Brian Jordan Alvarez has been busy af.
On Thursday night he guest starred on the season finale of Will & Grace, a triumph that was built on years of putting his creativity out there on YouTube. More success is sure to follow.
Related: That time Queerty got called out in the “Will & Grace” premiere
Speaking of YouTube, his channel has released eleven new skethes in the last two weeks, though he never sacrifices quality for quantitiy.
We caught up with Brian to ask about recent work, as well as what’s in store for this versatile performer and filmmaker.
Queerty: OK first the big gay elephant in the room. How did you get cast on Will & Grace and what was it like to work on such an iconic show?
Brian: I got cast by the queen of the world herself, Julie Ashton, then had an amazing session with Max [Mutchnick] and David [Kohan] who created the show before getting the official call. It all happened really fast.
Did the cast and crew treat you well?
Literally a dream come true. I have never been on a kinder, more positive set.
There have got to be so many moving parts to a sitcom like W&G — did anything surprise you about how the show is run from script to screen?
I was surprised at how much they really take from the live audience. They really care whether people are laughing, which is why the jokes are so funny. Also Sean Hayes is such a master and was very helpful anytime I got confused about technical stuff. There are a lot of cameras on you and the blocking has to be very exact.
Your sketches these days are giving us faux pas fever dream through-the-looking-glass realness, and you’ve been prolific lately! Tell us about your process — did you just make a list of every awkward situation life has to offer and start powering through them?
[Laughs] I was just getting a little antsy and hadn’t put anything up in a while. Steph and I are always riffing on jokes and situations, so these came out of that.
Stephanie Koenig, who appears in many of your videos, is a genius. There, we said it. How did you two start working together?
She is the genius. I’m so glad you agree. I’m her biggest fan. We met on a student film that we were acting in five years ago. We made each other laugh the whole night and vowed to be friends forever. And it happened!
You’ve worked on some longer-form projects together as well. Stupid Idiots, her web series that you both star in, was recently acquired by Paramount for a TV adaptation. What’s the update on that?
Stupid Idiots is shooting a pilot for Comedy Central in the coming months. I am thrilled.
And your web series, The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo, is also one of our all-time favorites. Any chance of getting more episodes?
No plans for now but the future is a wide and beautiful place!
Clearly you’re not just talented, you’re extremely hard working. It’s been really amazing to see all that work get noticed more and more. What’s next for you?
You are so kind! I’ve been doing more standup, and am enjoying that a lot. Honestly… my dream is to be interviewed on Kimmel soon! Maybe Estefan Gloria on Will & Grace will make enough of an impact to get me onto my favorite talk show. Which is Kimmel y’all.
Scorll down to check out some more of Brian’s recent videos, and follow him on YouTube to stay in the loop:
Zambos271
I know the accent was part of it being funny on Will and Grace, but it he gave me not as funny Agador Spartacus.
Giuseppe
The accent was a pathetic stereotype and I’m surprised that the show pulled bs like this. Hopefully they’ll hire new writers for the next season and ditch this character.
Smith David
Wowzersss…I was so happy to see Brian Jordan Alvarez on W&G. So happy for him. I’ve spent many a nights watching his youtube skits well into the mornings. Good times! I wish him all the best.
man5996853
A pathetic stereotype? I don’t know a gay man or a latin man or woman who sounds like his character. He was a lisping, bitchy fem, which you could categorize as stereotypical, but the almost unrecognizable accent had very little to do with the stereotype.
More importantly, if you watch the show and don’t have a problem with the walking-and-talking, sociopath stereotype that is Jack McFarland, it puzzles me why you’d take issue with BJA’s character.
Keebler ILF
SPOILER ALERT:
The finale episode of Will & Grace was one of the funniest of the season. The most shockingly funny scenes were between Alec Baldwin & Megan Mullally. And Baldwin kisses a man.
Kangol
Some of Brian Jordan Alvarez’s YouTube clips are hilarious. So many good ones, including the videos about how gay men react when they spot each other, the difficulty in making plans with a friend, ridiculous gym workouts, people talking sh!t and you not understanding what they’re babbling about, the resemblance bit (with the friend who looks like an insect), the gay age gap (both videos), his Emil character (why isn’t he on SNL?), and the Caroline character. I hope he and Stephanie get a series soon.
Ummmm Yeah
He smooth stole that how gay men react one from an Asian clip. I can’t remember which country it was from but it came out first.
ProfessorMoriarty
The facts that Brian Jordan Alvarez and Will & Grace exist make me very happy..
NateOcean
I like Brian too, but didn’t care much for the Will & Grace character.
Brian was a riot in Jimmy Fowlies videos, and of course many of Brian’s own creative efforts are funny as hell.
However, many of his pieces suffer from a writing problem (SNL went thru this for several years). The segments have an interesting premise, and are interesting throughout, but then then either end prematurely, or just peter out. Like they had no ending, but decided to just put it out there as is.
Giuseppe
The episode of W&G was only funny thanks to Mullally and Baldwin, Alvarez is a typical gay/Latino stereotype and I’m surprised in 2018 this bs is still happening. Desperate for humor and even that obnoxious laugh track didn’t help.
Paulie P
the lisp was as funny as a limp wrist, not very. thanks megan and alec for making the episode watchable…. cliff hanger.. will and grace questioning their relationship….. oh that’s new…
Knight
Wow…nice to see all that gratuitous nudity in his short film (which he pulled off the internet) got him noticed by a casting director long enough to get a walk-on part on a sit-com. I feel privileged to be witnessing the zenith of his career. I do have to say, as a bi-sexual Latin man, I’m not offended by his character (and BTW, Brian’s mother is from Colombia). It just was never very funny. And like Scott Thompson’s “Buddy” character, Brian is waaaaaaaay to old to be playing that “twink” character he’s so fond of playing (unless he uses someone else’s face). Anyway, if Alec Baldwin only gets two episodes this season, I doubt we’ll have to worry about being annoyed by Brian past another episode or two.
marcus_collack
I was not feeling that character, but Brian seems really cool, I’ve been following him and his writing on youtube for a while, and his true debut in Jane the Virgin.