VISUAL TALES: Congrats on the CBS comedy series, GHOSTS which has been renewed for the next two seasons. It is awesome for a major network to put so much faith behind a series, what’s your perspective as to why this series is so successful and it clicks with viewers and critics alike?
ASHER GRODMAN: It’s a brilliant concept for a show. I’ve read a lot of pilots in my career and have never come across anything this creative, witty, and unique. Because all the ghosts are from the past, the audience always knows more about the world than the ghosts do. It’s endearing to watch these goofballs play catch-up. But by the same token, the ghosts are windows into American history. They teach the audience about where we come from. Above all, for a show about death, Ghosts is remarkably optimistic and fun. I think the show has clicked with viewers and critics because of the way we straddle the line between the heartfelt and the humorous.

VT: For those who haven’t seen the show yet and are new to the series. Do let us know what the series is about and about your character, Trevor Lefkowitz. We love the storyline about how Trevor became a “pantsless” ghost.
AG: Ghosts is about a young couple, Sam and Jay, who inherit a mansion in upstate New York only to discover it’s haunted by a bunch of ghosts who are trapped there for eternity. After a near-death experience, Sam gains the ability to see the ghosts! The ghosts are all from different time periods and are forever in the state in which they died. So, for example, my character Trevor was a former frat bro, Lehman Brothers shark, and party boy from the 1990s. Trevor died wearing a suit with no pants (or underwear), so for all eternity (and for all episodes) he is pantsless. One of the fun reveals towards the end of season 1 is how exactly Trevor died and lost his pants. It’s a very well-crafted episode with lots of twists and turns, brilliantly written by Kira Kalush and Talia Bernstein and directed by the hilarious Trent O’Donnell.

VT: The idea about doing a comedy series based on the supernatural initially must be a skeptical one on paper. There are successful tv shows in the past such as The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and the animated cartoon series Casper The Friendly Ghost. What attracts you to the role and how did you prepare yourself to portray your character?
AG: I agree. On paper, the concept certainly is unique. Fundamentally, we are a comedy about death. But, honestly, the juxtaposition of comedy and the supernatural is the show’s superpower. Our show deals with heavy issues and never skirts them but also finds levity and joy. It’s an unexpected combo, and I’m so honored to be a part of it. I must shout out to our writers, who are absolute masters at their craft.
    As for what attracted me to Trevor specifically…  What our writers have done so brilliantly with all the ghost characters is that they have taken what could be a historical trope-y character and found a fun way to subvert it. No ghost is ever exactly what the audience expects. For example, Trevor is a womanizing party animal and proud of it! But he’s also an absolute puppy dog who really just wants the whole gang to be together.
    Since we were originally supposed to shoot the pilot in March 2020 (and immediately got sent back home when the world shut down), all of us had a lot of time to prepare for our roles. I watched a ton of stuff from the 90s and immersed myself in the culture of that era - a lot of what I grew up on, actually.

VT: Character Development: To play a character in a series for a long period of time on television must have its challenges, as a writer, producer and director yourself, how do you keep it fresh on your character, Trevor and if you have the opportunity to write or develop your character, how would you like to envision him?
AG: It’s pretty wild that I’ve played Trevor for 5 years. The longest I’ve ever played a role before working on Ghosts was a matter of months. Yes, it’s the same character, but the ghosts are so layered and nuanced, it’s not hard to keep it fresh. With every new script, there’s a new story we’re telling which reveals something new about the ghosts and their relationships, and then I apply that going forward.  I am always eager for and open to new ideas. One thing I’ve always loved about our show is how we are able to dive into the pasts of each Ghost character. In our next two seasons, I’d love to continue to dive into the ghosts’ histories. I’d also love to learn more about what has transpired between these ghosts on the Woodstone Manor property… what happened when each new ghost arrived, how did the social dynamics change, were other ghosts on the property sucked off at one point or another, etc.

VT: The cast of GHOSTS are amazing, starting with the two leads, Utkash Ambudkar and Rose McIver as the living beings, the Arondekars and the majority of the cast are from the beyond: the Ghosts, as portrayed by Devan Chandler Long, Roman Zaragoza, Brandon Scott Jones, Rebecca Wisocky, Danielle Pinnock, Sheila Carrasco, Richie Moriarty and many more recurring ghosts. Since it is a comedy series, there must be a lot of comedic moments in front and behind the cameras. What is it like filming this show?
AG: There are many reasons I feel so lucky to work on this show, chief among them is the cast, crew, writers, and directors I get to work with. For any show to go on 6 seasons is remarkable. For it to happen with this caliber of artists and people is extraordinary. You mentioned the cast specifically, and those people have become some of my closest friends. I feel like we’re all kids in school together, and each day is just going back to class, so I hang out with my friends. When we wrap production on a season and head home after 7 months of shooting together, it’s only a matter of days before phones start ringing again.

VT: Tell us about you and how did the love of acting came about? When did you realize that acting is your path in life?
AG: I’ve known I wanted to pursue acting since I was about 13 or 14. I was a very shy and trepidatious kid, but in one year there were a few seminal experiences— a bar mitzvah, a doomed romantic gesture involving singing in front of the school, being cast as the lead in the school play— that brought me out of my shell. It would be a long time until choice was validated by the business, but I had a level of tenacity that pushed me through some bleak times.

VT: You have acted in quite a number of short films in your career to date, including one you produced, directed, and wrote entitled The Train. Which particular shorts stands out in your memory?
AG: Yes, The Train was very special for me. The story was inspired by the life of a Holocaust survivor and starred Academy Award winner Eli Wallach. It’s beautifully shot by Eric Branco, who’s one of the best cinematographers in the game right now. It represented a lot of firsts for me, and I learned a lot making that film. But perhaps my most memorable experience was writing, directing, and starring in a short mock-umentary with the Jacksonville Jaguars because it was such a unique opportunity. It was a riff on the infamous conspiracy theory that the National Football League is scripted, and we had unprecedented access and “buy-in" from everyone in the Jaguars organization. The entire cast and crew, aside from one person, had never worked on a narrative film before, and yet they were so down to clown, and we got to show NFL players in a light that people haven’t really seen before. We won awards at the Webbys, Tribeca Film Festival, and Cannes Lions. I’ve been a Jaguars fan my whole life, so it was especially thrilling for me.

VT: Your television resume is quite impressive, from hit series Law & Order, House of Cards, Succession, Elementary, and Chicago Med. All dramatic shows. Is there a difference from doing a dramatic series vs. a comedic series?
AG: Yes, absolutely. Fundamentally, whether it’s comedy or drama, you’re always trying to find the truth in the moment and tell the story. To make it feel like the narrative is being revealed spontaneously and as the writers intended. But in comedy, there also is a sense of timing and rhythm in order to make jokes land. There’s almost a math to it. Finding juxtapositions and turns in the language.

VT: In your own time, you also teach acting at Hunter College and for inmates at Rikers Island. Giving back is such a wonderful thing that you do. Why do you feel compelled to do so? 
AG: As an actor, it’s easy to feel like you don’t make a tangible impact, especially when most of your time is spent just trying to get a job. So, teaching was always something I gravitated towards as a way to give back. There’s a real thrill in helping people find new perspectives. Because acting is such a subjective art form and because every student comes from a different set of circumstances, no class or process is ever quite the same. It always feels personalized. Additionally, because every student comes from a different set of circumstances, teaching is always personalized. The best part? As a teacher, you’re constantly learning.

VT: You are very East Coast-centric. From our experience working on this cover feature shoot with you, you are a very unaffected and grounded individual. Being a public figure and dealing with such a frenetic and unpredictable industry, how does that play a role in your overall process?
AG: Well, that’s very kind of you to say. Twenty years of relative unemployment will do a lot to ground a person. It’s definitely a frenetic and fickle business, so I often have check-ins with myself and make sure my head and heart are alright. The show is such a gift, not just because it’s remarkable to be on this wild ride, but because I get to do it with friends who are having the same experience. We have our little ghostly community. I think New York is also a great place to live because no industry ever feels bigger than the city. It keeps you humble.

VT: What are your plans for your future career-wise? What projects would you like to pursue in the near future? 
AG: I’m always looking for variety, so I’d love to do a drama on film or television or get back on stage and do a play. I miss theater. Especially living in NYC. I’d love to do more directing and would especially love to direct on Ghosts. 

Some random questions:
Your favorite episode of GHOSTS to date and why?
That’s hard! There’s no way I can pick one. Trevor’s Pants (written by Kira Kalush and Talia Bernstein and directed by Trent O’Donnell) was such a rewarding episode to work on and watch because it changed how people saw the character and answered a fun question in a creative and surprising way. The Work Retreat (written by Sophia Lear and directed by Katie Locke O’Brien) is also such a brilliant story that only our show could tell, and it’s so well-crafted. The hubristic pants-less party animal is probably the character you’d least expect to deliver a heartfelt moment, and yet, his storylines tend to go deep. It’s a real testament to our writers and showrunners, Joe Port and Joe Wiseman. Plus, because Trevor’s still so recently dead, he’s still grappling with issues of mortality. The life he left behind is not so far away. I also particularly love Pete’s Wife (written by Kira Kalush and directed by Trent O’Donnell) and Therapy (written by John Blickstead & Trey Kollmer and directed by Kimmy Gatewood) because of the way the storylines all dance together. I love when the narratives intersect, and you really feel the presence of the ensemble.

If you can switch roles with one of your cast members from the show for one episode, who would you like to play? 
I think I’d want to play Jay. It’s a very challenging role because you spend a lot of your time on set selectively listening. You must literally ignore the ghosts. But best of all, he gets to play with props… which would be a challenge because I haven’t touched a prop in years.

If you could step back in time, which period of history would you pick?
Maybe something Medieval? But if our show teaches us anything, the past isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Stay present, my friends.

The fans of Ghosts must be an interesting group. Any distinctive encounter you can recall that stood out?
Our fans are amazing, so I could never pick one specific moment, but I am always pretty gob smacked by the fan art. It is particularly impressive. One thing that I find really special is seeing fans of the show dress up as Trevor for Halloween or Comicon, etc. Because Trevor is pantsless, that costume/cosplay takes real commitment!

What would be on your final menu if you discovered that this could be the last meal before leaving your physical being?
A random assortment of the best stuff! A green apple covered in caramel, wild blueberries from where I grew up, pumpkin gingerbread with vanilla icing. Oh, and the poached pear pizza from Mama’s TOO on Broadway and 106th.

Everyone has hobbies, what’s yours?
I don’t know if this counts as a hobby, but I run a weekly pick-up football game in New York. There’s an email list that is constantly growing; it’s an eclectic group, lots of actors and artists. Those games are such a blast. It feels like being back at recess in elementary school.

If you can create a playlist of tracks that would describe to us who Asher Grodman is about. Which tracks would you choose?
“Thunder Road” by Bruce Springsteen
“Center of Attention or Two Points for Honesty” by Guster
“Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
“These Are The Days or Not While I’m Around” by Jamie Cullum
“Glory Bound” by Martin Sexton
“Contact High” by Allen Stone
“6’s to 9’s” by Big Wild
“Springtime for Hitler” by Mel Brooks