Pop-Culturalist.com

Joey Beni, a storyteller whose enthusiasm and talent have carved a unique path in the entertainment industry, is making waves with his breakout role in the hit series Sugar Highs.

This hilarious dramedy follows a group of twenty-somethings who prefer partying over working regular jobs. To make ends meet, they seek out sugar daddies. But as they dive into this lifestyle, they face all sorts of problems, making the stakes even higher in the show’s second season airing now on OUTtv.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Joey about Sugar Highs Season 2, bringing his background in comedy and improv to the role, and more.

PC: You went into Sugar Highs thinking that it would be a mini-series. What was your reaction when you learned that it had been picked up for a second season? Was there an aspect of Tab that you wanted to delve deeper into?
Joey: As an actor, you’re always happy to get more work. Hearing about Season 2 was great. It means that OUTtv liked what they saw because Season 1 came out while we were filming Season 2, so we didn’t even have a fanbase yet. It was cool to be filming Season 2 while the episodes from Season 1 were rolling out. I was excited that we could delve deeper into these characters because we had so much fun filming the first season. It was like, “Yay, we get to have more fun.”

With Tab in Season 1, he’s got his shirt off. He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. I don’t like to say he’s dumb; he just doesn’t know stuff. Like, I’m not dumb, and if you put me with an astrophysicist, I wouldn’t know what they were talking about.

But Season 2 was great because when I read the scripts, Tab goes through it. He deals with a lot more emotional things, and I was like, “That’ll be fun to do.”

PC: In preparation to play this character, you stepped into his shoes by filling out online questionnaires as him as well as creating your own playlists. Is that how you typically prepare for a role? What led to the creative decision to dye your hair blonde?
Joey: Dyeing my hair blonde was Thom [Fitzgerald]’s idea, our writer-director and creator of the show. It was a way to differentiate us. I’m sure when you watch TV, if all the characters have similar hair color and looks, you’re like, “Who’s who?” So it was easier to make Tab the blonde one. That was their idea. I loved it because when I was in high school, I used to do that all the time, so I was like, “I’ll do that!”

As far as getting into character, it really depends on the role. When you’re playing a character that is very fleshed out and it’s not a small scene where you’re a cashier at a store, it’s more fun because you have more information. You can flesh them out more. You already know how they’re written, but then you can also add layers of yourself and find how it’s really going to connect with you.

Music is really big for me. What does my character read? What do they like to do for fun? When you start thinking from that perspective, then everything else makes sense. What was their first concert? Where did they grow up? It’s fun because it’s like putting a puzzle together. It’s a fun exercise.

PC: In addition to acting, you’ve also written and produced. How have your experiences behind the camera impacted the way that you approach your work on screen, and vice versa?
Joey: First and foremost, I’ve always been an actor. When I wrote, produced, and starred in Killer Date, that came about from Brandon [Shypkowski], my costar. We have the same coach. We were both frustrated about doing good work but not being able to get meetings. No one would take our calls. Our coach was like, “You guys should come together and create your own opportunities, write something.” So we both decided that we were going to make something that we’d both be excited about. As actors, you always know when you get an audition or you book a project, you’re like, “What does my character want? What are they after?” Brandon had written something before, so he helped guide me through. But you’re not a writer until you write something, so I guess now I’m a writer. We wrote it in a way that was very clear about what our characters wanted and the arc of the story. Also, you’re creating your own characters for yourself, so you can write with fun ideas. As long as you’re excited about it, the creative juices will flow.

When producers have to ask for money, that’s not for me. I hate asking people for money, but you understand that time is of the essence. You learn how to write something where it has minimal locations so you can make the most out of every dollar. It definitely helped me understand that for sure.

PC: We’re living in such an exciting time where there are so many different avenues for storytellers to create their own art. Like you were saying earlier, Tab adds such a happy-go-lucky spirit to this series. It creates a lot of those comedic moments. How much of what we see is scripted versus improvised? How have your experiences at the Groundlings as well as Upright Citizens Brigade prepared you for this moment?
Joey: Tab is definitely written to have funny lines. Thom is really great about letting us improv and add some color. He lets us find the activity that we want to be doing in the scene. Usually, we go in and do a blocking rehearsal where it’s like, “You’ll enter from here.” Then he’ll ask, “What do you guys want to be doing?” He gives us that freedom. That’s always fun.

I always try to find quirky things that Tab would be up to. Groundlings and UCB really teach you how to be in the moment and open to whatever your partner throws at you. There’s a thing called “Yes, And…” So you agree with whatever is said and you add to it. Improv and having an aloof character makes it fun for me because it’s not always so serious, and that training helps.

PC: It brings a lot of levity to the series. As you were saying, the chemistry between the three roommates feels so authentic and grounded. How did you, Sam, and Adam build that bond?
Joey: We always shot on location. When you’re on location, sometimes you have a holding area. It’s where all the guys would hang out. So if Adam [Fox] is doing a scene for an hour, Sam [Davison] and I would be in the area, then maybe they switch setups and it’ll be all three of us. We were always together and chatting. We’d talk about YouTube videos, and I was always asking them questions about Canada. [laughs] We just got to know each other. Then on our off days, we’d go watch a movie or go out for food.

After filming Season 1 and seeing the show come out, that’s an experience that we’ll always share. We will always have Season 1 and 2 of Sugar Highs, which will lock us together forever because it’s a shared experience. We’re three really different dudes, but we got along. Like any friends would do, we tease each other. It’s always about laughing, but we can also have good talks. That’s helped build our chemistry because we hang out so much outside when we’re not filming.

PC: This is also the longest that you’ve lived with a character. What’s been the most surprising part about the experience thus far? What’s been the biggest takeaway?
Joey: Once the show came out, I got a lot of messages. People talking to me as if Tab is a real person and a lot of unsolicited photos, which is flattering. It’s nice to separate Tab, but it’s also nice to walk through life and know that he’s with me. I’m him. He’s me. There are layers of my experience through life, and that’s how you humanize him. I’m really lucky to be able to play a character that’s so fun because I love to laugh. To have a character like that, that you can have fun with, is great. It’s been such a gift.

To keep up with Joey, follow him on X and Instagram. Watch Season 2 of Sugar Highs on OUTtv today.