Latest news with #FreaksandGeeks
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Seth Rogen says his audition for 'Gigli' "would end" his career today
Actor and comedian Seth Rogen recalled the last time he auditioned for a role in 'Gigli' that would have ended his career. Actor and comedian Seth Rogen recalled the last time he auditioned for a role in 'Gigli' that would have ended his career. 'Gigli' is a 2003 American romantic comedy crime film written, co-produced, and directed by Martin Brest, and starring Ben Affleck , Jennifer Lopez , Justin Bartha , Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, and Lainie Kazan. Seth Rogen opened up about his audition for 2003's Gigli and why he's glad the tape of his work is seemingly gone. Rogen auditioned for the role of a "boy with a cognitive disability" in the Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez film. The part ultimately went to Justin Bartha and the film became a notorious critical and commercial flop, reported People. He appeared on the recent episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and shared, "It has been a long time," adding, "And man, honestly thank God it was mostly physical VHS tapes and stuff like that that was being used when I was auditioning for things, because the things I auditioned for, in retrospect, if they were out there in the world, it would end my career very, very fast, I believe," reported People. "Well, there's a movie called Gigli ... that stars Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez and in the film, they're assassins or something like that," he said. The 2003 romantic crime drama was a notorious critical and commercial flop. "In Gigli, they're assassins who are sent to watch over a boy who -- and this was not the words they used at the time - but had a cognitive disability, let's say," Rogen continued. "And so I, as an aspiring young actor ... I auditioned for this boy with a cognitive disability and I don't think the script was written in what, by today's standards, would be the most sensitive portrayal of a boy with a cognitive disability," reported People. Rogen, who at the time had starred in the TV series Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared, also said that he "didn't get a lot of auditions," and he knew the movie was being helmed by "great director," Martin Brest, who had done Beverly Hills Cop and and Midnight Run. "I don't think I wore a helmet into the audition itself, but it was at play," Rogen said. "And I'm tempted to do an impression of what I did, but I can't even do it! I can't! That's how bad it was! It's so bad I dare not even portray what I did in this audition, because I went for it. I saw myself at the Oscars." "And truthfully if that tape was out in the world today, this would be the last interview you ever saw me do, other than my apology tour," he said. The role Rogen auditioned for, Brian, was ultimately played by Justin Bartha. The A.V. Club wrote in a 2021 article in which they revisited Gigli, "Pretty much everything about the depiction of Brian's disability falls into the 'oh no' category," reported People.
Entrepreneur
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Entrepreneur
How a Setback Led to Success for Busy Philipps
Learn how Busy Philipps built a trusted personal brand by embracing unfiltered honesty, turning vulnerability into influence and redefining what authentic connection looks like in the world of celebrity entrepreneurship and digital marketing. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Busy Philipps wasn't trying to disrupt the celebrity marketing model when she first cried on Instagram stories. She wasn't pitching brand deals or testing a strategy. She was just being real. But it turns out that unfiltered vulnerability — streamed to millions — wasn't just cathartic. It was transformative. Long before "authentic marketing" became a buzzword, Philipps was living it. And in doing so, the Freaks and Geeks and Dawson's Creek actress discovered something Hollywood had long taught her to avoid: Being yourself online can actually be a superpower. "Since I was a teenager, how I was portrayed in the media was always just very dependent on a reporter and the space they had allotted for a profile of a young actress like myself," Philipps says. "I loved being able to have a direct line to people… being able to put [myself] directly out to the fans." Philipps' Instagram stories marked a turning point in how she connected with the public. Rather than polished outcomes, she shared messy, behind-the-scenes moments to build deeper connections. And after years of curated press coverage and red carpet appearances, social media gave her the chance to control her own narrative and pursue opportunities she was passionate about. Related: From Pennies to Millions: What It Felt Like to Make Money for the First Time Her breakthrough moment came after her first late-night show, Busy Tonight, was canceled. In the old celebrity playbook, that kind of public career pivot would've been tightly managed. Philipps took another route — she processed her disappointment openly. "Oh, honey, I dwell," she says. "I was just deeply feeling the injustice of the thing…but the more meetings we took, the more I thought, Why do these people get to determine what success looks like for me?" Instead of jumping on the next available offer, Philipps paused and listened to her instincts. She passed on a major deal, ultimately paving the way for her QVC series, Busy This Week. "I called [executive producer Caissie St. Onge] and said, 'Just hear me out. I feel like we can go directly to advertisers and get them to fund our talk show.'" That gut-driven decision led Philipps to a larger realization: Creators could bypass traditional gatekeepers and build something of their own. For entrepreneurs, the takeaway is equally powerful: Don't just chase the next opportunity. Wait for the one that aligns with your values. Related: 5 Secrets to Success From a Sustainable Business That's Grown 95% in 3 Years Today, Philipps is much more than an actress — she's a producer, podcast host, QVC personality and investor in mission-driven brands. What sets her apart isn't just the breadth of her work, but the intentional way she uses her influence. On her QVC series, every product is selected with purpose, and many sell out quickly. "There was a dress that Caissie wore that sold out immediately," Philipps shares. "And when Tina Fey was on the show, there was this slightly terrifying Christmas squirrel that she had a lot to say about — but that squirrel sold out less than a week later." As a late-night host, Philipps' approach is collaborative, honest and driven by care — a strategy that any entrepreneur can learn from. "I might be a f****** visionary, but I didn't go to business school, and I don't know how to code," she says. "You're only as good as the people you're working with. QVC has been an incredible partner because they're open to all the ideas." Related: Want to Work With Influencers? Here's What Small Business Owners Need to Know. Philipps brings that same mindset to investing. She doesn't partner with a brand unless she believes in it. "With [BEHAVE Candy], I literally was just buying it," she says. "Then my agent brought it to me, and I was like. 'Familiar with the brand? I literally have it in my pantry.'" What matters most to Philipps is the "why" behind a business. The brands she supports, including BEHAVE and Period., share a common purpose. They're built by founders who care about making a positive impact, not just turning a profit. "We have a surplus of s*** in the world, so…why? Why do we want it? Why do we need it? What good is it to the world? And what good are you gonna be to the world?" By leading with her values, Philipps has built a following that trusts her deeply, supporting the products and platforms she stands behind. That connection is the foundation of long-term influence. Whether you're an actress or a small business owner, people are attracted to authenticity with a purpose. As Philipps puts it: "Is it doing something good in the world? That's what matters to me." These are some of the principles that Philipps followed to get to where she is today: Own your voice. Don't wait for permission to share your story. People connect with truth more than polish. Don't wait for permission to share your story. People connect with truth more than polish. Take your time. It's okay to dwell after a setback. Wait for what feels right. It's okay to dwell after a setback. Wait for what feels right. Surround yourself with great people. Your team matters. Find people who fill in the gaps and support your vision. Your team matters. Find people who fill in the gaps and support your vision. Invest in alignment. Don't chase influence—cultivate values-based partnerships. Don't chase influence—cultivate values-based partnerships. Turn missteps into momentum. Even a public failure can become a launching pad if handled with transparency and care. Related: This Local Bakery Has Lines Out the Door. Here Are the Secrets to Its Success.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Seth Rogen and Jason Segel Relive 27 Years of Friendship: Smoking Before ‘The Matrix,' Peeing Next to Scorsese and Harrison Ford Watching Segel Naked
Jason Segel and Seth Rogen, who both emerged from the Judd Apatow comic universe, are now two of the funniest multi-hyphenates in the industry. Segel, with Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein, co-created 'Shrinking,' a dramedy about an unconventional therapist, played by Segel, going through the stages of grief. Rogen, with his longtime writing partner, Evan Goldberg, co-created 'The Studio,' and co-directs every episode. He stars as a newly appointed studio executive trying to keep his head above water. Seth Rogen: The first time we met — 27 years ago — I was 16 or 17 when we shot the pilot of 'Freaks and Geeks.' How old were you? More from Variety Dave Chappelle Joins Mo Amer for Rare Interview on Political Comedy, Fiery 'SNL' Monologues and Crying Over Netflix's 'Mo': 'I'm Not Doing This S--' If the 'Show Sucked' Like Father, Like Son: Arnold and Patrick Schwarzenegger on Nepo Babies, Nude Scenes and 'Becoming the Greatest Star of All Time' How 'The Studio,' 'Yellowjackets,' 'Monsters' and 'White Lotus' Make Bad Behavior Appealing Jason Segel: I was 18 or 19. It's crazy to think about that. In preparation for this, I was thinking about the first time we bonded. I have a very clear idea of the moment. Rogen: What was it? Segel: While we were shooting the pilot, 'The Matrix' came out. We didn't know each other that well. We didn't know anybody else that well. We were all just meeting each other. And all we knew is that you and I both liked to smoke weed. Rogen: [The film] came out the day the pilot wrapped, so in my head, the whole pilot was just a march to 'The Matrix' being released. Segel: We rolled giant joints and drove to the movie theater and saw 'The Matrix' together. I remember coming out of that movie legitimately feeling like something had changed. It was a very inspiring thing. Rogen: It was like our 'Star Wars.' Segel: You and I started writing harder after that. I think about that period as something you can never get back. We had the naivete of youth. We didn't really know how to do it. Rogen: I remember having no fucking clue what I was doing at all. Meeting you — you had thoughts about the craft of acting. You were the first serious actor I ever talked to. All I did was memorize the lines and try to say them in a way that sounds remotely realistic and natural. Then I realized everyone else on the show was creating a whole character. Segel: But don't you think acting is all just tricks so that when they say 'Action,' you feel comfortable? Rogen: The longer I act, the less I understand it, honestly. Sometimes I look back at the choices I made, and they're more surprising at times than things I would do now. Segel: People always ask, 'What would older you say to younger you?' I think the opposite is more important for me at this age. Don't forget the guys who felt like, 'Why can't I make this movie and end it with a Dracula puppet musical? Why can't we do this whole movie about trying to get booze?' You know what I mean? There was a naivete that we had: 'Who's going to stop us?' Rogen: I've let pragmatism invade my thinking in many ways. You get too realistic about things, and you're like, 'What's going to work?' instead of 'What sounds fun in the moment?' Segel: The most strategic decisions I've made have been the worst ones. Do you have a true north — a view of life you're trying to express? Rogen: No. Sometimes. I'd say that some things I've made are trying to eventually have an idea that they're trying to get across — something I believe. But I mostly start thinking of an idea as I think of the energy of it. That's what becomes exciting to me. I never start with one single thing. Where do your ideas come from now? Segel: I don't write very often because I don't love it. I find it to be kind of fraught. I think of an idea, something I'm dealing with in my life, and then I try really hard not to write it. But if it keeps nagging at me, I'm like, 'This is something I'll write.' Rogen: Me and Evan talk about a Darwinistic approach to our ideas often — the ideas that stick around are the good ideas. Segel: It's not that hard to think of ideas. But I get a little indecisive about committing to one. You gave me a piece of advice for a script I'm working on now that really stuck with me. I didn't feel like I was smart enough to write this thing, and you said, 'We're the age now where you write stuff like that.' That's the beauty of this thing, starting to realize, 'OK, now let's try to up the degree of difficulty.' Rogen: Aging is weird in many ways. But acknowledging that your taste has changed and your sensibilities have changed … That was a scary thing for me and Evan to even acknowledge: Oh, we don't want to make stuff about dumb teenagers anymore. Segel: Or being afraid of girls. Rogen: It's been a decade since Evan and I wrote and directed and produced a thing I was also in. It took us a transition period from our 30s into our 40s where we were working on other stuff the whole time, but it wasn't our stuff. Segel: Do you and Evan have the same taste, or is it like a Venn diagram? Rogen: It's close enough that we've never really had a major conflict over what we want to work on. There's never been a thing that one of us really wants to make and the other doesn't want to make at all. Segel: You really notice, in 'The Studio,' this energy that goes through it. It felt to me like a mix: 'Birdman' meets 'Curb.' Rogen: That's exactly what we were going for. Segel: It's all of the awkwardness and reality of 'Curb,' but set to a rhythm. Rogen: I wanted it to be fast — that was a word I would use a lot. I thought a lot about: What do I want to do all day? What do I like to do? What I don't love to do is insert shots and establishing shots. I don't love doing scenes that feel like they're serving some storyline that will pay off in a few episodes. I love high-stakes, intense scenes where everyone wants to grab each other and shake each other. As we were writing the show, the first conversations we were having were 'How do we infuse every scene so I'm only doing scenes that are really funny?' Segel: It's like you only did the scenes that people like. Rogen: We didn't cut. Nothing we shot was not in the show. Do you guys improvise a lot? Segel: When it makes sense. Our show is also this mix of comedy and drama. You know I love talking about acting. Rogen: Not as much as some. Segel: All those improv skills that we learned for comedy and got pretty damn good at turned out to really apply to dramatic scenes also. Rogen: Even more so, I think. Because you aren't trying to make jokes. Segel: And you're not trying to prove you're clever. With 'Shrinking,' the writers are incredible, and they give us a really good treasure map that's pretty fucking detailed. But then you're dropped into the treasure map and it's three-dimensional and you're like, 'Oh, but there's an interesting little thing over here …' Rogen: Does the same person direct the whole show? Segel: No. Rogen: How's that? That's the one thing I'd never really done. 'Pam & Tommy' was the first time since 'Freaks and Geeks' or 'Undeclared' that I'd acted in a television show, and I honestly struggled with having different directors. I was very thrown off by it, having all these people come in, handing off the show from one person to the next. Segel: I get it. There's a lot of moving targets, and you're block shooting for locations, so … Rogen: … different directors will come in throughout the day. Segel: That happens occasionally. But we have a really cohesive unit up top with Bill Lawrence. But it's an interesting thing, you know, because you do all the jobs, but I don't think anyone knows, until you get into editing, what the show is. Rogen: Not on our show. Segel: This is a show about grief, and we wanted to honor that. People are really going through this shit in the world. You also want it to be funny. So it was a lot of turning the dials of how bad you can make him as a therapist. Rogen: I was explaining it to Lauren, my wife, as we were watching it. She was like, 'Is he doing cocaine and sleeping with prostitutes?' I didn't think this show went there. Segel: You've known me a long time, so you'd probably agree if you were directing me: I was like, 'Guys, you can have him do as much bad stuff as you want.' Rogen: 'It'll be OK.' Segel: People are going to think, 'Oh, I hope he's OK.' Rogen: Sympathy. Segel: Spend the currency. Rogen: How did you get Harrison Ford? Segel: We got Harrison Ford because Harrison Ford is the kind of person you make an offer to so that for three days you can say, 'We've made an offer to Harrison Ford,' and then you'll pick the real guy. Rogen: Sounds cool in a restaurant. Segel: He read it, and he didn't know anything about me. Brett Goldstein met with him, and they had a really nice meeting, and they sent him 'The End of the Tour' and 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall.' Then, apparently, Bill Lawrence got a text that said, 'I'm in. And tell the kid, great dick.' Rogen: Even if he was out, that would be great. I would take that. Segel: How about your cameos? Is that the people you've amassed throughout your career? Rogen: No, not at all. I'd say half of them were people I didn't know at all. We wanted people you haven't seen us with before. Martin Scorsese, we just sent it to his manager. I'd met Zoë Kravitz once or twice. I met a lot of these people in passing. I'm sure you have at a party. Segel: I did meet Martin Scorsese once. I met him at the Golden Globes, and we peed next to each other at the urinals. But I had the kids' one and he had the tall one. So everything about it was just way off. That's a great memory. Rogen: He's a little guy. Segel: Were you intimidated to direct people like that? Rogen: It was the worst thing in the whole world. We were shooting the show in such a specific way that I was so nervous it would be creatively rejected. Segel: I'm so interested to hear that you get nervous. Rogen: The character is me in many, many ways. And the crux of the character is that he doesn't want to let down his idols. And that's one of the biggest things that I'm navigating: Whenever I get anyone to come do a thing we're doing, I'm so aware of how upset I'll be if they think it's bad. Segel: How do you act while you have to be carrying all this other stuff too? Rogen: To me, it's more fun to be directing the scene and in the scene and having written the scene than it is to just be acting the scene. The fact that it's way harder, I like it. Segel: It's a tightrope. Rogen: 'Steve Jobs' was the first time I had done anything where there were these long, elaborate shots and these long walk-and-talks — it has to be exactly right. It was the first time I made a thing where everyone's really leaning in and everyone's engaged. And when you got it, everyone's clapping. That was an energy I wanted to try to create on a day-to-day basis. Segel: You're describing my ethos of acting. Repeatability is an important skill when you start doing all the other angles. But the magic part, the part where I'm like, 'Oh, fuck, we did it,' is when you catch something. Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Seth Rogen spotted in Kennebunkport, Maine restaurant over Memorial Day weekend
KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine — You can add Hollywood actor and director Seth Rogen to the list of celebrities who have traveled to Kennebunkport to enjoy the restaurants and shops the community has to offer. Rogen, 43, dined at Mabel's Lobster Claw on Ocean Avenue over the holiday weekend, according to a recent Instagram post by the restaurant. 'We had a special visitor at Mabel's Lobster Claw yesterday,' the restaurant wrote, alongside a photo showing Rogen and three others. 'Thank you for joining us, Seth Rogen — we hope you enjoyed your meal and your time in Kennebunkport!' The owner of Mabel's Lobster Claw could not be reached for comment. Known for his laugh and for a comedic style, Rogen first appeared on the scene as Ken Miller, a sarcastic and disaffected teenager on 'Freaks and Geeks,' a dramedy on television at the turn of the century. Since then, he has had box office successes on film, from such comedies as 'Knocked Up' and 'Neighbors' to such acclaimed dramas as 'Steve Jobs' and 'The Fabelmans,' directed by Steven Spielberg. Currently, Rogen is getting noticed for directing and starring in 'The Studio,' a comedic look at Hollywood whose debut season is now streaming on Apple TV+. More: Seth Rogen says this is the key to the A-list cameos in 'The Studio' Other celebrities known to visit Kennebunkport include Taylor Swift, who dined at Alisson's Restaurant while shooting a music video more than a dozen years ago, and two-time Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn, who once stopped at Coastal Jewelers in Dock Square, according to the owners of both local businesses. Last June, singer Lady Gaga visited an ice cream parlor in York while attending her sister's local wedding. In August, boxing champion Mike Tyson stopped by a cannabis shop in Eliot. Also, last September, Academy Award-winning actor Matt Damon visited a juice bar in Kittery. And then there was one celebrity last summer who had a prolonged stay in southern Maine: award-winning actress Kathleen Turner, who had a role in 'A Little Night Music' at the Ogunquit Playhouse in July and early August. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seth Rogen spotted in Kennebunkport, Maine restaurant
New York Post
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Jason Segel reveals why he started not to enjoy himself during ‘How I Met Your Mother'
For Jason Segel, starring in 'How I Met Your Mother' caused some problems IRL. The actor, 45, opened up about how working on the long-running sitcom made balancing his movie career difficult. 'The way my life was for about six years was I would be shooting 'How I Met Your Mother,'' Segel said on Monday's episode of The Hollywood Reporter's 'Awards Chatter' podcast. 'And during that time, I would be writing a movie that we would then shoot on the four months off and get done in time to get back to 'How I Met Your Mother.'' Advertisement 6 Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel in 'How I Met Your Mother.' CBS The show aired for nine seasons from 2005 to 2014 and also starred Josh Radnor, Neil Patrick Harris, Cobie Smulders, and Alyson Hannigan. 'And it was an amazing time. It was an electric time. But I also was getting a little tired and I was starting to not enjoy myself so much,' admitted Segel. 'And that was a bummer because I was doing such cool things.' Advertisement 6 Jason Segel in 'How I Met Your Mother.' FOX During his time on the hit show, the 'Shrinking' star received some sound advice from Judd Apatow. The director, 57, was the one who executive-produced the young star's first-ever television series, 'Freaks and Geeks,' in 1999. 'Judd had instilled this thing in us during 'Freaks and Geeks,' where he said, 'If you can improv the way that you can, then you can write. I just need to teach you how to write,'' Segel explained. Advertisement He recalled that Apatow told him, 'You're a weird dude, and the only way you're going to make it is if you write your own material.' 6 Jason Segel in 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall.' Photo Credit: Glen Wilson Segel then 'pitched' Apatow 'lightly' on a script of his own: 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall.' 'I went to Hawaii, and I rented a little house in Hawaii. And I wrote 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' in two months, and then we made it. And then I was kind of off to the races,' he recounted. Advertisement Segel wrote the script during a hiatus from 'How I Met Your Mother' after the first season. The 2008 rom-com went on to be a huge hit and starred Kristen Bell, Russell Brand, Mila Kunis, Paul Rudd, and Jonah Hill. 6 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall.' Photo Credit: Glen Wilson Podcast host Scott Feinberg spoke about the benefits and downfalls of Segel's position, sharing that while the sitcom gave him 'financial security' and recognition, it also 'locked [him] into playing a guy for a long, long time.' 'Listen, it's like the best problem you could ever have, for sure, especially when you're scared you might never work,' Segel responded. When the actor made the 2011 movie 'The Muppets' — which he starred in and also co-wrote — he would shoot 'How I Met Your Mother' during the day and the movie at night. 6 'Freaks and Geeks' on NBC. NBC Photo: Chris Haston That same summer, the star filmed his other script 'The Five-Year Engagement.' Advertisement 'So I was a tired dude,' Segel admitted. These days, after a slew of comedic and dramatic hits, the actor revealed which role he'd love to dive into next. 6 Jason Segel attends the American Cinematheque's This Is Not Fiction 2025 Festival Closing Night Premiere of HBO Max's '100 Foot Wave.' Getty Images Advertisement 'I would like to play a really archvillain,' Segel told Parade in October 2024. 'I think that I walk this line between charming and creepy, and I always kind of fall at the very end towards charming. But if I fell towards creepy, it could be really interesting.' Segel said he just wants to portray someone 'really bad,' but who 'seems so nice.'
