Actor

Nov 27

Jeremy Piven

By Chrissy Bernal Comedian, Film, Movies, Podcast No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, we sit down with the multi-talented Jeremy Piven—known for his Emmy and Golden Globe-winning role as Ari Gold in Entourage and his captivating performance in Mr. Selfridge. Jeremy takes us behind the scenes of his remarkable pivot from Hollywood actor to full-time stand-up comedian, performing 200+ shows a year.

This episode is sponsored by:

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In this Episode:

Discover how growing up in an acting family shaped Jeremy Piven’s journey and ignited his passion for the craft at just 8 years old.
Learn about the exhilarating highs and unique challenges of stand-up comedy, as Jeremy shares how he connects with audiences in over 200 live shows a year.
Explore the behind-the-scenes story of his upcoming film The Performance, a project 14 years in the making.
Uncover how Jeremy transforms pressure into a powerful source of energy and motivation in both his acting and comedy careers.
Discover the social relevance of Jeremy’s roles and why he believes storytelling has the power to spark meaningful change.

Quotations:

“I really love talking about myself. It’s what I do best.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“The harder you work, the easier it looks.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“We need to laugh right now. Everything is, you know, people are frustrated, so let me make sense of things and make you laugh.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“Once you do the work and you dig in and then you go to set, it’s time to play.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“Pressure is a gift. I love pressure. I thrive on it.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“I’ve been a drummer my whole life. So I understand rhythmically; if you tell me what the taps sound like, I know how to stick the landing.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“I’ve done something and I’ve achieved something that I’ve never done and that I thought I had in me and I actually do. So there’s an immense sense of pride.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“I wasn’t a great standup, but I was ready for the moment. I was prepared. And so I don’t let that stuff bother me.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“I feel ready for the moment and they can feel that you’re ready.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“Life is very interesting.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“It taught me a lot of lessons about balance, that you to have balance in this life otherwise you’ll burn out.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

“Nerves and fear are an energy. It’s palpable. And you can either let it handcuff you or you can use it to propel you. It’s your choice. And it’s all how you label it.” ⁓ Jeremy Piven

Bio:

A household name for his 2x Golden Globe and 3x Emmy Award-winning performance playing the fast-talking, acerbic Hollywood agent ‘Ari Gold’ in the HBO series Entourage, actor, comedian, and podcast host Jeremy Piven also achieved significant success playing the title role in the British/PBS television drama series Mr Selfridge, the semi-fictional story based on the life of Harry Selfridge, who founded the London department store Selfridge’s. Piven has also appeared in numerous successful films, including Grosse Pointe Blank, Singles, Very Bad Things, The Family Man, Black Hawk Down, The Kingdom, Heat, PCU, Old School, Rock N Rolla, Serendipity, Smokin’ Aces, and Runaway Jury.

Piven appears as Joel Lapchick the man responsible for helping Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton break the color barrier in the NBA in 1950 in the movie Sweetwater, which dropped on Angel Studios on September 26th, soon to be available VOD. His next film, The Performance, is an adaptation of an Arthur Miller work due out in theaters on December 27th, 2024. The film is receiving rave reviews with Jeremy on the shortlist for an Academy Award for his role.

He was recently seen in the feature film Last Call opposite Oscar winner Bruce Dern and Orange is the New Black star Taryn Manning. Other recent and upcoming films include American Night opposite Oscar nominee Emile Hirsch, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, which screened at the Venice Film Festival, period drama film The Walk opposite Justin Chatwin and Oscar nominee Terrence Howard, and The System which teamed him up again with Terrence Howard and Tyrese Gibson.

Piven also released the popular podcast “How U Livin’ J Piven,” where he interviewed influential guests such as Jamie Foxx, Tiffany Haddish, Common, Mark Cuban and UFC stars Rashad Evans and Jorge Masvidal, in an intimate and in depth format that showcased his dynamic personality in a never-before-seen way. The show is available wherever you get your podcasts.

Piven now tours the country with his successful stand-up comedy show, flexing a comedic muscle that few actors have been able to transition over to. The tour will see him across the entire continental U.S. and also take him internationally to the U.K. and beyond.

Guest Contact Info:

Website:https://jeremy-piven.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremypiven/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeremypivenpage

Twitter: https://x.com/jeremypiven

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremypiven1

Nov 06

Love18

T.J. Miller

By Chrissy Bernal Comedian, Film, Movies, Podcast No Comments

This week on the Here’s What We Know, buckle up for a conversation filled with laughter, quirky stories, and a surprising amount of heart! We’re thrilled to welcome T.J. Miller—a comedian, actor, and voice you’ll recognize from Deadpool, Silicon Valley, and How to Train Your Dragon. T.J. is here to share his refreshingly down-to-earth approach to comedy, life, and everything in between.

This episode is sponsored by:

(Be sure to use code “Gary20” to get 20% off your order!)

In this Episode:

Learn why his website is humorously named tjmillerdoesnothaveawebsite.com, a playful nod to the early 2000s domain craze.
Discover the quirky backstory of T.J.’s cowboy baseball hat, inspired by a friend’s bold character transformation that brings plenty of laughs.
Get to know his unique perspective on performing in tech-heavy places like San Jose, where he shares how the Bay Area audience has shifted post-pandemic but still appreciates his signature comedy.
Uncover T.J.’s approach to comedy, centered around not taking himself too seriously. His live shows are a celebration of authenticity, inviting the audience to laugh with him and at themselves.
Learn about his personal life, including meeting his wife in college theater and the steadfast support they’ve shared through life’s many twists and turns.
Discover the charm behind his gruff, recognizable voice that’s landed him memorable roles—and why he thinks audiences are drawn to those “rough around the edges” characters.
Get to know his love for improv, making each live performance an unforgettable, interactive experience that keeps comedy fresh and engaging.

Quotations:

“I don’t like performing for people who are too self-serious.” ~ T.J. Miller

“My father’s way of sort of showing affection is making fun of someone. So he’ll sort of tease my mother and that’s kind of how, and she knows that means that he loves her and is paying attention to her and thinking about her.” ~ T.J. Miller

“It still blows my mind when people say like, knew, I knew from the voice because I don’t, my voice doesn’t sound different to me.” ~ T.J. Miller

“I think there’s something very American in my voice.” ~ T.J. Miller

“I can wear a mask in the airport and a cap and glass, a regular cap, not a cowboy cap and glasses. And then as soon as I speak, people will be like, I knew it was you.” ~ T.J. Miller

“Wow, I took care of that whole table. That whole family. I made that whole family laugh. And so because of that, like, yeah, I think I did my job.” ~ T.J. Miller

“I feel as though I come off as really friendly because I am ultimately a very kind person.” ~ T.J. Miller

“I’m very happy with my rating as an actor in the sense that there aren’t a lot of bad things about any of my work that’s happened.” ~ T.J. Miller

“We’re all in our screens, androids, and but we’re streaming. Just get out of the house. Put your phone down and come and see a show.” ~ T.J. Miller

Bio:

T.J. Miller is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer known for his unique style of humor and versatility across television, film, and stand-up comedy. With memorable roles in hit films like Deadpool and Cloverfield, and as the voice of characters like Tuffnut in the How to Train Your Dragon series, T.J. brings his quirky, energetic presence to every project. He gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Erlich Bachman on HBO’s Silicon Valley, where his eccentric, over-the-top performance made him a fan favorite. A staple in the comedy world, T.J. continues to tour and bring his boundary-pushing humor to audiences worldwide.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://tjmillerdoesnothaveawebsite.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagemillionaire/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nottjmiller/

Youtube: @tjmiller

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nottjmiller

X: https://x.com/nottjmiller

Sep 25

Love13

Scott Brick

By Chrissy Bernal Podcast No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, we’re thrilled to bring you a fascinating conversation with an award-winning audiobook narrator! Our guest is the incredibly talented Scott Brick. Scott shares how he continues navigating his successful career from his journey through 1,100 audiobooks to overcoming health challenges and working on notable titles like Jurassic Park from Michael Crichton’s collection, Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz, and many more!

Tune in and discover how his dedication shines through every project, whether it be new releases or classic retellings!

This episode is sponsored by:

(Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!)

(Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any service!)

In this Episode:

Career Milestones: From Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park to its sequel, The Lost World, discover how Scott got these iconic gigs.
Health Challenges: Hear about Scott’s journey through diabetes and thyroid cancer and how it shaped his career.
Character Voices: Learn about the delicate balance between staying true to characters without mimicking previous performances.
Audiobook Narration Techniques and Insights: Uncover Scott’s approach to vocal training and balancing originality with audience expectations
Emotional Depths: Feel the passion as Scott recounts breaking into tears while narrating an Orphan X book.
Preparation & Dedication: Discover how thorough preparations like listening to previous series’ narrators have helped him excel—such as for Shawn Inmon’s Middel Falls Time Travel series.

Quotations:

“I can’t tell you what it means to me when somebody trusts me with their work.” ~ Scott Brick

“ I’m thinking about it from the fan’s perspective I’m a book fan first and foremost So I’m like, what are the fans going to want.” ~ Scott Brick

“I am a geek when it comes to Hollywood history, specifically the history of the silent film era.” ~ Scott Brick

Bio:

Actor, writer, and award-winning audiobook narrator Scott Brick certainly knows how to tell a story, in a way that keeps publishers, best-selling and award-winning authors, critics, and the public at large begging for more. Hailed by Audible in 2012 as their most prolific narrator, Brick has narrated almost 900 audiobooks including titles such as Jurassic Park, the Jack Reacher series, Alexander Hamilton, the Hunt For Red October, The Passage trilogy, In Cold Blood, the Bourne trilogy, Atlas Shrugged, Helter Skelter, Fahrenheit 451 and the Dune series.

Born on January 30, 1966, in Santa Barbara, California, Brick studied both acting and writing at UCLA and joined the ranks of working professionals upon leaving school in 1989. Lauded by critics for his stage work, Brick spent ten years with the LA-based traveling Shakespeare troupe, Will & Company, appearing in productions of Cyrano, Hamlet, Macbeth, and many others, and went on to appear in films such as Hit Parade, written and directed by comic book writer and co-Ben 10 creator, Joe Casey.

During this time, Brick continued writing. Having written hundreds of articles in a variety of genre publications such as WIZARD MAGAZINE, TOYFARE, COMICS BUYER’S GUIDE, and CREATIVE SCREENWRITING, Brick was then hired by Morgan Freeman and Revelations Entertainment in 2000 to write the screen adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke’s Rendezvous with Rama, with David Fincher attached to direct. In 2005, he collaborated with author Orson Scott Card to adapt a collection of the author’s short stories for the stage in a production titled (and printed in hardcover as) Posing as People.

Having just celebrated his 25th Audioversary, Brick’s venture into audiobooks is now considered legendary. To date he’s won over 65 Earphones Awards for his narrating skills, as well as five Audie Awards, five SOVAS Awards for voiceover, and a Grammy nomination for the multi-cast recording of The Mark of Zorro (2011). After recording 250 titles in his first five years, AUDIOFILE MAGAZINE named Brick “one of the fastest-rising stars in the audiobook galaxy,” and proclaimed him a Golden Voice, but it was the WALL STREET JOURNAL that sealed the moniker with a front-page article in November, 2004. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY then honored Brick as Narrator of the Year in both 2007 and 2011. That honor was followed up with another feature in the WSJ in 2019 and a recent appearance on the CBS Sunday Morning news show. And the ultimate distinction – being inducted into the Audible Narrator’s Hall of Fame in 2018. Having now recorded over 1,000 audiobooks, Brick has no intention of slowing down. He obviously won’t be happy until he’s recorded every book ever published.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://scottbrick.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thescottbrick/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thescottbrick/

X: https://x.com/ScottBrick

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-brick-06ba3b15b/

Sep 11

Love11

Don Stuck

By Chrissy Bernal Booze, Film, Music, Podcast, TV No Comments

This week on Here’s What We Know, we’re thrilled to welcome the incredibly versatile Don Stuck, a media personality who has truly done it all. From his early days as a musician to his transition into radio as a disc jockey, and now a licensed pilot and rising television actor, Don Stuck is the epitome of someone who never stops chasing his dreams. Get ready for a wild ride of nostalgia, laughter, and unexpected stories in this fascinating conversation you won’t want to miss!

This episode is sponsored by:

(Be sure to tell them Gary sent you to receive free extra treatment!)

In this Episode:

Don takes us on his unconventional journey from being a musician to becoming a renowned radio personality.
Hear about Don’s acting career, including his roles on shows like Chicago PD, where he often portrays intriguing characters like drug dealers and bad guys, and learn how he stood out in thousands of auditions.
Discover the thrilling story of how Don became a licensed pilot.
Join Don and Gary as they take a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about the thrill, magic, and irreplaceable energy of live radio.
Gain insights into how corporate changes have reshaped the radio landscape, with personal anecdotes from both Gary and Don.
Listen to their admiration for Howard Stern’s evolution into one of the greatest interviewers of our time, despite his controversial beginnings.
And don’t miss the story behind Gary’s supposed first radio career debut!

Quotations:

“I think that comedians and jocks have a very similar problem. We kind of got to watch every syllable.” ~ Don Stuck

“There’s just something about live radio that can never be replaced.” ~ Don Stuck

“If you’re not out living your life, if you’re not out doing stuff, if you’re sitting at the studio, you do mornings and you’re still sitting there at three in the afternoon, you’re not doing them any favors. The show is the most important thing and you got to go out and live your life and have fun things happen to you and then talk about them on the air.” ~ Don Stuck

“Anybody can do just about anything they want to do if they’re going to try.” ~ Don Stuck

“It keeps you straight trying to keep them straight.” ~ Don Stuck

“You can’t be worried about rejections. Don’t worry about failing.” ~ Don Stuck

“No matter how bad you want it and how, how great, you know, it’s going to be. If it doesn’t work out for some reason, you gotta just go with it. You can’t dwell on it. You gotta go with it because, you know, that like the door is closed. Here comes the other one. We’ll see what happens.” ~ Don Stuck

Bio:

Don Stuck is a veteran SAG-AFTRA radio/television personality and actor who is heard daily in Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, St Louis, Milwaukee, and SiriusXM. As a licensed pilot, Don Stuck is the “Eye in the Sky” as an airborne traffic reporter and is a reporter for NBC Chicago’s Sky 5 helicopter operation. A professional musician since age 16, Don has shared the stage with some of the world’s biggest bands.