"I want to see lots of varied faces of queerdom."
"I want to see lots of varied faces of queerdom."
A conversation with Somebody Somewhere star Jeff Hiller.
Somebody Somewhere is simply one of the best dramedies on television this year, full stop. It might not be flashy in the way of Emily in Paris or gritty like The Bear, but it’s tender, nuanced, and subtle in ways not often afforded to television characters. In the gentle first season, Sam (Bridget Everett) is reeling from the death of her sister in Kansas and in the process, forms a friendship with a coworker she went to high school with (Joel, played by Jeff Hiller). Sam’s subtle midlife crisis is marked by existential seeking for belonging, within and outside of her family dynamics, and the deep, intimate friendship she forms with Joel.
It meant a lot to get to speak with Jeff Hiller. I didn’t expect that my request for an interview would be greeted with such delight due to the fact that I’m not a major press outlet, and I certainly didn’t expect to get a full half hour with him. It was an emotional moment to not only be interviewing someone for my own, self-run publication, but to be speaking with someone who portrays a character the closest I’ve seen to who I hope to some day be: a gay man who lives within his authenticity, who is beyond the point of trying to hustle for worthiness, who is kind above all. I want to drink teeny ‘tinis with them.
Let’s get this question out of the way — do you and Bridget Everett drink teeny ‘tinis together in real life?
I thought the question was going to be about the pooping scene! You know, not every night, but we’ve had some teeny ‘tinis together, absolutely. She’s really good at making teeny ‘tinis. In the show Joel makes them, but in life it’s always Bridget. She makes the twist of the lemon all pretty, she’s good. You’ll go to a party and she’ll be like, you want a teeny ‘tini? You want a teeny ‘tini? And she’ll make you a teeny ‘tini.
What has been your favourite scene to film so far?
The lazy actor in me is like, one where I’m sitting the whole time. [Laughs]. In season one, I had that really long monologue on the phone inside the tunnel during a tornado. Because there was an actual tornado coming. We only got one take, so I was really nervous about it. I did it and it came out okay, I felt very proud of that.
I love that episode. I didn’t realize an actual tornado was coming, though!
I know, right? Like, too on the nose.
In your own life, have you had friendships similar to the one Joel has with Sam? There’s a raw authenticity and intimacy to the way that friendship reads on screen.
I definitely have had relationships like that. Even when you watch the show and you think, that’s a little unhealthy, mine were actually unhealthier even. I’m someone who can fall into a codependent relationship a little too easily.
So Sam and Joel have more boundaries than some of the friendships you’ve had?
Oh, well, I guess when you put it that way. I mean I’ve never talked on the phone while I’m taking a crap with any of them, so I guess there’s that. But definitely, I usually have one friend who I sort of go to for everything, and it’s usually a straight woman.
On that note, let’s talk about that diarrhea explosion scene. What was it like to film that?
It was very odd. Honestly, when I was doing it, I was like this isn’t that big of a deal. There was an intimacy coordinator there. But then when I actually saw it, and the side effects were added in, I was like oh my god this is very vulnerable. I didn’t really take in how human it would be.
My friends were texting me like, this is crazy.
Same. My friends also texted me saying that was a lot.
The character of Joel makes me emotional to watch, there are so few gentle, gay weirdos on TV. I was wondering what it would have meant for you to see a character like that when you were a younger queer person?
It would have meant so much. Not even just in my teen years, but in my 20s when I was single. The only show that was about exclusively queer people, specifically gay men, was Queer as Folk. I mean, I watched every episode and every minute of it, but they were living a life that was so radically different than mine. I was like, oh, this is gay life, I need to find a two-story club where there’s always a hot, gay go-go boy, and I need abs. I didn’t have any of those things. That makes it sound like I’m shitting on Queer as Folk, but I’m really not.
People ask, do you want to play a straight person? I don’t care about playing a straight person, I just want to see lots of varied faces of queerdom. I played a serial killer, I was a gay serial killer and it was just so exciting to be like…[Laughs].
Representation matters!
We can murder lots of people too!
Thank you Ryan Murphy!
Exactly. So yeah. That’s how I feel. I don’t know if that answers your question though.
It does, that really resonates with me as a 29-year-old single gay person. Those things that Queer as Folk represented are accentuated in the social media and app-dating age, the abs and the gay clubs, they all come together in this…only way of giving you sexual capital, I guess. Then I watch Somebody Somewhere and think, this person is so much more like how I am.
We have equal sexual capital, Michel! Don’t make me explain that, but we do!
Were there any gay characters on TV/film that were on your mind when you were thinking about how to embody your character?
No, I didn’t really look at any pop culture figures. There’s a lot of me in Joel, and then I know so many gay men and some lesbian women who are involved in their church and live in a rural place, or a red state…that translates to Canada, right, red state? Alberta! The church is like their social outlet. These are not people who are like, all I do is pray, I don’t date. These are cool, social justice-focused, progressive people who belong to a faith community. So when I read the script, I had never seen anything like it on TV before, and yet I know exactly who this person is and I would have been this person if I hadn’t left Texas. That’s what I felt when I was preparing for the character.
Do you have any hopes for where the story might take Joel in the future?
Well the biggest hope is that the story will continue and take Joel with it, that we will get a season three, that’s the main hope! And…I just keep going back to that vision board that he had in season one. I love him! He’s such a sweetheart, I want to be his friend too, I just want him to continue getting the things he hopes for and dreams for.
You’re 29, but there’s this moment when you realize, oh I’m definitely on the second half of my life, like oh no, I don’t have the life that I expected. You sort of feel like, oh this is it, this is all I’m going to get out of life. It’s so beautiful when you’re surprised and have new things happen to you when you’re middle-aged. So I just hope he gets that in the same way that I got Somebody Somewhere.
That’s beautiful. Have you read The Velvet Rage by Alan Downs?
I totally have, yes! I read it in my queer book club.
Wait, a queer book club? Say more.
It’s all gay men so we read books that have something to do with gay men. It’s a little loosey-goosey, there’s not like a board or anything. But we read The Velvet Rage, and we discussed it! What were you going to say?
I was just going to mention how the book explores how gay men shed their ego later in life and embrace a more authentic identity, and I feel like Joel is leaning into that a bit.
Yes, I agree. Every once in a while I’ll try to improvise something to make it be known that Joel is aware that he’s a fem gay man, and that’s totally fine with him, and he accepts himself for being that way. It’s very rare, and sometimes doesn’t make the edit. But I really try. I know one makes it into episode five when he says “I am what I am” when Fred makes fun of him for saying something a bridesmaid would do. I want to be that person, so I try to make Joel that person.
I love seeing gay self-acceptance on TV, it’s important. Beyond just like…gay men sleeping with each other for validation on TV.
You know, if you need to do that, that sounds great, good for you. But yeah, there are other kinds of validation too.
Circling back to you as a serial killer, how did American Horror Story come about for you?
It was unlike anything else in my career where they just offered it to me. I was gobsmacked and thrilled. I was in one scene in The Watcher, and they happened to be editing the episode I was in while Somebody Somewhere season one was airing.
I think Ryan Murphy is just one of those really cool people who sees out actors and is like, I want to work with you. Like Billy Eichner, Zachary Quinto, Leslie Jordan. Remember Leslie Jordan was in American Horror Story? I was super honoured. And it was exciting to play something so different than I had played before.
I was going to ask, did you enjoy dipping into the horror genre?
I thought it was really fun. I like horror movies. You don’t get into acting and performing because you want to play one character forever, you know? You want to play lots of different things. That’s why Joel is such a gift too. For the last twenty years I’ve basically played the same thing, which is like, annoying customer service representative. I tell the main character they don’t have a reservation. And that’s fine! I like playing those roles, I’ll play them again, but it’s just so fulfilling to play other options, including horror. I had to cut up a twink’s body, I was covered in fake blood afterwards, I was like, this is so Hollywood!
Are there any characters or genres that are on your vision board?
I’d love to do a broad comedy again, that’s what I started out doing. And you know, I want to work with Mike White, like every other actor in the entire world.
So true. You and Bridget Everett on a White Lotus, I think we need to see that.
I agree. Let’s do it.
If there’s one thing you hope viewers get out of watching Joel on Somebody Somewhere, what would that thing be?
Kindness. Joel is a rare example of kindness on television. I watch Succession too, don’t get me wrong, but it is nice to see someone who’s nice. Kinda weird that this is revolutionary.
Kindness is such an underrated quality to see on TV.
I know. There are some shows now, like Ted Lasso and Schitt’s Creek, maybe.
Ted Lasso can be a little like…hit you over the head with it, versus Somebody Somewhere is a bit more nuanced in its kindness.
Okay, you said that, I didn’t. But [Winks].
For folks reading, what is a drama, comedy, and limited series that you would recommend?
For limited series, Veneno. I think about it all the time.
Did you know they’re filming a sequel?
No! Do you watch Drag Race España?
No I don’t.
Oh my god, I can’t believe it Michel. No I’m just kidding. Two of the judges are the creators of Veneno. But anyway I love Veneno, I love what it says about truth, memory, I loved it.
For comedy, I love What We Do in the Shadows. I’m wild about that vampire show. And drama…what’s a good drama that doesn’t get a ton of press? I don’t need to tell anyone to watch Succession, they're watching. Oh, Pachinko, on Apple TV+, I love Pachinko. Is it getting second season, do you know?
Yes! It was renewed, and—I’m such a TV nerd—they’ve already filmed a lot of it, and have a few more weeks to film in South Korea.
Oh my god, you are a nerd. I’m impressed. I love the first season and I can’t wait to watch the second.
