Drake & Josh Star Josh Peck Stuns Fans With Shockingly Wild ‘Last of Us’ Cameo and Raunchy Speech

WARNING: This narrative reveals plot points from “Day One,” the fourth episode of the second season of “The Last of Us,” currently available on Max.

There was an unexpected “Drake & Josh” and “The Last of Us” crossover on Sunday night.

Josh Peck, a well-known figure from Nickelodeon and a character stealing moments as a scientist in “Oppenheimer,” made an appearance at the start of HBO’s latest episode of “The Last of Us.” He gave a striking monologue as Janowitz, a soldier from the Federal Disaster Response Agency. In a tale filled with explicit language, he shared a story about capturing individuals referred to humorously by FEDRA as “voters” – actually referring to residents of Quarantine Zones whose rights have been taken away.

Instead of “The Last of Us Part II” video game, the show delves into events happening in 2018. In this Seattle Quarantine Zone, soldiers are squeezed inside a van en route to a mission. Janowitz amuses his comrades by narrating an incident where he apprehended three individuals who were handing out religious literature. He reminisces about receiving assistance from Greenberg, a notoriously aggressive FEDRA soldier, who apparently misunderstood “disseminating” as “publicly masturbating.” Janowitz shares that when one of the detainees clarified Greenberg’s mistake, the officer responded by slamming his head against the wall and shouting, “You didn’t need to say anything, jerkoff!

As a movie enthusiast, I find myself immersed in “The Last of Us Part II” storyline, where laughter echoes among my fellow characters, save for Jeffrey Wright’s character, the stoic and humorless Isaac Dixon. Gamers are familiar with Isaac as the Washington Liberation Front leader who seized control from FEDRA, but his backstory remains a mystery. In this show, however, it is revealed that Isaac was once a high-ranking FEDRA sergeant. He betrayed his own men to aid local rebels, led by Alanna Ubach’s character, Hanrahan.

In a tense moment, our van was halted by a roadblock set up by Hanrahan’s forces. Isaac exited the vehicle, greeted Hanrahan, and in an instant, hurled a grenade into the vehicle filled with unsuspecting soldiers. He swiftly locked the door behind him before returning to shake Hanrahan’s hand and hear the chilling words, “Welcome to the fight.

Isaac’s pivotal scene is set against Peck’s humorous monologue at the start of the episode, yet it’s important to remember that “The Last of Us” is renowned for its unexpected plot twists. In an interview with EbMaster, Peck discusses how he secured his role and how he made his seemingly despicable character more relatable.

Before you auditioned, were you a fan of the video game or Season 1 of the show?

To put it frankly, I wasn’t exactly bold when the series initially debuted, given its popularity as a video game. However, upon receiving the audition call, my curiosity piqued and I felt compelled to ensure I grasped the tone. I knew the public’s fascination with the show was immense, but I wanted to double-check. So, I delved into the first episode, and before I knew it, I had binged all episodes in a span of eight hours. The series captivated me instantly. It was an audition that seemed too good to be true, yet when I read the script, I felt confident I could pull it off. I sent my submission out into the world with fingers crossed, not anticipating a response due to the high quality of the opportunity. But when I did receive a reply, I was thrilled beyond words.

What drew you in and made you want to binge the show?

Much like many others, I found Episode 3 to be one of the most captivating love stories I’ve encountered. The casting seems almost uncannily spot-on, akin to iconic series such as “The Sopranos” or “Breaking Bad,” where it’s hard to imagine any other actors embodying their characters. This sentiment holds true for me with “The Last of Us.” From the onset, I found myself deeply invested in every character I was expected to care about, and equally repulsed by those I was meant to dislike.

How does it feel to be on one of those generational HBO shows now?

I haven’t seen it, so I gotta take your word for it. Is it good?

It’s great. Your scene kicks off the episode, and right away I was like, “Wait, that’s Josh Peck.”

Wow, I can’t wait for everyone to see it on Sunday. It’s such an incredible privilege to have been involved with this project and to have collaborated with Craig Mazin, who I’ve admired for years. It seems almost serendipitous that my best work, be it “Oppenheimer” or this collaboration, has come when I’ve had the opportunity to work with exceptional talents. The process feels effortless because everything has been meticulously planned out. There’s no room for error in the script, and everyone involved is at their peak performance. It’s invigorating to be a part of such an accomplished team.

You have all these hilarious lines, like “jizzboy” and “splooging,” in this world that’s normally very dark. What did that tell you about your character?

In a different voice:
Experiencing war can lead individuals to actions they might never have imagined themselves capable of. To ensure your characters remain relatable and realistic, it’s essential to show empathy towards them, even when their actions are questionable. I found that personalizing the story helped me understand this character better. Of course, nothing in my life comes close to what he experienced, but I could draw a parallel by sharing one of my favorite amusing stories with friends. This was my starting point for humanizing the situation and focusing on his actions rather than the extreme nature of them. Another approach is when he interacts with his colleagues or superiors, such as Jeffrey Wright. In those moments, he’s vulnerable and emotional, expressing something like, “Hey, man, this is my favorite story. Don’t we all understand each other here?” By finding these humanizing aspects, I was able to make the story more relatable, even though the events described are beyond my personal comprehension.

How did you find something to relate with him?

I connected the tale with a previous, harmless story from my life that might only elicit laughter. Essentially, he seemed to be expressing a desire to protect those being bullied. It was as if he was frustrated or simply waving off the persistent speaker, aware of this fierce comrade who would exact retribution. I sought to find these nuanced, empathetic aspects to avoid perceiving him as an entirely monstrous figure. He appeared more like a counselor. To me, he seemed like a spokesperson. He was adept at obeying commands and such. However, I never imagined he’d rise to the level of an ‘Isaac.’ I’m unsure about that.

What do you think stuck out about your audition that landed you the role?

As an actor at my level, often I find myself auditioning for supporting roles where there’s not always much to work with. It can be disheartening when I don’t land a role, but my acting teacher wisely reminded me, “Josh, this isn’t Hamlet.” In some cases, the part could easily be played by many others; it often boils down to personal flair and appearance. However, when I encounter exceptional writing and a juicy monologue like this one, I feel exhilarated as an actor because there are numerous opportunities for me to make choices, to bring my own interpretation, and to give a powerful performance. The best auditions are those where I leave everything on the table. In the case of “The Last of Us,” the writing was so compelling that I had a clear vision of who this character should be.

Where did you shoot the scene? How many days of filming did you do?

We filmed on the streets of Vancouver, followed by shooting scenes on a soundstage, which took us two days in total. I recall donning the helmet; it was a perfect fit as the vehicle we were using had just enough space to accommodate us comfortably. This allowed us to perform optimally without feeling too cramped. On the first day, all exterior shots were taken on the streets and inside the vehicle. On the second day, we filmed all our stage scenes. What makes a production like this rewarding is the luxury of time and resources. They constructed a van with removable walls to capture every desired angle for our scenes.

Finally, do you have a Greenberg in your life that you pictures when you were talking about him?

Indeed, there’s a certain Greenberg character that’s made an impact on my world, and trust me when I say you’ve never crossed paths with this enigmatic figure. Though I won’t disclose his identity, let it be known he’s a free spirit, one I prefer to keep anonymous. His unconventional ways are as captivating as any blockbuster drama, leaving me both baffled and intrigued in equal measure.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

2025-05-05 05:19