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By Suzanne

Interview with Eddie Leavy and Sari Arambulo of "A.P. Bio" on NBC 3/8/18

I love this show, and these two young actors were very fun to interview.

NBC UNIVERSAL Moderator: Akiva Griffith
March 8, 2018 5:00 pm CT

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen thank you for standing by. Welcome to the A.P. Bio Press and Media Call.

During the presentation all parts will be in a listen only mode. Afterwards we’ll conduct a question and answer session.

At that time if you have a question please press the 1 followed by the 4 on your telephone. If at any time during the conference you need to reach an operator please press the Star 0.

As a reminder this conference is being recorded today, Thursday, March the 8th of 2018.

I would now turn the conference over to Akiva Griffith. Please go ahead sir.

Akiva Griffith: Hi thank you for joining us. As you already know we are joined by two of our cast members from A.P. Bio Eddie Leavy and Sari Arambulo here to answer your questions today.

Please feel free to ask more than one question in the conversation but we’ll try to keep things moving as best we can.

I’ll turn it back over to (Julian) to start Q&A.

Operator: Okay. The first question today comes from the line of Suzanne Lanoue from TVmegasite.net. Your line is open. Please proceed.

Suzanne Lanoue: Hi good afternoon.

Eddie Leavy: Hello.

Sari Arambulo: Hi.

Suzanne Lanoue: Hi. I’ve been catching up binge watching on A.P. Bio here on the NBC site. I’m really enjoying it.

Eddie Leavy: Thank you.

Sari Arambulo: Oh yay.

Eddie Leavy: Glad you’re watching.

Sari Arambulo: Yes thanks for watching. That’s amazing, I’m so glad.

Suzanne Lanoue: Yes it really starts to pick up on the episode with the whole election fraud thing and the bats.

Eddie Leavy: Yes such a good episode.

Sari Arambulo: So much fun.

Suzanne Lanoue: Yes so this is a question for both of you. Can you tell us about your audition process for the show.

Sari Arambulo: Yes sure. Eddie do you want to go first or…

Eddie Leavy: Yes.

Sari Arambulo: Go for it.

Eddie Leavy: So, you know, the audition was honestly, like, really simple and really easy for me. It was sort of just one audition in front of everybody, everyone that mattered. In front of the casting directors and Mike O’Brien and some of the other producers. And I just sort of went in and did my thing and I felt good about it.

But, you know, you never really know what’s going to happen. And I found out very quickly that they wanted to offer me the role. So it was honestly a pretty seamless audition process. I mean I guess that’s the best way to do it just sort of one and one and here I am.

Suzanne Lanoue: Well that’s good.

Sari Arambulo: Amazing. Yes I mean I had one kind of similar, like, my experience was slightly similar I would say. I went in once as well. But not everyone was there. I came on a little bit after because I was not a part of the pilot so I came on after that.

And so when I auditioned I went in casting and I had one scene. And I believe the scene was from the episode that’s airing tonight Dating Toledoans. And it was just, like, two pages. I went in. I kind of knew the casting directors already from a previous project. So it was really painless and great and super fun.

And then I left, I read it I think once and then I left. And I had, like, two other auditions that day. I remember I was just running around, like, as soon as that audition was done it was, like, out of my mind. And then the next day I remember finding out that I booked it. And then I was on set, like, three days later. So yes it was a really quick turnaround.

Suzanne Lanoue: Cool. Well I’ll let some other people ask questions. I’ll get back in line. Thank you.

Sari Arambulo: Yes of course.

Eddie Leavy: Thanks so much.

Operator: Our next question comes on the line of Rebecca Murray from showbizjunkies.com. Your line is open please proceed.

Rebecca Murray: Great thank you. You guys get to see a lot of Glenn’s home his character Jack’s home life. But we don’t get to see a lot of kid’s home life. Do we get to know much about Anthony and Grace throughout the season, like, what they do after school and what their life’s like?

Eddie Leavy: Oh Sari do you want to go or do you want me to go?

Sari Arambulo: Yes I can go. I think that yes we definitely as episodes go on we get to learn more and more about the kids. Specifically their home life as well as their personalities. I think you’re already starting to get a glimpse of Grace and I feel like the last episode that just aired you kind of get a sense of what kind of character Grace is. She is very smart and sweet and is, like, on the student council. So that’s definitely one of her passions. She loves to be in student government and is super organized.

So it’s definitely interesting to see that side of things. And then I believe that in next week’s episode it’s the parent-teacher conference. So that’s when you’ll really get to see our home life. It was really fun to meet my onscreen mom and same for Eddie. I think he had like both your parents are your “onscreen parents” were there.

So as the episodes go on I think that you really get to start to see the kids home life and just learn more about them.

Eddie Leavy: Yes and just going off of that, you know, so next week yes you will see sort of all of our parents in a parent-teacher setting. But also, you know, I think up until this point from what viewers have seen we’ve been mostly on campus or in the classroom.

And again in later episodes as we sort of, you know, get on our feet a little more and we start appearing in different locations, you know, some of our favorite episodes I think to shoot when we were actually outside of the classroom. And sort of…

Sari Arambulo: Oh yes.

Eddie Leavy: …see what our characters were like, you know, outside of the classroom and sort of in a real world setting. So I think the best is yet to come in terms of character development and being able to sort of see more of our characters in different scenarios. So yes it’s a lot of fun stuff to come.

Sari Arambulo: Yes Eddie. And one of our – I’m sorry go ahead.

Rebecca Murray: No go ahead please.

Sari Arambulo: Oh okay. So I was just going to say that reminded me of one of I think our favorite episodes we shot would be for me it was “House Party.” Eddie I remember that was so much fun to shoot with you and the rest of the cast. And we really got to – this is a later episode. I don’t want to give any spoilers away but it’s just a really fun setting to see the kids outside of the comfort zone in this party. So yes stay tuned.

Rebecca Murray: Do either of you have any really horrible teacher experiences in real life?

Eddie Leavy: Horrible?

Sari Arambulo: I think I might. I still go to school so it’s super fresh for me to think of professors in my life. And I think one that sticks out to me is in – I also study Cinematic Art at USC and one of my professors was insane. He was just super, like, he’s great, like, this is the class that, like, everyone takes.

But he is just super dramatic, kind of similar to Jack Griffin in that sense. Just, like, over the top, super dramatic. He like has an entrance when he comes into the classroom. And if you ever participate he’ll remember your name, like, it is a huge lecture hall.

And he’ll remember your name and then continue throughout the course of, like, the months that you’re taking the class he’ll just continue calling on you even if you don’t know the answer he’ll just right on the moment just call on you. So it was definitely, like, a nerve-racking experience to be in his class which is kind of similar to Jack Griffin.

Eddie Leavy: Yes I actually have memories of getting a teacher. She was a substitute teacher but getting a substitute teacher fired once because she was so horrible. And she was verbally abusive of the kids…

Sari Arambulo: Oh my gosh.

Eddie Leavy: …in my class that we, like, honestly the kids rallied together and talked to our parents. And this was in I think middle school. And we rallied together and we, like, told our parents and we got her fired because she would just say the nastiest things to us. Called us idiots and dumb and, you know, give us horrible grades for no reason. So I’ve definitely had, you know an experience. It wasn’t as comical as A.P. Bio but definitely dealing with…

Sari Arambulo: It’s kind of similar to A.P. Bio I must say.

Eddie Leavy: Yes except your was charming and wonderful. But, you know, this woman was pretty horrific. And we got rid of her so yes.

Sari Arambulo: Way to go.

Rebecca Murray: Wow. Thanks so much.

Eddie Leavy: Thank you.

Sari Arambulo: Of course, thanks.

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen as a reminder to register for a question press the 1, 4 on your telephone. Our next question comes from the line of Lance Carter from dailyactor.com. Your line is open. Please proceed.

Lance Carter: Hey guys nice talking to you.

Sari Arambulo: Hi nice to meet you.

Eddie Leavy: Hi.

Lance Carter: So I’m late to the call and I don’t know if this question was asked. But I’d love to hear about your audition for the show. What was it like?

Eddie Leavy: Yes so I our experiences were similar yet different. I had one audition for the majority of the creative team. The casting directors were there, Mike O’Brien the creator was there. Some of the other executive producers were there. So they were all in one room.

And again I thought it had, you know, really went well. And it was a really quick turnaround, you know, I auditioned. I think I found out in a day or two that they wanted to cast me as the part of Anthony.

And then the next week I remember we had a rehearsal with our director Oz Rodriguez. And we, you know, started shooting shortly thereafter. So it was a pretty painless audition process which is not normally the case. So it was awesome and, you know it was a lot of fun. Sari.

Sari Arambulo: Yes awesome. So for me it was actually pretty similar to Eddie’s situation just slightly different. I came on after the pilot was shot. So my audition sites were from this episode that’s actually going to air tonight, Dating Toledoans. And I remember it was, like, two pages, super short and sweet. I went in, saw the casting directors that I kind of previously knew from another project.

And yes just read it once, was on tape with casting, left and then I had, like, two other auditions that day so it was kind of just out of my mind. I wasn’t really thinking about it and then I remember finding out literally the next morning that I booked the role. And then I was on set three days later so it was really great to have such a short and sweet audition process. I loved it.

Lance Carter: Wow that’s great.

Eddie Leavy: And if I may add for you how it’s really interesting to see sort of the evolution of our characters as this moves on. Obviously, you know, when they’re auditioning in the beginning they sort of are – they have an idea what the characters may be like but, you know, they sort of let the characters evolve when they cast the actor.

And I know initially my character of Anthony was supposed to be this very sort of nerdy, sort of Lord of the Rings obsessed type of character. And then Mike O’Brien the creator after we had wrapped the pilot he just sort of saw who I was and saw me at the wrap party and he was, like, you know, “I just saw who you were in real life and we decided we needed to take Anthony in, you know, a little bit of a different direction that’s just more true to who you are.”

So it’s really interesting how, you know, characters or the idea of a character can sort of start off one way but then when the actor is cast in a role they can sort of bring them to life and then it can sort of go in a different direction.

So it’s been really cool to see that process and to get the script every week and just see how, you know, we, you know, sort of are intertwining with our characters was a lot of fun.

Lance Carter: Is it easier for you to play a character who’s more closely aligned to you?

Eddie Leavy: Well yes I mean definitely. I mean Anthony definitely is probably a little more blunt and honest than I am in real life. But it’s definitely a lot of fun to feel, like, you see yourself in the character and to just bring it to life. And it just gives you a level of comfortability.

Again we shot this show for 3 1/2 months. And I think we just got to know these characters so well and we were able to have a level of comfortability on set where we were able just to play, you know, every week we had a director but…

Sari Arambulo: Yes.

Eddie Leavy: …we were able to just play with the director and bounce off each other’s energy. Sorry go ahead Sari.

Sari Arambulo: No, no not at all. Yes I just, like, want to bounce off that. I think that we really were so lucky and blessed to have these writers who really almost tailored the characters to our personalities and kind of got to see, like, they saw us as people. And they kind of translated that into our characters which is really great.

Like for example all I really knew about Grace is that she was just sweet in the classroom, cute girl in the high school, like, in the Biology class. But then I guess as they started to know me they realized I was, like, super sweet and nice so they started playing upon that more which is really great.

And then they really paid attention to our relationships as well, like as people with the cast members. Eddie I remember, like, we just hit it off right from the get go and I’m pretty sure the writers started to notice, like, we always wanted to be together sitting together.

So then there was this one episode where they kind of just started – they gave us, like, this one moment in the house party episode that’s going to be coming up, but they just gave us this amazing moment where it was just us two. And you just kind of see our relationship and our friendship grow.

So I just think that it’s so amazing just to see the writers really take advantage of the actors and like what we can bring to the table which is awesome.

Eddie Leavy: Yes it was so much fun.

Lance Carter: Thanks guys.

Eddie Leavy: Thank you.

Sari Arambulo: Yes thanks.

Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Russ Weakland from hollywoodlife.com. Your line is open. Please proceed.

Russ Weakland: Hello all how are you?

Eddie Leavy: Good how are you?

Sari Arambulo: Good how are you?

Russ Weakland: Fantastic. We all want to know what’s next and what’s going to happen with the show as it continues. But what isn’t going to happen with the show because I’m sure some people have their theories or thoughts of how this show’s going to be. But what is not going to happen as the show continues if that makes sense?

Eddie Leavy: I mean we’re…

Sari Arambulo: That’s an interesting question.

Eddie Leavy: We’re never going to learn Biology. I think…

Sari Arambulo: I was about to say that.

Eddie Leavy: …what was said in the pilot we stick to that. We are never going to learn Biology. And is Jack ever going to really be nice? You know…

Sari Arambulo: Be nice?

Eddie Leavy: There are moments.

Sari Arambulo: There are moments when he becomes nicer and kind of just, like, I don’t know you really see the relationships start to grow between the students and Jack. So that will happen but also not sure this is going to happen. Definitely not going to learn Biology. That is a for sure.

Eddie Leavy: Or anything academic at all. But no I mean it really comes in ebbs and flows. I think, you know, Jack will, you know, take one step forward with us and we’re, like, all this is about and then it’s another five steps back. So it really…

Sari Arambulo: Oh definitely.

Eddie Leavy: …every week I think we start back at zero with him. But it’s yes there’s lots of chaos. Again once we get outside of…

Sari Arambulo: Yes.

Eddie Leavy: …the classroom a little bit I think we’re going to see some true colors of the students and sort of to see, you know, how they handle themselves when they’re not in the safety net of the classroom so yes lots of good stuff.

Sari Arambulo: Yes definitely I feel, like, with every episode I feel, like, the envelope just gets pushed further and further. I remember getting the scripts and being, like, wait is this really going to happen. Is this what’s going to happen on set. And sure enough this is the story line. And it’s just so zany and it just gets better and better.

Russ Weakland: Awesome thank you so much.

Eddie Leavy: Thank you.

Sari Arambulo: Thank you.

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen as a reminder to reserve for a question press the 1, 4 on your telephone. We have a follow up question from the line of Suzanne Lanoue from tvmegasite.net. Your line is open. Please proceed.

Suzanne Lanoue: Hi again.

Eddie Leavy: Hi.

Sari Arambulo: Hi.

Suzanne Lanoue: I’ve got an easy one for you. So what’s it been like working with Glenn and Patton and have you learned very much from them?

Sari Arambulo: Yes so far…

Eddie Leavy: Go ahead Sari take it away.

Sari Arambulo: Okay. I loved working with both of them. I feel, like, we spent so much time with Glenn because of course, like, with all of our classroom scenes he’s teaching, I guess not teaching us.

So it was really fun for me as an actor just to kind of learn from him. And really study his comedic talk on set. And see his process and how he really takes on the lines and makes them his own and as improv. It was just really great for me, like, as a learning process. So he’s really great.

And it’d be fun when this last episode that just aired which was where, like, there’s a whole car situation and student council. I loved that week because it was great because I got to spend a lot of time with Glenn and just kind of learned about his life and we would just have, like, great chats on set. It was really great to have that special time with him.

In terms of Patton he is amazing. Such a pleasure to work with. Honestly the nicest man. Every time I see Patton I just want to give him a hug. He was the nicest.

And I was so star struck by Patton at first. I remember the first cable review I freaked out because I was, like, oh my God this is Remy from Ratatouille who is reading all these lines and I’m obsessed with him. And of course I was just freaking out.

But I actually saw Patton, like, really random story. But long story short I saw Patton at a restaurant, like, months before I booked A.P. Bio. And I was star struck. And then it turns out I, like, booked this role and Patton is my Principal.

So I, like, finally mustered up the courage to talk to Patton about it. And I’m, like, Patton, like, were you at this restaurant. It’s, like, In My Sole, and he was the nicest, sweetest man. And I was, like, oh my gosh you go to that restaurant too. And he spent 40 minutes with me.

I’m not kidding and we just talked about food and, like, great restaurants in L.A. And honestly just the nicest man. I have the nicest things to say about both of them.

Eddie Leavy: Yes I mean I pretty much will echo exactly what she said. I mean I think the biggest takeaway was just learning from them. Again we were in that classroom with Glenn a lot and just, you know, such an established actor and comedy sort of come in every day and so his thing. What better acting class than that.

So I think for us it was just such a profound learning experience seeing his process, seeing how he, you know, approached the material, how, you know, he would do things differently every take, same with Patton.

I mean Patton I feel, like, has just the most amazing comedic timing. And he would improv and it would just again he was so simple. But it was so brilliant just to see his commitment to Principal Durbin.

So I think for me I mean it was just incredible to spend months observing them and watching them and again they’re just, you know, lovely people. And again Sari said it all. But yes the nicest so it was a pleasure.

Sari Arambulo: So fun.

Suzanne Lanoue: Very sweet. Have you watched a lot of their other work?

Eddie Leavy: Yes I mean I grew up watching, like, old episodes of the King of Queens. And I had actually – I will be honest I had only seen, like, sporadic episodes of Sunny. I had never seen it from, like, beginning to end because I feel, like, it’s always on some channel, reruns.

Suzanne Lanoue: So true.

Eddie Leavy: But now it’s been cool to sort of go back and sort of watch it from the beginning and see how that show also evolves. And just to hear Glenn talk about, you know, his process of, you know, working on that show and being a creator of the show, a writer of the show, an actor on the show wearing all these different hats, you know, it’s really inspiring to see someone really create something and star in it. So that was really cool.

Sari Arambulo: Yes I would say, like, one of the first times I saw It’s Always Sunny was actually in an educational setting. I was in a class and I was studying, it was a TV script analysis class. And the episode we watched was it was one of the episodes of It’s Always Sunny.

And so we literally, like, after watching it had a breakdown episode and talk about what worked and why it was so funny. And actually told Glenn about that experience. And he was, like, what that is so weird, like, my first experience as a writer was on Sunny just, like, just writing anything and just, like, putting it out there. And so he thought it was so funny and great.

Suzanne Lanoue: Wow that’s great.

Eddie Leavy: Also Patton’s Netflix standup specials are, like, legendary. They’re so good. If you haven’t watched them.

Sari Arambulo: So good and insane.

Suzanne Lanoue: If you get a chance to watch him on Justify he’s also an amazing dramatic actor. He did comedy there too but really good drama as well.

Sari Arambulo: Oh I haven’t watched that. Oh my gosh I need to.

Suzanne Lanoue: It’s a good show.

Sari Arambulo: And we’ll have a little viewing party.

Eddie Leavy: I know a viewing party.

Suzanne Lanoue: Well thank you guys.

Eddie Leavy: Thank you.

Sari Arambulo: Thank you.

Operator: Well Mr. Griffith there are no further questions at this time. I will now turn the call back over to you.

Akiva Griffith: Thank you so much. Thanks everyone for joining us today. We will have a transcript of the call available probably tomorrow. If you have any further questions feel free to email me at akiva.griffith@nbcuni.com. Thank you again and tune in to A.P. Bio tonight. Thanks Sari and Eddie.

Sari Arambulo: Yay.

Eddie Leavy: Thank you guys so much.

Sari Arambulo: Thank you. This was fun. Have a good one guys.

Akiva Griffith: Have a good one, bye.

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen that does conclude the conference call for today. We thank you for your participation. We ask that you please disconnect your lines.

END

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