Jonah Hill (Allen Gregory)

Jonah Hill is best known for being an actor (“Moneyball,” “Superbad,” and “Get him to the Greek”), a writer (“21 Jump Street: The Movie”), and a voice actor (“Megamind,” “Horton hears a Who,” and “How to train your Dragon”). However, starting Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 8:30pm on Fox, he will also be known as “Allen Gregory” because he is the co-creator, executive producer, and the voice of Allen Gregory. The show revolves around Allen being forced to attend public school after his upper class family blows their fortune and fall on hard times. Allen is a 1^st grader with style and attitude, but has to deal with living the “normal life” with average people. Shakefire had the opportunity to chat with Jonah Hill about his new show.

SHAKEFIRE: Hi Jonah! I just wanted to start by saying that I think you are a great comedic actor and thought you were great in “Moneyball” and “Superbad.”
JONAH HILL: Thanks a lot man! I’m happy you enjoyed the movies.

SF: What inspired the Allen Gregory character and how did the show come about?
JH: Well, Allen Gregory came about because we are doing an animation and we were trying to figure out something for me to play. Andy and I were saying it would be cool to play a seven year old because I couldn’t play that in real life. His parents are going through financial troubles because they were like heiresses, but they spent all their money. So you deal with them having to get jobs and having to earn a living for the first time. They are a bunch of spoiled rich people figuring out how to make their way in the world for the first time.

SF: What kinds of challenges are we going to see Allen going through now that he has to make this big adjustment of entering public school for the first time?
JH: He’s a fish out of water. He’s going to public school for the first time with normal kids. He’s a really pretentious outsider and he’s just trying to fit in.

SF: How did you relate to Allen as a mature first grader? 
JH: I don’t relate to him at all. I couldn’t be more different than him as a person.

SF: What do you enjoy most about voice work as opposed to live action? 
JH: I just like animation, I just like how it’s a different art form. I just try to do different things and worrying about different styles. I like that challenge.

SF: What are some of your favorite cartoons growing up and what are some of your favorite cartoons currently? 
JH: The Simpsons, The Critic and South Park to answer all of those questions.  Those were the ones that were really inspiring to me.

SF: Those are a couple of my favorites as well. Through your career, you’ve worked with a lot of cool people like Brad Pitt, Diddy, Russell Brand, and Michael Cera. Given the chance, who would you want to guest star on the show?
JH: I don’t know! I would have to say Robert De Niro probably. He’d be the best Allen Gregory guest star.

SF: What do you think is going to appeal to the viewers the most about the show?
JH: It’s funny and it’s different. There’s not really much more to it. It’s really funny and really strange and unique and cool and unlike anything else on TV and I’m proud of that.

SF: Wow! I can’t wait to see the show. Thank you for time and keep up the great work.
JH: Thank you! I hope everyone enjoys it.