Page 30 - aruba-today-20170701

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Saturday 1 July 2017
Comedy’s best friend Jason Mantzoukas says he’s no scumbag

By LINDSEY BAHR Tall, with a shock of thick,
AP Film Writer curly black hair, deep set
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Twen- brown eyes and an olive
ty-some years ago, when complexion courtesy of his
Jason Mantzoukas was a Greek heritage, she said he
struggling actor and co- was both “handsome” and
median in New York, a “not handsome enough”
casting agent told him that and both “too ethnic” and
he wasn’t going to work for “not ethnic enough.” But
a while. She said that while she also knew that once
he was funny, talented and someone cast him, he’d
one of her favorites, he’s work forever.
not what people pictured Mantzoukas insists it was a
when writing roles and was generous reckoning.
falling through the cracks. “It was true,” Mantzou-

In this June 16, 2017 photo, Jason Mantzoukas poses for a portrait at “The House” junket at the
London Hotel in West Hollywood, Calif.
Associated Press

kas, 44, said in between like antagonizing the audi- comedy breeding ground
sips of mint tea on a sunny ence, poking at them.” that is Upright Citizen’s Bri-
evening in the Silver Lake This persona, the Rafi-effect gade before they became
neighborhood of Los Ange- and his unique look has im- friends and collaborators.
les, just a few days before pacted, and sometimes “He’s a truly gifted impro-
the release of his latest film, limited, the kind of roles viser. He’s able to on the
“The House.” he’s offered. spot write jokes that are
The show that “categori- “I get offered a lot of scum- as good as anyone sitting
cally changed the equa- bags, lots of ‘weird uncle there working on something
tion” for him was the FX at the wedding,’ lots of for three weeks,” Kroll said.
fantasy football sitcom creepy massage guys. But “People see him as really
“The League,” which ran listen, I’ve done that to my- fun and dynamic to watch
for 6 seasons. Mantzoukas self,” he said. but he’s unbelievably smart
played the recurring role of His complexion has resulted and the way he approach-
Rafi, a truly wild, deranged in him being put up for roles es characters and stories
and disgusting creation that span a variety of eth- is unbelievably nuanced.”
who fans couldn’t help but nicities, from Greek to Mid- Mantzoukas grew up in the
love. Mantzoukas might not dle Eastern to Hispanic. small “Norman Rockwell-
be a household name yet, “At a certain point I had ian” Massachusetts town of
but Rafi is. to be like, ‘I will not do any Nahant. His dad worked in
Mantzoukas is emphatical- more auditions with a Mid- health care and his mom
ly not a scumbag, but he’s dle Eastern accent.’” ran a gourmet gift basket
not surprised that people In “The House,” out Friday, business when he got older.
think he might be. Mantzoukas plays the third And there were no actors
“People predominantly lead to Will Ferrell and in the bunch.
assume I’m that person Amy Poehler. A scumbag- “I’m the anomaly,” he said.
— that I’m a monster,” he lite, he’s the guy who con- “My family is very quiet and
said. “Part of me is like, vinces them to start an un- shy and reserved in a very
‘Great, I’m doing a good derground casino in their funny way when you think
job convincing you I am sleepy suburban town. about who I am.”
this person and I also have After stealing scenes for A lifetime comedy fan who
not overexposed myself as years in supporting roles in learned from “The Carol
who I actually am so you everything from “Parks and Burnett Show,” VCR-taped
know differently.’” Recreation,” ‘’Broad City,” episodes of “Saturday
He frequently guest ap- ‘’Enlightened” and “Brook- Night Live” that he would
pears on the improv pod- lyn 99” to “The Dictator” watch on Sundays, Mon-
cast “Comedy Bang Bang” and “Sleeping with Other ty Python’s Flying Circus,
and co-hosts the wonder- People,” it’s arguably his Woody Allen’s “Bananas,”
fully funny movie podcast highest profile part to date. and Elaine May and Mike
“How Did This Get Made” On another level, it’s also Nichols albums, Mantzou-
with Paul Scheer and June just him acting alongside kas started performing im-
Diane Raphael, yet he’s still the people he’s been do- prov in earnest at Middle-
not really being himself. ing improv with for 20 years. bury College, and then in
“I feel like I’m playing the Nick Kroll used to watch New York in the very early
villain of podcasts, the heel him in awe in the early days of the Upright Citizen’s
of podcasts,” he said. “I days of the now-legendary Brigade.q