- Social:
actor and showrunner
Actor and showrunner of The Last Man on Earth
PROFILE
Will Forte
Guest
FROM Will Forte
The Business
'The Last Man on Earth' In Fox's The Last Man on Earth , Will Forte plays Phil Miller, a nice enough guy driven to the brink when he believes he's the only person left in the world. Forte teamed with long time friends Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the forces behind The Lego Movie, to create and produce the show, which opened to strong ratings and a quick pickup for a second season. Now, Forte has two Emmy nominations for writing and acting. Forte says he wasn't expecting that five years ago when he quit Saturday Night Live. It was the year he turned 40, he didn't have a his next move planned, and his film MacGruber had just bombed at the box office. When he first started working with Lord and Miller on the show, Forte had originally planned to just help write the pilot and then "go relax on a beach." But then he fell in love with the character, and couldn't imagine stepping away. Forte tells us he initially imagined the comedy as a cable show, but is happy to be at Fox...except for the language restrictions. He admits he does love his "f-words." Now he's started working on season two, and despite some blowback on social media about the creepiness of Forte's character, the team is forging ahead, working on a long-term plan for the character arc of Phil. Forte figures if he loses a couple viewers along the way, it's alright because they've got a strong fan base who trust what the writers have in store. You might say he's sticking to his artist's vision. Forte agrees, but with a caveat: "Artist, I'm not comfortable with. Fartist is probably more apt."
Recommended
The Business
Industry insights and lessons learned from memorable guests We have interesting guests on The Business, and sometimes our conversations are too long to fit into one show. This week we give you stories that were too good to leave on the cutting room floor, including some sharp insights on making it in the industry from David Mandel, David Simon, Shawn Levy and Matt Reeves.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Terrorism in London: Lessons for the US This weekend’s terrorist attack in London left seven people dead and almost 50 injured. London police fatally shot the attackers, and ISIS claimed responsibility.
Good Food
Shaking up the USDA, 'The Beef Cookbook' and 'Tartine All Day' Peggy Lowe explains why Trump’s pick for USDA Secretary is rattling rural America. Dario Cecchini talks future plans for Chianti ramen, and Richard Turner shares cuts from “PRIME: The Beef Cookbook.” Writer Matthew Sedacca looks at the controversy behind liquid smoke. Jonathan Gold tries Chengdu-style dishes, and Elisabeth Prueitt of Tartine fills us in on the latest. Plus, chef Michael Beckman shares a recipe for cactus confit.