Michael Showalter On His Career, 'The Dropout' And More -- Behind The Lens

Michael Showalter is an actor, comedian, producer, director and writer. He has done it all in a career that has taken him from being a major figure in the comedy troupe The State to a writer-actor in the cult classic Wet Hot American Summer, its sequel and prequel on Netflix, plus the 2005 comedy breakout The Baxter where he became a triple threat as star, writer and director. Since then he has directed his own career to, well, directing, and that includes such indie feature film hits as The Big Sick, Hello My Name Is Doris, The Lovebirds and last year with The Eyes of Tammy Faye which won two Oscars including Best Actress for Jessica Chastain.

Now he could be responsible in the same year for directing Amanda Seyfried to a major Emmy win in The Dropout, the Hulu limited series that has also landed Showalter a directing Emmy nomination (he helmed four of the eight episodes) as well as for Outstanding Limited Series. Like with Tammy Faye, Showalter is working with a star playing another controversial real-life person — in this case Elizabeth Holmes, who ironically will be facing a sentencing hearing in September just as the Emmys take place. She of course got caught up in the big lie of Theranos and went from Silicon Valley sensation to disgrace in just a short time.

On this week’s episode of my Deadline video series Behind the Lens, Showalter and I talk about why The Dropout is an important story to tell, Showalter’s approach to telling it and setting the tone with the early episodes. Additionally, we discuss his film work, the cult following of Wet Hot American Summer and whether there is more in store, and so much more including his upcoming Focus movie Spoiler Alert with Jim Parsons and Sally Field that will open this fall and is considered yet another awards prospect.

Check out our conversation in the video above to go “behind the lens” with Michael Showalter. Join me every Monday and Friday during Emmy season for another episode of Behind the Lens.