Jonathan Kite Cooks Up Comedy in '2 Broke Girls'

Jonathan Kite Cooks Up Comedy in '2 Broke Girls' By Suzy Evans December 27, 2011 Photo by JSQUARED PHOTOGRAPHY If Jonathan Kite had gone by the breakdown, he never would have landed his role as Ukrainian cook Oleg on CBS's "2 Broke Girls." The part originally called for a bald 45-year-old Russian guy. "I am a 'guy' out of that," jokes the Chicago-bred actor. But Kite didn't let that stop him. For his audition, he bought a ridiculous outfit from Goodwill, completed it with mustard stains and a hairnet, and gave it a shot. "I never thought I'd get the part," Kite says, adding that his costume got a huge laugh from series creators Michael Patrick King and Whitney Cummings. "At the end, it came down to me and a guy who was between 45 and 50, bald, and much shorter than me. We were not really competing against each other; we were competing against type." Kite says he flipped out when he landed the role. The character has garnered criticism as a shallow one-liner type, with little depth beyond his sexual comments. One example of an Oleg-ism is "Once you go Ukraine, you will scream in sex pain." However, Kite says audiences haven't gotten to know Oleg. "I approach him as a real person because that does him justice," Kite explains. "If you look at 'Cheers,' those were very specific archetypes in a bar in the beginning. But after you watch the series, those are human beings. We've only been through nine episodes. Hopefully, there's a lot more for everybody in the future." Kite with the cast of "2 Broke Girls" (Photo Courtesy of CBS) One talent that helped Kite land the role is his knack for accents, a skill for which he has his childhood friends in Skokie, Ill., to thank. Growing up outside Chicago, Kite learned to imitate dialects by listening to his friends' parents, many of whom were eastern European immigrants. "My buddy Andy was actually born over there," Kite says. "I just picked up on it from being around him so much." Kite is something of a master mimic, and he learns accents and impersonations through immersion, whether it be watching YouTube videos of celebrities or hanging out with his Australian friends. "I don't like learning dialects from a textbook, because you don't necessarily get the rhythms of people," Kite says. "You really have to go to the source."Celebrity impersonations are also Kite's specialty, and his favorites include Vince Vaughn, Seth Rogen, and Tom Hanks. Kite has performed his Vaughn impression for the star, who he says was very kind. (See a video of Kite's many impersonations here.)Growing up near Chicago, Kite benefited from the city's extensive comedy scene. He studied at The Second City while stars Tina Fey and Rachel Dratch were on the Mainstage. Kite continues to work in improv and standup, performing gigs around Los Angeles and working with theaters such as iO West. "It prepared me for everything," he says of his improvisation training. "To just be in the mindset of always saying yes and always doing it for the greater good of the scene, it helps keep you selfless."Kite doesn't do much improv on "2 Broke Girls," however, as he says it would take away from the voice of the show. His theater training from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign comes in handy, though, as the sitcom shoots in front of an audience. Filming this way helps the comedy of the show, he says, because it gets an immediate response in terms of what the audience thinks is funny. If a joke doesn't get a laugh, the writers can rewrite it and tailor the show to the audience. "It's like a tennis match with us and them, back and forth," Kite says. "If something's not working, the audience tells you immediately. It's not about being right; it's about making it work."Another thrill of working on "2 Broke Girls" is that Kite gets to work with comedy icon Garrett Morris, an original cast member of "Saturday Night Live." With his comedy background and plentiful impersonations, Kite always wanted to be on "SNL," and although he'd still like to host one day, he says he's living the dream now by working on a show he believes in. "I really enjoy working every day," he says. "I don't even consider it work. It's easy to get up in the morning." Jonathan Kite Cooks Up Comedy in '2 Broke Girls' By Suzy Evans December 27, 2011 PHOTO CREDIT JSQUARED PHOTOGRAPHY If Jonathan Kite had gone by the breakdown, he never would have landed his role as Ukrainian cook Oleg on CBS's "2 Broke Girls." The part originally called for a bald 45-year-old Russian guy. "I am a 'guy' out of that," jokes the Chicago-bred actor. But Kite didn't let that stop him. For his audition, he bought a ridiculous outfit from Goodwill, completed it with mustard stains and a hairnet, and gave it a shot. "I never thought I'd get the part," Kite says, adding that his costume got a huge laugh from series creators Michael Patrick King and Whitney Cummings. "At the end, it came down to me and a guy who was between 45 and 50, bald, and much shorter than me. We were not really competing against each other; we were competing against type." Kite says he flipped out when he landed the role. The character has garnered criticism as a shallow one-liner type, with little depth beyond his sexual comments. One example of an Oleg-ism is "Once you go Ukraine, you will scream in sex pain." However, Kite says audiences haven't gotten to know Oleg. "I approach him as a real person because that does him justice," Kite explains. "If you look at 'Cheers,' those were very specific archetypes in a bar in the beginning. But after you watch the series, those are human beings. We've only been through nine episodes. Hopefully, there's a lot more for everybody in the future." Kite with the cast of "2 Broke Girls" (Photo Courtesy of CBS) One talent that helped Kite land the role is his knack for accents, a skill for which he has his childhood friends in Skokie, Ill., to thank. Growing up outside Chicago, Kite learned to imitate dialects by listening to his friends' parents, many of whom were eastern European immigrants. "My buddy Andy was actually born over there," Kite says. "I just picked up on it from being around him so much." Kite is something of a master mimic, and he learns accents and impersonations through immersion, whether it be watching YouTube videos of celebrities or hanging out with his Australian friends. "I don't like learning dialects from a textbook, because you don't necessarily get the rhythms of people," Kite says. "You really have to go to the source."Celebrity impersonations are also Kite's specialty, and his favorites include Vince Vaughn, Seth Rogen, and Tom Hanks. Kite has performed his Vaughn impression for the star, who he says was very kind. (See a video of Kite's many impersonations here.)Growing up near Chicago, Kite benefited from the city's extensive comedy scene. He studied at The Second City while stars Tina Fey and Rachel Dratch were on the Mainstage. Kite continues to work in improv and standup, performing gigs around Los Angeles and working with theaters such as iO West. "It prepared me for everything," he says of his improvisation training. "To just be in the mindset of always saying yes and always doing it for the greater good of the scene, it helps keep you selfless."Kite doesn't do much improv on "2 Broke Girls," however, as he says it would take away from the voice of the show. His theater training from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign comes in handy, though, as the sitcom shoots in front of an audience. Filming this way helps the comedy of the show, he says, because it gets an immediate response in terms of what the audience thinks is funny. If a joke doesn't get a laugh, the writers can rewrite it and tailor the show to the audience. "It's like a tennis match with us and them, back and forth," Kite says. "If something's not working, the audience tells you immediately. It's not about being right; it's about making it work."Another thrill of working on "2 Broke Girls" is that Kite gets to work with comedy icon Garrett Morris, an original cast member of "Saturday Night Live." With his comedy background and plentiful impersonations, Kite always wanted to be on "SNL," and although he'd still like to host one day, he says he's living the dream now by working on a show he believes in. "I really enjoy working every day," he says. "I don't even consider it work. It's easy to get up in the morning."

Fashion Slam: The Friday Five: Holiday Presents For Children

First Released: December 16, 2011 1:39 PM EST Credit: Getty Images La, Calif. -- Caption Just a little girl, putting on a winter coat, gives Father Christmas her wish list. Surrounding him are packages and toys.My loved ones keeps asking me for presents for my 2-year-old and i'm stumped! If you have a youngster you have to upgrade on and want some gifting inspiration, Jenny Cooper, Mind of Crewcuts Design, shares her suggestions. 1. Because I wish to provide the gift which will stick out probably the most and become the sparkliestthe women celebrity dress. That will certainly cause me to feel the favourite godmother, if I am not already!!! 2. A collection of books from your Crewcuts Book Club, in which a new connect from J. Crew picks their most favorite book they like to read for their children and that we market it online. One book isn't enough and reading through is easily the most helpful and long lasting skill just a little person can buy. For any boyThe Boy Who Bit Picasso, The Entire Book of U . s . States History (because my boys will always be asking me questions If Only I understood the solutions to!) along with a eco-friendly marbled composition notebook to allow them to write their very own book in. For any girlThe Book About Moomin, Mymble and Little My (that we was raised with), The Angry Fairy (which informs an interesting story in regards to a fairy with blank pages with no illustrations so she will create her very own masterpiece!) and she or he would obtain the neon pink composition notebook also to write her very own story! 3. I would need to obtain the Playforever Bruno Racing CarI dont care what age your children are, that one is timeless! The sleek shape and also the rubber wheels using the little helmeted mind will appear so chic around the mantelpiece after when the child has outgrown it. He'll never finish up inside a tag purchase! 4. The cashmere cable crewneck for children, to ensure that they're warm on snowy days. I believe the cashmere cable complements anythingthe amazing, dyed-in-Italia colors make any outfit! Put on it having a tuxedo pant to holiday occasions and switch to jeans when you are getting home. 5. The women letter hooks 're going along with EVERY gift, even boys, because who does not love their very own initials? Boys can pin their letters on their own backpack. Or rely on them like a tie pin. Thats what is so excellent concerning the pinsthey can embark upon just about anything and they're just $7.50 in order to have them for everybody plus some special people could possibly get both as well as three! For more information, take a look at world wide web.jcrew.com. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Nomination reaction: Judd Apatow, producer, 'Bridesmaids'

It is so nice this year that so many comedic performers like Kristen (Wiig) and Melissa (McCarthy) are getting their due. You know that's what makes the Globes so great is that they have that comedy (category). I think the Oscars should too because it's just as difficult to do comedy as it is to do hard drama."-- Judd Apatow, producer, "Bridesmaids" Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

Netflix Prepping Eli Roth-Directed Horror Series

Brad Garrett, the Emmy-winning actor best known for his work on Everybody Loves Raymond, is in negotiations to join the high-powered cast of Burt Wonderstone, New Line's magician comedy.our editor recommendsOlivia Wilde, Steve Buscemi in Talks for Steve Carell's 'Burt Wonderstone' (Exclusive)Showtime Orders Steve Carell-Produced 'Laughing Stock' Steve Carell toplines the movie, set in the world of rival Las Vegas magicians. Carell plays a more traditional magic man who is dethroned by a hipper illusionist doing dangerous tricks. He breaks up with his partner and must find a way to rediscover his love for magic. Jim Carrey, James Gandolfini, Olivia Wilde and Steve Buscemi already are on board. Garrett will play a supporting role as Carrell's accountant, whom he fires. The movie is scheduled to go before cameras in January. Don Scardino (30 Rock) is directing. Garrett won three Emmys for Raymond (he was nominated five times), the long-running and critically acclaimed sitcom. He also starred for four seasons in the comedy 'Til Death. He is repped by UTA, Management 360 and attorney Michael Gendler. Email: Borys.Kit@thr.com Twitter: @Borys_Kit PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Modern Film & Television Comedians Related Topics

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Experts and auds alike have experienced it again and again: achingly serious foreign-language film Oscar distribution that appear to possess been selected for that nobility of the intentions instead of their entertainment value."Something that tugs in the heartstrings and sets it against a great historic backdrop tends with an advantage, whether it's really good," states Box Office Magazine and KPCC "FilmWeek" film critic Wade Major. "Should you speak with people around the foreign-language selection committee, a few of the more youthful people, they are very frequently fatigued by all of the well-meaning, serious movies about The Second World War, the Holocaust and oppression in another country -- be it China or Iran -- or families losing farms."But 2011 has introduced a crop of foreign-language films by which po-faced pedantry has had a back chair to dynamic storytelling, from Belgium's "Bullhead," which utilizes a mob movie framework look around the adult aftermath of childhood sexual assault, to Mexico's "Miss Bala," which assumes the-button subject of narco-trafficking using a suspense thriller in regards to a beauty pageant contestant (Stephanie Sigman) kidnapped and pushed to dedicate yourself a criminal offense cartel."We thought when we made it happen well, the social commentary will come from beneath and that we wouldn't need to have lengthy, didactic dialogues," states "Miss Bala" author-director Gerardo Naranjo. "Actually, within the movie, the (lead) actress rarely talks nor does the theif. I believe that certain from the common mistakes of Mexican film is the fact that we overdo our jobs and then try to explain everything and draw conclusions."Italy's "Terraferma" begins off like a coming-of-age tale in regards to a 19-year-old Sicilian (Filippo Pucillo) caught between your old (his grandfather's dying fishing business) and also the new (his uncle's tourism trade). Then their fishing-boat happens upon a declining raft of African refugees, and also the film veers extremely from social drama to suspense."I did not wish to send any message, I had been just attempting to portray the problem, that we thought was interesting enough to become told in (motion picture) language," states the film's author-director Emanuele Crialese. "For me personally, immigration is a vital subject from the century" and, despite the fact that he desired to he wanted look around the problem from the human as opposed to a political perspective, he enables that "once we cope with a persons subject, we we are dealing also with politics in some way."For foreign films that serve their social issues upright, Philippe Falardeau, author-director from the French-language Canadian Oscar entry "Monsieur Lazhar," thinks many people might prefer them simply because they get enough standard-problem action, romance and psycho-drama from movies within their native tongue."Like a spectator, you want to know what is happening in individuals (other) nations," he states. "It's our window for their world."In a long time since "Schindler's List," auds happen to be give an abundance of motion picture portrayals from the Holocaust. But director Agnieszka Holland's fact-based drama "In Darkness" supplies a fresh perspective around the tragedy, while still controlling to become moving and suspenseful.The film explores the moral frailties of both film's protagonist, anti-Semitic Polish-Catholic crook Leopold Socha (Robert Wieckiewicz), and also the Jewish refugees he helps hide within the sewers beneath the Nazi-occupied capital of scotland - Lvov. Additionally, it shows how existence continues both below and above ground -- and not simply through women knitting and kids fighting over crayons. People fornicate, masturbate and skyrocket. A guy commits infidelity while his wife and daughter watch in the next mattress.While these moments will titillate some, Holland incorporated these to illustrate an easy human truth."Throughout the Holocaust, even just in the ghettos, the sexual existence was very wealthy," she states. "I believe that individuals needed this closeness, this sensual dimension."EYE Around The Academy awards: Language Fests get kicks from kudos Designed for greater success Pix playing for national pride Message sent via special delivery Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

CBS Face The Nation Growing To Have An Hour In Spring For 25-Week Election Cycle

CBS’ extended-running Face The Nation will expand to have an hour in the year, moderator Bob Schieffer brought to audiences on Sunday. The move will set the half-hour weekly staple by having an equal time footing having its rivals.I'm not able to consider when Ive been more comfortable to destroy an account than I am tell you this, Schieffer told audiences. The show continues to be available since 1954, and news division professionals have preferred to increase it program to hour for quite a while. The 60-minute format will remain in position for 25 days using the political conventions next summer season. Professionals then will decide on if you should increase the risk for change permanent.Fulfill the Press on NBC, Now on ABC and Fox News Sunday on Fox are each an hour or so approximately.

Tribeca's language of moviemaking

The serious business of fund-raising was at the heart of the Tribeca Film Institute's Dec. 7 benefit screening of New Line/Warner Bros.' "New Year's Eve" at the Ziegfeld. Afterwards, at the Hilton Ballroom dinner, TFI's Jane Rosenthal was upbeat about the future. "My New Year's resolution is to find more reasons to laugh," she joked. Rosenthal also talked up the project "near and dear to my heart, Tribeca Teaches, where we go into middle-school populations and teach kids who have English as a second language or are homeless to learn filmmaking, learn how to tell a story." - -- Stephen Schaefer Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Lionsgate launches Stan Lee original

Gough Millar LeeLionsgate has acquired feature rights to have an original superhero property from Stan Lee that Alfred Gough and Miles Millar will write, direct and convey through their Millar/Gough Ink shingle.Particulars in the untitled project are increasingly being saved under systems, but it's known to love a multigenerational superhero movie that spans several decades. Lee and Gil Champion will produce through their Bang! Entertainment banner, having a deal at Disney. The comicbook vet approached Gough and Millar while using superhero concept after becoming interested in "Smallville" and dealing together while using two scribes on "Spider-Guy 2."Furthermore for the "Spider-Guy" follow-up, Millar/Gough Ink's credits are the scripts for Disney's "Shanghai Noon," its follow-up "Shanghai Nights" and DreamWorks' "I am Four.In . For Disney, they are also creating "Zed," which Susannah Grant is scripting using the final occasions of Texas secondary school theater teacher Lynn Shaw. The duo can also be during the time of creating the Sylvester Stallone actioner "Bullet for the Mind," using the French graphic novel "Du Plomb Dans La Tete," that Warner Bros. will release next season. For TV, Gough and Millar were showrunners relating to this season's "Charlie's Angels," for ABC, and oversaw the CW's "Smallville," which recently ended its 10-year run.Lee, who created Marvel's Spider-Guy, Iron Guy, Thor, the X-Males as well as the Incredible Hulk figures, recently also locked lower Serta Gilroy ("Real Steel") to evolve his comicbook "The Annihilator" in to a bigscreen actioner specific at Asian areas. Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

Vans Shoes Designer James Van Doren Dies; Footwear Became National Fad After 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High'

There's a damning set of statistics presented at the beginning of Under Fire: Journalists in Combat that give it a haunting immediacy. It seems that a mere two journalists were killed in World War I, and 63 journalists lost their lives in World War II. Contrast that with 1397 members of the news media killed in the ten years between 1996 and 2006.our editor recommendsTripoli, Libya Hotel Holds Trapped Journalists (Video)London Riots: Journalists Under Attack Share Stories From the Front LinesChina Roughs up Journalists over 'Strolling' Protests That precipitous rate of mortality, as well as an alarming rise in kidnappings and torture, has led journalists to be at increased risk for such conditions as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety disorder and substance abuse. Martin Burke's documentary, currently on the shortlist for an Oscar nomination, provides interviews with a series of prominent war correspondents and photographers who provide vivid testimony as to both the hazards and the allures of the profession. Although the film's series of talking heads interviews--accompanied by flashy visuals and interspersed with often graphic and disturbing combat footage-hardly breaks any new aesthetic ground, the technique is generally effective. That's because the subjects, each of whom is accompanied by a list of their scarily extensive combat credits-- are an almost uniformly articulate, insightful group who frequently prove themselves capable of analyzing their own complex motivations. Thus you have Chris Hedges, a Pulitzer Prize-winning NY Times correspondent and author of War is the Force That Gives Us Meaning, describing himself as being a "war junkie"-"In the same way a drug physically breaks down an addict, I was being broken down by war," he explains. Finbarr O'Reilly, a Reuter's photojournalist who is seen being given onscreen therapy by the film's co-producer, psychiatrist Dr. Anthony Feinstein, admits that he had a compulsion to get into the war: "You sort of resign yourself to the fact that you're probably going to get hurt and just hope that it isn't too badly when it happens." The film, which borrows part if its title from Roger Spottiswoode's superb 1983 film drama about war journalists in Nicaragua, also explores the sort of moral issues haunting war journalists. Paul Watson of The Los Angeles Times describes his lingering guilt over having photographed the corpse of a U.S. soldier being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu, while BBC correspondent Jeremy Bowen is haunted by his decision to stop at a certain location, only to then watch a colleague get killed just a short distance away (we see the live footage). There will hopefully come a time when this documentary will come to seem a piece of vintage history. But right now that time seems a long ways away. Bottom Line: Harrowing documentary details the traumas of combat journalism. Mercury Media International. Production: JUF Pictures. Director/screenwriter: Martyn Burke. Producers: Martyn Burke, Anthony Feinstein. Executive producer: Laura Morton. Director of photography: Donald Purser. Editor: Christopher McEnroe. Music: Mark Korven. No rating, 90 min.