Movies

Meet the 20-something ‘Adults’ who are still trying to figure it out

BBG News

In numerous aspects, Rebecca Shaw and Ben Kronengold exhibit maturity beyond their years. Their Yale comedy skit-turned-graduation speech in 2018 gained widespread attention, landing them jobs as the youngest writers ever for “The Tonight Show.” Since then, they’ve written several movie scripts and a book titled “Naked in the Rideshare” collaboratively. Currently residing in their third New York apartment, this one situated in Greenwich Village, they recently experienced a typical 20-something moment: shedding tears on the phone with Con Edison while trying to arrange their electricity just a day before The Times requested a joint video interview. Truly, what could be more emblematic of young adulthood than that?

Shaw, aged 29, and Kronengold, aged 28, diplomatically refuse to categorize themselves as either Gen Z or millennials, as they sometimes feel like elderly individuals of 85 years, while at other times they resemble “the least intelligent 14-year-olds who have been dismissed from school early.” Kronengold added that this sentiment is quite typical of their generation, or perhaps it’s just a universal human experience. Either way, their unique perspective makes them ideally suited to create, write, and produce the new FX comedy “Adults,” set to premiere on May 28. This series follows five characters: Samir (Malik Elassal), aged 24, who offers his parents’ vacant house as a comfortable refuge for his friends Billie (Lucy Freyer), also 24; Anton (Owen Thiele), 24; Issa (Amita Rao), 23; and Paul Baker (Jack Innanen), 26. They reside in Bayside, Queens, which is far from the hustle and bustle of New York City.

At this stage in life, it’s not your romantic partners who make up your closest relationships, but rather your friends, according to Shaw. It’s these individuals that you open up to and argue with, and who you put before everything else. In many aspects, the show is a heartfelt tribute to friendship.

The characters are loosely modeled after Shaw and Kronengold’s friends, not exact replicas. Instead, they’re composite sketches of the folks who frequent their couch. They have several Paul Bakers and a few Billies in their lives. Everyone in the writing team – Stefani Robinson, Sarah Naftalis, Curtis Cook, Allie Levitan, Sanaz Toossi, and Shaun Menchel – recognizes an Issa. A key observation is that characters similar to these, whether on “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” “Girls” or “Broad City,” continue to emerge in each generation because this stage of life has remained remarkably consistent.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: “From the get-go, we recognized that these characters are at an age where they’re experiencing life’s complexities more deeply than ever before. Thus, we wanted to empower them to confront every challenge boldly, even if it seemed insurmountable, such as a seemingly impenetrable glass barrier.

The fact that these characters were universal and that intense emotions prevailed before the prefrontal cortex fully developed, stirred a great deal of empathy in the writers. Despite this being a comedy, it’s not a satire; instead, it portrays five individuals (or adults, if you prefer) who are genuinely struggling with everyday challenges such as banking issues, medical bills, and even cooking a chicken.

It appears you might not have recognized it yet, but “This isn’t simply ‘Sex and the City.'” Instead, Shaw described the characters as living out their fantasies in a unique way. Despite not having a glamorous Manhattan apartment or cocktails every evening in the traditional sense, they are fulfilling dreams by being content there. The characters have aspirations for their future, but it seems that this period of their lives will be something they’ll look back on fondly.

Just like the characters they portray, many of these actors are newcomers to the screen. Learn more about them right here.

Amita Rao, 26

she/her | plays: Issa, 23

For quite some time now, Amita Rao has consistently been true to herself. At the age of 15, she found comedy which she believed was the most delightful profession, as it involved making people smile. (Hint: her high school diaries reveal this.) She pursued acting in college, a journey that helped her learn to embody her own self, trust her body, and reside within it. Later, she relocated to Chicago to master long-form improvisation, initially at the Annoyance Theater and subsequently at Second City.

According to Rao, it’s crucial for a performer to strike a balance: letting the collective experience influence them, yet making sure their unique voice is also heard. She believes her combination of improvisation and acting skills helped her learn this skill. In simpler terms, she found a way to embody the group’s feelings while still expressing herself individually.

She completely immerses herself in every role, even the smallest details like fingertips, whether it’s a member of a fictional basketball team called the Jonestown Jumpers at the Annoyance, or the neurotic yet relaxed Nandika on “Deli Boys,” or Issa on “Adults,” who is the youngest and most representative of Generation Z. Rao identifies with being Gen Z herself, a topic she often ponders, but she’s not nearly as self-centered. However, she appreciates that trait in her character.

Issa, they note, is constantly at a mental party. Who wouldn’t want to join her? As Rao put it, ‘She held the correct ideals but performed the incorrect actions. Her intentions were pure, yet her actions were misguided.’

Virgo (Her Enneagram is more accurate, but that’s classified)

Which Face Is Real? (On Safari, on her phone)

The three finger puppets in her purse (Left at Owen’s apartment)

Owen Thiele, 28

he/him | plays: Anton, 24

Owen Thiele dislikes using the term “multihyphenate.” However, it holds a bit of truth about him. His podcast, titled “In Your Dreams With Owen Thiele,” humorously references his persistent sleeplessness, has recently featured guests like Holly Madison, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Benny Blanco. As an actor, Thiele has made appearances on both the big screen (“Theater Camp,” “Parachute”) and the small screen (“Dollface,” “Overcompensating”).

In contrast to the limited roles actors used to play, there’s a wonderful quality about today that allows us to express multiple facets of ourselves without facing judgment. I consider myself fortunate to have the opportunity to reveal various aspects of myself through podcasting and then take on different personas in films or television shows. (Thiele)

For the first time, Thiele is taking on a lead role in “Adults”, an opportunity he’s eagerly been waiting for to fully immerse himself. Upon reading the script, he shared that he had rarely laughed five times per page and never before felt such a strong desire to become part of the story. Comparing his feelings to Alice’s longing to enter Wonderland, Thiele expressed his excitement about stepping into this new world.

Initially, Anton appeared to be the most mature member among them. His wisdom was deeply appreciated by Thiele, exuding a subtle yet potent aura. However, as filming progressed and the season unfolded, Shaw and Kronengold encouraged Thiele (alongside the entire cast) to incorporate personal aspects into their characters. Consequently, Anton has transformed into an excessively amiable individual, brimming with charm, yet perhaps overstepping some boundaries – something that Thiele would never do.

Scorpio (But not in a scary way)

Iced matcha, as sweet as possible

Drugstore reading glasses (Solely for the Look)

Malik Elassal, 29

he/him | plays: Samir, 24

It appears that Malik Elassal’s desire to become an actor stemmed from watching the Tobey Maguire portrayal of Spider-Man, as he stated, “Spider-Man is my hero.” This was the initial film experience that inspired him, such that when he left the cinema, he felt compelled to pursue acting too.

Back in high school, Elassal tried out for the Calgary Young People’s Theatre production of “The Count of Monte Cristo.” From there, things took off: she was later recognized as one of the New Faces of Comedy at Montreal’s Just For Laughs festival, where she reappeared in the “Just for the Culture” showcase and eventually made it onto Vulture’s 2024 list of rising comedians to watch.

Elassal remarked, ‘What I appreciate is that you don’t need to be correct all the time. You don’t have to provide solutions. Instead, you’re simply reflecting where you stand.’ The kind of humor he admires responds to the current situation, ‘In fact, whether it’s right or wrong, you’re just mirroring where I stand in that moment.’

He has a particular fondness for “Adults” because, as he puts it, “Although these characters frequently make mistakes, there’s an authenticity in their errors, a kind of innocence.” He goes on to explain, “They are sincere individuals, and they strive to be good. However, just because they aim to do good doesn’t necessarily mean they possess the correct perspective or behavior all the time.

In a more simplified and natural way of expression, the sentence could be rephrased as follows: “Elassal plays the character Samir, who’s making an effort to act as the head of the household. During his audition, he performed a scene (later modified) where everyone at a bank was criticizing Samir severely. Elassal commented, ‘I often think about the worst-case scenario, like, what if something like that happens to me?’ Upon seeing this, the director said, ‘This guy reminds me of myself.’

Aries (Texted his mom in real time, unprompted, to confirm his birth time)

Mr. Mattress merch (Probably the best place he’s worked, other than “Adults”)

Poking his head into a doorway, cartoon style

Lucy Freyer, 28

she/her | plays: Billie, 24

About a year and a half ago, if someone had asked Lucy Freyer what her ideal job looked like, she would have responded with “Adults”. She was seeking a comedy that genuinely made her laugh, not the typical sitcom humor we’re used to. Her dream was to collaborate with skilled individuals who could also be wonderful friends outside of work, and she yearned for a creative team she could wholeheartedly rely on. To now find that all these elements have materialized is like “Oh my goodness! Please pinch me!” she exclaimed.

At Juilliard, Freyer developed a fondness for lighter, modern humor. Following Juilliard, she made her screen debut in “Paint,” alongside Owen Wilson and Michaela Watkins. Now, she has landed her ideal role.

Freyer stated, “I never categorize myself as ‘this’ or ‘that’ type of person. I don’t fit neatly into specific boxes. I’m somewhat this and somewhat that, which can be annoying. However, the advantage is when roles like this come along – ones that aren’t defined by a single characteristic but are complex, well-rounded human characters – I find it easy to identify with them.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve been captivated by the performance of Freyer as Billie, who appears to have her life perfectly organized. However, life has an unexpected twist, and Billie finds herself lost at sea. “Billie strives to excel in everything she does,” Freyer explained. “Even if it’s about messing up, she thinks, ‘I want to be the best at this.’… That was a mindset I had to let go of in drama school, the compulsion to get things right.

Pisces (She’s not a big Zodiac person, but she is a Pisces)

The Mondo Mondo golden heart necklace she wears every day

“Degrassi: The Next Generation”

Jack Innanen, 26

he/him | plays: Paul Baker, 26

Yesterday, Jack Innanen had a conversation with Malik Elassal. Innanen expressed his doubts that the incident at the chemistry read was simply him getting hit by a truck, as he’s still uncertain about it. He also mentioned that he hasn’t been in a coma during this entire period. It all seems too unbelievable, almost like something from an adult fairy tale.

At the University of Toronto, Innanen initially made Snapchat drawings as a pastime for his friends. A year later, he transitioned to creating content professionally. Currently, he’s the one behind the videos that are absurd, offbeat, and incredibly creative on TikTok, where he has amassed 3.3 million followers.

In simpler terms, Innanen shared, “I truly enjoyed playing around on camera, creating videos, trying to tell stories, having a great time, and even found myself falling in love with comedy… as well as acting and performing. This experience has made me certain that I want to explore every opportunity and strive to become the best performer, actor, or comedian.

Paul Baker, who uses both names interchangeably (a “firsty-lasty”), is stepping into his first major role for Innanen, and it’s one of his early professional acting assignments. His character has just relocated from Canada to New York City, and he’s been moving among different social circles. He’s trying to find his place and discover more about himself – and Innanen finds a bit of his past self reflected in this character.

He mentioned that it was almost as if he was undergoing therapy. He explained how delving into the character allowed him to understand himself better, recognizing aspects he identified with and evaluating whether they were positive or negative. This, he believed, is something one does extensively during their twenties, and this show seems to center around that theme: it’s all about introspection and self-discovery.

An April Aries

Premade Target charcuterie packs (They’re like adult Lunchables)

Books he already has, but on ThriftBooks with cooler covers

The television series titled “Adults” is set to debut on FX on May 28th at 9 pm Pacific Time, airing two episodes initially. On the day after, you’ll find all eight episodes streaming on Hulu.

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2025-05-15 13:33

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