A camboy scam, murder and custody fight: Inside ‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’

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Tatiana Maslany and video calls don’t have the best track record these days.

I’m hooked on the new Apple TV+ series, “Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed.” The show starts with Paula, a recently divorced mom, really letting it all out to a cam performer online. It quickly goes sideways when I realize he wasn’t just being a good listener – he was using her, and she ends up witnessing a kidnapping and getting caught in a ransom scheme! Things get even crazier when the cam performer is murdered, and Paula is suddenly trying to figure out what happened and prove she wasn’t involved. To top it all off, her ex-husband, Karl, is making everything worse. He’s moved across the country from Brooklyn to Boise, Idaho, and is using the move to fuel their already difficult custody battle. It’s a lot for her to handle, and I’m definitely invested in seeing how it all plays out.

Recently, while sitting in a West Hollywood hotel room with her dogs Earl and Devo, Tatiana Maslany was about to begin a video call with Chris Johnson to talk about their new dark comedy thriller. The show, created by David Rosen (known for “Sugar” and “Us & Them”), will launch with two episodes on May 20th. However, just a few minutes into the conversation, Earl jumped off Maslany’s lap and stood completely still, staring into space.

Johnson jokingly suggested it might be a ghostly occurrence, then described what his dog was doing while explaining that no one had come into the room.

“It’s like he can see something,” Maslany says.

Maslany tried to continue talking with Earl, but Johnson cut in, concerned. “The dog is growling at absolutely nothing,” he said, “and it’s really frightening.”

The video call suddenly froze and then disconnected. At first, it seemed like a deliberate effect related to the show’s storyline. However, it turned out there was a power outage that knocked out the hotel’s WiFi. The Times quickly reconnected with Maslany and Johnson by phone, and the following is an edited version of their conversation.

I came across a summary of the show that described it as a story about a divorced mother who unexpectedly finds herself involved in a dangerous situation involving blackmail, murder, and… youth soccer. How would you sum it up?

The core of the story, for me, is the focus on everyday life. It’s about Paula trying to rebuild her life after a difficult divorce and major changes. She’s moving on, starting over, and really figuring out who she is now – it’s that internal journey that’s so important.

The show starts with Paula sharing her frustrations – initially, we assume she’s talking to someone like a friend, brother, or therapist. But it quickly becomes clear that’s not the case. What was your first impression when you read the script, and what did it make you realize?

When I first read the script, I was immediately struck by how mysterious the character was. I didn’t understand her, and even during auditions, I felt like I didn’t know who she was supposed to be. That uncertainty was actually what drew me to the role and made me really want to play her – I couldn’t quite figure her out.

The show was filmed in New York, and my agent sent me the script, not really expecting me to take it because I prefer living in California. But I was really impressed with the writing. Tati and I talked about how, while reading, we both struggled to understand the characters and their relationships – it wasn’t a flaw, but a sign of clever storytelling. It was clear the creator, David Rosen, had a vision, but as actors, at least for me, it often felt like we were discovering things as we went along. New information would come up that completely shifted how you understood the characters and their motivations, which was really exciting.

Tatiana, how was it having to do a lot of acting with a phone and a laptop?

Maslany explained a clever technique used during filming: even when shooting scenes on phones – like FaceTime or Zoom calls with Brandon Flynn – director David Gordon Green ran two simultaneous sets. This allowed Maslany and Flynn to actually have a live conversation while filming their characters Paula and Trevor on Zoom within the show.

Jake, your character is navigating life after his divorce. He’s now in a relationship with Mallory, and they’re planning a move to Boise. He’s also working to finalize the details of his custody arrangement. Can you tell me about your approach to understanding and portraying him?

Karl sees himself as a good person who was in a relationship that changed after they had a child. He felt his partner acted impulsively and increasingly erratically, creating an unstable and unsafe environment. He made a difficult decision to improve things for himself and their daughter, and he was genuinely trying his best. He just didn’t have the experience or understanding to navigate the situation effectively and wasn’t getting the results he wanted.

Television

Tatiana Maslany, the lead actress in Marvel’s “She-Hulk,” is openly using her platform to advocate for transgender rights and better working conditions for visual effects artists, who are often facing tough challenges.

Paula works as a fact-checker for a news organization and is hoping to get promoted, as she’s currently involved in a child custody dispute. We later learn she has a history in Portland, Oregon.

Maslany describes her character as someone leading a complicated life, burdened by secrets and constantly shifting personas. She presents a different face at work than she does at home with her daughter or around Karl and Mallory. While she struggles to maintain these different roles, she’s trying to give everyone what they need from her. Ultimately, she fails, which is a quality Maslany finds endearing. Like Jake mentioned, her choices are often spontaneous and illogical, despite her generally being a logical person with significant responsibilities. She frequently undermines her own efforts, making her a character full of contradictions.

The story explores a double standard: Paula faces intense scrutiny and danger simply for exploring her own sexual desires, while Karl’s personal issues don’t invite the same level of judgment. It was fascinating to portray that imbalance and how it impacts her journey.

This story begins as a basic con orchestrated by Trevor, Paula’s male escort, but quickly escalates into something dangerous. The central question is: how will Tatiana and Jake react when they start receiving unsettling calls?

I wouldn’t handle things the way Paula did. I’d reach out to a few people first, and I certainly wouldn’t just start wiring money without checking things out.

Maslany: “Make some calls to some people” — it sounds like this has happened before.

Johnson said there are ways to protect yourself from someone trying to take advantage of you, but he wouldn’t recommend actively pursuing confrontation.

My first reaction is to just hide and wish it hadn’t occurred. It’s like wanting to completely shut down and pretend to be a possum – playing dead!

Tatiana Maslany and Jake Johnson discussed how they would react to the difficult situation Paula faces. Maslany admitted she’d likely withdraw and ignore the problem. Johnson said he would take a more proactive approach, making calls and refusing to immediately send money. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Who do you think is most likely to be scammed? We all get the scam calls. Jake, what’s your tactic?

I actually find it really enjoyable. As someone who loves to talk, I get incredibly bored driving in L.A. traffic, so I tell elaborate stories, especially when my kids are with me – they sometimes even join in! I often try to emphasize how difficult things are for me, even bringing up family illnesses and framing the call as a blessing, really exaggerating the situation. I’ll say things like, ‘I’ve literally spent my last penny, thank you so much,’ just to see how people react and how quickly they’ll try to take advantage.

Tatiana, I imagine you don’t engage.

Maslany: You know what, I don’t. [Both laugh] Especially not like that. Incredible.

Johnson: The whole commute, I’m trying to get them to eventually hang up.

Maslany: I think I have been light scammed a few times.

When I was in high school, my uncle Eddie moved in with my family. We’d put up neon signs along Clark Street, and we’d sometimes take advantage of people. He was a smooth talker, convincing customers they needed a sign and exaggerating our abilities. The signs weren’t very well made, so people would get upset, and we’d have to quickly get away. It wasn’t exactly a legitimate business, but it felt like one. Basically, people didn’t receive what they were promised.

Maslany: Wait, you were making the neon signs?

Johnson: He would make the signs. I was his little apprentice.

Maslany: Like welding?

Johnson: Kind of — moving glass.

Television

The actor talks about the new season of ‘Minx,’ available on Starz, his early career struggles and what drove him, and his current work in movies and podcasts.

Jake, something Paula said about Karl to Mallory really stood out to me. I’m curious to hear your reaction to it and what you thought it revealed about Karl’s character.

Johnson: I think you know what I mean. “He’s 6 feet with 8% body fat.”

That’s not quite right. She told Mallory, “Let Karl get all over you with his chest hair and grind like he’s trying to get a bag of Doritos unstuck.” I asked if Lamorne Morris, her friend and co-star from ‘New Girl,’ had written that line.

Johnson thought the joke felt like something Lamorne would come up with, and he found it genuinely funny. However, knowing his own limitations, he hadn’t really considered it deeply. It didn’t bother him at all – he understood where it was coming from. He was just a little unsure if it was meant as a compliment or an insult. He interpreted Paula’s line as expressing sadness about lost memories and good times. He was surprised by how Tatiana delivered the scene, praising her as a talented actress.

Maslany: Yeah, you’re like, “I thought she’d be crying as she said it.”

I also feel like all the talk about Boise in the show is going to be a big moment for Idaho.

Johnson: Huge.

Maslany: Putting her on the map.

Johnson: Boise is freaking out. The people in Idaho are going nuts.

Jake, going back to something you mentioned before – the show was filmed in New York. What are your thoughts on all the buzz around efforts to make Los Angeles a major filming location again?

Johnson feels strongly that filming in Los Angeles is ideal. He’s noticed a recent trend of productions leaving L.A., but is happy to see things shifting back. While filming in other locations can be beautiful and interesting, he believes L.A. offers the highest quality crews, and feels it’s where filmmaking truly belongs. He also points out that recent tax incentives and breaks he received for projects at NBC and a film with Jessica Williams and Kevin Bacon have made L.A. even more appealing.

As a follower of Tatiana’s work, I’m really curious to hear her perspective on the film and TV industry in Canada. Since she’s Canadian herself, she likely has unique insights into how things are produced there and where most of the filming happens. I’d love to know her thoughts on the Canadian production system!

I’ve noticed big changes in how TV shows and movies are made and cast. What I really miss is in-person auditions. I remember when pilot season was busy – you could audition multiple times a day, learning new scenes and going from room to room. It was exhausting, but you got to connect with casting directors, producers, and directors. You could actually see an actor respond to direction in the moment, watching them adjust and discover new things. It was exciting to see someone surprise you and prove they were right for a role. That personal connection is a huge loss now. Actors used to rely on these auditions to get work, and it’s much harder now because everything is done through self-taped videos. It’s created a lot of hardship for working actors who depend on auditions to find jobs. I didn’t even audition for this role in person.

Just like Paula always checked the facts, is there anything people might have gotten wrong about you that you’d like to clarify?

I’d rather not comment, because anything I say will likely be misinterpreted or exaggerated. I’ve tried explaining things before, and it only makes the situation worse, like adding fuel to the fire.

I wanted to address something that really bothered me. Lamorne Morris was on my podcast, “We’re Here to Help,” and mentioned he wouldn’t do a “New Girl” reunion because of his opinion of the show’s fans. He apparently feels they don’t appreciate or understand good acting. I strongly disagree – I think the “New Girl” fan base is fantastic. If you want to hear the full story, check out my podcast, “We’re Here to Help.” I just wanted to clarify things and set the record straight.

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2026-05-13 13:34