Jason Lee (Up all Night)

Jason Lee has starred in numerous movies (Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, and Alvin & the Chipmunks) and TV shows (My name is Earl & Memphis Beat). However, starting November 9th, Jason will be guest-starring on the NBC show called “Up all Night,” which is shown every Wednesday at 8pm. His character (Kevin) is a single parent that has fallen in love with Ava (Maya Rudolph). “Up all Night” also stars Christina Applegate and Will Arnett. Shakefire had the chance to talk to the cool and carefree Jason Lee about the show.

SHAKEFIRE: Good Afternoon Jason!
JASON LEE: Hi Paul! How are you doing today?

SF: I’m doing great. Thank you for asking. Let me start off by saying that it is because of you I no longer eat chocolate pretzels.
JL: [Laughing] That’s hilarious and good to know.

SF: I just wanted to start off by asking how did your cameo (Kevin) on “Up all Night” come about?
JL: Well, they contacted me about the part and I thought it was a great cast and a great show. I had seen it before and I loved it. Also, it was good to be back on TV. Memphis Beat was cancelled and it had been a while since I've been on a comedy. So I took the opportunity when it came up.

SF: Good to hear. How was it working with the cast?
JL: They are all cool people and as a guest star, you hope for that. You want to be able to blend right in and feel comfortable. There was also a great chemistry with Maya (Ava) because she's a very playful person. They were very inviting and a lot of fun to work with. It all worked out really well for me and I want to thank them for everything

SF: I know you have kids too. Do you see a lot of yourself in Regan (Christina Applegate) and Chris (Will Arnett)?
JL: Totally! I’m a father twice over. It helps playing a dad for the show because I can identify with the energy of being a dad. I just hope it translates well. My daughter on the show is 11 years old and I thought the part was a good fit for me.

SF: The show has been receiving rave reviews and a lot of praise. Do you have any ideas why “Up all Night” is getting so much acclaim?
JL: The chemistry and the actor talent have a lot to do with it. Also, the show has sharp writing, a lot of heart and it is accessible to everyone. It’s a well rounded show with a sweetness to it that everyone can relate to. It doesn’t have any comedy undertones, but it is believable and cool in that way.

SF: From what I understand, there’s a lot of improv on the show. Was it difficult to get through some of the scenes?
JL: Yeah! There was a lot of laughing, messing up lines, goofing off, and making the others chuckle. I haven’t done comedy in a while and it had been few years since “My name is Earl.” Having a great cast helps a lot. The fact that each cast member is a parent and can relate was a big help too.

SF: Speaking of Earl, how does Kevin compare to Earl?
JL: He is way more straight laced and clean cut than Earl. He doesn’t have the cool moustache. Kevin is a funny, nice and sweet guy from next door. He grounds Maya’s character. I tried to make him as real and believable as possible. From an actor’s perspective, Kevin had a totally different feel as compared to Earl.

SF: Speaking of moustaches, it is Movember, where guys grow moustaches during the month of November for prostate cancer awareness and to raise money for cancer research. How long did it take you to grow your cool moustache on “My name is Earl” and do you have any grooming or growing tips for everyone?
JL: Wow! Let’s see, I had to keep the moustache for 7 months out of the year when the show was filming. It took me about 6 weeks to grow it. As for the grooming tips, I really don’t have any because Earl wasn’t a groomed guy in general.

SF: Nice! Thanks for answering that. Is your cameo on “Up all Night” a one shot deal or will you be coming back to the show?
JL: I already shot 3 episodes. So for now, it’s a recurring kind of deal. I am having a great time on the show.

SF: Good to know! Ok, my last question is, which do you prefer? Doing TV shows or movies?
JL: TV is much faster than movies and more TV, in general, is getting really good these days. It depends on the material, but I like being on TV because of the schedule, the consistency, the work load, and I like having a job.

SF: Great! Thank you so much for talking with me today Jason. I can’t wait to check out your appearance on the show!
JL: Thanks Paul! Have a good day man!