Yahoo News Busy Philipps, Janelle James, Michael Cera and More on the Scenes That Kept Them Up at Night
Michael Cera
Life & Beth (Hulu)
The scene that kept me up at night The scene where I’m diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. I didn’t want this to be played for melodrama or be over-the-top. It’s a diagnosis that countless people get every day, people of all ages and at all junctures of life, and what I wanted us to concentrate on was how it can be a helpful diagnosis to receive, to understand yourself, or your loved one, better, and begin to work toward things in a different and more efficient way.
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What my character’s spinoff would look like It would be essentially a farm-to-table gardening/cooking show.
Who should play me in a biopic Milo Machado-Graner [the kid in Anatomy of a Fall].
Carl Clemons-Hopkins
Hacks (HBO/MAX)
The ways in which I’m like my character We share many physical traits, and we both have brilliant, beautiful, fun-loving mothers.
And the ways I’m not Pretty much every way imaginable. Love him, but I’m a different bitch.
What my character’s spinoff would look like Tales of an international real estate mogul. Hijinks, sexy mischief, yachts on the Mediterranean.
The show I never missed as a teen The Practice.
Who should play me in a biopic [Actor has yet to be born.]
Michael Cyril Creighton
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
The ways in which I’m like my character Like Howard Morris, I love sweaters and animals. I have terrific bone structure and crave the acceptance of my neighbors and peers with every fiber of my being. We’re both very persistent and very particular.
And the ways I’m not My mood swings are only half as extreme as Howard’s. Howard’s acting skills are lacking and I would humbly say I’m a very proficient actor, with occasional moments of earth-shattering excellence. Additionally, Howard names his cat Evelyn, whereas I have a dog named Sharon.
What my character’s spinoff would look like Howard yodeling his way through Europe, solving mysteries by using his expertise in library science to crack cases. It would feel noir and campy. It could be animated.
Janelle James
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
The ways in which I’m like my character I’m a hustler baby and I like clothes. Oh, and being beautiful.
What my character’s spinoff would look like Ava runs an MLM [multi-level marketing] scheme and/or cult for other wannabe fabulous bitches.
The last celebrity who had me starstruck The Golden Bachelor.
Who should play me in a biopic Ari Lennox and, according to the internet, Jaime Pressly.
Luke Macfarlane
Platonic (Apple TV+)
The ways in which I’m like my character Charlie, like me, is a family man. I’m raising a daughter in Los Angeles.
And the ways I’m not I have never been a particularly jealous person. Charlie is rocked by his wife’s [Rose Byrne] friendship with Will [Seth Rogen].
The scene that kept me up at night I had to do the Coyote Ugly dance with Seth on his bar. Seth was Gene Kelly. I was not. I was working with our choreographer leading up to the day and I just knew, this is not sticking.
The last celebrity who had me starstruck I saw Yo-Yo Ma in West L.A. and asked him to sign some sheet music I had and stammered out, “I play cello, too.” He was gracious.
Cynthia Nixon
And Just Like That (HBO/MAX)
The scene that kept me up at night The scenes that keep me up at night are the ones in which I have to cry. I am a pretty emotional performer, but still when I read in the script that my character is expected to cry and I know that big old camera is going to be in my face, I am tortured.
The show on which I’d love to guest star Only Murders in the Building.
Who should play me in a biopic Alison Pill. Dakota Fanning.
Busy Philipps
Girls5eva (Netflix)
The ways I’m not like my character Unlike Summer, I’m a person who has a lot of confidence in what makes me unique and have always been very firmly rooted in who I am in my core. Also, I’ve never had hair extensions.
What my character’s spinoff would look like RHONY.
The co-star I’d call to bail me out of jail Paula Pell.
Who should play me in a biopic Reneé Rapp, obviously!
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez
Loot (Apple TV+)
The scene that kept me up at night The ones O-T Fagbenle and I shared. Romance is one thing, and chemistry is another. Thank goodness O-T and I have outstanding chemistry on and off set, but that still made me quite nervous because I’m an overachiever and I always wanted to make sure I was giving as much to him as he was giving me to me.
The last celebrity who had me starstruck Leonardo DiCaprio. I saw him sitting at a table, not too far across from me, and I didn’t even know how to go up and say hello to him, even though I’ve met him before. I’m still in awe that I’m now sharing spaces with him.
The shows I never missed as a teen Degrassi, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and X-Men.
JB Smoove
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO/MAX)
The ways in which I’m like my character If Leon is nothing else, he’s resourceful. He would use a funnel to make funnel cake. That’s not what a funnel is for, but if you poured that batter through that funnel, you could use it to perfectly shape a funnel cake! Leon can make sense where there seemingly is none. Leon is the type of person who would thrive in a zombie apocalypse. He’s the MacGyver of surviving, and I like to think that’s who I am. In real life, I’m an undeterred problem-solver; I see answers where other people see questions.
And the ways I’m not Leon is reckless as hell. Leon leaps before checking to see how high. He keeps it fast and loose. That’s not necessarily a bad quality, because sometimes with high risks come high rewards. On the other hand, sometimes high risks can get you no rewards and fucked up!
Who should play me in a biopic That’s easy … me! First of all, it ain’t easy being me! Secondly, I look just like me! And now that Curb is over, I happen to have an opening in my schedule!
A version of this story first appeared in the May 29 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.
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