Jason Mantzoukas is Funny and Talented, But Just Doesn't Look the Part

What do you do when a director tells you that he loves you and thinks you're really talented, but the higher-ups are just looking for a "normal looking white dude". For Jason Mantzoukas it just means, keep trying!
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[@drachaksakcha]

Someone should write a biopic about Socrates and cast him in the lead. He'd kill it.

[@odhones]

he's already played Plato on Dead Author's Podcast, he would kill it no question

[@LG-qm9zp]

Cast him as Socrates in the "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" remake...

[@baronroaster404]

@@odhones oh shit i forgot about that podcast!

[@lauralunaazul]

Yessss!!!!

[@lauralunaazul]

Socrates, Buda, Pitagoras, Aristoteles, Jesus, Gandhi too... and many other roles!

[@tiadaid]

Honestly, he does look like a crazed person - like Adrian Pimento.

[@jzaar7483]

and Derek

[@hitzncritzmobilegaming9988]

Killed it in Dirty Grandpa.

[@alenaj1579]

Yea the resemblance between him and Adrian Pimento is uncanny. So weird right???

[@guapito1093]

Noone: Pimiento: *AHHHHHHHH!*

[@jstohler]

Jason is simply one of the greatest entertainers on Earth.

[@odhones]

Anyone who hasn't already, watch The Long Dumb Road. Zouks is bananas good as the lead and it proves how he needs to be in almost everything.

[@cobraimploder]

The Long Dumb Road was surprisingly good! I absolutely agree.

[@DendyJungle]

Jason is Greek but he is really paving the way for all of us brown dudes. Like I'm Hispanic but I feel I, Indian, Saudi, Pakistani dudes etc. Could now get mainstream comedy roles thanks to him. He doesn't play the stereotypical angry, awkward, virgin brown dude roles. He is usually calm and very sexual in shows

[@stinkydill9511]

He wasn't calm in The League or Kroll Show...At all.

[@crackleecrackle162]

Dennis Fucking Feinstein

[@davidturner4987]

I will watch anything Jason is in. He really is one of my favorites.

[@chelsocharles]

Just because he’s not technically a person of color doesn’t take away from his socialization in the industry as a person of color. he quite literally said, people wouldn’t cast him because they wanted a stereotypical white guy. and that he would be casted in ethnic roles because of his racial ambiguity. he would lose opportunities to do what he wants and was good at because of the way he looks racially. that is racism. that is discrimination. and I’m disappointed in Sam minimizing Jasons experiences because of some technicality. Especially as a clearly white man. It’s not “weird.” It’s oppression.

[@trailblazer225]

I didn't really take that as Sam minimizing Jason's experiences; I took his use of the word "weird" as meaning "It's bizarre that on the one hand you ARE Greek/white so it would really be unfair to people of color if you were cast as a middle eastern or Indian man, and yet on the other hand they wouldn't cast you as a stereotypical white guy because you don't look like their narrow version of that, so you really got left out to dry in an unfortunate way." Which is to say, I thought he meant "weird" as in "I think you're massively understating how absurd and unfortunate your experiences seem with a little bit of perspective."

[@chelsocharles]

Adarsh Nednur he literally said it’s not racism. it’s weird.

[@trailblazer225]

@@chelsocharles To me it seemed clear that he meant "As a white person, you're not technically being discriminated against on the basis of your race, so it's not what we would usually think of when we think of someone being the victim of racism. And yet you're being discriminated against on the basis of your perceived race, which isn't any better." "It's not quite racism," is not the same thing as "It's not as bad as racism." But hey you do you, we can have different and valid interpretations of a single line in an interview, it's not a big deal.

[@shyne889]

That is racism. Yes.

[@aundreyyakar1272]

It is absolutely discrimination but it's not racist. Racism is when you think people are lesser because of their race. It's a distinction that I feel is really important because I feel the word racist gets thrown about a lot these days and it cheapens when someone is actually being racist.

[@georginatoland]

I need “Secretly Greek” on a t-shirt. People are always shocked when I tell them I’m Greek.

[@Plethorality]

Greek is great! Stay Greek ! : )

[@Vina14eva]

the term falls under one of the definitions of colorism because you look a certain way your placed under a category or several!

[@kevinw712]

the great character actor Cliff Curtis, because of what his base, natural look is I swear at this point he may have played every nationality on the planet at least once.

[@DukeBG]

Also, it *is* a discrimination, it literally is

[@Vina14eva]

@@kevinw712 I know every nationality, I've seen him play Arabian, Mexican, black, Colombian, etc.

[@Vina14eva]

@@DukeBG Yep.

[@iamhereblossom1588]

Colorism I don't think I've heard but that's one of the basis for racism or discrimination in general.

[@WhataShameAboutMe]

Never laughed harder than when Jason played Rafi in The League.

[@BrendanAbel4real]

These are the best interviews of actors you will find. They really are great

[@adamwilliams9307]

"It's not discrimination" Actually, that's exactly what it is.

[@loutron3516]

nope.

[@Windraesa]

@@loutron3516 yep

[@theramonjr]

Prejudice and discrimination... yerp.

[@loutron3516]

@@Windraesa How many whites are on Greek TV? is that discrimination?

[@fredd8556]

my thought exactly.

[@wendydarling5790]

I think he's pretty handsome. Is it really just me?

[@jamescarter3196]

No, he's a nice-looking fellow, and his good energy makes him all the more attractive. I thought he was very charming on the League.

[@jordachejordan90]

No

[@justinbowen2509]

When he has no beard he is a babe.

[@Jbelovedson]

Not just you.

[@Doombug77]

Lol no. He's my fave.

[@beckyroethke5273]

His personality and humor are what makes him even better looking!

[@rishidhingra319]

Jason Mantzoukas you're awesome and funny af. keep on truckin' !

[@SuvrathHegde]

He definitely plays the role of crazy person really good, like really good. I'd not be surprised to see him as a lead actor in some thriller movie with him having a loving family in the first half, then past catches up with him in the second half with all the crazy things he did for CIA. He's not like a psychopath, but just a normal dude with extremely fucked up past. And I'm pretty sure hollywood will have role for this guy. He deserves much much better roles than he's playing right now. Not that he's bad, but they're not utilizing his talent well enough. This dude is a complete package.

[@kimberlyjeanne9456]

That's the storyline of NOBODY with Bob Odenkirk lol. Great movie

[@Roll587]

I'm always excited when I see him in something.

[@DilairSingleton]

2:51, how is that not racism?

[@karimqk1895]

Or really some brand of discrimination?

[@freshlesh3019754]

The hoops he jumps through to not call it racism is disheartening though...smh

[@Esakosarara]

It feels like racism because he said "normal looking white dude" instead of "handsome". PS: If you feel like misunderstanding what I just said, you have a problem (. . . a racism problem xD).

[@tai9705]

i assume he said that cause he's greek, which is "technically" white by US standards. but the thing is most greeks actually look like jason does, but that's not the image we have in the US. hell look at any movie set in the ancient world and it's super white even when those civilizations were full of brown and black people. but i digress. so jason looks brown but isnt "brown" and this is why racial constructs are so stupid and arbitrary cause in the end what jason /looks/ like is what matters. just like there ARE brown people who can pass as "white" and also minorities from the same cultural background that vary widely in appearance. ex jews, who can be white, brown or black. also latinos can be white, brown or black. but in both cases the media has a very narrow depiction of what latinx, jewish, arab or those from places in southern europe like greece or sicily can come in various shades but are still /european/ which the US defines as being "white" even tho that's clearly only on paper and not in practice. so to wrap up it's not /technically/ racism but it's def discriminatory and a symptom of racial hierarchy and white beauty standards for sure and altho i dont hear it used for "white" ethnicity i think it's fair to call this Colorism. (i can think of at least 5 other brown looking actors working today that are italian or greek like jason but get confused for something else ALL the time)

[@haruki456]

Xenophobia is a good term.

[@Pocketpeas]

I'd love to see him as Hades!

[@mdaddy775]

He was a showstopper in 'Parks and Rec' - big potential!

[@MikePulcinellaVideo]

Love his energy. Love this guy.

[@rep1979]

This guy is one of the funniest on TV. I think he is hilarious.

[@thiagobnla]

he deserves a spinoff in B99. hands down best character in the show

[@MiddleAgedBob]

The only thing I know about Jason Mantzoukas is that most scenes I have seen him in he steals and makes me laugh my ass off.

[@raphaellemariea.catulin685]

he’s a good actor and though i only have seen him in a few projects i think he’s good at comedy... couldn’t he just be hired to play mr. d in the pjo series on disney+ ? :((

[@chancer9170]

Oh my GOD this idea literally just made my day. He would be PERFECT

[@crystaljeffbabeeey]

yeah, he's really good in brooklyn 99

[@dugfriendly]

such a great actor

[@alexmuller6752]

i really loved his recurring guest role in the infamous gilmore girls podcast. funny as hell :)

[@bipolarwanderer]

Damn Jason Mantzoukas is deep

[@lorifarrell5705]

he was so funny on 'The Good Place'

[@Elle0704]

Lori Farrell MAXIMUM DEREK

[@mariongivhan4574]

He could easily play a Nick Miller kind of character. I would love to see him in a role like that!

[@kimberlyjeanne9456]

I'd love to see Jason And Jake Johnson in something together.

[@musicinsession]

"I can't get a role because I am not full on white" How is that not racism? That's the definition of racism!

[@M1k3C]

@@solasauto the fact that they all want to cast only certain types of white guys is the issue. He is white and not getting white roles, and as he mentioned if he auditioned for other roles for persons of different ethnicities he doesn't get those because he isn't actually of those ethnicities.

[@Ozzyisunavailable]

M1k3C you know being white is an arbitrary definition, officially Arabs are considered white in America by the census bureau, what he’s experiencing isn’t full racism, I think the term is colourism

[@absdyna]

@@Ozzyisunavailable Wouldn't that be like a subset of racism...?

[@Ozzyisunavailable]

Zubair Hossain yeah, it’s not fully racism, if you use Irish people as an example, making fun of gingers isn’t really racist because they’re the same race, but it’s still discrimination

[@ZebrinhahDesrosiers]

RIGHT?!?!?! HOW IS THAT NOT RACISM?!?!?!

[@mirodeluca2586]

For everyone commenting about his skin, if you listen to his mark maron interview apparently he suffers from some complicated and serious health issues. He’s was purposely vague and understandably didn’t disclose what they were but maybe it’s due to that? Regardless it doesn’t really affect how great he is as an actor and personally I don’t find him any less attractive. No one had an immaculate body he’s just doing his thing.

[@meinsouza]

he's always great on comedy bang-bang

[@mrsteel9026]

You are good at it.

[@IsyMaxine]

I just don't get it, this guy is phenomenal and looks great! If I were a big producer (hopefully someday), I'd cast him in a heartbeat! Some day!

[@crackerjack9320]

He killed it in "The League"!!!

[@raerae555]

He was hilarious in The League

[@bored7743]

Such a funny guy

[@thedaniplanet]

I know what Rosa saw in him!

[@thescowlingschnauzer]

"There's no name for what your experiencing. It's not racism." Ethnic prejudice. It ain't new.

[@TheWindy0]

His mind was a machine gun in Tiny Spectacular.

[@Jaqen-HGhar]

My good friend looks exactly like him and talks like him and every time I see Jason I think to myself I want to ask him if they are related but I always forget. They are both super funny dudes and my friend is the life of the party as I suspect Jason is.

[@beatrixgunderson716]

Are you sure you’re not just friends with Jason Mantzoukas?

[@alexispapageorgiou72]

Should've ended the commercials with a punch line. "When I started using this couch, I was black ... I've been using it for two weeks (success smirk)..."

[@thatlucidguy]

He was PERFECT in Legion

[@Fawstah]

Maximum Jason

[@winnebago09]

Hey Sam, I subscribed to the website because of this video but it says I can't watch the full video without buying it. What's the deal?

[@TheYaegerjeusmc]

You buy it, then you can watch it.

[@ICE10000000]

His hobo character in John wick is definitely just him so is greek.

[@kbob9625]

Raft is one of the funniest characters on tv. He’s like Jean Ralphio but murderous lol.

[@bluepandaman]

Someone needs to tell him that looks have been the most important aspect of Hollywood since the beginning.

[@HotStrange]

Dennis Feinstein has changed. Seems like a good guy now.

[@StrItsSelf]

Lmao

[@vzarector87]

This is injustice. GATTACA!

[@Snardvark25]

Heynongman

[@thl205]

I’m Indian and I thought he was Indian too! It must be so weird to be technically white and be discriminated because you don’t look “Anglo-Saxon white”. Heard the same issues from Italians and Portuguese people in the UK since Brexit. Italian friends don’t even think of themselves as white.

[@JesusStJamesDR]

Maximum Derek!

[@moviegal6000]

Why must they always go with the bland white guy?! This man is hilarious.

[@Plethorality]

Yeah, we are bored with bland anything.

[@TheRolexseller]

Secretly Greek 😁

[@Bballer12ification]

Chris Delias disheveled brother

[@JuanLopez-lp8ig]

To me he will always be Crazy Rafi...and Adrian Pimento...and Dennis Feinstein

[@thricefx]

Uh yeah, it is racism.

[@aarovision.]

Stefan and featurism

[@sangun123]

lmfao for real did this guy actually say this is some new thing... jason ltierally said they just want "normal white guys"

[@loutron3516]

Uh no, its marketing.

[@Drenicite]

It's prejudice.

[@Phyrre56]

He said it's not discrimination -- but it is. The only way you can say it's not discrimination is because Jason Mantzoukas identifies as white and you can't traditionally discriminate against white people in America (it's not how the term is used) but he's being discriminated against because people don't think he's white.

[@xanderrey1879]

Zooooooooooks!

[@ekmedia.]

wait, I could've sworn Jason was Greek in Dirty Grandpa

[@beatrixgunderson716]

Secretly.

[@jamesl1247]

he should play georges moustaki at some point

[@franz3333]

There is a german rapper who's half german and half egyptian and he looks just like him. To me that makes him very sympathetic

[@DavyCDiamondback]

Any great comedy TV from the last 15 years, Jason is there sometime, usually as psycho brown guy... I mean, he does a fantastic job as psycho brown guy, but there’s obviously so much more depth to him than the type cast

[@NASkeywest]

I love how he doesn’t take it personally but the brave soldiers of society down in the comment section are getting offended for him.

[@torilazzalini-machecler5268]

2:53 you're wrong, interviewer, it's both of those things.

[@JJSPARROW1978]

I can feel a Pythonesk Benny Bin Laden movie coming on.....................

[@beatnickblanket]

Ugh Jason Mantzoukas is the most gorgeous man on the fucking planet. The idea he wouldn't be cast because of his looks is NUTS.

[@shyne889]

Sam. Sam? Hi, Sam. JM missing out on roles because people are projecting their racists attitudes and perceptions onto him is exactly racism. See comment from Charlie Minx below.

[@smittywerbenjaggerman-jens5024]

Pimento not going crazy feels strange

[@ZachsMind]

Around 1987 I was writing a story that I hoped would eventually become a novel and I never finished the novel but I had this character and I assumed he was white cuz I was young and white and not woke and naturally all my characters were white cuz you write what you know and I imagined as I wrote this novel that I never finished who would play the lead part in the inevitable film that also never happened and it had to be a tall guy who sounded smart but could also intimidate and scare people and he needed to be a detective guy but he also was into sorcery and to him magic was just another branch of science. Then in 1995 I saw Morgan Freeman in Se7en and I was gobsmacked cuz I was like that's him. That's the guy in my novel I gave up writing. Now I can only see him and his entire family they're all black now cuz Morgan Freeman is black. Today if I returned to that story, I'd just make it where color didn't matter. I could definitely see Jason Mantzoukas as the guy. Put him in a hat and trench coat.

[@nikaa3340]

thought this was nick miller for a sec

[@elizabethwinsor-strumpetqueen]

He was great in The Dictator .. are you Aladeen or Aladeen ?

[@jesguerra920]

He looks like Jake Johnson from New Girl. 🧐

[@blackbird5634]

Allen Ginsberg-David Cross-Jerry Garcia-Jason Mantzoukas,,,,I've never seen them all in one place so I (naturally) SUSPECT they are all one amalgamated weirdo poet comedian with a beard.

[@Plethorality]

Derek?

[@otakusamsay1953]

Him talking about white privilege is so important.

[@129eugenia]

He kinda looks like Jake Johnson

[@nevermore242]

It's also about the amount of hair on your head. What a rotten to the core world we live in.

[@foxshultz3545]

i see the host reaction, when moantzoukas, refers to it as a white problem. im rather confused. does he balk at the reality of white-ism or a stereotypical inference or a criticism on holly woods transference of those outside the majority

[@rosariocruz9116]

I noriced the same thing, don't know exactly what to get from this...

[@foxshultz3545]

@@rosariocruz9116 i couldnt agree more.

[@nilsjohnson2636]

24 people "look normal."

[@mary._.yamborghini]

it looks like he has xanthelasmas

[@lauralunaazul]

That s is discrimination, actually, in a strange way.

[@Millenatv]

“it’s not racism” EXCUSE ME??

[@TheOldMan-75]

His look is a major part of his job and bland white guys is just what sells the best because most people in the US are bland white guys. People really need to find a different battleground than the movie/TV/ad business when it comes to fighting equality because how someone looks actually matters there. Complain about people not getting an office job because of their race. Stop complaining about marketing departments going for the biggest audience. That is just their job.

[@Millenatv]

@@TheOldMan-75 movies and tv are a representation of the world and there are not only white people in the world. the industry has a responsibility to acknoladge that and be inclusive otherwise white supremacy will always exist. the fact that that white people ''sell more'' is rascism.

[@TheOldMan-75]

@@Millenatv ​ @millena They sell more because they are the biggest market in the US. Just like Japanese actors sell better in Japan. The industry has a responsibility to its shareholders and that's it. It's a business not a charity.

[@Millenatv]

@@TheOldMan-75 from the moment it has the influence and power to make a change for good and chooses so maintain the status quo for extra profit it is condoning white supremacy.

[@davidstone7257]

Jay in big mouth is Greek right?

[@pmodi1104]

The funny thing about Hollywood, super liberal but at the same time super racist and stereotyping at the same time

[@matthewramirez4554]

"It's not racism, it's not discrimination" Sir? He's getting turned down because he's brown. Be an adult please.

[@Kaazikin]

I mean, he's Greek

[@aaacomp1]

He's not brown

[@TheOldMan-75]

Looking the right way is literally his job. It's also not fat shaming when you reject fat models.

[@johnpliskin8759]

this is fucking bs, mantzoukas is great in every single role he has been cast in

[@josphellihsilak4588]

Hes in an odd spot. He looks like a bunch of different minorities, while not being recognized as white, though he is white, or atleast white in the terms of it's most basic concept. Casting is complex, and with most things, it's very nuanced, so I agree it's not racist, its just he didnt fit the mold of what the writers and producers were aiming for. Life isnt so plain as to say, heres a role, for a specific demographic.. ow anyone play it. Tyler Perry does the same thing. Talent isnt the be all, its just a part of the overall.

[@davesipes6223]

Heynong Man...I’m Secretly Greek Too! And yes dast ist uber racist, Sam, now ya know.

[@coleb3418]

All the people saying it is definitely racism and discrimination are completely missing a key point. This is Hollywood. Looks matter. And Jason looks objectively a little weird. It isn't just about his ethnicity or his skin color, he is a funky-looking dude with a certain energy. Also, when it comes to marketing and commercials, at the end of the day, a lot of companies choose to cater toward their largest customer base. They want the largest group of people possible to be able to put themselves in the actors shoes, thereby getting them comfortable with whatever product the commercial is selling. It is not inherently wrong for a company to want the representative of a product to look like the largest potential buyer group (in America this is white people). Its the same reason you don't see a lot of white people in commercials in Africa? Hollywood is all about looks and Jason wasn't getting parts the same way ugly talented women don't get parts. Sam was right to say that the situation was more nuanced than racism or discrimination.

[@TheOldMan-75]

Yeah, people should really pick a different fight because they just don't understand how the movie/TV/ad business works. Fight for people who didn't get an office job because of the colour of their skin. Stop fighting against racism in an industry where proper looks is 80% of the job.

[@MariamHalfNomad]

That's even more crazy, when you think that Greece was a starting point for the whole Western civilization

[@steelman774]

It’s not “discrimination” when someone has a vision and you don’t fit it (short/tall, bulky/skinny, etc) so I understand not telling someone their art of normal when they’re trying to reach as many people as possible with their 15 second commercial. I’ve loved seeing him in different parts, but I’m sure that his zany look has been tough for getting generic rolls. I mean, there’s no character development in an “insurance salesman” or “restaurant customer #1” for him to flourish. He really needs at least an episode deep roll to stretch out in so getting those little rolls to “pay dues” must’ve been grueling. I admire him more now that I’ve heard his struggle. He’s charming and fun to watch in anything he does. I’m so glad he didn’t give up! 😻

[@RussianMusic0212]

This entire comments section is "suggesting"/pretending that NOT being racist means NEVER thinking someone "looks weird". But we ALL think somebody somewhere *looks* weird. How many white/european ALBINOS don't get cast because someone thought they "looked weird"? Is that racism? I know some smarty pants would argue that's *colorism*, but to me that's just turning the term into a catch-all, thus rendering it meaningless.

[@johnbrooke6867]

Even among Liberal actors there seems to be a clear understanding of first come first serve and if you FINALLY get your golden egg you deserved it. The problem is our feast or famine culture that so many of us seem to find acceptable. You either fail miserably or succeed absurdly. Those that succeed absurdly often defend the system even while admitting it's unfair. There is an element of bullshit that I find very confusing. If the universe keeps telling you that you suck, you suck, you suck it should not over night change it's mind and then hand you everything. But the reality is that for many actors and artists this exactly the case. It's madness.

[@xanthigontica2828]

greeks, turks, romanians and balkans should stop getting confused for middle eastern or white based on looks. it's like, we're not brown enough but also not white enough. exactly. we're neither, we are Mediterranean eastern people, and we don't all look the same. you may see a pale greek, a blonde cypriot, an Albanian with red hair. last thing, one of the dumpest thing I've ever heard is being called "olive skinned". like...olives are green broski

[@JFTL81]

Why does White = Bland?

[@kevinberger3501]

Not white enough to be white, but not ethnic enough to be ethnic. Despite his talent, if we can’t assign him a clear label, we can’t cast him. Completely pathetic.

[@zufolotuft1738]

Jason mantzoukas is hot, funny, nice, determined, successful, talented, and is goood at 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 other things. And he has beautiful brown skin.