Michael Irby – Barry

By starrymag | March 31, 2019

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

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

A) I was also in the top end of “SEAL Team,” which was a character I had already established in the first season. Then, I picked up “Barry” and through all of that I ended up grabbing “Mayans M.C.” I jumped in and then both of those shows ended up calling me back in to reestablish those characters.

Q) Were you working on all three at the same time?

A) I was working on all three at the same time and it was a little bit crazy. There were a few days on “SEAL Team” and “Mayans” where I was actually working on both sets on the same day. I would work until like five o’clock at night and then drive other to the other set and start there about six or seven. Then, we’d work until about four in the morning and I’d go back to the other set about six or seven in the morning. I did that for a couple weeks and I’ve got to tell you, it was awesome! [laughs]

Q) How are you able to keep track of your characters when doing multiple on the same day?

A) At the end of the day with “Mayans” and “SEAL Team” they kind of lived in the same world. I have guys that are following me. I was the leader on both shows, so you just kind of drop in. You walk into your trailer and there is a whole new wardrobe. There is a whole new outfit. A lot of those days were actually some action stuff so I could just go in and just kind of jump right in. Every time I showed up on “SEAL Team” I had to go through a whole fake beard process. So, then I was able to look at myself in the mirror and think, “That’s a different guy!” [laughs]

Q) How was Cristobal on “Barry” originally described to you?

A) In the breakdown for Cristobal it described him as a “Bolivian Sammy Hagar.” I said, “Wow! I don’t know what that means.” [laughs] Just right there brings a complete smile to your face and it brings a curiosity to the character and to what these guys are doing over there. So, I started to do some research. I started to see what they were saying in regards to the Sammy Hagar aspect of it. Then, I was kind of able to see what they were saying about the Bolivian drug lord aspect of it. That’s a character I’m more familiar with than the Sammy Hagar character. Then, I knew the casting directors (Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas) and they were so kind. They just gave me a few notes and a few things they wanted to see. Then, we created Cristobal. Alec Berg and Bill Hader said, “Yeah, let’s do it.” The first season I only showed up for two days so I really had no idea what to expect. As the show started to air I started to hear, “Hey! Are you watching ‘Barry?’” They told me I had to watch it. I started watching it and I was so impressed. HBO crushes that kind of stuff. Bill and Alec really put down some magic there. Henry Winkler and Anthony Carrigan as NoHo Hank (who I have most of my interaction with) and in Season 2. NoHo and Cristobal become partners trying to overtake Los Angeles in the drug trade.

Q) You often take on dramatic roles. Were you consciously trying to break out when you went for “Barry?” How do you choose your roles?

A) I’ve got to be honest with you, in my business a lot of it is you have to put it in your heart. Both of those jobs, as far as “SEAL Team” and “Mayans” goes… “SEAL Team” was just a straight offer. I saw the character and I was like, “The guy is a leader. He’s a Master Chief. It’s something I’m very familiar with.” I’ve done a lot of military and cops. I’ve played with a lot of guns. That was something I kind of wanted to do because I was on a show called “The Unit” and it is always nice to feed that fanbase – to see Michael Irby put on a suit again and be a military guy. When “Barry” came up, I was like, “WOW!” I didn’t really know what it was. I’ve got to be honest. I just said, “Wow, it would be so nice to just go in and have some fun again. Even though people are dying, I think it’s going to be kind of fun just considering Alec Berg and you have Bill. I just started kind of piecing it together. And Cristobal specifically – they had mentioned in the first season he was all about these four agreements. I thought that was such a beautiful way. In my own personal life, I kind of thought I was leaning in that direction anyway. I hadn’t really been turned on to the book yet. Then, when I started reading it, I saw I was pretty close. I was mirroring three out of the four agreements already in my life. I was so jazzed about jumping into that space because when you’re living in that four-agreement space everything is kind of like water – it just kind of flows. And I think we never see Cristobal ruffle. He just kind of takes things as they come. He lets things roll of his back, but there is intent. There is reason and I just loved Cristobal. I just thought he was going to be an interesting character to create. I knew it would be a lot of fun working with everyone over there.

Q) Talk about working with Anthony Carrigan.

A) It is so much fun to work with Anthony. He’s such a fantastic, giving actor. It’s a pleasure!

Q) What can you tease for fans to expect in Season 2?

A) So much silliness! You’ve got these two guys that are in these points in their lives and the reality of it all it is very far-fetched and comical that these two gangs would come together and try to take over Los Angeles. We’re so different, but we’re finding this connection with each other because I think we understand each other in a certain way that our gang doesn’t. As silly and simple as we are, we are more involved in our gang and we do have desires to take over Los Angeles. So, we end up needing each other this season and trust is on the table. All this great stuff is happening between NoHo and Cristobal that is so much.

Q) They do share a great dynamic as it seems social niceties and manners are important to both of them. I loved seeing NoHo and Cristobal making their gang shake hands over drinks.

A) At the end of the day we’re businessman. We take ourselves quite seriously. I believe at the end of last season NoHo Hank was just getting the throne because Goran (Glenn Fleshler) was killed. So, he was kind of getting the throne. I think at the end of the day (which is great and why the show is so funny and so honest) is you are taking people who are in real life situations and making them extraordinary. That is fascinating that we are killers and drug lords, but at the end of the day it’s just commerce. We don’t see ourselves as bad. I think if you see yourself as bad it makes it much harder to portray the character. I know Anthony loves NoHo. He has so much fun playing NoHo as I do playing Cristobal.

Q) Was there much room for improvising during that scene?

A) I have to be honest, that was my first day that I worked with them. We shot that scene first before the airplane scene. He’s throwing all of this dialogue at me, stuff that’s not on the paper, and I’m not used to working like that. I’m used to doing these one-hour dramas that are all very serious and you know exactly what is happening and where we need to go. On this one I truly felt I had no idea where we were going and it didn’t really matter where we were going. There is so much improv. Bill and Alec come in between takes and they say, “Hey! Try this.” And you’re never sure exactly if it is going to work, but Alec shared with me that when they are in the editing room as they are going through the takes (and there can be four, five, six or seven takes) that, “When the whole room is laughing that’s the one that we use. Then we edit that one in and go on to the next scene.” I thought that was so creative to know that we’re not stuck in having to do it “right” or “perfect” because in comedy and especially in improvisational comedy there is so much freedom and so much room to play. After years of being the tough guy and being such a menace, it’s nice to be able to have a smile on my face.

Q) You touched on it a bit, but what’s it like working with Alec Berg and Bill Hader?

A) I’ve got to tell you, it is such a beautiful process. It’s one that I really looked forward to. I did a lot of comedy in school back in New York when we were doing theater and stuff like that. For such a long time and for such a large part of my career I wasn’t really able to put that hat on. Bill had shared with me one day when we were having lunch that, “I knew the characters who I wanted to hire from my Second City kind of stuff and the improvisational troupes that are rolling around, but I also knew the parts that I wanted to have actors play.” I said, “Well, that’s kind of interesting. I never really thought about that. He said, “That’s why I hired you. I knew you were an actor and when I saw your tape, I knew you’d be able to do this and have some fun with it. To hear that…It’s just so great to walk on set and everybody from the crew to the camera…Everybody is kind of watching to see what is going to happen because nobody really knows what is going to happen. Working with Alec and Bill specifically has been so creatively freeing for me. This year was just a blast. I was able to be in four or five episodes in the second season. Every time they called me back, I was like, “Yeah! I get to go do Cristobal again!” [laughs]

Q) What can you tease are some of your favorite moments from the upcoming season?

A) The volleyball scene is hilarious. I’ll just leave it at that. We did some stuff and I don’t know how much it is going to make it on screen, but there is a montage scene that kind of opens up Season 2 and Cristobal likes to get all the boys around and give TED talks about how to be the best worst bad guy that you can be. Literally every time I was on set it was like top five. The big shoot out…I don’t want to give away anything, but every day was fun. Every day was just a blast.

Q) What do you think it is about the show “Barry” that has made it such a fan favorite?

A) I think we are used to seeing that side of the world in a very dark…Not that this show is not violent or incredibly…I don’t exactly know how to word that, but I just think people resonate with very uncomfortable situations. It’s very human to want to laugh. When you’re uncomfortable sometimes it brings up this humor that you see and those people who are inclined to lean that way, I think that’s why they’re inclined to enjoy the show. I think Bill is just laying it down. You have Henry Winkler there and you have all of the acting side of it. I think it could be a show that is either very LA or New York, as far as the acting side. Those who are in the business…I think it’s very funny and slice of this business that people don’t really get to see unless you’ve been a student and you’ve been in acting class and you’ve taken yourself very seriously. That whole side of the story is brilliant. I think it just kind of humanizes everybody. I think that’s why people can relate to it. Bill is such a relatable guy and the way he is playing is Barry and created “Barry” – the guy needs a hug. The guy just needs a hug. I don’t think we can deny that. [laughs] I think if Cristobal had met him any different world he’d be like, “Barry! Come! Come over here and let me give you a hug, man!” I don’t think that’s going to play out in Season 2. [laughs]

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

A) Hey! Come on, man! Bring it! I’ve got nothing but love for everybody and it is awesome. I really appreciate my fans. Being on these three shows, my wife and I were joking because when I get approached in the street this year has been very funny. I never know what it is for! I start to think it’s got to be for “Mayans” since it’s such a huge thing and then they’re like, “Oh no! I love you on ‘Barry!’” I’m like, “Oh wow! That’s fantastic!” Then, I think it’s got to be “Barry” and they’ll be like, “SEAL Team! That is my show!” So, this has been a very fun year. I can’t wait for “Barry” to come out and then I go back to work on “Mayans” in May. That will be out in the Fall. There is just a lot of great work coming down the shoot and I’m so proud to be a part of all of it because it’s all top shelf projects from “Mayans” at FX. That’s kind of a homebase for me because I’m a series regular there and “Barry” is just great. When you finish a job you always go into this, “Oo! I need to work like now.” [laughs] And “Barry” was just there and it’s a nice little thing to slide into. I started right at the same time we were finishing “Mayans” and it was a blessing. I do it and if the fans appreciate it that’s incredible! There are some fans that don’t. Thanks to the four agreements I know it’s not about me. Maybe it’s the character. I try not to read the bad stuff. It doesn’t do anything for me. But the fans who come up with love, I’m always there for them. It’s always a nice symbiotic thing. It’s twenty seconds or it’s five minutes while I’m having coffee or at the market. It has changed this year and it’s been exciting. It’s been fun!