September 23, 2025 • 33 mins
This week, Tommy is joined by the very talented actor Derek Luh! Derek is best known for his role in Amazon Prime’s hit series, Gen V which is a spinoff to the fan-favorite series The Boys, and Season 2 is out right now. Gen V explores the lives of hormonal and competitive young adult superheroes as they put physical, sexual and moral boundaries to the test at America’s only college, exclusively for superheroes. Today, Derek opens up about if he feels the importance/pressure of playing a role that means so much to so many, if he wants Jordan and Marie to be endgame, what he has most learned about himself through playing Jordan, a dream storyline for his character in future seasons, how the cast felt the beloved Chance Perdomo with them all season long, what’s on his Jordan playlist to help him get into character, what he hopes for Jordan in the end, if he’s thought about a superhero name, why a Jordan vs Homelander face-off would be epic, if he’s able to take in all of his success without worrying about what’s next, how his spirituality helps him stay grounded, a very personal milestone in his life that he is proud of, and so much more.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, guys, who doesn't sometimes fantasize that they have some
sort of epic superhero power. Anyone, just me, Okay, maybe
just me. Welcome to I've never said this before with me.
You're a non superhero Tommy to Darry. I am such
a fan of the TV series gen V, which is
the spinoff to the series The Boys, and today I
(00:23):
have fan favorite badass actor Derek Lou on my show now.
If you haven't caught gen V yet, the series explores
the lives of well, let's say, hormonal and very competitive
young adult superheroes as they put physical and sexual and
even moral boundaries to the test at America's only college
exclusively for superheroes. And my boy, Derek plays one of
(00:46):
the most powerful superheroes in his entire university.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Man.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
He brings such depth to a multi layered role and
you always are left wanting more screen time with Derek
because his performance is so damn good. Season two is
out right now and we are diving into all things
gen V and The Boys and even who Derek is
without a superhero persona and so many other fun topics.
So let's see if today we can get Derek to
(01:11):
say something that he has never said before.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Derek Lou, how you doing, my man?
Speaker 3 (01:22):
I'm good. How about you?
Speaker 1 (01:23):
I'm doing good. It's nice to be hanging out with you.
It's an exciting time in your life.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Huh, it is.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
It's very exciting.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
We're gearing up to do the full press run for
the second season to gen V.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
I'm very excited, man.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
I feel like we've been waiting for season two for
a while and now we're ready.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
You're telling me I've been waiting for season two for
a while now. So I'm excited. I'm excited that it's
coming out, and I'm excited that everybody gets to see it.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Man, So with the new season when it drops, do
you feel like anxious beforehand? Are you counting down? Are
you're like, oh my god, I just need it out?
Like what's the vibe before?
Speaker 3 (01:56):
I think?
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Yeah, I think there's a I think the period now
there's a period of acceptance. You're just like it's coming
out when it gets so close. I think the the
weird time is in between, like when you wrap to
when it starts to come out, because there's this this
like year of not knowing you know, so you're like, god,
I wonder how you know how I did. I wonder
(02:20):
when it's going to be edited, when we get some new,
you know, news about it. So there's like that in
between period where it's it's a little more daunting, I
guess you you could say, but I think then when
when it starts, like you're you're in it doing the
comic cons and it's it's like starting to do press
and everything, I think there's this there's this like quiet
(02:41):
acceptance where you're just like, you know what, I did
my part, and I'm just excited to share with the
world now.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Yeah, oh, quiet acceptance. I like that.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
And that's something I feel like you as an artist
have to deal with more than perhaps me and my job,
where I have a little bit more control over the
final outcome. You do the work, but you don't really
know how it's going to all come together in the end, right.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Yeah, absolutely, And I think that's something that I'll forever be,
you know, working on. But a as a young actor
who's only been doing it for you know, five or
six years, I think that's like the biggest lesson that
I've learned is you know, and I guess you could
apply this to any facet of your life is control
what you can control, you know, the prep, showing up
(03:26):
with a good attitude, being professional, making it a safe
space for all of my co stars to you know,
the co inhabit and just just doing the work and
being proud of the work that you've done. And for
lack of a better term, I come from a sports world,
so like leaving it all on the field. You know,
as long as I'm like leaving it all out there
(03:47):
every single day, you know, I feel proud of the
work that I've done and whatever happens happens, you know.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Yeah, for sure, and you should feel proud.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Man.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I mean, you created a character that means so much
to so many people. You know, Jordan is this gender shifter,
and that conversation around Jordan, there's so much conversation around
mental health and sexuality and humanity and all of these things.
Do you feel the importance of that role to people?
Like do you feel the pressure of that?
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Absolutely? Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
The first season, me in London, who I share the
role with, who's a fantastic actor and a great French.
He's just so great to work with on this role.
We were we were nervous. We were definitely like cause
it's it's the boys, you know, like they love to
poke fun. But they also do such a great job
(04:39):
at making sure that they are telling the story and
giving these you know, marginalized people a voice, a real voice,
which is it was really great. And the and the
writers did such a great job. And we had a
trans consultant and jet on the writing staff and on
(04:59):
product so that it was really it was really thought
out and really taking care of So yeah, in the beginning,
we were we were both extremely nervous. I couldn't show
it because London was a little more nervous than I was.
So I was like, it's going to be fine, Like
it's great. I was trying to be the voice of reason,
but inside I was a little nervous. And then to
(05:20):
to see how they took such care of Jordan and
really made them this this beautiful, well thought out character
with who's not just like this side thought. They have
a full, beautiful arc, full range of emotions, and also
are extremely fucking badass and are like can I cuss
is that? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
You can? Okay? Okay?
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Are extremely badass and and and are is They are
one of the most powerful soups in the entire you know,
Boys universe.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
So it's it's it's really cool.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Yeah, for sure, and it's so cool. It's it's such
a unique character. I mean, I've never seen a character
like this. You obviously play the male side and London
plays the female side of Jordan. Yeah, what have you
most learned about yourself through playing is such a big role.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Oh wow, that's such a great question. I think.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
I think that I think the biggest thing that I've
learned while playing Jordan.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Would have to be.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
This level of not feeling enough, you know, like this,
Like I I understood that feeling of just wanting to
be accepted for who you are so badly, but but
not showing it, having to have this like tough exterior
and not show who you truly are because the world
(06:43):
views you and villainizes you just because of who you are,
so really understand like being able to dive into that
and understand that and then finding that there are pieces
of that in me as well, and you know, it's
just yeah, that was that was really eye opening, and
I think it was beautiful. It was beautiful part of
the process.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
I'm sure, I'm sure a bit you know, cathartic and
therapeutic too.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Absolutely, absolutely, for sure.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
That's awesome when your art can make you feel more
at peace with something in your own life, or you
can learn something from it even though it's not directly
related to that character. It opens your eyes to something else,
which I think is awesome. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
I mean, that's one of my favorite things about art
is that you and especially with acting and playing a character,
is when you get a role you know early in
your career, they're kind of sending you stuff that you're
most similar to. But then when you get something that
is a little bit a little farther away from who
you are, because I guess all of these are extensions
(07:44):
of ourselves, it's really nice to be able to like
go and find how you relate with this character and
realize like, oh wow, these are completely different set of circumstances,
but I can completely relate on this like this bare
minimum human level.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
That's a beautiful thing, man, Yes, that's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
That really really is.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
And season two, I have no doubt we are going
to see some epic moments from you in this season.
We've been waiting for it and I'm certainly very excited
for it. So let's let's dive in a bit to
the extent that you can. So we know that your
character and Marie were kind of heating up. There was
a budding romance in season one. What do you feel
(08:24):
about all of that? Do you kind of hope that
they might be endgame?
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Dude?
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Marie and Jordan better be endgame? They are they are
and maybe bias and maybe bias. They're my favorite couple
I think in the entire dare I say Vaught cinematic universe.
I know that's a lot. We got Huie and Starlight
and Sam and Emma. There's a lot of relationships, but
(08:49):
I may be biased. I think it's just these two
just misunderstood, broken people that see one another in each other.
It's like this like twin flame thing, you know, where
you like hold up the mirror to the other person,
and I just think it's just so beautiful and so
dynamic and three dimensional. And it's also you know, credit
(09:10):
to Jazz for having to have chemistry with two separate people,
you know, and make it seamless and make it as one.
And then it's also it's also great that there are
little differences and nuances when there's the male version present
and the female version present. So yeah, Marie Jordan endgame
stamp of approval always absolutely so.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
We I mean we don't know obviously where it's all
going to go, but you're gonna be in that writer's
room until the end, being like you all better make
this happen for sure.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
At one thousand percent.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Oh man, that's awesome. So are there any new characters
this season that you're really psyched about?
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Like, do you have a favorite new character?
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (09:48):
I do. I of course I can't mention them. I'll
keep it.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Yeah, I can't mention that, but it's it's one of
my favorite characters and they have a very cool power
that that we get to explore this season. One that
I can mention that I think is really great is
Hamish who plays Cipher the Dean. He is just so
fantastic and just so explosive and just a great Dean.
(10:15):
He's just he plays a great Dean. But yeah, he's
he's he's awesome. He's he's one of my favorite for
sure this season as well.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
And what do you psyched for us to see regarding
your character? I know you can't say much, but it's yeah,
it's a whole new season there's always a lot of
jam packed action and a lot that goes into it.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
So what what excites you?
Speaker 4 (10:33):
I think I think the thing that excites me most
this season with Jordan.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Is is the growth.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
There's there's a lot of growth that Jordan goes through
because you know, in the in the first season, their
whole reality is essentially shattered. What they thought Godlkin was,
who Brink was, the ranking system, like their whole getting
getting to the seven. Their whole world just collapsed around them.
So having to kind of just deal with that reality
(11:01):
and put the pieces back together. Jordan does it in
a very Jordan way, but I will say as graceful
as Jordan can do it, and it's just a it's
just a beautiful, cathartic process to watch watch Jordan process
all of these big feelings and emotions and events that
happen to them and see them really really triumph and
(11:25):
and have just like a beautiful, beautiful arc from you know,
beginning of season to end.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Man, That's what I love about this show is there's yeah,
so much action and you know, blood and guts and
all of it, and then superhero magic, but there's also
so much heart and there's so much real life conversation
and themes and and takeaways that after you watch it,
you're like, oh, man, like that's actually something that I
want to feel or I want to experience, or I
want to be better. Like it's a very hard thing
(11:53):
to achieve, but the show marries those worlds together.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Yeah, it does.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
I mean credit to the writers and showrunner and Kripkey.
They they do such a good job. We always say
it's it's humanity first, superpower second.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
That's how the show is.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
It goes in very Yes, these are people that have superpowers,
but the themes that they deal with are very much
real world human themes that anybody can relate to.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Hmm, okay, let's have fun for a minute. Then what
would be a dream storyline in like season four or five?
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Oh, season four or five.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
I would really I would really love I've been thinking
about this for a long time. I would really love
for because we got it a little bit in season
one with the confrontation with the dad. But I would
really love like a cathartic ending to that. I would
really love that, like love and acceptance from from Jordan's dad,
(12:53):
Like maybe a scene where they just you know, just
just I'm almost sad to say, but like, you know,
really open up and like beg them to love them
for who they are, you know, Like I think that'd
be a really that'd be like a dream moment. Whether
it's me or London. I just want to see Jordan
(13:14):
really you know, men that relationship with their parents and
and potentially you know, change their their father's view on
on on them and in the world. I think that
would be so so beautiful.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
M you were ready to bring those emotional acting chops
to the table. Yeah, man, yeah, yeah, I see you,
I see you.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
It was it was well and up in me already.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
I was feeling I was like, oh god, man, I
was just yeah, for.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Sure, that would be awesome to see. And I hope
that does happen because I know that moment would for
sure definitely mean a lot to many people. And I
think there's a way where you both could play that.
You know, there's a way, Yeah, oh.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
For sure, absolutely, there definitely could be.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
I love how tight everyone seems to be in this cast,
and that always makes a show more enjoyable as a viewer,
I think because you feel like the love is actually
off screen too, as it is on screen, and you know,
I know, this season very much from what I've been reading,
honors the beautiful, beautiful Chance, who the world lost, of
(14:24):
course in the motorcycle accident, so suddenly and terribly. Did
you guys feel him around you this season?
Speaker 4 (14:31):
Absolutely? I mean, Chances is felt through the entire season.
I mean it is. He is the beating heart of
this season, and having watched it, it's very apparent that
the Andre and Chance being a part of this has
elevated the show to another level in celebrating his remembrance,
(14:56):
It's yeah, he was with us that entire season, for sure.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
That's always a comforting thing, I think when you know
you lose someone and obviously they're physically not here, but
you can still kind of feel them around you.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Absolutely. Absolutely, Yeah, Well that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
That's that's really no surprise given the amazing talent behind
the show. But that's that's awesome that there was a
beautiful way to keep that legacy going, which is very
exciting to see and to watch for sure.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (15:23):
Absolutely, Well, I think that there's a lot of surprises
coming this season, for sure, And I know you can't
really tell us much more, but maybe you can share.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Do you make a playlist for your character? Do you
have songs that revue up where you're like, let's go.
I know music is a huge part of your identity.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
That's a great question. I do have a playlist. Actually,
I have a Jordan playlist. Let me see if I
can share a couple of them.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
Let me see.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Now, was this a new one for season two?
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (15:55):
So I in season one, I had worked a certain way,
and then after you know, season one, I had met Asa,
and Asa put me onto are now acting coach Berg.
He calls himself the Berg, but he's fantastic. He's He's
absolutely changed my life, not only as an artist and
(16:19):
how I approach the work, but also.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
How I view the world.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
So just yeah, So, going into the second season, having
been working with him during the off season and then
prepping the character as well, music had become a big,
like focal point of like scene, the scene line, the line,
you know, like this is the the scene?
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Is this?
Speaker 4 (16:41):
Feel like I was scoring my own scenes, you know,
and I'd have it in the back of my head,
or I'd listen to the music before the scene and
kind of have that pace in that rhythm, or even
just like a noise that like if there was like
a you know, a high hat or like a weird synth,
I'd like hold on to that and have that like
kind of permeating throughout the entire scenes. So it was
(17:01):
a really it was a new thing for this second
season and it was very, very very helpful. All right,
let me get to it and see if I can
share a couple of songs. It's a little it's a
little personal, but uh so, Venus in Furs by the
Velvet Underground was one that I really had change by
(17:25):
Death Tones was another one that was really helped, like
bring the world together, Angel Massive Attack. There was also
some some classical Swan Lake Symphony Number forty Blind by
Corn was another one. What's Up by four Non Blondes?
(17:52):
That's that was another good one. Closer nine inch Nails nice. Yeah,
a lot of rock. As you can tell, there's a
classical and then it's like a lot of rock, Fat Lips,
some forty one Chop Suey System of the Down. I
believe in a thing called love the Darkness Against all Odds.
Phil Collins, ooh, yeah, that was.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
A really good one.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
That was a fun, fun day shooting that scene that
that song attributed to.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
That's awesome, man, that's so cool to I'm gonna go
back and replace some of those and you know, it'll
be fun to kind of think, Oh.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
I wonder what kind of scene Ip was getting into
in this.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
That's awesome that that music can get you there. That's awesome,
And thank you for sharing. I know music is a
very personal thing, but I always find that so interesting
for sure, So.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Rock on with that, my man.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
One day when the series comes to an end in
five thousand seasons.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
What do you want for your character?
Speaker 1 (18:49):
You've grown close to Jordan, I know this is close
to your heart.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
What do you just hope for Jordan?
Speaker 4 (18:56):
God, that's such a great question. I just I truly
want them to be happy. I want them to be
like in the whole sense of the word. I want
them to be fully in love with themselves and have
just the self confidence and that that self acceptance and
(19:17):
and just be able to to seek that validation or
receive that validation internally, you know, not have to look externally. Yeah,
I think just with all that being said, I think
the simplest answer would be for Jordan to just be
happy and like truly happy and love themselves. M M.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
That would be nice for all of us, right.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Course, absolutely, absolutely, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
That's awesome. I love that.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
And do you think Jordan would have a really badass
superhero name?
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Have you thought about this?
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Of course absolutely, I haven't thought of the name, but
I know that they would have a badass superhero name.
But if you left it up to to give them
a superhero name, it would be something super ridiculous and
super out of pocket like Ying Yang.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Or some shit like that.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
You know what I'm saying, And be like be like
I don't even know, man, there'd be something super yeah,
super offensive, super out of pocket, like yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
You've really not thought of what the name would be.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
I haven't, honestly, I because I want I don't want
to get attached to it, and I I just I don't. Yeah,
I I think I think superhero names come with being
a part of the VOT system.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
So the fact that we have our actual names and
we go by like Marie Moreau, Ma Myers, you know,
Sam Reardon, Jordan Lee, it's it's our identity.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
We own it.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
But like Soldier Boy was in Homelander, these are created,
These are Vaught created, names that they slap on you
and they make you a product. So I think I think,
I think part of me is resistant to it because
I'm like, as Jordan, You're like, well, fuck the system,
you know, fuck Vought, fuck them, fuck the school.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
I don't want to any part of that.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
So I think that maybe a little bit like subconsciously
why I haven't thought.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Of it much.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Yeah, that makes sense, that totally makes sense. And you
I keep hearing you say Vaught. So now this question
came to mind too. If there could be any character
from the Boys franchise that Jordan would want to fight,
who would you pick fight?
Speaker 3 (21:28):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (21:28):
Man, I mean, well, Jordan is an overachiever. They want
the best. They understand that like steal sharpened steel, So
they would go straight to the pinnacle Homelander. Ooh, they'd
go straight to the pinnacle. That's who they would want
to fight.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
That would be bloody and brutal.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
It would be absolutely But I mean, look, we're young
with our skills. But I think, and I may be biased,
I think if we sharpen our tool, we might be
able to give him a run for his money.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Okay, y, we're ready for it. That's a matchup. I
would definitely want to watch congrats man on all of it,
Like this is just talking to you about it. And
I've watched you know, the Boys for all the seasons,
and then I got into gen V of course, and
I imagine being welcome into a world that the Boys
(22:17):
first created and having this epic character very early on
in your career to kind of launch, you must feel
like a pinch me moment over and over again, like
do you realize the success you've had already in your
career or are you so in it you're like, what's next?
What's next? Like what's your relationship with success?
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Alike?
Speaker 4 (22:37):
Yeah, that's another great question. I do reflect a lot.
I remember There'd be times on the first season where
I'd just be sitting there staring with a smile on
my face, and I remember Maddie would be like, what
are you thinking about? And I'm like, I'm just thinking
about how grateful I am to be here, Like this
is insane. Because on my birthday last year, before we
(22:59):
started shooting the first season, I remember my friend had asked, like,
what's your goal? What's your goal for you know, this
this next year, Like what do you want to do?
And I'm like, like, by the next birthday, what do
you want to do? And I said, I don't care
what I do. I just want to be on set
working on something that I truly am excited for and
passionate about. And a year later, on my birthday, there
(23:20):
was a cake brought out during our lunchtime during the
first season on set. It was like the most insane, powerful, manifestation,
surreal moment that I've I've ever had. And yeah, I
think I think you do get you lose sight of that,
like when you're when you're doing the first season and
the second season, there's so much gratitude and you're expressing that.
(23:41):
But then also as as an artist, you're like, Okay,
what's next, what's next?
Speaker 3 (23:45):
What's next?
Speaker 4 (23:46):
I know this, you know I I would love to
do something else and love to uh, you know, to
add to to the to the gen V catalog. And
it's it's you can get caught up in that, in
that cycle of always wanting to like move to the
next thing and do the next thing and stretch yourself
as an artist, that you forget to slow down and
(24:07):
be super grateful about where you are and what you've accomplished.
But Yeah, there are moments where I have to like
tell myself, I'm like, I sit down and I reflect,
and I'm just like, this is this is everything I
could have ever imagined and dreamed for.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
And because of that, which is quite a powerful feeling
and emotion to tie to the work that anybody does,
do you ever worry like, oh man, what if one
day this goes away? Or do you just do you
not have that kind of anxiety? Do you forward think
or do you kind of wrestle with that as well?
Speaker 4 (24:45):
Look, I love acting in the art and the craft
so much that if my path led me to like
teaching somewhere, I would be fulfilled because I just love
the craft and I love being around it, and I
love creating, and I love talking to creatives, and I
love sharing the knowledge that I have, and I love
(25:05):
gaining knowledge that I don't have about the arts and
about the craft and about film that I You know,
there obviously is like a moment where you're like, man,
I would love to do this forever. I would love
to go and do movies and get greenlit anything that
I that I sign up for and be like I
like this script, let's do it. There's obviously a world
where you would love to do that, but I don't
(25:28):
really I don't really care that much. I think whatever
happens happens, and if it's meant for me to continue
on for a billion years, or if it's meant to
be to you know, go and create an act in
some other lane, I would be fine because I just
love the art so much and I love the craft
(25:49):
so much.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
That's awesome to hear, because I think it's so hard
sometimes when we love what we do to not tie
our entire identity to it. And I have no doubt
you're going to do all the things you just said
in movies and making shit and all of it, because
you're brilliant at what you do and this is just
the beginning. But I like to sometimes ask that question,
as you know now, your older brother, of course.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
Because you know, because it's it's good.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
It's a good thing to love what you do but
not tie your soul identity to it, because that can
be very dangerous in my opinion. So I love seeing
grounded artists like you who who are killing it and
crushing it and living the dream and will continue to
live the dream, but also seemingly has a good sense
of self. Do you strike me as someone pretty spiritual
or in touch with you know who you are?
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Is that right?
Speaker 1 (26:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (26:36):
Yeah, yeah, I've always been I've always been spiritual. I
always understood that there's there's a higher power, there's something
that is outside of us. But yeah, I think I
think just just really you know, relinquishing that ego and
(26:56):
understanding that you're just like this like tiny little thing
on this floating rock, or even even with acting like
you're just a part of the cog, You're just a department.
You know what I'm saying, Like you're a department just
like everybody else, and you make this thing move. Is
it just it helps ground you know, ground me in
(27:16):
a way.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
As we wrap up, because I know you were booked
and busy. My man.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
The name of the show is called I've never said
this before, and it was born. I work on a
show called Extra as well, and I cover a lot
of red carpets and junkets, and you know, you got
like two minutes with someone or six minutes at a junket,
and it's just not a ton of time. And I
was kind of seeing the desire from people I was
chatting with to want to say something different or a
(27:48):
little more personal or cater to them and not hit
the same bites over and over.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Which is why I created the show.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
I try to get different things out of the conversation,
and I wrap up every episode with the same question
based off the title of the show, which is, is
there something that you've never said before that you want
to say today whatever it means to you.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
I've thought about this for a little bit, and I
don't know if i've I've said it like in like
a press setting. But last week, I think it was Tuesday,
September two, was my ninth year of sobriety.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
Man.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
Congrats.
Speaker 4 (28:28):
Yeah, that makes me emotional thinking about it. Oh yeah,
it's uh, excuse me, sorry. It's just something I'm really
proud of. And I think that's why I have such
a such a gratitude for all of these blessings, because
(28:50):
I really I shouldn't even really be here, you know,
So this is just like just like a cherry on
top of that, you know, of all of it. So yeah, yeah,
that's that's That's something I've never said before.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
Thank you, thank you, seriously, thank you for sharing that.
I think a lot of people are going to hear
that and feel like they're on the right path and
that's helpful to them. And maybe it's a sign to
them that they wanted to make a change and that
that's that's a sign. And I know that's so personal,
not always easy to say, especially in most interview settings
which are so quick, but that's really awesome, man, Congrats
(29:30):
to you. I have very very you know, close people
in my life who have celebrated milestones like that, and
it's a beautiful thing. You must you must be really
proud of yourself.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
I am. That is.
Speaker 4 (29:42):
There are a lot of things I'm unsure of in
my life, but that is one thing that I'm very
sure and very proud of of of accomplishing that.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
There's a very small percentage.
Speaker 4 (29:52):
Of of people that make it that like in recovery,
so I'm very grateful that I was able to, you know,
persevere and continue to take it one day at a time.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Man, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
And for anyone listening who who might be going through
their own struggle and they just want a little affirmation
to keep going. I mean, is there any piece of
advice you can offer?
Speaker 4 (30:19):
I mean, you you just you have to do it
for yourself. That was my main thing. Is you have
to do it for yourself, because I tried to do
it for my parents, and I tried to do it
for this reason. And you know, when I really hit
my rock bottom, I I decided, you know, I started
bargaining with God. I said, look, if you get me
(30:41):
out of this safe, I will never touch a drink
or drug again. And you know, by the grace of God,
I got out of there safe. And I never did
I decided not to. But I really did it for myself.
There was I felt alone and I really buckled down
and had to do this for myself and find my why.
(31:03):
And yeah, just just forgive yourself. Be easy on yourself.
It's you know, it's a it's a hard disease to
live with, but yeah, just just keep the faith and
keep hope and just take it one day at a time.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
Man, Man again, thank you. This is this is exactly
why I do this show.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
It's it's yes, I love celebrating the work and that
has tremendous value, and I like, I love the fun
of that, but I also love moments like this and
where I can sit across from this seemingly badass successful
young dude in his prime who's like yo. But this
also is important, so let's talk about it now. I me,
it makes me emotional, so truly. Thank you for sharing that.
(31:45):
That's really fucking awesome.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
Of course.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Well, thank you for hosting this, this platform and giving
allowing you know, artists, this this medium to do that.
It's it's very special and I appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Ah well, I appreciate you, brother jen V. Season two,
let's fucking go.
Speaker 4 (32:02):
Let's right, Oh right, you're right, yeah, September seventeenth. Man,
I don't know when this is coming out, but September seventeenth, yes, absolutely,
I'm yes.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Yes, this will be out by then, so everyone watch it.
We'll keep watching it, keep posting about it. We love it,
and man, I can't wait to see all the things
you continue to do. If you're ever in New York City,
hit me up. We'll grab a coffee and keep on
killing it.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
I was just there for a month, dude. Had I known,
we could have grabbed a coffee, dude, I will for
sure be in New York again.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
Absolutely, all right, well next time, my brother gen V.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
Congratulations and now we're going to all go download some
of those songs that you just told.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
Yeah, I created Jordan playlist.
Speaker 4 (32:40):
I may have to make one on Spotify so everyone
can can join.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
Brilliant man.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
We'll be well, okay, all right, I appreciate you. Thank
you so much.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
I've never said this before. It's hosted by me, Tommy Diderio.
This podcast is executive produced by Andrew Publisi at iHeartRadio
and by me Tommy, with editing by Josh Shua Colaudney.
I've Never Said This Before is part of the Elvis
Duran podcast Network on iHeart Podcasts. For more, rate review
and subscribe to our show and if you liked this episode,
(33:11):
tell your friends. Until next time, I'm Tommy Diderio.
Hey, guys, who doesn't sometimes fantasize that they have some
sort of epic superhero power. Anyone, just me, Okay, maybe
just me. Welcome to I've never said this before with me.
You're a non superhero Tommy to Darry. I am such
a fan of the TV series gen V, which is
the spinoff to the series The Boys, and today I
(00:23):
have fan favorite badass actor Derek Lou on my show now.
If you haven't caught gen V yet, the series explores
the lives of well, let's say, hormonal and very competitive
young adult superheroes as they put physical and sexual and
even moral boundaries to the test at America's only college
exclusively for superheroes. And my boy, Derek plays one of
(00:46):
the most powerful superheroes in his entire university.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Man.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
He brings such depth to a multi layered role and
you always are left wanting more screen time with Derek
because his performance is so damn good. Season two is
out right now and we are diving into all things
gen V and The Boys and even who Derek is
without a superhero persona and so many other fun topics.
So let's see if today we can get Derek to
(01:11):
say something that he has never said before.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Derek Lou, how you doing, my man?
Speaker 3 (01:22):
I'm good. How about you?
Speaker 1 (01:23):
I'm doing good. It's nice to be hanging out with you.
It's an exciting time in your life.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Huh, it is.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
It's very exciting.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
We're gearing up to do the full press run for
the second season to gen V.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
I'm very excited, man.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
I feel like we've been waiting for season two for
a while and now we're ready.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
You're telling me I've been waiting for season two for
a while now. So I'm excited. I'm excited that it's
coming out, and I'm excited that everybody gets to see it.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Man, So with the new season when it drops, do
you feel like anxious beforehand? Are you counting down? Are
you're like, oh my god, I just need it out?
Like what's the vibe before?
Speaker 3 (01:56):
I think?
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Yeah, I think there's a I think the period now
there's a period of acceptance. You're just like it's coming
out when it gets so close. I think the the
weird time is in between, like when you wrap to
when it starts to come out, because there's this this
like year of not knowing you know, so you're like, god,
I wonder how you know how I did. I wonder
(02:20):
when it's going to be edited, when we get some new,
you know, news about it. So there's like that in
between period where it's it's a little more daunting, I
guess you you could say, but I think then when
when it starts, like you're you're in it doing the
comic cons and it's it's like starting to do press
and everything, I think there's this there's this like quiet
(02:41):
acceptance where you're just like, you know what, I did
my part, and I'm just excited to share with the
world now.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Yeah, oh, quiet acceptance. I like that.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
And that's something I feel like you as an artist
have to deal with more than perhaps me and my job,
where I have a little bit more control over the
final outcome. You do the work, but you don't really
know how it's going to all come together in the end, right.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Yeah, absolutely, And I think that's something that I'll forever be,
you know, working on. But a as a young actor
who's only been doing it for you know, five or
six years, I think that's like the biggest lesson that
I've learned is you know, and I guess you could
apply this to any facet of your life is control
what you can control, you know, the prep, showing up
(03:26):
with a good attitude, being professional, making it a safe
space for all of my co stars to you know,
the co inhabit and just just doing the work and
being proud of the work that you've done. And for
lack of a better term, I come from a sports world,
so like leaving it all on the field. You know,
as long as I'm like leaving it all out there
(03:47):
every single day, you know, I feel proud of the
work that I've done and whatever happens happens, you know.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Yeah, for sure, and you should feel proud.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Man.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I mean, you created a character that means so much
to so many people. You know, Jordan is this gender shifter,
and that conversation around Jordan, there's so much conversation around
mental health and sexuality and humanity and all of these things.
Do you feel the importance of that role to people?
Like do you feel the pressure of that?
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Absolutely? Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
The first season, me in London, who I share the
role with, who's a fantastic actor and a great French.
He's just so great to work with on this role.
We were we were nervous. We were definitely like cause
it's it's the boys, you know, like they love to
poke fun. But they also do such a great job
(04:39):
at making sure that they are telling the story and
giving these you know, marginalized people a voice, a real voice,
which is it was really great. And the and the
writers did such a great job. And we had a
trans consultant and jet on the writing staff and on
(04:59):
product so that it was really it was really thought
out and really taking care of So yeah, in the beginning,
we were we were both extremely nervous. I couldn't show
it because London was a little more nervous than I was.
So I was like, it's going to be fine, Like
it's great. I was trying to be the voice of reason,
but inside I was a little nervous. And then to
(05:20):
to see how they took such care of Jordan and
really made them this this beautiful, well thought out character
with who's not just like this side thought. They have
a full, beautiful arc, full range of emotions, and also
are extremely fucking badass and are like can I cuss
is that? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
You can? Okay? Okay?
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Are extremely badass and and and are is They are
one of the most powerful soups in the entire you know,
Boys universe.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
So it's it's it's really cool.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Yeah, for sure, and it's so cool. It's it's such
a unique character. I mean, I've never seen a character
like this. You obviously play the male side and London
plays the female side of Jordan. Yeah, what have you
most learned about yourself through playing is such a big role.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Oh wow, that's such a great question. I think.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
I think that I think the biggest thing that I've
learned while playing Jordan.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Would have to be.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
This level of not feeling enough, you know, like this,
Like I I understood that feeling of just wanting to
be accepted for who you are so badly, but but
not showing it, having to have this like tough exterior
and not show who you truly are because the world
(06:43):
views you and villainizes you just because of who you are,
so really understand like being able to dive into that
and understand that and then finding that there are pieces
of that in me as well, and you know, it's
just yeah, that was that was really eye opening, and
I think it was beautiful. It was beautiful part of
the process.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
I'm sure, I'm sure a bit you know, cathartic and
therapeutic too.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Absolutely, absolutely, for sure.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
That's awesome when your art can make you feel more
at peace with something in your own life, or you
can learn something from it even though it's not directly
related to that character. It opens your eyes to something else,
which I think is awesome. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
I mean, that's one of my favorite things about art
is that you and especially with acting and playing a character,
is when you get a role you know early in
your career, they're kind of sending you stuff that you're
most similar to. But then when you get something that
is a little bit a little farther away from who
you are, because I guess all of these are extensions
(07:44):
of ourselves, it's really nice to be able to like
go and find how you relate with this character and
realize like, oh wow, these are completely different set of circumstances,
but I can completely relate on this like this bare
minimum human level.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
That's a beautiful thing, man, Yes, that's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
That really really is.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
And season two, I have no doubt we are going
to see some epic moments from you in this season.
We've been waiting for it and I'm certainly very excited
for it. So let's let's dive in a bit to
the extent that you can. So we know that your
character and Marie were kind of heating up. There was
a budding romance in season one. What do you feel
(08:24):
about all of that? Do you kind of hope that
they might be endgame?
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Dude?
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Marie and Jordan better be endgame? They are they are
and maybe bias and maybe bias. They're my favorite couple
I think in the entire dare I say Vaught cinematic universe.
I know that's a lot. We got Huie and Starlight
and Sam and Emma. There's a lot of relationships, but
(08:49):
I may be biased. I think it's just these two
just misunderstood, broken people that see one another in each other.
It's like this like twin flame thing, you know, where
you like hold up the mirror to the other person,
and I just think it's just so beautiful and so
dynamic and three dimensional. And it's also you know, credit
(09:10):
to Jazz for having to have chemistry with two separate people,
you know, and make it seamless and make it as one.
And then it's also it's also great that there are
little differences and nuances when there's the male version present
and the female version present. So yeah, Marie Jordan endgame
stamp of approval always absolutely so.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
We I mean we don't know obviously where it's all
going to go, but you're gonna be in that writer's
room until the end, being like you all better make
this happen for sure.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
At one thousand percent.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Oh man, that's awesome. So are there any new characters
this season that you're really psyched about?
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Like, do you have a favorite new character?
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (09:48):
I do. I of course I can't mention them. I'll
keep it.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Yeah, I can't mention that, but it's it's one of
my favorite characters and they have a very cool power
that that we get to explore this season. One that
I can mention that I think is really great is
Hamish who plays Cipher the Dean. He is just so
fantastic and just so explosive and just a great Dean.
(10:15):
He's just he plays a great Dean. But yeah, he's
he's he's awesome. He's he's one of my favorite for
sure this season as well.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
And what do you psyched for us to see regarding
your character? I know you can't say much, but it's yeah,
it's a whole new season there's always a lot of
jam packed action and a lot that goes into it.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
So what what excites you?
Speaker 4 (10:33):
I think I think the thing that excites me most
this season with Jordan.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Is is the growth.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
There's there's a lot of growth that Jordan goes through
because you know, in the in the first season, their
whole reality is essentially shattered. What they thought Godlkin was,
who Brink was, the ranking system, like their whole getting
getting to the seven. Their whole world just collapsed around them.
So having to kind of just deal with that reality
(11:01):
and put the pieces back together. Jordan does it in
a very Jordan way, but I will say as graceful
as Jordan can do it, and it's just a it's
just a beautiful, cathartic process to watch watch Jordan process
all of these big feelings and emotions and events that
happen to them and see them really really triumph and
(11:25):
and have just like a beautiful, beautiful arc from you know,
beginning of season to end.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Man, That's what I love about this show is there's yeah,
so much action and you know, blood and guts and
all of it, and then superhero magic, but there's also
so much heart and there's so much real life conversation
and themes and and takeaways that after you watch it,
you're like, oh, man, like that's actually something that I
want to feel or I want to experience, or I
want to be better. Like it's a very hard thing
(11:53):
to achieve, but the show marries those worlds together.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Yeah, it does.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
I mean credit to the writers and showrunner and Kripkey.
They they do such a good job. We always say
it's it's humanity first, superpower second.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
That's how the show is.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
It goes in very Yes, these are people that have superpowers,
but the themes that they deal with are very much
real world human themes that anybody can relate to.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Hmm, okay, let's have fun for a minute. Then what
would be a dream storyline in like season four or five?
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Oh, season four or five.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
I would really I would really love I've been thinking
about this for a long time. I would really love
for because we got it a little bit in season
one with the confrontation with the dad. But I would
really love like a cathartic ending to that. I would
really love that, like love and acceptance from from Jordan's dad,
(12:53):
Like maybe a scene where they just you know, just
just I'm almost sad to say, but like, you know,
really open up and like beg them to love them
for who they are, you know, Like I think that'd
be a really that'd be like a dream moment. Whether
it's me or London. I just want to see Jordan
(13:14):
really you know, men that relationship with their parents and
and potentially you know, change their their father's view on
on on them and in the world. I think that
would be so so beautiful.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
M you were ready to bring those emotional acting chops
to the table. Yeah, man, yeah, yeah, I see you,
I see you.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
It was it was well and up in me already.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
I was feeling I was like, oh god, man, I
was just yeah, for.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Sure, that would be awesome to see. And I hope
that does happen because I know that moment would for
sure definitely mean a lot to many people. And I
think there's a way where you both could play that.
You know, there's a way, Yeah, oh.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
For sure, absolutely, there definitely could be.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
I love how tight everyone seems to be in this cast,
and that always makes a show more enjoyable as a viewer,
I think because you feel like the love is actually
off screen too, as it is on screen, and you know,
I know, this season very much from what I've been reading,
honors the beautiful, beautiful Chance, who the world lost, of
(14:24):
course in the motorcycle accident, so suddenly and terribly. Did
you guys feel him around you this season?
Speaker 4 (14:31):
Absolutely? I mean, Chances is felt through the entire season.
I mean it is. He is the beating heart of
this season, and having watched it, it's very apparent that
the Andre and Chance being a part of this has
elevated the show to another level in celebrating his remembrance,
(14:56):
It's yeah, he was with us that entire season, for sure.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
That's always a comforting thing, I think when you know
you lose someone and obviously they're physically not here, but
you can still kind of feel them around you.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Absolutely. Absolutely, Yeah, Well that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
That's that's really no surprise given the amazing talent behind
the show. But that's that's awesome that there was a
beautiful way to keep that legacy going, which is very
exciting to see and to watch for sure.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (15:23):
Absolutely, Well, I think that there's a lot of surprises
coming this season, for sure, And I know you can't
really tell us much more, but maybe you can share.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Do you make a playlist for your character? Do you
have songs that revue up where you're like, let's go.
I know music is a huge part of your identity.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
That's a great question. I do have a playlist. Actually,
I have a Jordan playlist. Let me see if I
can share a couple of them.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
Let me see.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Now, was this a new one for season two?
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (15:55):
So I in season one, I had worked a certain way,
and then after you know, season one, I had met Asa,
and Asa put me onto are now acting coach Berg.
He calls himself the Berg, but he's fantastic. He's He's
absolutely changed my life, not only as an artist and
(16:19):
how I approach the work, but also.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
How I view the world.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
So just yeah, So, going into the second season, having
been working with him during the off season and then
prepping the character as well, music had become a big,
like focal point of like scene, the scene line, the line,
you know, like this is the the scene?
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Is this?
Speaker 4 (16:41):
Feel like I was scoring my own scenes, you know,
and I'd have it in the back of my head,
or I'd listen to the music before the scene and
kind of have that pace in that rhythm, or even
just like a noise that like if there was like
a you know, a high hat or like a weird synth,
I'd like hold on to that and have that like
kind of permeating throughout the entire scenes. So it was
(17:01):
a really it was a new thing for this second
season and it was very, very very helpful. All right,
let me get to it and see if I can
share a couple of songs. It's a little it's a
little personal, but uh so, Venus in Furs by the
Velvet Underground was one that I really had change by
(17:25):
Death Tones was another one that was really helped, like
bring the world together, Angel Massive Attack. There was also
some some classical Swan Lake Symphony Number forty Blind by
Corn was another one. What's Up by four Non Blondes?
(17:52):
That's that was another good one. Closer nine inch Nails nice. Yeah,
a lot of rock. As you can tell, there's a
classical and then it's like a lot of rock, Fat Lips,
some forty one Chop Suey System of the Down. I
believe in a thing called love the Darkness Against all Odds.
Phil Collins, ooh, yeah, that was.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
A really good one.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
That was a fun, fun day shooting that scene that
that song attributed to.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
That's awesome, man, that's so cool to I'm gonna go
back and replace some of those and you know, it'll
be fun to kind of think, Oh.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
I wonder what kind of scene Ip was getting into
in this.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
That's awesome that that music can get you there. That's awesome,
And thank you for sharing. I know music is a
very personal thing, but I always find that so interesting
for sure, So.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Rock on with that, my man.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
One day when the series comes to an end in
five thousand seasons.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
What do you want for your character?
Speaker 1 (18:49):
You've grown close to Jordan, I know this is close
to your heart.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
What do you just hope for Jordan?
Speaker 4 (18:56):
God, that's such a great question. I just I truly
want them to be happy. I want them to be
like in the whole sense of the word. I want
them to be fully in love with themselves and have
just the self confidence and that that self acceptance and
(19:17):
and just be able to to seek that validation or
receive that validation internally, you know, not have to look externally. Yeah,
I think just with all that being said, I think
the simplest answer would be for Jordan to just be
happy and like truly happy and love themselves. M M.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
That would be nice for all of us, right.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Course, absolutely, absolutely, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
That's awesome. I love that.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
And do you think Jordan would have a really badass
superhero name?
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Have you thought about this?
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Of course absolutely, I haven't thought of the name, but
I know that they would have a badass superhero name.
But if you left it up to to give them
a superhero name, it would be something super ridiculous and
super out of pocket like Ying Yang.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Or some shit like that.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
You know what I'm saying, And be like be like
I don't even know, man, there'd be something super yeah,
super offensive, super out of pocket, like yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
You've really not thought of what the name would be.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
I haven't, honestly, I because I want I don't want
to get attached to it, and I I just I don't. Yeah,
I I think I think superhero names come with being
a part of the VOT system.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
So the fact that we have our actual names and
we go by like Marie Moreau, Ma Myers, you know,
Sam Reardon, Jordan Lee, it's it's our identity.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
We own it.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
But like Soldier Boy was in Homelander, these are created,
These are Vaught created, names that they slap on you
and they make you a product. So I think I think,
I think part of me is resistant to it because
I'm like, as Jordan, You're like, well, fuck the system,
you know, fuck Vought, fuck them, fuck the school.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
I don't want to any part of that.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
So I think that maybe a little bit like subconsciously
why I haven't thought.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Of it much.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Yeah, that makes sense, that totally makes sense. And you
I keep hearing you say Vaught. So now this question
came to mind too. If there could be any character
from the Boys franchise that Jordan would want to fight,
who would you pick fight?
Speaker 3 (21:28):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (21:28):
Man, I mean, well, Jordan is an overachiever. They want
the best. They understand that like steal sharpened steel, So
they would go straight to the pinnacle Homelander. Ooh, they'd
go straight to the pinnacle. That's who they would want
to fight.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
That would be bloody and brutal.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
It would be absolutely But I mean, look, we're young
with our skills. But I think, and I may be biased,
I think if we sharpen our tool, we might be
able to give him a run for his money.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Okay, y, we're ready for it. That's a matchup. I
would definitely want to watch congrats man on all of it,
Like this is just talking to you about it. And
I've watched you know, the Boys for all the seasons,
and then I got into gen V of course, and
I imagine being welcome into a world that the Boys
(22:17):
first created and having this epic character very early on
in your career to kind of launch, you must feel
like a pinch me moment over and over again, like
do you realize the success you've had already in your
career or are you so in it you're like, what's next?
What's next? Like what's your relationship with success?
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Alike?
Speaker 4 (22:37):
Yeah, that's another great question. I do reflect a lot.
I remember There'd be times on the first season where
I'd just be sitting there staring with a smile on
my face, and I remember Maddie would be like, what
are you thinking about? And I'm like, I'm just thinking
about how grateful I am to be here, Like this
is insane. Because on my birthday last year, before we
(22:59):
started shooting the first season, I remember my friend had asked, like,
what's your goal? What's your goal for you know, this
this next year, Like what do you want to do?
And I'm like, like, by the next birthday, what do
you want to do? And I said, I don't care
what I do. I just want to be on set
working on something that I truly am excited for and
passionate about. And a year later, on my birthday, there
(23:20):
was a cake brought out during our lunchtime during the
first season on set. It was like the most insane, powerful, manifestation,
surreal moment that I've I've ever had. And yeah, I
think I think you do get you lose sight of that,
like when you're when you're doing the first season and
the second season, there's so much gratitude and you're expressing that.
(23:41):
But then also as as an artist, you're like, Okay,
what's next, what's next?
Speaker 3 (23:45):
What's next?
Speaker 4 (23:46):
I know this, you know I I would love to
do something else and love to uh, you know, to
add to to the to the gen V catalog. And
it's it's you can get caught up in that, in
that cycle of always wanting to like move to the
next thing and do the next thing and stretch yourself
as an artist, that you forget to slow down and
(24:07):
be super grateful about where you are and what you've accomplished.
But Yeah, there are moments where I have to like
tell myself, I'm like, I sit down and I reflect,
and I'm just like, this is this is everything I
could have ever imagined and dreamed for.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
And because of that, which is quite a powerful feeling
and emotion to tie to the work that anybody does,
do you ever worry like, oh man, what if one
day this goes away? Or do you just do you
not have that kind of anxiety? Do you forward think
or do you kind of wrestle with that as well?
Speaker 4 (24:45):
Look, I love acting in the art and the craft
so much that if my path led me to like
teaching somewhere, I would be fulfilled because I just love
the craft and I love being around it, and I
love creating, and I love talking to creatives, and I
love sharing the knowledge that I have, and I love
(25:05):
gaining knowledge that I don't have about the arts and
about the craft and about film that I You know,
there obviously is like a moment where you're like, man,
I would love to do this forever. I would love
to go and do movies and get greenlit anything that
I that I sign up for and be like I
like this script, let's do it. There's obviously a world
where you would love to do that, but I don't
(25:28):
really I don't really care that much. I think whatever
happens happens, and if it's meant for me to continue
on for a billion years, or if it's meant to
be to you know, go and create an act in
some other lane, I would be fine because I just
love the art so much and I love the craft
(25:49):
so much.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
That's awesome to hear, because I think it's so hard
sometimes when we love what we do to not tie
our entire identity to it. And I have no doubt
you're going to do all the things you just said
in movies and making shit and all of it, because
you're brilliant at what you do and this is just
the beginning. But I like to sometimes ask that question,
as you know now, your older brother, of course.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
Because you know, because it's it's good.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
It's a good thing to love what you do but
not tie your soul identity to it, because that can
be very dangerous in my opinion. So I love seeing
grounded artists like you who who are killing it and
crushing it and living the dream and will continue to
live the dream, but also seemingly has a good sense
of self. Do you strike me as someone pretty spiritual
or in touch with you know who you are?
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Is that right?
Speaker 1 (26:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (26:36):
Yeah, yeah, I've always been I've always been spiritual. I
always understood that there's there's a higher power, there's something
that is outside of us. But yeah, I think I
think just just really you know, relinquishing that ego and
(26:56):
understanding that you're just like this like tiny little thing
on this floating rock, or even even with acting like
you're just a part of the cog, You're just a department.
You know what I'm saying, Like you're a department just
like everybody else, and you make this thing move. Is
it just it helps ground you know, ground me in
(27:16):
a way.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
As we wrap up, because I know you were booked
and busy. My man.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
The name of the show is called I've never said
this before, and it was born. I work on a
show called Extra as well, and I cover a lot
of red carpets and junkets, and you know, you got
like two minutes with someone or six minutes at a junket,
and it's just not a ton of time. And I
was kind of seeing the desire from people I was
chatting with to want to say something different or a
(27:48):
little more personal or cater to them and not hit
the same bites over and over.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Which is why I created the show.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
I try to get different things out of the conversation,
and I wrap up every episode with the same question
based off the title of the show, which is, is
there something that you've never said before that you want
to say today whatever it means to you.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
I've thought about this for a little bit, and I
don't know if i've I've said it like in like
a press setting. But last week, I think it was Tuesday,
September two, was my ninth year of sobriety.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
Man.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
Congrats.
Speaker 4 (28:28):
Yeah, that makes me emotional thinking about it. Oh yeah,
it's uh, excuse me, sorry. It's just something I'm really
proud of. And I think that's why I have such
a such a gratitude for all of these blessings, because
(28:50):
I really I shouldn't even really be here, you know,
So this is just like just like a cherry on
top of that, you know, of all of it. So yeah, yeah,
that's that's That's something I've never said before.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
Thank you, thank you, seriously, thank you for sharing that.
I think a lot of people are going to hear
that and feel like they're on the right path and
that's helpful to them. And maybe it's a sign to
them that they wanted to make a change and that
that's that's a sign. And I know that's so personal,
not always easy to say, especially in most interview settings
which are so quick, but that's really awesome, man, Congrats
(29:30):
to you. I have very very you know, close people
in my life who have celebrated milestones like that, and
it's a beautiful thing. You must you must be really
proud of yourself.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
I am. That is.
Speaker 4 (29:42):
There are a lot of things I'm unsure of in
my life, but that is one thing that I'm very
sure and very proud of of of accomplishing that.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
There's a very small percentage.
Speaker 4 (29:52):
Of of people that make it that like in recovery,
so I'm very grateful that I was able to, you know,
persevere and continue to take it one day at a time.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Man, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
And for anyone listening who who might be going through
their own struggle and they just want a little affirmation
to keep going. I mean, is there any piece of
advice you can offer?
Speaker 4 (30:19):
I mean, you you just you have to do it
for yourself. That was my main thing. Is you have
to do it for yourself, because I tried to do
it for my parents, and I tried to do it
for this reason. And you know, when I really hit
my rock bottom, I I decided, you know, I started
bargaining with God. I said, look, if you get me
(30:41):
out of this safe, I will never touch a drink
or drug again. And you know, by the grace of God,
I got out of there safe. And I never did
I decided not to. But I really did it for myself.
There was I felt alone and I really buckled down
and had to do this for myself and find my why.
(31:03):
And yeah, just just forgive yourself. Be easy on yourself.
It's you know, it's a it's a hard disease to
live with, but yeah, just just keep the faith and
keep hope and just take it one day at a time.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
Man, Man again, thank you. This is this is exactly
why I do this show.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
It's it's yes, I love celebrating the work and that
has tremendous value, and I like, I love the fun
of that, but I also love moments like this and
where I can sit across from this seemingly badass successful
young dude in his prime who's like yo. But this
also is important, so let's talk about it now. I me,
it makes me emotional, so truly. Thank you for sharing that.
(31:45):
That's really fucking awesome.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
Of course.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Well, thank you for hosting this, this platform and giving
allowing you know, artists, this this medium to do that.
It's it's very special and I appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Ah well, I appreciate you, brother jen V. Season two,
let's fucking go.
Speaker 4 (32:02):
Let's right, Oh right, you're right, yeah, September seventeenth. Man,
I don't know when this is coming out, but September seventeenth, yes, absolutely,
I'm yes.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Yes, this will be out by then, so everyone watch it.
We'll keep watching it, keep posting about it. We love it,
and man, I can't wait to see all the things
you continue to do. If you're ever in New York City,
hit me up. We'll grab a coffee and keep on
killing it.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
I was just there for a month, dude. Had I known,
we could have grabbed a coffee, dude, I will for
sure be in New York again.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
Absolutely, all right, well next time, my brother gen V.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
Congratulations and now we're going to all go download some
of those songs that you just told.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
Yeah, I created Jordan playlist.
Speaker 4 (32:40):
I may have to make one on Spotify so everyone
can can join.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
Brilliant man.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
We'll be well, okay, all right, I appreciate you. Thank
you so much.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
I've never said this before. It's hosted by me, Tommy Diderio.
This podcast is executive produced by Andrew Publisi at iHeartRadio
and by me Tommy, with editing by Josh Shua Colaudney.
I've Never Said This Before is part of the Elvis
Duran podcast Network on iHeart Podcasts. For more, rate review
and subscribe to our show and if you liked this episode,
(33:11):
tell your friends. Until next time, I'm Tommy Diderio.
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