kept bugging him to get me a part in the show. I really wanted to be on it because I was such a fan.  So about a year later, we finally made it happen…he had a script and I wasn’t busy.  It was really fun.

MG: What are your feeling about Kevin McDonald and Scott Thompson going on tour this year?
DF: It’s a great show and I actually opened for them when they did the show in L.A. They are both doing stand up but then they come together throughout the show and do bits.  It goes back and forth. It is hilarious.

MG: Do you ever see yourself working again under “The Kids in the Hall”?
DF: Yeah I would love to.  We were trying to get a tour together for this Fall as well, but now I got this job with “How To Be a Gentleman”.  But we want to keep touring with each other for as many years as we can and also more smaller “Kids” projects down the road.  We definitely want to keep “The Kids in the Hall” part of our creative lives.

MG: I really enjoyed the mini-series feel for “Death Comes to Town”.
DF: It started out we were trying to come up with movie ideas. So this idea came up and Kevin (McDonald) and Bruce (McCulloch) were developing it. They came back and said it would work better as a mini-series.  We had no plans of ever doing television together again, since we already did a pretty good sketch show.  So we figured a mini-series with a narrative was the way to go and thought it would be fun.

MG: How do you compare doing voice work to live action work, do you prefer one over another?
DF: There are different challenges.  Working with voice work it is all in your head and your relying very heavily on your director in order to know what the other actors have done, what the story is and the what are the visuals.  They paint the scene in your head for you and then you have to act the best you can and make it seem real.  In my case, make it funny.  Unlike when you are on a movie set, you have props, other actors and sets.  So it can be very different.

MG: Tell us what you like most about working on “Dan Vs.” and what can we expect from season two this October?
DF: It is really fun.  A lot of the time I get to be in the studio with Curtis Armstrong and Paget Brewster.  The three of us get to work together and that doesn’t usually happen with animation.  I think as the show goes along Dan becomes increasingly sociopathic and dangerous [laughs].  I think some of the scripts are getting a little weirder and absurd as we go along, but it is keeping to the same tone.  I enjoy it quite a bit.

MG: Any plans upcoming for another “Prep and Landing” special?
DF: Yes in fact, there is going to be a new “Prep and Landing” special this Christmas. Rob Riggle is going to do a voice on it also.  It is a new story and it is going to be on this Christmas, so it is really exciting.

MG: You have been involved with Pixar before with “A Bug’s Life”, any truth to your involvement with “Monsters University”?
DF: Yes I am doing once of the voice, that is correct.  I have already been up to San Francisco to record, so I am very excited for that.

Mary Lynn Rajskub is known best for her role of Chloe O’Brian in the TV series “24”.  Mary Lynn is currently co-starring in “How To Be a Gentleman” with David Horsnby, Kevin Dillon, Rhys Darby and David Foley.  The show premiere’s September 29th on CBS.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Mary Lynn about her now show and what we can expect from the season.

Mike Gencarelli: How is it working with a primarily male cast on “How To Be a Gentleman”?
Mary Lynn Rajskub: I don’t mind it. Men can be exciting sometimes. We have a lot of women on the crew and there also is Nancy Lenehan, who plays our mother on the show.

MG: How was it working with Kevin Dillion, who is fresh from “Entourage”?
MLR: It’s great! He is a super nice guy and he is very funny. I think this show gives him more to do and we get to see more of him than on “Entourage”. He really had no break as once that show ended he started work on this one. We are shooting episode number five right now. It’s been pretty fun so far.

MG: What can we expect from the first season?
MLR: The idea of the show was created by David Horsnby. He had this book that I think his mom gave him on how to be a gentleman. The book has all these archaic rules about politeness and things a gentleman should do. David loosely based the show on a guy who lived his life by every rule in that book. I play the sister who tries to get this guy into the real world. Kevin Dillon plays the guy who used to be the bully in high school and wants Andrew the main character to get laid. It’s really a story about a guy attempting to change his life.

MG: How does it feel going from a show like “24” to a comedy like this one?
MLR: It’s been interesting. It’s been a lot different and I don’t have to worry about who is getting shot or if the bomb went off yet. This show still has high stakes overall but its more about the relationships. I get to be a girl and wear sexy outfits. It’s a lot lighter.

MG: How do you feel this show differs from other television shows?
MLR: I think every show is different. What I like about our show is that the characters are very likeable. I think everyone on our show is really good at comedy and each character is endearing in their own way.

MG: What was it like working with Fred Savage?
MLR: Fed Savage is super sweet and very high energy. He is like a little kid as he has so much fun directing and with his job. Fred is just a great guy that has grown up in the business and loves directing. He has a very infectious personality.

MG: Any word about the rumors circulating in relation to a “24” full length movie?
MLR: I haven’t heard anything but it is something I would love to see. I am not sure how they would handle the countdown but I haven’t heard anything yet. I hope it is still in the works.

MG: Can you tell us about your upcoming film with Kristen Bell titles “Safety Not Guaranteed”?
MLR: I got to work with Aubrey Plaza and Jake Johnson who is super funny as well as Jeff Garlin who I have known for a long time. It was one of those scripts that were sort of odd and sweet but kind of dark. It was good timing and was just a few days of work. I play a boss of a magazine that is very cold and rude. The film is based on a personal add about a guy that wants to time travel.

Rhys Darby is known best for his role of  Murray Hewitt in “The Flight of the Conchords”.  He is currently starring with Kevin Dillon and David Hornsby in CBS’s new comedy “How to Be a Gentleman”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Rhys about his new show and also his stand up work.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your new show “How to Be a Gentleman”?
Rhys Darby: It is basically about the ultimate gentleman Andrew, played by David Hornsby. He is in his mid-30’s and bit of a loaner. He is obsessed with gentlemanly etiquette and old fashion values. He ends up befriending an old school chum, Bert, who is played by Kevin Dillon, who used to give him hell at school and bullied him. Bert is running a gym and these two end up being friends when Bert takes Andrew on as a client at the gym. They form this odd couple kind of relationship since they both have something the other one needs. One doesn’t have any idea about gentlemanly etiquette and the other needs a good kick up the ass when it comes to being a man.

MG: Give us some background on your character Mike?
RD: Andrew’s sister Janet, played by Mary Lynn Rajskub, has hooked up with me and married this New Zealander. We met in the Chicago Technology and Science Museum, without giving too much away. She falls for my charm. Don’t ask me why I am working in the Chicago Technology and Science Museum [laughs]. I guess I came all the way to America since New Zealand have limited resources with museums. It is a young country and anything in the museum are only about 10-15 years old [laughs]. So I am living the dream and end up in there family. It reminds me of “Happy Days” a little bit since every week we have dinner with Andrew’s mom. My wife Janet is the domineering wife and I am put in my place a bit. Since it is the first season we are exploring the relationship and how things fall into place. In the pilot, I am a little brough beaten but I find my place and get a bit of balls and that is helped out by Kevin’s character. I sort of piggy back off Andrew’s advice and ends up helping me out as well.

MG: How is the production going so far? Any notable moments for the first month of shooting?
RD: It has been going really well. The first thing that we noticed that not only did we have a really good cast but we all got on really well. It really did feel like a family. I just love the cast. From there we are like seven episodes in now and we are just enjoying it. Our relationships are getting stronger and it has been a real blast. The easiest thing about it is that the writing is really good. So hopefully we are going to have a little hit on our hands here.

MG: How does working on a show like this differ from “The Flight of the Conchords”?
RD: It is very different for me. It is a big studio sitcom with lots of sets and multi-camera situations. I am sort of more used to run by the strings of your pants, one camera, making it up as you go along situations. But I bring that background that I have to this and I do a bit of ad lib here and there.  They actually let me do it, so I am rejoicing that. I got the advantage because I am playing a character from a different place and only I know how I would say some things [laughs]. It has been cool.

MG: What do you look for in a character that makes you want to jump on board?
RD: Well, definitely something challenging for me. Comedy is my forte. I like to do what is on paper but then be able to take it even further. I am all about making something as funny as it can be. I come from a stage background where I do physical comedy and stand-up. In “Conchords”, we didn’t have an audience and no one was allowed to laugh on set. It was all about the awkward moments and pauses. Coming into this show now, there is laughter and we have to pause for jokes, it is new for me.

MG: Besides acting you have a stand up routine, what do you enjoy most about it?
RD: Definitely the instant laughs you get and if something is an instant hit. You can think on your feet more and that is something I like to do. Rather than just having a few lines…by that I don’t mean coke [laughs]…I mean script [laughs], learning them two days prior and then doing them once. I rather learn the lines just before hand, have it fresh and have the ability to add to it. In stand up, the way I write my material is to write it out word for word like it is a novel, then read it over once and just go out there. It is very organic, it goes brain to paper…to paper to back to brain…and then out to the ear. It is a three-step process. Things evolve when you are doing stand up man and I really love it.

Sheila Shah is set to appear in the new CBS comedy “How to Be a Gentleman” with Kevin Dillon, Dave Foley and David Hornsby.  She is also in two upcoming films “Mafia” opposite Ving Rhames and “Crossroads”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Sheila about her work and also performing her own stunts.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your role as the bartender in the new CBS comedy series “How to be a Gentleman”?
Sheila Shah: I had gone in for an audition which was on a Tuesday. I got a call on Wednesday that I got the part and was on set the very next day. I was just playing the hot bartender [laughs].

MG: Is this going to be a recurring role for you on the show?
SS: A lot depends on the how the ratings of the show go if I will end up being a reoccurring character. Be sure to twitter that you liked my character and hopefully the will be bringing me back.  The show does need a bartender [laughs].

MG: How was it working with Kevin Dillon, Dave Foley and David Hornsby?
SS: Everyone on set was really nice. I got to work one scene with Kevin and the David’s. They had really good energy and were fun to watch. It was my first time being on a TV set so it was great. It was really fun to be the hot bartender and do some sensual moves with the martini glasses.

MG: How does playing Special Agent Cowan in “Saw V” compare to your other work?
SS: The shoots for television are much faster. When you are on a movie set you get a lot more time to spend with the other actors because you are shooting for a longer period. When you go on a show as a guest spot you shoot for a day or two and that’s it. Things just move a lot faster especially when you are doing a comedy. I would love to do more television in the future.

MG: Tell us about your experience in “Mafia”, opposite Ving Rhames, Pam Grier and Robert Patrick?
SS: That movie is going to be amazing and it is currently in post production. My first and last scenes were with Pam Grier which was great being with such a talented actor. Ving Rhames is a very talented actor and getting to be his right hand man in the film was great. I really learned a lot.

MG: Tell us about your role in “Crossroads” and about how you also performed your own stunts?
SS: Because of my role in “Mafia” I took up boxing in an effort to look a bit tougher. I also got to learn how to shoot guns and things so for “Crossroads” I was all set to do my own stunts. There were some really talented actors involved on the project and I was honored to be a part of that production.

MG: What do you look for in a role when you approach a project?
SS: Actions and thrillers are fun to do but I would like to get into a role that is more in depth so I can really get in there. I also want to do some more television work as well.

Official Website: http://www.sheilashah.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/sheilashah2

Carly Chaikin is currently playing Dalia Royce on new series “Suburgatory”, which premieres on ABC on 9/28 at 8:30/7:30c.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Carly about her new role and what we can expect from the season.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us what you like most about playing Dalia Royce on “Suburgatory”?
Carly Chaikin: The most exciting thing for me is that I have never played a character like this before. She is a legitimate character for me. I actually have to step into her, wear different clothes, put on fake nails and become her. I think that is the art of acting and that is why I enjoy it so much. I get to explore that and become someone else entirely.

MG: This is your first TV series, how do you feel it differs than working on film?
CC: It is my first anything TV and it took me by surprise that my career has landed me in the TV world. I think what is so exciting about doing a TV show vs. doing a film is that you have 13 episodes where you get to build and develop your character more and more. I get to go on the journey with her oppose to just having this one start line that we all know which we do for two months and it is done. I think it is also saying with TV we have no idea what is going to happen next. Today I just read the script for episode seven and I have never seen it before. It is just as exciting every time we get a new script.

MG: Since the show is a comedy, how do you prepare for your character?
CC: I am working with such amazing comedians that the second you set onto set you are already in that comedy vibe. For me my character is so comedic based on the things she wears, her facial experiences and the simplicity of who she is. For me the second I get into my wardrobe, put on my fake nails, get my hair straightened and my eye lashes on…I immediately step into the character and I am ready to go.

MG: Tell us about working with the rest of the cast i.e. Jeremy Sisto, Cheryl Hines and Alan Tudyk?
CC: Working with them has been a dream. Cheryl and I are so incredibly close. I am sure you hear this all the time when you are working with people on set you kind of become a family. I started calling Cheryl mom off screen a lot [laughs]. Alan is one of the funniest people I have ever met in my entire life. Jeremy is an amazing person. In between takes when we are just hanging around we just have so much fun together. It is very natural and fun. I really do enjoy doing to work everyday because I get to see these people.

MG: How do you feel the show will stand out amongst new shows this Fall?
CC: I so firmly believe in our show. I think it is incredibly written and genuinely funny. I think it is an easy watch. It is fresh and new and something that people haven’t really seen. It is the kind of show that if I wasn’t in…I would want to watch. People that have seen the pilot all want to see what happens next and that is what makes the show important and good.

MG: How many episodes have you filmed so far this season?
CC: We just finished episode 5, which was our Halloween episode. Yeah as of right now we have 13 episodes. We are averaging about one episode per week in production.

MG: Tell us about your upcoming film “Escapee”?
CC: It was my first horror film that I have ever done. We filmed in Alexandria, Louisiana, which was definitely an experience especially from growing up in Los Angeles [laughs]. It is a fun and really good scary movie. It has been released in Alexandria and did incredibly well at the box office. Hopefully it will expand…so fingers crossed. It is definitely something I would like everyone to see.

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A Conspiracy from the Shadows of Naboo Threatens the Peaceful Planet

In “Shadow Warrior,” this week’s episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the peace and unity that followed the defeat of the Trade Federation blockade seen in Episode I are shattered as the Gungans inexplicably march towards war against the Naboo city of Theed. Padmé Amidala rushes to investigate, discovering that General Grievous and his droid army stand poised to invade the planet. An unlikely imposter standing in for an injured Gungan leader may help stop the growing conflict, while Anakin Skywalker’s search for answers takes him into the shadowy lair of the enemy. There, the Jedi hero enters into an epic battle against his sworn enemy, Count Dooku, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, September 23^rd on Cartoon Network.

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Malik Yoba is known best for his role of Bill Harken on Syfy’s “Alphas”. The show is finishing up its first season and is already green-lit for season two. Media Mikes was able to chat with Malik about working on “Alphas” and also about his character.

Mike Gencarelli: What do you enjoy the most about playing Bill Harken on “Alphas”?
Malik Yoba: I really enjoy the entire experience as we have a great cast. I think everyone working on the show are also fans of it. The writing is good and everyone is really talented. The gig is very easy to like. It’s not every day where you get a show that everything seems to work.

MG: Do you enjoy how physical your role on the show is?
MY: I am the old man of the group besides David and we all want to hold onto youth. (Laughs) It’s good when you can be challenged in more than one way. The physical aspects of the show make it that much more appealing.

MG: What has surprised you most about working on the show?
MY: I think the biggest surprise for me was that I ended up liking it so much. I think if you have done a lot of television and been down that road you know how hard it is to find a good show that has everything going for it. To actually work on a show that works and is worth your time is amazing. It’s definitely been a surprise and a pleasure. Everyone on the cast has gotten really tight and we all know how good the show is.

MG: How do you feel this show differs from your previous work?
MY: I think any opportunity you get to show a little bit more range is good. I have never done a show where I have had special abilities or where special effects have been used, so this one has been good.

MG: What has been your favorite episode so far?
MY: I like them all for different reason but I really liked the “Bill and Gary’s Excellent Adventure” episode. It was such a damn hoot and we such a good time shooting.

MG: What can we expect from the finale?
MY: All I know is that the writers wrote a pretty massive episode and that we shot it! (Laughs) It was good and I think we were all impressed. There is a good cliffhanger that I think will leave people wanting more. We are just happy that people have responded to the show and we have some serious fans. The fact that people connected to the show in 11 episodes is wonderful.

MG: What are your plans for during the break?
MY: I am teaching a class right now at Long Island University. I also have some web series stuff as well as recording music. I am also setting up a feature film to direct after season two shooting wraps up.

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Laura Mennell is known best for her role of Nina in Syfy’s “Alphas”. The show is finishing up its first season and is already green-lit for season two. Media Mikes was able to chat with Laura about working on “Alphas” and also about her character.

Mike Gencarelli: What do you like most about playing Nina on “Alphas”?
Laura Mennell: I think I probably love playing Nina’s ability. Although her power might not be a physical strength her pushiness gives her this enormous power even in intense situations. I like that she can get right in there and help save the day. She sort of uses her ability as a weapon. Nina is a great asset to the team. It’s fun to vicariously live through her. I also love having a female character that gets into the action mix which I think is great.

MG: When will we find out more about her back story?
LM: I think the mystery of Nina’s back story is very interesting. I think we have seen little hints of background here and there but she doesn’t like to go there and be vulnerable. I think in the second season you will see a little more as the series goes on. The mystery of the characters I think adds to the appeal of the show.

MG: Can you give us some info on the Nina and Cameron relationship story line?
LM: I think part of the connection between Hicks and Nina stems from the fact they are both fairly damaged people with difficult pasts. I really enjoy playing out their relationship. It’s never been an easy one. With Nina she has a lot of walls put with Hicks and when those walls start to come down as Nina gets comfortable something happens and they go back up. It’s nice to see Nina be a little more vulnerable with Cameron as most of the time she doesn’t want to be or appear to be vulnerable.

MG: What can we expect from the season finale?
LM: I can’t really say too much but it’s going to be a wonderful episode for Dr. Rosen and you get to learn a little bit more about his past. He will have to make some very interesting choices to make as a character. David Strathairn is such a wonderful actor any episode that centers around him will always be good. I really enjoy watching him work. The episode is going to be great and have quite a bit of action.

MG: Do you have a favorite episode thus far?
LM: I love a lot of the episodes. I had a lot of fun with the “Catch and Release” episode. Working with Summer Glau was great and she is really sweet. That episode was an interesting one for Nina as you got to see who Nina used to be and who she could have become. I think Nina’s encounter with Skylar really impacted her.

MG: How do you feel this show stands out from other sci-fi shows?
LM: I think the show is really cool and one thing interesting about our show fan wise is we have a lot of traditional sci-fi fans. The show is a little different in the procedural aspect and it’s a more realistic setting as our characters are sort of average people. I think because of those things people who might not normally be attracted to the show have been drawn into it.

MG: What are you looking forward to coming back to with season 2?
LM: I think it will be nice to get back and work with everyone. Everybody has been great! It will also be fun to see what’s in store for our characters each time we get the script for a new episode. I like the surprises.

Steve Cardenas is known best for his role of the Red Ranger in “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” TV series.  Steve is currently following his main passion with the opening of his new business called, Force/Balance Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Yoga. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Steve about his work with “Power Rangers” and his new company.

Mike Gencarelli: Your background was martial arts, how did you end up acting instead?
Steve Cardenas: Well, I’m not really an actor because I only ever did that one show. They were looking for kids who knew how to do martial arts and that’s how I got the gig in the first place.

MG: What was the most memorable part of playing Red Ranger in “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” TV series?
SC: Filming the movie in Sydney Australia, and getting to meet kids whose last wish was to meet the Power Rangers.

MG: Any crazy stories from the set of the show that you were saving for this interview?
SC: Well, they’ve all been talked about. But some a crazy story might have been the time that Jason Narvy took my clothes as me and this girl were in the hot tub at my hotel in Australia and then we had to walk back to my room with nothing but shoes covering our “stuff” ya know? ahaha

MG: Tell us about your new Force/Balance Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Yoga business in Burbank, CA?
SC: Great new facility, with a great lounge area. 1600 sq. ft. of mats and a beautiful yoga room. Fun exciting kid’s program as well! Check out http://www.forcebalancebjj.com for more details.

MG: You also worked with Sean Patrick Flanery in his Hollywood Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy, tell us about it?
SC: Sean Patrick Flannery was awesome. Well, he still is [laughs]. He has been a great friend and mentor in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

MG: Do you have plans to ever go back to acting in the future?
SC: Probably not. Just gonna focus on my teaching and my training. I feel that’s more my calling in life.

Daniel McDevitt is the voice of Rusty in Adult Swim’s “Squidbillies”.  The show just entered its fifth season and shows no signs of slowing down.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Daniel about his role in the show and what we can expect from this season.

Mike Gencarelli: You have voiced Rusty from “Squidbillies” for 6 years now. How do you think the character has changed since you started?
Daniel McDevitt: Back when the characters were being developed Rusty was going to be this really loud wild as hell type of guy. Early has been the character that has really fallen into that mold and Rusty has been more of the timid type. When I auditioned they told me to picture the biggest redneck type bully that I could imagine. The first couple of recordings we did had Rusty with type of attitude. I don’t know if the creators decided they only wanted one super aggressive character or what but ultimately Rusty ended up as the more timid one.  He is always asking his daddy for permission before doing something.

MG: How do you prepare for the role?
DM: I don’t prepare too much. When I first started they would give me a script about a day before or so and I would read through it and try and get a grasp on which way the script was going to go. These days I just go in and get the script as I am walking in and they send me right to the recording booth. I don’t even know what the story is about usually. I may read a line 20 or 30 times because the scripts are so bizarre and I have no idea what the character is supposed to be doing. There is a lot of directing done and I almost feel like I am hardly doing any acting because I am just being told how to interpret the lines.

MG: When you are recording is it just you or are you with the rest of the cast?
DM: Generally it is just me in there by myself. Sometimes there might be someone else waiting to come in and record another character right after me but so far we have never read parts at the same time. In a way it seems like it would be better to record a few voices at a time as the directors might get something better doing it that way. Unknown Hinson who does the voice of Early actually lives in Charlotte, NC. I think he does a majority of his lines via telephone.

MG: What do think has drawn fans to the show over the years?
DM: It’s a pretty bizarre show and has a real cult following. People seem to really get into it. The show is not something I have been telling my family to watch. The target age for the show is something like 18-34. The show is for guys sitting around their college dorms looking for bizarre stuff to laugh at. I grew up with David and Jim, who are writers on the show, and they have always both had a weird sense of humor.

MG: Was being friends with the guys how you go the part on the show?
DM: That’s how I got the audition. We all grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta, GA and I guess were all rednecks at heart. After going away and seeing how other places worked I strived to get rid of my accent and do things a little smarter. We always used to joke about being rednecks and we enjoyed doing that type of voice. David knew I could do a pretty good redneck, so he asked me to come in and audition. He gave me a lot of adult beverages prior to recording my audition in a closet at his house. When we were done he threw the CD we made in with all the other audition CD’s. They had hundreds of audition CD’s of people from NY and other cities using a standard southern accent like you would hear on “Gone with the Wind”. Everyone from the South knows those aren’t genuine. Dave was looking for something more down and dirty.

MG: What can we expect from this season?
DM: I can’t really give you too much of a sneak peek as we have about 6 more episodes recorded. I never get to see the final product before it comes out. There are a lot of episodes I have yet to even see as I only have one television in my house and I have younger children that I don’t allow to watch the show.

MG: From the ones you have seen do you have a favorite episode?
DM: “Flight of the Deep Fried Pine Booby” was pretty funny. I also liked the episode where Early and Rusty were going to what they thought was a therapist. The episode with T-Pain was pretty funny and I wish they put him on more. There was a lot that went into the musical episode which I didn’t realize until I watched the extras portion of the DVD.

MG: What other stuff do you have going on when you are not voicing Rusty?
DM: I am a pilot by profession. I fly 767 and 757 for a company in the Atlanta area. I also have a small plane of my own that I fly on the side for fun.

The battle for Mon Calamari escalates in the conclusion to an epic Star Wars: The Clone Wars three-part story arc

In “Prisoners,” the must-see conclusion to the epic two-part season opener of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, all appears lost as the Republic army and its allies the Gungans have been captured by Riff Tamson and his seemingly invincible Karkarodon forces. The future looks as murky as the turbulent undersea battlefields of Mon Calamari, but there still are holdouts. Now all depends on Ahsoka Tano helping young Prince Lee-Char find the internal strength to unite the fractured races of his planet to drive out the Separatist invaders in a pulse-pounding battle airing at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, September 23^rd on Cartoon Network.