Brian Huskey – Mr. Neighbor’s House 2

By starrymag | June 24, 2018

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) What are the recent projects that you have been working on?

A) I did some episodes of “New Girl” this year and this FOX television show called “Ghosted.” My daughter graduated from elementary school. I’ve just been doing a lot of guest spots like “Bob’s Burgers.”

Q) You do voiceover work and onscreen work. Do you have a preference?

A) No, not really. Voice over is if you’re feeling lazy as far as your appearance because you don’t have to worry about your beard length or if you have a haircut or show up in sweat pants. On camera, sometimes that’s awesome. Sometimes that’s one of the best things that can happen to you. Like, I got to do an episode of “The X-Files” this year, which was one of my favorite experience ever. Then, there are sometimes being on camera where you think, “Uh, I look old. What am I doing?” I have no preference, but I identify which one has a fallback for it’s limitations. That’s a terrible quote. I love all of them! Hire me! [laughs]

Q) You have great comedic timing. Is it something that has always come naturally to you or have you had to work at it?

A) I don’t know. I’m sure I’ve worked at it, but not consciously. I think I worked at it by having an affinity for why something might be funny or why someone might say something in a certain way and it comes out funny. My mom was very funny, and my sister is pretty funny. I would say I worked at it not in a laborious way, but in a loving way unconsciously. Then, being around funny people, you are forced to match them or fall away. So, the company I keep up with keeps me in shape.

Q) What was the initial inspiration for “Mr. Neighbor’s House?”

A) The original inspiration came from a conversation with Jesse Falcon and Jason Mantzoukas, whom I wrote the episodes with. We do an improv show together and we started to talk about kids show we watched when we were growing up. We talked about how a lot of them had a weirdness to them. You watch kids shows now and think, “Wow. That’s kind of creepy.” We thought it would be funny if I was a kid’s show host who couldn’t really keep his shit together. Then, we just kind of built it from there.

Q) Last season had some hilarious moments, including a psychotic breakdown. What are some memorable moments fans can look forward to this season?

A) I will let people know as far as the psychotic breakdown, we go deeper into playing with the idea of the human mind and where it can take you. That’s definitely something that happens in this one. We go much further than just Mr. Neighbor’s House and what you think an episode is going to be.

Q) Who are some guest stars you can tease this season?

A) Last season we had Dave Theune and Mary Holland, who are both hilarious. This time, we have Mark Evan Jackson who you might know from “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and there is Jerry Minor who is hilarious. Seth Morris. Colleen Smith was a puppeteer I the first one for the tarot card lady, the gypsy. Jean Villepique is another one. Joey McIntyre from New Kids on the Block is there.

Q) Is there much room to improv on set?

A) On “Mr. Neighbor’s House” there were maybe two or three bits we came up with on the spot because the scenes were feeling kind of flat. I’m really happy and relieved and kind of comforted to know we can always find something funny even in the zero-hour. Sometimes we would make something funny happen in the edits afterwards. As far as improv, I think when making a comedy show you should allow yourself to think of every step as being somewhat as an improv. In the editing think, “We wrote the scenes this way, but what if we threw this in and it changes the tone or the feeling?”

Q) What were some of your favorite bits from “Mr. Neighbor’s House?”

A) Any time the whole Buddy/Brother collapsing over makes me laugh. I was very pleased with the Chef Bread scenes. People seem to like it and I was nervous that people would think he was just talking to a loaf of bread, but it makes me laugh a lot. I think it’s funny. Mary Holland always makes me laugh. I think she’s amazing. They’re all my kids. I love them all. I love all the bits.

Q) How do you get into character?

A) The set helps. The costumes help. The glasses are kind of a big shift for me in a weird way. For me, I said that he’s wearing his mother’s glasses so that sort of underlines for me the odd behavior Mr. Neighbor sort of puts out there. I go into a deep meditative state. People can’t make eye contact with me. I only eat Goji berries during the shoot. You know, traditional stuff. [sarcasm]

Q) What do you think it is about the “Mr. Neighbor’s” series that has made it such a fan favorite?

A) I don’t know. I’d love to hear it’s a fan favorite series. I think it’s funny and weird. The thing I like about it is that there is just a lot of power comedically and dramatically to sort of juxtaposition with taking this kids’ show and giving it this weird spin. It gives you a motor that kind of keeps you interested and wondering what is going to happen. Also, it makes it safe for us to do a kids’ show, but also make fun of a kids show. We’re never making fun of the kids show. We’re just using that as sort of the environment to look at this character and see how he does his stuff, which is not the most effective way of handling your problems. [laughs]

Q) Since we did see you in “The X-Files” this year, are you making a conscious effort to do more dramas these days?

A) I would love to. The conscious effort is that my agent is pitching me more, so the willingness is there. I don’t feel like I would do a big switchover. I want to be able to have that experience to kind have the experience for myself – to experience another muscle in acting and approaching work. Drama sets aren’t as fun as comedy sets. I will say that. They could lighten up a bit. Don’t take yourselves so seriously guys. But I guess you have to read the room whatever. [laughs] In comedy, peoples’ process is a little more personal and they might have to sort of step away and get ready for a scene. But, generally, you just kind of hanging out with people and staying loose and light. That’s not generally the case in drama, by necessity. I guess I have to make sure I bring a good book or podcast if I come to a dramatic set.

Q) What have been some of your favorite projects to be a part of?

A) I’m immensely proud and happy to be proud of “Bob’s Burgers.” It one of the shows that I think is exemplary TV and it feels really great to be a part of. “The X-Files” was awesome. “Another People” and “People of Earth.” I’ve been really #blessed. I’ve been really happy to be a part of such great shows and everyone is cool. It’s cool. I feel like my life is nice.

Q) What should fans be sure to know about “Mr. Neighbor’s House 2?”

A) With “Mr. Neighbor’s House 2,” people should know it’s a comedy, but it gets really intense and is almost like a horror-comedy. I think it’s good to know that it’s funny, but it’s going to get real dark. It’s better to go in and thinking, “I’m uncomfortable and I don’t want to be on this ride!” Strap in is basically what I’m saying. Strap in and enjoy.

Q) You are a part of social media. Do you enjoy the instant fan feedback to the projects that you do?

A) Sure. [laughs] I feel a little weird about social media because on Twitter I kind of just promote when I need to and stay away from it when I don’t. I use Instagram because I used to be a photographer, so I just like putting up my pictures and stuff. But it’s always cool when someone reaches out and expresses something to me. It means a lot to me. It’s a big gesture for someone to seek you out and say they like what you did. It always makes me happy. That’s a really cool thing for me to benefit from. I almost always will write back. Even if it’s just an Emoji, it means a lot.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) I would just like to say thanks and then I’d also like to say my hope that there is something that you’re enjoying in my work that is like my enthusiasm for comedy growing up – that gets you excited and inspires you in some way. My memory of certain comedy performers and shows were like the sort of dream catalysts for me that made me think, “That seems great. I want to be able to do that.” So, if anybody has any sort of reaction where they want to do this work or it makes you feel something or frees you up to do something else that’s awesome and I thank you in advance.