Spoilers for Shrinking Season 2, Episode 7 are forward! When you have not watched it, you may stream it now with an Apple TV+ subscription.
Shrinking isn’t simply one in every of my favourite collection on the 2024 TV schedule, it’s one of many finest exhibits on Apple TV+. That’s in nice half as a result of it brilliantly mixes severe matters and hilarious moments with ease – just like the scene within the newest episode the place Jimmy and Sean beatboxed collectively to re-create the music Summer time made about Alice sleeping together with her boyfriend.
So, once I requested Sean actor Luke Tennie about that scenario, he proved my level by sharing the story behind it and explaining why situations like this make the present particular.
The Story Behind Jimmy And Sean Recreating The ‘Cheater Bitch’ Tune
The scene in query is the primary sequence in Episode 7. It opens with Summer time rapping in a TikTok, saying the phrases “cheater, cheater, bitch” again and again. As each Jimmy and Sean acknowledge, whereas that sucks for Alice, the music “form of slaps” and “is a complete banger.”
That results in the blokes recreating the music, with Sean beatboxing and Jimmy rapping. So, once I spoke with Luke Tennie, I requested what it was prefer to movie the foolish little gag with Jason Segel, and he stated:
Properly, it was hilarious to me as a result of I confirmed as much as set actually hoping that I’d do the beatboxing half. As a result of I am not attempting to toot my very own horn, but when there’s something I’ve ever been naturally good at, it is that. I’ve at all times been a naturally good beatboxer. I am good with rhythm, and I flex a little bit in that scene too with some high-hat work.
As you noticed, Tennie did get the beatboxing half, partially as a result of Jason Segel needed to rap. Seems, the 2 had the identical concept going into the scene, because the Sean actor advised me:
After which I get there, and Jason’s like, ‘Hey, man, would you thoughts doing the beatboxing so I can rap?’ I am like, ‘Bro, that is my dream!’ So we needed to do the elements we each felt most snug, assured can be finest for our character.
Actually, it was a match made in hilarious heaven too, as a result of whereas it’s a brief bit, it’s hilarious. It additionally helped develop a via line via the episode as Alice handled the eye she was getting for betraying Summer time. And that combination of humor, coronary heart and drama is what makes Shrinking improbable.
Luke Tennie Explains Why Scenes Like This Make Shrinking So Good
This was one thing I spoke about with Luke Tennie too. Whereas sharing the foolish story behind determining who would beatbox and who would rap on this second, he additionally defined why it’s small scenes like this that make Shrinking so distinctive. He stated:
After which simply as a complete, these form of moments, to me, is the opposite aspect of the coin. Like once you assume Shrinking, you consider scenes like ‘Eat a dick, Pam.’ You consider scenes just like the hospital. You consider scenes just like the barbecue. However Shrinking can be these odd couple moments. Right here now we have freaking Jimmy and Sean beatboxing over one thing that is utterly trashing and Alice, however the beat goes too onerous. So it’s an honor and a pleasure. But additionally, I feel these moments are crafted so we will see the humanity in addition to the humorous haha on the leisure scale.
Because the actor defined, Shrinking is filled with huge humorous and dramatic moments. For instance, in final week’s episode, he shined as Sean in each methods, by hilariously calling out his mates whereas excessive on anesthesia and reconnecting along with his dad who came over him on the finish of the episode.
Nonetheless, combined into these huge scenes, there are tiny goofy moments that present us extra of those characters, their “humanity” and their relationships with one another.
Whereas Jimmy and Sean clearly really feel unhealthy for Alice, in addition they discover the music actually humorous and catchy. Having either side of that coin current makes for a enjoyable story, and it leads to hilarious situations like them recreating the “cheater cheater bitch” music. Plus, this music ended up being a throughline of the episode as others within the Shrinking forged – together with Harrison Ford – couldn’t deny how catchy it was whereas they tried to assist Alice.
As Shrinking continues to drop new episodes on Wednesdays, you higher imagine I’ll be looking for extra enjoyable situations like this one and excited about Tennie’s feedback concerning why they’re so particular. And it is best to too, as a result of the Sean actor is 100% proper, these bits are a part of the rationale why this Apple TV+ comedy works oh so properly.