Hunter Clowdus on JJ Parker, All American season 4, and community

Hunter Clowdus, the actor behind the lovable JJ Parker on All American, is about as sunny and bright as his platinum blond hair.

He’s got the kind of warmth and positivity that explains why there’s a community of Twitch users that meet-up with him online Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to chill with a group of like-minded people looking for connection.

However, there’s a depth to Clowdus that just cracked the surface on-screen in the third season of the show. We’re likely to see that depth break all the way through in season 4 since the actor was recently promoted to series regular meaning there could be big things in store for JJ this season.

When I spoke to Clowdus about the season 3 shift for JJ, he laid credit for the character’s expansion in development at the feet of the fans and the writers who listened. So it was his job to rise to the occasion and, in my opinion, that’s exactly what he did.

Hunter Clowdus interview: “JJ wants to be the biggest building…”

The audience knows JJ as the slightly dim teddy bear of his friend group and team. He’s all pleasantness and party, a good time with a golden heart, and often the comic relief. But the third season pushed back on that characterization a bit starting with his ill-fated romance with Vanessa.

In Clowdus’ conceptualization of his character, JJ longs to be loved and appreciated.

"I think it stems from the fact that under the macho funny guy is a very sweet, tender, genuine kid who just wants to be seen for who he is…"

It’s a concept that Clowdus returned to again and again in our interview. It’s the reason for why JJ fell so quickly and so hard for Vanessa. It’s why he was hurt by Asher’s inability to be upfront about what was going on between him and her. It’s also why tensions rose to such heights between JJ and Jordan over the QB1 position.

There’s an interesting question of worthiness mixed up in all this that’s highlighted by Clowdus’ words on JJ’s development.

"[JJ] needed to prove to himself that he was more than just…that you couldn’t brush him off so easily. And I think his whole career he felt that the only way he could get attention is to kind of be the loudest and to be the funny guy. But I think in his heart he knows he has so much more to offer."

Clowdus describes JJ’s newfound position as QB1 in season 3 as a kind of symbolism. In his words it’s a “Hey, guys, I can do this. I can do more than you’ve given me the opportunity to. I can be more than just the funny guy. If you would just acknowledge me for who I am, I can handle this” moment.

But who is JJ if he’s not the character the audience is meant to be endeared to but ultimately see simply as the group’s partyman? It’s a question I hope All American season 4 answers. Clowdus couldn’t speak to what’s in store for JJ, but he did speak to his character’s motivations going forward.

"I know what JJ wants to happen is for him to be appreciated for who he is and I think he wants everyone to be happy. I think JJ wants to be the biggest building but not by tearing other buildings down. JJ thinks there’s room for everybody to succeed and everybody to win. [He] doesn’t love the tension…at the end of the day he doesn’t hold any grudges toward anyone."

Specifically going in to the premiere, the actor states that JJ is “confident, hopeful, and ready.” To him the state championship isn’t simply a game, it’s a defining moment in his high school football career. It’s a statement that left me wondering about JJ’s headspace should Beverly lose and what it would mean if they win.

Though during our discussion of JJ, Clowdus did mention the teen’s resilient heart, so he is the kind of player that will pick himself up and dust himself off. Clowdus was speaking in the context of JJ being hurt by Vanessa, Asher, and Jordan in season 3, but in general resilience is a character trait of JJ’s that he admires.

"I think it’s a great life lesson for me. For Hunter. To try and have some of that resilience."

There’s a WWJD attitude to Clowdus that bleeds into everything the actor does. “What would JJ do?” isn’t a refrain he used during our interview, but it’s clear the character has become an important part of who he is. Separate from him, of course, like a friend or a little brother but still a piece of him in both big and small ways.

Clowdus carries JJ into the streams he does, into his Youtube posts on Wednesdays and Sundays, even into Clowdus Clothing, his company that he’s developed a more custom and hands-on approach to running.

"So even though these little passion projects might not seem grand in scale, I think they make me who I am. And I think in doing those “little things” it allows me to go play a better JJ Parker. I don’t become JJ Parker when I walk on set. I become it every Wednesday and Sunday on Youtube. I become it in those streams. I feel like that’s when I grow the most. That’s my practice and then, obviously, the show is game day."

He describes these projects in diminishing terms, repeatedly referring to them as “little” though it’s clear Clowdus doesn’t mean in regards to what they mean to him or his community of fans. But rather in how discussing them in comparison to his work as an actor can be perceived. But there’s nothing small or diminutive about the way his voice warms when discussing his Twitch community.

"One thing that I’m probably the most proud of is that I stream on Twitch. I mostly do this subcategory called ‘just chatting’ and essentially it’s just a livestream. But I’ve built this incredible community that’s so selfless that’s so positive and so loving and it’s just been one of the greatest things I’ve ever done.Sometimes we get deep in chat and it almost becomes like a therapy session. Sometimes we’re just goofing off and I’m playing a game and telling stories of my childhood and fun experiences that I’ve had out here. But the people…what we’ve built is just so so incredible."

Given the fact that a pandemic is still wreaking havoc across the globe and here in the states, Clowdus’ fostering of a community geared toward positivity, being seen, and a place for others to find belonging is timely and a bright spot of kindness for others to fall into.

If that’s his practice on his off days, then we here at Hidden Remote can’t wait to see what game day, every Monday on The CW at 8 p.m. ET starting October 25, will mean for JJ in All American season 4.