TV Topics: Ike Barinholtz’s Lifelong TV Addiction Paved His Path to ‘The Studio’

I can’t recall having spoken to another person on TV Topics where TV was so integrated into who they are as I had when I spoke with Ike Barinholtz. The talented actor and comedian whose work you’ve seen over the last few decades from everything from MADtv to Blockers, The Mindy Project, Running Point and now with his work on The Studio on Apple TV+, Barinholtz’s love for television can be found in every word he speaks of it.

But it’s not just watching television; the more I spoke with him, the more I realized it truly did shape who he is, even creating some situations where life and TV had a true crossover. The Studio is a satirical comedy series on Apple TV+ that dives into the chaotic inner workings of a Hollywood film studio, where executives grapple with industry pressures, creative clashes, and the quest for blockbuster success. Did someone say Kool-Aid? (Oh yeah!)

The series, created by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, stars Rogen as the stressed-out studio head Matt Remick, alongside a laundry list of amazing talent: Catherine O’Hara as veteran producer Patty, Kathryn Hahn as marketing lead Maya, Barinholtz as the scheming Sal Saperstein, and Chase Sui Wonders as creative executive Quinn. Adding to its star power, the show features an unbelievable lineup of guest stars and cameos, including Bryan Cranston, Martin Scorsese, Zoë Kravitz, Adam Scott and many more – many too fun to spoil here.

The Full TV TOPICS Interview with IKE BARINHOLTZ

Barinholtz was my guest on the TV Topics podcast where we discussed not only his work on The Studio, but also the television shows and moments that influenced him in his life. Each answer was better than the last as he impressed me with his detailed recollection of shows, scenes and characters, while painting a very clear picture of how he became the actor he is today, talent, dedication, family and television. It all started with a shocking admission.

“I would say I’m a junkie. I’m a heavy user,” admitted a forthcoming Barinholtz. “I would say. I’m a functioning TV addict. We grew up in a very TV friendly house. One of my first memories was laying in bed and hearing the theme from Taxi. My parents love Taxi and I would hear the theme and then I would go out and sneak in the room and watch them watching Taxi.”

Television influenced the young brain of Barinholtz in the best of ways, growing the seeds of humor that would be harvested years later. While television is a vital part of his story, the actor gives credit to the people who allowed those seeds to be planted in the first place.

“I think because my parents let us watch so much comedy and watched it with us, it allowed my brother (Jon Barinholtz of SuperStore and American Auto) and I to develop comic personas and want to work in the world. And so I really give Alan and Peggy all the credit.”

As the years passed, the family would watch television together, the meeting place where they all shared the adventures of numerous TV worlds. “We just were very big, you know, NBC Thursday night people. Cheers and Seinfeld and Cosby, Different World. And then, as I got older, Seinfeld – I became a crazy Seinfeld person, a crazy Larry Sanders person. Then you start getting into prestige TV – that’s when it really just kind of exploded. It went from just being, you know, whatever, four or five channels to just like, oh, my God, there’s so many channels and so many crazy shows. Now, it’s tough to keep up.”

In addition to an amazing cast and hilarious scripts his love for The Larry Sanders Show (one of his four picks for the Ike Barinholtz TV Mount Rushmore question) was part of the draw to taking on the role of Sal Saperstein. Series creators and writers knowingly or unknowingly had the Garry Shandling show in mind when writing his character.

“I love how Seth and Evan write for me,” shared Barinholtz. “They kind of let me be the id a little bit and let me kind of just be the guy that says the bad things and makes the jokes that are a little harsh. I think they do that because I think they’re confident that I can buy it back with just enough likability. “I was so excited about the show when Seth first told me about it a long time ago, continued Barinholtz. “He said we really were inspired by Larry Sanders, which is arguably my favorite show ever. And he was like, yeah, we’re going to write this part for you. And then when I read it, the first line is so funny.”

Barinholtz went on to share the line then describe the thinking behind the character of Sal Saperstein, one that is not only the best on the series, but one of the best characters on television all this year.

“It’s like, ‘Do I smell like vodka?’ (asked another character) ‘I was out all night with Pedro Pascal getting fucked up’ (responded Sal). It’s just good writing,” said Barinholtz. “In an instant, you understand kind of who the character is. Like you said, you’re unsure of if you like him or not, but you kind of get it a little bit and then it frames it so well. Then they are able to keep layering things in, like he has a family and he has daughters who don’t like him very much.”

“He’s a very manipulative, backstabbing guy, but he also is in survival mode a little bit. You know what I mean? They just did a very good job at creating this character that on the surface is, yeah, a lot of douchebaggery, but if you scratch under it a little bit, like a pretty fun, nice guy.”

Playing a complex, funny, and layered character is a challenge enough, but Rogen and Evan’s vision of The Studio was much more ambitious – each episode would be full of oners (continuous one shot scenes where the camera follows the action without stopping or editing). While the oners presented their own challenges, Barinholtz did not feel they hampered his comic instinct, instead the opposite.

“I think it sharpened it, just knowing the style of what they’re doing and knowing that it removed any laziness or lack of focus,” admitted Barinholtz “I think sometimes when you’re riffing, when you’re in the riff zone and just funny shit’s happening, you can get kind of sloppy and performance can suffer a little bit because you’re too busy trying to think of like a new line, like a new alt or a new joke. But for this one they gave you latitude to improvise or to make it your own as much as you needed to, although they did a very good job writing it.”

He continued, “I think once you kind of do a take or so, you have to lock in. And for me, at least, I think it made me just very, very focused in the scene. It made me very just – I wasn’t thinking about anything else really, except for, like, not screwing up. So maybe because of that extra pressure, maybe for some people that could take away, but I think for me, it made me focus more and I think made it better.”

One of the series’ best and certainly most hilarious comes in episode 5 “The War”, where Barinholtz’s Sal, has to make a rapid walk across an active studio lot to make an important business meeting. As he does things do not go as planned he must work his way through crowds of costumed extras, he has his nose smashed by a swinging door and is eventually covered head to toe in chili, all in one shot. It is hilarious and timeless physical comedy that comes into addition with the series razor sharp wit.

With The Studio the Barinholtz television bond has come full circle. His father, Alan (Jury Duty), took the leap into television acting later in life after a successful career as a lawyer. Many people know him as Ike’s partner for a very successful appearance on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire where they took home the top prize for a charity. But with The Studio, the father-son duo share billing again with Alan’s very funny cameo in episode 4, “The Missing Reel.” The Barinholtz television is almost complete, next up says Ike, getting his mom into acting.

With Barinholtz’s life being so interwoven with television, starting from his early family Taxi viewings, to both he and his brother working in the industry (together at times), to his father working now joining the profession, and now the much-deserved Emmy nomination, it is no surprise that his final answer of the TV Topics podcast questions was connected to TV in a unique way fitting for the actor.

For my standard TV Topics closer, ‘The Magic Door question,’ where I ask my guest ‘What TV show they would like the chance to live in would be?’ his answer did not disappoint. While many guests want to enjoy the luxury of Succession or to hang out for a beer with Norm and Cliff on Cheers, Barinholtz did not choose the standard path. Instead he wanted to further immerse himself in the entertainment world he already lives and breathes in, choosing the ability to live in Garry Shandling’s masterpiece, The Larry Sanders Show.

It is no wonder his talent runs so deep, his passion for television does too.

Be sure to listen to the full episode of TV Topics to enjoy the entire conversation. This is just a small amount of what was maybe my favorite episode of TV Topics to date (and there have been so many great ones). Check out all of Ike Barinholtz’s Emmy-nominated work as Sal Saperstein streaming exclusively on Apple TV+