Chris O’Dowd And Josh Segarra Talk Season Two Of 'The Big Door Prize'

Chris O’Dowd (Dusty) and Josh Segarra (Giorgio) talk with AllYourScreens.com founder Rick Ellis about the second season of the Apple TV+ series The Big Door Prize.

Q: Josh, let me start with you. Gorgio is a very specific character and has a very specific vibe to him. So from an acting standpoint, how do you make sure that you hit the spot where you need to be? To show that exuberance and lust for life without seeming cartoonish?

Josh Segarra: You actually nailed it, Rick. I try and be as specific as possible. What is actually feeling? This is the corny actor talking, but you never want to play a feeling. You want to play an action. What are you trying to get from your partner?

So if you stay specific, then you can't be a cartoon. We're all big in life. We're all cartoons. I just try and make sure that I know what I'm thinking whenever I play him.

It's usually just how much he loves Dusty. How much he loves Cass. How much he loves his friends. When I'm busting on Sammy Fourlas' character Jacob. You know, he (Giorgio) is very specific about these things.

Q: Chris, Dusty's journey over these two seasons is interesting. Because at the end, in the last episode of season two, so much has been stripped away from his life. You've had to show that slowly over the course of the two seasons. So I'm wondering how that process works for you. Did you have discussions with David (showrunner David West Read) about where Dusty was headed? 

Chris O'Dowd: Well, I'm kind of informed about where he's going and not the other way around. But it has been interesting to see it play out. And it has been, for lack of a better expression, an interesting journey. Because he really has followed through with some of these impulses from season one.

And I don't know if the point of the show is to examine how easily we can be by the idea of technology or cosmic energy or whatnot. But he certainly is, whether he likes it or not. It's upended his life.

So the person who is the most concrete to begin with is probably the person whose life is the most shattered.

Q: Let me ask you both the same question and Josh, I'll start with you. At the end, no matter how many years down the road that is, has Morpho been a positive influence for Giorgio?

Josh Segarra: Absolutely. I think it gave him the confidence he needed. Sure, giving him that "Superstar" card might have sent him on a little bit of an emotional journey with it. But he starts with wondering whether he'll ever be the superstar again. But when he meets Nat and we see where he goes in the second season. I know that he becomes a superstar again.

Q: Chris, how about Dusty? Overall, was Morpho a positive or negative influence on his life? The experience has certainly sent Dusty through some changes over these two seasons.

Chris O'Dowd: It's an interesting thing. Even your own friends at this age go through huge life changes and families falling apart. Career changes.

And I'm very reluctant to say "Well, it work out the way it was supposed to work out." Because that's never really been my mindset. I don't think it. I don't buy into any of that. 

It's something that we tell ourselves. To have faith. It's a comfort blanket.

So I don't know if necessarily this is Dusty's truest potential. Or if there is such a thing as fullest potential. But he makes decisions and gets to where he is. So at least it's not entirely passive.