The Big Bang Theory fans know Brian Posehn as Bert, but in Lopez vs. Lopez, he’ll take on a very different character. It’s time to get ready for a Christmas-themed episode of the sitcom.
We sat down with Brian Posehn to talk about his Mall Santa character in the new episode. It turns out that he’s a huge fan of George Lopez, and even opened for him 20 years ago for a standup show. Getting to work with him and meet him officially was a highlight of filming.
Who will Brian Posehn play in Lopez vs. Lopez?
Hidden Remote: Let’s start with who your character is in this Christmas episode of Lopez vs. Lopez.
Brian Posehn: I don’t know his real name, but he’s a mall Santa. Maybe he’s the real Santa, who knows! But yea, it was super fun.
I’ve been a huge fan of George forever. I opened for him, but he probably doesn’t remember it, about 20 years ago. It was a long time ago in San Francisco, and I’ve always been a fan.
When this came up, it wasn’t an audition. It was an offer. They were like “Hey, they asked if you wanted to play a mall Santa. There’s a couple of funny scenes.” I looked at it and wen “Oh yeah, this is gonna be super fun.” That’s always the thing when I read a script. Do I hear my voice? Do I hear myself saying this, and do I hate people laughing at it? You can’t make it funny. It already has to be funny.
Those guys know what they’re doing. I worked with Bruce Alford, one of the executive producers, before. I was all in.
HR: I was going to ask what it was about this that made you say yes.
BP: I’ve passed on some things over the years where I didn’t know how to do it or make it funny. I didn’t hear my voice saying it. But I love traditional multi-cam sitcoms. I grew up watching them, and I’ve done them since I first moved to LA. My first acting job was on a show called Empty Nest. It was a traditional sitcom, just performing in front of a live audience.
I’m used to stand-up, but doing that acting, it’s way more tun than single cam, and there aren’t many multicams left, so the fact that they’re doing a traditional multicam on Lopez vs. Lopez, I knew it would be a blast. And I was right!
HR: Mall Santa is such an iconic role at this point for Christmas episodes. What was it like for you getting to do that?
BP: So much fun! I don’t just look like a good Mall Santa. I look like Santa, like the traditional Coca-Cola Santa. It’s crazy, you know! I already have the Nordic going—I’m a big mix of Nordic and Irish—so I’m pink faced with red hair, which is pretty key for Santa, so I’m already starting off with a good point. It took an hour and a half in the makeup chair to do my beard, and it wound up looking incredible.
They had real kids on the set, and they bought it. I don’t think they thought I was Fake Santa or Santa’s Helper. A couple of them thought I was legit Santa.
HR: So you have another career in mind now?
BP: People on the set were like “You’ve never played Santa before?” I’ve done Christmas stuff where I’ve worn a hat but I’ve never been Santa. I was Brian wearing a hat. Apparently I was very convincing, so yeah!
HR: Can you tease what the feud between George and Mall Santa is?
BP: I think George has some problems with Santa in general going back to his childhood. George resents Santa and when he sees me, he gets a bug going. He wants to fight me.
Lopez vs. Lopez has become a family behind the scenes
HR: Everything that I’ve seen behind the scenes makes it look like it’s a family. I know it’s hard for some guest stars to come in, but did it feel like that for you?
BP: I’ve don’t this a long time, so I’ve come into shows that are just starting. I did Friends on the second season when those guys were up and coming. I just come in and be professional. I’m not there to make friends. I do my job, and if I meet cool people, that’s great!
[On Lopez vs. Lopez], everyone was so sweet. I got friendly with George, who I barely knew, but Al Madrigal [who plays Oscar] is an old friend, so I could connect with him. I went in and was quiet and respectful to everyone else. The table read was super fun.
HR: Would you come back if they invited you for a non-Mall Santa role?
BP: Oh yeah, I’d love to go back. They were so fun and such a nice crew, cast, writing team, everybody at every level that I met were so nice.
Most shows when they’ve been around for one or two years, they become a family. That was the case when I walked in on The big Bang Theory, although they were more like a fraternity/sorority because they were all young kids, but you know what I mean? I definitely felt like Lopez vs. Lopez is a family.
Watch Brian Posehn play Mall Santa on the Friday, Dec. 6 episode of Lopez vs. Lopez.
Lopez vs. Lopez airs on Fridays at 8:30/7:30c on NBC. Catch up the following day on Peacock.
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