Disney+ 'Adults': Jack Innanen talks 'barrier' for vial comedians moving to other opportunities 'melting' away
It's the season for comedies in TV, going from the success of Overcompensating to the upcoming series Adults (premiering on Disney+ in Canada May 28). Created by Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon), with Nick Kroll as an executive producer, and an ensemble cast featuring Malik Elassal, Lucy Freyer, Jack Innanen, Amita Rao and Owen Thiele, the show leans into the awkwardness of starting your adult life.
Adults is about a group of friends in their 20s in New York, who end up living together in Samir's (Malik Elassal) childhood home. Samir is trying to be more responsible in his life, but not doing so increidbly successfully. Billie (Lucy Freyer) is trying to navigate a career in journalism, Anton (Owen Thiele) was Samir's college roommate and be friends with anyone. Issa (Amita Rao) has an infectious personality and hops between odd jobs, and she's dating Paul Baker (Jack Innanen), who is always referred to by both first and last name, and the show begins with Issa trying to convince Samir to let Paul Baker move in.
With the core of this show resting in the dynamic between these characters, Innanen shared that it was quite a natural fit.
"We did [chemistry] reads, which were great, but I think it wasn't until we actually started shooting the pilot, ... they had like little dates organized for us to go and do," Innanen told Yahoo Canada in Toronto. "But most of the time we kind of just hung out in the hotel room and drank margaritas ... and gossiped our hearts out."
"And there was one point when ... we had had a few drinks and Amita was like, 'OK everyone, go around and say a secret that you haven't told anyone.' And we did. And I was like, OK now we're now locked in. Now we're best friends."
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For Innanen, the Canadian star who's originally from Ontario, but now lives in New York, he was initially catapulted to success posting comedy videos on social media, amassing an impressive following. It's not a dissimilar story to Benito Skinner, also known as Benny Drama, who transferred his his social media comedy success to the show Overcompensating.
What's interesting about the Adults cast is that they all come from different comedy backgrounds, which seems to help each character feel particularly unique.
"We had everyone from all different [backgrounds], stand-up to improv, and just all over the spot," Innanen said. "I feel like, for me, it was almost like trying to figure out how to make sure it wasn't like my TikTok videos."
"I think that was just so fun, just getting to play with everyone's different type of humour. That was what I loved most. ... And I remember thinking like, oh if I can't be funny in this, then I really suck."
But speaking more about successfully moving comedy from one platform to another, it speaks to how, when done effectively, that social media excitement can translate to something that feels fresh and unique in a more traditional TV format. It seems that now is the time that entertainment is taking advantage of comedy talents on TikTok and Instagram that have been able to gather an audience.
"I think that barrier is just melting," Innanen said. "There's English Teacher, Overcompensating, these comedians, I think because it's completely just democratized, so anyone who wants to be doing something is doing it online, and then those people then get these new opportunities."
"You can do both as well. You can make a TV show, act in a TV show, but then also be doing social media, not on the side, but at the same time, and that they are almost equal in these ways. And I think it's really cool. I love seeing Benny Drama get to do that and kill it. And it's exciting."
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