Ben Feldman
Superstore stars America Ferrera as Amy, a longtime employee of the ficitional big box retail store Cloud 9. Feldman is Jonah, a newly hired employee trying to learn the ropes. Created by Spitzer, who also serves as executive producer, Superstore is a workplace comedy about the coming and goings at Cloud 9.
I was a fan of Feldman’s short lived romantic comedy A to Z, and he seems perfectly cast for Superstore because of his natural charm. As someone who spent his teenage years working for two different big box retailers, I was excited to talk to Feldman about the antics that take place on the show.
The biggest surprise during the call is when I asked about the Superstore set because it looks so realistic. It turns out there’s a reason why Cloud 9 looks very authentic.
Below are the questions and answers of the call, with my question first.
Superstore which had a special preview last week officially premieres Monday, January 4 at 8/7c only on NBC.
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Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Greg Staffa with Your Entertainment Corner. Please proceed with your question.
Ben Feldman: Hi Greg.
Greg Staffa: Thanks for taking our questions today. Enjoyed the pilot and have been a fan of your work for a while now.
My question is, your character has probably one of the worst first days in history on a job. Did you draw from any previous jobs from this? What drew you to this role. And what’s the worst job that you ever had?
Ben Feldman: Yes, well so the first and last question I think I can combine and that is, I worked at Baskin Robbins a long time ago when I was – I think when I was 14.
Maybe it wasn’t necessarily the worst job but it felt eerily similar just in vibe to this show – to this job on the show. Not actually working for Justin. And I ended up getting fired from Baskin Robbins for giving out all of the ice cream and was caught on video.
And then I had like this weird like anti-Semitic manager there. Like there was this whole bizarre situation going on in Baskin Robbins in 1994.
And coincidently, one of the Executive Producers of our show, Dave Bernad is like friends with the guy that owns that Baskin Robbins. So it’s the circle of life as Elton John would say.
And then what drew me to the role; it was just – I mean that’s easy. It was the best script this whole pilot season. Everybody agreed. You can ask anybody that went through this most recent pilot season in Hollywood and they’ll tell you, this was the best comedy.
So what drew me to the role was the hopes that I could crowbar my way onto the show somehow.
Justin Spitzer: Thanks Greg, and thank you Ben.
Ben Feldman: You owe me $20.
Greg Staffa: The store itself is a character. How interactive is the set for you guys to play off of? And both of you have an extensive history of working with other actors. Who is someone that you’d like to see, on the new show?
Justin Spitzer: Well I’m sorry, I think I missed a little of the first question. Would you mind saying it one more time; the first part of it.
Greg Staffa: The Store is character. I mean it looks like you’re actually in a real store. How interactive is the store.. How much can they draw off of working on the set? How real is it?
Justin Spitzer: Okay, I got you now.
Ben Feldman: Go for it Justin.
Justin Spitzer: Well I can let Ben talk more to the actor experience. I know – by the way, for those of you who didn’t know, we shot the pilot in a real working Kmart that was actually up and working during parts of the time we were shooting in it.
And in the series we have an amazing Production Designer, Michael Gallenberg. And he and his crew made this phenomenal looking store here on the Universal lot. Most of the products there are real. We occasionally we have an in-store brand. So if we need to interact with a product, especially in a way that may seem negative, we can create that version of it.
And I think having that reality is really helpful. I think this isn’t a place where there is, you know, cans of generic Coke, you know, or something where it all feels so fake. It feels super real.
And I think there have been often times when we’re working on something in the writer’s room and we’re a little blocked, and we’ll just walk around the set and look for ideas and ways to interact with the environment, which is so helpful.
Ben Feldman: Yes, it’s from a visceral – from sort of a visceral viewpoint. I mean it’s really – you walk onto the set and it’s surreal because it smells like a Target or a Wal-Mart. Like everything about it, people love coming and visiting our set. People who get to be on sets all the time. Because there’s something just truly bizarre about walking onto a lot, opening up a door and then just being surrounded by product and aisles and like, you know, fluorescent lights.
It’s really, really cool. And it’s just fun and it’s bright and it’s colorful. And we have this, you know, there’s a lot to look at. We’re all just a bunch of children staring at pretty colors.
((Crosstalk))
Justin Spitzer: It’s also nice, we have an amazing Props Department, but it’s always nice if you’re on set and you get a last minute idea for something and you need to find something real quick, most of the time you can find it in one of our aisles.
Ben Feldman: Yes.
Greg Staffa: Is there someone you worked with previously that you would like to see on this show as a guest star or something?
Justin Spitzer: Guest stars I would like to see return?
Greg Staffa: People you have worked with before that you would like to see join…
Justin Spitzer: From like other…
((Crosstalk))
Ben Feldman: Yes, I mean I would take anybody. I don’t have any like enemies. Like I can’t think of anybody that I haven’t really liked in the past couple of years. And I feel like I’ve pitched – at one point or another I’ve pitched all of my friends.
Oh you know, I keep pitching to Justin, and one day maybe they’ll bite, is one of my best friends is Reid Scott who is on Veep, and kind of looks like if my dad and I had a better looking, taller son, it would be Reid Scott.
And so I keep pitching that he comes in and plays my brother at some point in the show. So that’s been one of mine. But I don’t know, I love guest stars. That’s what’s really fun about the show is that, you know, it’s such – there’s such a giant world of guest stars out there that these writers can write in. Justin?
Justin Spitzer: Yes, and I – I’d agree with that. I don’t have the same breadth of experience. Most of my writing experience has been on The Office. And there’s no one…
Ben Feldman: You hate all of them.
Justin Spitzer: I hate them – like I can’t do anything with these people again. No, they were great and great people to work with. And obviously awesome actors. I’d work with any of them again.
Greg Staffa: Thank you.
Justin Spitzer: Thanks.
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Yong Kim: All right, thank you so much. Hi everyone. Welcome to the conference call for NBC’s new comedy, Superstore. We’re currently joined by Ben Feldman who plays Jonah on the show, along with Executive Producer and Creator, Justin Spitzer.
Ben Feldman: Hi everybody.
Justin Spitzer: Hello.
Yong Kim: Just to remind everyone, two original episodes of Superstore will air this coming Monday, November 30 as a special sneak preview, right after The Voice at 10:00 pm. And then officially launch on Monday, January 4 at 8:00 pm.
And as mentioned, this call will be recorded. So if you need a transcript after the call just let know, and I’ll send it as it’s available. And also due to limited time, please keep questions focused on the show.
So at this time, I’ll turn the conference over to the guys and the operator for questions. Thanks.
Justin Spitzer: Is it being turned over to us?
Ben Feldman: No, no, no Justin we don’t have to do anything until someone smarter than us asks a question.
Justin Spitzer: Whew.
Ben Feldman: All right, open it up.
Operator: Our first question comes from the line of Stephanie. Please proceed with your question.
Stephanie: Thank you. Hi guys.
Ben Feldman: Hi Steph. How you doing?
Stephanie: I’m excited to see the show. Good, good thanks. So this question is for Justin. And it’s not because I don’t love you Ben, but we to you last week on video.
Ben Feldman: What am I even doing here?
Stephanie: So Justin, how did you – I mean granted this is a great concept, but what inspired you to come up with Superstore?
Justin Spitzer: I think I’m always in development looking for small, real relatable ideas. And I like workplace shows because it’s an opportunity to bring very different types of people together. And they have to be together whether they like it or not so, do it like an ensemble Friends show where if they get into an argument they can just stop hanging out.
And I feel like I’m always – I’m always kind of looking for workplace settings that are relatable, but at the same time don’t feel like they’ve been done to death and you’ve seen them in a million other shows.
And for this specific one actually, I was working on a pilot a couple of years ago in my in-laws basement.
Ben Feldman: Lair.
Justin Spitzer: Yes, in their lair, and my father-in-law came down to like bring me a sandwich or something. And he worked for a law firm that was representing a bunch of workers in an anti-union suit against – actually I don’t know if it was anti-union. In some kind of worker class suit against Wal-Mart.
And I started thinking man, that’s a place I would rather work on than what I’m currently writing. And that idea just kind of stuck in the back of my head for a while and then, you know, it was time to pitch again.
Stephanie: Okay, cool. Well it looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun so, thanks.
Justin Spitzer: Thank you Stephanie.
Stephanie: Mm-hmm.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Steve. Please proceed with your question.
Steve: My question is actually for Ben. I’m just wondering, you’re no stranger to the sitcom format, given the shows that you’ve done. How has this experience compared to the past ones? And where do you – you know, where do you hope to see it go?
Ben Feldman: It’s interesting, that’s a hard question to answer without sounding like I’m saying mean things about not this show. Like I guess I’ll sort of focus on, you know – I mean…
((Crosstalk))
Steve: (Unintelligible) in a positive way.
Ben Feldman: Yes, exactly. I think in my – I can say this. I can say this. I’ve been in a couple of sitcoms and this past season I actually said to, you know, my agent, please, I don’t even want to – I don’t care if I’m out of work and you know I’m not on a show.
I don’t want to go in on a sitcom. I just – I feel like I’m not good at them and like they’re not good at me. And I feel – I don’t know, it never really felt comfortable or right to me.
And then this came along and it’s just sort of that perfect combination of – you know, it’s grounded. Justin never lets anything get too ridiculous and too sitcomy. And yet somehow you’re watching these outlandish, ridiculous, you know, zany situations play out and you buy all of it.
And I think, you know, then and to get a chance to be a part of truly like an ensemble show – an ensemble cast, and a great one at that, is what the difference I think, this show is for me, from a lot of other sitcoms.
Steve: Do you feel like a really…
Ben Feldman: I had to really…
Justin Spitzer: And I’ll say, I had to really beg Ben to come aboard early on. And I was so excited about the possibility of him. And I heard his reservations and we had emails and conversations and we were on the same page right from the beginning about what we wanted the show to be. And I think I eventually (unintelligible) him.
Ben Feldman: Yes, well you know, also Justin bought me a Prius, like right off the bat.
Justin Spitzer: I buy everyone a Prius.
Steve: That will seal the deal. Do you feel there’s a real camaraderie between the cast and they really want to get this thing working?
Ben Feldman: I could not begin to put into words how much of an understatement that is. The cast and the writers, the second we wrapped all went to Vegas and basically just got wasted and danced for a weekend.
And I don’t think I’ve ever traveled so well with anybody outside of my wife, in my life. So yes, the cast gets along real well.
Justin Spitzer: Like people always say…
Ben Feldman: I mean I’m sure, you know, Season 2 someone is going to show up and become a D-bag. But for now we’re all pretty great.
Justin Spitzer: I feel like yes, cast always say, like we get along; we’re friends. And I know we’re saying that too. But it feels incredibly special and immediate from the start.
Ben Feldman: Yes, I’m not rolling my eyes on the other end when I tell you that I love these people.
Steve: Awesome. Thank you so much.
Justin Spitzer: Thanks.
Ben Feldman: Thank you.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Candy. Please proceed with your question.
Candy: Hey gang.
Ben Feldman: Candy.
Justin Spitzer: Hi.
Candy: How you doing?
Ben Feldman: Good. That’s what my mom used to be called, (Candy) growing up in Georgia. Where are you from?
Candy: Texas.
Ben Feldman: Yes, I figured it was one of those.
Candy: Yes, yes. Hey can you guys – it’s scripted, but is there room for improv? Do you guys do much of that?
Justin Spitzer: There’s definitely – I mean we script them, we get it scripted a couple of times but we have a phenomenal group of improvisers that are able to be beat most (unintelligible) that are on the page.
And we always try to give them the flexibility to do a few total improvs. And I think also the actors feel like they can make the lines theirs. There are very few jokes that are specifically dependent on one particular wording. And I think they do a great job at making things feel real and grounded and heightening them.
Ben Feldman: I would add to that but Justin just read my entire script. There’s nothing.
Candy: And is there any – and any time that you guys have just – you start laughing and you can’t stop kind of thing? Any moments? Any anecdotes?
Ben Feldman: Yes, I mean I don’t know that there’s – well I don’t know Justin, do you remember anything that like people couldn’t get through? America can’t get through anything. She laughs at everybody.
Justin Spitzer: I was going to say yes, there have been a few. And I’m not on set nearly as much as you are so I only know what I see in the editing bays. There have been quite a few takes where America laughed through many, many of them.
Ben Feldman: I imagine your guys are cutting around her.
Justin Spitzer: it’s the best though. I mean it’s so much fun to watch everyone having with it. And she always a few without too. I think, you know, when she was in the car with Lauren on Wedding Day Sale, they seemed to be having a really, really good time.
Ben Feldman: Yes, I will say that I think the most laughs happen off – like the uncontrollable laughs, if Lauren Ash is somewhere adjacent to what’s happening.
Candy: Love it. Thanks guys.
Ben Feldman: Thank you.
Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Lisa. Please proceed with your question.
Ben Feldman: Hi Lisa.
Lisa: Hi Ben. Thanks so much for talking with us this afternoon.
Ben Feldman: Thank you.
Justin Spitzer: Thank you.
Lisa: I was wondering, you and America have such great chemistry together. Did you guys spend some time pre-shows at bond, or is it just something that has developed on screen?
Ben Feldman: You know I’ve got to say, it’s just America and I are really brilliant actors. We absolutely despise each other in real life.
Justin Spitzer: They make it work.
Ben Feldman: No, it’s – we make it work. No, it’s just – no, I had never met America before. I was like really excited to work with her.
You know I think honestly, people talk about chemistry a lot, and this sounds like such an obnoxious, actually thing to say, but I think it’s honestly just like actors that are good at listening and playing off of each other. And I think America is an incredible actress.
And I can’t – I would be surprised to see her on screen with someone where there was not chemistry because I can’t imagine not having – she’s just – she listens, she’s smart, she’s a great actress. And you just kind of fall into chemistry like that.
Lisa: And you guys, you have such great comedic timing. And recently we’ve seen you in a lot of dramatic projects. Are you trying to branch back to your comedic roots?
Ben Feldman: Well you know, I feel like I’ve been doing a lot of comedy recently. But yes, you know what, I like to be somewhere in the middle. I’m happy being the serious guy on the funny show or the funny guy on the serious show, you know. And I feel like I get to do that a lot.
And on this show, these guys are writing real characters with real moments. And so I never feel like I’m just on a comedy. And that’s I think, what drew me – that’s what I’m in to with this show. You’re not playing comedy or drama. You’re just playing the character.
Lisa: Great, thank you so much. I loved the pilot.
Justin Spitzer: Awesome. Thank you.
Operator: Mr. Kim there are no further questions at this time. I’ll turn the call back to you.
Yong Kim: Great, thank you.
Ben Feldman: All right.
END
Photo: ©2015 NBC Universal. All Rights Reserved.
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