Somebody Somewhere and I’m happy to report that I got sucked in.The news that this offbeat hit is being renewed for a second season was welcomed news to the show’s co-star actor and comedian Jeff Hiller, who has made a geeky, nerdy, gay Christian with a combover and glasses sexy, and who can finally quit his myriad day jobs.I had the chance to speak with Hiller, and the call can only be described as a laugh a minute.
Hiller is uproariously funny, and we spent the time swapping crazy stories about our lives.He told me about his pride in being among the original cast and about his time as a waiter when the first Appleby’s opened in Manhattan, and I told him about my short stint as a Manhattan waiter when I tossed grated parmesan cheese over a group of businessmen at a working lunch.When we got down to business, I had to begin by asking him the most pertinent question on my mind.
How do you make the nerdy character of Joel on the show sexy? “Mmm, I don’t have an answer to that since no one has ever asked,” he bellowed with his signature laugh. “I’m in shock right now.
I definitely did not intend to make him a hot piece of ass; however, maybe he is sexy because he’s completely authentic, true to self, and those are attractive qualities.“And there is his hair and big mouth, which are like magnets to attract guys,” he chuckled.Hiller, who is 46 and hails from Texas, plays the best friend to the series lead character, Sam — played by actress, writer, and singer Bridget Everett.