A version of this was originally posted on cpluscomedy.com in 2020.
When the Dora the Explorer movie released last summer, no one expected it to do as well as it did. Live action fares of an animated property have never been well received, let alone of a property that relies on nostalgia of a show that ended just under a decade ago. But it defied expectations and skyrocketed the career of its younger stars.
Nicholas Coombe is the same age as me but much more recognizable. He’s co-starred in the aforementioned Dora the Explorer flick, an ABC show, and a CGI Spy Kids spin off for Netflix. Now he’s taking a chance on prestige cable for Ron Howard and Brain Grazer’s 68 Whiskey on Paramount Network. The show follows a diverse group of young American recruits fighting in the Afghan war. But this isn’t a typical throwaway cable show. 68 Whiskey looks as though it were based on a preexisting property thanks in part to the cinematic view of the series. Perhaps that can be attributed in part to its two executive producer’s storied Imagine Entertainment.
Nicholas and I had a phone conversation a couple of weeks ago to discuss his jump from playing the nerdy kid in high school to the willingArmy recruit.
I’m glad to speak to you. I didn’t know you were in a new show. But I definitely knew who you were because I saw you in Imaginary Mary a couple of years back. It was a fly by night show. It didn’t really last too long. But I always like to keep tabs on sitcoms as they happen because you never know what’s going to be the next 30 Rock or The Office or what have you.
Nicholas Coombe: Oh, definitely. Yeah. No, that’s exactly how it goes. You never really know what’s going to happen. But yeah, I guess as you said, I’m on a new comedy show, which is exciting.
When did you get word of that project happening?
Coombe: I think it was in June or July [in 2019]. And then I think within a week or something, I’d booked the role. It was a really quick turnaround because I was actually only in LA for a few days, so they wanted to get me in to meet the producers really quickly.
That sounds like they wanted you […] before they even saw you audition. That sounds like they were like, “we’re going to get this guy in here. If he meets our expectations, he’s going to be part of the cast anyway.”
Coombe: I actually went for an audition. I think my manager was able to squish me in kind of as a last minute audition. I think they’d been through a lot of people already. Then I met the director and the producer and casting. I guess the way that I’d played the same just really resonated with them and met the character [‘s expectations]. Things moved pretty quickly from then, but I don’t think they actually wanted me before I went anywhere. I could be wrong, but yeah, I think it was from the actual audition itself which is pretty cool.
It sounds like you are an actor with the gravitas -- the ability to be able to attract that. This is the first major cable job you’ve had. And then Imaginary Mary was on broadcast networks. Were there are any differences between working for broadcast versus cable? Like on cable, you can curse and you can do so much more. You have more flexibility than on broadcast.
Coombe: Yeah for sure. I mean, I said there’s definitely a lot more cursing in this show than there was in Imaginary Mary. I have found 68 Whiskey‘s been huge. They poured so much time and money and effort into the show and it’s really incredible.
I mean they built a whole entire army base from the ground up. And we have like Black Hawk helicopters and military ambulances and Jeeps and tanks. There’s all sorts of things going on. So there’s definitely…it feels like a bigger production. It almost feels like we’re making a movie, like for every episode, which is really exciting.
So, yeah, I mean, there’s a lot of differences. I’d say probably majority of it would be the content that you’re allowed to put out there is the difference between network and a cable. Both of them have their customers, which is really cool.
Going back to that, what you mentioned about the movie aspect of the show, I wrote down in my notes that it does have a lot of cinematic qualities just from a trailer [alone]. How does that add to the comedy aspect with it looking so good?
Coombe: Great question. I guess the way we’re shooting…I guess the cinematic aspect is how it looks. So, yeah, it looks like a movie. I mean, the cameras that they’re shooting on are camera quality films. I think it’s the same cameras that I shot Dora and The Lost City of Gold on, which was like a big cinema film.
It’s cool they’re using the using the same cameras to make a TV show. They’re using kind of that same format, which is really exciting for me cause I was like, “Oh wow, this is going to look like, I think feature film.” And it does, which is super exciting. And the comedy aspect, it kind of plays the same. I think it’s more that the crews -- the way they film it and light it and everything -- might be a bit different.
The comedy aspect, I guess any working on TV series, comedy’s always-- you have to be, really quick because they don’t have a lot of time. Cause they’re trying to get a lot of their content into the schedule. I find that comedy on TV series compared to movies is you don’t get as many takes to mess around with it. But sometimes that can bring out gems. Because you’d get to think on your toes and act really quick. Does that make sense?
It does. Another one of my favorite aspects is the show is deliberately about a mixed race group of kids in the army medics in Afghanistan. Does that tie in at all? Do any of those storylines revolve around that?
Coombe: Yeah. I guess the show follows a different-- a whole bunch of people [who are] on the base and mainly the combat medics, the 68 Whiskeys. It’s a whole bunch of different stories because every character has a different background where they come from.
My background -- [as Anthony Petrocelli] -- is just the 17 year old kid who’s signed up to the army. But I guess it’s like putting in a regular kid into a very irregular situation overseas amongst the war zone. It’s really cool how they’ve been able to take every single character individually and weave the story lines, engage others.
It’s quite a big cast. It’s like an ensemble cast. There’s eight main characters and every episode-- they’ve done an incredible job at weaving all of our different stories into each other and telling kind of like current and very modern like things happening in the world, which is also a pretty cool factor because it’s based [in our reality].
With this being a show about military stuff, did you have to go through any type of training? Or did you have the option of going through any type of training to see what it was like, what the troops are dealing with overseas?
Coombe: We have a whole bunch of military advisors on set basically in every department because someone who either served in the military or is serving in the military. Depending on what we have to do, for example, like we’ve all had like weapons training and how to correctly hold weapons and everything.
The people who are in charge of our wardrobe, they make sure that our uniforms always look exactly how the person looks if you were in the army. But I haven’t personally done [training]. I didn’t go to like an army base and do like the military training. But we have professionals on set every day who are always watching me, making sure I’m saluting correctly, standing currently in making sure our etiquette is right. It’s been really cool to learn. I’ve been learning every day more and more about it. it’s really incredible.
Did you ever get a chance to meet [Executive Producer Ron Howard] or at least speak to him about the show?
Coombe: I haven’t yet actually. But I’m looking forward to it. Yeah. I guess when you do a TV series, they normally bring in a different director every episode or every second episode. We’ve had a bunch of different directors to work with so far who’ve all been incredible. But Ron Howard and Brian Grazer -- they’re our producers, our EPs -- they’re kind of making everything happen behind the scenes. I know I’ll be meeting… I think Brian Grazer is going to be at the TCAs in a, in a couple of days.
So I’m looking forward to meeting him and I’m sure we’ll meet well enough at some point, but Imagine Entertainment has a lot of projects happening. It’s been great though.
How did doing this show compare to doing something like the Dora [the Explorer] movie?
Coombe: I guess the one of the big differences is speed. But in regard to the size of the show, it feels, honestly like we’re making a feature film, which is crazy because it’s a TV show.
I’d say really the only difference is the fact that you have less time per scene to get the content done because you’re on a schedule whereas a movie. Sometimes you can do one scene over three days. When you’re doing TV, it’s like you get the morning to do that scene and then you’ve got to move on. It’s basically, I’d say, less time to play with. But in regard to the feel and the size of the production that it genuinely feels right when making a feature film.
You’re happy to be on a cable, Paramount Network. This is going to be a huge move for you, right?
Coombe: You know I’ve always played characters growing up who are in high school. Playing the 16 year old kinda awkward kid or like nerd or something. For me, it was really exciting when I had the opportunity to play a soldier. I’d always said that I wanted to one day do a military show. I feel like it’s a rite of passage for a young actor. It’s been a really cool stepping stone for me to step into this role. And I shaved my head and put on the uniform and kind of play Petrocelli. And although he’s still young in the show and still quite naive, it’s definitely a huge step for me in my career.
And I’ve been able to work with so many talented people. I really think the show is going to be great. I think people will love it. So yeah, it’s an incredible step forward. And I’m really happy about it.
Follow Nicholas Coombe on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Watch 68 Whiskey on Paramount Network.