#mrmayor

Today LIVE! Glee’s Josh Sussman and I were supposed to reunite last July when the SAG/AFTRA strike first struck. It was at the very beginning when it was unclear what the “new rules” were. A loyal unionist, Josh opted out to honor the no podcast ban. It turned out there were soon workarounds, but had Josh joined me during the strike we wouldn’t have been able to talk about his work, and… hell, what fun would that have been? Well, knowing Josh a bit - it still woud’ve been fun, because he’s fun about so many things. Josh is impossible to miss with his unique look which oft likens him to a possible Art Garfunkel son or a very young, much hipper, Larry Fine, in hair only. A Gleek, I recognized him immediately at a social soirée, bumping into him a couple more times over the years. Our interactions were brief, friendly, and perhaps a tad awkward. I didn’t anticipate when we sat down for a Game Changers pre-pandemic, that he would prove to be one of the most enjoyable, easy, refreshing, inspiring, thought-provoking, and fun conversations I’d had. I knew there had to be a lot to him to garner the success he’s achieved, working consistently since starting, racking up an impressive list of credits, for a young man. Josh appeared in a number of shows my kids were addicted to, from the Suite Life of Zach and Cody, Drake and Josh (different Josh), Wizards of Waverly Place, Warren the Ape, to the award-winning, mega-hit, Glee, which we watched together all through its run. Since our chat, Josh was a recurring character on the animated Glitch Techs, on most recently, on Mr. Mayor with Ted Danson. 

Josh appeared in the fierce independent feature, Tangerine, in 2 Lava  Lantula, did 4 seasons of Fish Hooks, and innumerable other TV shows, movies & shorts. 

Josh had a dream the last time we talked… has he yet realized it? Is it still his dream? If not, what is? Inquiring mind wants to know. So looking forward to the fun! 

Josh Sussman on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 8/14/24, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streaming Live on my Facebook

Josh Sussman on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

What fun, as I expected! What edutainment, that I couldn’t have anticipated! We got the inside scoop on the differences of the pre and post-pandemic biz scene from SAG Award Winner, Josh Sussman. Fascinating, insightful, delightful! Booking his first audition for My Crazy Life, playing Tom Green’s best friend, Derek, who ironically, my wasband worked with on The New Tom Green Show back in those days, and for the past 20+ years has been one of Tom’s best in the reals… Josh took us from his last in-person audition, for Mr. Mayor, with Ted Danson, which he also booked, and which was delayed due to the COVID craziness, resuming at the height of the pandemic with full protocols in place, and how different that experience was from Glee, where freedom reigned supreme. How once the show dropped and fame hit, watching some of the actors change, perhaps not for the better. From the Suite Life of Zach and Cody, Drake and Josh (different Josh), Wizards of Waverly Place, Warren the Ape, Josh was scoring so many shows, he had to turn down commercials, a luxury most actors no longer seem to be facing. Post-pandemic and strike, there’s less work, and what there is seems to be harder to score. Who’s getting the gigs and how? Josh’s booking odds were crazy high, he’s still doing pretty well considering the rumblings of others I’ve heard lately who’ve yet to score from a self-tape. Josh is currently filming a role he garnered from one. Not to say it came easy. The auditions have been way fewer and farther apart and the bookings have been as well. Josh’s pre-pandemic audition discipline which served him so well, doesn’t quite translate completely to this virtual new world. But, he’s working on that and finding his way. Josh took us from receiving his sides to delivering them, and the steps he takes to stand out. As a self-tape newcomer, I ate his wisdom up. 

Josh had early COVID and lost his smeller, no lasting effects there… he found love… lasting effects there… he’s thoughtful, kind, hard-working, and very, very funny. I so enjoyed every moment of this and will cherish the take-aways. JB Self-Tapes, you’ve been plugged. Be like Josh. Memorize. Turn it around quicker than quick. Find a way to be different. And stay positive, even when you don’t much like it. Can’t wait to see this film he’s working on, whatever it is. And may this year see him co-starring with Muppets... in something... anything! Come on!

Josh Sussman on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 8/14/24, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here: