Actor Jamison Stern In this episode of The Randy Report podcast, I’m chatting with the fabulous TV and stage actor Jamison Stern. As a cast member of the Amazon Video series After Forever, he was a part of the team that was honored with 8 Daytime Emmy nominations in 2019 and took home five – including Best Digital Series, Best Writing Team for Digital Series, Best Actor in a digital series and more. Last week, the 2020 Daytime Emmy nominations were announced and it was more good news for the After Forever crew – six nominations this year including – again – Best Digital Series and Best Writing Team for a Digital Series. So, it’s terrific timing to sit down and chat with Jamison about the journey and success of the show.
One of the busiest actors in New York City, Jamison has appeared on Broadway, off-Broadway, and in just about every leading regional theater across the country. He recently won rave reviews for his tour de force turn in Fully Committed at TheaterWorks in Hartford playing 33 characters – onstage alone. One critic wrote, “The production showcases an awesome star in Jamison Stern, who lights up the stage and fills the play with dozens of characters, even though he is completely—and gloriously—on his own.” He also brings that creative output to his Instagram account. During the run of a show, he’ll become obsessed with new ways to include his followers in his theatrical journey. Jamison is one of the actors who bring theatre to life for so many across the country starring in top-notch productions in cities like Hartford CT, Atlanta GA, Houston TX, and Seattle WA. Hit play and you’ll see why this is one of my favorite interviews to date on The Randy Report. You can follow Jamison on Instagram at www.instagram.com/jamisonstern/ and check out After Forever on Amazon here.
AFTER FOREVER is the story of Brian, played by Kevin Spirtas (Days of Our Lives) and Jason, played by Mitchell Anderson (Doogie Howser, Party of 5), a “50-ish” New York City gay couple, who have it all – until they don’t.
The 8-episode first season follows them and their friends through a journey of love, loss and moving on.
The series also features Tony Award winner Cady Huffman (Will Rogers Follies, The Producers), Tony Award nominee Anita Gillette (Chapter Two), and tons of TV & Broadway veterans like Jamison Stern, Jim Newman, Colleen Zenk and Michael Urie (Ugly Betty).
Jamison Stern & David Dean Bottrell
Speaking to The Advocate last year, Slade shared that the depiction of 35+ year-old gay men in series television has been missing in his estimation.
“We as gay men, after we’re no longer 35, we tend to disappear from popular culture until we’re Christopher Plummer — asexual down the hall with a cat,” Slade told The Advocate.
And co-creator Spirtas underscored the universality of the series’ love story.
“I think you can look at this story about love between two people and realize it’s two people anywhere,” said Spirtas. “It’s two men, it’s two women, it’s a male and a female, it’s older, it’s younger, it’s same age.”
The series’ 2019 Daytime Emmy nominations include:
• Nomination for Outstanding Digital Drama Series
• Nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Digital Drama Series: Michael Slade and Kevin Spirtas
• Two nominations for Outstanding Actor in a Digital Drama Series: Kevin Spirtas, Mitchell Anderson
• Two nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Digital Drama Series: Erin Cherry, Cady Huffman
• Nomination for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Digital Drama Series: Anita Gillette
• Nomination for Outstanding Director of a Digital Drama Series: Jennifer Pepperman
AFTER FOREVER was also honored with a writing nomination for Michael Slade & Kevin Spirtas last month at the 2019 Writers Guild Awards in the Original Short Form New Media category.
You can watch the first episode of the series here for free and check out my interview with co-creator and lead actor Kevin Spirtas below.
In related Daytime Emmy Awards news, veteran daytime drama actor Greg Rikaart picked up a 2019 Best Supporting Actor nomination as well for his work as “Leo Stark” on Days of Our Lives.
Already a Daytime Emmy Award winner for his longtime role as “Kevin Fisher” on The Young and the Restless, should the 42-year-old actor win, he would become the first to win Best Supporting Actor for a gay role, and the first openly gay actor to win for a gay role in any category.
The 46th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be held May 5 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
