ABC’s ‘Schooled’ cast gives student advice in exclusive interview

Brett Dier (C.B.)

The Connector: What drew you to the role, were there any teachers that inspired you as a kid

Dier: Honestly, what drew me to this is, I have been wanting to do comedy forever and be funny, because I did a show before this where I wasn’t really able to be funny necessarily, so I was just dying to do something like this. 

And, I did have a couple teachers who inspired me, but I didn’t really draw from them, I kind of drew from how I would be as a teacher and also based on what the creator Adam Goldberg had told me — he explained that this guy was nerdy, super passionate about his job, and gets along with the students, kind of like a big kid and I related to that because that’s how I feel. 

The Connector: What did you want to bring to this role as the newcomer on the show?

Dier: I didn’t really know what I wanted to bring, I just wanted to do something fresh. I had never been on “The Goldbergs,” and I was nervous to be honest because it was a different tone from what I am used to so I did a lot of experimenting and a lot of talking with Adam Goldberg and the producers. I would check in a lot and make small tweaks here and there since — being so new to it, it’s tough to match everyone.

The Connector: It’s cool that they were able to work with you like that to help really narrow down the character. Are you excited for the panel, and getting the chance to talk to some students?

Dier: Yeah, of course. Are you a student?

The Connector: Yes, I am. 

Dier: Oh, sweet dude, that’s awesome.  

The Connector: What advice do you think you might give to students in general — and anyone who wants to get involved in the entertainment industry? 

Dier: I would say, here’s the thing, I honestly feel dumb giving advice because I’m still learning so much. I’ve been doing this for 13 years, but I don’t feel like I necessarily know a lot. But, I think the biggest thing that has clicked with me lately is just to trust yourself and use what you have — don’t copy others.

Learn how to bring yourself to things because there’s only one of you. Once you settle into your own skin, have the confidence to bring that and draw from your own experience, because that’s what is going to be authentic and that’s what people are going to relate to since they are seeing a real person. And, obviously you can switch things up a little bit and do it differently, but make sure it’s coming from an authentic place. And, that takes a lot of experimenting and failing and getting up again.

AJ Michalka (Lainey Lewis)

The Connector: Are you excited for the panel later? And, are you excited to talk to some actual students?

Michalka: I am, I’m really excited. I still feel like a student myself, I’m 27 but I feel like I’m constantly learning, and this is my first time where I’m spearheading a series on TV, obviously as an ensemble, but from the point of view of my character, and so as an actor I feel like a student constantly, as well as a musician, and I’m excited to speak to other people that are like minded and focused on the arts.

The Connector: What exactly drew you to the role, and were there any teachers or figures in your life that inspired you and you were able to bring in to this experience? 

Michalka: Very much so, I’ve had some really great mentors over the years whether they were a tutor, or a teacher that stood out to me — there was this man, Jack Tice who was a huge part of my learning curve, especially as a reader and me being someone who ended up loving English and history as a student, and he was someone who really guided me when I was young. I feel like I have been able to take some of those things, whether it is on purpose or accidentally and use it as much as I can to inform my character, or form my character as much as I can into the things that taught me as a student which I can hopefully pass on to my students in the show.

The Connector: What was exciting or challenging about transitioning from your previous role on “The Goldbergs,” into the new show?

Michalka: It’s just been neat playing Lainey as an adult. I’ve obviously been playing the high school version of Lainey for a long time and eventually, she graduated and tried to go to college. It didn’t really work out, she dropped out, ends up re-forming her band with a couple of girls from her past, Erica being one of them of course, and then figures out, “You know what, I don’t want to be here. I want to move to LA and figure out what my life is going to be like there.”

And, the last time we saw her on “The Goldbergs,” her and Barry ended their engagement and she moved to LA. So, now here we are 10 years later and here she is at her old high school figuring out who she is as an adult. It has been really cool playing her in the ’80s and now in the ’90s and getting to play the character for as long as I have, I feel so close to her.

The Connector: Is there any kind of advice you would want to give aspiring artists and students you might see at the panel? Is there something you wish maybe you’d known early on in your career that has worked out later that you wish you could tell your past self?

Michalka: Absolutely, I would say a couple of things, as cliché as it may sound, you do have to go into a room being yourself otherwise you’re not going to come out feeling very good. There have been times where I have been like, “I’m not sure if I’m right for this character, so If I kind of change my appearance a little bit, or the way I act, or the way I walk into a room it could help.” And, usually, it doesn’t. You kind of have to be yourself.

The one thing I will say, especially when it comes to the auditioning process, is they want to find the character. They want you to go in and do a great job because they want their job to be done and they want to know, “Wow, we found this part.” So, they’re never against you. Always think of the other side of the room as for you and I think you really will not fail.

Tim Meadows (Principal Glascott)

The Connector: What drew you to this role, and did you have any teachers that inspired you in your own life?

Meadows: Well what drew me to the role was just being a working actor. They called me and asked me if I wanted to do an episode of, “The Goldbergs,” like five years ago. I’m friends with Jeff Garlin who is on “The Goldbergs,” so, I had seen the show and when they called and asked, I said yes.

I thought it was going to be a one-week thing and that was going to be it, but they kept bringing the character back. And, it turned into five years of doing occasional appearances on that show. Then, they decided to do a spin-off which I was very flattered and happy that they were going to do. 

As far as teachers, I had a lot of good teachers when I was in school. This one teacher of mine had taught gym in elementary school — he also went to my church. I had a lot of respect for him. He paid attention to me, and because my father didn’t live with us, so he sort of became a father figure. His name was David Pettway. He taught me how to play tennis, he took me into his own family. He went far and beyond what a teacher would do for a student. And, I ended up putting his name in a sketch on Saturday Night Live one time. 

The Connector: What are some things that you know now that you’ve learned that you wish that you had known earlier — advice you might want to give to students, and aspiring actors — or other people who want to get into the industry?

Meadows: Not to worry about every audition that you don’t get, because the general rule — and people say this in Hollywood — is that you audition a thousand times before you get your one job and if you keep those odds in the back of your head you won’t feel as bad when you get passed on something. Because people will pass over you. You won’t get a lot of work and there is a lot of rejection in acting. And, the other thing that I think is good advice — something I heard Steve Martin say — is that the thing about show business is that they’re always looking for new people. And, you don’t have to be young. They’re looking for new old people. All you have to do is be good and be dedicated and you can do it. 

Check out “Schooled” on ABC — Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m.