Nyambi Nyambi – The Good Fight

By starrymag | April 23, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

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

A) Right before “The Good Fight” I shot a film with Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish, which I’m excited for called Here Today. Then, personally, I’ve been working on the producing side. I’ve been going around and pitching stuff. I’m keeping myself busy outside of “The Good Fight.”

Q) How was Jay Dipersia originally described to you?

A) It’s interesting. The way things went down…I got the audition on Tuesday, put it on tape Tuesday night, sent it in that Tuesday night, got a call Wednesday morning saying they loved me and then got a call on Wednesday afternoon saying I’m hired. Then, they put me on a plane that same day from LA and I got there that night and started filming the next morning. I was like, “Okay. Who am I?” [laughs] The way he was described is someone who doesn’t buckle under pressure, is very calm and doesn’t raise his voice. I remember that’s where I started from and then from there it was just an exercise of listening and discovery with each scene and with each opportunity I had to play with Sarah Steele and Christine Baranski all that first season.

Q) You’ve done some great comedic roles. Was “The Good Fight” something you wanted to step into because you would be able to flex more of a dramatic muscle?

A) It’s funny. People who are on film want to do theater and people who are in theater want to do film. People who do sitcoms want to do dramas and people who are in dramas want to do sitcoms. I found myself out there and I was a bit different. I was in a sitcom, but I wanted to be able to flex my acting chops in terms of drama. This was a wonderful opportunity. I was able to transition doing a series called “Mercy Street” on PBS. I was able to transition from that, which actually led to this job because the same casting director Mark Sacks had hired me for that one and also hired me for this. So, it was such a great blessing to be able to go to “Mike & Molly” to this show.

Q) What can you tease are some themes that will be explored this season?

A) This season we are exploring conspiracies and how they begin and spread and how they effect the firm. We’re dealing with secrets and lies that bring people down. So, it’s a very, very fun and interesting season. You’ll see some scenes that will take place on location outside of where our show is set in Chicago, which will be fun. IT’s a nice, fun change of scenery. It’s going to be a lot of really diving in and trying to figure out the big conspiracy, which of course is Memo 618. What is Memo 618? It’s something I’m still trying to figure out myself. The investigator doesn’t even know what it is. It will be fun when the fans figure out. It will be fun if the fans figure it out before I do. [laughs]

Q) Have you had much of a say in how the character develops each season?

A) We have conversations during our off hours, but a lot of the stuff that you know and see of Jay of from conversations I’ve had with the Kings where I’ve told them, “Oh yeah, I’m into comics.” Then, the next thing you know, the character is into comics. I’ll say, “I draw,” and the next thing you know my drawing are in the show. The question the writers posed to me was, “Is there anything that you are interested in playing or things like that?” I said, “I’ve played a foreign character before and it’s nice to do something different where the character isn’t foreign. I played an amazing character on “Mike & Molly” who was from Senegal. Then, there is an episode where we find out my character is from Nigeria. [laughs] So, that was fun. Things that get pulled out, in terms of just conversation, somehow end up in our scripts. Sometimes we take somebody else’s story and it will end up in the script for somebody else’s character. So, they do listen and it’s actually really fun to know that.

Q) Have you created a backstory for Jay?

A) I have my own backstory, yes, that I’ve created. That’s the thing…I was thinking about it. When I was doing “Mike & Molly” I was new. So, of course, I created this elaborate backstory about who Samuel was. Then, of course, when the scripts would come out it would contradict what we would create. So, I constantly had to keep changing it and adapt. With this, I created from what I know from the scripts. Just create from that. Creating the backstory, as far as the investigative reporting type of thing, I know I worked at TMZ. I then moved up. We know I worked at TMZ and then from there somehow, I ended up at this law firm. Okay, well, what happened between then and now? So, it was sort of creating that journey that finally led me to Reddick Boseman (which was Reddick Boseman Kolstad at the time). That’s the part where I try to fill in those blanks, but I don’t try to create beyond that. I create this whole story of where I’m from and all of these things and then, of course, I find out…which actually helps! When I found out that I’m not from this country, I was like, “Oh wow!” So, everything that I created was kind of a lie.

Q) We’d love to find out how he became a detective and then joined Reddick Boseman.

A) Yeah! The thing is, I can create that. Like a chance meeting somehow. He says, “We’d love for you to come work for us.” Somehow that is how the meeting happens. Then, I’ll create that and the Kings could write an episode that puts up something completely different. I try to be as very specific as possible, but also as open to change as possible when it comes to creating my own backstory.

Q) Marissa and Jay have had a rocky friendship the last couple of seasons. What is their dynamic like this season?

A) There is still some tension in terms of how much work Jay actually has to do. Besides that, if you remember last season there was the observation that more of the lawyers were going to her instead of Jay. That’s something that still eats at Jay. It’s brought up later on at some point. We also find both Jay and Marissa working together. I don’t think Jay blames Marissa at all. I don’t think there is hate for Marissa. There is a fondness for Marissa because I think Jay actually loves working with Marissa as I, the actor, love working with Sarah. I think that will translate through some of the episodes that are coming up.

Q) Were you hoping to share more scenes or surprised you got to share a scene with someone in particular this season?

A) No. Last season there was a lot of stuff with Cush Jumbo, which was awesome. The season before that was all with Sarah Steele. The second season was sort of a mixed bag. I had a lot of stuff with Delroy Lindo. In the third season I had a lot of stuff with Cush Jumbo, who plays Lucca Quinn. This season I have a lot of stuff with Diane Lockhart, in terms of helping her out and figuring out the conspiracy stuff we’ll be facing throughout the season. Then, you’ll see Marissa and Jay come back together. Although, I think we were back together last season. So, you’ll see more of us back together working side by side trying to do anything to help the firm.

Q) What do you think it is about “The Good Fight” that continues to make it such a fan favorite series?

A) I think “The Good Fight” is such a special series because the kings are willing to explore and experiment with social commentary that is so current. It really is amazing, as far as the avenues of storytelling that they explore. I think that’s what makes it special. Then, of course, what makes it live are the incredible actors that they get to play out these scenes and these narratives.

Q) What else would you like to be sure we share with our readers about this season of the series?

A) The number one thing that I want people to do when it comes to “The Good Fight” is for those people who have watched the show to tell their friends, tell their family and tell anybody to watch it. The show is watercooler material. When I say “watercooler material,” it’s one of those things where you watch the show and the next day you go to work and you go by the watercooler to get your water. And then when you look up and you see somebody is coming over to get their water and you’re like, “Hey! Did you see ‘The Good Fight’ last night?” It’s a watercooler show. I think that’s what we are. I really do feel like people are missing out, people who haven’t had the opportunity to see the show. I don’t think that’s bias. I think that’s real. I feel like we’ve got to spread the word that, “Yo! ‘The Good Fight’ – You’ve got to put that on your binge list.” Catch up!

Q) We loved you as Samuel on “Mike & Molly.” What did you personally take away from working on the series?

A) So many things. It was such a close-knit group, a close family. Like Billy Gardell said, who plays Mike on the show, “I’d be hard pressed to find this again.” We were just so close. That energy that I got from working with all of those great people – with Billy Gardell, Melissa McCarthy, Reno Wilson, Swoozie Kurtz and Katy Mixon, Louis Mustillo and Rondi Reed. Working with Cleo King…Working with all of those people was such a blessing that I take with me and I take with me to other stages. I try to bring that same energy and that same love no matter what. So, that really helped me in terms of how to be on set, showing up on time, being prepared and being prepared to play. That was fun. Getting to work with the greatest director, when it comes to comedy, on television in Jim Burrows was just a God-send for me. Working with him and, of course, Chuck Lorre. Chuck Lorre taking a chance on me was great. It was great. It was just great. I bring all of that to “The Good Fight.” Being on that set I’ve been blessed because at the time they were eight years deep. So, I was already joining a well-oiled machine. So, bringing the type of energy that I was bringing from “Mike & Molly” and then bringing it there they were open to it. By that time, you’ve been together for a long time. Yeah, you have things that can wear on you, but you’ve also found a balance of love and respect over that time. So, it was pretty easy to step into that arena and have a good time. Then, I learned how to be a number one on the show because both Billy and Melissa and now Christine…They have all been amazing number ones and number two that have taught me how to be a leader on set.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of the work you do?

A) I’m so appreciative of the love. The fact that you guys are supporting the work, supporting what I do. I hope I can continue to create funny, but things that make you think. I just hope that you guys continue to ride with me and continue to support. I really appreciate you guys because I know without you guys there would be no one to listen to my rambles.