[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Poker Face, Season 1, Episode 7, “The Future of the Sport.”]
You could acknowledge Jack Alcott when his character Randy pops up within the newest episode of Peacock‘s newly-renewed Poker Face, but it’s comprehensible if it takes a second or two to position him. That’s as a result of the actor appears to be like and sounds fairly completely different from when he was Harrison Morgan in Showtime‘s Dexter: New Blood.
This time around, he’s taking part in a go-kart observe worker who’s besties with Charles Melton‘s Davis McDowell, an up-and-coming racer who has a beef with seasoned vet Keith Owens (Tim Blake Nelson). The feuding racers’ battle finally results in devastating penalties when Keith’s daughter Katy (Jasmine Aiyana Garvin) winds up severely injured after Davis permits her to drive his automobile, which was tampered with by Keith. The solely catch is, Davis knew the car wasn’t working proper and additional incapacitated it earlier than inviting Katy to get behind the wheel.
Below, Alcott opens up about taking part in Davis’ ride-or-die pal, the place his character would stand on Davis’ actions, and hopes for a possible future as Harrison on newly-announced Dexter spinoffs.
(Credit: Phillip Caruso/Peacock)
How was the position launched to you?
Jack Alcott: It got here [to me] as an audition packet, and with a job of that dimension, often there’s simply not as a lot materials so that you can chew into, notably whenever you’re auditioning. But on this case, I had a lot enjoyable with it. I keep in mind goofing round and sending it in simply feeling like I had had enjoyable, which isn’t all the time the case with self-tape. The very last thing I did earlier than that was Dexter: New Blood, which that character couldn’t be extra completely different. I used to be very excited to strive one thing completely different. And the character’s dialect was not famous within the script, I used to be simply pondering this feels southern and I say “ain’t” sufficient occasions within the script that I used to be like, “you know, let me just throw that in there.” My mom’s aspect of the household is from east Tennessee, so I simply thought, “I’m gonna just ratchet that up and see what happens.” It simply ended up being a ton of enjoyable.
Speaking of creating the position Southern, Randy may have simply been a caricature. Was it necessary to lean into stereotypes or do you assume he defies them?
It was actually enjoyable to lean into a number of the stereotypical qualities of Randy. I feel lots of people know any individual form of like that. But you realize, he’s a very fantastic man and an excellent loyal good friend, he’s simply not the sharpest software within the shed however would do something for those who he cares about. I feel when you’re on set, and I’m working with Iain MacDonald who is a superb director, we have been in a position to choose and select what to tone down as a result of we don’t need him to be a stereotype.
I really feel like a whole lot of Rian Johnson’s tales, uh, and it’s one of many issues that makes them so sensible is that they’re, um, they’re stylized and so they’re distinctive, however they’re not stereotypical and so they’re not flat or one dimensional, they’re tremendous nuanced. Once the digital camera’s rolling, you’re not fascinated by the alternatives you’re making, I’m listening to Charles, or I’m listening to Natasha [Lyonne]. They’re each such sensible performers all I have to do is bounce off them and it’ll work out.
Randy is ride-or-die mates with Davis. What was it like constructing that with Charles and do you assume Randy can be so ride-or-die if he knew Davis purposely harmed Katy?
That’s a troublesome one. I feel he’s somebody who would keep on with his weapons and his boys, um, beneath nearly any circumstances. Maybe if it have been any individual else, I may so think about Randy serving to Davis cover a physique. That can be hilarious, however not Katie’s physique. I don’t assume Randy may convey himself to be complicit within the homicide or intentional extreme damage is somebody who’s completely harmless. And Charles, I knew who he was, however I didn’t know a lot about him. And, he’s such a bro, he’s one of the best and simply couldn’t be nicer and extra beneficiant. There are some actors you’ll be able to simply nerd out with about performing and he was completely one in all them.
On the flipside, Randy helps piece collectively clues with Charlie. What was it like taking part in off of Natasha?
Well, she’s Natasha. She’s sensible and distinctive. Getting to share the display screen was so dope. She’s so unbelievably spectacular watching her work as a result of the episode that was being shot after ours, she was directing. So in between each take she would really like run over to the DP of her episode and they’d be writing and brainstorming stuff about their episode. So she had her performing mind going, she had her producer mind, her director mind, and her author mind all working on the identical time and was in a position to execute all of them.
You talked about Dexter: New Blood. It’s been revealed that Showtime is engaged on a number of spinoffs, together with one following your character. Do you hope to take part within the present once more?
I do know what everyone else is aware of. I do know that if it does transfer ahead, I couldn’t be extra . What a loopy superior character to get to discover. So many sides, a lot happening, like a literal dream position. So yeah, very a lot into revisiting that. Until then, I’m on the hunt for my subsequent journey and I’m enthusiastic about that. So, we’ll see what that’s, no matter it’s.
Poker Face, New Episodes, Thursdays, Peacock