Ike Barinholtz Is Ready to Spin His Emmy Nom Into Brand Partnerships

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In the movie “The Studio”, Ike Barinholtz‘s character, Sal Saperstein, becomes quite a popular joke at awards shows. During an acceptance speech given by Adam Scott (playing himself), he mentions Sal, which starts a trend where every subsequent winner acknowledges him. This is amusing not just due to Barinholtz’s heartfelt performance, but because it leaves Seth Rogen’s character, Matt Remick, who is the head of Continental Studios and seems quite puzzled by it all, utterly bewildered.

On the day of Emmy nominations, it seems like the plot of an episode from The Studio could become reality: Adam Scott is indeed nominated for an Emmy for his role in Severance, while Seth Rogen is recognized for his collaboration with Evan Goldberg on The Studio. Moreover, Barinholtz himself receives his first-ever Emmy nomination after a career spanning two decades in television and film. In The Studio, Barinholtz brings Sal to life with an infectious mischief, acting as Matt’s devilish alter ego. The nomination feels like a classic victory for a comedy actor who has always been unafraid to go all out in a world dominated by wry dramas and comedies. “I can’t believe I get paid for this,” Barinholtz jokes about his nomination, “I’m looking into branding deals and am excited to start earning some money.

Have you exchanged messages with any of your colleagues from the Continental this morning? The group chat has been buzzing. Everyone seems to be here, there, and everywhere, but there’s been a lot of congratulations, expressions of love, kisses, and missed moments shared. I’m thrilled for Seth and Evan, naturally, but also for Kathryn/Catherine and our special guests. We relied heavily on our guest stars – it was wonderful to see Davey Franco alongside Marty on stage.

It seems rather unlikely that anyone would challenge Martin Scorsese, given his stature in the industry – after all, we’re talking about Marty here! It’s hard to imagine campaigning against him, considering the unique humor each of them brought to the table in their respective roles on the show.

The Golden Globes episode underscores the fact that awards can sometimes seem absurd, yet they hold significant value to numerous individuals. It’s a delight whenever your work gains recognition from fellow professionals, but given the nature of this show, it adds an extra touch of sweetness. We even joke on our show about how essential these awards are for us, making life mimic art mimicking life.

Does the acclaim for the show, both with Emmys and overall, give the impression that the entertainment industry is recognizing, to some extent, the current complexities in Hollywood? Seth and Evan have done an exceptional job at portraying the realities of our world and our business within it, and the optimism that people still hold despite uncertainty. The success of The Studio, I believe, is a reflection of its relatability to those on all sides of the industry, as today’s professionals tend to be more pragmatic. However, we remain entertainers at heart, maintaining our passion and affection for what we do, even in the face of an uncertain future.

It’s truly satisfying to see the show receiving numerous technical nominations. Those extended shots and grand sets aren’t effortlessly created. Your roots in improv and live sketch definitely leave their mark on your solo performances for the show, don’t they? After all, the long takes can feel akin to playing a scene on stage – you know what’s coming next but have to maintain focus not to disrupt the flow. Yet, there’s an unpredictable energy that keeps it fresh and reminds me of good old improv days. It’s thrilling! Although I might not be directly in front of the camera at a given moment, my role is crucial within the scene. And yes, we did have our fair share of mishaps; you’d just hear Seth burst out laughing, which unfortunately meant that take was a lost cause. Our mission for the show was to keep Seth from laughing until they shouted “Cut.

Was the character Sal inspired by industry professionals you’ve encountered, or was it purely from Seth and Evan’s script? To be honest, a lot of the characters share traits with people we all know. I drew upon several individuals, and they all had one thing in common: they’ve been involved since the ’90s. Sal seemed like a typical ’90s-era executive. Those who are still active today have faced some challenging times to keep their positions. However, some of those people have approached me, saying, “I think this is based on me,” and I’d reply, “Yes, it is.

Hey there! Ever had someone yell “Sal Saperstein” at you? Yeah, I’ve been there too. You know, being a movie buff means having lines from films and TV shows shouted at me in various places. “Sal Saperstein” is one that always makes me smile instead of cringe or feel embarrassed like some others. It’s not like someone swearing at me in public or needing an awkward explanation for my kids. Instead, it’s a friendly Jewish name from a show I love and take pride in. So when people recognize you for something you’re passionate about, it just makes you happy. If it doesn’t, maybe you’re not as much of a fan as you thought!

The Studio has been granted another chance for a second season. Can you provide any insights into those initial discussions?

I’ve had several chats with the writers, and I always find their ideas fascinating. They did an exceptional job structuring each episode around a single theme for the first season – it’s a ceremony, it’s a trial run, it’s a continuous shot. Therefore, I suspect they will likely continue in this vein. When they shared their plans for the first season with me, many elements sounded implausible, but now I have full faith in these creative minds to make the impossible possible.

Is it fair to say that, at the moment, participating in Jeopardy seems more pressure-filled as compared to being nominated for an Emmy? However, the idea of getting nominated for an Emmy initially feels unreachable. But then again, I’ve been nominated! So now I’m one out of five or six nominees. There’s still a possibility there, you understand what I mean? Nevertheless, Jeopardy remains more stressful. However, who knows how I’ll react on Emmys night, I might just scream “Aahhh!” instead!

The memory of my close call in Jeopardy’s Tournament of Champions continues to haunt the team at Vulture, as I ponder over how to exact revenge for being just one question away from reaching the finals. It gnaws at me frequently, and I yearn to find a way back and finally achieve closure.

I have confidence in your abilities, which makes me think you’ll succeed in this endeavor. This belief stems from my long-standing trust in you, going back to when I was just a child.

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2025-07-16 02:54