Label Queen with Troy Iwata

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign. [00:00:08] Speaker B: Hello everyone and welcome back to Label Queen. All my label queens, I want to thank you. The podcast is growing. It continues to grow and it is all because of you. And as always, this podcast is sponsored by no one yet. Listen, I love it. It gives me complete freedom. I don't have to worry about anything. And I appreciate that. So let's talk about some things that are on my mind. First of all, my guest today is really fun. Not going to reveal that yet, but he has a very fun credit on his resume, which is a Christmas, I'm going to say a movie. It's not really a movie, it's a series, but it is a Christmas series. And I have this fascination, I know, surprise, surprise, with all things Christmas movies, Christmas specials, anything Christmas on tv. I just love Hallmark, Lifetime, Netflix. I can deduce all of the differences between them, the nuances, where they were, where they've come, how far they've come. I just think they're so much fun. And I, I have this idea in the back of my mind about writing a really interesting behind the scenes dirty tell all what really goes on behind the scenes of a Christmas movie. Also, I would love to be in a Christmas movie. I don't know what I would play at this point. Either a really old elf or, or maybe, you know, what I would probably be is like the corporate boss who's mean and forces, you know, the ingenue to. I probably fire the ingenue which forces her into the small town where she breaks a heel and falls into the arms of her soon to be. But we don't know, but we know boyfriend and lives happily ever after. But I'm only talking about this now because we're starting fall and Christmas is just a few months away and my guest is indeed in a Christmas series. So that is fun. So let's get to my highs and lows. And this is particularly fun because it's one of those things that everyone is talking about and I love those things. And of course I like drawing the comparisons and the contrast between the highs and lows of it all. So let's get to it on Netflix. The documentary Unknown Number on Netflix right now airing. Shocking. Crazy. It is a low because like all of them, oh my God, I cannot believe what I saw. Heard red. If you know, you know. And you know what? I don't care about spoilers. I am just gonna say it. This is a documentary about cyberbullying. Cyberbullying of a child, Lauren Licari, by her own. Wait for it, mother Kendra Le Carri for almost two years. It takes place around 2020, so it's really like pandemicy. So a very small town. There's a lot of things that I don't understand about what happened, including the fact that they allowed this insane cyberbullying to go on with these kids having these phones. On the one hand, I understand it in that they wanted to find out who was doing this. That part I get. What I don't get is why they would just let them have these phones for so long and endure the most horrendous, insane things that my mind could not even think of. And it's the own mother telling the daughter the most hideous, insidious, hateful, disgusting. I don't even know where she got the language. And then to do it in sort of the teen speak of. Of texting speak, which I don't even know all of the. Whatever euphemisms and initials and things. I just. It is just so shocking. And there's so much that is sort of not said either. When she finally gets arrested, there is a table filled with booze that they never mention when they interview her. She never really takes accountability for the content of what she says. And of course, there are some issues that she explains which could explain a little bit, but the end of. Of it all with the daughter saying she still loves her mother and wants to see her. It is just so twisted and bizarre and weird and. And it's a documentary of a family that still exists. This is not that long ago. And this family has to deal with it. They all appear in it, which means they're going to deal with this in a huge way. This is a global phenomenon. You know, number one on Netflix, number two, trending. Whatever. Whatever small town policing. I think this case never would have been solved until the FBI got involved. Things that I didn't even know existed. Apps that can hide your numbers, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And it's just incredibly disturbing, shocking. This woman, what's her name, Kendra, is not gonna win mother of the Year by any way, shape or form, but there is one little telltale sign in it, by the way, my husband sort of clocked it right away. He's like, it's one of the parents. And I was like, how could that be a. Then he thought it was AI, which would make more sense. Anyway, the. The. When they interview everybody, the. The parents are never together, which. If your parents, if your daughter was going through this, you would appear together as a family, and they never appear together. But the the filmmaker sort of separate everybody, so it kind of makes sense. But that was a very telling sign. Anyway, watch this at your own risk. It is so filthy. All of the text messages are 100% real and just shocking. It brings me to my high though, ironically, because it reminded me of a. Let's see, when was this made? I think it was a couple of years ago. It's a film based on another true story that happened in 1920. So 100 years later, this is, you know, still happening. It's a film called Wicked Little Letters and it stars, let's see, Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley. Now this movie is so much fun. It is about. It's a British black comedy and it's based on a real life scandal, like I said, that took place in the 1920s, so 100 years before. And it centers around two neighbors. Okay? So it takes place in a seaside town of Little Hampton and it's just a charming little quaint. And it's these two neighbors, Edith, and I think her name is Rose. And Rose is a Irish immigrant and she's foul mouthed and she's sort of just shocking and the whole town just thinks she's rough and you know, disgusting. And all of a sudden all of the residents, and keep in mind this is true, all of the residents start getting these nasty letters, handwritten letters. And of course the town assumes it's the foul mouth Rose because she's an immigrant and she's Irish and she's nasty. Turns out the letters are actually coming from the prudish daughter of the scion of the town, what's her name, Edith, played by Olivia Colman. The letters are coming from her. And this is a true story. So 100 years ago, this woman was using whatever, a quill pen to write her poison letters. A hundred years later, the mother, Kendra Lakari, is using the computer. It's basically the exact same story. Although I will say the Olivia Colman version, the letters are much more interesting and well written. I will leave it at that. So do yourself a favor after watching this disgusting documentary, unknown number, watch Wicked Little Letters and do yourself a favor because it's sort of the fun version of the exact same story. So those are my highs and lows and I hope you, you dig in deep. That brings me to my favorite part of the pod where I introduce my guest. I'm gonna put my gl is on as I introduce this person and before I say his name, I like to talk about him. He is an American actor, singer and writer. He's appeared In Netflix's Dash and Lily as Langston. This is a leading role. In 2019, he made his Broadway debut in the musical Be More Chill, which was an Off Broadway production that went to Broadway. In 2023, he joined the cast of the Daily show as a correspondent. He is hilarious. He also has appeared in We Crashed with Anne Hathaway and Jared Leto. He has. He's in the show Summoning Sylvia, which I think is a movie. He's in New Amsterdam and Quantico. My guest is the hilarious and handsome Troy Iwata. Stay tuned. Troy, Troy, Troy. Thank you, first of all, for doing this. I love people that just say yes right away. And I find that it's always comedians, actors, Broadway people that just say yes. So thank you for saying yes. [00:11:02] Speaker A: Well, I'm so happy to be here. And you know what? It's more of a. Sure. You know, I love it. Yeah, yeah. That's why it's so quick, because it's. You get the email and you just. [00:11:10] Speaker B: Go, sure, I love it. I love it. Okay. So in researching and I, you know, I don't do a ton of research. I think it's more fun to be. To be a little looser. But I did go on the always reliable Wikipedia, and I have to say, you have the best Wikipedia, because your personal life, it simply says, what does it say? Iwata lives in New York City. He is gay. What it says. And you know what? [00:11:44] Speaker A: I think it needs to stay that. That's enough information. I don't think anyone needs to know anything else. Thank you. Also, I didn't know I had a Wikipedia until now. [00:11:54] Speaker B: So here's the best part of that. Wikipedia just described every man in New York City. So there's. Could you fill it in a little bit more? I want to know where you were born. [00:12:06] Speaker A: I was born in a small town in Southern California in the mountains called Lake Arrowhead, which I thought of la people would know because it's become like a weekend place for LA people, which it wasn't when I was there. [00:12:18] Speaker B: Okay. [00:12:19] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:12:20] Speaker B: And when did you escape? [00:12:21] Speaker A: When I was 18, when I graduated high school. [00:12:24] Speaker B: Okay, and where'd you escape to? [00:12:26] Speaker A: I went to Orange county for college, and I lived in Costa Mesa, right across the street from the. The Orange County Fairgrounds. And a Jack in the Box. [00:12:37] Speaker B: I love that. [00:12:37] Speaker A: And I love that. Yeah. And, you know, my school had a lot of portable buildings. I remember, you know, when we would go get food at the Jack in the Box, they would. The employees would say, like, that's A school. We'd be like, I thought it was a jail. [00:12:53] Speaker B: Now it's a spirit. Halloween. [00:12:55] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:12:56] Speaker B: Yeah. So I. As an east coaster and watching, you know, movies with schools and TV shows with schools in California, I was always enamored because they were always outside, and you would have lunch outside and musical numbers would be outside. That's my sort of vision of schools in California. Was that what it was like? [00:13:17] Speaker A: I wish that I could say absolutely not. But thinking about it, I did eat outside a lot. [00:13:25] Speaker B: I think the best part of your. Well, this is really your origin. Your mother is Russian Jewish and your father is Japanese. Is that true? [00:13:39] Speaker A: My mother is Jewish, but she's not Russian. [00:13:42] Speaker B: Okay. All right. So now we need to go back to Wikipedia because somebody. [00:13:51] Speaker A: I'm writing these. [00:13:52] Speaker B: Love it. Love it. So you have to check your Wikipedia now? [00:13:56] Speaker A: Yeah, I have to go look it up. [00:13:58] Speaker B: Russian Jewish. [00:13:59] Speaker A: Wait, this makes a lot of sense because I've gotten a handful of, like, random DMs in my other inbox on Instagram, being like, hey, I'm also a Russian Jew. And I'd be like, cool, good. Good for you, dude. [00:14:12] Speaker B: Can we exchange recipes? [00:14:14] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:14:14] Speaker B: That is so funny. So what was it like growing up. What was sort of like growing up with that sort of mix in your household? Like. [00:14:25] Speaker A: Well, I mean, I grew up in a. In a. In a. In a separate household. My parents split when I was three, so I balanced between my mom and my dad. So there wasn't really like a set culture in each house. You know, my dad is Japanese, but he is just a dude from la. So a lot of people, when they find, oh, you're Japanese, they're like, do you speak Japanese? You know, a lot of Japanese culture, I'm like, I'm fourth generation. My dad's a. My dad's a dentist from la. So, you know, I remember right after college, we went to. We went to Japan for about three weeks, and it was me and my dad, my brother and my stepmom. And my dad is going around and. And just point things going, oh, yeah. Oh. And I was like, you don't know anything. He was like. He was trying to, like. Like, be familiar. Like, oh, yeah. And what's funny is his. His. His wife Julie, who's white, was born in Japan, so she actually knows more. But my dad was pointing at stuff being like, yeah, that's the thing. And I go, shut the hell up. You don't know what you're talking about. [00:15:27] Speaker B: That is so funny. [00:15:28] Speaker A: Yeah, speaking. [00:15:28] Speaker B: Speaking of funny, I mean, you are funny. When did you find the funny? Is it something you always were, or did you sort of find humor in? I mean, I find, like, a lot of writers, comedians find humor in pain. Is that your story? [00:15:46] Speaker A: Yeah, I think, like, embarrassment or shame, the usual. Thinking back, I feel like one of my first moments when I realized not that I was funny, but I. But that I could use humor to connect with people. At my family Christmas parties, our aunts and uncles would always write a Christmas show for all the cousins and force us to do it just for them. Like, I don't really understand the point of it. It was like the. The. The. The. The eight people who wrote the show would be the audience. They were just like, yeah, we're bored. Let's make the kids sing and dance. And I remember one. One year, I didn't. I didn't get the script till, like, the day of. So I wasn't ready. I wasn't prepared. [00:16:29] Speaker B: I was. [00:16:30] Speaker A: Must have been like four or five or something. And it got to my line, and there was just, like, a pause when I realized, oh, I'm missing my line. So I just, like, started doing a dance because I didn't know what I was doing, and everyone started laughing. And then I was. That was one of the first moments when I was like, I can. This could be my thing. Because before then, I was, you know, before then, in my long life of four years, I was a very shy kid. I was still finding myself at four years old, which a lot of people, you know, have really established their whole Persona. [00:17:02] Speaker B: Exactly. Listen, I hear that a lot from comedians. That. That is truly. I mean, whatever age it is, that that's when they kind of realize, oh, that is the path when they get that first laugh and they realize, oh, there is some. There's a reaction that makes me feel good. [00:17:21] Speaker A: That makes me feel good. And also, like, makes other people happy. [00:17:25] Speaker B: Yeah. Yep. [00:17:27] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, before, like, I was always a very shy kid, but then every once in a while that I would have moments where I was like, I think if I make people laugh, that will make them happy. It'll make me happy. It makes everybody happy. So such a concept. Laughter makes people happy. Oh, my God. [00:17:46] Speaker B: So did you take a path of, I'm going to stay on this comedy route? Did you go to school to be in theater? Acting? Were you Groundlings? What's your. If that was a thing, then I don't know. [00:18:02] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. No, Groundlings was a thing that just reminds me of, you know, Facebook memories. It'll, like, bring up It'll be success from 16 years ago. I remember there was one that came up, and it just said. It was from, like, 17 years ago, and it just said, I just want to be in the Groundling so bad. And I remember reading. I remember. I remember reading it. And then I thought, I never took a class. I never even took a class there. And I was like, way to commit, buddy. I don't know. [00:18:28] Speaker B: So you know who was in the Groundlings? Me. [00:18:31] Speaker A: You were. [00:18:33] Speaker B: There was a New York chapter that opened, and I was so bad, they threw me out. [00:18:38] Speaker A: Good for you. Good for you. [00:18:39] Speaker B: Thank you. But you bring up something funny about Facebook memories, which I think are so weird because they're supposed to be happy, but sometimes they can be, like, the most, like. Like a funeral or something or the most sad part. [00:18:54] Speaker A: Yeah. We're like, damn. We were really going through it. So it's such. It's such vague posting. It's just like, I had the worst day today, and I honestly don't know what to do. I wish I had someone here with me. And I'm like, what was happening? [00:19:08] Speaker B: Remember that? Yeah. All right, so. [00:19:10] Speaker A: But. [00:19:10] Speaker B: So you go ahead. [00:19:12] Speaker A: Okay. No, no, I did. I did go to school for theater. I didn't start doing, like, performing officially until I was, like, 16. I was still, like, a pretty shy kid. And then. And I started doing drama in high school at 16, and then majored in musical theater in college. And I mean, I've said this before in interviews. It was never really like, an aspiration of, like, I want to be an actor. I want to perform. It was more so, like, I don't know what else I can do. And all I know is that I. And I like the people involved, so let's just keep doing this and see if it works out. And thank God that it did, because I can't do anything else. [00:19:50] Speaker B: Well, I think when I was thinking about interviewing you, and there's an age obvious difference between us, when I was growing up, and you sort of like, oh, I want to be an actor. I want to do this. You were given these monologues that, as a young gay kid, you were like, I can't do this. You know what I mean? Like Stanley Kowalski or just like, the Thing or the Straightest or this material that in your heart you knew you couldn't do, but you had to do them. And I feel like your generation. Correct me if I'm wrong. You did have the option to say, listen, this is who I am, and I'm going to play. This was that your experience? [00:20:32] Speaker A: I think I went to school right at the cusp of when it was transitioning from those two. Cause I still, even in the beginning of my career, had a lot of experiences, Even when casting directors would say, I need you to butch it up a little bit. [00:20:45] Speaker B: Right, right, right. [00:20:46] Speaker A: You know, and I. What's crazy, too, is they would say that to me. And I go, I'm not, like, the most feminine person. Like, I'm not like, the California beach dude is still kind of in me. And so I'm like, I'm not like, a super feminine person. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But they. But I'd be like, I'm too feminine. Wow. [00:21:07] Speaker B: Like, well, I think it's. It also, you were born in 1991. I feel like your generation, you really did grow up with social media. You had sort of the Internet. You know, there was sort of an awareness of, you know, kind of who you could be in a different way. And honestly, I applaud that because I do think that there was a connectivity that didn't exist before, and I think it did make a difference. I want to fast forward a little bit because I love your career. I just think it's so, so, so great. And I want to touch on a couple of things that I particularly love. Obviously, you've been on Broadway. So tell me about that casting moment when you got on Broadway. What was that like? [00:21:59] Speaker A: It was very, very cool. It was unique. Cause I did an off Broadway show, and then we transferred and they took everyone there. And so, you know, I have all these colleagues who are, like, auditioning for years, and then they finally get on Broadway. And I was like, I did a show, and then they just took me there. Like, I didn't. But it was very cool. The show that we were doing, it was called Be More Chill. And it was a unique show because it had a pretty big, like, social media cult following. And so it was an interesting experience, like doing a show that just had screaming teens the whole time. And I was. I was also an understudy. So I understudied four of the. Of the dudes, and. Which I loved because, you know, I get bored easily. So it was nice to do different things. But the kind of magical thing about Broadway that I love and also that happens with most jobs that I get that are kind of on this pedestal, as soon as I get there, I realize, like, when I got on Broadway, I was like, this is exactly what I did in high school. Just with money. [00:23:02] Speaker B: Right, right. You know, I'm Just getting paid. [00:23:04] Speaker A: Yeah. I was like, these are still all theater kids. We're doing the exact. It feels exactly. Exactly the same. We just happen to be on this street, and we're getting paid a nicer amount. But other than that, it felt exactly the same to me. And that wasn't like a. That wasn't like a. Like, oh, the magic's not there. I was like, oh, this is. Oh, I've been doing this. It was very much like a, oh, I can do this, you know. [00:23:28] Speaker B: Right. I also think it goes back to your sort of, like. I feel like the goal for you was never, I'm gonna get to Broadway. I'm gonna get to television. I'm gonna do. You know, you don't have that. So in you, it seems like the work is more important to you than the goal, which I think is lovely, which I love. [00:23:49] Speaker A: And then Broadway calls, and I go, sure, sure. [00:23:52] Speaker B: Yeah. The other thing that I particularly love, because we don't know each other, but I have this fascination with all things Christmas movie, Hallmark, Lifetime movies, Netflix movies. Now. [00:24:09] Speaker A: What a unique thing. No one else likes those things. [00:24:13] Speaker B: No other gay man in history has ever liked a Hallmark Christmas movie. [00:24:18] Speaker A: Weird person. [00:24:19] Speaker B: And I'm the first. And you got to do one called Dash and Lily, I think you just posted the other day. You will talk about this till the end of time. Dash and Lily. Tell me about Dash and Lily and what it meant to you. [00:24:33] Speaker A: Dash and Lily was my first, like, leading role in a TV show, and it was actually written by the book writer of Be More Chill, the Broadway show that I did, Joe Trace, who's amazing. And it was a really special experience. It was. You know, we shot it here in New York. New York plays a big part in the show. It's based off of a book series, and it was a really special experience of, like, it was a very small cast and crew. Everyone was very aware of what we were making. So it wasn't. We weren't really trying to reinvent the wheel. It was just like, oh, we're gonna try and make people happy, which is, you know, what I love to do. And, yeah, it was also the first time that I was able to play my own ethnic background on screen. [00:25:20] Speaker B: Right. [00:25:21] Speaker A: And it was, like, embraced, which. Which was. Didn't feel. I didn't realize how important that would feel until it happened, because I think it was maybe, in my mind, it was like, oh, that's never going to happen, because I was. It was still somewhat in the ethnically ambiguous phase of our industry. So I was playing all kinds of, you know, things, and so being able to actually play like a. Like a, Like a mixed Japanese family. I remember there was one scene in particular, it was a Christmas party with the family, and there was just. It was a montage. And at the end of the montage, we all take a family photo. And so we have like, you know, the main cast and all of the supporting in the background and everything. And I just look around and I'm like, oh, this looks like my family. And I was like, oh, I've never felt that way before while working. [00:26:10] Speaker B: I love it. I love that. [00:26:12] Speaker A: It was very cool, very special. [00:26:14] Speaker B: Sweet, sweet, sweet. Okay. So, by the way, I have this fantasy of writing a really dirty Christmas movie. [00:26:24] Speaker A: Love it. [00:26:24] Speaker B: You know, like a romantic, just a behind the scenes, nasty, nasty one. So that's on my bucket list. [00:26:32] Speaker A: Okay. [00:26:32] Speaker B: Okay. So fast forward. We're gonna move on. [00:26:37] Speaker A: Are we just moving on from that? You just want to throw that in there? [00:26:40] Speaker B: We're just moving on because I don't talk a lot about politics. I think it's, you know, it's so tricky now, and the Daily show is so political. You are a correspondent on the Daily Show. It is so fabulous and hilarious. And before we talk about your role as a correspondent on the Daily show, how do you sort of deal with politics, comedy, humor in today's climate? If you could really, you know, put a. Put a button on it, if you could talk about it a little bit. [00:27:23] Speaker A: I think over the years, and I kind of credit, like just working in this industry and being. Being an actor, and a big part of an actor is, you know, sometimes you have to play a role that of. Of a person that has a lot of deep flaws and you have to justify it and you have to, you know, learn where they come from. I think that's helped me boost my. My skill of. Of seeing everybody as. As people. And, you know, there's. There's some. And that doesn't mean that there's not bad people, you know, but. Or people that make really bad decisions, but at the end of the day, they're still people. And I think it doesn't. It doesn't remedy the sort of disappointment and sadness and fear I. Because that's just inevitable. But it does soften the. The hatred, I think, which I think has been very. It's helped me stay sane and, and healthy and, you know, so it's like, you know, you can still really disagree with someone and really dislike their decisions and everything like that, but it's Important to not venture into just fully hating a person because in a way that actually that just. That just hinders you. You know, it affects your. It affects your decision making. You make bad decisions, and it also just, like, it adds toxic stuff into your brain and your heart, and it's not good. That being said, I do think that the Daily show has also really helped me change my view of. Of the news and how I, you know, consume it. Because our job is to watch it and find what's funny or. Or at least find what's ridiculous about it and emphasize that. Point that out to the audience so that they can laugh at it. Because we know so many people are watching the news and just, like, in this state of doom, and we're just like, hey, hey, look over here. Look at. Look at his shirt. [00:29:21] Speaker B: You know, like, well, you do such a great job. And I want to point out one particular one that I just keep watching over and over and over again because it's my favorite one. I'm not sure if it's yours, but we'll find out. Anybody who hasn't seen this one, please watch it. It's you going to Ohio and interviewing the Juggalos and their political beliefs. Now, I have this thing with the Juggalos because I love any group that is sort of disenfranchised, other so ridiculously committed to this thing that they believe in. Somewhat scary. Somewhat. You know, people just do not understand, and then they become the smartest people in the room. You know what I mean? Yeah, they're like, oh, they make the most fucking sense out of anybody. So tell me about that interview A. Did you write it? Did you come up with the concept? How was that pitched, and what did you think of that segment? [00:30:25] Speaker A: I thought it turned out really well. The experience was. Was. It wasn't terrifying. It was just like. What's the word? Like, dicey. Just like. I didn't know. We didn't know what was gonna happen because, like, there was no. For me, there was no pre interview. And we just, like, showed up. And as soon as I got there, I was like, okay, this might be a disaster, because this is a group of, again, like you said, very, like, outsider people who've created this community for themselves. And here we're coming into their private, personal experience, and they're all dressed as, like, killer clowns, which I love, but I'm wearing, like, a. Like a fucking bow tie and a suit, and we have a camera crew, and I'm like, so part of me. I was like, oh, is this gonna feel like invasive, you know, so, you know, we made it a point to be like, if you don't want to be on camera, like, you won't be on camera. Like, we were just like trying, like, if you want to be interviewed, we will interview you, but we're not going to force anybody. And. And you're right, everyone, for the most part, most. Most of the people were insanely smart people. And I think it was because that community is very. Is known to be very anti political. So because of that, their logic doesn't involve politics. It's very much like, that doesn't make any sense. I'm a human. You're a human, like human morality and decency. And so they're like, like, it doesn't. So. So it kind of. It elevates over the political conversation. It was a really interesting experience because, I mean, that festival in general, there's a lot of substances. So there were some interviews where like, you're talking to them for five minutes and I go, I don't think you're here, so maybe, maybe this won't. I don't think this is a good time. [00:32:14] Speaker B: Exactly. Well, the guy, the guy, the lead singer you interview is like, I think my mushrooms just kicked in. [00:32:20] Speaker A: Yeah. And I was like, 10 minutes, interview. And I was like, the reaction that I had was very genuine. I was like, oh, okay, so should we just finish? Like, I don't. [00:32:28] Speaker B: I think you said I left mine at home or I have mine or something. Where does that stand in sort of all of the segments that you've done in the interviews and the man on the street type of stuff? Where does that stand for you as. As one that you love or, I don't know, sort of appreciate? [00:32:47] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm very proud of that one. Mainly because the experience was like a little stress. And so I'm really happy how it turned out. And we got a lot of attention for it too. I remember a lot of. A lot of platforms kind of reposted it with their opinions about it. Now I've been at the Daily show for over two years, and so I've done a lot of pieces and every single one of them brings a little something new. And I also think over the years they've. The show, everyone, the writers and producers and directors, they're all, you know, we're learning each other's skill set. And me coming in with like a musical theater background or just a stage background in general, I think we're finally learning what I can bring to the table. And so now I'm finding that I'm playing a lot of characters. They're putting me in a lot of wigs and a lot of beards and giving me a lot of props, which I'm like, give them all to me. I really love it. [00:33:42] Speaker B: All right, well, let's talk about that for a second, because obviously, I'm in the world of fashion, and I was struck by your look for this particular character, if you will, the vet, the vest, the bow tie. Was that you. Was that your decision to create this look, or was that the Daily show saying, this guy needs to look like this? Talk me through that process. [00:34:07] Speaker A: When I first got hired, I went in for a suit consultation, and I remember going into wardrobe, and they just said, what do you want to look like? And I was like, well, obviously, I have to wear a suit suit. And. And they were like, well, yeah, but what kinds of suits do you like? And I remember, just for some reason in that moment, I thought, okay, I don't think anyone's gonna, like, remember my name at the beginning. I don't know. There's something about Iwata that I was like. I don't think that's a very. I. I think it slips in and slips out. I. That's not. That's not a shame on my. On my ethnicity or heritage. I just want to say that I was just thinking of the sounds of Iwata anyways and watch, like, these things come out. Troy's ashamed of his Japanese heritage. [00:34:50] Speaker B: I think you're more ashamed of your Russian Jewish heritage. [00:34:53] Speaker A: Yeah, that I. Please just. I need to take that off. I'm really ashamed of it. I don't. I don't want anything to do with that. But I do remember having the thought, like, just, could I wear a bow tie? And they sort of, like, tilted their head and they were like, yeah. And I was like. Cause I think they might not remember Troy, but they'll be like, that dude in the bow tie. Cause no one's like, no other correspondents have worn bow ties. [00:35:18] Speaker B: I think it's a really smart move. And of course, my mind went to Pee Wee. And there is this sort of correlation of. And maybe I'm just overthinking it. I probably am, but there is this sort of man child quality in how you sort of, you know, handle what you do on the street. I think it's so fun because I do a lot of man on the street stuff too. Not nearly as much as you do. And I think it's so fascinating who you meet how you meet. 99% of people want to be on. [00:35:54] Speaker A: Television in this day and age, I'm still fascinated by it. I go, do you want to be on television? [00:35:59] Speaker B: Oh, my God, you are making a big mistake. Okay, what do you think? What have you learned about people in interviewing people? [00:36:12] Speaker A: Well, first of all, the comparison to Pee Wee is the biggest honor that I've ever had. So thank you so much. That truly means a lot. That's exceptionally high praise. What I've learned from interviewing people on the street. Well, first is that I don't love interviewing people on the street. And then I think also because just the semantics of how we do it at the show, it's always like, we end up interviewing people on their lunch break. And I'm. I just feel rude. Like, I'm. [00:36:42] Speaker B: Especially in New York, right? [00:36:43] Speaker A: I'm like, can you. Can you not eat and talk to me? Like, I don't. And another thing, too, is that, you know, obviously with our show, a lot of it, we're talking about American politics, and in New York, there's a lot of tourists, and it's. It's hard when. When sometimes we have to, like. We want to get, like, the American people's opinion. And sometimes I'm like, where are all the American people? And I'm like, oh, they're working. [00:37:10] Speaker B: That's so funny. [00:37:11] Speaker A: Well, but another thing about what I've learned from people, again, it's just kind of fueled the. Fueled the. The fact that, like, people are people and most people. I mean, I've even interviewed, you know, people that are on the complete opposite side of the political spectrum. I've interviewed, you know, MAGA people. And despite being super, you know, opposite, I've always at least been able to find one thing that we have in common. When you sort of peel back all of the bullshit. And so that's. In a way that. That. That's always, like, helped keep my hope ignited for something better. [00:37:57] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:37:57] Speaker A: Past this storm. [00:37:59] Speaker B: And what. What is that thing that we're. [00:38:01] Speaker A: That eventually everyone's gonna look, oh, my gosh. So much of what I am grasping onto for dear life does not matter. And what really matters is the people in my life who I love, the people around me who I need to take care of the earth, like animals, music, you know, thing there. There are so many things in this world like that, you know, bring that naturally, just bring humans together. I don't know why I just said music, but it's because, you know, my musical background. But it is amaz how, you know, you play Sweet Caroline, and it doesn't matter what your background is or what your belief is, everyone's gonna go, ba, ba, ba. You know, it's like, it brings everyone together. [00:38:49] Speaker B: Yeah. I was just at a live concert the other day, and the artist Bonnie Raitt said, you know, fuck AI. It's the one thing they will never replace is live music. And I hope she's. She's right. [00:39:01] Speaker A: I hope she's right, too. I don't use AI, to my knowledge. [00:39:06] Speaker B: Right. Exactly. [00:39:09] Speaker A: Sneaky. [00:39:09] Speaker B: All right, so I have one last question for you. It's sort of a basic bitch question, but. [00:39:17] Speaker A: What is your. [00:39:18] Speaker B: Yeah, let's go out with a whimper. Yeah. What is your dream? Well, first of all, do you have a dream role that you would love to play? [00:39:28] Speaker A: I don't have a dream role, no. But my dream job would be a really well written live audience multicam sitcom. [00:39:37] Speaker B: Okay. [00:39:38] Speaker A: Because, I mean, that's. That's what I've loved growing up. And I think they're. They've just become so few and far between. Not, like good ones, but, like, just sitcoms in general. Like. [00:39:49] Speaker B: Right. [00:39:49] Speaker A: And especially with a live audience, they just, like, don't happen anymore. And I really miss them, and they're so special to me. And whenever I bring this topic up, everyone goes, yeah, we miss them. And I'm like, so where are they? [00:40:02] Speaker B: Okay, then I'm gonna ask you a better question. Okay. And then we'll end this. [00:40:07] Speaker A: Okay. [00:40:07] Speaker B: Since you love sitcoms so much, what sitcom, what world. What television show, what world would you love to live in if you could live in a television show? [00:40:20] Speaker A: Will and Grace. [00:40:21] Speaker B: Ah, perfect answer. Yeah, perfect answer. What would your role be? Who would you be? [00:40:28] Speaker A: Oh, shoot. I would be. I would be the. You know, if Will 0 and Jack is a 10, I would be the 5 right there. Who, like, doesn't know which side to pick? Love. [00:40:43] Speaker B: Love, Love. I would say. I feel like you would need to be related somehow to Karen. [00:40:53] Speaker A: I was just gonna say Karen. I think I'm Karen's nephew or second cousin. But she, like, doesn't. But. But she's, like, close enough. She's, like, close enough, you know? [00:41:03] Speaker B: Yes. [00:41:03] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:41:04] Speaker B: Yes. Okay. And then I'm gonna cast you. This is short term, though. This is just, you know, where I see you next. I want to see you in O Mary in some capacity. Okay. So we're gonna put that out there. [00:41:16] Speaker A: Thank you. I will play Cola Scola. I will play any role. [00:41:22] Speaker B: Let's leave it at that. Troy, thank you so, so much. For doing this. I just love watching you. I love your career. And we're gonna continue watching you. And the sky's the limit, my friend. [00:41:34] Speaker A: Thank you. Thanks so much for having me. [00:41:37] Speaker B: We'll see you soon. [00:41:38] Speaker A: All right. Bye. [00:41:39] Speaker B: Bye.