TPS209: An Interview With Jared Keeso
Episode Details
Transcript
The gang at The Produce Stand welcome the creator of the YEWniverse himself Jared Keeso.
In this rare interview, Jared talks about his difficult decision to end Letterkenny, the members of his cast and crew, and even has some choice words for the TPS gang.
You won't want to miss this!
Speaker 0
That fresh produce stand there. That's a beauty. Speaker 1
What do you listen to? Speaker 2
My favorite murder podcast. Speaker 0
Taggart and Dorns podcast. The produce stand. Speaker 1
Fucking sexy. Speaker 0
It's Thursday, Thursday, Speaker 3
and that means we are once again hanging out the protostam. Podcast covering everything and I, you verse. Speaker 4
Now I Speaker 3
know what you're thinking. There are many other letter Kenny podcasts out there, but this one is about to catch its white whale. I'm Malia host, and joining me in the room is always is lovely Tanya. And online, we have squirrely match in the Vasivorous Victor. And joining us this week, he's an award winning actor, writer producer, known for roles in Smallville's supernatural Capric Elysium godzilla. And okay. He had a lead role in monster warriors in nineteen two, and he played freaking Don cherry and both Don cherry moves But we all know and love him as a stoic protagonist, Hick Wayne on Letter Kenny, and the opposite of stoic titular character on Charlie, please join me in making some noise for Jared Kiso. Speaker 4
Bundress Oh, my gourd. Speaker 2
Oh my god. Oh my god. Speaker 3
I regret nothing. Welcome. This is weird to say, but welcome to the produce stand. Jared? Speaker 4
Thanks for having me guys. I appreciate it. Speaker 3
The appreciation is is is completely, mutual. I mean, it's it's it's hard to believe you're here. Thank you so much for joining us. I know we only have you for a limited time, so we kinda wanna race through your origin. I mean, it's well documented in other other interviews. So we're gonna kinda get to some of the important stuff, but first of all, let's get get let's get like, how did you get into acting in the stool? Speaker 4
I, it did I'd been playing hockey all the way up and I played up to junior b, which is you know, before Major junior. And I think it kind of occurred to me that I wasn't going to go to the next level in hockey. I just wasn't, I I wasn't good enough. I wasn't tough enough. Okey was a a lot tougher back then too, and you had to become a man pretty quick. And I guess I I just wasn't really ready for it yet, and so I had to figure out what else I I was good at or or could be good at. And, I really liked drama class. And so I I just decided to to pursue it. And so I connected with, I guess my drama teacher, mister Cuska, but then Steph Webster and her husband, Justin, and still good friends of mine today. You spoke, with Keegan Long about, about staff webster. Speaker 3
That's right. Yeah. Speaker 4
But she's she was very important to me as they put me in a play at their community theater enlist tool. And, I caught the bug. And, I think I decided that film was maybe more for me than TV. So I got in my jeep and drove out west to Vancouver and started auditioning. Speaker 0
Yeah. Actually, I love that story when we talked to to to Keegan about when the whole class came out and they were extras in a couple of episodes and, like, bringing them in, like, how special is that for you to have her there on-site and I'm seeing what you do. Speaker 4
It's awesome. You know, we bring in a busload of, kids from Listule every season, actually, and find something for for them to do. We try to give back as as much as we can along the way. And, I think we can always give back more, but that's the thing that, that we've done every season bring the kids in from List will give them that experience, let them see a film set, how it works, how it operates, feel that excitement, and, and maybe inspire them. Speaker 3
Now you're journey you're journey down to LA and then back again as well documented. Like I said before in previous interviews, so we'll just kinda move on to monster Warriors. You knew we'd we'd had to ask you about this. How did you For sure. Explain to us what monster Warriors is. Speaker 4
Well, I'll I'll thank awesome for the question. But, that was a a huge break for me. I was in my my second year of acting, and, there was this this new, YTV kids show, and you know, to a a lot of people that wouldn't be a, a very exciting prospect. But, you know, I'd I didn't have a lot of experience, and it would be a twenty four sewed season. So I would get that first big on set experience, and I think that, it it would be a show that, wasn't too heavily viewed, wasn't too heavily scrutinized. And so I could kind of cut my teeth there on the smaller stage, but then we ended up going to season two for a total of forty eight episodes. So, that that's I learned the ropes. That's where I I learned day to day life on on a a film set. And, it was a very, very valuable experience. I feel very fortunate Speaker 3
You kinda taught you the mechanics of being on a show and twenty four episode show back when when seasons were that long. Speaker 4
Yeah. Yeah. It was a wonderful opportunity. You know, I got to live in, in in Berry, Ontario, which is a great town at at the time. Actually, it was the fastest growing city in North America behind only Las Vegas. So, yeah, there there was a lot happening there, but, we love to go to, bar called tips downtown. We we all really loved it there. If if I have my way, I'll get to live in every Canadian City for a little while, but I I love my time in Berry. Speaker 3
Very cool. You never went to Donnley's when you're up there? Speaker 4
I don't think so. What's the other there's the Queen's head downtown. Is that what it's called? The Queen's? Speaker 3
Queen's hotel is still there. Yeah. Yeah. So Okay. Speaker 4
So the rocks, Speaker 0
the rocks. Speaker 4
The rocks still there. Speaker 0
Is that your night club? Speaker 3
Those are all still there. Speaker 4
Yeah. There were there were a handful within stumbling distance, but we got into the most trouble at TIFs. It was kind of our cast and crew hang out Speaker 3
Oh, bear Barry and trouble can can be synonymous sometimes for sure. Speaker 4
Yes. Speaker 3
After how long after monster warriors would was nineteen two because I I gotta give you kudos. I watched that front to back, and it was an amazing amazing series. Speaker 4
Thanks very much. It was ten years after or, monster warriors. So I'd, I'd I'd been auditioning for a a decade at, at that point, when when I got it, But, that was another one, another situation I found myself in that I I feel so fortunate to be in because, you know, is that letter Kenny got going, I I I I was on the darkest drama on Canadian TV and the silliest comedy in Canadian TV and to to cruise back forth. I don't think many actors, get that sort of opportunity to have the best of both worlds. Yeah. But I'll I'll tell you something about nineteen too. You may find this hard to believe. I think I told you about this, in person, actually, but we laugh more on nineteen two than we do on Letter Kenny or we do on Shoresy. We did some of the hardest laughing of of my life on that show. And it's because the cast was so close off camera. And we still are in the last two weeks, I I think I've talked to all of the main cast at at least once or FaceTime. Yeah. We all remain really close. But we were so close at at the time too and spending so much time together that we just knew each other so well and we knew each other's goofiness and silliness. And so then when you're in a seam, nineteen two seam, you know, it's it can be very heavy. It can be very intense. But there's your buddy trying to put a serious face on. And, you know, like, saying, like, Bruce Ramsey's, Casey, he played a Jean Tran, like, screaming at you, like spitting, screaming at you, there's just nothing funnier than that. There's nothing funnier than than seeing your pal put all this serious face and We we we laughed so hard. Speaker 0
Yeah. And you clearly built some really big relationships in that shell. You're talking about now, but they they obviously carried through into letter Kenny and even Shoresy with some of the the town that that you met there. Speaker 4
Yep. I'll get everybody from nineteen two on on a show of mine down the road. That's for sure. Just love it. Yeah. They're all very special people to me. I I care about them all very much. Speaker 3
So let's get to why we're here today. We were assured that you'd be a guest on our podcast once Letter Kenny was over. So we're really pumped that you're here. But also sad about why you're here. I guess we were hoping we'd win you over with our charm or, you know, break you down with our persistence, but Speaker 4
Close. Speaker 3
Here you are. And, you know, it just you you you guys announced last week that season twelve of Letter Kenny is your last why? Speaker 4
I think we've done everything that we can do on on that show. You know, I I've written or had a hand in in writing, all, eighty one episodes. I'm always looking for for something new and exciting to do with the characters, a new opportunity to develop them, help the audience understand them just a little bit better. And it gets tough around, it it gets gets tough around the fifty mark. It gets really tough around the seventy mark. And I guess I decided at the eighty mark that that that was it. But it's always nice to go out on a high note, and we had just finished our sold out UF tour and the vibe was was really good. And that was the high note that I was looking for to end on. So I made the decision You know, it's, it's, like, this this show had so many firsts for me. It's a a first time as a comedy lead. First time as a TV writer, first time as a TV producer, showrunner. Speaker 0
Mhmm. Speaker 4
Like, outside of being Captain of a hockey team is the first time that I was the boss. And, you know, another first after doing so many episodes was figuring out if maybe I was done, and then deciding I was done, and then telling everybody I was done. And that that wasn't easy, you know, but, when, you know, you know, Speaker 0
Well, I mean, I'll say first congrats on the show, and I know we're gonna say it again. And we obviously are fans of it. But you you did touch on something there. With, you know, you've mentioned a lot of first. So when you went from being solely an actor and and diving into the space of leading, deciding, driving an entire show. What was that transition like for you? Speaker 4
I I kept that pretty simple, you know, when, when we started on on YouTube, it was just two minute videos of straight to camera jokes. So, you know, laughs on a second to second basis was was what was most important to me. And then in making the transition, from two minute YouTube clips to thirty minute episodic. I I I just use the same approach. I'm just going for laughs on a second to second basis. As my my first time as a a TV writer, so, certainly crafting story, was not a strength of mine. And so I decided that while I figure that part out, while while I figure out, that method, I would just focus on on laughs on a second to second basis, but that's really where where, tierney comes comes into play. You know, I'd I'd never done, anything like this. And, Mark Monafee or a Mhmm. From New Metrc Media. We decided that it'd be best to pair me with somebody who could kinda show me the ropes. And, boy, we we got a a leader with tyranny, you know, and I can say about I can say a lot about him. But he taught me everything I know about being a a showrunner and a producer. You know, I'd I'd never done either job. One of the things that I'm I'm most thankful to him for is if he taught me how to speak to a network, he taught me how to speak confidently without, um, s, and apologies in advance about doing too many um's and ah's now, but, he taught me how to give network confidence in me, when to dig in my heels, when to push back, when to give a little bit, He set that example for me early that I was able to learn from, and I took everything I learned from him and became my own producer and my own, showrunner. If if if we're on the tyranny topic, I I gotta say too, he's the funniest guy know. Like, think about who the funniest person you know is, you know, you might have to think kinda hard. I don't. He is so quick witted and so sharp. And I I don't have that skill, and that's why I admire it so much. I'm better thinking about things and writing things down, but, you know, he is sharp to the half second. You know, he hears a half second of something he can formulate a funny rebuttal or or quip to, and he's got it, and he says it, and I laugh, Yeah. So very thankful for Mr. Jeremy and and everything that he's taught me and and everything that he's done for me. Speaker 3
Glenn, quickly became one of our favorite characters on on this show. So, yeah, he just Speaker 4
That that's that that's across the board. It was actually, I was on a Zoom a couple days ago. If we to Codrington and Maynard James Keaton from Tool. And, Maynard just wanted to get on with her so bad because he's such a big fan, but we got on and and we talked about Glenn, like, pretty much the whole time. So very memorable characters. Probably our our our most memorable, Gail, and Glenn, the two gs. Speaker 0
Amazing. Speaker 3
Now you mentioned the letter Kenny answers, videos that led to the show, and, often your partner in those videos Nathan Dale, was was involved. So, I mean, talk a little bit about working with Nathan and and your journey with him. Speaker 4
Yeah. Well, I'll start by saying he's the most charming guy I know. Tierney is the funniest. Trevor Risk is the best at a dinner party. Dalesy is the most charming. You can put him yeah. You can you could put him in a room with anybody, and and he'll be a home run, he'll be grand slam, you'll be a division clinching there. He is so sweet and so likable when he's at his best. And we've had so much fun together over the years since the Letter Kenny problems webseries. You know, Letter Kenny problems was our third web series. It was no. It it was our fourth, actually. So we've been test driving a number of concepts on YouTube And, you know, if if they didn't work or if the view counts plateaued before the numbers we were after, we would try something new. So he's been with me since I started writing my stuff, and I I owe him a great deal in in helping me get this whole thing off the ground and maintain it for that matter. Speaker 2
Jared, where where did the spark for writing your own stuff come from. You you you mentioned you spent ten years auditioning for acting acting roles. And, like, So did you always have this aspiration to have your own content and kind of be the, creator of your own show one day? Speaker 4
Yeah, Victor. I I wanna touch real before I answer that question on on a time you tracked me up when when you were on set when I did I've been listening to your reviews, of courtesy, and you didn't like that there were four teams in the lead. You thought there should be more. And then I showed you two leagues that had two senior leagues in, Ontario Quebec that also had four teams. And you you said, I'd have to consider the source of this information. Speaker 3
Such a Victor response. Speaker 2
Well, I got I gotta play my role here. Speaker 0
Yeah. You got you got Victor in his entirety in that moment. Speaker 4
Yes. Yeah. Yeah. I have I I was very I I was so impressed that that that that tracked me that a genuine laugh, Speaker 2
but I will I will make a correction. I had a problem with not the four teams. I had a problem with the three teams that would have happened if, you know, you guys got kicked out. And that that's what I had. But I said, god. That can't happen. You can't survive a league with only three teams. That's that's not a real threat. That's where I was coming from. Speaker 4
Yeah. I think I think you've you've got something there. I think you've only got three or folding. Four, you're barely keeping your head above water, but three, yeah, you're you're folding the league. But anyhow, to answer your question, there, you know, when, I've been auditioning for for ten years. And, you know, in the Canadian industry, they really complicated, comedy. And I don't know who you can attribute this to. I I think, you know, it was a a lot of kind of the the same thing from casting directors. If there was a comedy coming out, you would get the question. Your your agent would get the question. You know, does Jared get comedy? It's it's it's really a game of inches. It's like chess. And I disagreed with that. I I think you're funny or you're not. And, it's really no more complicated than that. And so I I guess I I just kind of understood that I'd I wasn't gonna get the opportunity unless I made the opportunity for myself. And so I I started writing stuff and checking it on the the wallet YouTube and seeing what stuck, but it certainly, very quickly became my passion. I didn't know that I would take to it the way I have. You know, I I really, really like acting. I mean, good thing about acting is it's a it's you're you're doing it with with a team very rarely. Are you doing it by yourself? And I like that aspect, but writing is a very solitary activity, you know, it's, you're you're doing it by yourself, or at least I am. I I like to work alone. And then kinda dish out my work after. And, you know, I get a little bit weird when I'm I'm writing, get a little bit squirrely. But, the feeling at the end that I'm actually experiencing right now. We're we're in, suubbery. We're about to shoot Shoresy Season three. And and I've just finished the scripts completely finished them yesterday. And that feeling, you know, after battling through it, struggling through it, all that time alone standing up, sitting down, standing up, sitting down, walking across the room, calling Cara to procrast they pitch it out something. When you get to the end of it, there's there's no better feeling, especially if you're proud of it, which I am like, I was actually starting to listen to, to your reviews this morning. Oh, cool. And this is gonna be our most interesting see. It's gonna be our our our most entertaining, season. Trace does such a good job too. I mean, it gets to do some voice over work for the show, I think. Speaker 3
So good. So, yeah, he's gonna be tickled when you hear that. Thank you. Quick quite. Well, first of all, we've been seeing some of the, you know, the the Instagram shots from from the the Shoresy actors with with their scripts in binders. And I feel like there was a a missed opportunity there for those scripts to be in dual tangs. Speaker 4
Just say. Just say. That that that is a missed opportunity. Speaker 3
Not not my not my idea, though. I forget who said it in in our in our, discord But, yeah, I'm, like, that's right. They should they should totally have been delivered in dual tanks. Is there anything you're bad at, Jared? I mean, comedy, writing, producing, acting, hockey, drum your drummer, even. Tell us give us some hold. Tell us something you tried that you that you were, like, not good at. Speaker 4
I couldn't fix a sliding screen door. I'm, I'm, I'm not, I'm not handy around the house. I've always you know, I I grew up, doing labor from, at her family sawmill and enlistable from twelve to nineteen. So I I'm really good. There there's nobody better to help you move. I can get your stuff from point a to point b quickly and efficiently, but, like, small tasks around the house. Fixing a sliding screen door, say, maybe replacing a toilet seat or something, like, even if there's a very simple YouTube tutorial, I I can't figure it out. I am completely useless to my family there. Okay. To answer your question. Speaker 3
Perfect. Thank you. We we needed that. Speaker 0
We needed something. Speaker 2
I'll I'll mention drumming. Did you was that always just a hobby, or did you ever have silly aspirations of being a a rock star one day? Speaker 4
I don't know where I thought, my band with Ryan McDonald plays Michael's on the show. We were called Sistine Shrapnel. I don't really know where I I thought that that that would go. But I I've always been a big music nerd, and, my two favorite bands at the time, death from above and no age. I I thought that we could put together some kind of combination of these two bands, and it could be pretty cool. We were a two piece just like they were. And again, I I I don't know where I thought that it it would go, but I realized that I should try to be a master of one trade attempt to be, but before a jack of all. So I stopped playing shows with the band and started writing. Speaker 0
Yeah. Fair enough. Quickly on that one, so music, Both your shows are highly eclectic, cover all kinds of music. And I'll be honest, majority that I'd never heard until the shows, and I'm very thankful that I now am aware of it. But, like, how how do how are you choosing music for this? Like, did you have any set of rules in your head that, like, when I'm looking for music I I I need to make sure it fits these or was it just I love it for this scene. It's going in. Like, how did you land on some of the music? Speaker 4
Yeah. Well, that that's the most fun part of the job for me is is picking music. You know, there there's a there there's a lot of things, in life there there's a lot of great feelings you you will encounter. I won't discount any of the obvious ones, but for me hearing your new favorite song for the first time, there's just nothing better you're hearing it. You feel that excitement. You know, you're gonna listen to it. Twenty five more times before you listen to any other song There's nothing like that for me. So because I, I am so, passionate in my pursuit of hearing my new favorite song for the first time I'm listening to new music at least a few times a day. I'm doing a a new Spotify playlist. When I'm at the gym in the morning, when I'm in the car driving somewhere, I'm always in pursuit of new music. So I'm constantly stockpiling. And a lot of the times when I first hear a song or or listen to a song, maybe for the twenty time in a row, I'll think about something in my head, that I could do with one of my characters that would make them look really, really cool. And to give you to give you a, a little insider info on, how we kind of behave on shore as the when you see us doing our slow mo walks and stuff a lot of the time. You can't hear it because there's a soundtrack, but we're yelling. Looking cool on TV, boys. Look at cool on TV. So, so, yeah, with Letter Kenny as well, you know, choosing the music and building those music video sequences where there's no other additional audio, it turn everything down and turn the music up. That's the best part of the job for me. Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 0
And and clearly, I mean, you even took a few moments, you know, like, like, Dolo, makes, like, his music made a few appearances. I know risk did the music and some of the backgrounds, something like that. And I love to always celebrate your friends and and the relationships around you as well. Through moments like that, and that's fantastic. Speaker 4
Yeah. Yeah. That's a a huge part of it for me too is, being able to make a TV show with my friends I guess, you know, we're talking about risky's, band in there. You know, he just lives a few blocks away from me in, in Montreal now. And another one of our long time punch up writers, Jason Kids lives there too. I just really owe those guys so much. On, professional level and on a personal level. Once a week, me and those guys hit a patio or a bar somewhere in in the plateau at Montreal of to a happy hour. Once a week, we put our heads together that often and laugh about the things that are funny and bitch about the things that aren't and sell I'm very close with those guys, and I owe them a ton. Speaker 3
Now we're talking a bit about nineteen two and and the cast overlap there with Letter Kenny. I mean, a lot of did you meet a lot of those actors on that and then brought them over to, Letter Kenny? Like, for example, Dan Petron I'm gonna get his name wrong. Petron did Jevich. Speaker 4
It's Petrich. Speaker 3
Patrich. Okay. There you go. So was he somebody you met on nineteen two, and you just had to have him on Letter Kenny? Speaker 4
Yeah. The second you meet Dan Petrone, but you know you've never met anybody like him, and you're probably never going to meet anybody like him. That guy is a hick, if there ever was one. You know, I remember the first time I I met him, he's he's got these boots on. He's got his shirt tucked in. He's got this leather jacket that, like, not even my dad would wear. Maybe my papa would wear. Maybe my grandpa would wear. And he lives in the sticks. He lives in Little Britain, Ontario, and he is rugged. That guy, he is very, very rugged. And a really, really good actor, you know. Yeah. I think that and and, I I don't know if you guys do this, but he's a a very, very successful voice actor as well. You've probably heard him on, on the radio, a little bit unknowingly, but he can do anything aside from from being, like, just one of the best hangs ever. Every time we hang out with so much fun, just laugh and laugh and laugh. But he's so talented that aside from that, you know. So when you've got that full package, you guy that you love being around, and you love working with and respect, and respecting as farmer, you wanna keep working with them. Yeah. And I think, that can be said for, everybody on on nineteen too, yeah, that that I've brought over. Speaker 2
Hey. Speaking of Dan, and you you may not be able to answer this, and that's fine. But now with Letter Kenny kind of come coming to an end, Is the community gonna see any of the actors from Letter Kenny in the future in Shoresy? Speaker 4
I'm not too sure yet. It's not something that I've put a ton of thought into, to be honest. You know, I I'm still, it's been a year since we wrapped on Letter Kenny. And I just started looking at the road ahead immediately, you know. So, I think that Shoresy is a very different world than letter, Kenny. I think, my gut tells me it's it's very hard to picture anybody from Letter Kenny in there, but crazier things have happened. Speaker 0
Yeah. On the topic of casting, since we're we're kind of in that space, I'm really curious what you wrote all these characters and you probably had in your head had some real visions for what they were gonna be like on screen. But when you went through the casting process or even when it started hitting, tape, were there was there anyone that really surprised you and brought brand new flare and you just took it in a whole different direction based on what they brought to the moment? Speaker 4
So many of them, Matt, honestly. I think honestly, I I could go down the list. I'll start with my let. We saw probably sixty tapes for Katie over a month of pre production. We were getting pretty close to going to camera. We were days away from camera, and we didn't have, Katie, we didn't have a number three. But when we saw Michelle's Kate, it was over across the board. Everyone knew immediately. There was no discussion. We cast her, and we got to work immediately. On paper, it seems like a really tough job because there are, like, eight dudes on the main cast and one girl. But not when the one girl is Michelle Mylett. I can confidently say that, you know, from the second she came to set these seven, eight dudes, whatever. We we established ourselves as big brother types, even though my let is obviously a sniper. Speaker 0
Mhmm. Speaker 4
You know, all of our first instincts were to make sure that she felt comfortable and felt cool because she was so outnumbered. And from start to finish, Mylette was all of our friends. And coworkers and confidantes. And at the end of all that, we still think she's the biggest sniper on TV, and I think that that's pretty damn cool. Like, she is she's that cool. Speaker 0
Yeah. And on cool moment, let's celebrate her opening that she did on the Katie's wrap. Still, to me, hands down one of the greatest openings in Letter Kenny. Speaker 4
I appreciate that, Matt. That's one of the biggest swings we took, I'd say. You know, you you you get to a certain point in, a show and and, you wanna reveal more of the characters to the audience and help them understand them better. You know, for me, Letter Kenny was kind of just a great, big, creative writing exercise. You know, I don't write things unless they're fun. And, e even if I've committed to something in a a cliffhanger from a previous season, wink, wink, listen to your last, podcast. And, so we of your beefs beefs with that, but I lost Speaker 3
I'm gonna see myself out now. Speaker 4
I love you guys for that. And I listen to you, for that. But even if I've committed to something in a previous season, if I get to writing it and it's not fun to write, I know it's going nowhere. So then I have to pivot. That Katie spoken word or rap or or whatever you wanna call it was so much fun to write. It was such a cool creative writing exercise. And, you know, when I decided to do something like that, mylett and I are, you know, we put our heads together a lot on pop music, same with TJ. TJ's a big, it's a big, fan. And so she was the one to do it. And we were back and forth on that. She was part of the process. All through writing it. And I think it's because I was just so excited about it and and wanted to share that with her and wanted to make her a part of it. But, yeah, one of the bigger swings we we've taken on the show, and and I'm really happy with it. Speaker 0
It it paid off, man. It was so good. Speaker 3
On on on that topic of that episode, I need to know nineteen tarts. Why nineteen? Speaker 4
Pardon me? Speaker 3
Why did Katie have nineteen tarts? Speaker 4
Oh, you know, I'll have to ask Jonathan Torrance about that one. Speaker 3
Oh, okay. Alright. Speaker 0
I'm so sorry. Alright. Speaker 4
I didn't even realize that that was same episode. I thought that was a cold open bit, but Oh, Speaker 3
maybe it was a different episode. Sorry. I I was, conflating too. But, yeah, I was just curious because I have this weird theory about it, and and everyone laughed at me. But, anyway, but, so you don't you won't tell me. Speaker 0
We'll just talk Speaker 4
to Torres. Yeah. I hadn't put much, much thought to that one. But, yeah, the I know that the Tarts episode was one that I did with Toran, so you might have to ask him. Speaker 3
So just back too quickly about Danny P. He was gonna originally be squarely Dan. It's it's well documented and we've had Kate Trevor Wilson on and and he confirmed it. But Kate Trevor came in because Dan couldn't do it. How did he change that character? Because I feel like squirrely Dan was probably written with Dan in mind, and Trevor probably changed it quite a bit. Speaker 4
Yeah. You know, everything happens for a reason. Speaker 2
I'm a Speaker 4
big believer in that. And, you know, Dan was, Dan Petronevich was who I wanted for the part. And he was network approved. I did the audition with him, but, he ended up getting, a part on suicide squad in was a big, long onset experience, and it'd be a ton of money. Those shows they pay good money, unbelievable money. So he saw this opportunity, and he had to take he's got four kids, you know, he's got mouths to feed and stuff, and and I understood. And I knew I'd find a place for Speaker 0
him. Speaker 4
But we had K Trebs tape already, BayTrev, as as I like to call him. And also Mark Montefiore was a huge fan of his. So Montefiore really, really liked him for the part too. And You know, when I say everything happens for a reason, I think back on it, and as much as I was pumped to work with Echernevich on it, don't know if there would have been enough of a contrast between Wayne and the Dan character at that point. I think that they might have been a little too similar. Right. And I'm not sure the show would have been as funny. I think there might have been a bit too much Dosterone in there. And then so, Kaleb, who's, you know, he's he's he's a theater kid. He went to performing arts high school. Mhmm. He's a really, really good actor. And we had his tape, and we knew how good it was. Susan's a happy accident. And, you know, we we had this guy who was so good, and then he see the dynamic between Wayne, Daryl, and Dan, they're really bringing three distinctly different things. So it was a happy accident you know, on the topic of K Trev, you guys have met him, but, you know, there are a few things in life more gratifying than getting, like, a real good belly laugh at a k treb. Yes. It's just the best. Like, you you won't get it often. He doesn't spoil you with it, but when you get it, it's great. You know, I've done over a hundred live shows with him, across North America, and and he's a guy who gets on stage, and people see him smile, and they wanna smile too. He just he has that rare thing, and he also might be the only guy who loves a dick or a fart joke as much as me and risky do. So Speaker 0
Oh, that's great. Speaker 2
Well, I I think we got that belly laugh out of him when he was telling us his bathroom stories. Right. Speaker 4
Yeah. Oh, boy. Yeah. Well, what what what he used the bathroom on set? That wasn't an actual toilet? Speaker 3
No. No. We didn't hear that one. Speaker 2
Clearly has many bathrooms. Speaker 4
Yes. You got many. Yeah. You got many. Speaker 3
It's a genre for him. Speaker 0
It's amazing. Tanya, I wanna give you a little bit. I feel like we're dominating, but Tanya, I'm sure you've got a couple questions. Speaker 1
I, you know, I I'm just, I'm so excited and, thank you so much, Jared. I just I love that you're here and that you're giving us your time. How do you stay humble with all of this? Like, you are so grounded and so thankful. How do you do it with all of this, that you've built? Speaker 4
I I don't know. I I I think it's just my mom and dad and how, and my brother and sister and and how I was raised in in Listal, Ontario. You know, there's a it was also ten years of of the grind ten years auditioning. And, you know, for a successful actor, you get successful actor might get thirty percent of the odd, book thirty percent of the auditions that that they get. So that's that's ten years of hearing know a lot And so, you know, when when I find myself in this very fortunate position, it's not lost on me. The time spent, or it's it's it's a it's a very fresh memory, to me. I I should say the the time spent working my way up and and grinding in in that life and that I'll never take being at this stage for granted because, yeah, it took me a while to get here. Yeah. Speaker 1
It well, it definitely comes across, and, from everyone that we speak with, everyone speaks who's so highly of you. And, it truly does come across and into the community as well. Speaker 4
No. Thank you. I appreciate that. Speaker 2
And and Jared, I think one thing that's important, I think, to kind of point out is it it's kinda crazy. Right? We kinda started this three years ago as as a fun hobby, really. Speaker 3
She didn't like it. When you look at her now, she's a walking billboard. Speaker 2
At least for my lens. And you know, now there's this incredible community that follows us. And I think that what's what's really incredible about a community, and I think it it's a testament to what you've created is we don't have any bad apples, like, you know, like every community's got bad apples. And we have genuinely good folks that Don't bring any toxicity. It's just it's it's just people respecting each other, and it's it's it's mostly focusing on positive forward thinking, discussions, and and I, you know, I think that again is a testament to what you've created on your two shows. Speaker 4
I appreciate that, Victor. I've, I definitely clocked that about, the crew you guys have assembled as as well. It was so cool to have you guys here and to have everybody in the room and just to spend that that little bit of time together, it's it's moments like like that that it gets very real for me, you know, that you guys care so much about the show and and care so much about us that you wanna come up, hang out with us. You're also patient in the stands to, doing DG work that day. Actually, I I should say while while we're here, Al, it's background or extra, not background extra. Every time you say it, you say background extra. Speaker 3
So it's not, like, bat catcher in baseball. Speaker 4
Yeah. Exactly. But, yeah, having you guys there was was so cool and having the whole group there. And and I followed on the pod. You're previous trip to sudbury as well. But, you know, the the ShoresyCast got to meet you guys too. And, I know, followed you out to a couple bars and and stuff like that. But, you know, I sincerely I I listen to you guys all the time. I really appreciate what you've done for me and for our shows. I'm truly grateful. So thank you. Speaker 3
Well, I'm really Speaker 0
grateful. It absolutely goes both ways. Speaker 3
Yeah. Speaker 0
And that that that being both rips, but, I mean, the second one, especially, was exceptional. And they the city opened their arms. You guys did. I mean, the time that we spent with the cast, the bars, it was so genuine and just a blast. But but I do have to ask though on a on a serious note. When we kind of corralled you in that dressing room, and and you walked in and you saw the four of us and our friends from across the US there. How starstruck were you? Oh my. Speaker 3
Like, wow. Speaker 0
Listening to us Speaker 3
for a Speaker 0
while, but I mean, very early flesh. Speaker 3
Wow. Speaker 4
Yeah. You you could you could you could see me stuttering pretty clearly there, Matt. I think, I think you got an understanding of it pretty quick. Speaker 0
Oh, my Speaker 3
I expect that from Victor, but not from you, Matt. Oh. Jeez. Okay. In a few weeks, we're excited to go see, that Letter Kenny presents a comedy show in Burlington, featuring Mark Ford and, and Jeff McHenry, two of our favorites. Why don't we talk about a little bit about their, contributions? Speaker 4
Yeah. Sure. I I guess I'll I'll start with forward. Speaker 0
You Speaker 4
know, he's a guy I I have a ton of admiration for and a ton of respect for. He's a guy who's seen the hot and cold of the Canadian industry. He knows it better than any of us. He's like me and Lisa Coddington, for that matter, and that when comes to set to act, he kinda stays to himself. And I don't do this on on letter, Kenny, but I do it on on other sets that I would go to. You know, he's he's not there cracking jokes or being overly social. He's off on his own staying focused because what he's going to do when we call action requires a lot of focus. He's going to be shocking and provocative and the people opposite in scenes, he's going to be trying to make them laugh. He's one of those actors. He's actively trying to make you laugh. So he's he's really forced to stay focused. He's that kind of an actor. And, I I guess, like, on on a a personal note, like, on on top of that, he's a friend. I've I've spent a lot of time with, you know, a we've toured across Canada together across the US together, but on the most recent tour, you know, when we had the option to fly from city to city on tour rather than take the bus, him and I would rent a car instead and and drive together, from city to city and just talk in any burgers and stop and see sights. So we we we become really close over the years. And, you know, something I really value him for is, if he doesn't like something I'm doing, he's gonna tell me, and I'll listen to him. And, I take forward's opinion and praise and criticism very, very seriously. He's just a guy I respect so much personally and professionally. I just I and he's so funny. So I want his respect because let me tell you, Mark Forward does not give a shit. He he he is his own man. Speaker 0
Mhmm. And Speaker 4
he'll always be honest with you, and that is rare. And I appreciate him a lot for it. But McHenry, that is a guy that, I'm really close to as well. He is a guy I say really, really special scenes for. I save scenes for him that I really, really like. I save scenes that really require I guess, a a standout performer, but someone that we don't see a ton on our show. So I've given him some of my favorite scenes, and built his character over the years, but he's been with us since since day one since since episode one. And I've just shared so many laughs with him over the years on the road and off, but Another thing that I'll say about him is he's a really, really hard worker. He's really, really committed to to what he does. Him and I have the same acting coach in Los Angeles. That we both still work with. And he gets, he gets a lot from her as well. Crystal Carson is her name. So he's very, very committed to what he does. He puts in the work, and I respect that a lot about him. Speaker 0
Talk a bit about some of the crew. Like, I mean, we we we do a lot of time, but we you work with an unbelievable crew. And we've been fortunate enough to speak to a number of them. Like, even, like, Billy Butler, we we've hung out with him several times, and his evolution across the show up to DP. And, like, you know, you've got a really solid team in the back end as well. It could take a moment to celebrate some of them and and and the work they do. Speaker 4
Yeah. I'd love to. We could talk about my crew all day. You bring up Billy Butler, double b. He's, one of our original through as well. He's been there since day one, scene one, and he's still with me now. It's been really nice having him back in in Sudbury and and working with with him again. You know, if you work together as as much as as people do on on film sets, you know, over there five days a week, the days are usually twelve hours long, sometimes fourteen, sometimes sixteen. It's impossible not to become close, you know, like you see each other in all stages of the day. Jack Don Coffee, crashing from caffeine, sleepy after lunch, bedtime, sillies, mid afternoon, can't wait to get the day done, the joy of wrap after like a fourteen hour day, you see all those things. You get to know each other very well. But this crew is so tight that, you know, we often wanna keep hanging out at at the end of days. You know, there there's so many on this cast and crew or on this crew rather. Who have been with us since season one. And I missed them when we're between seasons. I think about them a lot. I check-in with them a lot. I really owe them all a great deal. Sorry if I'm, a bit repetitive in that sentence, particularly, but I owe them so much and I care about them so much. They're invaluable to me, and and I work really hard to make sure that they know that on a day to day basis. Speaker 3
That's amazing. We're running low on time, but really quickly on a few of these, because you mentioned, for example, Mark Forward is is very tough to act across from. I imagine Lisa Cadrington is another one that, would be tough to be across from. Speaker 4
Yeah. Yeah. You know, yeah. Absolutely. Everybody will tell you that across the board. She's another auditioner that, you know, we saw a lot of auditioners for Gail and some were clothed to what I thought I was after, excuse me, but none really nailed it. And then when we saw Lisa's tape, and knew that this wasn't what we were going for at all, But after watching it, we and seeing her interpretation of the lines, we just do immediately that people are gonna like that. And then she came to set, and she's one of those actors that's, you know, like, forward. She's very quiet behind the scenes, always smiling, always friendly, but not, in quotations on. Yeah. Which is kind of more more normal for for actors. Actors tend to bounce off the walls, between scenes, but then when the cameras roll, she hits you with that weird. And anyone who knows me knows that I got a lot of time for weird. So Lisa is a big favorite. Speaker 3
And I mean, the only other character on Letter Kenny who's worthy of being of of of commanding the screen with Wayne would be Tannis. Speaker 4
Yep. There's only one Deahorn. I'll tell you that. There's only one Deahorn. She makes an impression wherever she goes. You meet Vio, you'll never forget her. You know, she was just the best actor, this this don't want to, offend anybody. But back when when she auditioned in season when she was the best actor, by far, by far, she was she was untouchable. She can flip flop from just terribly mean and terribly intimidating to so warm, so fast. What she does on screen is, I just continue to find so impressive. So I'm a big, big deal horn fan And, again, there's there there's only one that's no one else like her. Speaker 0
On that topic really quickly, I mean, in Letter Kenny, yes, and even more so in Shoresy, you you've really put Indigence people's front and center. Yeah. And and I absolutely love it. But, like, what where did that all come from? And what does that mean to you? Speaker 4
I don't really have much to say about that, because again, I don't really think that there's anything, remarkable guess, going on there. You know, Letter Kenny is a show set in Ontario, Canada, and there are, a lot of indigenous people in in Ontario, you know, people have sexual diversity in Ontario as well. So they're, you know, they're on it makes sense that they're on the shows that that's set there. Seems really nothing complicated about that. But a show about Northern Ontario, you know, we've got such a huge indigenous cast for for Shoresy because there there's definitely more indigenous people up here than the area of Southern Ontario that, that I was from. So kinda makes sense that that there would be, more indigenous representation on this task. So but, yeah, I think we've got the best. Speaker 0
Yeah. Totally appreciate that answered. Simple, but I love it. Speaker 2
Since you brought us back to Shoresy there, I just clicked Shoresy question for you, Jared. So I recently rewatched the the Don Cherry movie or the two parts of it. And, and, you know, let's just call it out. Like, you, you were incredible on it. But it always felt natural. I felt like you were just being yourself. And and I don't know. Is it me or it felt like an origin story for Shorzy? Yeah. I shorty could it could be Don Cherry as a young hockey player. And and even, like, there's a couple lines. There's a pitter patter line. Let's get at it, line. There I just feel like that was an origin story for you for for this character. Speaker 4
Yeah. I'm not surprised. I said Pitter Patter in in Don Cherry. I I forgot that that I had, but I'm I'm not surprised. You know, I I think you might have picked up on that Victor because there's a lot of the hockey world that really shares the same brain. A lot of people, see the game of hockey one way or see the game of hockey the other way. And so a lot of, there are a lot of hockey tropes, a lot of hockey people that that speak the same because their opinions are the same So, yeah, you'll I I think you'll see a lot of recurring things in in hockey stories along the way. Speaker 3
So we're we're running running out of time here. Speaker 4
Man. No. There's no guys. Great. Speaker 3
Are you sure? Okay. Well, does Carrie agree? Anyway, so quickly, let's hit touch on okay. We'll do we're talking about hockey here. Let's touch a touch on the two hockey dum dums at ten. Speaker 4
Actually, you you you mentioned you mentioned Karen's, and then they talk to her Yes. Absolutely. Just to buy me some extra time. Speaker 0
Yes. We've got we've got Speaker 4
a production meeting at eleven. So Karen Karen's, in here, but I'm just and maybe maybe we push that five minutes or or something. I don't wanna keep people waiting too long, but, you know, since we've we've mentioned Kara, she she, you know, I've I've got my my wife and and my mom and dad, my brother and sister. You know, I I should mention, the actor who plays Boots and his wife's live and a lot of people who are who are who are very close to me. Cara's right there. You know, we we talk on the phone She's she's our our executive producer. Mhmm. She's the big boss, on the show. There's Monifiora at the very top and then Kara But we talk on the phone at at least once every day, you know, while while we're working, we talk multiple times a day. We'll we'll often have pull, like, twenty to sixty minute calls per day. And she just cares so much about the show, and I care so much about the show too. You know, sometimes our calls are so passionate about it. I'll I'll wake up and some mornings, my voice is raspy, and I'll think I'm getting sick, but I realize because Karen and I were talking about something on the phone. We both really care about. We've kind of been yelling. But, yeah, like I said, she's the executive producer of Larry Kenny and Shores, he the big boss and nothing on the show works without her. I think it's important that the audience knows that she's the one person our our shows don't work without She's all of it. She does everything. She is there for everything, and she's there because she wants to be. She wants to know everything that goes on so she can be better at it the next time she sees it. She's that committed to her job, you know, and and I think that every single show or movie or production company in Canada wants to care a half what's in. But we've got the only cara Hacklitzen, and I'd just like to brag about that, every chance I get. What? To, the skids and hockey players. Yeah. I I really wanna talk about them. Yes, please. Who do you want for? St. P. Herzy, Sturns, e t j? Speaker 3
Let's let's start with the hockey dum dums first Dylan and Andrew. Speaker 4
Okay. Alright. D DP and Hersy. Well, this this started in the most organic way possibly, you know, when we were all playing on a beer league team together, and, there there were seven of from the cast were playing on this Beard League team in in Vancouver out at UBC and DP and Hersy were on the team. And so when I was casting the hockey players for sold five of the Letter Kenny Providence webseries. I just had to look across the room right there. You know, I guess I'll I'll start with, DP here. I I call him my my most loyal soldier. He is he is true friend. I just love this kid so much. You know, he's I would say, like, he's, like, the Canadian Ashton Cutcher. And it's it's not just because of his talent on screen. It it's because he's a bit like Ashhen Cook, I guess, imagine he plays characters that may not be the brightest Right. But in reality, he is so smart. I mean, he's he's he's hyper intelligent and and insightful and worldly And I think that that stems from his just a general curiosity that that he has. He loves people, and he loves their stories, and he loves telling his own stories. He's just he's got such a big heart. He was raised by really good parents, that I'm close with as well. And he actually is is, is is mom reminds me of my mom and because dad's now, coaching, the Prince George Krueger's, the WH. So DP and I are doing a road trip to follow the team around in January or February for a little while, and I can't wait for that. Hersy is the same thing. He is such a smart dude. He's such an interesting dude, you know, and I He's the only one of us that was in university when Letter Kenny started. He was in a fraternity, and I kinda learned a lot about that life through him Hersy and I over the years, we've talked about everything. You know, we talk about dumb comedy a second later. We're on a world issue. He's telling me, you know, note a book about Palestine. That is way too thick for me. And, you know, a second later, we're onto something very personal about ourselves. You know, he's he's a curious dude too. And, like, if if I was in big trouble and needed someone to fight someone much bigger than me, Hersies, Hersies the guy. He's got, he's got some brute strike, him or Jay Burton. Right. I learned, the full force of his strength. So one night we're up and home from the bar all banged up, and I was in the front seat of the cab, and he was behind me. I kept reaching back and grabbing his leg and you know, he entertained the mischief for about as long as he wanted to. And then when he grabbed me, he could've flipped me onto my head from the back seat if he wanted to. Super, super strong dude. Teddy bear at the same time. But, yeah, a lot of love for that kid. Sternsey and and TJ. Care, I'm I'm I'm aware of the time. I just I I gotta get, I gotta get these guys in. Sternsey, you know, is it something that I really love about Sternsey and kinda can stand out here is, aside from being shockingly talented, this she she is so talented, this guy across the board And second to none when it comes to creativity on set is his commitment to the fans of the show. You know, he's become prominent member of the streaming world, and he makes himself available to fans of the show in his leisure time. And I really dig that about him Another thing I'd I really dig about him is, like, he's he's such a family man. You know, if he I saw his video one time of him playing with his nephews, and one just bolted over and sacked him so hard. And he laughs the part. It was so funny. But, you know, what I'm speaking about is, you know, creativity on set. This I go into TJ here too, but those two, they're always so prepared when they come to set and they give us way more than what's on the page. Way way more. Between scenes, they're figuring out, like, things like how to enter a scene. And, you know, maybe TJ is gonna hop on Sternsey's back. Maybe, Durns, he's gonna fireman carry TJ. Maybe they're gonna wheelbarrow each other into the set. But, you know, for TJ, this this goes for certainty as well, but, like, like, like, those are good actors right there. Really, really good actors. TJ specifically, I think of all the actors I know that have success, he must have the most successful audition ratio from auditions to jobs booked. He's really good at what he does. And then when he gets to set, he's so prepared. He's so professional. He's ready to rip. Something that, you guys may not know is, is that, him and tierney in scenes, tierney behind the camera, TJ in front of it, they will spar, verbally in scenes. They'll chirp each other during scenes, you know, and it's so entertaining. For the rest of us. He would choke tierney for, like, his direct like, tierney would direct him and, and, TJ will chirping for his direction and then go into the scene. They'll chirp back and forth multiple times while the cameras are rolling. So we have tons and tons of footage of this. But after the chirping, TJ just clears his throat, goes into the steam, and hits every single beat. So fun, a fun thing for the audience to know is that, you know, while DJ is entertaining you at home, he's also entertaining the entire career while doing seems, with the help of of tyranny, of course, but he's that dialed as as an actor. Speaker 3
Amazing. Just a Speaker 4
a ton of love for my guys. I guess to sum it up. Just a a ton of love. Speaker 3
Appreciate it, Jared. I know we've taken more time and Cara's gonna kill us, but We appreciate you taking the time. I'd I'd be remiss if I didn't ask. Is there a feature with Letter Kenny of a maybe a movie or to, like, you know, anything that we can maybe hopefully look forward to after season twelve? Speaker 4
Sure. Yeah. It's crazy. Your crazier things have happened I think, I think just about anything is is is on the table. But, yeah, it's been, right now I'm I'm pretty focused on, on the road ahead, but, yeah, I think all of us would be very interested in that as as a a prospect. Speaker 3
Well, thank you so much for joining us today. We hope you can come back for Shoresy, but not for twenty years from now because we've won Shoresy to last as long as possible. Matt, do you wanna ask your your question real quick? Speaker 0
Yeah. I mean, I asked this, everyone, phrase is a little different. I mean, knowing what you've created, and, and, you mean, you guys have done the tours, and I'm sure you've got a pulse on on the fandom behind it. You know, how does it feel to you to know that what you've created so special to so many people out there Speaker 4
Yeah. I'm looking at it. It's it's you guys, you know, that people like our show enough and care about our show enough to wanna talk about it. Create their own content surrounding the show. I know not every show does that. So that is it is it is definitely not lost on me. You know, I guess, going back to your crew, to the people that that you guys have put together, everybody being so pass it about the show, and and you guys are so passionate about about each other too. Like, if you want good vibes, listen to a recap episode of the produce stand on a hangout. When when they've all hung out together, you will get the warmest fuzzies possible. So I I have the utmost appreciation for you guys. And what you do. And, I will continue to listen. Thank you. Speaker 3
Thank you so much. I mean, I can't think of a better place to end this so we're gonna play us off here with a song by our buddy. Jodolo that just dropped a couple of days ago called taking chances by Jodolo. Another route. Niggas like me, ain't trying what we thought. Did he make the money if I ever miss a call got back? And that's all we have for this episode. Don't forget you can use a promo code Pro to stand for twenty percent off any purchase at Dialark and Coffee dot com. If you'd like to support the podcast, rate us on iTunes, Spotify, become You can also follow us on most social media outlets at protosan pod. Thank you for joining us on behalf of Jared Garra. Tanya, Matt, myself. Thank you for listening. Have a great week. Speaker 4
I'll teach you how to Thanks, guys. You gotta Speaker 3
pay tuition. Pull a smell like a whole pound on a set. Pull up to your city downtown for a check. Great. 
