The Studio’s Ike Barinholtz on Sal Saperstein, TV’s Most Life like Submit-Woke Hollywood Bro
Sal Saperstein is a survivor. At the very least, that’s how actor Ike Barinholtz describes the anxious, erratic, and sycophantic inventive govt he performs on The Studio. In a quickly altering Hollywood, Sal has discovered to (largely) curtail his profane antics and drugged-out adventures to grow to be one thing of a politically-correct bro—however after shedding out on the top job at Continental Studios to his finest buddy Matt Remick (Seth Rogen), Sal is now largely a yes-man, desperate to please the brand new boss and field out the Gen-Z colleagues gunning for his job.
On this week’s episode, “The Conflict,” these two imperatives converge, and chaos reigns. The battle begins when Matt asks junior govt Quinn (Chase Sui Wonders) to assist Sal develop his low-budget slasher, Wink, an apparent rip-off of Parker Finn’s Smile. Naturally, Sal needs to rent Finn to direct, however Quinn dismisses his secure guess and pitches indie darling Owen Kline to helm the venture. Is her pushback an trustworthy suggestion, or a ruthless energy seize? Both method, an escalating old-school vs. new-school conflict ensues, involving sabotaged conferences, weaponized quesaritos, and stolen parking spots.
An business veteran with a propensity for high-decibel theatrics, Barinholtz makes good sense as Sal. Since breaking into tv on MADtv, he’s made his title enjoying males on the verge of varied breakdowns, balancing pent-up testosterone with fragile egos in films like Neighbors (one other Seth Rogen team-up) and Blockers, whereas managing to depart simply sufficient room for sympathy. He’s been simply as busy as a author, most prominently for The Mindy Venture, Historical past of the World: Half II, and just lately Working Level. Over his two-decade comedy profession, Barinholtz has been in nearly each type of room, and met nearly each type of Hollywood character, which made channeling Sal that a lot simpler—and sleazier.
On a current Zoom name from the Plaza Lodge, Barinholtz checks in with GQ carrying a white LA Aztecs T-shirt, desperate to dive into Sal’s collection of horrible skilled and life selections. Amongst quite a few matters, he explains the significance of parking spots, reveals his favourite drink at Musso & Frank, and sells his imaginative and prescient for Wink.
GQ: Who was Sal Saperstein to you if you first learn this script, and the way did you initially wish to play him?
Ike Barinholtz: Properly, from the intro, he is available in extremely popular. In his first few scenes, he has a number of info, a number of plans. He actually does assume that he’s about to be christened the boss. And inside two scenes, he doesn’t get it and immediately decides to be a sure man to his finest buddy. He additionally has a minor drug problem. As you learn on, he simply will get such humorous traces. He will get to be Matt Remick’s id. These guys began collectively within the ‘90s, and if you speak to individuals who labored in Hollywood within the ‘90s, the tales are insane. They’re similar to, “Oh yeah, on the premiere of that film, we let in 100 wild goats, and so they bucked Rex Reed, but it surely was actually enjoyable. I barely keep in mind it, I used to be so coked out…” You simply hear these tales. And people two guys had been round again then. And I believe anybody who was round again then, I’ve a number of respect for. You are a survivor. You are still right here. That is what I actually preferred about Sal. I do know a number of guys who’ve his job, elements of his persona and stuff. It was so laborious to get fired in 1996—you had to take action a lot shit, however in 2025, something may get you out of there. So I believed it was a number of enjoyable to play with a survivor like that.
