WARNING: Spoilers forward for Season 2 of “Shrinking”!
From “New Girl” to “Happy Endings,” Damon Wayans Jr. has joked his approach into the hearts of tens of millions of TV viewers, and now he’s taken his quick-witted comedic chops to the AppleTV+ collection “Shrinking.”
Chatting with HuffPost on Monday, Wayans opened up about his new visitor position within the critically acclaimed comedy-drama, which follows a grieving therapist (Jason Segel) who begins breaking the foundations along with his sufferers, consequently entangling himself of their convoluted lives.
Wayans joined the second season of “Shrinking” as Derrick ― a pal of Derek (Ted McGinley) who turns into recognized, naturally, as Derrick #2. Wayans’ character is the love curiosity of Gaby (Emmy nominee Jessica Williams), and the 2 exhibit their formidable chemistry in flirty moments that give unscripted vibes and go away audiences feeling like a fly on the wall.
In line with Wayans, that’s as a result of the majority of their scenes truly did use improvisation, together with the hysterical second the place Derrick finds a vibrator in Gaby’s “breakup box.”
“It was a moment where [me and Williams] looked into each other’s eyes like, ‘This is happening,’” he recalled of their first time on display collectively. “They cut a lot of it out [from the scene where we first met], but we went on and on. There were so many different parts of that [vibrator] scene that were improvised that we didn’t get a chance to use.”
Wayans in contrast the numerous improvisational moments in “Shrinking” to the ABC comedy “Happy Endings,” by which he starred as Brad Williams from 2011 to 2013.
“I knew [any time] I showed up [on set] for ‘Happy Endings’ I had to have jokes in the holster,” Wayans stated. “I had to, because [actors like] Adam Pally, Casey Wilson and Eliza Coupe were going to bring [the jokes].”
The “Shrinking” solid has “that same vibe,” Wayans continued ― which he stated feels “weird,” as a result of the Apple TV+ collection is “an acclaimed show with so much drama in it.”
“But when it comes to the comedy, everyone [on set] wants to deliver that comedy,” he stated.
Wayans additionally spilled the beans about which co-stars he enjoys spending essentially the most time with on set.
“When I filmed the first scene from my first episode, Ted McGinley kind of put his arm around me and was like, ‘It’s good to have you here, man,’” Wayans stated, laughing. “He was just so warm to me, and I was like, ‘OK, unc.’”
“Michael [Urie] is [also] great. Harrison [Ford] makes a lot of jokes in between takes. Any time we’re not shooting, he’s telling me a new funny story,” Wayans continued.
Ford’s jokes are “long as shit, but the punch lines are worth it,” he stated. “I don’t think people know how funny [Ford] is.”
Wayans hasn’t formally been solid within the present’s third season, however he stated he would “jump” on the alternative to proceed his position.
“We’ll see what happens, but I trust that whatever storyline [the creators] give me will be amazing, because everything they do [with the show] is just all hits and no misses,” he stated. “I’m excited to see where it goes.”
The “Let’s Be Cops” star additionally gushed about engaged on one other present — “Poppa’s House,” which first aired in October — along with his dad and fellow comic, “In Living Color” alum Damon Wayans Sr. The present was renewed final month for a second season.
“Poppa’s House” is “a lot like ‘Shrinking,’” Wayans stated, in that “it’s very familial, warm and supportive. You don’t feel like people are waiting for you to fail.”
“It’s so much fun to be in a scene with my dad and look him in the eye knowing I’m about to make him laugh,” he added. “And just having those moments locked in on film for the rest of our lives is also something we’ll look back on like, ‘We did that.’”
Wayans stated followers can anticipate to see him alongside Amy Schumer in Netflix’s “Kind of Pregnant,“ which has yet to announce a release date. He’ll also star in the second season of CBS’s game show “Raid the Cage,” beginning Jan. 8.
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Seasons 1 and a pair of of “Shrinking” are streaming on AppleTV+. The second-season finale airs on Dec. 25.
Watch the trailer for Season 2 of “Shrinking” under.
