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But Joel is not always popular, either within the series or among a subset ofMrs.
(He is not.)
Joels a fascinating side story that happens throughout this show.Mm-hmm.
Some people dont, but I think so.
You think some people dont?Iknowsome people dont.
They write about it!
And thats not to say anything against anybody else, because I think everybody is fantastic.
But I think hes got many layers to him.
And he was sort of redeemed a little bit.
Now, in the second season, I think hes humanized even a little more.
One thing Im curious about is how much Joel is or is not changing in this second season.
And I think thats real, too.
Hes flawed, and I love that they explore the fact that hes flawed.
Hes still trying to find something that hes good at.
I mean, hes not good at stand-up; he hated his job at the plastics company.
So the reason I say that hes the realest character is because he doesnt know what he wants.
So thats why I feel like its soreal.
In the second season, Joel starts picking up the pieces of his parents clothing business.
Do you think that makes him happy?
Whats he going to do?
Whether or not thats his career path, I dont know.
But at least it gives him something to do in the meantime.
What is that clothing-factory set like?
Its so beautiful and busy.
Where is it?There are two places.
Theres one in Brooklyn, which is real.
Martin Greenfield hes a clothing manufacturer; he designs suits.
I dont think theyre making actual clothing people are going to be wearing.
To be honest, I dont really know.
But you know there are, like, those steamers, and theyre pressing things over and over again.
Theyre not really making stuff, probably, but itlookslike they are.
And hopefully theyre getting paid more than they would normally.
But they seem to enjoy it!
What kind of direction were you given from the beginning about how to play Joel and who he is?
Was that ever frustrating?No, I embraced playing this antagonist.
Playing a villain is the most fun you could have being an actor.
I thought he was supposed to be the villain.
Especially in the first episode, because thats really all I had to go by.
Going into it, I embraced the part of the villain.
And I was like, Aww, man, the audience is going to hate him.
But I love that!
I was like, Yeah, this is going to be fun!
It wasnt anything like that.
You just kind of go with it.
They didnt share it with me.
And to be honest, I sort of appreciate that.
I dont need them to tell me anything, or whats going to happen.
I like being surprised.
Do you think he and Midge are going to get back together eventually?
Do you want that to happen?I dont know!
I dont think right now they should get back together.
I think he cheated on her, and he needs to pay the price for that.
Because if somebody did that to me, Id be pretty pissed off!
I dont know if Id be able to forgive that person.
So Im always surprised when people tell me, Oh, Im rooting for you guys.
Its like,really?
But, not really.
So I dont know if they should get back together.
Maybe someday down the line theyll both grow up, or at leasthellgrow up.
But I think by that point shell be too big for him.
Joel gives a speech about forgiveness when hes standing next to Zachary Levis character Benjamin, watching the fireworks.
He regrets it immensely.
Well, they dont really take good care of their kids.
They really dont.But he was the catalyst for this whole show, for the most part.
So, yeah, I think he regrets it immensely.
Do you think hes hoping he can be forgiven?
I dont think hes forgiven himself.
The whole Catskills set is so impressive theres a whole scene where you have to be bowling.
Did you have to practice to make that work?Well, they have this thing called CGI.
But I had to get it sort of down the middle.
And I did take a bowling lesson.
But we were doing the scene, and it was a very old bowling alley.
So they actually did CGI.
Which I didnt know!
And they were like, No, no, no, they CGId that.
