~Josh's responses are in blue
~My questions are in purple
~Marc, the chat host, is in green
TeenHollywood_Marc: Okay everyone, please welcome JOSH SERVER!
beach_goddess82: Hey! What's up? I think you are a totally awesome actor and I was wondering, do you want to keep acting forever, or do you wanna be a producer, director or something out of the entertainment business??
Well thank you!
I definitely always want to be in front of the camera.
That's my first love, my first passion.
It's to be an an actor and to act.
As long as I can have that in my life, I will always always want that.
I definitely have other aspirations. More on the directing side, but a little on the writing and producing side.
But mostly I want to focus on the acting.
I figure if I stick with the acting long enough... I really want to get to the point where I've done all that I can do as an actor before I start venturing out into other arenas.
I think the best way to learn how to direct and produce is to be on the set.
I think I want to be on as many sets as possible before I start learning other crafts.
beach_goddess82: Hey! Describe your personality.
That's a broad question!
I guess my personality is broad.. I like all kinds of different things.
I don't like to narrow myself with any one personality trait.
I definitely enjoy comedy, I like to make people laugh
If I'm in a bad mood, I use comedy to let me get back into the swing of things
I'm pretty optimistic, I'm a hard worker..
I love people, so I'm usually around people. I try to be in a lot of social situations.
I use my gift of gab, I guess.
wannabeactor_1999: When did you get your first break?
I've been acting since I was nine, so that's about 10 years now.
I worked a lot when I was a younger kid. "All That" was my big break where I actually was on television all the time.
After I left California, I moved back to Chicago and they did a nation-wide talent search.
They went to LA, NY, Chicago, Atlanta, Florida and they took a few kids from each place and brought them down to Orlando, so I was 13 turning 14 when that happened.
powerpuffchick23: Who was your role model/inspiration to start acting?
I have a few actually.
In a comedy sense, I definitely am a big fan of Jim Carrey.
I like Robin Williams, Andy Kaufman, Eddie Murphy.
There are so many great comedians out there.
It's great as a comedian to watch other people and see what they do and what they bring to the table.
Dramatically, from an acting standpoint, I always will be a hard core Robert DeNiro, Kevin Spacey, Al Pacino fan
All the big guns as far as dramatic acting.
Even Robin Williams does a bit of dramatic stuff.
I would love to do both -- comedy and drama.
I'd like to do more drama
Ivorygirl10: Do you think of lines for your characters like Detective Dan and Earboy?
Well, most of the show is scripted, but I think in my opinion, we have as much creative control as any kids on television.
Sometimes we write a character like "Josh in a dress" and we have to come up with things that make it funny.
Do I write the actual lines in the scripts? No, but in run-throughs that we do for the producers, we rehearse Mondays to Wednesdays and if we ad lib or do something funny, then we can usually get it put in the script if the producers like it
In a way, I write some of my own stuff and my input gets considered for the week's show
soulja_gurl: Did you go to college, or are you currently in school?
I got into all the colleges I wanted to go to -- UCLA, USC and a few others..
I haven't gone yet and right now I'm still planning on going.
But with my schedule, I've been focusing on the acting and it's been pretty good to me.
College for me is a fallback, but I definitely encourage everybody to go to college.
But with my schedule, it's hard to manage work and school.
I mean, we don't lay brick all day or something, but we do work very long hours.
It's hard to do school and that. If I do school, I want to put all my time into it and excel at it.
If there is ever a time where I'm not acting, I'll probably go to college
iluvlatt8: Okay then, I'm 16, and I'm pretty heavy. But lots of people put me down saying I can't be an actor because of that. What has people told you that put you down? And how did you deal with it?
That's a very hard question but a really good one
First off, don't take that from anybody.
Be who you are and be proud of who you are. Don't let anyone put you down for any reason whatsoever.
What do people put me down for?
I'm Jewish, and there's always ... not that it's widespread, but there's always people out there in certain places that are ignorant about certain things and they like to crack jokes or make fun of people because they're not the same as them..
Usually when people don't understand something, they are afraid of it.
I'm not a tall guy.. my friends make fun of me because I'm short
But I don't like to conform to anybody else's opinions
I have big eyebrows..
they look like they're airbrushed on
I look like Groucho Marx
"Hey look its the kid with the huge eyebrows"! :)
What a good question!
iluvlatt8: If you was a food, what would it be and why?
Well.. I apologize to all the vegetarians out there, but I would have to be a big old juicy steak
I think if you're going to be a food, you've got to be tasty and filling and people have to enjoy it
And there's nothing like a big old stead when you're tired and hungry
It fills you up pretty good
I guess that's a really hard question
I like being on this side of the food chain though! -- the top of the food chain!
**Somehow the question wasn't listed, but I'm sure the question was.. How has acting changed your life? **
It has changed my life dramatically
In fact, it is my life
I've been doing it so long, it's where I grew up
Most of my world is acting..
That's what I know.
It's changed my life. When you're an actor or an artist, you try to live that. It's not only what you do, but it's also who you are.
I don't think I would change anything.
There's always little regrets that you have in life, but mostly I believe in the "everything happens for a reason" and I don't think I'd go back and change anything because then it would change the path that I'm on now
I'm sure there are little things that I could change, but I can't think of any right now
incredible_hulk85: What's the funniest thing that has ever happened on stage Josh?
The funniest thing on stage....
Something happened a couple of seasons back that was really really funny
I was doing a scene called the "Over Zealous Waiter"
In the scene, it's a waiter that's very excited and it's his first day on the job and he's really freaked out
He's constantly putting himself down and apologizing and freaking out
There's a point in the scene where I'm supposed to take two breakaway plates.
Usually, when we break them over our heads they give us special plates that make it not hurt when they break
Someone messed up and they sent us regular plates instead of breakaway plates
They were really really think ceramic plates
Because we only bought a few because they're expensive, we didn't actually rehearse breaking them..
In the middle of the scene, I broke it and it split down the middle. Normally they're supposed to shatter and its' not supposed to hurt
and I realized that I had hit myself over the head with a real plate
all of a sudden I just go "OWWW... OWWWW..."
and I'm looking at my stage manager, Virgil and he was like "keep going"
But I realized what had happened and went "OWW.. OWWW.. HOLD!" and "HOLD" means hold the cameras. (wait)
It was alright but I had a big welt there for quite a long time
Just the problems with the job..
It was fun though
vanessa_taylor17: What do you do for fun?
That one hurt, let me tell you
It split in two.. like cracked right down the middle
I guess it just depends
I love to go to movies..
When I'm just kicking back I love to veg out and watch TV. I'm a big homebody..
I love hanging out with my friends. When it's nice out in California I like to go the beach
I like to play basketball. I like to do anything when I can be outside and enjoy the weather
I like to ski, I like to go home and visit my family and see my mom and my sister and my dad..
I like to go see plays, I like to be in plays, I'm pretty easy -- I like to do it all
I can usually find fun in anything
LuvinJosh: All of us Josh fans want to know why you eat an apple during the closing of every "All That" show?
That's a good question!
It's a weird continuity thing.
The head writer of our show, first season, came up to me and said he wanted me to have an apple in the show close
He was like "wouldn't it be funny, wouldn't it be weird if you always had an apple in the show close?"
It just turned into this thing.
I remember there was one time I didn't bring my apple out and everyone freaked out
It turned into this thing. It was almost this running joke with the cast..
I don't even eat it now, sometimes I just give it, half eaten, to some kid in the audience
sour_candy_14: Do you have a special somebody in your life?
I did for awhile, I was with my girlfriend for a year and a half.
As stuff often does, sometimes things don't work out and we've gone our separate ways.
Right now I don't have a girlfriend and it's been that way for a little while.
I'm obviously always looking for that special person but right now I'm single
iluvlatt8: Are there anything that you still do when you were a little kid? Like I use 2 straws to drink and I'm 16.
Hmm..
Can we come back to this? I'll think about that and I'll answer it in a sec..
joceyd_02: How many hours do you work a day?
It just depends
Rehearsal days can be long, but they're usually anywhere from 10 - 6 or 9 - 7.
On the shoot days, they can get long. They can be 12 or 13 hour days
It just depends what we have to get done
There are lot of changes and make up and wardrobe.
It does actually take time to get a show produced for the week.. we work long hours sometimes. But it's fun so I can't complain
sunshines_mama_2001: What actor/actress do you want to work with in the future?
Huh, I guess it just depends. I would love to be in a Jim Carrey movie.
Dramatically, I would love to be on the side of Robert DeNiro. Kind of like the other question where I talked about my favorite actors
There are so many great actors out there
If I got to act with any of the great actors (or actresses) out there, it would be a pleasure
I love to watch people work and see how different people prepare their scenes. I think it would be cool to watch the people that I've grown up watching and to act with them
jeane_00: Josh, a year ago my house burnt down totally. I lost my cat, and everything. I went into a deep depression. I never did anything. But one day my little brother was cracking up and I could not understand why. I walked in and my brother was watching All That. I had seen the show a couple of times before. But this was the first time I smiled after the fire. I just want you to know that you and the other members of All That that you caused me to be happy and smile again!
Oh wow, thank you!
First of all, I hope that everything is well and I'm sorry to hear about your loss.
I really hope everything is alright.
I love to hear that.. any time that we can bring any kind of joy into someone else's life, that rocks!
If we made you smile after all that had happened, that means a lot to me.
You can rest assured that whenever you're feeling down, I would love to be able to be the one who makes you smile.
jm_02307: Do you do any ritual before the show?
We do get together and we pray.. It's not a typical prayer circle.
Everyone kind of believes what they believe in..
But we put our arms around each other and thank whoever we're thanking that we can do the show and hopefully bring joy to people's lives
Most of the kids are really appreciative of the fact that they get to do what they love
Other than just trying to relax and get ready, we just do that before every show
tocute88: Why does everyone call you by your last name "Server"?
I don't know who calls me Server.. I guess everybody calls me something different.
I guess there are a few people who call me Server. But I have no idea.
I guess it's just a friendly way for your friends to mess with you or whatever.
I do that to my friends, I call some of my friends by their last names. And then some of them call me Josh sometimes, it's not really set thing
OceanRok: Josh, would you get a tattoo?
How do you know that I don't already have some?
Maybe I guess you'll have to find out
c_larzluv2shop: Who was your fave musical guest on the show?
Oh, we've had so many cool musical guests!
It's hard to pick
I like Tribe Called Quest, I liked when LL Cool J came
I love Hip Hop and R&B
We've had pretty much everybody that I can think of that's really good, and the few that we haven't had I wish that they would come
I've had so many cool experiences of meeting people that you hear on the radio
Obviously, we did the tour with 98 Degrees and I like Monica a lot
everyone was cool
the show rocks because we get to do the acting and comedy but we also get to have fun musically and we get to go dance with the musical guest at the end
a lot of the time they bring live bands.. all the kids have a good time. It's good to dance and play.
I love music. It's an added bonus of working on a show like this!
spunky_monkey1485: Do the actors ever have a hard time getting out of character, like do you ever see Lester Oaks construction worker hanging out with Ed from Good Burger?
Yeah, sometimes.
There's definitely times where we're doing the characters outside of actually taping the show.
A lot of times we'll be in make up and getting ready and it kind of helps to get into it
When I do Burnie, you start to feel like an angry Jewish man..
One time we were at lunch and we were all in costume
We shoot on Sunset in Hollywood and we walked.. Me, Danny, and a bunch of other people
and we walked in full costume to McDonald's for lunch
Kenan's character had her booty swaying down Sunset Ave
Sometimes we like to play and get the attention with the characters. It's funny, it's fun to do, it's really interesting!
LuvinJosh: Are you touring this summer with the All That Music & More Festival? I missed you last year, so I'm eager to seeing you this year. I hope you'll be there!
I'm not doing as many shows as I was last time because it was a awful lot, I was gone all summer. But I'm going to do probably 2 to 3 weeks on there.
I don't know when or what cities, but Nick and Kenan will be doing most of the tour. I'm definitely going to do as many cities as I can.
I will be coming to a city near you
Come out and have fun with us!
tocute88: Would you ever want to be a game show host?
No, I like game shows.. I like to watch game shows but I've played too many game show hosts on All That!
I've never been a host and I don't really feel comfortable with a host position. I'd much rather be an actor
I think that being the host of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" would be fun...
I would do it if it was the right project
No I haven't done that yet.
Last night I actually went and watched a stand-up show. I respect stand-up comedians, it's a very hard thing to do.
What I'd really like to do is a one-man show and bring a bunch of characters from this wacky brain of mine and do a whole night of my own characters
Maybe down the line I'd like to do that, but I haven't really gone in that direction yet
tocute88: What's the wildest and craziest thing you ever done in your life? On or off the set.
Dude, I don't know! The craziest, wildest thing...
Even us Nickelodeon celebrities have stuff that we're not proud of. There's absolutely no way that I can share with you my craziest wildest moments online. Use your imagination!
Nothing too bad, but everybody gets a little crazy!
lovin_life_03: Does it hurt your feelings when people don't like you as an actor?
Yeah, it can hurt your feelings when people don't enjoy your work.
The great thing about working for kids, especially the really young ones, is that they are very honest.
In Hollywood, a lot of people give you the run around. They tell you they love you and then they stab you in the back when you walk away..
It can hurt, but at the same time I always appreciate honesty.
If you don't like something, you should definitely share, as long as you're not trying to deliberately hurt that person.
But I always like it when someone tells me what they think. I can use that to motivate me to get better.
It hurts, but it's also good for you.
star_light_grl_54: What was the worst fashion faux pas you have made?
I think there was a period where I thought I was hardcore.. I'm from the suburbs, so you know.. the baggy jeans and the really hip hop type of attire
It can look good and you can pull it off, but you just gotta be you.. you should always just be who you are
If you try to be someone you aren't, people are going to notice
I still wear stuff that's too big or something, but I definitely try to keep it down and keep it at a level where I'm still trying to be myself and I like to think that I have good fashion sense
kevinjacobsen: Do you have a favorite sketch or series of sketches?
I like the Toby Braun stuff that I do. I think that's a fun character because he's so out there and wacky
I like playing Game Show hosts because I get to explore the zaniest parts of my personality
The weather reports are fun because I've been in the desert, in a hurricane, in the show. That's always funny because you're sitting there at 8 in the morning and you're in a hurricane.
I like playing Detective Dan
Sometimes it's even fun to play Tandy, my girl character.
It's always funny to explore that side of you.
All of a sudden you're a red-headed girl and it's very strange to morph into those different personalities of yourself!
lil_bobo_2000: Are you going to be starring in or doing any movies in the future?
HOPEFULLY!! I'm always trying to find work as an actor, so hopefully I would love to get into feature films.
It's ultimately what I would probably like to do.. to be in the movies.
Right now I don't have anything planned but I'm definitely trying to move into that arena
dark_mind_21: Have you ever went streakin'?
No, I don't think I've ever gone streaking. I've probably mooned a few people in my lifetime but I do enjoy being without clothes because I live alone =)
If the windows are closed and I have nothing to do if I'm an out of work actor, I could walk around like that all day long.
Have you gone streaking??? ;) What's that about!?!
star_light_grl_54: If you were going to leave your mark on the world, what would you mark be?
I want to be remembered... for being a good actor and artist..
Eventually I want to have a family, so I want to be a good husband and a good father to my children.
I want to be remembered as a good person with a good heart.
As far as world marks are concerned, if I could do anything I would.. but I don't really know what that mark will be just yet.
I do believe that I have a destiny that's greater than what I'm doing now.
LuvinJosh: Do you play practical jokes on the other cast members? And if so, what would be your best practical joke?
All the time!
Right now I can't think of any off hand....
My best practical joke.. god, there's been so many!
You know what we have even more of, are inside jokes!
There are so many inside jokes, especially with me and Kenan.. we've been working together for like 7 years.
There are one word or one phrase that I'm on the floor hysterically laughing
They become like your family and it's fun
Practical jokes, there's been lots, but I can't really think of any..
tocute88: Do you have some kind of motivation to keep you motivated?
My family, my friends are all pretty cool.
If I'm not doing anything, they'll get my off my butt.
Most of the time, I'm pretty self-motivated. I have a lot of things that I want to do in my life.
Life is pretty short. Most of the time I'm pretty motivated to do what I need to get what I want.
It's good to have people in your life to help you if you get sad or fall off the track..
Cheese_Head45: What's the scariest thing you have ever seen?
I've seen some scary movies.
I just saw Final Destination
There are some moment in there where I was just like "wow, didn't need to see that"
Hmm..
There's people out there that are scary.. some people that are out here in LA walking around are pretty scary =)
eagleace21: Where are you chatting from now?
I'm at home right now and I'm talking to my friend Marc and he's typing everything that I say and then that goes out to you. Marc is up in Canada and then it goes out to you!!
I'm just sittin' on my couch!
Woohoo! =)
lilb08: Who is your bestest friend?
Well, first and foremost my family are really my best friends. My mom, sister and dad. I have one or two or three really old friends out in Orlando..
A few people I know from back home in Chicago
and then I have a lot of new friends out in LA (Los Angeles) that are always there to hang with.. but I don't have just one best friend
jenn-10_28_1986: What is the best advice you were ever given?
There are a few good pieces of advice that I've been given..
One is ALWAYS remember to find the good in every situation. Every bad thing, every good thing that happens, there's something that you can learn and grow from.
When you're at your lowest and something terrible has happened to you, there's always a lesson that you can come away with and benefit from.
Also..
Smile, life is too short not to have fun
Some of the best advice that my father ever gave me was, when you're looking for someone to spend the rest of your life with, find someone who brings out the best in you
There are people who bring out the worst in you and there are people who bring out the best in you and make you better.
Also, look for people's worst 10% -- I have to explain this one.
If you have a friend and you see them at their worst 10%.. when they are the lowest and they are most hurt, it's what they'll do to other people.. you'll sit there and say "they could never do that to me". But the truth is, the person's worst 10% can be turned around on you.
So if you don't like what you see when they are like that, then you'll know they might not be right for you
Be careful and have fun and love life!
And find something that you're passionate about!
Find as many things as you can be passionate about. Whether its a person, a job, an art form. Because a life without passion is pointless.
TeenHollywood_Marc: Thank you for joining us tonight Josh!
TeenHollywood_Marc: Any last words?
Thank you everyone for taking your time to ask all of these cool questions.
I've had fun and I wish that I could answer everyone's questions.
I hope that I'll get to answer them in the future. Keep watching and I hope that I run into everyone soon!
Bye
TeenHollywood_Marc: Thanks again Josh. Have a great night everyone and thank you for joining us!
