Patrick Muldoon is known best for his roles in the original “Melrose Place” and “Starship Troopers”. Patrick currently returned to his role on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives” after a 16 year break. Media Mikes had a chance to chat about his return to soaps and also his connection to Casper Van Dian.

Mike Gencarelli: How has it been returning “Days of Our Lives” after a 16 year break?
Patrick Muldoon: I kind of compare it to what it would be like if you went back to high school 15 years later and all of the same people are there. It’s almost like a family reunion. The halls and dressing rooms are still the same. It was really bizarre in the beginning but there was still that feeling like I never left. I am loving it!

MG: What would you say is the most challenging aspect of working in soaps?
PM: It’s much different. I have been used to working with just one camera. It’s taken some getting used to again. There is a lot of memorization happening. A movie you get four months to work on your lines and memorize them but on soaps you only get one day. Everyone works really hard and we all do our best. It really has the feel of a theater company and a live show

MG: Was it hard picking up the character of Austin Reed after so long?
PM: With soap operas they write the character and as it progresses they write in aspects of the actor playing the role. They did that for me originally so I am really familiar with this character. I played Austin for 3 years which is the longest role I have ever played. It’s weird how emotionally everything reattaches.

MG: You have done TV and movies, what do you look for more in a role or character?
PM: I tend to look at things backwards. When you get a part there is something going on within that character. There is a question that the character is living at that time. There is probably something you need to look at from your own personal life. As things come to you I kind of look at it on a spiritual tip a little bit. Whatever obstacle that character has to face somehow I am being asked to look at that in my own life. In order to be able to play the part you have to look at it from your own life. That is generally what I pay attention to when a part comes across the desk.

MG: You recently reunited with your “Starship Troopers” co-star Casper Van Dien on “Born to Ride”, tell us about that project?
PM: That film actually just got released last year however it was shot almost 7 years ago. It may have been longer than that. I don’t know what exactly happened with the film being tied up for so long. Casper and I are great friends. Neither one of us knew how to ride a motorcycle when we started shooting that. I started out doing circles in a parking lot and then I was going 70 miles an hour down a road. It was such a rush. By the grace of god we got out of that movie alive as neither of knew how to ride.

MG: You starred in 2007’s “Ice Spiders” and you got “Spider 3D” coming up, what can you tell us about that?
PM: I’m not sure why spider science fiction movies find me. (Laughs) We shot “Spiders 3D” in Bulgaria last year. It is really cutting edge technology. This was a role where you either had to hire Casper or myself. I got this one.

MG: Do you find that working on creature films pose any difficulties to CG effects added later?
PM: It’s all fun. It’s like when you see kids in playgrounds shooting each other with sticks. We are just doing the same thing but we are in out 40’s. It’s fun for me. I have been an athlete all my life so when I get to do the action stuff I am very happy.

MG: What else do you have stirring for 2012?
PM: It’s mainly just “Days of Our Lives”. I also am a musician and I will be going to Nashville on one of my breaks from the show to record a solo record. It’s going to have a southern rock vibe to it however it’s still a little early to be talking about that just yet.

Al Jean is known best for his role of Writer, Executive Producer and Show Runner of “The Simpsons”. The show is currently in its record breaking 23rd season and celebrating its 500th episode on February 19th, 2012. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Al about his job with “The Simpsons” and what we can expect from it’s future.

Mike Gencarelli: You wear many hats on “The Simpsons”, how do you juggle them all including executive producer and show runner?
Al Jean: I came up as a writer, so the most important thing for me is being head writer. There all these other aspects of it that I feel take away from main job of writing. Not that working on budgets and boards aren’t important but I have just always felt that way.

MG: How do you feel that the show still holds up and is relevant this long after 500 episodes?
AJ: It’s crazy since nothing in television lasts this long. The fact that we still get to do these stories that we think are interesting and relevant is a tribute to the way the show is created. The cast all works really hard.

MG: The 500th episode airs on Feb.19th, tell us about what we can expect from the episode and what cameo voices?
AJ: Julian Assange will be voicing himself in a cameo. We have also enlisted another hard to find person for a brief appearance as well. The basic premise of the episode is that the Simpsons find out they are being kicked out of town for the things they have done over the years.

MG: How can you reflect on the recent Guinness World Record breaking Simpsons Ultimate Fan Marathon?
AJ: I was actually there for that. I think they could have gone longer but cooler heads prevailed. I am glad no one went crazy and started shooting people. (Laughs) Of course congratulations to the two men last standing.

MG: What else can we expect from the rest of this season?
AJ: We have guest stars such as Brian Cranston, Steve Carell, Zooey Deschanel, and Lady Gaga set to appear this season. Lady Gaga is actually playing herself while the others are playing characters. We also have a Halloween show based around the Mayan prophecy of 2012. This year is going to be really exciting.

MG: When you started out with this show many years ago, did you ever think you would see this landmark?
AJ: No. If I had said that you would have put me in an institution. I would have been ecstatic if you had said 50 at the beginning. Matt (Groening) thought it was going to be a hit but I don’t think anyone else thought it would reach this point.

MG: How do you think that creating the shows now differs from when you started?
AJ: Things have changed very little. At the beginning there was incredible attention being paid to it but you know that won’t last. It has been replaced by this feeling of acceptance and that it is part of people’s lives. It’s a wonderful thing.

MG: Is there ever any hopes for a sequel to “The Simpsons Movie”?
AJ: Yes there is hope. We aren’t working on it now because it is very draining to work on the movie and the television series at the same time. I think we would all be better off if we waited until the show ended before we start another movie…but who knows when that will be.

MG: The show will continue another two seasons until season 25, what do you foresee for the future?
AJ: We are going to episode 559 for sure. It will depend on the economics at that point. We had to decrease our budget to get these extra two seasons. There may be another reduction as television is not as profitable as it once was. I wouldn’t count the show out though.

Bridgit Mendler is known best for here role of Teddy Duncan on Disney Channel’s “Good Luck Charlie”.  She also starred in Disney Channel’s recent hit movie “Lemonade Mouth” and also appeared on “Wizard of Waverly Place”.  Bridget is currently promoting her role of voicing Arrietty in Disney’s “The Secret World of Arrietty”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Bridgit about voicing the character and she also revealed some update for this coming season of “Good Luck Charlie”.

Click here for our Film Review “The Secret World of Arrietty”

Mike Gencarelli: What did you enjoy most about voicing Arrietty in “The Secret World of Arrietty”?
Bridgit Mendler: I really enjoyed voicing that character. It’s always fun to play a character that is different from you. Arrietty is really fun to explore because she is so small and has a different perspective of the world. I wasn’t physically in any of her world I was able to use my imagination to be able to do that.

MG: Have you seen the Japanese version of the film and how do you feel it translates to US audiences?
BM: I have. I think there is a good chance for this film as Studio Ghibli has released some other films in the states. The film has a really great Japanese style to the animation and storyline however the characters are voiced by American actors. In this case a lot of comedic actors are doing the voices which I think lightens the movie and makes it more accessible to American audiences. This is really fun because you get something visually that you may not be accustomed to but the voices are familiar.

MG: What was the most challenging part of doing the voice work?
BM: I would have to say the dubbing. It was a fun challenge though and it really wasn’t that bad. We had to just match up our lines with the animation which was already there but with Japanese language. They sometimes had to adjust what we were saying so that everything matched up. It was a fun challenge overall.

MG: How long did it take to record your work on the film?
BM: I finished the movie in just three days.  Yep, those are the benefits of working on an animated film.

MG: I am a big fan of the film’s music, like “Arrietty’s Song” by Cécile Corbel. Since you are no stranger to music, tell us about your song for the film?
BM: The interesting thing about the song I did in the movie, called “Summertime”, was that I had worked on it prior to starting on the film. It was already there and was something they listened to and saw potential for. It was really thanks to the producer for how it fits in with the movie. I was very happy to include the song and they did a great job matching up the sound.

MG: You worked again with “Wizard of Waverly Place” co-star David Henrie, did you record together?
BM: We weren’t. I didn’t get to work with anyone else from the cast. It was kind of a bummer because the cast is really cool. It’s an interesting way to go about the project as it allows for a lot of imagination and personal attention for each actor.

MG: Are you a fan of any other Studio Ghibli films?
BM: Of course! I think the most popular one would have to be “Spirited Away”. When I was younger I was a big fan of their films as well. “Kiki’s Delivery Service” was one of my personal favorites.

MG: When can we expect your debut album through Hollywood Records?
BM: I am telling people it will be out around June or July. The challenge is I am shooting “Good Luck Charlie” at the same time. The album isn’t able to be my primary focus because I have other commitments. But the album will be out this year and I am very excited for everyone to hear it.

MG: What can we expect from the third season of “Good Luck Charlie”?
BM: For those who have followed the show, in the recent “Good Luck Charlie” movie there is a pregnancy. In season 3, you are going to see her dealing with the pregnancy. We actually just shot the episode where the new baby arrives. It’s an exciting time for the Duncan family and we are glad to share it with the viewers.

Carla Renata has appeared in dozens of television shows and commercials. She also has voiced several video game characters. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Carla recently about some of her previous work and what she has planned for 2012.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about your recent appearances on “Raising Hope” and “Up All Night”?
Carla Renata: The episode I was on of “Raising Hope” aired a week or so ago. I played a shopper who basically made fun of one of the characters that was talking about how smart his baby was. My character asks the question of how smart is he? (Laughs) On “Up All Night” I play a TSA Agent who is not under any circumstances letting Christina Applegate and Will Arnett through so they can catch their flight.

AL: How did working on these two shows compare to some of the work you have done on other shows?
CR: On “Shake It Up!”, I play a mom and on “Hart of Dixie” I play a hairdresser. These roles are much different than the ones I recently played. The TSA agent is a real hard-nosed character with no sense of humor. On “Raising Hope” my character was empathetic with a slight bit of sarcasm. My hairdresser role is a fun role where I sit and do hair while getting all of the town gossip even though there isn’t a lot of gossip to get. On the Disney show I play a mom where I am the support for my children. My recent roles are quite different.

AL: Do you find it harder working on a set as a guest star rather than as a series regular?
CR: It depends on the show. I have been on some shows where they treat you like gold. They make you feel like you are a regular cast member that is coming back next week even though everyone knows you are not. I have also been on some sets where there was almost a click with the regular cast. You have to know how to feel the room and know when you can be friendlier or when you should just stay in your trailer till they need you. (Laughs)

AL: How did you get involved with doing voice over work?
CR: I was living in New York at the time and had agents that booked me for television commercials.  I would stop by their office quite often as a lot of the auditions I went on were in the vicinity of the office. I would stand around and talk and tell jokes to the people there.  The guy who was running the voice over department at the time heard me talking and asked me if I had done voice over work before. I told him no but he said he wanted to send me out for some voice over jobs. I ended up booking all the ones he sent me to.

AL: What do you like most about that type of acting?
CR: You can do it in your pajamas! (Laughs) When I first started there were very few people who had home studios as they were really expensive. Now it’s so much easier because of technology and the internet. You can just plug a microphone into the computer and click a few buttons. I love voice over work. I will roll out of bed, walk down to my office, record a couple tracks and then go back to bed. I am getting paid while in my pajamas. (Laughs)

AL: What was it like working on “Elvira’s Movie Macabre”?
CR: That was a lot of fun! What I didn’t know at the time and I probably should have was that Elvira and a couple other girls on the show all came from The Groundlings improv school. I had studied there as well. I never knew that Cassandra had created the Elvira character while studying there. I found that really amazing. Our shoot was all improv. It was scripted originally but none of us stuck to it. (Laughs) I think that’s what really made it fun. You couldn’t pay for that kind of acting class.

AL: Do you prefer an improv type script over one that is more rigid and strict?
CR: It depends. I come from a theater background where if you mess up your lines you have to say something. You can’t just stand there in the middle of the stage waiting for someone to give you your lines. I will just make stuff up if I have to because I have that ability.(Laughs) It really depends on the situation and what type of characterization you are going to bring to that piece of script.

AL: Do you have any other projects coming out that we can be watching for?
CR: I am taping a new episode of “Shake It Up!” next week but I‘m not sure when it will air. The episodes of that show we have previously shot air all the time. It looks like I am always on the Disney channel even though I am really not. (Laughs) I haven’t shot a “Hart of Dixie” episode in some time so that should be coming around shortly. Pilot season is coming up so you never know. I could be popping up anywhere. I do have some commercials for Progressive Insurance, Tidy Cat Kitty Litter and Hunt’s Tomato Sauce that will be airing around the country so people can definitely see me on those.

Kaitlyn Dever is currently co-starring as Eve Baxter on ABC’s new hit show “Last Man Standing” besides Tim Allen and Nancy Travis.  Kaitlyn took out some time during shooting to chat about the show and what we can expect from this season.

Mike Gencarelli: What do you like most about playing Eve Baxter on “Last Man Standing”?
Kaitlyn Dever: It’s a lot of fun. Eve is totally different from who I am in real life. I did play soccer when I was younger so we do have that in common. I love how she always has the smart comments. I have sort of a dry sense of humor so the comments seem sort of natural.

MG: What is the coolest thing about having Nancy Travis and Tim Allen as parents on the show?
KD: It is really cool. When I found I booked the pilot I was very excited. I loved Tim Allen in all of “The Santa Clause” movies. Nancy Travis is amazing. She is so funny and she feels like a second mom. They are a lot of fun.

MG: How is it working with Alexandra Krosney and Molly Ephraim as your sisters?
KD: They are awesome. In real life I am the oldest so I never had an older sibling to look up to. Alexandra and Molly give me advice and I have learned a lot from them. They feel like my sisters.

MG: What has been the funny thing to have off screen so far in shooting?
KD: There are too many to choose from. I am always cracking up. Sometimes Tim will just start laughing during the middle of a take. He likes to joke around a lot on set. I really can’t pick just one instance.

MG: Do you have a favorite episode so far in season one?
KD: Probably the Christmas episode. I got to have some really funny lines in the episode. Nick Jonas was in that episode as well so that didn’t hurt. I also like the music video episode. They are all good though.

MG: How is it juggling your time between “Last Man Standing” and “Justified”?
KD: I am mostly doing “Last Man Standing” right now and during season 2 of “Justified” I was only doing that. Now that I am doing both we are able to work it out to where I can shoot “Justified” while I am on hiatus. For me it’s always been really easy to bounce between drama and comedy.

MG: What can we expect from the rest of season one on “Last Man Standing”?
KD: We are going to be meeting some new characters/neighbors this season. You also will get to learn a little more about the characters through some surprising dream sequences. Those are going to be really funny.

Brett Davern recently appeared in an episode of the new Fox drama “The Finder”. Brett also plays the role of Jake in the MTV series Awkward. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Brett about his appearance on the show as well as what’s in store for season 2 of “Awkward”.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about your recent appearance on “The Finder”
Brett Davern: I played a guy by the name of Cooper Allison. He is in search of his father whose plane went down while he was flying for the Air Force. His body was never found so my character wanted to know where he was and if possibly he was still alive. He uses the help of the finder to help him out with this. While searching he starts to have feelings for the character of Willa. It was a fun role.

AL: How did working on this series compare to previous shows you have worked on?
BD: This one was a lot of fun. The whole cast on the show was really great. Everyone has great chemistry together. There was also quite a bit of energy on set as this was the first episode for everyone. Some of the other shows you guest star on may have been around awhile so some of the enthusiasm has worn off. Everyone involved with “The Finder” was full of energy.

AL: Is there one memory that sticks out from the shoot?
BD: Maddie Hansen who plays the character of Willa is so young in real life and I think this was her first big role. Our characters had quite a few scenes together so to be there and watch her experiences was really cool. It made me think back to some of my first jobs. Maddie is very talented.

AL: Can you tell us how you got involved with the series “Awkward”?
BD: I went through the normal audition process.  I initially auditioned for the role of Matty when it was still in the pilot phase. I went all the way to the screen testing phase which was about a month long process for the role of Matty. They liked me for the show however wanted to try me in the role of Jake. They brought on Beau Mirchoff to read with me and the people on the show thought we each fit the roles we are playing now better. We shot the pilot and then waited almost an entire year to shoot the next episode.

AL: With the cast all being pretty close in age what is the camaraderie like on set?
BD: It’s really great! Everyone gets along real well and that includes not just the cast but the writers and producers as well. I love going to work every day. Beau and I have become best friends in our outside lives. It’s pretty funny that he and I had never crossed paths before doing this show. Everyone makes each other laugh and I think our chemistry comes across really well on screen.

AL: What can we expect from season 2 of “Awkward”?
BD: The writers are very secretive and don’t really tell us anything. I remember for the season one finale they kept the last two pages of the script from everyone except for Ashley. Until it aired on television I didn’t even know how the season ended. The only thing I know about season two is that story line wise it picks up from where we left off with season 1. Hopefully Jake and Jenna will still be together at the beginning of the season but I am excited to read that first script.

AL: Can you tell about your role in the film “The Culling”?
BD: That film is like a thriller/suspense ensemble type piece. We shot that in New Orleans for about a month and a half. I love that city. The film is about 5 friends who are heading to the South by South West music festival. Things take an interesting turn when they pick up a little girl at a local truck stop. Eventually the car breaks down and the story takes off from there.

AL: Do you have any other projects in the works this year?
BD: I shot another indie film in Seattle which is where I am from. The film is called “Junk” and hopefully that will start playing festivals soon. The movie is a movie about making movies. Getting to do little projects in between shooting “Awkward” has been a lot of fun.

Josh Altman recently appeared on season four of the hit Bravo series “Million Dollar Listing”.  Josh is not just a  Bravo TV Star but also one of LA’s Top Real Estate Agents. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Josh about the show and also his business.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved in the real estate business?
Josh Altman: I bought my first place when I was 22 years old with my business partner who is my brother. We ended up fixing it up within 3 months and put it back on the market as a joke. This was around 2002 in the time where you could buy anything, fix it up and sell it for more money. About 5 years ago I got more into the agent side of things and that is where we are now. Because of our early success and some of our celebrity clientele I had gotten called by bravo to be on “Million Dollar Listing”.

MG: How was it working on season four of the show, “Million Dollar Listing” on Bravo?
JA: It was great! I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. You never get to see what actually is being shot until its on television because it’s a reality show. I was very happy and doing the show was great for our business. The show in a way is a 9 hour infomercial for my business. Its nice people get to see the day to day work that goes into selling these massive homes.

MG: Was it difficult coming on to the show which was entering its fourth season?
JA: I hadn’t ever watched the show when I was first approached. I took a look at it and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it or not. I wasn’t sure how they were going to portray me on the show. After watching a few episodes I figured I could bring something fresh and different to it. From there I jumped in and took no prisoners.

MG: Tell us about your nickname “The Shark”?
JA: (Laughs) People call me that around town because I am the guy you want on your side when it’s time to sell or be represented. I am a ruthless negotiator. If I smell blood I am going to jump all over it. (Laughs)

MG: What is the most fun/challenging part of working on the reality show?
JA: I get to walk around and be recognized from the show. I was just in Italy and people recognized me there. That never gets old for me as I am a realtor and people know who I am. The difficult part was balancing the business and the show. With my brother as a partner that helped because some of that business was able to fall towards him. That balance was truly the hardest part and at the end of the day my business is more important than the show. When you see me with a phone in my hand on the show it’s because I am always working.

MG: Any word if you will be returning for season five?
JA: There will be a season 5 however they have not announced the cast yet.

MG: What is the largest listing that you have sold?
JA: We just sold a listing last week that was the most expensive listing ever for a condo in Santa Monica. The condo sold for 10.5 million dollars. It was pretty spectacular. We also sold a 16.5 million dollar home that was the 6^th highest sold in L.A. county. Last year alone we sold over 60 million dollars in properties.

MG: When you are not selling houses, what keeps you busy?
JA: I would be doing this even if I wasn’t getting paid. This is something that’s fun for me. I do love spending time with my dogs and hanging out with friends though.

Adult Swim’s “Delocated” is created by and starring Jon Glaser. The show is currently entering its third season and this season promises to be the sexiest season of “Delocated” yet.  It is set to premiere Thursday Feb. 2nd at Midnight!  Media Mikes had a chance to interview a few cast members from the show.  Feel free to check out the interviews below and look forward to more as the season progresses. Don’t forget to tune in to this season Thursday nights!!

Jon Glaser is the star and creator of Adult Swim’s “Delocated”. The show’s third season is set to premiere on February 2, 2012. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Jon about his new season and what we can expect from the DVD of Season 1 & 2.

Mike Gencarelli: What can we expect from season 3 of the show?
Jon Glaser: Season 3 is going to feature a lot of new characters that Jon is dealing with. Janeane Garofalo has joined the cast and is playing the head of the network. Jon also has a new bodyguard and a life coach. There is also a new Chinese gang that Jon will be dealing with. With the addition of these characters there will be quite a few new story lines and plot points.

MG: How do you feel your character has evolved since season 1?
JG: I don’t know if the character has really evolved because he is still an asshole. (Laughs) Its fun doing the show and playing a character like this. You get to say some pretty interesting things.

MG: How do you think season 3 differs from past seasons?
JG: The biggest change/trick especially with the writing is keeping the show going. The first season was mostly about a mob family trying to kill Jon. With season 2 we knew that we couldn’t use the same premise so we came up with the idea of the mob killing everyone around Jon. With season 3 we couldn’t just keep killing people and we couldn’t have them kill Jon so there is some plot points inserted that allows us to continue the premise of the show.

MG: What was the biggest challenge switching from 11 min. episodes to 22 min. episodes?
JG: The most obvious thing is that we have to write a longer script and broaden the stories. It’s a challenge but it is also a lot of fun. We all were very excited when the show got extended. The longer stories seem to work better with the scripts as they are allowed to breathe more and feel less rushed.

MG: What can we expect from the DVD release of season 1 and 2?
JG: There are some deleted scenes and out takes included on the DVD’s as well as some flip books which features photos from season 1. Those are really fun to watch. We also were able to put the demo I used to sell the show on the DVD as well. There is a lot of cool stuff contained in that demo that I think the fans will really like.

MG: Is there a reason you have only directed one episode of the show?
JG: With the pilot episode I felt I knew exactly what I wanted to do to pitch the show. I thought the pilot episode was an easy enough shoot where I didn’t need to hire a director. We only shot for 3 days on the pilot. The later episodes were quite a bit more involved and I was already producing. I just didn’t want to end up exhausted. I also would much rather have someone behind the camera that is making sure we are getting the most out of each performance with mine included. I don’t think it would be as good if I was trying to act and direct.

MG: Can you tell us about your book, “My Dead Dad Was in ZZ Top”?
JG: I was extremely excited to be able to do a book. It was fun but it was a bit of a weird process. I didn’t have a lot of time to work on it so I was fitting it in between other projects. I worked on the book over the course of 2010 and actually may have started some of it in 2009. There was quite a bit of work that went into it as there were a variety of arcs and ideas that needed to be included. Over all it was a really great project and I got to hang out with a friend of mine who did all of the illustrations so that was really great.

Eugene Mirman is know best for his role of Yvgeny Mirminsky on Adult Swim’s “Delocated’.  The show returns for season three on February 2nd. Eugene also voices Gene Belcher on Fox’s “Bob’s Burgers”, which returns for season two in March.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Eugene about working on the show and what he has planned for 2012.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about season three of “Delocated”?
Eugene Mirman: Season three has been a lot of fun. We recently finished filming and the episodes are set to start airing February 2^nd. I have a girlfriend this season and the episodes are all very funny. There also is going to be a cross over with “Downton Abbey” that fans of both shows will want to watch for.

MG: How do you think your character has changed over the course of the 3 seasons?
EM: This season I am starting my own company, so the episodes aren’t going to be as much about stand-up per say. My character is a little more 3 dimensional. I am still however the wacky hit man of comedy.

MG: Is the reality television portion of the show still going to be used?
EM: Yes that will still be a part of the show. Janeane Garofalo will be playing the head executive this season. I didn’t really have any scenes with her but she is a nice person in general.

MG: How do you feel this season differs from the others?
EM: I don’t know if they are really different from one another. The really big thing is the cross over with “Downton Abbey”. We had some great guests on and I think I might possibly have more stuff in this season. We will have to wait and see.

MG: You are currently touring with your comedy act, tell us about that?
EM: I am doing a tour with Andrew Bird which starts in March. I am also doing the South by Southwest Festival and some shows in Seattle towards the end of March. I am going to be a part of the “Cabinet of Wonders” show which can be heard on NPR. The show will feature musicians, authors and comedians.

MG: What do you like about doing stand up compared to working on television?
EM: I like to do all of it. It helps break things up and I love splitting my time between the different projects.

MG: You voice Gene Belcher on “Bob’s Burgers, which returns for season two in March, tell us about that?
EM: We have recorded around 14 or 15 episodes since summer. There are going to be a lot of awesome guests and a lot more things will be happening outside of the restaurant. I feel we are starting to find our groove with everyone involved with the project.

MG: You’ve been working with Adult Swim since “Home Movies”, tell us about how you originally got working with them?
EM: I just texted them and told them to let me in. (Laughs) Brendan Small used to be my roommate when “Home Movies” was on UPN. Through that I did an episode and later did “Lucy: Daughter of the Devil”. The people who make these shows are the ones responsible for putting me in their future shows.  It has been a great journey.

Todd Barry is a co-star on Adult Swim’s “Delocated”. The show returns for season three on February 2nd. Todd also has worked with Louis C.K. and Darren Aronofsky. He is also co-starring in David Wain’s new film “Wanderlust” this Spring. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Todd about working on the show and what he has planned for 2012.

Mike Gencarelli: What can we expect from season three of “Delocated”?
Todd Barry: I think there is going to be a lot more prostitution and violence in it. Peace, Love, Prostitution and Violence. That’s always good.

MG: Any further issues developing between Todd and Sergei?
TB: There is always something going on between those two. However I don’t want to give too much away. We just finished shooting everything last month. Shooting was scattered over a few months. They would just call me when they needed me.

MG: Tell us about Todd Barry playing Todd Barry on the show?
TB: I am playing myself to a certain extent however it’s a little bit heightened. It’s always great to be on a show that you are not embarrassed about. The show is both smart and funny. It’s good to be part of something like this and it’s nice to have a job where you like everyone.

MG: You’ve worked a lot with Adult Swim, tell us about you originally got working with them?
TB: I don’t remember exactly how it started but, with animation it seems as though once you do a voice then you get called in to do some other things. I think my work on “Dr. Katz” may have started our lasting relationship.

MG: Tell us how you got started working with Darren Aronofsky?
TB: I have known him for a while through other people. I guess he saw me somewhere and thought I would be good for the wise ass/mean guy at the store in “The Wrestler”.  We also worked on a fun short called “The Original Black Swan” for Funny or Die.  That was ALOT of work but it turned out good and was worth it.

MG: Tell us about working with Louis C.K. on his show “Louis”?
TB: I have known Louis for a long time. I think that show is going to start up sometime in February. I tend to get quite a bit of acting through people who know me.  This is a fun show to work on and I look forward to it.

MG: Tell us about working with the “The State”/”Wet Hot American Summer” crew in “Wanderlust”?
TB: That was another one where I have known David for some time. He is a really relaxed guy. Most people I work with are very similar as they want to have you stay loose and have a good time.  It is a fun film.  Everyone involved was just so great to work with.

MG: Due to your stand-up background, do you find yourself improving a lot when you are shooting?
TB: If they let me. Sometimes the script is very rigid but I think the better things I have done are less rigid. The ones I enjoy are when you just get an idea of what the director wants and you get to go from there.

MG: You also have a role in the upcoming film “Vamps”, tell us about that?
TB: That film is sort of a vampire version of “Clueless”, in its most simplistic description. Alicia Silverstone is in it along with Malcolm MacDowell and a whole bunch of other people. I play Sigourney Weaver’s right hand vampire.  It was a fun picture to work on.

Jill Andresevic is the director and producer of the film “Love Etc.” The film will premier on Oprah Winfrey’s Own Network February 2^nd at 8pm EST. The film will also replay as part of the networks Super Soul Sunday line up on February 12^th at 11am EST.. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Jill recently about the film and the idea behind it.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about the documentary, “Love Etc.”?
Jill Andresevic: The film is five stories based in one city and told over 365 days. The film is a real life love story told from people age 18-89. The film examines love in all different stages. The stages of love I think cross time and weather you lived in the 18^th century or are living now the themes of love are the same. Love is very universal and part of our being so I found it very interesting to explore. I had no idea where we were going to end up on this journey. It has been an interesting ride.

AL: What was the initial thought behind the film?
JA: The concept was Jonathan Tisch’s who also funded the film. He was at City Hall waiting to get a marriage license and noticed that all the people waiting in this one small room were there for the transaction of love. That room was really a snapshot of the world. Jonathan was inspired to do something about love in New York from that experience.

AL: How did you go about selecting the couples in the film?
JA: It was a very intensive process that always started with research. We wanted to get an interesting cross section of people that reflected different lifestyles and socio-economical conditions. We examined people across all 5 boroughs of New York City. We were able to get representation from just about every section of the city. We did a really massive casting outreach that was based on categories such as types of people and ages. We thought it would be really interesting to find young love from a couple still in high school all the way to a couple celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary. There is an interesting story arc related to love in high school that the film will show. We did quite a bit of casting through networks of people as I didn’t really have any success using things like Craigslist or other postings. We were able to pretty much hand pick the people wanted.

AL: What do you feel was the hardest part about putting the project together?
JA: I had to take 600 hrs. of footage and edit it down to 90 minutes. I thought I was going to injure someone during that process. (Laughs) The prep days and all the shooting were nothing compared to the process of taking all that footage down to just 90 minutes. I found it quite fascinating though because people have accused us of scripting the film. If I could script this type of stuff I would be a genius. The reality of it is we just shot a lot and got lucky when we cut it down.

AL: Do you have any other projects we can be watching for?
JA: I have some different television projects that I am working on currently. I also am working on my next film which will be a scripted feature.

Related Content

• Interview with Doug Lussenhop
• Interview with Stepfanie Kramer
• Interview with Kevin Chapman
• Interview with Alexandra Breckenridge
• Interview with Catherine Bell

Doug Lussenhop is the co-writer and editor of the new film “Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie”.  He has worked with Tim Heidecker & Eric Wareheim on various projects starting from “Tom Goes to the Mayor”.   Doug also goes by the name DJ Douggpound.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Doug about the movie and also  what he has planned for 2012.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get started working with Tim Heidecker & Eric Wareheim?
Doug Lussenhop: I got an internship with them when they were making “Tom Goes to the Mayor”. I had been wanting to break into the television/comedy business and happened to see an add on Craigslist for a comedy show wanting an intern. This was the only ad that I had ever answered and they called me back. So, I have been working with them since 2004. I started out as an intern but they were understaffed, so I started helping out with Photoshop and Final Cut. After a while I started getting into the animation stuff as well.

MG: Tell us about your involvement with “Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie”?
DL: I was one of the editors on the project and I also had a writing session with them. A bunch of us got in a room and talked about what we thought was going to work and what wasn’t. I added some funny bits to it.

MG: How does the film differ from the TV series “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!”
DL: It’s a lot different because with TV there wasn’t as much polishing. It is a lot smaller and things are faster. With the movie we had to make the story work. The television show is more of a sketch show where you don’t have to worry as much about putting all the pieces together.

MG: Tell us about your experience at Sundance this year?
DL: That was really fun. Just to see the film in a real theater was awesome. The crowd laughed at all the right moments and I think they got it. I think some of the people were there just because and they didn’t really have a clue what was going on.

MG: You are also known as DJ Douggpound, tell us about that side of you?
DL: While I was in college, I was in a few bands but nothing was very successful. I always knew I had some sort of idea of what would work. I had also messed around with stand-up but I wasn’t too good at that either. So at the first Tim and Eric live show, I mixed them together with telling jokes and adding in samples. Things seemed to work out ok with that.

MG: Any plans for releasing a CD of your music?
DL: I do have a CD and we have made a bunch of them. I don’t really know how to work my website but I need to figure out how to make that work. It’s one of the things on my list do.

MG: What else do you have planned for 2012?
DL: Right now I am working on season 2 of “Check It Out! With Dr. Steve Brule”. I am also working on another show for Adult Swim called “The Eric and Andre Show” and that should be out later this year. I have a podcast up as well that I do with Neal Brennan and Moshe Kasher called “The Champs”. You can find it on iTunes, it is really fun.

Related Content

• Interview with Jill Andresevic
• TNT’s “Southland” Interview Series
• Interview with Margaret Cho
• Interview with Sebastian Maniscalco
• Interview with Dan Byrd

Head back to the streets of Los Angeles for the new, explosive season of Southland, the critically acclaimed drama series from Warner Bros. Television and Emmy-winning producer John Wells (ER, The West Wing). Chronicling the lives of LAPD officers and detectives like no other series on television, this powerful, intensely emotional drama stars Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Regina King and Ben McKenzie, along with special guest star Lucy Liu.

Since premiering in 2009, Southland has redefined the police drama with its raw, authentic look at the lives and work of Los Angeles detectives and beat cops. The show centers on four main characters: Officer John Cooper (Cudlitz), a seasoned cop who will have to prove himself again after recovering from surgery; Officer Ben Sherman (McKenzie), who still has much to learn after recently completing his training rotation; Detective Lydia Adams (King), whose unending caseload hits closer to home; and Sammy Bryant (Hatosy), a former detective who decided to go back to being a uniform cop after the traumatic death of his partner.

Media Mikes has had a chance to chat with various members of this great show including Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Regina King and Ben McKenzie, Dorian Missick and Lucy Liu.  Feel free to leave comments below and make sure to check out season 4 of “Southland” on January 17th.

Dorian Missick and Regina King are co-stars in TNT’s hit cop drama “Southland”. The show is currently entering its 4th season, which begins January 17th, 2012. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Dorian and Regina about working on the show and what we can expect from this exciting season.

Mike Gencarelli: What can you tell us about this season and what we have to look forward to from your characters?
Regina King: Well it’s tough for us because there’s only so much we can reveal. So whenever we get this question it’s kind of like “how do we skirt around it this time?”. Well what we can say is that Robinson, the character that Dorian plays and Adam’s definitely come from probably similar beginnings. Their adult life outside of the job is very different and you get an opportunity to see how those different family lives inform the way they do their jobs or just their day to day thought. Russell’s character kind of had a dysfunctional thing happening within his marriage and then Robinson is the exact opposite. I think it kind of just makes an interesting balance…kind of like a yin and yang thing.

MG: Dorian, you’re joining an already established cast. Does it take a little bit of time for you to find I guess your footing amongst the cast? Or was it right away that you found chemistry?
Dorian Missick: There’s always a struggle when you’re kind of like the new kid on the block. This particular situation was really extra daunting for me simply because I was a huge fan of the show long before it was even an option of me being a part of it. But everybody on the cast is great. We get a little training at the academy, so it gives you the opportunity to get to know everyone and figure out everybody’s personalities. Regina and I have a lot friends in common but I had never actually had a chance to meet her until we started training. I think it was the first time I’d ever met her. Everybody has been really open and friendly. So yeah, it was a nice, smooth transition actually.

MG: Regina, can you talk about reuniting with your “227” costar Marla Gibbs?
RK: It was sweet. I mean the cool thing was that she auditioned for that part sand she got that part on her own merit. They called me and asked me would I be okay with it, after they had decided she was the best for it. And I’m like are you kidding me? Of course.
DM: Man that day was surreal for me.
RK: Was it really?
DM: It was kind of – yeah, because it was kind of early on for me. I think it was like the second episode or something like that.
RK: Yeah. I think you’re right.
DM: I just was like this is a little too much man. I mean I’ve been watching both of them for years and then to get to see you guys together and the energy between the two of you. I enjoyed it. It was one of my favorite days at work period, in my career but definitely on the show. It was a highlight.
RK: It was a special moment. It was. And just to see Marla since she’s still really sharp. Do you know what I mean? She’s been doing this for a long time and she doesn’t miss a beat. She kind of forgot one of her lines and you would have never known.

MG: Do you feel it’s easier to be a part of an ensemble so that you don’t have to carry quite such a heavy load because everything is so good, everyone does such a good job? Or is it easier to play a lead?
RK: Well I mean for me my choice was to be in a show that was an ensemble. I’m not really interested in 17 hour days every day. And that’s kind of what you get when the show is all about you. I just think it’s a little more interesting personally when I’m watching TV and I watch a show and there are quite a few different stories going on. It brings me in more.
DM: Yeah. One of the thing that I particularly love about this show, having done other television shows and things like that, is that the writers really do pay a lot of attention to detail and that enables us to kind of feel more taken care of from an acting perspective. You feel safer walking into a room every time you get a new script because I know from being on other shows. Sometimes you get a script and you want to pray over it before you open it because you have no idea how good or bad it’s going to be. whereas on this show it’s not like that. I really appreciate that. You can tell that the writers care about every character and they care about the story lines enough that they put in energy to develop them So whether it’s playing a lead character or being a part of an ensemble it is really just the writing. You can be the main person of the show and if the show is stupid then it’s not that much you’re not having that much fun from an acting perspective. But here I think that good writing attracts good actors, which attracts good directors. So just from an artistic standpoint, it’s everything that you want.
RK: There’s definitely a trickle down effect.

MG: Do you feel that the writing is better in television or do feature films take priority over that?
RK: I think right now as far as actors are concerned I think we just want – we just are looking for things with good writing just like great characters. just with all the different cable networks there just happens to be in television right now, especially on the cable networks, they’re just writing more that’s interesting for actors. That’s why you’re seeing so many movie actors on TV. I’m not saying that I’m giving up on movies or anything like that. I just am going wherever the art is inspiring. And my journey right now has been it’s inspired me the most, on “Southland”. But there’s just like a lot of great shows on TV now and there’s not that line that used to be there like film actors were just film actors and television actors were just television actors and there was a definitive line. Now that’s all gray. If it’s good work you’re going to respond.
DM: Period. Yeah. I totally agree with that. It’s about the writing. I mean there’s good writing and bad writing in all mediums. You know, coming from the theater I’ve done some really bad plays and that’s the worst because you’re stuck saying these terrible lines for like six to eight weeks, maybe a month. So I think any actor worth his salt they chase after good stories and good characters. Just right now it’s happening a lot in cable television particularly but it’s happening a lot on screen.
I think the film industry is going to have to shrink to a certain extent because these big event movies aren’t making the money that they wanted to make in the past and the writing isn’t that good oftentimes. So now it’s like there’s a resurgence of independent films and television happening. I think we’re in a great time creatively.

MG: Speaking of independent films, there are a lot of actors who are sort of taking the leap to develop and produce themselves. Are either of you sort of moving in that direction, establishing your own production companies and developing more?
RK: Yeah, definitely. I started a production company a few years ago with my sister and have been developing a project that has been very close to us for a couple of years. I’m hoping that everything will be in place, that once we wrap “Southland” in February that it’ll be my theatrical directorial debut.

MG: Can you give us some more information on that film?
RK: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.
DM: You’ve got to build on that one.
RK: It’s based a book called “Let the Church Say Amen”. It’s by an author named ReShonda Tate Billingsley. She’s written several books and this is the first book that opens you up to a particular character named Rachel who is kind of the lead character in a lot of her other stories. It was an Essence bestseller and a bestseller on a few other lists. But it’s about a father, who’s a pastor, who’s kind of neglected his family to put time into building his church. As a result, he now has this dysfunctional family so we kind of meet this family right in the height of their dysfunction. We see how they deal with that. I feel like although the characters – the family is a black family that theme is a universal theme where the matriarch or the patriarch neglects their family and the family suffers.
You don’t have to just be black or white or Asian to understand or relate to that experience. So I felt like this would be a great thing for my first piece to tackle because it does have such a universal theme.
DM: That sounds dope.
RK: And yeah…I’m excited about.

MG: How about you Dorian?
DM: I also have a production company. We’ve been developing for the last couple of years a project about the ’70s writer (Donald Duane). I’ve been developing that. Obviously this is the first time I ever talked about it. So yeah, it’s myself and Pete Chatmon, the guy who directed me and Zoe Saldana in “Premium”. So we’ve been developing that for a couple of years and we’re looking to shoot more than likely in the next seven/eight months.
RK: Yeah, it’s definitely a grind but it’s a natural move for actors to have more of a role behind the camera, especially in a time where media is going is with reality TV and with the internet. A lot of people don’t even have cable anymore or TV and they watch everything on the internet. So it’s just I think smart for entertainers to make themselves more familiar and educate themselves on the world of production so that when the shift happens hard core we still remain a part of it.
DM: Right.
RK: The shift to new media.
DM: It’s just responsible. It’s a responsible move in any industry, particularly this industry but in any industry. It’s responsible for you to learn the ins and outs even above and beyond what your job calls for because as the economy changes and as the structure of any kind of job changes you want to be well versed in all aspects of it so that you can continue to keep yourself around that you can still continue to be valuable. Because if you’re a one trick pony, once people are done with that trick you’ve got to find something else to do.

MG: Regina, Is there any truth to the rumor that you and Jackee might be getting your own talk show after your stint on “Watch What Happens Live”?
RK: I didn’t know that there was a rumor.
DM: I would watch it. I started it.
RK: You started it?
DM: I started that rumor. Yeah.
RK: : Funny. As of now that is only a rumor. But hey, you never know. Jackee can handle a show on her own. Definitely.
DM: : I love that.