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July 7, 2004

Joe Schmo 2

joeschmo2.jpgMany of the actors portraying reality show contestants on Joe Schmo 2 have backgrounds in improv:

Actor Steve Mallory, who portrays Ernie ("The Heir") on Joe Schmo 2, agrees. "They always talk in 'real acting' about being part of the scene. All of that is endemic to improv," says Mallory, who trained at The Groundlings and spent two years performing in its Sunday Company. "You really are feeling things. You learn to take those feelings and put them into acting. I think if you want to be an actor, you have to know how to improv, because it gives you a very real mirror of those skills." The training came in handy for Mallory on Schmo, particularly as he ended up sharing a room with Tim. "My running joke was that I was actually sleeping in character," says Mallory of being constantly in the role. "Normally I'm a stomach sleeper, but I figured Ernie was a side sleeper."

Posted by Fuzzy at July 7, 2004 4:03 PM