What does it mean to be an adult?
It is an age-old question that nobody has the real answer to, no matter how many books are written and speeches given. Though FX‘s latest comedy, the aptly titled Adults, does as good a job as any of showcasing those years where you’re just trying to figure it out.
The comedy follows five roommates who share more than just their living space as they navigate the early stages of adulthood and all that entails, from job security (or lack thereof) to failed romances and the art of throwing one’s first dinner party (which proves harder than it seems).
The house where everyone lays their head each night is the childhood home of Samir, played by the affable and engaging Malik Elassal, a prominent stand-up comedian who has performed all over the country.
Elassal brings warmth and relatability to Samir, who’s ambling through life and trying to answer that age-old question in his own way.
Chatting with Elassal gives us a peek into the Adults world and a glimpse into the actor himself, who is incredibly thoughtful and candid throughout the lovely conversation we had with him on the heels of the comedy’s release.
Dig into this fun and lighthearted conversation with a rising Hollywood star.
How are you feeling about the fact that Adults is finally going to be consumed by audiences?
I’m very excited about it being consumed. It’s funny to hear it put like that. I hope people devour it.
That’s just the way I describe TV because I feel like, especially when you can binge something, I’m like, “That sounds like food.” So, you’re consuming, or like you said, devouring the whole thing in one sitting.
It feels like there’s very unhealthy terminology surrounding television right now, like bingeing. I’m going to freebase this new show, or we’re freebasing the whole season in one night.
I haven’t actually heard that.
Well, that’s the one. I’m trying to get people to watch the show, so I’m coming up with new terms for bingeing TV.
Got it. I like that.
We’re getting together, and we’re drinking an eight-pack of adults.
When you were going out for the role, what was it about Samir that you connected with? What was it about the role that you went, “I want this role. I can play Samir”?
His anxiety and the things that he would worry about were really similar. The thoughts in his head — it felt like I knew what that would feel like. The first scene I read from the script was the one where he goes to the bank, and he can’t do it; he just keeps talking and doesn’t know what he’s saying. He just keeps speaking.
So, he basically keeps talking until she cuts him off. He’s praying that she’ll cut him off. I’ve done that before. I’m like, “I’m just going to keep saying things until they realize I’m stupid, and they don’t let me talk anymore.”
I liked that that was kind of your introduction to him and who he is at his core. We all know that person who just keeps talking.
Yeah. His energy in the whole first episode is just, “Please, please,” that’s the feeling.
Yes, exactly. And you said that was something that’s similar to you, but what’s something about Samir that you feel is very opposite of you?
Well, I would say that was maybe me when I was 23 or something like that. I think now I am a lot better at – even if I don’t know something – I will get in there and be like, “Hey, I don’t know this. I need your help.” I’m much better at asserting myself now.
I have my stuff together more than Samir does, but I love the spot that he’s at right now. I’m 29, and I look back at that time when I was always with my friends, and nothing mattered, yet everything seemed to matter so much for some reason. I’m looking back on that, even though my life is great, I’m really happy with everything. But I’m thinking, “Oh, that was the best time of my life.”
It’s very interesting to look back on things as you get older. And that’s at the heart of the show, too, right? It’s that time in your life when you’re just figuring it out, which I enjoyed.
Yeah. Thank you.
It’s very relatable. It’s obviously hilarious, but it’s also so relatable. You’re just trying to get from one day to the next, sometimes at that age.
Yeah, literally. You don’t have a grand plan. Fixing the boiler is everything, that’s all. Once you do that, everything else falls into place.
Exactly, exactly. And in this series, since it’s Samir’s parents’ house, I feel like it makes him the de facto leader of the squad; at least, that’s how I felt watching it. But how do you think he views himself and his role within the friend group?
Hm, that’s a good question. How does he view himself within the friend group? I think Samir wants to be the man of the house more than he may be is. He wants that title really badly, and he wants to be the guy that people look to, and he’s reluctantly stepping into that role and stepping out of that role all season.
That’s a really good way of describing him. Like the whole plot with the gun, for instance, and then he and Paul Baker have to team up to dispose of it. He wants to, but he’s still trying.
Yeah, he wants to. He’s like the stepdad. He’s the guy who stepped up.
There you go. There you go.
He keeps trying to breathe.
Yeah, he does.
I really liked Samir’s style in the series. He had a really neat style. Did you have any input on the clothes he wears, his accessories, and other details like that?
There was one thing. There’s a hat that I would wear a lot. After I got the part, we were doing table readings and all this stuff. And there’s this hat that I got at the first Knicks game that I ever went to that says Madison Square Garden on it.
It’s just a black dad hat that says ‘Madison Square Garden,’ and they really liked it. So, they basically put it in the show, but they’ve made a new one. It says Grand Central Station, and that’s what I’m wearing in the pilot. It’s based on a hat I actually wore in real life.
There were many times when I would wear my own socks because I’m very particular about socks.
Are you?
Yeah. If I have the wrong sock on, my day is toast; it’s over.
Do you have a lot of socks, then?
You know what? It’s not so much that I have a lot of socks; it’s just that now I don’t have any socks that I dislike. Do you know how you have socks that you don’t like that are dying, but you don’t kill them? You just keep them alive in your house for some reason?
It is hard to throw out socks for some reason.
Yeah. Even the most uncomfortable pair that you never wear. I don’t have pairs like that anymore, which I’m actually proud of myself about. That’s maybe the most adult thing about me is I don’t have my old underwear.
That’s funny because one of my other questions for you is related to the theme of adulthood and adulting. What’s one thing about adulthood that you feel like you’re still learning, or do you feel like you have it all down now?
No, I definitely don’t have it all down. One thing that’s been so different since leaving the house, and I’ve lived at home a lot, even in my adult life. I’d move somewhere, but then I’d always end up moving back home with my parents for a while.
Once you’re living at your mom’s house, it really feels like magic. Your stuff shows up clean, and the dishes are done. It just happens, and I get real used to that, and then I’m back in my house. And I’m literally shocked that there’s a dish in the sink, and I’m like, “Who would do this to me?” and it’s always me.
That’s a good one, actually.
Yeah, your mom just magicians the house every day. It’s so easy for her to tidy up. That’s another thing. It was so easy for my mom to tidy up really quickly, and for me, it’s a day. Do you know what I mean?
Yeah!
You are an accomplished stand-up comedian and also an actor. Is there a different kind of vulnerability required for stand-up versus acting?
I mean, sure, they’re different, but both of them are just about being brave in a certain way and brave in different ways. But at the end of the day, it’s just about making choices. Deciding to show a part of yourself if that’s the kind of stand-up you are.
My type of stand-up writing involves talking about myself a lot. Or not talk about myself, but use myself and my own experiences. How boring would a stand-up be if I’m just like, “And then I did this, and then I did this?”
Honestly, I feel like it’s very similar in a way because the type of stand-up I’m trying to do is I’m really trying not to do much. I’m trying to have it feel like I’m just standing there talking to people. And Samir had a lot of stuff that felt like that. It didn’t feel super separate to me.
So, this is TV Fanatic, and obviously, we’re big into TV here. I like to ask people I haven’t had a chance to speak to before what show they’re currently watching, and then what’s a comfort show for you? Maybe something you put on when you’re having a bad day or just chilling at night.
I’ve been watching The Rehearsal.
Are you enjoying it?
Yeah, I am enjoying it. Nathan Fielder is a genius, obviously, but my comfort show is always The Sopranos. I’m always sort of in a constant state of re-watching The Sopranos. I just watched the episode where Tony and Paulie have to go on the lam, and this is the most perfect show.
Every time I watch it, I realize. As I get older, I’m realizing more and more things I didn’t understand about these episodes. It’s just incredible.
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Adults is streaming now on Hulu and airing two episodes every Wednesday at 9/8c on FX.
Watch Adults Online
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