We’ve got another acting podcast today! Actor Brian Thomas Smith (The Big Bang Theory, Bad Monkey) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 361. Brian stops by the bungalow and discusses going 0 for 6 on avails last year, why he still chooses to audition for commercials, how he used to crash auditions, doing reality shows before acting, and more!
“I want to book a million commercials. I can’t wait until I book a campaign.”
— Brian Thomas Smith
Beats
00:00 – Brian slates.
00:14 – Introduction.
01:56 – The podcast clips on Instagram.
03:09 – Handsome and funny.
06:11 – Facial hair.
09:48 – Outlook for 2026.
12:58 – Stuart Fails To Save The Universe.
14:29 – Zack spinoff of The Big Bang Theory.
20:01 – Getting multiple episodes added after booking the one.
23:29 – Pay rate with more episodes.
25:12 – Self tapes.
28:59 – Sticking with commercials.
31:17 – Getting caught in the KMR scandal.
32:52 – Crashing commercial auditions.
36:42 – Last day job.
40:25 – Pivot from commercials to TV.
43:34 – Being on reality shows before success.
47:35 – Hobbies like basketball league.
50:46 – Who took a chance on Brian.
More Brian
– Check Brian’s IMDb.
– Follow Brian on Instagram @brian_thomas_smith.
– Visit Brian’s website.
Transcript
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (00:00)
Hey, what’s up? My name is Brian Thomas Smith, 6’3″, based out of LA. It just comes out.
MIKE ELDER (00:14)
Hello, and welcome to the Box Angeles podcast with me. I’m your host, Mike Elder. Thank you for being here. Happy 2026. We’re back with a brand new episode. I’m excited to get to it.
But first, go to the YouTube channel, youtube.com/boxangeles. Subscribe over there. There’s so much media, so much content for you to consume. You can put it on your TV in the background while you’re working or playing or raising your kids. It’s really good stuff. It would mean a lot to me if you subscribe. So youtube.com/boxangeles.
Like I said, we got a really good episode this week. Really fun. Brian Thomas Smith is here on the podcast. He’s so funny, such a talented actor. You’d recognize him from millions of commercials, but also TV shows like The Big Bang Theory, The Neighborhood, Bad Monkey, Shrinking, NCIS. He’s all over your television screens, and rightfully so. He’s, like I said, so funny.
I knew him from Big Bang Theory. We talked about that universe. We talked about his run on that show. We talked about his work in reality shows. He was on a few reality shows that led to acting work. We talked about his struggles lately, commercially. He said he went 0 for 6 on avails, which is absolutely crazy and relatable to many of us.
So this was a really fun conversation that came out of nowhere. It came really quick. Brian followed me on Instagram, and I immediately hit him up. So this was a great, great, great chat. We had a lot of laughs. He’s a fun dude.
Yeah, I don’t want to waste any more time. So without further ado, let’s get to it. Ladies and gentlemen, Brian Thomas Smith.
🎵 ROCKFORD (01:48) 🎵
You wanna talk to me? You wanna talk.
MIKE ELDER (01:56)
Brian, I’m so pumped to have you here. As you were just alluding to, this happened really fast.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (02:02)
Yeah, I like the way I think I wish things happened more like that. You know, it’s like, hey, what are you? Are you free next week? Yeah, let’s do this. Tuesday, done.
MIKE ELDER (02:09)
It is funny. Like you commented on Instagram, and I was like, what, Brian from Big Bang Theory is talking to me? This is great. Get your ass over here.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (02:17)
I’ve been watching your little podcasts on Instagram. They come up, and there’s always someone interesting.
MIKE ELDER (02:22)
Why’d you have to call it little?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (02:25)
I didn’t have to say little.
This thriving, growing.
MIKE ELDER (02:31)
That’s right. This nascent little baby. I’m kidding. No, yeah, that’s awesome. I appreciate you finding it. And I’ve been trying to infiltrate more acting algorithms somehow, just with like words and references and stuff. And it’s been working, it seems like.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (02:43)
Yeah, I can’t remember who popped up, but I was like, oh, I know that person. And then they were talking about just.
MIKE ELDER (02:49)
I think it was Bernstein, wasn’t it? Ryan Bernstein? The casting director.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (02:51)
For sure. Well, but I was watching before.
MIKE ELDER (02:53)
Oh, right, right, right. Yes, yes. Yeah. But what I was going to say is I email so many people, and it’s like to do this podcast, and it always ends up being back and forth. They loop in their manager. I’m like, Jesus, just show up. And that’s what you did. And I fucking love it.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (03:06)
Right?
MIKE ELDER (03:08)
It’s way better.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (03:09)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (03:09)
Anyways, I’m pumped to talk to you, Brian. As I alluded to, I, of course, know you from Big Bang. I didn’t realize how many commercials you fucking did. And I was watching all your commercials earlier today, and I was pumped on that. But the one thing I wanted to ask you right out the gate, and I want to hear your take on this because I’m curious. You obviously are a very handsome man. You’re a tall drink of water. You’re taller as tall as I was expecting. But you’re also fucking funny.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (03:32)
Oh, thank you.
MIKE ELDER (03:34)
I don’t know what that’s like. I have one of those things, obviously. I’m very handsome.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (03:39)
Hey, I just did a self tape for Grey’s Anatomy, and the breakdown was average man.
MIKE ELDER (03:44)
Well, that was wrong.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (03:45)
Yeah, that’s.
MIKE ELDER (03:46)
But my question is, do people underestimate that you’re going to be funny because you come in such like a nice, well-kept package?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (03:52)
Oh, man, that’s very kind. I don’t know. I mean, the comedy world is where I live, and those people know me, and they bring me in for all the right opportunities in that world. But like the leading man is like, you know, usually a celebrity or a star.
So sometimes you’re going up against, you know, way out of your league. Like, I mean, not out of your league, but just guys that are going to get it with an offer or something, you know? But yeah, I don’t know.
I love comedy. I love the half-hour TV world. I love it all. It’s fun.
MIKE ELDER (04:30)
Yeah, I’m just thinking I have a very attractive doctor, or not doctor. I don’t know why I said doctor, lawyer friend. And he always hates that people immediately think of him as attractive. And he’s like, I’m so much more than this. And I obviously was kidding about being handsome. I don’t have that affliction. But I am curious. Like I feel like that would get exhausting at some point where people are like, oh, you just got it because you’re attractive. You just got it. And I don’t mean to make you embarrassed or anything, but.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (04:55)
Well, you’re not interviewing Brad Cooper here. I mean.
MIKE ELDER (05:01)
I’m interviewing BTS. Even better.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (05:03)
Yeah, BTS. Sometimes I play a handsome guy, but a lot of times I just, you know, just play like a big bro guy, you know.
MIKE ELDER (05:10)
And that’s my wheelhouse, too. Big bro. But are people like super surprised when you like drop a button at an improv audition? And they’re like, this guy’s funny, too?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (05:18)
Yeah, I mean, I don’t know if they’re surprised. I don’t know. Yeah, I never think about that. I never put myself in that genre. So I just.
MIKE ELDER (05:29)
What genre specifically?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (05:30)
The handsome leading man.
MIKE ELDER (05:31)
Really?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (05:32)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (05:35)
What do you categorize yourself as? If you’re pitching yourself to like a new rep or something, what do you say you are?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (05:40)
Well, I mean, yeah, there is a leading man quality, for sure. But yeah, I feel like I’m a funny guy friend. I’m the boyfriend. I don’t know. A lot of those roles is what I get.
MIKE ELDER (05:54)
Yeah. I always pitch myself as the everyday dad bod funny guy.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (05:58)
There you go. There you go. Yeah. And there’s a world for that.
MIKE ELDER (06:02)
Not apparently not lately, because I haven’t booked anything. Hopefully soon, we’re really pulling for something.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (06:10)
Right?
MIKE ELDER (06:11)
I wanted to ask about this. This is a very niche question, but like you are rocking a beard right now.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (06:17)
Yes.
MIKE ELDER (06:18)
Oftentimes you’re not rocking a beard. Are you just going facial hair to facial hair, whatever you feel like? Or are you always one thing and then they ask for another?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (06:26)
My strategy is always grow the beard. And then if you need to shave it for something, shave it. Because sometimes it’s like, oh, I look totally different when I don’t have my beard when I’m getting shaven. So I try to keep it scruffy. And then I’ll shave for an audition. I’ll go mustache for an audition.
Right now I have this gross long hair that I think needs to be cut. But I have a pin in me for a Bad Monkey episode. And that’s a character that’s already been established who has like a man bun. And so in the next two weeks, in January, sometimes in January, I’m supposed to shoot this. They keep on pushing back this pin, so.
MIKE ELDER (07:07)
Who knows?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (07:07)
Who knows? But I’m ready for a haircut.
MIKE ELDER (07:09)
Well, I’m always curious because I always rock a beard, too. But lately I’ve been flirting with a mustache. And I’m like, is that going to mess me up? Did you get different headshots for all your different looks? Or do you just default to beard and.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (07:20)
I have a scruffy headshot and a less scruffy headshot. That’s kind of it.
MIKE ELDER (07:24)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (07:25)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (07:25)
So oftentimes, are you booking with a beard? And then they say, will you shave?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (07:29)
They always ask me if you’ll shave.
MIKE ELDER (07:31)
Right, of course.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (07:33)
And then I show up and they’re like, we like it.
MIKE ELDER (07:36)
Yeah. Because like I said, I was watching a lot of your commercials, and I was shocked how many of your commercials are clean shaven.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (07:41)
Yeah. And then like when I played Zack on The Big Bang Theory, it was always clean shaven, too. It was like a certain look that was pretty consistent. So yeah, you mix it up. I don’t know. But I would always show up to set with the beard. And then when it’s time to shoot, we’d razor it out.
MIKE ELDER (07:58)
Yeah. That’s good to know. Because I’m always second-guessing it. Like as you alluded to, we look completely different without beard. You know what I mean?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (08:05)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (08:05)
We’re like a different specimen.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (08:06)
It is. It’s funny. And I’m always talking about it, too, with my wife. And I don’t think she’s like, you know, you look fine. You know?
MIKE ELDER (08:15)
It’s the one thing.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (08:15)
Do I go beard? Do I go long hair? I got to mix my look up. I think it’s more about who you are.
MIKE ELDER (08:21)
Well, that’s nice.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (08:22)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (08:22)
And that’s probably true.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (08:23)
It helps. It helps to feel, you know, if you’re going to be this rough guy, you know, you’re going in for some, you know, outdoors guy for a Chevy commercial or something, you kind of a beard would be nice.
MIKE ELDER (08:35)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (08:35)
Can’t grow it in a day. So if you have it, use it. You know? But if you’re going to be a lawyer, you got to be clean shaven most of the time. So you got to be ready to change.
MIKE ELDER (08:47)
Yeah, I’m always curious about it. Because it’s one of those things that we can’t control a lot, obviously. But that’s one thing that we can control. So then whenever I find a lever or something, I can adjust to this. Have any influence on any of this, I’m always super fascinated. Because I’m like a very analytical mind. And I’m like, how do we beautiful mind this algorithm of acting? And it makes no sense. And it’s dumb. Because you’re totally right.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (09:11)
You might be overthinking it. It is. It is. Yeah. But it’s something that we get to control. You’re right. Like a lot of the stuff you don’t get to control. So I can control my look a little bit.
MIKE ELDER (09:22)
Plus, lately, every goddamn commercial I see is a mustache. So I’m like, I should be rocking a mustache. Because clearly, mustaches are in.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (09:28)
It’s funny. It’s just like, oh, mustaches are in. Mustaches are out. Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (09:32)
Yeah, my buddy Greg [Santos] and my buddy Andrew [Heder] are in separate insurance ads. And they both have mustaches. I’m like, see, I should be rocking a mustache. But I don’t have a headshot with a mustache. So you got to do that whole thing.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (09:43)
You just show up to the audition with the mustache. See what happens.
MIKE ELDER (09:48)
You mentioned January. It is January. It’s 2026. I know we got negotiations coming up and everything. How are you feeling where you’re sitting? How are you feeling going into 2026? About the industry, about your career?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (09:59)
Yeah. I try to be optimistic as much as possible. This year started out pretty, I mean, two weeks into it. And I’ve been super busy. Tons of auditions, theatrical and commercial. And you know I’m on avail for a spot right now. 0 for 6 on avails last year.
MIKE ELDER (10:20)
Wow.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (10:20)
It was not good. It was like coming in second, third place. You know, it doesn’t pay anything. You’re doing something right.
MIKE ELDER (10:27)
It’s priceless.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (10:28)
Because you’re getting there. But it does not help out with the mortgage. But this year we’re going to turn that page. You know, all the avails are going my way. At least I tell myself that. But yeah, I try not to worry about where the industry’s going, if it’s going to be slow. I just kind of play it by what’s happening right now. And right now it’s thriving for me. You know, I had two self tapes that were due this morning. I had them turned them in last night. So it feels good. I love being busy.
MIKE ELDER (10:59)
Yeah. This too shall pass. It’s like just control what you can control. And the broader industry, we have very little influence on.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (11:06)
I mean, the whole strike a few years ago. And oh, things are going to be awesome when we get out of this. It was like, this is not awesome. Nothing’s, you know, what did we fight for? What were we on strike for? I feel like we didn’t get much.
MIKE ELDER (11:20)
And it’s coming right back up. Although I heard they’re negotiating earlier this year. February 9, they’re going to start negotiating rather than wait until June.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (11:26)
Oh, man.
MIKE ELDER (11:27)
So hopefully.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (11:28)
Yeah, so we don’t have to go on strike again.
MIKE ELDER (11:30)
Hopefully.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (11:30)
Because that sucks.
MIKE ELDER (11:32)
Wait, you were 0 for 6 on avails? Did you book anything last year?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (11:35)
Not a commercial.
MIKE ELDER (11:36)
Oh, those were all commercials?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (11:37)
Those are just commercials. Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (11:39)
Wow. I don’t want to dwell on this. But I think people like hearing that somebody like you gets there and just can’t get it over the finish line. And I do an acting wrapped every year. You might have seen it on my Instagram. But like I didn’t book a single thing from an audition last year.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (11:55)
Oh, wow.
MIKE ELDER (11:55)
And I had over 100 auditions. And it’s like.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (11:58)
Isn’t that crazy? Yeah, you got to have 100 auditions. At least to book something. I mean, it takes, you know, a lot of opportunities to get something. But I’m usually, you know, two to four spots a year, which are great, you know?
And I have, you know, one running right now that no one ever sees. But it’s like one of those gifts that keeps on giving, you know, because it still runs and pays for State Farm or something. And it’s like, I think it’s going to be up for negotiation after the 22 months in February. So that’s like, those are the best. When you have those that run for a long time, you just get checks every quarter, you know?
MIKE ELDER (12:38)
Did you work at all last year?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (12:39)
Yeah, I did. So I did Bad Monkey season two.
MIKE ELDER (12:44)
Oh.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (12:44)
They brought me back for that. I did three episodes for season one. And then I did one. I was supposed to do three. And it looks like I’m just going to do two. I’m going to do one more here, either this week or next week. They said in January.
MIKE ELDER (12:57)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (12:58)
And then there’s a, I don’t know if I can talk about it. I think so. But at the Big Bang spinoff, Stuart Fails To Save The Universe.
MIKE ELDER (13:05)
I was on my list to see if you were in that.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (13:07)
Yeah, they got me in. And you know, I had mixed feelings because I was like, man, it’s like four of the recurring characters. And they brought them back for this epic 10-episode series for HBO Max that it’s going to be so different than The Big Bang Theory.
MIKE ELDER (13:21)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (13:22)
I mean, it’s the same characters. But it’s in this world that’s shot like a comic book action movie.
MIKE ELDER (13:29)
Oh, that’s fun.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (13:31)
Bizarro worlds that each episode is a new universe. And.
MIKE ELDER (13:35)
This is amazing.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (13:36)
It’s amazing. And I don’t know how much I’m supposed to be sharing.
MIKE ELDER (13:39)
I know. But I love it.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (13:39)
But at first, I was like.
MIKE ELDER (13:40)
Spill it all.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (13:41)
I was like reading about this. And you know, Kevin Sussman and.
MIKE ELDER (13:46)
Lauren.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (13:46)
Yeah, Bert and John. They’re all awesome actors. And I got to work with them on the show. And I’m like, man, I feel like Zack should be one of these characters that are running around trying to save the universe with them.
MIKE ELDER (13:56)
Yeah. Oh, yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (13:56)
It would definitely be some funny opportunities there with that type of character. But I got to be a guest star on the show. And hopefully, there’s a season two. And I get to play more. But it’s going to be so funny.
MIKE ELDER (14:09)
So I thought it was another multicam. It’s obviously not a multicam.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (14:13)
No.
MIKE ELDER (14:14)
Wow. That’s fun.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (14:14)
Big sets. Action.
MIKE ELDER (14:18)
That’s so cool.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (14:19)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (14:19)
When they announced that, I emailed Chuck Lorre to come do the podcast.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (14:23)
Hey, shoot your shot.
MIKE ELDER (14:24)
I did. He had like some assistant replying back. He’s unavailable right now. But we’ll keep it in mind. I was like hell yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (14:29)
I still need to reach out to him about my Zack’s Theory spinoff, which I developed. And it’s a pretty funny idea. And it would be like, out of all the character spinoffs, you would never think Zack. But it kind of makes sense that it’s like this idiot. But it’s based on his kindness and like his optimism and how everything’s awesome. And I feel like now in the state of the world, we could use a little more Zack.
MIKE ELDER (14:57)
I agree.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (14:58)
It’s kind of like Ted Lasso with a positive vibe and good energy. And I think when the pandemic happened, everybody needed to watch Ted Lasso. And things are still, you know, the world’s not as happy as it used to be. So I feel like a Zack’s Theory would be pretty good timing right now. And now I just need to write it all out in a napkin and slip it in his pocket at the premiere party for this show.
MIKE ELDER (15:23)
Wait, so you don’t have it written yet? But you got a really good.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (15:26)
Oh, I have the whole deck, pitch deck, everything.
MIKE ELDER (15:28)
Wow.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (15:29)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (15:29)
And you just did that on your own just because you thought it was something fun?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (15:32)
I did it a while ago, too. But it’s been developed even more now. But it would be fun. I just don’t know how. At the time, there was no idea of they were like, we reached out to him, my people. And they were like, oh, he’s not interested in any spinoffs. But now they’re already doing a spinoff. So maybe it’s the time.
MIKE ELDER (15:50)
Multiple.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (15:50)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (15:51)
Wait, wait, wait. So okay, walk me through this process. You’re doing this great recurring character on Big Bang. It’s fun. You just are inspired to do this on your own volition?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (16:00)
Yeah. I was like, how do we keep this.
MIKE ELDER (16:01)
Like this own fan fiction almost?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (16:03)
So the Big Bang Theory, they have the best fans. They’re obsessed with the show. If I walk around outside of LA, people stop and take pictures with me. And they’re like, oh my god, are you Zack on the Big Bang Theory? And I get to take photos. And I do cameos. And there’s a huge fan base.
No one really cares here in LA, which is okay, you know, because they see people all the time, I guess. Anyway. But outside of LA, people, I mean, they also watch the Big Bang Theory. And they love it. And I feel like there’s a fan base for Zack. And at least from the people that reach out to me with love of the show and my character. So that would be really cool to bring that character to life somehow in a new world.
MIKE ELDER (16:47)
Okay. Was this like a COVID project you came up with?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (16:49)
Yeah, that’s when I did it.
MIKE ELDER (16:51)
Okay.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (16:51)
Through COVID, I developed it then. It might have even been right before it, too. I mean, it was kind of like, you know, Zack’s character becomes really wealthy at the end of the series. And he’s trying to have kids.
So it has to do with like being really wealthy and fostering kids and going through the adoption process. But he’s an idiot. But his ideas are never great. But you know, they’re all with good intentions and through love and kindness. So somehow they all work. But they’re not the brightest ideas. And it’s kind of that world.
MIKE ELDER (17:30)
I love that. That’s great. But you said it’s been developed more since. So you come up with this. You run it by your management. And you’re like, hey, this is an idea I got. And then who developed it more?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (17:41)
It’s mostly on my laptop with just me.
MIKE ELDER (17:43)
Oh, okay.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (17:44)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (17:45)
You said it’s been developed more. I thought like some.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (17:47)
No, I wish.
MIKE ELDER (17:48)
You had like M. Night Shyamalan come in and punch it up or something.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (17:51)
Right. That’s a great idea. That’s a great idea. I think what it takes is some courage on my end to just put myself out there.
MIKE ELDER (17:59)
Well, you’re doing it right now.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (18:00)
See it. Get out there. Here we go. Here’s my idea. Do you like it? But it doesn’t do any good just sitting on my laptop.
MIKE ELDER (18:06)
No, it doesn’t. But we’ll clip this part of it and put this on Instagram. And get your Big Bang army supporting it.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (18:12)
Write some letters.
MIKE ELDER (18:13)
My mom’s in that army, too. So she’ll be very loud.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (18:15)
Most moms are. That’s the number one most comments when they say, oh, are you on the Big Bang Theory? My mom loves that show. I’m like, you’re another mom lover. Moms love Zack. But you could admit it, too, if you like the show as well.
MIKE ELDER (18:29)
I love the show.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (18:30)
They always say it’s the mom. My mom loves that show. Can I take a photo for my mom?
MIKE ELDER (18:34)
I mean, my mom got me into it, if I’m being honest.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (18:36)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (18:36)
I love it, too. It is really interesting, though. Because I say this fully, I love the show. But it does feel like it shouldn’t be as relatable as it is. Because these guys are fucking rocket scientists.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (18:49)
I know.
MIKE ELDER (18:50)
And Middle America just loves it. It’s really fascinating how it took off.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (18:53)
It did. And these characters are so likable. And even like Sheldon’s not a likable character. But you just love him on the show. And the writing is great. I mean, they write so many jokes. And it’s so funny.
And it is a show that you can just turn on at night when you’re going to bed, crank out two episodes. And you feel good. And nowadays, every show is like, if you missed that last episode, what’s going on in this episode? And I love watching those styles of shows, too. But they aren’t making the content where it’s just like sometimes people just want to unwind and watch a fun show.
MIKE ELDER (19:30)
That’s all I want. I wish we made more multicams.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (19:32)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (19:32)
My favorite shows are multicams. Home Improvement, Cheers, Frasier, Big Bang. Truthfully, those easy watching stuff, it’s for what you said. It’s like, I don’t want to watch a TV show that reminds me of the shitty world we live in. I want something that relaxes me. And I can pull me down and be comforting and easy watch.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (19:50)
It’s an easy watch. And it doesn’t matter what season you chime into. You turn it on. And that’s why.
MIKE ELDER (19:57)
It’s the same characters.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (19:58)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (19:59)
The Office. Although that’s not a multicam. But wait, about the Big Bang Theory. Remind me, you were in the pilot, right?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (20:06)
No. I came in on season three. The season finale, season three, I was just supposed to be a one-time guest star. I remember getting the audition on a Monday morning at like 11:00. They said, hey, can you be at Warner Brothers by 5:00 for a producer session for this guest star that works this week?
MIKE ELDER (20:25)
You love things that move fast.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (20:26)
Moves fast. And I showed up. I showed up. There were five other guys there, or five of us. I knew all of them. And.
MIKE ELDER (20:33)
Bradley Cooper was one of them?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (20:36)
He was working on something else. And what’s funny is, it’s like, if this would have happened season 10, they would have just probably offered it to some guy.
MIKE ELDER (20:45)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (20:46)
But I got in at season three when they were still auditioning a lot of people. And two of us went back into the room. And I took a couple of notes. You know, Chuck Lorre, Bill Brady, casting, everyone was there. And I’m driving back. They’re like, hey, you booked it. Table read is on Wednesday. And it was awesome. I got to be on the Big Bang Theory.
MIKE ELDER (21:07)
What a whirlwind.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (21:08)
And they were laughing at everything I was saying. I mean, when we were taping in front of a live audience, I remember Kaley pulled me aside. And was like, dude, you are killing it. The audience is laughing at everything. And they had written all these jokes for this dumb guy on top of the roof who thought they were going to blow up the moon with this laser.
MIKE ELDER (21:25)
Oh, yeah, yeah. That’s right.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (21:26)
And it was a good dynamic. Because even like Penny got to be like, you are an idiot. And usually, they’re making fun of Penny being an idiot. So it was another layer of just idiot, you know? And it added a lot of opportunities for jokes. And I just remember when it was done, you know, Chuck was like, oh, you’re funny. That was great. And I thought, I think I’m going to be back.
MIKE ELDER (21:51)
Oh.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (21:51)
I thought so.
MIKE ELDER (21:53)
You alluded to this. But it was for sure one to start.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (21:56)
Oh, yeah.
MIKE ELDER (21:56)
This is just a one-off thing.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (21:57)
Yeah. And then like I think six or seven episodes into season four, I got the call. Hey, they want to book you for two episodes. And I was like, sweet.
MIKE ELDER (22:05)
The gift that keeps on giving. Because didn’t you do like 13, 15?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (22:07)
Yeah. So I did three episodes in season four. Then they forgot about me for five and six. And then they brought me back season seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12. There might be a record in there for the most amount of seasons and the fewest amount of episodes. Because not a lot of shows go 12 seasons.
MIKE ELDER (22:26)
That’s true.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (22:27)
So I did a lot of seasons.
MIKE ELDER (22:28)
Yeah, yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (22:29)
Not a lot of eps.
MIKE ELDER (22:30)
But what a good, I mean, I have a lot of dreams. But that’s like a dream where you book something. Super easy booking. It sounds like, and then it just keeps on giving. It keeps on giving.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (22:39)
Yeah. And I think what was great is that every episode I was in, it was like, they were like, we need to bring Zack back. How can we bring him in for this season? Oh, here’s a funny idea. Let’s do this. So you know when I showed up, I would be in a lot and have a lot of jokes written for me. And it was just fun.
And to see everybody on the show, they were so warm and welcoming every season. Even though they made more and more and more and more money, they were still super, super, super cool every time I came back.
MIKE ELDER (23:08)
That’s great.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (23:09)
What a wonderful family that was.
MIKE ELDER (23:11)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (23:12)
And still is. It’s great.
MIKE ELDER (23:13)
Well, I interviewed Kevin Sussman a long time ago on the podcast.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (23:16)
He’s amazing.
MIKE ELDER (23:17)
And he got me into a taping.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (23:19)
Oh, cool.
MIKE ELDER (23:20)
Because I was like, I love multicams. He’s like, come to a taping. So I went to a taping. And yeah, it was so relaxed, so fun, so efficient. I think that was like later season.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (23:28)
Dialed in.
MIKE ELDER (23:29)
Yeah. What a good gig. I mean, that’s awesome. You mentioned their money going up. And feel free to tell me fuck off. Are you chipping away at all as you go deeper in?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (23:39)
The guest star rate would go up every, I think, five episodes you do. They crank it up. And then more five. And then another tier. And that was good. And then they brought me over to the United States of Al. And it was still that world. So they kept my guest rate up, which was nice. But yeah, I mean, it’s crazy how much money they were making. And how not.
MIKE ELDER (24:05)
Life-changing money.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (24:06)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (24:06)
But I think that speaks to like you were saying how you just got all these laughs. I think when actors come in and do that, writers just want to write for you. Because you make it so easy on them. So I totally get why they would bring you back.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (24:21)
Yeah. I think that’s what they really liked that. They were like, it’s so fun to write for Zack. Because it’s just another level of like so many other people had other jokes. I mean, there was a, I can’t remember the line. But like literally, Johnny Galecki just stares at me after I said something. And we got the biggest laugh to where we had to wait. And like the audience is still laughing. Because I think I said something like, yeah, because we’re like the same. And he just looked at me like, you think we’re the same? And the audience just laughed forever. And it’s just fun. It’s funny. I mean, the audience really does laugh. If anything, they have to trim it.
MIKE ELDER (24:59)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (25:00)
Trim the laughs. Because they’re real.
MIKE ELDER (25:02)
And people shit on laugh tracks. I’m like, no, they’re real. They’re great.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (25:06)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (25:06)
And is that something that you like? I would assume you like that, like that immediate gratification.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (25:10)
Oh, instant gratification.
MIKE ELDER (25:11)
Because it’s like a commercial audition.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (25:12)
We don’t get that at auditions anymore. Self tape, you get nothing.
MIKE ELDER (25:15)
Are you not going in much? I’m going in a lot more for like Bernstein and stuff.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (25:18)
Well, yes. I mean, for commercials. But like I miss the theatrical auditions where you go in, you see somebody’s in the waiting room, you catch up. You go in, you get a hug from the casting director. They’re laughing with whoever’s in the room with them. You leave thinking, I just killed that. Because that was really funny.
MIKE ELDER (25:38)
Yeah, you get something out of it.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (25:40)
Some feedback. They gave me a note. I took it. Like boom, we just nailed that. Now I’m doing self tapes. And I’m just throwing them out there. And I don’t get feedback.
Every once in a while, my agent will watch it. Be like, hey, that was great. But no one reaches out. Casting doesn’t reach out. Production doesn’t reach out with like a, we really liked them. But we’re going somewhere else. Nothing. I’m just like, did someone watch it? I hope they did.
MIKE ELDER (26:04)
I know.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (26:04)
It’s kind of a weird world. But you do get to take your time with it. You do get to explore more at home in your setup where you’re shooting. It’s a little challenging when you have three kids. And there’s a nap schedule. And you got to do it now. Because we have natural light from the windows.
MIKE ELDER (26:20)
Not to mention the kids’ nap schedule.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (26:22)
That’s what I’m saying. Don’t mess with my nap schedule. I’m not doing a self tape if it’s my nap time. But yeah, I mean, there were days when my wife would be holding a baby, nursing, camera, reading lines, keeping the baby quiet. And this is what I’m looking at. And I’m doing the scene.
MIKE ELDER (26:46)
Wow.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (26:47)
And it’s like.
MIKE ELDER (26:48)
That’s tough.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (26:49)
I wish I had a POV of what I was looking at when I was doing the scene for you guys to know I was doing my best.
MIKE ELDER (26:56)
Yeah. That’s wild.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (26:58)
Wild.
MIKE ELDER (26:58)
I feel like I come off as neurotic on this podcast. But yeah, exactly what you said about the lack of feedback. I always just like, I’m good at letting it go. So I’m not neurotic. But.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (27:10)
Letting it go is huge.
MIKE ELDER (27:11)
When you submit it, you’re just like, was I even in the ballpark? Was I even close? Did I choose my right. You can end up down such a weird thing without any feedback. It’s just an open-ended.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (27:23)
Right.
MIKE ELDER (27:23)
Choose your own adventure.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (27:24)
Because casting will get their submissions. And I think they watch them all. So it does get watched. And then they’ll take their favorite ones and send it up the ladder. I don’t think they can send them all up.
MIKE ELDER (27:35)
You’re confident they all watch them all?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (27:37)
I think casting does, for sure. But I don’t know if casting said, this is what they’re looking for. I’m going to throw you up there. And then you get looked at by the top people that are making the decisions. It would be nice to be like, hey, we sent his up. I don’t know. You did good.
MIKE ELDER (27:53)
Yeah, something.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (27:53)
Yeah. We’re fragile creatures as actors. We need some reassurance that we’re doing good jobs.
MIKE ELDER (28:00)
Absolutely. And that’s, you’re right. That’s right. But you are going in for commercials?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (28:05)
Oh, yeah. Tons.
MIKE ELDER (28:06)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (28:06)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (28:07)
I am, too. Like 200 South and Ryan Bernstein’s office and Elevator.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (28:10)
I love it. And there’s a mix. It’s like most are in person. But there are some self tapes. And sometimes I’m like, I wish I would have just gone in for this and acted with another actor and just done this. And they’re getting away with not doing round one at the studio. We’re doing it at home. And I got to pretend to act with some other person. Or there’s props involved. Or I don’t know if this is the exact tone they’re looking for. We’re just going to guess here. So commercials, I don’t mind making the trip across town.
MIKE ELDER (28:42)
Oh, I love it.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (28:43)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (28:43)
I’ve interviewed a number of session directors lately, the people that help us with those commercial auditions when we go in.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (28:49)
Oh, yeah.
MIKE ELDER (28:49)
And they are so, I love that.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (28:50)
They’re the best.
MIKE ELDER (28:51)
Like I just need a slight direction. Give me something that I’m on the right feedback or on the right track. And yeah, it’s great.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (28:57)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (28:59)
Why have you, and I’ve interviewed a lot of people lately. And I feel like when people get to your level, they don’t want to do commercials anymore. Or they view it as a waste of time. But you.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (29:09)
For sure. A lot of people.
MIKE ELDER (29:11)
You’re trugging away. That’s not a word. Chugging away at commercials. Why is that? Why did you choose to do that? Or speak to that, I guess.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (29:20)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (29:20)
Because I agree. Why not? If you’re not working, why not?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (29:24)
I mean, I bought a home.
MIKE ELDER (29:27)
From commercials?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (29:29)
Like, I mean, not from like back in the day when you would do a commercial, you could make some really good money. And sometimes it’s not worth it to drive all around. And it’s a numbers game. And it’s just like, then you book a commercial. And it doesn’t even air.
Or you made $2,000 on it. And it’s like, well, that wasn’t even really worth all my time to go in for 50 auditions. But for me, it is. I want to book a million commercials. I can’t wait until I book a campaign. And there’s my money maker right there. I’m the AT&T guy or something.
MIKE ELDER (30:00)
Capital One guy.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (30:01)
Yeah, Capital One guy.
MIKE ELDER (30:02)
Jeremy Brant, he’s great. He did the podcast.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (30:05)
Yeah. So those opportunities are out there. So I’m staying in the game. Until I am a series regular on a TV show and I have no time to do commercials, that’s when I’ll hang up the hat. But I mean, hell, celebrities. And now you don’t see, every commercial has a celebrity in it now. And so I don’t know when it’s like, is it like, whoa, you do commercials. But you’re an actor. It’s like you see all levels of celebrity doing commercials.
MIKE ELDER (30:35)
Yeah. I think largely the people are saying it’s not worth the squeeze anymore.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (30:39)
Yes.
MIKE ELDER (30:39)
You’ve seen a sharp decline. Because you’ve done so many fucking commercials. It’s wild. You’ve seen a sharp decline in the things you are booking now? As far as monetarily, I mean?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (30:51)
Yeah. I don’t think you make as much money. It all depends on the spots. It all depends on the usage. They all changed. A lot of some of these are just like internet. They play a lot on the internet. And we don’t get paid as much as we should for how much people see these commercials online. That should be totally handled through SAG. And we have to monetize streaming views for commercials.
But yeah, I mean, so I was, did you hear that KMR scandal with Mark Measures?
MIKE ELDER (31:23)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (31:23)
I was like patient zero.
MIKE ELDER (31:25)
No.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (31:26)
I was like.
MIKE ELDER (31:26)
I had friends there too. Tell me.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (31:27)
Yeah. So I was like, how am I not? I feel like I’m missing checks. And I reached out. And they would be like, oh, yeah, we put it in the mail. It’s like, alright. After the third time I got the, it was mailed excuse.
We must have got lost in the mail. I was like, can I just get a list of all the spots or payments that you sent out? And I was missing like four out of seven. And that was like, it was like May. So I was like, Okay. So in five months, I’m missing all these checks.
And I was like, can I get a list of all my commercials? And then I got to see how much money I made commercially. And I was like, this is pretty awesome. I’ve made this much money in commercials. And I did not know that. I mean, over 20 years.
MIKE ELDER (32:09)
Right, right, right.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (32:10)
But yeah, so I was missing like over 20 grand in lost checks.
MIKE ELDER (32:17)
Wow. Were you ever able to?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (32:19)
And so I got it all back before they closed the doors.
MIKE ELDER (32:21)
Jesus God.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (32:22)
It’s pretty weird. I was like, does this happen a lot for other people? How do we not hold people accountable for this?
MIKE ELDER (32:30)
Yeah. Well, that was an agency, right? They’re supposed to be more thorough than the management.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (32:34)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (32:34)
And they’re supposed to go through certain checks and balances.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (32:37)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (32:37)
It’s kind of frustrating that.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (32:38)
So I hope everybody was reimbursed. I got paid back. So that was nice. But it was like money later. I could have used that another time. But whatever.
MIKE ELDER (32:50)
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Damn, that’s wild.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (32:52)
Yeah. But yeah, man, commercials, I remember back in the day when you could crash commercials. Because you just signed up with a pencil.
MIKE ELDER (33:01)
Dude, that’s hilarious. I interviewed Ross Lacy and asked him about that.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (33:04)
Oh, yeah.
MIKE ELDER (33:05)
And he was like, he didn’t love it. But he was like, it tends to happen.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (33:08)
I lived in a house with like five guys. And three of us were actors. And it was like, if anyone had an audition, we all had an audition. And we all drove around. And went to these places. And we all signed up. You just put your name on. And sometimes there would be a list. It’d be like, wait, you’re not on the list. And I just got called today. Okay, we’ll do it.
And I was crashing a Coors Light commercial with my roommates. And across the hall was a Heineken ad. And so I went across and signed up for the Heineken ad. I was like, alright, two beer spots. I didn’t have any. Now I have two.
And I got a call back for the Heineken spot. My agents were like, hey, you got a call back for Heineken. We didn’t remember submitting you. And I was like, oh, I just kind of, they asked me to come in. And I went in and auditioned for them.
So I had the call back. And it was with a celebrity. And I booked it. And it was with Jennifer Aniston, 2002. She got paid $1 million to do this commercial. She was there for eight hours. The contract was, this will not air in the US. Celebrities don’t do commercials. She was dating Brad Pitt last season of Friends. It was a big time Jennifer Aniston.
And it aired all over the world but the United States. And there was no YouTube. So it didn’t even live online. I mean, there might have been YouTube. But no one was watching videos online. So no one was really like, no one saw this until later in life than it came out on YouTube. And people were watching it. Like, this is so funny. And I was like, I just worked with Jennifer Aniston. It was me and her in the commercial. And it was really, really funny. And she asked me to reach for the beer.
MIKE ELDER (34:41)
Yeah, I saw it.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (34:42)
I turned. And I made $5,000 for two years of usage. And then after the two years, they paid me $2,000 more for another year of usage. That’s what I made.
MIKE ELDER (34:53)
Was it non-union?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (34:54)
It was, but it was union. But it was not, there was no usage.
MIKE ELDER (34:58)
Oh, it was internationl rights.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (34:58)
Yeah. It was just international.
MIKE ELDER (35:00)
Wow.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (35:00)
Lump sum. That’s all I got, 7K. Jennifer made a million on that job. And that was in 2002.
MIKE ELDER (35:07)
And you were the funny one in it.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (35:08)
What are they making now? They’re making, now they have to do these commercials. Because here’s $10 million. Here’s $20 million will you show up for a couple hours.
MIKE ELDER (35:17)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (35:18)
And you can’t say no. So you can’t get upset for celebrities stealing all these commercials. Because.
MIKE ELDER (35:22)
How could they?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (35:23)
What are they? Yeah, I’ll do it.
MIKE ELDER (35:25)
Wait. So you booked that from crashing an audition.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (35:28)
Oh, yeah.
MIKE ELDER (35:29)
That’s what a way to reinforce the bad behavior.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (35:31)
I booked the Bud Light campaign crashing.
MIKE ELDER (35:33)
What?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (35:34)
Yeah. Yeah, I booked it. It was three spots. They loved it. They did two more. I did like five spots of this guy being trained by the brewmaster. I had a good beer run.
MIKE ELDER (35:45)
Which is wild. Like, that’s awesome. That’s so awesome. Oh, man. I wish I auditioned for more beer stuff.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (35:52)
Yeah. Those days are gone. Now it’s dad stuff.
But it’s out there. I mean, the commercial world is, that’s why, I mean, a lot of people skip town. They’re like, I can move. I can do this acting anywhere now. Because you don’t have to live in expensive LA. And you can still get your self tapes and audition and live somewhere else that’s more affordable.
I love living in LA. I love the people here. I love the weather. I love what’s going on. I’d miss it. And I don’t get to drive across town to sit at 200 South La Brea if I’m not here.
MIKE ELDER (36:27)
I do love 200 South La Brea. It is lovely.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (36:30)
What’s great is you meet people. You get to see people. And like, hey, how you been? I worked with you 10 years ago. What was the spot? And then you’re like, cool. What’s up? Where are you living? Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (36:39)
Yeah, you check in.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (36:40)
Life. You know? Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (36:42)
1,000%. When was the last time you had a day job? You moved here in 2000-ish?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (36:47)
Yeah, 2000. Summer of 2000.
MIKE ELDER (36:48)
When was the last time you had a day job? I feel like you’ve been working so much.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (36:51)
Yeah, I hung up, I have my beer opener for my last shift at the parlor in Santa Monica, 2013, on my wall.
MIKE ELDER (36:59)
Amazing.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (36:59)
In case I ever need it.
I have opened beers with it. But I haven’t gone to work with it.
MIKE ELDER (37:07)
You were a bartender?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (37:08)
Yeah, bartender. Bartender for all these years. I’m loving it. Working with a bunch of other actors. And we’re covering shifts for each other. And I just remember the days of working on a project that didn’t pay much. But you’re giving up your shifts just to do it.
MIKE ELDER (37:25)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (37:25)
And you’re like, God, I’m actually paying to be on this thing. And you don’t know where it’s going to lead. You want to work as an actor. So you take the jobs. But yeah, Big Bang was rolling around with recurring. And I had some big commercials going. And I was like, I have a good nest egg. I’m going to stop working.
And also, The Parlor closed. And they switched locations. And I think that helped me transition out.
MIKE ELDER (37:51)
Fell like an easy. Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (37:52)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (37:53)
I was going to say, I feel like that was post Big Bang. So it was just a matter of like, let me trust that this is real for a second.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (38:00)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (38:00)
And you, yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (38:01)
Yeah. Which is scary. But you know I get enough, that’s why I was always like, and I had like a nest egg going where I was like, I’d love to see if I could get into a home. But then I was like, I don’t know if I could go five years without working. Like, it’s so crazy. But then every year, I would make enough money to be like, I didn’t lose my nest egg. I made money this year. Or I didn’t lose that much money. You know I worked enough.
MIKE ELDER (38:28)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (38:29)
I always make my insurance. So that’s amazing. And I just find ways to work. And there’s residuals and just other ways. But yeah. And so it was like scary. So then when I bought a home in 2022.
MIKE ELDER (38:44)
Oh, recent.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (38:45)
Yeah. And that was like strike. And then all these things. And I was like, wait, what happened? I was supposed to be working all the time.
MIKE ELDER (38:52)
Right when you do it.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (38:53)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (38:55)
Wait, what ended up being your longest drought? Was it the strikes and stuff? Like, you just mentioned like, I could not work for five years. Did you ever have one of those dark periods where you did have a bit of a slow period?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (39:07)
No, I mean, slow. But I was able to still work.
MIKE ELDER (39:09)
Okay.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (39:10)
I still get jobs. And sometimes it’s residuals or commercials or whatever. But yeah, you know how it is. There’s like years where you’re, it’s like a vibration, I think. I think when you’re on this like vibration of booking, you go into auditions. And you don’t feel like, God, I hope I get this. I need this so bad. I got stuff to pay for or whatever. And you just booked.
I just worked on this. I’m going to book this. Or I don’t care if I don’t get it. And then you get it. And then you just start working. And it’s just like that mentality is hard. That vibration is hard to keep living on and creating. Because you go through those droughts. How do you go into these auditions thinking, oh, I don’t need this when you really do? That’s where you got to trick your mind or something.
MIKE ELDER (39:55)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (39:56)
And it helps by booking that job. You get that job. And then the next job. And you’re like, I just three jobs this month. You know what’s next?
MIKE ELDER (40:04)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (40:04)
And it’s a vibration that flows. And it works. And you can get distracted and not feel it. And come in desperate. But those times when you’re feeling the flow, it’s real.
MIKE ELDER (40:22)
It’s great.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (40:23)
Yeah, it’s great.
MIKE ELDER (40:24)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (40:24)
Yeah. And you work.
MIKE ELDER (40:25)
Did you, because you were doing so many commercials. And then you got into TV, it seemed like, was that a hard jump for you? Because I feel like a lot of times in this town, we get pigeonholed into TV or commercials.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (40:35)
Well, the goal was never to come out here to do commercials.
MIKE ELDER (40:38)
Of course.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (40:39)
Yeah, I was lucky enough to book some commercials early. And I got in good graces with the casting world there. So once you’re in with the casting directors and that world of commercial directors. And then you get requested. And you get in a lot. So you get more opportunities. But I had no opportunities for television or film. I couldn’t get an agent.
MIKE ELDER (40:58)
Right. Yeah, it’s fucking hard.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (41:00)
I was over at Lesly Kahn’s acting studio. And she was a champion for me. She was like going to bat. She got meetings with agencies for me. It was like, this kid doesn’t have an agent. He is putting up great work in class. He should be working. Will you please take a meeting? And I would take a meeting.
They’re like, we loved him. But he doesn’t have any credits. So we just got to pass. It was like a vicious cycle. It was like, and then you’re in class. And everyone’s putting up all these scenes from their auditions and real-life auditions. And I was like, wish I had that.
But I finally got in. I got in through The 12th Man, which was a Dan Fogelman, his second pilot he ever did for Fox. They needed a basketball player, 6’3″ or taller. They had tested nine people. They couldn’t find their person. They were shooting in two weeks. They needed to cast the lead to The 12th Man. Everyone else was already cast.
And I went in on a Monday. They said, can you come back tonight and read for the producers? So I read for them. They were like, can you come back tomorrow? We want to work with you. They worked with me. I test on Wednesday. Susan Vash was the casting director. She’s like, they’re not going to laugh. They haven’t laughed at anybody. So just go in there. Let’s just do the scene. We went on a Wednesday. I signed a contract. This is what I’m going to, I don’t even have an agent. I’m just going to, this is, I’m making this.
MIKE ELDER (42:19)
You love moving fast.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (42:20)
We’re moving fast here. And they were laughing at everything, the whole audition, instant feedback. I was like, I fucking crushed that. Excuse my language. And then I.
MIKE ELDER (42:30)
Vibration.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (42:30)
Yeah. And then Thursday, we’re like, we’re going to put you on tape with another actor. And they did that. And then Friday, I’m showing up on the Fox lot to do it again. I walk into the room. And everyone just starts clapping. And they’re like, you’re our 12th Man. I was like, I don’t have to do it. I’ve been working really hard all day.
MIKE ELDER (42:48)
That’s amazing.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (42:49)
Yeah. They’re like, no, you got it. You’re our 12th Man. And then I shot the pilot. And I was going out to dinners with every agency in town. They were all like, we want you, we want you.
MIKE ELDER (42:59)
Wow. That’s so annoying, though.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (43:00)
And it’s like, no one wanted me six months ago.
MIKE ELDER (43:02)
Until you have something.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (43:03)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (43:03)
That’s so frustrating.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (43:06)
But I got in the game. I got, you know, I signed with an agency. And then I started auditioning more. And then I started getting some work. But like, to be in the game is hard to break through. Like, I don’t know how you would do it nowadays. How do you break through? But everyone has their own journey. But.
MIKE ELDER (43:24)
I host a podcast to meet people That’s what I try to do.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (43:26)
And it’s like boom. And then also meeting people, networking. That’s great. And you get a lot of jobs that way.
MIKE ELDER (43:33)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (43:33)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (43:34)
You know, I didn’t realize this. And I want to ask you about it. You did two reality shows?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (43:39)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (43:39)
I quit my job last year. And I was like, you know what? I’m going to try to get on some reality shows. I really want to get on The Traitors.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (43:44)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (43:45)
You know anyone who’s casting The Traitors? Get me on it, please. Because I think I would fucking kill that show. But how do you get them to not, because they don’t want actors. So how did you get on? You were on.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (43:54)
This was early. This was.
MIKE ELDER (43:55)
Fear Factor and Amazing Race.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (43:56)
I did Fear Factor like in 2000 when I first moved out here.
MIKE ELDER (43:59)
Oh, okay.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (43:59)
When I first moved out here, a buddy of mine was like, I just won $25,000 doing Dog Eat Dog. And I was like, $25,000? And then I was like, I’m going to, Fear Factor is $50,000. I can do that.
I made a tape. I got on. And I thought I was going to win. I lost my temper because they eliminated me after I stuffed my mouth full of cod egg sack covered in ants, ants crawling on my face. I’m eating as fast as I can.
I made a few comments to provide some comedy to the episode. Otherwise, I’m just chewing for 20 minutes. And they called time while I was swallowing the last bite. And they edited it to where it looked like I was just talking the whole time.
And I was like, I’m not leaving. I’m not leaving. I wouldn’t leave because I ate it. But they were like, you didn’t swallow the last bite. And I was like, you. And then there was like a countdown that they added in post and all kinds of stuff. I was going to pick up.
MIKE ELDER (44:49)
They fucked you over?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (44:49)
Big time.
MIKE ELDER (44:50)
Wow.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (44:51)
But I was able, two years later, my brother and I were at a Dave Matthews concert selling T-shirts. My buddy from college, he had like all these extra T-shirts he was selling.
MIKE ELDER (45:02)
Yeah, Dave Matthews posters right here.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (45:03)
Yes. Probably sold some T-shirts because on the, but a guy that was in our group was like, hey, I recruit for Amazing Race. And I was like, I’m an actor. I can’t, I’m, that’s.
MIKE ELDER (45:15)
I’m too serious.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (45:15)
Then I was like, that would be amazing to race around the world with my bro. So I did that. And it was so fun. It was crazy. It’s like when I started auditioning, a lot of casting directors were like, hey, you’re one of the brothers from the Amazing Race.
MIKE ELDER (45:26)
What? Really?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (45:27)
Yeah. They all watch it.
MIKE ELDER (45:28)
Oh.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (45:29)
Casting loves reality shows. It’s different. I don’t know.
MIKE ELDER (45:32)
Yeah. It’s not work.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (45:33)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (45:34)
Wow. How long were you gone on the Amazing Race? And how many self tapes did you miss?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (45:40)
None. I didn’t have an agent.
MIKE ELDER (45:41)
Yeah, right?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (45:43)
And you didn’t do self tapes back then. You had to be in person. Or you didn’t have the opportunity.
MIKE ELDER (45:47)
Whenever I leave town, I miss something. So I’m sure you missed a lot.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (45:50)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (45:50)
Even without an agent.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (45:51)
Right? But you know what’s crazy? For The 12th Man, the casting associate was like, I brought you in because I was looking for actors 6’3″ or taller. And I was like, you’re one of the on the Amazing Race. You’re one of the brothers.
MIKE ELDER (46:05)
No. See, what?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (46:06)
So it did happen.
MIKE ELDER (46:06)
I gotta get on The Traitors.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (46:07)
Get on it.
MIKE ELDER (46:08)
That’s awesome.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (46:09)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (46:09)
How long were you gone for?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (46:10)
We were gone for 40 days.
MIKE ELDER (46:12)
Damn.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (46:12)
I think 20-something on the race. And then they send you to Sequesterville to hide out.
MIKE ELDER (46:17)
Yeah, where were sequestered at?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (46:18)
Cancun.
MIKE ELDER (46:19)
Oh, that’s nice.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (46:20)
It was nice. But I’d rather have been racing around the world, trying to win a million bucks.
MIKE ELDER (46:23)
That was cool.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (46:25)
Yeah, that was fun. It was a great time.
MIKE ELDER (46:27)
Did you have to actually audition for it? Or did that guy just essentially get you on?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (46:30)
Oh, no. We had to make this audition tape. And then we were in a hotel room in Santa Monica for like three days auditioning.
MIKE ELDER (46:38)
Wow.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (46:38)
Just meeting after meeting after meeting.
MIKE ELDER (46:41)
Almost like the American Idol shit where they just like follow you through all the producers.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (46:44)
And you’re like seeing other people, other actors. You’re like, wait a minute. What’s that team? Oh, we have names for all the teams and stuff. And so we would be like talking to other people about the other teams. And yeah, so we were told that we were selected. So it was like we had like one month to prepare to get ready.
MIKE ELDER (47:03)
That’s wild. Did your brother have to like quit his job or something?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (47:05)
We were bartending at the time.
MIKE ELDER (47:07)
Oh, okay.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (47:08)
So he was working the door. I was bartending. And we’re just like, we got to leave. We’re not telling you why.
MIKE ELDER (47:14)
They’re like, okay.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (47:15)
Sure.
MIKE ELDER (47:15)
We’ll just get another actor.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (47:16)
Get your shifts covered. Hopefully you have a job when you come back.
MIKE ELDER (47:20)
That’s so cool, though. I love that everyone recognized you from that.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (47:23)
Yeah. It was such a fun show, too. It was season seven.
MIKE ELDER (47:28)
Early on.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (47:29)
Yeah. And now you can get all the shows now. They’re all available. So that’s fun to go back. And you can watch the show. Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (47:35)
Yeah, that’s cool. What do you do to, moving away from all of this, what do you do to get away? Like, what do you do to rewind or unwind or recharge? Or do you have any hobbies?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (47:47)
Yeah, I play basketball. I play basketball every Tuesday night, which is like.
MIKE ELDER (47:50)
Wait, where at?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (47:51)
Right now we’re playing at a middle school in Santa Monica.
MIKE ELDER (47:54)
Nice.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (47:54)
It’s like a bunch of guys in the industry. And.
MIKE ELDER (47:57)
Oh, that’s cool.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (47:57)
We all get together. We’ve been doing it for, man, over 15 years for me. And it’s awesome. No one really talks about acting or anything or the business. We just hoop. And I played ball in high school. And like, to be able to still be playing basketball, my body still works. And like, to play competitively is, I mean, we’re not nearly as good. I would speak for myself. But I still have fun. I’m coming home sweaty. Buckets of sweat. And it feels good.
And then right now, I got a five, three, and a one-year-old. We’re busy. Everyone’s like, oh, you’re going to, these are the best years of your life. I’m like, they are very long days. And we, you know, you know the ringer when you’re on set. It’s like hair makeup, throw you through the ringer. The ringer is like, for me, is like dinner, bath time, pajamas, story time, bedtime. It’s like three hours of the ringer every night. And sometimes it’s smooth. And sometimes it’s not, you know? And these are the years that you’re going to look back on and be like, God, I miss those days, you know? Kids talking to me and loving me.
MIKE ELDER (49:05)
Yeah. Just be present, for sure.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (49:06)
Throwing food at me. Yeah. So we’re definitely, my wife and I are very present with our children. And we’re obsessed with them. And so we’re enjoying this time. Our social lives have plummeted big time. We used to visit friends and go out and do stuff. And it’s a little harder to do now. We’re home a lot.
MIKE ELDER (49:24)
Is your wife in the industry?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (49:26)
She teaches dance. So she has a little dance club at the house.
MIKE ELDER (49:29)
Oh, hell yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (49:29)
We converted the garage into a dance studio.
MIKE ELDER (49:31)
To like what age group?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (49:33)
From tinies to like tots to big kids, five-plus.
MIKE ELDER (49:38)
Oh, man.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (49:39)
And then she has her adult classes.
MIKE ELDER (49:41)
That’s awesome.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (49:41)
Yeah, there’s some.
MIKE ELDER (49:42)
Good for her.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (49:42)
Just like playing hoops when you’re, you know, retired. There’s some dancers out there that don’t want to retire. They got to get that.
MIKE ELDER (49:47)
Oh, yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (49:48)
Get that dancing fix in. And it’s a good vibe over there.
MIKE ELDER (49:51)
Wait, can you dunk?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (49:53)
No, man. I have no vertical.
MIKE ELDER (49:54)
Could you ever?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (49:55)
I dunked once in high school. And not like in a game, like running from half court, jumping off a trampoline.
No, but my license plates in high school said 6’3″, no V, because I have no vertical. And I was on the basketball team.
MIKE ELDER (50:11)
Yeah, we had a friend in college that was always bragged about being 6’3″, but they couldn’t dunk. It would be like, 6’3″, but can you dunk?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (50:17)
And then you see these shorter people just flying up there. And you’re like, man, you know what I could do with that? And they’re probably thinking, you know what I could do with that size? Yeah. Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (50:24)
Yeah, it’s a push and pull, for sure.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (50:25)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (50:25)
Basketball is such a good, fun workout, too, like a full body.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (50:28)
It is. It is, man. Sometimes I just show up with my number one goal is to hustle and burn calories and just sweat, you know?
MIKE ELDER (50:38)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (50:38)
And then sometimes I’m like, I’m going to shoot a lot of three-pointers. And I don’t care if I miss.
MIKE ELDER (50:43)
Just sending them, hucking them.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (50:45)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (50:46)
That’s so funny. The last question I like to ask, Brian, is who took a chance on you?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (50:52)
Who took a chance on me? Man, what’s crazy is like, I feel like in this industry and in this city, it’s so important to have like a mentor. And I feel like I never got one. I feel like I’ve, seriously, sad story. Like, I took a chance on myself.
MIKE ELDER (51:11)
Who took a chance on you, nobody.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (51:13)
I think I took a chance on myself. And I still, you know, every year, I’m like, this is the year where I break through next level roles, series regular. This is the year. I’m so fortunate to be in the game. But I want more. I’m like, living the dream. But where does the dream end? And maybe I’m just doing it right now. Like, this is the dream.
I don’t think there was somebody that was like, I’m going to take a chance. Now, there’s people that have hired me for jobs that took a chance, obviously. And I feel like it worked out. But, you know, I’ve worked for some people over and over again. But as far as like somebody like really diving in there and having my back and being like, you know, you’re going to be a star kid. This is how you do it. That’s just me believing in myself.
MIKE ELDER (52:03)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (52:04)
Just the insanity of being an actor and being told no a million times and still believing, yeah, it’s still there. That lottery ticket’s out there.
MIKE ELDER (52:11)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (52:12)
Yeah, I mean, my wife took a chance on marrying me, but.
MIKE ELDER (52:16)
To be determined if that works out.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (52:18)
Yeah, right? But.
MIKE ELDER (52:20)
Yeah, I think it’s important that people send the elevator down. You know what I mean? And so the fact that nobody, in your opinion, has done that for you, like you should think about that when you do.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (52:30)
For sure, give back. Yeah. You know, like I was in college doing plays. And I packed up my car and drove out here. And I knew one person. I slept on his couch for a while until we shared a bedroom for too long. And then it was just like, that was me betting on myself. That was me taking a chance on me. I still do it. There’s no backup plan.
I love the grind. I mean, I’m used to the grind. Part of me loves it, I guess, or else I would be out.
MIKE ELDER (52:57)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (52:57)
The minute the grind is too much and you can’t handle it, then maybe there’s other opportunities for you out there. But I’m a lunatic, man.
MIKE ELDER (53:05)
Well, it’s just so interesting. This town is just so frustrating because it’s like, I wish more people did send the elevator back down. It’s like, you had a casting associate that saw you on Amazing Race that brought you in for this thing. And then the agents wanted to talk to you. And it’s like, that shouldn’t be the case.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (53:19)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (53:19)
You shouldn’t need all that stuff to line up perfectly for people to want to help you out. It’s so frustrating.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (53:24)
I mean, there are like, when I did Dan Fogelman’s pilot, he had me audition for his movie that he directed. And I got a part. And I got to work with Al Pacino. And so like he sent the elevator down for me. And I played ball with Bill Lawrence, who does a million amazing shows.
MIKE ELDER (53:39)
Oh, yeah, Ted Lasso.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (53:40)
And he did Bed Monkey and Shrinking. And he sent the elevator down for me. So there’s some gifts, you know, for sure, for just being around, being a good guy, you know, hanging in there. And also, I feel like when you work and you get more work, it’s easier for people to send the elevator down because they’re not doing you such a favor because you are a talented work actor. And you’re going to do great in the scenes. And this is maybe a good role for you. So it’s not just like a handout. It’s like, hey, you’d be great for this. Are you free? You know? So that’s great. It’s like you kind of have to do your own work while hopefully you’re networking.
MIKE ELDER (54:22)
Right.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (54:22)
You know, people.
MIKE ELDER (54:23)
Wait, have you ever been offered a commercial?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (54:27)
I got offered a Bud Light spot. I shot it in Miami. It wasn’t really an offer. I had to go in an audition.
MIKE ELDER (54:32)
That’s the opposite of an offer.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (54:35)
Well, the director called me to say, come on in.
MIKE ELDER (54:38)
Oh, okay, okay.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (54:39)
Are you free to go to Miami?
MIKE ELDER (54:41)
Sure, okay.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (54:41)
But you have to come in and meet the Bud Light people.
MIKE ELDER (54:44)
Sure, okay.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (54:45)
And that one, that spot never ran.
MIKE ELDER (54:46)
That’s wild.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (54:46)
That spot never ran. Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (54:48)
Oh, it never ran?
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (54:49)
It never ran.
MIKE ELDER (54:49)
Oh.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (54:50)
There’s a lot of those, but.
MIKE ELDER (54:50)
That’s wild to me, though, that it’s so weird when like I see all the commercials you’ve done. And you still have to jump through these hoops.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (54:58)
You still got to jump? It’s crazy. I feel like there’s like in theatrical, you can skip and go straight to producer sessions.
MIKE ELDER (55:04)
Yeah.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (55:05)
I feel like in the casting world, it’d be great if I could just go, let’s maybe just show up to the callbacks.
MIKE ELDER (55:09)
I know. That’d be great.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (55:10)
But no, that’s not the case.
MIKE ELDER (55:13)
It’s damn tough out here. And I also forgot to mention, what high school did you go to in St. Louis? I know that’s a question you ask.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (55:18)
That’s a good question. Lafayette-Lancer, baby.
MIKE ELDER (55:19)
That’s right.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (55:20)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (55:20)
I know so many St. Louis people out here.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (55:22)
Yeah.
MIKE ELDER (55:22)
And I love asking that question. And I forget the high school.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (55:24)
We love our high school.
MIKE ELDER (55:25)
My neighbor’s from St. Louis. Alyssa.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (55:26)
Oh, I wonder what high school she went to.
MIKE ELDER (55:29)
Brian, this was great. Thank you so much for coming down.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (55:31)
Oh, this is great. Thanks for having me, Mike.
MIKE ELDER (55:33)
I will put this out next week immediately because I know you like things to happen fast.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (55:38)
This is the year of speed. We’re going to get things done fast.
MIKE ELDER (55:41)
Yeah, we’re going to book stuff this year, both of us.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (55:43)
Yeah. Oh, are you kidding me?
MIKE ELDER (55:44)
Fuck, yeah. Alright, Brian. You got to tail slate here.
BRIAN THOMAS SMITH (55:47)
Stay on that vibration. Oh, Brian Thomas Smith, 6’3″, based out of LA. Is that what you wanted?
MIKE ELDER (55:53)
That’s great. Amazing.
🎵 ROCKFORD (55:52) 🎵
MTV and the channel E!. A thing for a celebrity.
