Tag

improv

T.J. Miller

By 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

Charles Esten

By Community, Faith, Music, Podcast, TV One Comment

This week on Here’s What We Know, we’re joined by the global entertainer, Charles Esten. Chip, best known for his role as Deacon Claybourne in the hit TV series “Nashville,” delves into his musical journey with the release of his debut album, “Love Ain’t Pretty.”

Tune in to hear heartfelt insights into his creative process and overcoming hardships through gratitude and music. He also reveals what he believes is waiting for us, “Somewhere in the Sunshine.”

This episode is sponsored by:

(Be sure to use code “GARY20” so you can save up to 20% off your orders!)

In this Episode:

  • Chip reveals the collaborative effort behind ‘Love Ain’t Pretty’ with award-winning songwriters.
  • Hear the Impact of the TV show ‘Nashville’ on his life and how they warmly welcomed him as Deacon Claybourne.
  • Chip talks about his journey back to music after initially pursuing acting and how gratitude plays a central role in his life and happiness.
  • Chip highlights the power of gratitude and the beauty of life and the afterlife.
  • He discusses dealing with personal heartbreaks, including his daughter’s battle with leukemia at age two-and-a-half, now fully recovered.
  • He shares his experience performing at the Grand Ole Opry, performing Improv, game show-winning experiences, and acting on Star Trek.

Quotations:

“To be at my age getting now to do these dreams. It’s so precious to me. The fact that I get to do them, I can’t be anything but grateful.” ~ Charles Esten

“I think gratitude is at the root. What you’re calling happiness is deep gratitude.” ~ Charles Esten

“We’re human beings and we have feelings.” ~ Charles Esten

“If you can’t find gratitude, you’re in a bad way. You need a little help; you need somebody to help you find it.” ~ Charles Esten

“The better way to make a comparison is to see how fortunate you are at any given moment like that.” ~ Charles Esten

“Love is beautiful. It’s deeper and richer than just pretty.” ~ Charles Esten

“By the time you reach our age, you’ll agree that there’s very few that don’t. Nobody gets out of this life unscathed.” ~ Charles Esten

“When you go through something and get really bad news, I often have that feeling too, like, I’m not fully processing how bad this is that we call it being in shock. It means you’re not, we don’t have the nerve endings to fully encompass how bad, and thank God we don’t, we’re protected in that moment from really getting it.” ~ Charles Esten

“Love ain’t pretty and life is hard, but in the end, they’re both beautiful and they’re both worth it.” ~ Charles Esten

Bio:

Charles “Chip” Esten is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. Best known for his roles as Deacon Claybourne on CMT’s Nashville and as Ward Cameron on Netflix’s Outer Banks.

Esten made his theatrical debut in London when he portrayed Buddy Holly, singing, acting, and playing guitar in the hit West End musical “Buddy.” In that role he was honored to perform for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, and eventually President and Mrs. George H.W. Bush at The White House. He was also very honored to perform with Jerry Allison and Joe B. Mauldin, Buddy’s original hitmaking bandmates, the Crickets.

Esten’s many early television credits include recurring roles on “Big Love,” “Enlightened,” “The Office” and “ER.” Besides being the father on Disney Channel’s “Jessie,” he has been a Klingon on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” a secretary on “Murphy Brown” and Kelly Bundy’s fiance on the series finale of “Married with Children.” His film credits include “Swing Vote,” “Thirteen Days,” “61*” and “The Postman.”

He’s made nearly 170 appearances at Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry and performed multiple headline tours in the US, Germany, Amsterdam, and the UK. Surpassing 21 million streams for his music to date, Esten is a 2018 Guinness World Records title holder for the “Most consecutive weeks to release an original digital single by a music act” after delivering 54 original songs once a week for 54 straight weeks.

In addition, Esten serves as the National Honorary Spokesperson for the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light The Night Walk and is a board member and volunteer for Musicians On Call.

Guest Contact Info:

Website: https://www.charlesesten.com/

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

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXkap1dmvv1M8rWyiiWKFSQ

X: https://x.com/charlesesten

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5DOQ7jQ2pnXaiJiIoiEQjz

Get Chip’s New Album: ‘Love Ain’t Pretty’