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In this episode, hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett are joined by award-winning actor, playwright, and director Colman Domingo. The conversation explores Domingo's unconventional path into acting, starting in his mid-twenties after a college theater elective sparked a career shift from journalism. The guest details his decades-long grind working Off-Broadway theater alongside side hustles like headshot photography, nearly quitting the industry entirely before landing breakout roles in Fear the Walking Dead, Euphoria, and his Oscar-nominated performance in Rustin. Throughout the episode, the group discusses the subjectivity of film criticism, the nuances of finding humanity in villainous characters like Joe Jackson in Michael, and the personal transitions that come with aging into one's fifties.
The episode opens with a playful cold open, followed by a series of commercial breaks featuring airline, insurance, and tech ads.
Hosts and guests discuss what a cold open is, clarifying its purpose and format before moving into deeper conversation.
Guests share embarrassing childhood experiences with gay chat lines and family reactions, setting a candid tone for the episode.
The conversation shifts to how films are reviewed, the influence of critics versus audiences, and the challenges of creating art that resonates.
Coleman Domingo explains his research process for portraying Joe Jackson, offering insights into his approach to complex characters.
Coleman and the hosts reflect on aging, the desire for authenticity, and the acceptance of imperfections in life and art.
Coleman recounts his path from theater to film, detailing side jobs, early roles, and the evolution of his craft.
The hosts explore how actors balance nuance, authenticity, and audience expectations, discussing the tension between critics and fans.
The episode wraps up with final comments, audience engagement, and a brief recap of key takeaways.
Coleman reveals his lucrative side business of taking headshots for actors, which helped sustain him during industry uncertainty.
Coleman explains how he had to decide between two series offers and ultimately chose Fear the Walking Dead, leading to an eight-season run.
Understanding the Cold Opendebate
The hosts debate the definition and purpose of a podcast cold open before reluctantly diving into the show.
Late to Jonathan Glazer's Birthinsight
Jason Bateman praises Jonathan Glazer's 2004 film Birth starring Nicole Kidman, expressing bewilderment at its poor box office and negative critical reception.
Panned by Critics, Loved by Audiencesdata
Colman Domingo discusses how the Michael Jackson biopic was panned by critics on Rotten Tomatoes yet grossed over a billion dollars worldwide.
Framing Joe Jacksoninsight
Domingo explains his approach to playing Joe Jackson by looking past the villainous caricature to understand a father with limited education pushing his children to succeed.
Balancing Broadway and Bartendingstory
Domingo shares that even while performing on Broadway, he continued picking up bartending shifts out of a persistent fear of being broke.
Almost Leaving the Industrystory
At age 44, feeling burnt out by minor auditions and lack of traction, Domingo was ready to quit acting entirely and run a headshot photography business.
“I spent way too much on it. It just, it never worked, and I didn't know what I was doing.”
“They optimize for the numbers that look great, like impressions, but they don't see revenue.”
“Cut the bull spend. Advertise on LinkedIn.”
“I think film reviews are pretty tough to, I don't know, I have such a.”
“I was booking this stuff when it like, I, I would go in and sign in, you know, to go and sign in, and like, I had like,”
“I chose the thing that was the weirdest thing, because that's me. I chose Fear the Walking Dead. I'm like, what is that?”
“I was like, I just wanted to get off of it. And I, and I feel like I just wanted to stop before I was brokenhearted about the thing that I loved the most.”
“I was making money. I was doing everybody's headshots.”
“I was like, I feel like I want to go on that road to figure out this character. The character was written, he was written like, you know, Richard III, his first monologue, and I was like, oh, this is interesting.”
Pardon sir, it’s Colman Domingo. On this week’s episode of “How to Be a Better Soldier,” we’ve got: Broadway, Bartending, living like a teenager, truth-telling season, and a Sophie’s Choice. I’m Larry / it’s an all-new SmartLess.
16,377 words · 7 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
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