My Chuck Experience
Friday January 29, 2010
So I have a large guest starring role on the sixth episode of season three of Chuck which sounds utterly ridiculous for me to even say or type. It's still hard to believe even when I've already shot the episode. I first decided to get into standup when I was 17 in Woodinville, Washington. My "plan" went so far as do standup and see where it takes me. 8 years later I'm at a point where it's very interesting to see where standup is in fact taking me. The first tangible achievement I'd have to say was this Chuck episode. Normally, standups make a name for themselves in standup and eventually get a TV credit. It happened backwards for me which is pretty funny. I mean I've been doing standup in LA for 3 years now ever since I moved from Seattle but I was very much under the radar. Not by choice but two things made it hard for me to be a constant fixture of the "LA Comedy Scene." Number one, my day job is working as an aerospace engineer. Two, I live in Long Beach. Somehow I was able to get Chuck though, ha.
My first day on the lot was a lot to take in. I come from a world of cubicle walls and water coolers and now I'm aimlessly wandering the streets of the Warner Bros Lot trying to get to where I need to be. Golf carts and bicycles whizzing by me. Must have been pretty obvious I was the new guy. Constantly referencing a piece of computer paper with your head on a swivel generally gives it away. I got to hair and makeup and learned they wanted to do absolutely nothing to my hair other than put product in it. Was kinda hoping to get a free haircut out of the gig but in the grand scheme of things, I can live. You quickly learn how many people it requires to run a show like Chuck. And there are many people behind the scenes like hair, makeup, ADs, markers, stand ins, to name a few. I was lucky enough to make friends with a lot of them. So much so we've taken our friendship to the facebook level. Yeah, pretty serious.
It came time for my first scene at the Buy More and it was a little nerve wracking. Only because you see how many people are involved in a shoot and flubbing a line makes soooooo many people have to do their job again. My main goal was to not make these people hate me. Luckily, all went smooth enough. For my first scene I had to talk to Kristen Kreuk, of Smallville and Neutrogena fame, before Zach Levi would swoop in to talk to me. There was no actual dialogue but it had to appear as if we were talking. So we had many gibberish conversations. I did learn she lives in Vancouver and other things that I have forgotten by now which sucks for you the reader. Quite a build up for nothing, huh? As each day went on I grew more and more comfortable. The entire cast & crew was super nice and welcoming as well which made it that much easier on me. Sometimes between scenes and setups extras would ask what else I've done, if I've been working a lot then I would feel like a huge douchebag when I told them "Actually, this is my first acting gig ever." I know I'm very fortunate for the role and opportunity but I have put in hard work just on the standup side of things. Everybody's path is different.
One day I came on set and found out I'd be doing kung fu training for 4 hours with the stunt coordinator for the show. Ummm, awesome. We ran through my scene over and over all the while there was a WB visitor tour consisting of a bunch of French vacationers watching our choreographed fight scene unbeknownst to me. After my final kick, I hear thunderous applause, which was instantly embarrassing. I also had a stunt double on the show. I know, this experience is truly ridiculous. Really cool guy, Holland Diaz. He was Toby Maguire's stunt double in Spiderman which basically makes me an A-List actor as well. You're only as good as who your stuntmen have stunted for. He told me a funny story. A lot of people had a problem with "Emo Spiderman." Partly because of his hairstyle. Well what happened was Holland would come in with a hat everyday so his hair would be matted down. They wanted to give Toby a different look and were inspired by Holland's matted down hair. Not sure if he ever wanted me to regurgitate this story. Ohhhh well. Sorry if you get emo spiderman hate mail, bud.
All in all, it was a phenomenal experience that I can hang my hat on no matter what else happens or does not happen in my comedy career. I'm excited to see what it will look like all cut together come Feb. 1st. I'm sure you will all be watching now. You're emotionally invested in me now. You sort of have to. I will be playing the guy who looks exactly like me on the show. If you're not good with faces then look out for the name Manoosh Depak. I have already made 500,000 "Manoosh Is On Fire, We Don't Need No Water..." t-shirts for the Manoosh fever that will soon sweep the nation. Be sure to tune in Jan. 10th as well when the new season of Chuck kicks off. Shameless promotion, can you blame me?
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NBC DiverseCity was cool enough to ask me to blog for their site. The blog you just read can also be found at diversecitynbc.com.
| « Chuck vs. The Nacho Sampler U.S. Promo | It aired! » |
Comments
TV Reviewer Alan Sepinwall linked to your blog from his review of the “Chuck” episode. I just wanted to say “well done.” I would have never known it was your first acting job.
— Diane · Feb 1, 06:54 PM · #
Just saw episode. Good job, Fight scenes and interaction with cast was excellent (for a first acting gig). Can you give a little more insight how was it working with Zac and Yvonne.
— Don · Feb 1, 08:15 PM · #
That was sure a surprise seeing a familiar face on TV. Great performance. Congrats!
— Reuben Krofft · Feb 1, 09:21 PM · #
Congratulations, Fahim! The episode was a nice, darker-than-usual Chuck & you were excellent in it.
— Greg · Feb 1, 10:41 PM · #
Just wanted to let you know that you were excellent in this episode, and congratulations for your first screen appearance! Minorly disappointed you didn’t cover your scenes with Yvonne Strahovski, which I imagine may have been fun but a bit embarassing. :-)
Once again, congratulations! I actually hope we see your character again somehow.
— LoopyChew · Feb 1, 11:12 PM · #
Loved you as Manoosh last night! Thought your character was an excellent parallel with Chuck’s. Hope to see more of your work in the future.
Please check out the Chuck You Tuesday Podcast where we talk about the awesomeness that is Chuck and how much we digged you in Chuck vs The Nacho Sampler. http://blip.tv/file/3163076
— Michael Civello · Feb 2, 11:32 AM · #
You did a great job on Chuck – congratulations! Were you a fan of the show before appearing on it? I can’t imagine what it would be like to have a day job while doing stand up at night & suddenly find yourself with a major role of a network show, nevermind being in bed with Yvonne S in underwear.
— braggtastic · Feb 2, 11:43 AM · #
That episode was pretty great. It took me half the episode to figure out where i’ve seen you from, but I finally realized it was the afghan wedding video from youtube. Great job btw.
— Nadia · Feb 2, 01:50 PM · #
Hey Fahim! I am a big fan of Chuck and I really enjoyed your role last night. I was wondering, were you a fan of the show before you got cast, or did you learn of the part though the casting experience?
— Michaela · Feb 2, 03:08 PM · #
Also, I where in Long Beach? I grew up in Belmont Shore.
— Michaela · Feb 2, 03:09 PM · #
you didnt mention anything about being below a half naked Yvonne Strahovski! That in itself is enough to warrant the jealousy of every male in America. LOL
— dancanman · Feb 2, 03:19 PM · #
Hi! Found your website via a link from the Onion’s AV Club recap of this week’s Chuck episode. Very nice job on one of my favorite shows! And thanks for representing us engineers so well… ok, even if you played an engineer who has no social life.
— YakAvenger · Feb 2, 03:33 PM · #
How about sharing a few more details about your interaction with the principle cast. What’s it like between scenes? Do they get to improv at all or do they stay strictly on script?
Also, why didn’t you have a stunt double when they kept shooting you with the trank? Your little fall by the door into the wall looked like you knocked your head pretty hard. :)
— cremes · Feb 2, 05:55 PM · #
Hey, great job on Chuck. I never would have known it was your first role. Manoosh was a very interesting character, and I hope they bring you back again soon for a follow up episode. Best of luck!
— Elliot · Feb 3, 05:33 AM · #
Ok, for starters, I loved your character in Chuck (Manoosh was AMAZING, and I was hoping to see a fight scene between him and Chuck but alas, you can’t always get what you want). You are very lucky to have gotten to work with Zach. I have to admit I am a tad jealous because I have a teeny crush on him (and I really shouldn’t because after all, I’m 30 years old and I should be over my crush stage !). Needless to say, I have a love-hate relationship with the show as a whole. I am thinking of writing a script for the writers to take a look at, but I am unsure whether they would want to read the work of a U of I graduate who is back in school getting a AS because she can’t land a permanent job. Yeah. :P But, anywho, I am going to give it a shot. I have had works published before so I thought I’d give it a whirl. I have a small question…Is Manoosh going to make another apperance or was it just a one time gig ? Either way, wish the best for you and hope all goes well. You remind me of a friend of mine who wanted to get into the stand-up biz. I don’t know if he ever made it (I haven’t heard from him since I found him on Facebook), but I am hoping he did because he was and is hilarious ! Best of everything to you, mucho mazels and blessings !
— Waffling Fan (hate to admit it) · Feb 3, 08:32 AM · #
well done, I would have never knew that it was your first role.
One thing I dont understand though: HOW did you not get a boner when you were lying under half naked Yvonne? And how did you actually remember all your lines?
Good luck to you:)
— Krax · Feb 3, 04:47 PM · #
Loved your episode this week. I wasn’t keen on Manoosh (he wasn’t a bad person, but I think he probably would have gone on to cause problems if allowed to roam free) but I thought you were great in the part and I’d love to see you back for another episode. Preferably including a fight scene with Chuck, which I also thought was going to happen!
Glad you had a great time (also: jealous), it really showed onscreen and I would never have thought it was your first TV role. Hope it leads to some excellent stuff for you!
— Kirsten · Feb 4, 05:23 AM · #
The funniest thing about this: as a rocket scientist who speaks—what, Pashto?—it’s amazing you were never recruited to be an actual spy. Silly CIA, you would have been great. ;-)
— Susan · Feb 5, 03:15 PM · #
i think i am inlove with him, he is so cute
— love · Apr 13, 12:50 AM · #
Haha my dad is afghan but I was born in Australia and I am indeed guilty of the “light bulb” and have seen it to much
— Jess · Jun 9, 11:56 PM · #
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