He’s appeared in an impressively-wide array of television series and movies, but comedy fans know him for his quirky appearances in cult classics series and films like “The State” and “Wet Hot American Summer.”
In recent years, Ken Marino made a splash in the sleeper hit “Role Models,” and he has helped usher in a new voice of single-camera comedies as a regular on shows like “Party Down” and Childrens Hospital.”
So, diverse resume aside, his guest appearance on Thursday’s edition of NBC’s “Whitney,” a multi-camera sitcom shot before a live audience, is a change of pace. For Marino, that change presented excitement.
“It is a whole different kind of vibe…it’s exciting for me,” said Marino, who also shared play-by-play of his troublesome kitchen remodel in a media call that included Headline Planet. “I like hearing the reaction from people.”
Of course, that ability to hear a reaction can certainly impact the performer’s mindset.
Confirmed Marino, who plays Alex’s brother Brian in the episode, “You tend to want to play up to the audience so you get laughs. When you’re doing single camera, you’re not thinking about that…you can have quieter moments.”
And forum alone was not the only welcome “challenge” for the actor. Unlike with many of his most recognizable performances, Marino neither had creative involvement in the script nor a vast network of friends and frequent collaborators to provide an additional comfort zone on set.
Luckily, the cast not only welcomed Marino into the fold but impressed him with its chemistry and comedic talents.
“I didn’t really know any of them other than Whitney [Cummings],” said Marino of signing on for the gig. “But [the cast are all] just really good, funny people. And then the people running the show are very passionate about it and so it’s fun watching a group of people creating a show that are really into it and passionate about it.”
Marino was particularly complimentary of Chris D’Elia, who plays Alex on the show.
“Chris is hysterical…after I met him, we went to YouTube and started watching his standup. And man, that guy is funny,” gushed Marino, who even talked about writing a screenplay with D’Elia in mind as the script’s central stand-up comedian.
Impressions, of course, are two-way streets. The chemistry and “electricity” on the “Whitney” set might have impressed Marino, but what about his desire to make a splash in his single-episode guest appearance, especially for an appearance on a new show not from a proven ally like David Wain?
“You can’t help but walk on a set and be like, ‘Okay, I hope I’m everything they want me to be,'” clarified Marino. “But I try to get rid of that feeling very quickly…because it gets in the way of being creative, trying to serve the story and serve the scene and serve the character.”
Personally impressed by the “Whitney” cast and crew and confident he did what was necessary to garner their approval, the final piece of the puzzle was the audience: will fans of Marino’s eclectic comedy recognize the “Ken Marino voice” in the Brian character, or will this be a throwaway role that could have been filled by any dark-haired, white, male comedian?
Somewhat thrown by the question, Marino was surprised Headline Planet would even reference the existence of a “Ken Marino voice.”
“Thanks for saying that there’s a Ken Marino voice,” said a baffled, humble Marino. “I don’t know what that is.”
He thus could not confirm whether that “voice” would shine through. He could, however, confirm his intent to fulfill one promise: bringing humor to the role.
“I just do what I think is funny…and I’ll play [the Brian character] the only way I know how to play it…[the scripted character] filtered through me.”
Ken Marino’s episode of “Whitney” airs Thursday, October 27 at 9:30PM on NBC. And if you happen to run into the comedian, definitely check to make sure they straightened out the plug snafu in his kitchen. We’re very concerned.
