WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.840 Welcome back to the Deep Dive. Today we're tackling 00:00:01.840 --> 00:00:06.330 someone who's, uh... face, voice, and that incredibly 00:00:06.330 --> 00:00:08.730 sharp wit seem to pop up just about everywhere. 00:00:08.830 --> 00:00:11.310 We're talking decades, platforms, really everything. 00:00:11.650 --> 00:00:13.949 Absolutely. This is an artist who's really mastered 00:00:13.949 --> 00:00:16.510 moving between worlds, you know, from skewering 00:00:16.510 --> 00:00:19.309 reality TV on E, anchoring a huge sitcom. And 00:00:19.309 --> 00:00:21.730 now, well, now he's doing these really complex, 00:00:21.789 --> 00:00:24.809 dramatic roles on places like FX. Exactly. We're 00:00:24.809 --> 00:00:28.410 diving deep into Joel Edward McHale, actor, comedian, 00:00:28.489 --> 00:00:32.490 host, born November 20, 1971. And his background, 00:00:32.630 --> 00:00:35.609 it's... Surprisingly high achieving and definitely 00:00:35.609 --> 00:00:38.350 adaptable. That's the goal today, right? To synthesize 00:00:38.350 --> 00:00:40.310 all these sources, we have film work, hosting, 00:00:40.409 --> 00:00:42.350 personal details, even his charity stuff, to 00:00:42.350 --> 00:00:44.509 figure out how he stayed relevant since, what, 00:00:44.530 --> 00:00:46.770 1996. Because for a lot of people, you know, 00:00:46.810 --> 00:00:48.890 he's mainly the soup guy or Jeff Winger from 00:00:48.890 --> 00:00:51.189 Community. Yeah, those are the big two. But when 00:00:51.189 --> 00:00:54.630 you dig into the timeline, you see it's not just 00:00:54.630 --> 00:00:57.030 luck, it's strategy. It's this really unique 00:00:57.030 --> 00:00:59.350 foundation. We've got a good stack of material 00:00:59.350 --> 00:01:01.789 here ready to break it down for you. Okay, let's 00:01:01.789 --> 00:01:04.099 unpack this. Starting with the origin story. 00:01:04.299 --> 00:01:06.540 Because it really isn't what you'd expect for 00:01:06.540 --> 00:01:08.799 the guy known for mocking Hollywood. You'd think... 00:01:08.969 --> 00:01:11.310 L .A. native, maybe? Not even close. It's actually 00:01:11.310 --> 00:01:13.530 the first big twist. He was born in Rome, Italy, 00:01:13.790 --> 00:01:17.609 1971. Rome. Really? Yeah, but it wasn't like 00:01:17.609 --> 00:01:20.950 a celebrity thing. It was academic. His father, 00:01:21.129 --> 00:01:23.890 Jack McHale, was the dean of students for Loyola 00:01:23.890 --> 00:01:26.629 University's Rome Center back then. Wow. Okay. 00:01:26.670 --> 00:01:28.769 That immediately paints a different picture. 00:01:28.769 --> 00:01:30.769 Educated background. And the heritage is mixed, 00:01:30.870 --> 00:01:32.989 too, right? Right. Dad's American from Chicago. 00:01:33.290 --> 00:01:35.489 Mom's Canadian from Vancouver. And the sources 00:01:35.489 --> 00:01:39.159 say McHale himself is Irish. and Norwegian descent. 00:01:39.420 --> 00:01:41.700 So roots in a few places. But he mostly grew 00:01:41.700 --> 00:01:44.879 up. Primarily Pacific Northwest, Mercer Island, 00:01:45.099 --> 00:01:48.299 Washington, near Seattle. There was a short time 00:01:48.299 --> 00:01:50.480 in Haddonfield, New Jersey, but Washington state 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:52.560 is really where he kind of set his roots academically 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:55.239 and comedically. And this is where we hit that 00:01:55.239 --> 00:01:58.180 first like major contradiction. You see him on 00:01:58.180 --> 00:02:01.959 screen so quick, so seemingly effortless, especially 00:02:01.959 --> 00:02:05.370 as Jeff Winger. you don't immediately think academic 00:02:05.370 --> 00:02:07.689 powerhouse. But the sources are really clear. 00:02:07.810 --> 00:02:10.030 University of Washington got his Bachelor of 00:02:10.030 --> 00:02:12.770 Arts in History back in 95. History, huh? Yeah. 00:02:12.849 --> 00:02:15.509 And think about it. History requires sharp analysis, 00:02:15.849 --> 00:02:19.110 synthesizing tons of info, making arguments quickly. 00:02:19.469 --> 00:02:21.949 Pretty good skills for a satirical host, right? 00:02:22.110 --> 00:02:23.990 That actually makes a lot of sense. But he didn't 00:02:23.990 --> 00:02:26.469 stop there. Nope. Right after the BA, he got 00:02:26.469 --> 00:02:28.729 an MFA from the Professional Actors Training 00:02:28.729 --> 00:02:31.729 Program, also at UW. Okay, pause on that. An 00:02:31.729 --> 00:02:35.439 MFA in acting. That's serious business. We should 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:37.199 probably spell out for you, the listener, what 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:40.620 that means. It's intense. Classical training, 00:02:40.900 --> 00:02:45.280 stage combat, voice work, the whole craft. Exactly. 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:47.659 It's not like a weekend workshop. These programs 00:02:47.659 --> 00:02:49.979 are usually super competitive, small enrollment. 00:02:50.099 --> 00:02:52.379 It's full -on commitment to performance fundamentals. 00:02:52.979 --> 00:02:55.199 That's the bedrock for his ability to handle 00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:57.580 drama later, not just jokes. And then there's 00:02:57.580 --> 00:03:00.139 the sports angle, which is another layer. He 00:03:00.139 --> 00:03:02.810 was recruited for rowing initially. Yeah. Rowing 00:03:02.810 --> 00:03:05.210 at UW requires incredible discipline and teamwork. 00:03:05.509 --> 00:03:08.210 But he switched. He did. Ended up walking onto 00:03:08.210 --> 00:03:11.030 the football team. Tight end. Wait, he played 00:03:11.030 --> 00:03:13.430 football for UW? Well, he was on the team for 00:03:13.430 --> 00:03:16.110 two seasons. Didn't actually play in any official 00:03:16.110 --> 00:03:18.370 games, but he was out of the squad. He was on 00:03:18.370 --> 00:03:21.389 the team that went to the 1993 Rose Bowl. Okay, 00:03:21.430 --> 00:03:24.949 so let's tally that up. History degree, MFA in 00:03:24.949 --> 00:03:28.169 acting, Division I athlete walk -on, but still, 00:03:28.389 --> 00:03:31.250 that's... Quite a combination. It really is. 00:03:31.310 --> 00:03:33.469 Classical training, sharp analysis, physical 00:03:33.469 --> 00:03:35.810 discipline. It's unique. You can almost see how 00:03:35.810 --> 00:03:38.469 that creates Jeff Wenger, right? Physically present. 00:03:38.610 --> 00:03:40.629 Yeah. Looks like he can talk his way out of anything. 00:03:40.969 --> 00:03:44.050 What's fascinating here is... All that intense 00:03:44.050 --> 00:03:46.810 academic and athletic stuff is kind of hidden 00:03:46.810 --> 00:03:49.729 beneath this relaxed, witty delivery he's famous 00:03:49.729 --> 00:03:52.210 for. He didn't just show up looking the part. 00:03:52.349 --> 00:03:55.590 He put in years of discipline, training, acting, 00:03:55.949 --> 00:03:58.729 improv, physical stuff. And that training wasn't 00:03:58.729 --> 00:04:00.990 just academic. He was doing comedy in Seattle 00:04:00.990 --> 00:04:04.150 right alongside it before he even hit L .A. Exactly. 00:04:04.229 --> 00:04:06.409 And that context is crucial for understanding 00:04:06.409 --> 00:04:08.930 the hosting success. He was part of Almost Live, 00:04:09.129 --> 00:04:12.650 that local sketch show on King TV. Right. But 00:04:12.650 --> 00:04:14.849 maybe even more important was the improv. From 00:04:14.849 --> 00:04:17.910 93 to 97, he was with Unexpected Productions, 00:04:17.910 --> 00:04:21.410 did theater sports down at the Market Theater 00:04:21.410 --> 00:04:24.170 in Pike Place. Oh, yeah. Constant improv, high 00:04:24.170 --> 00:04:26.470 pressure, thinking on your feet, creating characters, 00:04:26.610 --> 00:04:30.149 jokes, structure, just... Instantly. That's the 00:04:30.149 --> 00:04:32.889 training ground. It built those reflexes, that 00:04:32.889 --> 00:04:35.829 ability to process and comment on pop culture 00:04:35.829 --> 00:04:38.310 basically in real time, which is exactly what 00:04:38.310 --> 00:04:39.910 you need to host something like The Soup for 00:04:39.910 --> 00:04:42.730 a decade. He became this, like, critique machine. 00:04:43.110 --> 00:04:45.089 So we had the physicality, the classical training, 00:04:45.230 --> 00:04:48.209 the improv speed. Seattle really forged the skill 00:04:48.209 --> 00:04:50.610 set he needed for, well, everything that came 00:04:50.610 --> 00:04:52.949 next. He was ready. That foundation let him tackle 00:04:52.949 --> 00:04:55.250 hosting and acting at the same time. Which brings 00:04:55.250 --> 00:04:57.629 us perfectly to the next stage. Moving from Seattle 00:04:57.629 --> 00:04:59.930 to the National... spotlight, specifically E! 00:04:59.990 --> 00:05:02.069 Network. This is where most people probably first 00:05:02.069 --> 00:05:04.889 really noticed him. Yeah, we're talking The Soup, 00:05:05.069 --> 00:05:08.009 the show that basically cemented his whole snark 00:05:08.009 --> 00:05:11.810 king persona. He took over in 2004 and it wasn't 00:05:11.810 --> 00:05:14.350 a quick gig. He hosted that satirical weekly 00:05:14.350 --> 00:05:18.050 roundup of TV weirdness for 11 years, right up 00:05:18.050 --> 00:05:21.649 to 2015. 11 years. And the sources say he wasn't 00:05:21.649 --> 00:05:23.649 just reading lines. He was a writer and executive 00:05:23.649 --> 00:05:26.839 producer, too. That's right. Which means a massive 00:05:26.839 --> 00:05:30.040 commitment. Think about it, 618 episodes. Finding 00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:32.160 the clips, writing the jokes, delivering it fresh 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:35.680 every single week for over a decade. On the most 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:38.939 disposable topics imaginable, reality TV clips. 00:05:39.160 --> 00:05:40.540 And here's where it gets really interesting. 00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:43.720 Balancing that with a whole other demanding TV 00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:46.949 role simultaneously. Because in 2009, Community 00:05:46.949 --> 00:05:50.149 starts on NBC. Exactly. So for six solid years, 00:05:50.310 --> 00:05:52.370 he's doing both. He's the sharp -tongued host 00:05:52.370 --> 00:05:54.129 of a clip show in L .A., and he's the lead of 00:05:54.129 --> 00:05:56.269 this ensemble network sitcom. The scheduling 00:05:56.269 --> 00:05:58.209 alone must have been brutal. Just the mental 00:05:58.209 --> 00:06:00.470 whiplash, right? Switching from that polished, 00:06:00.550 --> 00:06:03.089 cynical soup persona to the really layered, often 00:06:03.089 --> 00:06:05.470 vulnerable Jeff Winger character kind of proves 00:06:05.470 --> 00:06:07.490 that point about discipline managing that workload 00:06:07.490 --> 00:06:10.889 is almost an athletic achievement. His usefulness 00:06:10.889 --> 00:06:13.170 didn't stop there because he was so quick, so 00:06:13.170 --> 00:06:15.730 charming and could kind of race people or institutions 00:06:15.730 --> 00:06:18.129 without, you know, completely burning bridges. 00:06:18.350 --> 00:06:21.509 He became the go to guy for hosting high profile, 00:06:21.750 --> 00:06:24.290 high pressure events. We see that all over. He 00:06:24.290 --> 00:06:25.990 hosted the White House Correspondents Dinner 00:06:25.990 --> 00:06:29.110 in 2014. Talk about a high wire act making jokes 00:06:29.110 --> 00:06:31.889 for politicians and the press corps. Huge gig. 00:06:32.110 --> 00:06:34.230 Yeah. But also industry stuff like the Independent 00:06:34.230 --> 00:06:37.709 Spirit Awards in 2011, the ESPYs in 2015. So 00:06:37.709 --> 00:06:41.180 indie film cred. Major sports. He crossed over. 00:06:41.319 --> 00:06:43.699 And then those random but notable appearances. 00:06:44.120 --> 00:06:46.939 Guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race. And hosting 00:06:46.939 --> 00:06:50.259 the Ubisoft press conference at E3 in 2010. That's 00:06:50.259 --> 00:06:52.480 tapping into the massive gaming world. He really 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:54.500 became this incredibly reliable host for big 00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:56.600 moments. But the sources show that trying to 00:06:56.600 --> 00:06:58.740 take that clip shows success into the streaming 00:06:58.740 --> 00:07:01.120 era. That was tougher. Right. The Netflix show. 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:04.339 The Joel McHale show with Joel McHale. Yeah, 00:07:04.439 --> 00:07:06.399 pretty much tried to replicate the soup formula, 00:07:06.579 --> 00:07:08.839 celebrity guests, sketches, viral clips from 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:10.819 around the world. But it didn't last long, did 00:07:10.819 --> 00:07:14.199 it? Was that about him or just the format dying 00:07:14.199 --> 00:07:16.779 out in the streaming age? Is the clip show just 00:07:16.779 --> 00:07:19.819 not a thing anymore outside of maybe basic cable? 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:21.779 That's a really good question. I mean, he did 00:07:21.779 --> 00:07:25.779 618 episodes weekly on E!, right? Huge success. 00:07:26.300 --> 00:07:29.519 But Netflix works differently. The sources suggest 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:32.379 that even with his name recognition, it got canceled 00:07:32.379 --> 00:07:35.540 after just 19 episodes. Low viewership was the 00:07:35.540 --> 00:07:38.879 reported reason. It kind of suggests that format. 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:41.800 which relies on being super current week to week, 00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:44.040 maybe struggles when it's dropped all at once 00:07:44.040 --> 00:07:46.360 on a streaming platform. People consume it differently. 00:07:46.540 --> 00:07:48.920 It really highlights how tough that transition 00:07:48.920 --> 00:07:51.680 can be, even for established stars. Yeah, that's 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:54.060 the key takeaway for you listening. Past success, 00:07:54.220 --> 00:07:57.000 even massive success like The Soup, doesn't automatically 00:07:57.000 --> 00:07:59.180 translate to the streaming world and its algorithms. 00:07:59.420 --> 00:08:01.300 But he didn't give up hosting. He just shifted 00:08:01.300 --> 00:08:04.139 strategy, moved towards reviving known game show 00:08:04.139 --> 00:08:07.300 formats, more predictable viewership maybe. He 00:08:07.300 --> 00:08:09.709 hosted the Card Sharks revival. ABC started in 00:08:09.709 --> 00:08:11.990 2019. That one also didn't stick around forever, 00:08:12.089 --> 00:08:15.930 though. True. Two seasons, 21 episodes canceled 00:08:15.930 --> 00:08:18.930 in April 2022. Another relatively short run. 00:08:19.350 --> 00:08:21.829 It does seem like landing those single host gigs 00:08:21.829 --> 00:08:24.069 was trickier after the decade long stability 00:08:24.069 --> 00:08:26.509 of the soup. But he seems to have found his footing 00:08:26.509 --> 00:08:29.189 more recently in Unscripted. Yeah, I think taking 00:08:29.189 --> 00:08:31.189 on more control helps. Like with Crime Scene 00:08:31.189 --> 00:08:34.149 Kitchen on Fox, that started in 2021. It's had 00:08:34.149 --> 00:08:37.710 16 episodes so far. And crucially, he's not just 00:08:37.710 --> 00:08:40.129 the host. He's also an executive producer. Ah, 00:08:40.269 --> 00:08:43.350 the EP credit. Yeah. That links back to the Supes' 00:08:43.370 --> 00:08:45.210 success, doesn't it? Yeah. Maybe his hosting 00:08:45.210 --> 00:08:47.389 sweet spot is when he has that creative involvement, 00:08:47.590 --> 00:08:49.710 shaping it to his style, not just presenting. 00:08:49.830 --> 00:08:52.269 Seems like it. And that continues. He's hosting 00:08:52.269 --> 00:08:54.669 the U .S. version of the 1 % Club now, starting 00:08:54.669 --> 00:08:57.039 with season two. So if you look at this whole 00:08:57.039 --> 00:08:59.500 hosting arc, there's this constant tension, right? 00:08:59.559 --> 00:09:01.440 The massive long run of the soup, which got an 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:03.940 Emmy nod in 2014, by the way, for outstanding 00:09:03.940 --> 00:09:06.080 short format live action entertainment program 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:09.460 versus the quicker turnover of a lot of the later 00:09:09.460 --> 00:09:12.080 projects like the Netflix show Card Sharks. It 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:14.259 shows he's constantly adapting, searching for 00:09:14.259 --> 00:09:16.000 the next sustainable format and often finding 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:18.480 it when he has that producer role. OK, let's 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:20.799 pivot now to the acting side. Which, you know, 00:09:20.840 --> 00:09:23.259 that MFA and the improv really set the stage 00:09:23.259 --> 00:09:25.080 for it. This is how most fans probably know him 00:09:25.080 --> 00:09:27.580 best. Yeah, he definitely did the classic actor 00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:30.139 grind after moving to L .A., picking up those 00:09:30.139 --> 00:09:31.820 essential small parts. The sources mentioned 00:09:31.820 --> 00:09:35.440 things like diagnosis, murder, CSI Miami. And 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:37.379 interestingly, he was on Will & Grace twice, 00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:39.659 years apart, as completely different characters. 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:42.379 Ian first, then later Phil. That's a working 00:09:42.379 --> 00:09:45.139 actor right there. Totally. And he had that tiny 00:09:45.139 --> 00:09:47.519 but memorable part in Spider -Man 2 in 2004. 00:09:48.059 --> 00:09:50.360 Mr. Jack's the bank. manager getting flustered 00:09:50.360 --> 00:09:52.620 by Doc Ock, just establishing that screen presence. 00:09:52.980 --> 00:09:54.759 And all that groundwork led right to the big 00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:57.759 one. Jeff Wimmer in Community, NBC sitcom ran 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:02.100 2009 to 2015, six seasons, 110 episodes. Jeff 00:10:02.100 --> 00:10:04.220 Winger really feels like the perfect storm of 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:06.179 everything we've talked about. He's charming, 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:09.659 manipulative, smart, funny, but also has these 00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:12.120 moments of real vulnerability. You needed the 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:15.120 comedy timing and the serious acting chops for 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:18.059 Winger's big speeches. Absolutely. And the show 00:10:18.059 --> 00:10:20.779 itself. While maybe not a huge ratings giant, 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:23.559 was beloved by critics and had a passionate fan 00:10:23.559 --> 00:10:26.539 base. McHale got recognized too. A couple of 00:10:26.539 --> 00:10:29.820 fan voted EWE awards for Best Actor in a Comedy, 00:10:29.980 --> 00:10:32.500 a Critics' Choice nomination. And the whole cast 00:10:32.500 --> 00:10:36.360 won Ensemble Awards, PAFTJ, TV Guide Favorite 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:39.059 Ensemble. It was a quality show. Community was 00:10:39.059 --> 00:10:41.399 definitely a high point. But like with many actors 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:43.159 coming off a huge hit, figuring out the next 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:45.639 step, that proved tricky. Yeah, the post -hit 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:48.389 sitcom challenge, it's classic. Right after Community 00:10:48.389 --> 00:10:50.690 ended, he starred in The Great Indoors on CBS, 00:10:51.070 --> 00:10:53.289 played Jack Gordon, an adventure reporter type. 00:10:53.470 --> 00:10:55.149 That one felt like it came and went pretty fast. 00:10:55.429 --> 00:10:59.529 It did. 2016 -2017. Cancelled after just 22 episodes. 00:10:59.750 --> 00:11:02.490 Low ratings. And seeing that happen, alongside 00:11:02.490 --> 00:11:06.110 the Netflix show fizzling out, it really underscores 00:11:06.110 --> 00:11:08.629 how hard it is to carry a network comedy as the 00:11:08.629 --> 00:11:11.389 main lead. especially right after a beloved ensemble 00:11:11.389 --> 00:11:14.230 show, even for someone with his experience. It 00:11:14.230 --> 00:11:16.649 suggests Community's magic was really in that 00:11:16.649 --> 00:11:19.230 specific ensemble in Dan Harmon's writing, not 00:11:19.230 --> 00:11:21.250 just something Mikhail could replicate on his 00:11:21.250 --> 00:11:23.929 own easily. Exactly. But what's really impressive 00:11:23.929 --> 00:11:26.450 about Mikhail and key to his longevity is his 00:11:26.450 --> 00:11:28.950 willingness to just... Keep working. Dump genres. 00:11:29.309 --> 00:11:31.909 Take supporting parts. When the lead roles didn't 00:11:31.909 --> 00:11:34.070 stick, he pivoted back to guest spots and ensemble 00:11:34.070 --> 00:11:36.190 work, often in very different kinds of shows. 00:11:36.370 --> 00:11:38.210 We see that versatility in the source list. He 00:11:38.210 --> 00:11:39.889 did a couple of episodes of Sons of Anarchy. 00:11:40.110 --> 00:11:42.250 That's gritty drama. Totally different tone. 00:11:42.370 --> 00:11:44.830 Right. Or playing Tad O'Malley in the X -Files 00:11:44.830 --> 00:11:47.730 revival for four episodes. Roles in cult favorites 00:11:47.730 --> 00:11:50.309 like Pushing Daisies. He was even in that unaired 00:11:50.309 --> 00:11:52.929 U .S. pilot for the IT crowd. It feels like he 00:11:52.929 --> 00:11:55.149 values interesting work and being part of cool 00:11:55.149 --> 00:11:57.360 projects more than just chasing the name. starring 00:11:57.360 --> 00:12:00.740 role all the time. And that strategy, staying 00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:04.080 busy doing guest arcs, seems smart for navigating 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:07.100 those inevitable cancellations. It's very strategic, 00:12:07.179 --> 00:12:09.740 diversifying the portfolio, you could say. If 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:12.379 one big show gets canceled, he's already got 00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:14.679 other things cooking, a guest spot here, maybe 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:18.019 a hosting gig there. And a perfect example of 00:12:18.019 --> 00:12:20.620 him just leaning into the unexpected is his recurring 00:12:20.620 --> 00:12:23.500 thing with The Masked Singer. Oh, right. He pops 00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:26.360 up as a guest panelist all the time. Ten episodes 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:28.960 listed. And didn't he perform on it once? He 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:32.399 did. Season four, he fully embraced the absurdity, 00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:34.840 sang Robin Thicke's blurred lines while dressed 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:37.340 as Robin wearing a giant cutout of Robin Thicke's 00:12:37.340 --> 00:12:39.159 face. Okay, that takes some serious lack of ego. 00:12:39.320 --> 00:12:41.059 Totally. It shows he has a sense of humor about 00:12:41.059 --> 00:12:43.159 the whole fame game. He can be the guy analyzing 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:45.179 pop culture and then become the subject of pop 00:12:45.179 --> 00:12:47.799 culture weirdness himself. That adaptability 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:50.679 keeps him constantly in the mix. Okay, let's 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:53.360 focus on the last few years then. Because he 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:55.600 seems to have hit a really sustainable groove, 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:59.080 solidifying his place across completely different 00:12:59.080 --> 00:13:02.720 platforms, from superheroes to really intense 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:05.559 drama. The DC Universe work is a great example 00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:08.419 of that platform adaptability. playing Sylvester 00:13:08.419 --> 00:13:11.700 Pemberton, Starman, and Stargirl, started recurring 00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:14.879 on DC Universe, then the CW, and they actually 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:17.500 upgraded him to series regular for the final 00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:20.000 season. That shows he adds value to these long 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:21.840 -running narratives. He also had that recurring 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:24.120 part on Santa Clarita Diet on Netflix. But maybe 00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:27.639 the most surprising niche, but probably super 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:30.220 reliable financially, is his voice acting work, 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:32.580 especially in animation and video games. This 00:13:32.580 --> 00:13:35.240 is so crucial and probably flies under the radar 00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:37.159 for a lot of people. He's become the voice... 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:39.120 of Johnny Cage for the animated Mortal Kombat 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:41.580 movies. He did the whole trilogy, Scorpion's 00:13:41.580 --> 00:13:43.500 Revenge, Battle of the Realms, and the recent 00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:46.679 Cage match. That's a huge franchise, a major 00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:48.740 recurring role running totally separate from 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:51.419 his on -camera stuff. That's steady work, keeping 00:13:51.419 --> 00:13:53.179 him relevant to a whole different audience that 00:13:53.179 --> 00:13:55.720 maybe doesn't watch network TV. Absolutely, and 00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:58.919 the video game credits, massive. He voiced XPO 00:13:58.919 --> 00:14:02.059 in LEGO Dimensions back in 2015, and right now 00:14:02.059 --> 00:14:03.960 he's the voice of the scientist in Fortnite. 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:06.960 That's uncredited, but still. Fortnite, okay, 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:09.100 that's arguably the biggest thing in gaming culture. 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:11.860 His voice is constantly reaching millions of 00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:14.279 players globally. It's incredibly smart positioning. 00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:16.639 He's not tied to just one network, one format. 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:19.740 And then, on the complete opposite end of the 00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:22.360 spectrum, there's this recent dramedy renaissance 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:26.039 he's having, showing off much more intense, serious 00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:29.679 acting chops, most notably in The Bear. Ah, yes. 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:32.879 Chef David Fields, his recurring role on that 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:36.419 huge FX Hulu hit. abusive, high -stress chef, 00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:38.980 appears in, what, seven episodes so far? It's 00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:41.480 such a deliberate shift from Jeff Winger or the 00:14:41.480 --> 00:14:43.519 guy from The Soup. It really shows off that MFA 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:45.419 training, right? Taking these intense supporting 00:14:45.419 --> 00:14:48.200 roles that are purely dramatic, no easy laughs. 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:50.659 He can be genuinely unsettling. Totally. It's 00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:52.240 like, how does Shakespeare training translate 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:54.419 to playing a toxic chef? Well, there you go. 00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:56.799 It proves he has that range, that depth. But 00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:58.440 what's brilliant is at the same time he's doing 00:14:58.440 --> 00:15:00.840 The Bear, he's also starring in a network comedy 00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:04.360 again. Animal Control on Fox, premiered in 2023. 00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:07.620 He's the lead, Frank. And he's executive producer 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:09.850 on that one, too. So he's hedging his bets perfectly. 00:15:10.090 --> 00:15:12.750 You've got the high prestige, critically acclaimed, 00:15:12.750 --> 00:15:15.129 maybe risky or dramatic supporting part and the 00:15:15.129 --> 00:15:18.029 bear earning him industry respect. And then you 00:15:18.029 --> 00:15:20.669 have the reliable, creatively controlled network 00:15:20.669 --> 00:15:23.309 sitcom lead and animal control providing that 00:15:23.309 --> 00:15:25.870 weekly stability. His film work shows that same 00:15:25.870 --> 00:15:28.549 kind of variety, too, right? Big studio comedies 00:15:28.549 --> 00:15:31.350 like Ted or Blended. But not everything hits. 00:15:31.509 --> 00:15:33.629 We have to mention the Razzie factor. Right. 00:15:33.950 --> 00:15:36.549 The Golden Raspberry nomination, worst supporting 00:15:36.549 --> 00:15:39.570 actor for the Happy Time murders in 2019. That 00:15:39.570 --> 00:15:42.309 R -rated puppet movie. Does a Razzie nom kind 00:15:42.309 --> 00:15:44.429 of mess with the adaptability narrative? Was 00:15:44.429 --> 00:15:47.250 that just a bad choice or calculated risk that 00:15:47.250 --> 00:15:49.129 didn't pay off? I think you have to see it as 00:15:49.129 --> 00:15:51.690 the latter. It shows he's willing to take risks 00:15:51.690 --> 00:15:54.769 on unique, high concept stuff, even if it might 00:15:54.769 --> 00:15:57.169 bomb critically. It was a swing and a miss, sure, 00:15:57.269 --> 00:15:59.889 but it was one project. It didn't tank his other 00:15:59.889 --> 00:16:02.129 work because his career is so diversified. It 00:16:02.129 --> 00:16:04.169 was a blip in a portfolio full of other things. 00:16:04.269 --> 00:16:05.889 And he's still booking major movies. He's lined 00:16:05.889 --> 00:16:08.190 up for Scream 7, playing Mark Evans. That's post 00:16:08.190 --> 00:16:11.750 -production, slated for 2026. So connecting this 00:16:11.750 --> 00:16:14.850 all to the bigger picture. The sheer amount of 00:16:14.850 --> 00:16:18.830 work, hosting, voice acting, drama, comedy, ensemble 00:16:18.830 --> 00:16:22.389 stuff, it all points to this incredible adaptability. 00:16:22.570 --> 00:16:24.990 He moves between genres, formats, platforms, 00:16:25.230 --> 00:16:28.049 network TV, streaming, animation, games seamlessly. 00:16:28.370 --> 00:16:31.090 That relentless utility, that strategic balancing 00:16:31.090 --> 00:16:34.330 of risk and reliable income. That's the key to 00:16:34.330 --> 00:16:36.429 his longevity. OK, so we've traced the career 00:16:36.429 --> 00:16:38.289 arc. Let's shift a bit to the personal side, 00:16:38.409 --> 00:16:40.509 the values, the challenges that kind of inform 00:16:40.509 --> 00:16:43.090 the public persona. Because he manages to stay 00:16:43.090 --> 00:16:45.549 incredibly current professionally while having 00:16:45.549 --> 00:16:47.929 this seemingly stable personal life. Yeah, that 00:16:47.929 --> 00:16:50.889 stability seems pretty solid. Married Sarah Williams 00:16:50.889 --> 00:16:54.129 way back in July 1996. That's almost three decades. 00:16:54.330 --> 00:16:57.029 They have two sons. Live in L .A. Studio City 00:16:57.029 --> 00:17:00.509 now. Used to be Los Feliz. That provides a real 00:17:00.509 --> 00:17:03.159 anchor, you'd think, in a crazy industry. And 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:05.480 one really important personal detail, Kat, in 00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:08.160 2018, something crucial for you, the listener, 00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:11.420 to understand about his process. He revealed 00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:14.140 he's dyslexic. Right. And the sources say he 00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:16.799 only found out after his own sons were diagnosed, 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:19.079 which is fascinating when you think about his 00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:21.220 career. Totally. Reading teleprompters quickly 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:23.680 for the soup, analyzing dense scripts, delivering 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:26.759 those rapid -fire Jeff Winger monologues. Doing 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:29.279 all that while managing dyslexia, it adds another 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:31.819 layer to his work ethic. His memorization skills 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:34.720 makes that MFA seem even more impressive. Definitely 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:36.920 adds context to the rigor we talked about earlier. 00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:39.440 Now moving to beliefs and activism, the sources 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:41.839 mention his religious background. Raised Catholic, 00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:44.519 but now attends a Presbyterian church. Listed 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:47.079 as a convert. He's also been a very vocal supporter 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:49.519 of the LGBT community. And he backed that up 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:51.799 with action, didn't he? During that whole controversy 00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:54.279 over the North Carolina bathroom law a few years 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:58.200 back, he had a show... He did at the Durham Performing 00:17:58.200 --> 00:18:01.980 Arts Center. And he used the platform, wore a 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:04.740 homemade gay rights shirt on stage, spoke out 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:07.759 directly against the law. And then this is key. 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:10.200 He donated all the money from that night show 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:14.019 to the LGBTQ Center of Durham. Wow. All proceeds. 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:16.740 Yep. And he also publicly said he wouldn't perform 00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:19.000 in North Carolina again until the law was overturned. 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:21.809 That's taking a real stand. potentially alienating 00:18:21.809 --> 00:18:23.950 part of his audience, which raises an interesting 00:18:23.950 --> 00:18:26.390 question. How does that kind of outspoken political 00:18:26.390 --> 00:18:29.950 action square with the often neutral, just making 00:18:29.950 --> 00:18:32.930 jokes persona of the soup? It's just a clear 00:18:32.930 --> 00:18:35.190 separation, doesn't it? The public snark persona 00:18:35.190 --> 00:18:38.009 is maybe the job, the professional mask. And 00:18:38.009 --> 00:18:40.049 that neutrality perhaps allows him the platform 00:18:40.049 --> 00:18:42.569 and freedom to then take strong personal stances 00:18:42.569 --> 00:18:44.789 on issues he cares about. He's using the visibility 00:18:44.789 --> 00:18:47.269 earned through one mode to act in another. It's 00:18:47.269 --> 00:18:49.990 a high wire act balancing broad appeal with personal 00:18:49.990 --> 00:18:52.450 conviction. And beyond that specific protest, 00:18:52.690 --> 00:18:54.730 his philanthropy seems pretty consistent and 00:18:54.730 --> 00:18:57.170 broad. Specific focus on the Children's Tumor 00:18:57.170 --> 00:18:59.950 Foundation for neurofibromatosis awareness. Right. 00:19:00.069 --> 00:19:02.349 But the list goes on. The sources mentioned support 00:19:02.349 --> 00:19:05.009 for the Trevor Project, UNICEF, Make -A -Wish, 00:19:05.130 --> 00:19:07.829 the Elton John AIDS Foundation, quite a few others. 00:19:07.990 --> 00:19:10.650 It paints a picture of someone genuinely committed 00:19:10.650 --> 00:19:13.109 to using his platform and resources for causes 00:19:13.109 --> 00:19:15.809 he believes in beyond just entertainment. OK, 00:19:15.890 --> 00:19:17.710 so let's wrap this deep dive up, bring it all 00:19:17.710 --> 00:19:20.849 together. What have we really learned about Joel 00:19:20.849 --> 00:19:23.369 McHale? We start with that really disciplined, 00:19:23.569 --> 00:19:26.769 unexpected foundation. Born in Rome, the mixed 00:19:26.769 --> 00:19:29.529 heritage, the intense UW background, history 00:19:29.529 --> 00:19:32.730 BA, acting MFA, walk -on football player for 00:19:32.730 --> 00:19:36.230 a Rose Bowl team. Just wow. Yeah, that groundwork 00:19:36.230 --> 00:19:38.869 set him up perfectly for the decade as E's snark 00:19:38.869 --> 00:19:40.930 king on the soup while also being the complicated 00:19:40.930 --> 00:19:43.150 heart of community. And when those big successes 00:19:43.150 --> 00:19:45.349 started to shift or end, he showed incredible 00:19:45.349 --> 00:19:48.130 agility, pivoting away from the projects that 00:19:48.130 --> 00:19:50.490 didn't stick, like the great indoors or card 00:19:50.490 --> 00:19:53.089 sharks. And his current career feels like this 00:19:53.089 --> 00:19:56.109 masterclass in managing risk and staying relevant. 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:58.960 He's balancing the intense, prestige drama of 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:01.460 the bear with the huge reach and steady paycheck 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:04.579 of voice work in Fortnite Immortal Kombat, plus 00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:06.480 anchoring and producing his own network show, 00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:09.660 Animal Control. He's everywhere, doing everything. 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:12.380 He really occupies this unique space. He's the 00:20:12.380 --> 00:20:15.279 adaptable guy. the MFA -trained athlete who can 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:17.900 host a game show, then turn around and deliver 00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:20.700 a chilling, dramatic performance. He's the ultimate 00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:22.920 strategic utility player in Hollywood today. 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:25.460 It's a case study in how to survive and thrive 00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:27.920 through constant reinvention while carefully 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:30.140 managing that line between professional persona 00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:32.619 and personal belief. We've definitely seen his 00:20:32.619 --> 00:20:35.160 career is all about those pivot points, improv 00:20:35.160 --> 00:20:37.579 to hosting, network comedy to streaming drama, 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:40.400 live action to voice work. So thinking about 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:42.319 that and considering his track record with both 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:44.119 short -lived projects and long -running gigs 00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:46.700 like his voice roles, plus upcoming movies like 00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:50.460 Scream 7. How do you think his strategy, balancing 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:52.819 those high -risk leads with reliable ensemble 00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:55.200 and voice work, positions him for whatever comes 00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:57.319 next in media? That's the question we'll leave 00:20:57.319 --> 00:21:00.420 you with. Is the future really about mastering 00:21:00.420 --> 00:21:02.839 all the platforms all at once, being able to 00:21:02.839 --> 00:21:05.660 jump between genres, tones, pay scales, just 00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:07.640 to stay in the game? It's something to think 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:09.859 about. Thanks for joining us on The Deep Dive.