The Kristian Harloff Show - 'Cobra Kai' Star Xolo Mariduena (archive)

Episode Date: February 6, 2022

On this archive episode, Kristian sits down with Cobra Kai star Xolo Mariduena to talk about the show moving to Netflix, life in quarantine, juggling college and dreams of being a screenwriter. (Originally aired in 2020) Follow on Twitter Kristian Harloff https://bit.ly/31PePMD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's going on, everybody? It is the relaunch of 101 with Christian Harlow on a brand new channel. How about that? And I told you it was coming. And I'm pretty excited about my first official guest because I got a chance to talk to this dude, I don't know, two years ago, whatever it was. And at the time, he told me that I had said his name better than his teachers, but I'm guarantee I'm going to screw it up again.

But it is Sholo Meneduña. He's going to tell me if I did that right or wrong. We'll find out in a moment. Either way, I had a pleasure talking. to this guy last time because if you're watching COBRA guy, apparently everyone else is now. Welcome, welcome to the party on Netflix. It finally happened. They did it. They are on there. And I'm so happy to say that every time I turn on, it's number one trending and people are now saying, hey, have you seen this cobra guy? I said, don't talk to me. Don't talk to me. I know about the show a long time.

He is here today with me. Shula, what's up, my man? How you doing? What's up? How are you doing? Did I murder your name and you get close to you? No, that was, that was really good. Yeah. Good. How you doing, man? This is crazy. This is great. Yeah, this is, it's, it's fun to be back after, yeah, two, two or so years. Definitely things have changed in terms of even just Coburkeye, but, you know, I think when I was, when I first came on your show, I didn't have my license. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I took, I took the train to, to, you know, head over to you. But, but, yeah, things are much different. So, thanks for having me back. Yeah, it's good to have you back, man. So, I mean, let's jump right into the, the fact that, like, how because when we talked last time Cobur Kai was still, for people who saw it

were losing their minds over it and it was on it was on YouTube and it was still getting a lot of buzz and people were loving it but what's the difference now because like you like you said you guys are approaching season three and season one just is introduced I'm seeing like all these

as a Mick Foley tweet out about it recently and like all these people are tweeting out about it and going nuts over it is it surreal because it's like happening all over again it is um While majority of my, I guess, what's happening is positive, it's kind of funny and it is a little surreal to see like, I mean, this is something that we filmed two and a half, almost three years ago, you know what I'm saying? And it's cool to see it finally come and get the, I guess, the recognition that I think we were all hoping for at the beginning. Although, you know, when we were on YouTube, it was still like a way better turnout than we anticipated.

this is even larger and I think this is kind of what we've been hoping for this whole time so it's it's cool to see it you know that happened later than never I personally after we filmed you know season two and even season three with the intention of going to YouTube

I was I was like oh okay this is like where it's going to go for the rest of the entirety of the show so it's nice to see that we have a second chance oh man I mean and and then some because this is The amount, well, well, the crummy part about the fact that we're all stuck at home is that we're all stuck at home. The good part about it is that everybody's like, oh, what do I watch now?

Yeah, and everybody's watching COBRA Kai. And it's so good because I'm telling you, I saw a friend of mine who I've been friends with for a long time who actually introduced me to my wife. And she's and she's like, oh, I found this show, Cobra Kai. And I'm like, you don't watch my shows. Do you not watch my show? Yeah, yeah. I'm like, I've been talking about this show for years, but I'm so happy to see that. everybody is finding it because it is like you said it was getting a lot of love on

youtube but there's that different thing with netflix you know now you guys are like it's it's like it's bigger Netflix bigger than network it's it's it's a it's a it's a it's a met you guys like the number one show right now isn't that crazy it is very weird you know it's Netflix really is a machine when it comes to that stuff it's the the I was talking to a our creators Josh John and Hayden like a week and a half before it got it even announced that it was coming on Netflix and they're like, hey, we just wanted to call

you to tell you that like when the show comes out, your life is going to change. Like you're not going to be able to move around the same way you did before, you know what I'm saying? So really just like we just, we want you to know, A, enjoy it while it lasts because this is, we're all so

stoked that, you know, we finally have this opportunity but also like make the most of it. So that's, I guess that's what we're trying to do now is making the most of it. But it's it really is crazy to see you know, open up Netflix. Granted, I'm not, you know, to be quite frank, I'm not a huge TV watcher, but to open it up and see number one in, you know, the US and then have people tag me in like number one in Argentina and Bolivia in the UK. It's it's really, really weird. It's like very, very weird. I'm sure. And I think the other, like you said like the guy said when I can't hear you.

You can't hear me? Let's see. Can't hear me? Can't hear me? me? No, no, no. Did I lose you? No. Can you hear me? I can see you. Okay, there we go. There we go. Good. It was on my end. It was on my end. All good. Um, so if that happens again, just look at the private chat. Sometimes you've got to just drop out of this silly room and then come back in. It's weird. I would jump back into it. So the, um, when it comes to you're talking about how the guys were like, you know, your life's going to change it. Is it? But the one thing that's a little odd, though, is nobody can go outside. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. that's that's definitely true like uh i guess at this point you'd be like oh well you know the like the

paparosses what are they doing now what like what you know it feels invasive to take pictures inside of people's homes and i'm glad that you know my stuff hasn't been doxed yet but uh but uh yeah it is that that aspect is a little weird because it's not like i'm going to freaking sprouts or trader joes or whatever and people are like whoa he buys muffins he is a real dude like uh it it is kind of uh weird in that aspect but it's also like this is like a perfect venn diagram of like good timing for the show to come out and also you know being yeah yeah on the low hell man if if tiger king was the number one show this show a long time ago uh the other that's and i'm not and i would never watch you to give me details on the on season

three because a i don't want to get in trouble and be i don't want to know when i'm watching it but i will say you guys shot season three already. That's been out there. It's been in the can. Yeah, it's been in the can. So the question I have about season three, there's stuff you can talk about. When you guys were shooting season three, was Netflix an option, were there rumors of Netflix? Did you know about Netflix? Did you already have Netflix money, or was already coming from YouTube? No. So all of season three, to my knowledge, was funded by Sony and YouTube. You know what I'm saying? So it wasn't until after we finished season three that,

YouTube was like, hey, actually this is going to be a lot more expensive than we anticipated. So if you guys want to sell the show around, feel free to do so. And I didn't find out that we were official. Like I knew, let's say maybe February that the show was going to move somewhere else. I didn't know where it was going to go. You know, people were saying Hulu, HBO Max, all of these other ones. So I knew at that point that we were going to move, but it wasn't until a month before everyone else found out that the boys told me like,

hey, we're moving to Netflix. And that's, yeah. So season four is when there's going to be like, you know, car chases and all that kind of stuff. Exactly. Yeah, then we get into the Fast and Furious, the season. Yeah, exactly. Everyone will get challengers.

That's what I'm excited about also is the fact that because I remember talking at the guys when they came in and you know, I know, and they had said it too. They thought they were going to go to Netflix. They had tweeted that whole thing out recently how they thought originally they were going to go to Netflix. And, and now obviously because of the, it was a cult hit because anybody who watched it just fell in love

with it. It didn't matter if you were a fan of the original movie or not because of the way that, and we talked about this last time you and I spoke, how they were able to take a younger generation, your generation, and then take my generation and we both in this thing. I watched the pilot again last night. And it wasn't even because you were coming on the show.

It was because I just wanted, I saw it. I was like, I'm going to watch this again. I haven't seen it in a little bit. And it's just, it's just so good. It's just that scene when you, when you're coming out of the, the store and it's like, and,

and those, they pour the peptobismal on your head. That whole thing when that's going down. And it's such a, it's such a throwback. It's like the, it's like the, the anti version of what Danielson and Miyagi went through.

And it's, it's so good and it doesn't beat you over the head. So I guess the question I got for you is filming three. And this is, I, I will tell people here right now that this is a sport. What I'm about to ask him is a spoiler from season two. So if you haven't seen,

if you haven't seen season two of Cobra Kai, I would say for the next five minutes, fast forward because I have to ask them a question that I'm curious about because we didn't have a chance to talk about this. All right, you've been warned. And the season two, man, you get,

you get jacked up. To say the least, yeah. Say the least. You are, so, like, I am so curious as far as what's going down.

in three, but it's like what I will ask you without giving is, are there a lot of challenges in playing the role now considering the events of season two? Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest challenge, honestly for, for Miguel at this point, because, you know, we, we end on quite literally a cliffhanger, is, you know, Miguel has spent his whole time, you know, since moving to Recita. with Johnny, you know what I'm saying? And he's, he's Johnny's right or die and Johnny gave him this info, like, hey, you know, sometimes there is a right moment to show mercy. You know what I'm saying? Sometimes there is a, like, you do need to have, there is that strike hard, strike first,

no mercy mentality, but also like, you can be the bigger man. And I think, uh, hopefully what we're going to see in season three is, uh, you know, how that affects, uh, Miguel, you know, listening to the one person in his life who he, uh, who believes in him, other than, of course, his immediate family, his mom and his grandmother, uh, and having it all kind of, uh, hit the fan. So that's all I can really say. I, you know, I have Netflix right behind this screen right now, like, making, making sure, yeah, exactly, making sure that I'm not saying anything silly, but, um, yeah, I think hopefully in season three we can see, uh, Miguel

honestly I'm I'm so nervous to even talk about season 3 that's it that's it that's it that's it and I want to ask you how cool Elizabeth Shoo is don't say anything don't say anything you're silly everyone always says that you're gonna get me in trouble I'm not getting you trouble let's let's shift away from it though do let's talk about I want to talk about what's going on with you in general because like being

19 years old now right yes 19 19 years old and being stuck in the house it's got to suck I mean, because I would tell you, like, for my, I mean, certain things, I'm sure there's a lot of stuff that's cool. Like, you know, you can, because I know you're a big reader and I know there's other things that I'm sure that you're keeping yourself busy with. But like my kid, I have a nine-year-old and she's, and she does what she can do, but she's bouncing off the walls and kids got to be kids. And I was thinking if I was 19 years old, stuck in the house, holy crap. So how are you handling it? I guess luckily college classes just started up again.

So I'm back in school, just taking a couple classes to, uh, get some credits to transfer just because college is so expensive. Yeah. You know, everyone knows now. But other than that, I've been streaming. I do, I play some video games here and there on stream, but also like sometimes, yeah, we're doing, yeah, I do Twitch. And sometimes like the occasional Instagram, it's a Sholo Crunch.

Sholo Crunch, yeah. Oh, check it out. Yeah, check it out. It's pretty cool. Sometimes we do some Cobra Chi stuff Like later today where I'm pulling up the scripts from season two And we're going to watch them side by side with the show To see what's changed, you know how certain actors interpreted lines and stuff like that

So that's fun other than that I'm getting into photography I got this like old Canon A1 film Film camera from the 70s just like a year and a half ago Been taking pictures It's a little bit hard with quarantine because usually I like to take pictures of people and like my friends and stuff like that. And right now there's only like one or two friends that I'm hanging out with just because that's that's what it is now. So getting into photography but also screenwriting, you know, I don't know how I guess relevant this was the last time that we spoke.

But definitely in the past like year, year and a half, I've really found that screenwriting I think is what I want to do long term, like big picture goal. So right now acting is a means to, you know, meet as many people as I can and get to, you know, be in front of the camera. But hopefully the goal is to slowly move behind the camera. What do you want to write? What kind of stuff? Right now, all of it is drama, really, like drama thriller-esque. Like one of my favorite genres are psychological thrillers. So I guess that's a big inspiration into a lot of stuff that I write.

I'd like to do comedy. Some of my favorite movies are comedies, but I'm just shit at it. So getting better, hopefully taking notes from the three amigos sooner than later. But right now it's just dramas, just short films.

When I first started writing, I was like, I'm going to write full-length futures. And then they never happened. So now I'm just focusing on short films, getting mastering like the five to 10-page range. and then elongating it from there. Yeah, but you got, I mean, dude, you got a lot of time for doing that. It's great.

Of course, yeah. For sure, that's great. And I think, you know, like you said with comedy, I mean, coming from, that's what I did for years at the comedy store and everything, and I was talking about this recently, is that it's like, it's just like, it's just flexing a muscle. Yeah. Being able to keep continuing to do that. And, you know, from being around those guys, for sure.

And being, I'm looking, I mean, shoot, man, what Zapka did? We're just watching his timing and how good he is. I'm sure you're picking up stuff that you don't even realize that you're picking up, you know? And then that's what I was going to ask you because recently, so on, so we have a, we have a show that we do on the movie Trivia Shmodown. We just had Kevin Smith go up against Chris Jericho.

And through that, I got connected with Paul Walter Hauser. Hey, okay. Awesome. Yeah. So, yeah, and he's coming on the show very soon. But, but like, you know, and him, that's a dude. Like, you talk about that guy is a master. He's a monster. He is an absolute monster on what he's able to do because he's not,

he's able to do, like when he showed up in, and I talked about this recently. When you look at Itanian, what he did inside of that movie, that role from a lot of different people could have come off really goofy and silly and not real. But that character was an absolute moron in real life. And he played it like, you believe it. You believe it from the second. And then you look at what he's able to do on your show. And there's a lot of comedic elements. And then look at him at Richard Jewell. I mean, so it's like a complete. It's crazy. Yeah. Yeah. So how's working? How's working? How? I was working with him.

What was your relationship with that? Dude, that guy is, I mean, he's already like that, but he's one of the people that I'm going to be like, oh, it was cool to work with that guy. You know what I'm saying? Like, already, just right after he filmed our show, he's in the new 101 Dalmatians. He did The Five Bloods, you know, so, like, he is so, so talented. I remember they did a screening of Richard Jewel over out here at the Grove. I think it was like the Grove or something like that. And it was like one of those writers guilds or something like that.

And I was like, oh, let me go. There's a panel. And he was going to be on the panel afterwards. So I went and the movie ended and the panel finished. And he was walking out. And I was like, pull. And he was getting escorted by like bodyguards. And he was like, hold on.

What's up, brother? So, you know, that guy, aside from being one of the most down-to-earth people I've met in this industry is also so funny. all of the scenes that I can think of off the top of my head that I had with him were our directors just like, just go. Just like, here's a general gist of what our idea is that we want to get across. Just go. And he's like, we, Gianni, the guy who plays Dimitri is the only other character like that.

But they literally just are like, hey, we're going to do. They're called alt, which is when you record. It's like a punchline and you have a bunch of different chances to kind of get different that's really where you work on your improv and he is the master at it man like i don't know how he comes up with it but it's it's just like all right take all right let's do another take okay another take bye and it's just everyone's like please like just get offset if you think you're gonna laugh because yeah it's funny to say that because he just he's got that thing about him right because there are those people who just kind of walk on and and he and he just kind of burst onto

the scene he just burst out i remember with it it it's like who's that guy and then you just and you just remember, you remember, remember, because you keep seeing him. It was like Black Klansman, you know. Right, right. And he's got that thing about him where he can play, he can play a despicable character like that, but you're just like, I really shouldn't like

him, but I like the actor so much that it's hard for me not to like this character, and I shouldn't really despise this character. Anyway, going back to what you're up to, and we talked about movies last time when we talked to, I had put Braveheart on you. Did you watch me yet? I am going to be,

completely transparency. I have yet to see Breakheart, but I will say you know, with, I can I say this without a doubt, I have seen like a hundred times the amount of movies I'd seen when we first spoke, man.

Like I hadn't seen the godfather, Pulp Fiction, like all of these movies that are like, I don't want to put quotations around them because they are classics, you know, at least in this industry. But I've seen way more movies. but there's still so many that I have yet to see. All good. So what was the ones that you like the classics that you were,

that you were recommended, whether it's Godfather or Goodfellas or all these movies that maybe you hadn't seen before? Which one stood out? You got any favorites out of the old ones? Which ones stood out? Let me think. I really liked Shawshank Redemption.

Oh, man. That was a really, really good one. And it's funny because these are movies that are like, really you just, you're 19 and you just saw it. Shoshang Redemption, you know what I say? But, you know, I was on the late game. Now I'm, I'm finished with the Pixar movies, and I've moved on to better movies.

Shawshank Redemption was a really good one. I liked. Big was one that I hadn't seen before. That's a fun one. Citizen Kane was one that I'd heard all the time, like, oh, this is the cram, no, the cram of, you know, some, oh my gosh, back in better times. And that one,

was good. Usual Suspects was one that I really enjoyed as well. But those are the ones that come off the top of my head. Those are good ones. Yeah, those are good ones for sure? Yeah, and I think that it's it's, so let me ask you though. Are you watching those movies for a little mixture of A&B, meaning that you're watching it because you want to be a screenwriter and you want to learn more?

Or is it also because you've heard about these movies? You're a movie fan and you want to watch some good movies? I think it's definitely a mixture of both. I think it's a mix of me wanting to kind of get out of my comfort zone. I think for the longest time, I was just like, you know, I can live the rest of my life just with, you know, Will Ferrell and Adam Sandler and like, then it'll be good. It's a, you know, it's a wrap. But now I'm like, okay, if this, if screenwriting and acting is something that I truly want to pursue for the rest of my life, then it's good to, you know,

watch other people on, like, do what I want to do. And, and I think there's so many things you can learn, just like you were saying, how writing is a muscle. Acting is definitely very much a muscle. So just watching other people is super fascinating. And especially these roles that are so, you know, the Corleones and all of these huge, huge roles that are so impactful into a lot of people's lives, the Daniel Laruso's of, you know, cinema.

Yeah. It's it's it's it's it's kind of Fun to see be like oh wow. Okay. This is what this this this meant a lot of to a lot of people so so let me Yeah, it's got enough. It's good. I mean it's it's definitely good like you said you just have the So when people referenced it you know yeah I've seen that before and learning the greats you know whether you're watching good fellows for Scorsese and And and Coppola and all and all and all of that and all and all and it's like reading a bunch of books and all and and kind of getting caught up on favorite authors and things of that nature but is that So, look, two years ago, 17 years old, you have this show and, and you're still at that point, not an adult yet. No.

Years later, here we go. You got your car. You know, are you living on your own yet or not yet doing your thing? It's funny, you ask that I'm in the final steps of moving out and kind of figuring out life on my own. You know, it's funny for the longest time my mom was like, before I guess acting became a really, really serious thing. I guess as serious as it can be, she was like, you know,

Sholo, I want you to go to college as far away as possible. Like travel, do what you got to do, like experience something new. And as we kind of got closer to me becoming 18, you know,

19, she was like, you know what, Sholo, if you want to stay, like another year, two years, like,

you still have a room here. Like, you can, you don't have to leave, you know? And it's kind of funny to see, like, you know,

I love my mom. to death. But hopefully, you know, making the move soon, I definitely do have a lot of learning to do in terms of being independent. So, so kind of figuring it out. I think there's something fun about kind of figuring it out and, you know, luckily I'm a good cook so I don't have to worry about spending hundreds of dollars on postmates or whatever people are doing nowadays. I'm not going to help you out in relationships, too. I'll tell you that much. I'll try. I'll try. Definitely. I cook a good parmesan, chicken parmesan. But yeah, right now it's moving out. The car is a cool thing, but also just kind of, I think my friends and my family are like the

biggest priority meter right now. And getting to strengthen those relationships is something that's super important to me just because I think my high school buddies are buddies that I'll hopefully have for the rest of my life. And these buddies that I'm meeting now in this industry, are also people who I hope to at least be surrounded with for, for, you know, a long time to come. But, but right now it's kind of just quarantine has everything really upside down. I, obviously everyone wants it to be over. It's not like, it's not a new thing. You know, you're not some wave maker for being like, it should be over already.

But, but it's kind of just taking it day by day. Yeah. Especially, you know, being in college and learning and doing it and have to do it. have to do it online. But so when you, when you're doing, as far as college and, and doing all these courses and is it a mixture to you to where you is, is acting like the, I know you said you wanted to be a screenwriter also, but like, but is acting like the, the thing you're going to go,

whether quarantine is here or not, diving deep into or there's something else. So you go, you know, we look at someone like, like Natalie Portman, right? Natalie Portman, who was, who was really, had, had a tremendous career younger, took a break, went to Harvard. And then came back and did her thing. Is that something that you have considered? Like you said, your mom said, go travel abroad.

I thought about after Cobra Kai taking time off, or no, I'm kind of, I'm on a roll right now. I'm going to stick with this thing and do what I got to do. Yeah, so right now it's definitely getting all the credits that I need to transfer. You know, the schools that I got into, I guess my dream school for screenwriting is USC. So being that that's the goal, I'm hopefully just. getting my credits and transferring when I can. But I don't know. It's so hard to tell.

There's a battle between like trying to make the most while you're hot. And then also like maybe giving time off and then coming back is the move because then it's like, oh man, this kid who did this show for a couple of years left. And now he's older and like different. You know what I'm saying? like the kind of the Emma Watson who they did Harry Potter for damn near like their whole like teenage years and then kind of they went to college and they were like all right that was a moment of my life and then came back and it was like whoa she's back and she's an adult you know what I'm saying so it's it's really just figuring out it's a timing thing and and but college is

definitely something that's important to me I don't think you know there's no nothing in my mind right now that's telling me like I should put it off completely. Sure. Especially during quarantine right now where I'm not filming anyways. Like there's not like there's only a handful of projects that are filming right now anyway. So, so definitely at least doing the online stuff is is a priority to me. Yeah. Um, parenthood was your first gig, right?

I don't remember. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That was definitely like my. Well, you know, the reason I asked us how and, and what were you, do you 12 at the time when you did that? 13. Uh, yeah.

I was, I was like 11, about to be 12. and I worked on that show for like almost five years. Okay. The reason I bring that up is because I watched this thing, because you did something, and from just talking to twice, you got a pretty humble thing about you. It's a reason why I think you're going to do very,

very well in this business is because it's one of those, I was watching this thing on HBO, and it has a, and it was, I don't know if you saw it, it was about like child stars. Yes. I didn't see it,

but I did hear about it. So, and what it was was it, And it's all about, and from what I've, again, gathered from our conversations is how involved your mom was and how she kept you kind of based in reality and stuff and how important that is. Because you saw there's a lot of stuff sometimes when the parents get all caught up in it. And the parents then start to dive away more of saying, you know, like what your mom said to you was concentrate, focus on school, do this.

If you have to get out, do your thing. Where sometimes it's like, no, focus on this. Be an actor. Be famous. It's like that, you can't do that to kids. You cannot do that to kids. So watching that and understanding because I think at 12 or 13 years old getting into it, you can be like, were you ever at that time?

Because every show you're like, dude, you got like the Midas touch. Every show you go on is a hit. And so when you go on this show at 12 or 13 years old and you get this kind of success, does it ever at that age, does it ever get to you as far as like, oh, yeah, I'm on a hit television show, or no? So I guess I was lucky enough that one of my first experiences was not on a show where other kids my age would have been watching, you know, normally. I didn't, I wasn't in middle school on a Disney channel show where everyone was like, what the, like, oh my gosh, you know what I'm saying? So, so I guess I was lucky in that regard where sometimes it'd be like, hey, my mom saw you on this show.

But it was never like, oh my gosh, my classmate is, you know, where, we're like. lot of other, like a lot of my other co-stars, even on Cobra Kai, like Jacob, Peyton, started off on Jesse Kirby Buckets, you know what I'm saying? Where their whole childhood was, you know, other kids, where they got practically, both of them were, were homeschooled, you know what I'm saying? So, so, or Jacob wasn't, but, but, you know, once you reach, especially that level of fame at such a young age, it's like very, very hard. And, and I can attest that Peyton and Jacob are both like immaculate example.

of people who's and all of it is upbringing. All of it is upbringing. You know, I find so many, and it's so unfortunate to say, but so many parents who are, like, living vicariously through their children, like, this is what you want to do this, right? Like, right? This is what you want to do.

And it's heartbreaking to see these kids who, like, it's not really what they want to do. You know what I'm saying? And, like, yeah, they might be successful and they might, like, get the, biggest roles, but that only feeds into their, yeah, that only feeds into their parents being like, see, I told you. What, you know what I'm saying?

So I was lucky enough that, A, my mom was like, like, I know you're doing this little gig, but you ain't shit. Like, you, like, you, I still do your laundry kid. Right. Right. I'm saying. So I was lucky enough to have, you know, a wonderful mom and dad who raised me to really be like, look, you know, you, like, you have this awesome opportunity to really show, and especially like, I don't want to stand on my little soapbox right here, but, but being like a brown kid from, from Los Angeles, from Boyle Heights, you know, I said I know. It's growing up, there were like three people that looked like me. Yeah. And none of them are kids. So, so getting to. So, getting to. to be that to hopefully a new generation is so, so important to me and making sure that the stuff that I do is authentic to, you know,

the people that I live around and my friends and my family is so, so important to me. And it's funny, like, still, it feels like we've gone a long way, you know, even in just like the past 10 years, 15 years, but there's still like so much more to be done. And so I guess just being a small part of that is super, super important to me. Yeah. Well, I was going to ask you about that because you mentioned that, you know, as far, because I agree.

I think we have a long way to go for sure. But especially after I think over the last two years, there's been a lot of moves for short and a lot of things that are happening. But do you feel that? Do you, I mean, when as you see it, you know, and obviously through the media and everything, but do you feel like with with auditions, with more opportunities? or like you said, yes, but there's still so much more that we can do overall because, I mean, you look at the world and the way it is in general. It's like there's a portion, I think where we are, where we are, you know, there's,

there's a lot more, I would say people aren't, there's a lot of ignorance out in the world. There's a lot of ignorance out in the world. And I don't think that that's going to be solved with the Thanos snap at any time, at any time soon. But I don't know. Like I'm curious to you, because obviously my situation of how I was. say able and the things that I was able to do is very different from your I'm curious how how different that's been over the last couple years yeah I mean I guess for me personally I have seen like certain changes even just things and like breakdowns for characters that are like I I remember so vividly

like being 13 or 14 years old and going out for this audition for this East LA kid mind you I live in East LA. And I did my audition and they wanted me to have an accent. And I was like, okay, whatever. So I did it kind of the same. You know what I'm saying? And they were like, no, we want you to kind of sound like Speedy Gonzalez. Like that's kind of the direction that we want to go in. And I was like, I guess at the moment it wasn't, it didn't seem like that big a deal to me because I was like, okay, I know who Speedy Gonzalez is. Like this is, but that is, that is so. I'm smiling because it's so like fuck up you know what I say it's like it's so it's imagine anybody would be stupid enough to say something like that now I mean who knows maybe

they would be but you would assume like dude like that's what we're working against here now yeah and now you deaf even from like the breakdowns you start to see that people are much more and I think it's because honestly you start to see how much more like successful something is when it is authentic. You know, one of the, like, the,

one of the examples that comes off the top of my head is like, the paranormal activity is how they were so, so successful, the first and the second one,

even. And then they were like, oh my gosh, Latinos are like, more than half of our audience that are coming to watch these movies in the theaters, we're going to make one for you guys.

And it flops. So, so I think when you start to see, like, I didn't, you, like, you don't need,

And this might be an unpopular opinion, but I feel like I'd rather be a great actor who happens to be a Latino and not the best Latino actor. You know what I'm saying? Because at the end of the day, like, I just want to be the... I don't necessarily the best, but I just want to be as good as I can. And I don't want to have like me being,

well, now it's like a double-ed-a-s-s-word. because I do feel like it's important to have that representation in the industry and being able to have roles like Miguel and in Coburkeyes is something that's like a huge, you know, it's not something to be taken lightly just because it's like a pretty popular character, you know, Daniel Laruso that that I think is, you know, kind of molded into a new, into a new light. But the biggest change that I see is like the, it feels like right now it's all or nothing. Like you have shows like,

while I think they're like some of the, you know, the coolest shows on right now, like you're blackish's and you're, you're fresh off the boats. When it feels like networks are like, okay, you want to show about Asian Americans.

You want to show, you know, uh, like, all right, everyone on this show is going, you know what I'm saying? Yeah.

And it's like, why can't like, I don't know. I don't want to, I don't want to, I don't want to have it sound. like I'm like I don't think it's good but it's like I just wish that you guys could just find the best people for all of these roles and and like have it be a done deal and I feel the same about

you know the LGBTQ community like why can't you find an actual you know person who's a part of that community to play those roles right why especially now like look what happened with that scarlet Johansson rule exactly goes in the shell like really not ghost in the shell that Not goes in the show. Oh, shit. Another Scarlet Joel had to do. Damn, Scarjo! She was supposed to play, she was supposed to play transgender.

And they said, no, you should get transgender role to go to transgender person. And it was just shut down completely because they said, you know, that's that's kind of the point. I think that in moments like that, I agree with you. I think that what should be done in that because I know that, The argument is always, when you look at it like the studio side, it's always, well, people aren't going to see it, not necessarily because they're, whether it's, it's someone who's Asian or a woman. It's not, they're not going to, that's not necessarily whatever. Yeah. They're saying because there's no name.

They're not going to see it as a name. Well, that's why you. How does anyone make a name? Yeah. Why you have a supporting cast. And that's why you can also say, okay, well, look, let's put someone who's transgender in the main role and then put a star in. in one of the other roles. Because then you can say introducing so-and-so,

and then you also have, boom. And I think that's how you, I think that's how they are going to do that because I know they think they're doing a show now based off what they were going to do. So, yeah, but like you said, and that's where I'm saying, I do think that there has been moments of change

because it's funny, I cannot stand social media in a certain aspect. I think social media is kind of the, the downfall of in certain aspects of society because I think sometimes people, they get angry or they get drunk or they do something. And then they tweet. It's so easy. And it's so easy. They say whatever they want. It gets an end. They don't see the other person on the other side of the screen. They say whatever they want to say to them. And there's no repercussion because they're not real to them. They're just another Twitter account. On the other hand, I think that social media has been

very important because when the things are said, when they're thought out and when the messages are used in the right way, they can demand change and it can affect change. So it's kind of like you said a double-edged sword where you're like, there's parts of it. I hate. And the other side of it is, it's great for promotion. It's great for things. It's great. I mean, without social media, and I can't do this interview right now. We can't talk. So it's weird, but it's just a strange time that we're living in right now, you know? It really is a strange. time and I think a lot of it can be attributed to like, like, every big industry is involved in social media in some capacity. And it's like, if you're not on, like, it's almost frowned upon.

If you're an actor, like, unless you're like, of course, like the Robert De Niro's or they're like, fuck it, whatever. You did your time. Like you, like, you, like, you, you know what I'm saying? But it's like, you don't have an Instagram. Like, yeah. How are people supposed to know what you ate for dinner last night. Like, what do you, what do you mean? You don't have an Instagram. So it's like very interesting to see that that's like that's a question now. Like, yo, what's your Instagram? Instead of like, yo, let's exchange numbers, whatever. Let's meet up. Let's go do this. It's like, let's do this live stream. You know what I'm saying? So, so while it is, while I do love it in some regards, because I like, you're one of the coolest people that I've ever interviewed with, you know,

and I'm so glad to have this opportunity. In other regards, it's like, a lot of it feels very facade-esque. Like, this is, I'm going to post my fucking highlight reel. Every single thing is going to be the bet. Like, for lack of a better word, it's like I'm flexing on you. Like, look at how cool my stuff is. And, you know, at the end of the day, a lot of those people end up being like the most miserable ones. I know.

Well, you want to show a portion of your, of your, of your, because look, and on the flip side of that, though, I think we both can agree that there's time that also there are some people that might be showing parts of their life the way that they want their lives to be shown that they might be they might be upset they might be depressed and they say well this actually makes me feel good to show like what I want my life to look like I just want it to be but you're right there are there are other sides of it they're just saying like look what I have that you don't so it's it's it's weird because like everybody has access to it it's like a few people it's like all the like I always say this majority yes because what I what I'm like you know you

when people, we do these shows on YouTube and stuff, and I'm sure you check comments sometimes like I shouldn't check comments. Because what I always say is remember, the greatest person in the world that you know has access to a YouTube account if they want it. Also remember this, the worst person in the world has access to a YouTube account. It's like that's how it is. That's how it works.

And you see it and you see it through the way that people talk to each other. But, you know, from the conversation, and I appreciate you saying that. I was, I mean, I also, you were one of my first interviews when I did that show over there. And when I decided to bring this show back on the new network, I said, I got to reach out to show him in to see if he's, if he's down to do it. And it just worked out so well because of him guy and everything also. But speaking of a cobra guy, again, going back to it. And I know that we talked about how you were training and with martial arts. Have you kind of picked it up even more so since season three?

Yeah, I think, you know, seasons one and two were really just, like, doing, while it was a lot of work, like, for lack of better word, like, it was the bare minimum that I could have been doing at that point. You know, I was 17, or 16 and 17 shooting seasons one and two. And, like, really was just, like, learning the choreography and stretching every once in a while. And I think after I wrapped on season three and came back at like the end of November of last year, I was like, okay, I'm 18. Like, I'm going to be 19 soon. I need to like, I was like, I was like skinny fat. I was like not like I was like super skinny but also like not really developed in any. Got like a little fire going on.

Exactly. And like I just kind of looked tired all the time. You know what I'm saying? So, so I was like, let me like work out. I never been to a gym before. I was like, like I played tennis, but like you don't, when you think of like athletes, you're like, okay, basketball, you know, football, baseball. You don't think like, man, tennis players, like, they got ass.

You know what I'm saying? So like, so I was. So I was like, let me go to the gym. Let me, let me, let me, and if you do think that, I'm standing corrected, I'm sorry. Roger Federer, I mean, I have to give. It does, but it's not, it's not the first sport you think of. I totally, exactly. And that's like my sport.

So, so I was like, let me go to the gym. I started going to the gym and I started, I picked up Brazilian jiu jihisu. And I was like maybe four months in, super happy. Like when people say, I'd never really felt that before because people are like, oh my God, I go to the gym. and I feel so refreshed and I'm not tired anymore and I have so much energy and I don't even look at a soda anymore and I'm like damn I want to feel that like oh that sounds cool and like for the first month I was like they lied to me this was all just a pyramid scheme they just wanted to become platinum members at equinox or whatever the fuck like this is like they lied to me right and then like three months in it became something that was like

routine I was like okay I'm going to go to the gym today I'm going to do this this and this and then I'm going to be done with it. And I think once I saw it less as like a once I looked less at the goal, like, oh, I'm going to look like this or I'm going to weigh in at this or, you know, whatever. I think once I stopped looking at that, it started to become way more enjoyable and like way, I, and this may just be placebo, but I found that I was finding results like way quicker. Yeah, it's also, instead of. Yeah, exactly.

You're like, dude, you worked out for like two months. You picked up. I get tired when I walk from my garage to my house. Exactly. So, so, uh, I picked it up and then like four months into me,

you know, starting, they were like, ah, gyms are, all gyms are closed. Oh, yeah.

So, so, uh, and then those like first two or, like two months of quarantine were just the worst because I didn't have the mental wherewithal to be like, I can do this from my house. You know what I'm saying?

Like, it's so, different working with, or even just like having a friend to be like, this is one more set. Like you got this two more reps. Let's do this. We're at home. I'm like, I'm going to do half the sets now and then half the sets at the end of the day. And then the end of the day comes and I'm like, I'm just going to do it tomorrow.

And then tomorrow comes and I'm like, I'll just do today's workout because I'm not yesterday. Half of an already. So I think for like the first two months, it was like I, like I practically lost all progress that I gained. You know, it was like, I wasn't running. I wasn't doing any of the stuff. But now like I just kind of like work out outside. I have

like some bands here and like some some dumbbells here and there that that I get to work out with. But, but it's just like a 50% of it. Honestly is like a mental thing. Yeah. Oh, 100%. Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah.

Like it's routine. Exactly. Like I definitely didn't have the fortitude to be like, I'm going to do this every day. And this is going to be something, which by the way, I would not suggest starting off saying you're going to do it every day because you're going to get disappointed every single time. Like I definitely should, would be like one day a week, two days a week, three days a week, until it becomes something that's not even like you don't even think about. But, but now, you know, I'm 240 pounds.

said no I uh... well you're quarantined you're well yeah exactly you'll be doing fight scenes with the rock soon exactly I'm like Ben Stiller from Dodgeball but or do you see the new Bill and Ted movie

yeah yeah I haven't I haven't watched it but I haven't heard about it but in the trailer they show in the trailer they show well I've seen the movie but in the trailer you see it also they go to see future versions of themselves and they're just like they're in prison they're all jacked up and oh I did see a picture of that I did see a picture of that.

But yeah, exactly. So now I'm just, you know, working on getting my chest tattoo and hopefully getting my chest. Well, you got a lot of stuff. It's not going to work with that main, dude. You got like. Exactly. I want to take you to grow that out.

And it's like, you look, I'm telling you, like, I was talking before we started recording. Is that, is that quarantine due? Or do you have that also for, uh, for season three? No, this is, no, you, I wish. Uh, no, this is like the day after season three, I was like, okay, I'm, because to be like the, and I could be totally wrong about this, but, you know, I, right before I went into my audition for Cobra Kai, the very first time a couple of years ago, I had just shaved my head. And, you know, my, the 16 years of life before that had been this. Yeah.

And I think had I not shaved my head, I think Miguel would have. have a long hair. The boys can tell you something different. But, but now it's like, now it's a thing. Now Miguel has short hair, da-da-da. So whenever we wrap, I grow it out. And, you know, usually I just got a notification, but yesterday was the day that I, you know, landed in Atlanta to shoot season three. Oh, wow. So like, this is, it's about to be the longest. It's been in a really, really long time. I did the opposite. I was, we, I lost, I kind of lost my, we were just recording here because I had kind of The whole crew couldn't come into the studio and everything, too. So Brett Sheridan, who does a show with me, the two of us kind of sat down.

And I went in, because my hair was getting so stupid. And I said, I'm going to shave. I kept telling my wife, they're threatening my wife, I'm going to shave my head. She's like, don't do it. Don't do it. And I just walked past the mirror one day. And I looked over. I said, I'm going to do it.

It looks good. Oh, but dude, this is, this is grown in. This is grown in. I went Stone Cold Steve Austin. Yeah, you were, yeah, exactly. You were in a little jacket. Yeah. And I didn't mean to.

I meant to go to this level. And I went through it. I was like, oh, shit. You're like, one seems good. Oh, it was bad. My daughters were freaking out. Like, it was, it was, it was bad. But it became like a whole thing.

But it's, it's quarantine hair. See, that you grow it all the way out. If I trust me, I could grow my hair like you. You kidding me? I got, that way, that way, if I ever got any arguments for my wife, I go, well, look at my hair. Yeah, exactly. All right. So, yeah.

So look, the other thing you mentioned earlier that I have to, I have to ask because you talked about playing video games and talking Cobra Kai and stuff too. In my head, I am just waiting for a show where the roles are reversed and you're teaching Zabka how to play video games. Is that anything that can happen?

He, like, they're, granted he is way better at technology than, you know, Johnny is, but he's still like, sometimes he'll ask me questions that seem very obvious. And Ralph, too, like, both, I'll throw both of them under the bus. Like, like, sometimes he'll be like, I remember, I'm not going to say which one it was, but one of them was like, hey, Sholo, you know, you tagged me on this thing on Instagram.

How do I tag you back? Like, I want to post a picture and tag you in it. I'm like, well, it's a little at symbol, you know, I feel like that's pretty widely known. You know what I'm saying? We're old men. But also, like, it's funny because all these homies have people that are like running their accounts, you know what I'm saying? Not those two guys, but like I definitely like other people that I've met. It's like I feel like you should know how to do the bare minimum.

But honestly, those guys are they've learned so much. And it's funny seeing like Johnny's character be like hash brown tea, you know, hash brown teeth over time. When he messes up, when he messes up stuff on technology, it is, when he's when he's discovering stuff on the internet, it is some of the most laugh out loud stuff that is happening on that show for sure. And I'm sure you guys got to be having a great time on that show. because it doesn't seem it's the reason why is that it seems like obviously there's those

especially as you get into deeper seasons it's just after speaking with with john hayden and Josh and watching them and knowing like this is like they're star wars and you can tell you can tell it's like they're star wars because even like because your character is essentially what if what if daniel went to the dark side it really you could say that um and and you know that energy has to come across on on the set i mean even if it didn't it's not like you're going to telling me that no, it sucks. It's terrible there. But I can't imagine that it's anything but a, but a blast working on these on this show. Of course. And I mean, even in the most intense scenes, even, you know, we're, we're filming season two and having this huge school brawl. Like,

the director's yell cut and everyone's like, that was awesome. Like, you did so good. You know, you know what I'm saying? So it's like, nobody's out there like pulling their, you know, Matthew McConaughey's being like, I'm not going to talk to you on the sit until we're wrapped. You know what I'm saying? Like nobody's like, everyone is there having the best time of their lives. Even when we have like two hours of prep to film these like,

you know, five hour long, you know, fight scenes that we have to film back to back to back to back to back. But honestly, like, Cobra Kai, I can say without a doubt is like the best project I've worked on.

and that's not said lightly because parenthood really was like the best thing ever and and seeing these people who definitely had like Ralph Machio and Billy Zabka, Marty like we had Ed Asner on like these are people who these are people who are legends and totally I would believe would be like for lack of better word douches like when when you have that level of fame yeah everyone knows the crane kick everyone knows put him on a body bag everyone knows the name daniel aroussa you know i'm saying at that level i went into the show before even season one started like okay like these guys are you know like big show me or whatever show you know right and oh my god was i so wrong not only are both of those guys like two the biggest freaking teddy bears i've ever

met but also they are so so welcoming to everyone you know i like I was a 16 year old kid like what they don't like you know what I'm saying they didn't have to do anything like they could have just been like yo how you doing nice larry let's do the scene da da-da-da but my god even on the first day were they so welcoming and I really have to like thank them for that because I think without that like the on-screen chemistry would not have come without the off-screen chemistry yeah and I think that's something that I have to thank you know ralph billy are our creators for just because they made it so easy well I mean and that was that was that was the thing I did want to ask you though because um there was uh that you mentioned put him in a body bag

you know and that episode in season two and then watching uh and then obviously um we lost uh yeah we lost Tommy uh and and i i was really saddened by that and so many because when i watched that episode i had DM John like immediately and i said i i said holy shit you put him in a pipe Put him in a body bag. And then it was like, so were you, were you around? Do you have a chance to speak with him at all? Yeah. Yeah, they all, I met the whole gang twice.

One was when they were like doing their fittings and stuff like that. And all of them came out. We were just shooting on the stages. And they're like, oh, we just wanted to come say hi. And then another day we had two units. One was on location over at Screen Gems. which is, you know, the stranger thing set. And I, for some reason, I forget what we were shooting that day,

but I had to do hair and makeup over there and then get shuttled back. Yeah. So I was getting my hair and makeup done and they all came in. And it was like so crazy. Those like, seeing all of them together again was like they had just seen each other last week. And they were like hanging out. The chemistry that they have and like the camaraderie and the. Yeah.

the relationship that they have is like something that I even aspire to have with my friends that I've had, you know, since the beginning of middle school, high school, whatever. Like, it played. It played in 84. It played. Yeah, it showed up on motorcycles. Yeah, it played like really well. So yeah, it was really sad, obviously, when, when, when that happened, like, did you were,

how did you hear, by the way? Um, I want to say we were, I honestly don't even remember what was happening, but it was, I think it was like everyone was just like wow how unfortunate is it that we like the last thing that we saw him in in our show is like it felt very like oddly I don't want to say coincidental but but just like whoa like this is something that we were just like

well this is crazy and now and the same thing with like recently like Chadwick Bozeman yeah you really that's not stuff that you see coming. And that's like you, how do you anticipate that happening? No, I don't know if you read about, I read this this morning is that Chaddick Bozeman was such a, was such a fighter.

He was convinced that he was going to beat it. And he hadn't told anybody from what I heard. And again, I don't know how much from what I heard this read this morning, is that like Ryan Coogler didn't even really know, um, uh, Kevin Feigy and like Marvel, they didn't know because, and it's, it was Chadwick Bowman's right to, to he doesn't have to disclose what's going on with him medically you know it's he wasn't filming anything and but he was convinced he was going to beat it so yeah but it's like you're right it's

it's it's it's weird how it just life just kind of creeps up on you that way you know and it's it's it's just it's heartbreaking did you ever have a chance you ever chance to to to meet bozeman at all no no no no not no not him but yeah it's just like it feels like this is and it doesn't make it any more helpful that it's all happening during quarantine right now where everyone is just like it's not even that we don't have contact with other people but it's it almost feels like all right now onto the on to the next thing that we have to worry about like now there's two more hurricanes in you know Louisiana and now there's this thing happening and this thing happening it's like you don't even get time to like grieve it feels like no it is it's like it's someone kept saying

It's like it's like it's like it's like yeah exactly. Jumongi is a third like whatever freaking like horror like video game. It's like damn we're just like we're getting snake eyes. All these roles. Jesus like. How do you stay positive throughout it though, dude? You seemly a very positive guy though. How do you I mean because do you get, do you get bummed?

Do you get the press during it or are you able to kick out of it? Is it through the working out stuff? How are you able to to kind of say this is going to get better? put a positive light on it. Working out helps, but I'd say honestly, like music has like one of the most positive influences

on me out of anything in my life. Like it, my out, damn near like, I'm listening to music like more than half the day. Who are you listening to? Like, oh my God,

that's such a Los Angeles scene to say. Like everything. Yeah, I listen to everything. I'm not like a, no, a real Los Angeles thing is everything, the country.

But, uh, honestly, honestly, I, I, I, I fuck with a little bit of country.

but it's hip hop and jazz are the two that that I go towards the most. Recently listening like some rock here and there. I know all the, you know, Cobra Kai fans are like, what? You're not listening to Guns and Roses, you know, pitchforks.

But, but, you know, I listen to some stuff here and there in terms of, like old classic rock and stuff like that. But old hip hop, you do listen to East Coast? Of course.

I listen. Like everything, everything hip-hop. Like classic to use probably like 2000. Exactly. Luda. I love Luda. No, no, no, no.

Like, nah. Old school tribe and big... I love tribe called Quest. Yeah, you, yeah, I'll post, pop on some tribe, some De La Sol, some, you know, public enemy. Have you ever heard of Fushnikins? Fushnikins, no. That's old school. It's so old school.

They did a rap video with Shaq back in the day. Fush. Nikins. All right. I have them up. That's old school. That's really old school. What's up, Doc?

1993. I'm telling you, Grave diggers is another one. It's like, this is all old school kind of New York East Coast stuff. But anyway, but look, it's so good to talk to you, man. And I'm sure we'll do it again once season three comes out. I know we're a little bit of ways from that. But nobody even knows. But when it comes out, we'll talk again for sure. For those of you who haven't been watching Cobra Kai seasons one and two, you're sleeping on it. Go and watch it now. Yeah, it's, it's, on Netflix now so you can't say, well, I'm not going to get YouTube. Yeah. It's tough. You have Netflix. Watch it. Sholo, Manitouin. Almost got it.

Sholo Manaduena. Yeah, that was pretty good. Sholo Madi de Winia. Sholo Mende dwe. Yeah, exactly. The substitute teachers don't even say my last name. Sholo is fine. I'm not going to do that.

I would rather, I would rather mess it up and then get it right. So Sholo Mandeu. Yeah. We got it. Ladies and gentlemen, make sure that you please check this gentleman out. And watch and give us your, your Twitch channel again. Twitch.TV slash Sholo Crunch, X-O-L-O-C-R-U-N-C-H. I'll be checking that out too, man.

We started doing some Shmodown stuff on Twitch also. So, all right, guys, thank you. Once again, this was the first relaunch of one-on-one. Glad what a guest to do it with here. So make sure if you didn't already subscribe to the channel, it is YouTube.com slash the Shmodown. And it's going to be available also for those podcast listeners. We're on Spotify.

We are on Apple Podcasts. anywhere the podcasts are fine. So make sure that you guys, leave us a comment. Do all that. This is a brand new feed here for one-on-one. So Cholo, once again, man, thank you for joining us, and we'll talk soon. Awesome. Thank you so much for having you.