Sebastian Maniscalco (‘Bookie’) on the moments when the stand-up comedian ‘was crying laughing’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
“I was crying laughing! I had to get out of the car,” reveals comedian Sebastian Maniscalco about a moment on set this season where he broke character and couldn’t contain his laughter. For our recent webchat he adds, “Man, I broke it last week and started laughing, and sometimes it’s only it’s in your head and no one even knows what the hell I was laughing about, but I had a whole story in my head about the character next to me.” Watch our exclusive video interview above.
SEE Charlie Sheen and Chuck Lorre reunite after ‘Two and a Half Men’ feud for ‘Bookie’
In “Bookie,” Maniscalco stars as Danny, a veteran bookie navigating his fast-paced L.A. life with his many unstable clients, family and colleagues. The eight-episode Max comedy was created by 10-time Emmy nominee Chuck Lorre (“Two and a Half Men,” “The Big Bang Theory”) and comedian/producer Nick Bakay, and co-stars Omar Dorsey, Andrea Anders, Vanessa Ferlito, Jorge Garcia and Maxim Swinton, with four-time Emmy nominee Charlie Sheen (“Two and a Half Men”) featuring as himself in the series’ pilot and first season finale.
“This guy is not your typical bookie, where he’s out wanting to break legs if there’s a problem with collecting, or what have you. He listens to easy listening music. He’s got a wife. He’s got a stepson,” the comedian (who stars in and also serves as executive producer on the show) reveals about his character. “He’s got a heart, but he’s also working in a world where he’s around a lot of the underworld,” he says. “He’s a guy that’s looking for the big score, but once he gets it, he feels like it’s not enough. He needs more, which I could relate to myself in a way. You know where you do a show at Madison Square Garden, and it was great, but like, what’s next? What’s the bigger score, or what’s the bigger thing you could accomplish? And same with Danny navigating through the world of gambling.”
Maniscalco is admirably remorseful when thinking back to those often inevitable moments on set when the actors break. “I feel bad,” he sighs with a guilty grin. “I want to do the best job I can possibly do, not only for the integrity of the show, but you got 150 people working, right? If you flub a line, or if you’re laughing, or you’re doing this, the way I look at it is like I’m keeping these 150 people away from their families tonight for an extra 5 or 10 minutes, because I didn’t come prepared,” he explains. “It must be the Italian in me. I grew up with a father going, ‘don’t embarrass me!’ I never want to be the problem, I never want to be on set where the camera guy is going to the sound guy, ‘this guy can’t even get it together! I got a card game I got to be at tonight!’ I take it extremely personal,” he declares, “so when I do these projects I’m coming completely prepared!”
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