And the Joe who went to dinner with his family, he's now a cop in the NYPD just like his late father, who was killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Not many people are familiar with the character James Wolk from Not great, Bob! He plays the villain in that series. So yes, series star James Wolk would love to see the musician himself come and play on NBC for a bit. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. Asking What if? can be a torturous game to play in real life. In the 2013-14 television season, Wolk was part of the cast of the CBS sitcom The Crazy Ones, starring Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar. For him, he and his wife deal with infertility. I think, he has always wanted to replicate that father-son relationship. Wolk, from Farmington Hills, stars in Ordinary Joe, which reruns its pilot film at 8 p.m. Friday (Sept. 24) on NBC, then continues at 10 p.m. Mondays. Im married with two kids now. Catch new episodes of Ordinary Joe every Monday at 10 p.m. EST on NBC. When John Gluck appears as Joes son in The Music Man, it is an emotional and inspiring moment for those who know someone suffering from SMA. [24] The series debuted on October 20, 2019, to universal acclaim. In the third, hes single and joins the family business as a NYPD officer. Birthplace: Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA. Wolk, at 36 a veteran of projects including Mad Men and Watchmen, first came to audiences attention on network TV, and its to network TV he returns this month. The star of 'Ordinary Joe' and 'Mad Men' plays a musician on the NBC series, and fans want to know if he can sing. James Wolk (born March 22, 1985) is an American actor. Miller was a fan of the show, which starred her as Maggie Bloom. Does James Wolk Sing And Play Piano? But if Ordinary Joe is truly a series built on hypotheticals, it's going to have a hard time getting viewers invested for the long term. WebSummer soiree. As a result, the first thing James notices Offers may be subject to change without notice. He feels a big void, Wolk says, and we are going to investigate that as the season goes on. Will he tell Amy about the search? Photo Credit: Andy Marx. ", "I can definitely carry a tune, but I can carry a tune as a baritone, not a tenor," he added. [2][3][4] During his teenage years, Wolk worked as an emcee (MC) at Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. With the release of the trailer, we spoke with Wolk about the series and thoughts of lives less traveled. TV 2021: First impression grades for The Wonder Donald Dunn may be the least flashy of the top bassists of all time, but his playing has made him one of the most well-known musicians. And then everyone takes a divergent road. We were looking for a new project in 2018, a good decade later, Lerner said. I do play guitar. After a trial separation, paralegal Jenny served Joe divorce papers in the premiere. Shocked to learn that he is a dad, Joe vowed to find and meet his son. selling women's footwear. As it turns out, James is a baritone, and a very humble one, at that. In the third, he works as a policeman. James Corden gestures to the crowd during one of the final episodes of The Late Late Show. Corden has said he's moving from Los Angeles back to his home in the The answer is: no, he does not actually play the piano on Lucifer. The first version of the story was written by Matt Reeves in 2008, said writer-producer Garrett Lerner; like most scripts, it was set aside. (In one recent year, 2018, it had three Tony nominees and eight people in Hamilton or one of its tours.) Actor: Mad Men. A young detective, caught in a web of deceit after the death of his estranged father, discovers he has a half-brother who is 11 years old by the same name. Ordinary Joe: James Wolk on Distinct Relationships - Variety Wolk also starred as Craig in the 2014 comedy film Are You Joking?, as Noah Bernstein in the 2014 comedy-drama film There's Always Woodstock, and as Mike Penny in the 2015 drama thriller film The Stanford Prison Experiment. Visit theSoundtracks of Television section formore Vague Visages streaming guides. It was a lot of fun to make. [8] He subsequently played the title character in the 2009 ABC pilot Solving Charlie. "We are all of us playing three versions of ourselves in this world where our decisions have drastically changed who we've become. ]," James said to the outlet. The 13-year-old has a form of muscular dystrophy and is in his first professional acting job. What would your life be like now if you made one different decision 10 years ago? She made the decision to have the child and gave him up for adoption. Each episode tracks the three lives he could be living today, depending on how he chose to celebrate his college graduation 10 years earlier. theres a beard expert that came in and hand-laid that beard for each for each time I was rock star . However, based on interviews and other public appearances, it seems likely that Wolk is at least proficient in both singing and piano playing. He is known for his starring roles in the CBS comedy series The Crazy Ones (20132014), the AMC period drama series Mad Men (20132014), the CBS drama thriller series Zoo (20152017), the CBS All Access psychological thriller series Tell Me a Story (20182019), and the HBO superhero limited series Watchmen (2019). He has been performing for more than ten years, has collaborated on a number of albums, and is the co-writer of You Again, which was released in 2009, with Kristen Bell. [7], In 2008, Wolk landed his first starring television role in Hallmark Hall of Fame's drama film Front of the Class, as Brad Cohen. Now were getting to see Amy and Joe get that second chance. Does Copyright 2023 NTVB Media, Inc., All Rights Reserved, Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love, Ranking the Likelihood of Magnum P.I. & More Canceled Shows Being Saved, The Most Painful Cancellations of the Season, 'Ordinary Joe' Creators on the Show's '3-Dimensional Love Triangle' & What's Next. Yes, James Corden does play the piano and the segment wasnt fake. Its a question that could keep someone up at night, but its also the premise behind upcomingNBC dramaOrdinary Joe. Joes jaw-dropper of a loft was a large event space originally scouted for the reunion, but director Adam Davidson thought, This is a rock stars house! Now that production has moved to Atlanta for the series, the loft has been re-created on soundstages and given, Lerner promises, an incredible view.. In addition to his work on television, Wolk has also appeared in a number of films, including You Again and The Wolf of Wall Street. However, although Damons piano training enabled him to play all the proper fingering, the music we hear is actually played by pianist Sally Heath and Gabriel Yared, who composed AndIm in love with my wife, and I have these two amazing kids. Joe is a talented musician who has been playing the piano since he was a child. Everett Bradley, as a member of Bruce Springsteens band, Bon Jovi, and Carly Simons band, discusses his experiences. Joe walks into the audition room and sits down at the piano. James Wolk is a naturally appealing TV lead. On the track of this sexy bossa nova jazz track, its a lot of fun. University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, Best Supporting Actor Series, Miniseries or Television Film, "Must-see TV: Sitcoms, sex top Fall lineup - Fall Preview", "James Wolk Takes the Fall - Theater News", "Mad Men's James Wolk on the Bob Benson Reveal", "It's Time to Meet Jimmy Wolk, Playing Brad Cohen, in Front of the Class | Class Performance", "Showtime Casting: 'Shameless' Gets James Wolk and More", "Emmy Watch: James Wolk on 'Political Animals', "James Wolk Stays Sane on 'The Crazy Ones', "Stanford Prison Experiment holds place in pop psyche decades on", "Netflix Nabs Chris Sparling's 'Mercy,' 'Girlfriend's Day' With Bob Odenkirk (Exclusive)", "James Wolk Joins HBO's "Watchmen" Series", "James Wolk To Headline NBC's 'Ordinary Joe' Drama Pilot From Russel Friend, Garrett Lerner & Matt Reeves", "Another Successful Camp Twitch and Shout", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Wolk&oldid=1146151432, University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance alumni, Internet Off-Broadway Database person ID same as Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Episode: "Robot Chicken Christmas Special: X-Mas United", This page was last edited on 23 March 2023, at 02:07. What happens when the one that got away comes back? Also in the picture is Jenny, whom Joe saw at the reunion for the first time in 10 years. Subconsciously, Im attracted to that duality. An optimistic college grad played by James Wolk lives out three different versions of his life: In one, he's a rock star. "One day, we'll be standing around our son and it'll be his birthday and we're having a loving moment as husband and wife and as parents. Friend grew up on Billy Joel turf in Long Island, so he inserted Joel music; also, he said: Nurse Joes son, Christoper, is in a wheelchair and he has the same disease as Garretts son does.. James Wolk Would Love to Im singing on this show [Ordinary Joe] and it's amazing, but I'm working with a vocal coach. It really taught me that I always want to make choices that I believe in artistically. Ordinary Joe: James Wolk Plays 3 Dudes on NBC | Backstage He takes a deep breath and begins to play. As James told Backstage, he can sing but he doesn't consider himself a professional. James is entirely of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry (his family emigrated from Poland, Russia, Latvia, and Lithuania). So what you hear is my voice. (Side note: This is the second NBC drama, after 2019's short-lived The Village, that uses 9/11 as character development. Our site has more than 2 million unique monthly visitors and 1 million subscribers. Hed never acted before sending in a taped audition. [28] From 2009 to 2012, he also volunteered at Camp Twitch and Shout, which is a camp in Winder, Georgia, for children, ages 7 to 17, who have Tourette syndrome. At the reunion, Joe ran into Jenny, a partner at a law firm. No con artists this time, just a pleasant (yet terribly titled) exercise in "What if?" So its basically creating the same backstory from birth until 21. The virtuosic, polished blues-rock playing of Haynes is indebted to Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Johnny Winter, as it is to the three Kings (B.B., Freddie, and Buddy). Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. We found it interesting to play with this character who seemingly does have everything, but then humanize him by watching him define himself over what he cannot have, says Lerner. Is that what you call them on set or are there nicknames for them? Ordinary Joe Star James Wolk Specializes in Characters Leading While Ellis is a talented actor, he does not know how to play the piano. Or did I want to pursue acting? Teachers have been key to his life. B. During the 2010 FOX pilot Lone Star, directed by Marc Webb, James was in the role of Robert/Bob Taylor. But what he wants most is to be a father, and Amy has had trouble carrying a pregnancy to term. Ordinary Joe Soundtrack: Every Song In Season 1, Episode 6: Always Do the Right Thing Soundtracks of Television. May we retire that trope now, please?). His dad owned Sundance Shoes, in Birmingham and West Bloomfield. Ordinary Joe tracks one character through three lives, investigating the consequences of three possible decisions its protagonist might have made. He added two notes to the top of my register that I never thought I could hit. James Wolk (born March 22, 1985) is an American actor. The series soundtrack, supervised by Jen Ross (Empire, Power), incorporates numerous soaring anthems that align with the protagonists shifting perspective. PLAY PIANO Wolk has also appeared in films such as You Again and Joyful Noise. All rights reserved. Wardrobe help big time. In all of them, some fundamental thing seems missing, though, naturally, what that missing element is varies from timeline to timeline. Its played out over the course of Season 1, hints Friend. Could Serinda Swan Possibly Return to NBC's Hit Drama 'Chicago Fire' for Season 10? Does James It was taken out of that drawer; it was among several dozen things that had been submitted to us, and it just spoke to us.. The rock star has the fame to sell out arenas, the money to own at least six cars, and an amazing spouse, Amy, to come home to. Ordinary Joe brings into contrast three different timelines that explore how Joe's life would have panned out had he made a radically different decision on graduation day. Name etched in gold, King Charles' school remembers him Still, none of this was in his career plan. I was attracted to that script because I felt like I had a lot of ways I wanted to go at 21 like vastly different ways. He shared the couples fertility issues, and Jenny tearfully told him about her pregnancy 10 years ago. This song is extremely moving and captures the shows emotions in a unique way. [29], Wolk met Elizabeth Jae Lynch, a schoolteacher, while the two of them were volunteering at Camp Twitch and Shout. Yes, James Corden does play the piano and the segment wasnt fake. In all versions of this, Joe is successful. How To Get A Great Direct Input (DI) Sound For Recording Guitar, Guitar Is A Relatively Easy Task That Can Be Done At Home With A Few Simple Tools, How Many Musicians And Chorus In Mozart Clarinet Concerto, How To Cure Finger Pain From Playing Guitar. While Wolk is not a trained musician, he is able to play the piano. Like grad school. [Reading the script], a part of me went, Oh my God, thats me! And then quickly I realized Im not that special we all think about What if?. And even your character on Mad Men, Bob Benson (pictured), had a sort of double life because he was a gay man living in the closet. WebJames Wolk. James afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss en fonction de vos profils de centres dintrt; mesurer lefficacit des publicits et contenus personnaliss; et. re Playing Our Song': Musical Review It was a lot of fun. NBC is marketing the show squarely at the This Is Us crowd ("Joe's life is always messy, exciting, tough, unpredictable and beautiful") and they could have more luck than usual thanks to Wolk, who's an amiable, immensely appealing leading man. And Wolk? [5][6] He graduated North Farmington High School in 2003 and from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance in 2007. As a viewer, it's unclear at least in the two episodes made available for review whether Joe is just imagining these different lives while standing in the breezy Syracuse quad, or somehow living them all through some kind of parallel universe situation. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. I will die on this earth on March 14, 2022. In November 2014, Wolk was cast as the lead in the CBS drama thriller series Zoo, based on the novel by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. After a few minutes, Joe finishes his audition and walks out of the room. He was born to an art teacher named Edie and his father Robert Wolk. The city of his birth is Farmington Hills, Michigan. His father owned a shoe store. Wolk was raised in a Jewish family that subscribed to Reform Judaism. Whether or not he is considered good at either activity is subjective. There is no doubt that it is an intriguing and unforgettable story that will keep you up at night. Q.V. Its a good film, and I really like the cast. The Ordinary Joe soundtrackincludes music by BillyJoel, Elton John and Ray LaMontagne. James Wolk: From Television Star To Film Actor Mozart Project So I thought Ive got to dance, Ive got to play an instrument, Ive got to act. [9], In 2010, Wolk had a role as Will in the romantic comedy film You Again. Magazine. Zoo 's James Wolk channels Hollywood royalty in a dashing photo shoot at the Hotel Bel-Air for Watch! Yes, James Corden does play the piano and the segment wasnt fake. He has been doing so since he was a child and he can sing too! He played the piano on the first ever episode of The Late Late Show. Then, the star famously jumped on the keys to perform with Coldplay in 2015, playing their hit single A Head Full Of Dreams. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. dvelopper et amliorer nos produits et services. In another timeline, Joe is married to his best friend, Jenny (Elizabeth Lail). People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. He has been practicing for months and he is confident in his abilities. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Joe Kimbreau, a graduate of Syracuse University, appears in three timelines on Ordinary Joe, starring James Wolk as the character. The Joe who asks out resident cool girl Amy Kindelan (Natalie Martinez) becomes a musician. In this list of the best bassists of all time, Donald Duck Dunn may be the least flashy player. "As an actor, the challenge is playing all of those beats and nuanced moments.". I enjoy listening to music. All three versions of this guy are so different, right? In one, Joe Kimbreau becomes a successful and famous musician and is married to Natalie Martinezs Amy. As a child, he began learning to play the harmonica, piano, and drums. Yeah, absolutely. So yes, series star James Wolk would love to see the musician himself come and play on NBC for a bit. Whitney Friedlander for Rotten Tomatoes: Youre playing three versions of the same person. storytelling elevated by a leading man who has yet to disappoint. And then the cop, whos to me is kind of like a big kid. But they did bring in a guitar aficionado to really play it. William Wolk - Wikipedia Ordinary Joe is officially back after signing off right before Thanksgiving, and the dramas at an all-time high for Joe Kimbreau ( James Wolk) and his many lives. James Wolk recounts the events that occurred (and the recording that occurred) on that night in a thorough manner. And then along those lines, Lone Star and Bob Benson: just the idea of the faces we show versus who we really are inside? Transitions between the trio of Joes often dont land, only emphasizing the stagy unreality of the shows three worlds. The song can be heard throughout the episode. 1 of 11 Pupils from Hill House School in London, play on the grass in front of the now Saatchi Gallery, where Britain's King Charles III played sport as a pupil, Thursday, Peter Williams is a graduate of B.A Arts and Culture from the University of Technology Sydney. Two of its grads, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, wrote the score of the Tony-winning Dear Evan Hansen, which reaches movie theaters Friday. And then, the next day, we'll be in a totally different world where we havent seen each other in 10 years. And yet we know these feelings are only being evoked by a hypothetical set of circumstances were celebrating, or mourning with, a story that even within the shows world is not real. We meet Wolk's Joe Kimbreau at Syracuse University. James Wolk is an actor who is best known for his appearance in the series Zoo as the character Jackson Oz. He has also appeared in other notable roles in television including Tell Me a Story, as Jordan Evans, and as Zach Cropper in The Crazy Ones. Some fans are wondering what hes been up to now. It also interests me. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Were there conversations about having a Joe who wasnt doing well in his career? Matthew Martin Ward fills in for Mark Janas at Ms. Kathleen Turners Philadelphia show. James Wolk has a new wife. Every Saturday night, James would perform a song on his incredible Rockabilly guitar. For James Wolk, I'm willing to wait a little longer to find out. His family is Jewish. same name, James beautifully portrayed Brad, who has been challenged It was so clear when I was singing, they were like, 'This guy, get him out of here.'". So they all have something thats eating at all of them. It breaks my heart, every time he sings, she told the Television Critics Association. There is a likable set design created by James Wolk that features piano keys bracketing either side and above the myriad central set pieces that accommodate scenes in such diverse locales as Vernons apartment, his studio, a nightclub, Sonias apartment, a beach cottage and a recording studio, all illuminated by Matthew McCarthys lighting. With Cop Joe, he never moved on with his life. I mean, the show is a love letter to Billy Joel, Wolk told TheWrap. Ordinary Joe Soundtrack: Every Featured Song in the NBC Series [16] He played a womanizing creative at the Chicago ad agency headed by Williams and Gellar, his second role as an ad agency worker after Mad Men. If you know how to play the piano and sometimes play it while singing, you would surely realize that singing while playing the piano is not an easy thing to do. father's store as a teenager. Its plainly attempting to capture some of the magic of This Is Us, scrambling the equation: While NBCs signature drama hops through various real times in one familys life, its new entrant skitters between possible experiences one person might have had, reconfiguring his family each time. Wolk elevates NBC's new drama about one man with three very different lives. He played the piano on the first Two songs, Soldier On and Landing, were written by Sam Hollander and Josh Edmonson, and three covers, including Bright Eyes First Day of My Life and James Taylors Fire and Rain, were also included on the EP. In their new version, the producers added some personal touches. As a teenager, I began to play guitar around the age of 14 or 15. But it's her on-screen sons that are bona fide crushable: James Wolka and Sebastian Stan. (Photo by Jaimie Trueblood / AMC / Courtesy: Everett Collection). James Wolk is an actor and producer who is best known for his work on television. Michigan drama school in 2007, and won the role of 'Brad Cohen' in CBS/ [on his film, There's Always Woodstock] I play a young, Jewish doctor My mom's dream come true. Ordinary Joe Star James Wolk Specializes in Characters Leading James Wolk is a rock star now albeit a pretend one and thats ironic. But do you play the guitar and the piano? [13] In 2012, Wolk starred in the USA Network miniseries Political Animals, co-starring Sigourney Weaver and Ciarn Hinds.