Adam Patla
Dewayne Perkins was practically built for The Studio, the hit AppleTV+ series from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. With his roots in theater, Perkins spent formative time after college studying at Second City and iO theater in Chicago.
“It was the closest I felt to doing theater in a TV space and so it felt like I was really stretching versus embarking on something brand new so that was nice to have a familiarity with the process,” he says when reflecting on his experience on The Studio. “I feel like generally it felt very easy to kind of like fall into it. I think that the environment was creative for that purpose. I think the way they shot with their oners, it created a sense of equality amongst the actors because there wasn’t traditional coverage. You kinda had to work with each other in order to just make sure the scene was good. And no matter who you were, if you messed up, you messed up for everybody.”
Perkins shines as Tyler, the head of publicity for Continental Studios and a right hand man to Kathryn Hahn’s Maya. He brings an intricate blend of charm and sardonic wit to Tyler that instantly wins the audience over while leaving you laughing in disbelief at what he says. For example, in episode one, Tyler asks Matt (Rogen) why, as his boss, he doesn’t know more, a line Perkins described as “cathartic.”
But, for as bold as Tyler can be, he isn’t going to compromise his position within the studio completely. “A big part of it is, I feel like the more that I do and the more that I wear different hats, I’m seeing how often people’s choices are tailored for longevity of their careers versus like creative good,” Perkins explains, “so that was kind of the biggest thing that I felt like I brought, just knowing that Tyler as a character just wants to keep his job.”
This seems to be the central conflict of The Studio; our characters consistently grapple with their passion for the art and the pressures of the system they’re making the art in. Perkins is no stranger to that push and pull of the industry.
“I think I purposely have sought out good experiences so that I have a guiding light to what I think this business can be….” he says when asked about how he maintains his passion amid the business-oriented noise. “And so I just kind of approach it the same way I approach just being human, of knowing what I want and then just really being intentional on creating a career that will get me that.”
Another major component of The Studio is how it satirizes the industry without holding back. In Episode Seven, titled Casting, we see Matt and his team preparing to announce the cast of the long-gestating Kool-Aid movie only to worry that their casting decisions will be considered racist. The episode digs into how major institutions are more concerned with appearing inclusive rather than crafting infrastructure to actually be inclusive and are unable to wrap their heads around matters around race.
Looking ahead at the first season, Perkins was most excited to tackle this. “My personal experience of trying to exist fully as a Black, queer man in this business and seeing the barriers and…stumbling blocks I’ve had to experience and being able to have an episode that put words to it and show what that experience can look like and show how there is a lack of true understanding. To see a room of people try to wrestle with their relation to race is something that I felt was so funny and felt very true to the experiences that I’ve experienced.”
It’s a subject other shows or comedians might not want to touch. But, in a time where people like to say that “you can’t joke about anything anymore,” The Studio proves you can if you’re smart about it.
“I actually don’t agree at all that you can’t say anything in comedy,” Perkins states. “I just think you have to be better at comedy if you think that.”
Looking ahead to season two, Perkins has ideas about where he’d like to see the Continental team end up and how to continue delivering sharp commentary. “The NAACP Awards. I feel like there is a swath of Black Hollywood that would be very interesting to tackle because it’s specific yet very similar. It’s the same industry there’s just extra layers of things that I feel like could add comedy, commentary, and satire.”
He also requests more for him and Hahn. “I would really love to lean more into him and Kathryn Hahn’s character, their like duo-ness. I feel like there’s a lot of fun that can come from that…. I’m obsessed with her.”
As Tyler, Perkins is magnetic and charming on the surface, infusing a layer of panicked insecurity. Despite the heightened nature of the show, he feels like a real, rounded human being trying to function in this crazy business called show. Like many projects he’s involved in, Perkins manages to light up every scene he’s in, leaving an indelible mark on the audience.
You can watch Dewayne’s terrific work in season one of The Studio now available to stream on AppleTV+. Make sure to check out our full conversation for Awards Radar below!
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