HEY EVERYONE! I'm Richard Jin Namkung, playing P-Hound on the 4th season of Arrested Development! AMA

Have you ever even been on a plane you piece of shit?

Not AS a piece of shit, but just as a regular person. I'm originally from Korea.

Is Michael Cera awkward in real life?

Surprisingly, no. He's a very cerebral person, quick thinker, but very comfortable in his own skin.

When S5/the movie inevitably happens, do you think there would be a spot for a P-Hound return and would you be interested in that? The interplay between you and Jason Bateman was deliciously funny.

I hope so. If they ask me back, I'd jump for the chance. Jason Bateman is a consummate professional and so funny. I really had no idea what I was doing...

What's with was with the blinking? Felt like you were trying to signal us in morse code...

I was saying OMG HELP I HAVE A MAN CRUSH ON JASON BATEMAN. Actually, when I was auditioning, my eyes were really dry and I blinked a lot on camera. Mitch actually wanted me to keep that for my character.

Did he want you to keep that slight character flaw so that your inherent awesomeness wouldn't upstage the Caucasians?

Lol. Trying to keep the Asian man down? Probably not, I just have dry eyes sometimes!

Did you buy a woodblock app? Have your friends treated you any differently after the season was released?

I don't even know if they exist lol. I should get one if they have one...

And no, they haven't. They're total dicks before, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I did get recognized recently, and that is weird, cuz I just feel like, hey I'm a normal person. I hope it keeps happening, because that just means my career is going somewhere! :D

I hope you get a ton more work in the future!

Thank you! Me too!!

he bought three

Yep. Times 3.

What is your favorite Arrested Development joke?

The chicken dance. And Egg. I mean Ann.

What was your most memorable moment on set?

That, and what is your favorite video game?

When Jason Bateman called me a piece of shit. I know we were acting, but it did hurt a little bit. It stung. Also, every time I got to walk on set. :D

Was that line scripted or improvised? Definitely one of my favorite moments of the new season.

It was scripted. I believe Jason definitely believed I was a piece of shit in real life... Acting.

My fave video game? Marvel vs Capcom. Don't judge me.

oh, we're judging you and i think we have all come to the conclusion you're really cool.

No. Marvel v. Capcom 2 is better. Duh.

Too confusing. Too many things I never really understood.

Are those guys funny in real life?

Like you wouldn't believe. They are all so good at what they do. Honestly, I tried to keep my mouth shut unless I was filming or being directly talked to so no one would know how funny I'm not.

Did you feel starstruck?

YEP! Especially when I met Isla Fisher. She's so rambunctious and AUSTRALIAN. Also beautiful. Jason Bateman is also very handsome.

What do you think P-Hound stands for? College guy in the dorms, whatever could that mean?

Mitch actually told me it was kind of a joke in progress that he didn't really pan out. P-Hound stands for Physics Hound? That's all I know. But it's catchy!

How is it working with Alia Shawkat? I always hear about the other actors from the show, but never much about her. Also, great work on the new season, you should be proud to be tied to such an amazing show.

She keeps to herself a lot. I'm thinking maybe it's because I'm probably creepy as f. Lol. No, but seriously, she's a great girl, and plays her part well.

Gotta roll guys, thanks for all the questions!

I don't actually have a question, but you were my favorite new character of the season. So, hi!

Thank you so much! I'm glad you're here to give me some lerv.

What is your favorite scene from the new season?

Anything with Gob (Will Arnett) or Tobias (David Cross). From stuff I've done, voting out Michael (Jason Bateman) and GM. Just being surrounded by all those twins was hilarious.

How much pussy have you gotten since the new season aired?

Ummm... How do I quantify that? Like, in numbers? Or the quality? I think cats like me regardless of the TV show. I have a mild allergy though, so they make my nose run a bit.

What a brilliant non-answer

You're a non-answer. :P

Since your scenes were mostly at the university, how much contact did you have with the other actors like Will, Jessica, Portia, etc..? Did you at least get to meet them and chat? Also I think you're really cute and were a great addition this season.

Thank you so much!

I didn't get to meet all of them, sadly. I met a few at the premiere, but I just looked longingly upon Will and Portia. They're too awesome.

I worked with Jason, Michael, Alia, Henry Winkler. At the premiere, I met Tony, Jeffrey, David, and Jessica. I never did anything but lay eyes on Will and Portia. There was never a real good time to intrude on them. :\

What'd your favorite Wu-Tang single?

Wu-tang Ain't Nuthing to F' Wit

Ah, the classics

YERP!

First I have to say P-Hound may have been my favorite new character this season. Two questions: How was working with Mitch Hurwitz and is there any level of improv during the shooting?

Thanks! Mitch was so accommodating and sweet. He would give me a hug every time I came on set (obvious joke there). In terms of improv, there wasn't much. We'd throw out lines here and there, and he'd either say yay or nay. Everything is written so tightly, there's really not much need for improv. That being said, Mitch was always open to suggestions.

Did you ever get to ride any of the vehicles in the show, like Gob's segue or the stair car?

Noooope. I wish.

What steps do you feel must necessarily be taken by the entertainment industry to depart from the traditional, subliminal typecasting of Asian-American males as merely meek sidekicks, martial arts specialists, enemies in war, or oppressors of the to-be-saved-by-a-White-guy, Asian, damsels-in-distress?

I don't think it's necessarily the industry's responsibility to depart from that sort of casting. I mean, as an Asian-American male, I see the problems, but I believe the solution is telling a good story. The media is a reflection of our society, and as diverse as it is where I live, it's not everywhere in this country. If you're white, you're still the majority and these are the people that the media will cater to. That being said, there's a reason there's a huge influx of foreign media in this country, things are getting more diverse, albeit VERY SLOWLY. I definitely feel that it is part of my responsibility to convey realism and not be a stereotype, but bottom line, I'm an actor, and just hope that I can bring truth to whatever role I choose to play.

I wish I could meet you :( you seem so down to earth n shit... lets be friends

Please. :D

Thanks for doing the AMA! Since you were not part of the original series run, how was your experience working in the show different from the returning cast? Was it hard for you to adapt?

Not hard to adapt, I just had to know my place on set. All of the returned cast are bona fide stars, I'm just the new guy. I just tried to keep my mouth shut and absorb everything. Try to hit my mark, know my lines, and occasionally if I had input, I had the chance to say so. The twin scene where we vote George Michael out? I suggested to Mitch that we have all the twins shake their head when GM tries to say something, and he thought it was a great idea and actually used it! And you're welcome, thanks for being here!

That's pretty cool, you were one of the most pleasant surprises of the new season (the fact that a new season was made being the most surprising, of course)

Thank you, that means the world to me!

1. Was any scene particularly hard to film?

2. Who had to laugh the most often while filming?

I'm sorry, I can't recall having anything that was hard to film. Maybe when we're voting GM out? There were SO MANY twins in that room at once. It was hot and disorienting.

Mitch. It's cool to see the director actually reacting to what the actors are doing on screen. Second to him was probably me, although I had to cover it up because everyone else is so professional.

Can you give us a description of some of the characters' personalities off set? Jason Bateman? Michael Cera? David Cross? Will Arnett?

Jason Bateman - handsome and professional, his eyes are very intense Michael Cera - reads a lot, makes a lot of over-my-head type smart person jokes David Cross - energetic and off-the-cuff Will Arnett - DIDN'T GET TO MEET HIM!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!

DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE A SEASON 5?

I hope, yes. Do I think, yes. Is this based on ANYTHING. Nope.

You're hot

THANKS! So are you!

As a person involved in Season 4, do you know all the little references and jokes thrown in (like the Always Sunny in Philadelphia reference in Maeby's yearbook), or do you still catch them from time to time?

I try to catch them all (POKEMON!) but I'm really not that smart. I usually have to be asked, hey did you catch that reference? And then I'll be all like... derp.

Did you ever start laughing while doing a scene and break character?

Several times... There's a couple of dorm room scenes where Michael Cera is looking straight at me, we're less than a foot away from each other, and I just... couldn't stop laughing for a while.

Thanks for the AMA.

• What are you up to next?
• What's the status on The Breast Day Ever project?

You're welcome! I don't know. Currently I'm indisposed with a healing broken leg. :*( But I'll get back to auditions and stuff really soon!

Breast Day Ever is a personal project. My ex-wife had breast cancer in 2010-2011, and it was a cathartic project that my friends helped put together. It's a light comedy, I don't know. I may revisit it soon.

ex-wife? How old are you...?

I'm as old as you think I could be to have an ex-wife. It's Hollywood baby!!!

Appreciate the answers. How the heck did you break your leg?

Probably doing something stupid, like wake-boarding.

Shut it. And yes, wake-boarding. Wait, I know you. Right?

Who would win in a fight, the cast or the crew?

The crew! They outnumber the cast like... 6-1 lol!

which of the fast and furious movies is your favorite?

1 and 5.

I don't mean to be offensive or anything, but are you gay? Like is your crush on Jason Bateman a man-crush or a real crush?

No, not offensive. If I was gay, I wouldn't care either. But I am straight.

And yes. Both. Jason Bateman is cool as f. Maybe if there was wine flowing and a romantic setting, I would kiss that man. Lol.

Confused? It's okay, life is crazy :P

You wouldn't mind kissing that man between the cheeks, so to speak?

Phrasing... Lol!

I really wanted yo to somehow be related to Annyong. Idk, I think it would be cool.

Also we have the same first name. That means we're bros.

Also also, how did you first discover you liked acting?

Lol. Sure, I've never had a brother before. HEEEY hermano!

I was originally a poli sci major at UCSD. Got done with it pretty early, decided I wasn't ready to graduate so decided to do something off the beaten path, cuz hey, what the hell am I going to do with a poli sci degree.

After taking some classes and doing some small theater shows, I realized nobody knew I didn't know what I was doing. The rest is history. Moved back to LA, signed with an agent, and been doing it for 5 years now.

'Do what you want, and work hard at it' is a mantra that I try to live by, and hope to pass on to my son.

Was any of the filming done at the studios on Pico and Motor in LA?

If so, did you ever play the par 3 course across the street and, during the round, point across at the studios and say, "I wish I can work there", only to be given the friendly/serious advice to just walk in there and take what's yours?

If so, that guy that told you to do that is pretty awesome, huh?

No. Culver Studios and Eagle Rock.

Yep.

And he's okay. Terrible golfer.

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Breakfast? What is that?

Its that thing you get when you go to denny's between 3-6 AM, before bed.

Oh. Well in that case, I had some leftover Papa John's pizza dipped in delicious delicious Garlic Butter sauce. That is my JAM!

How did you end up getting cast as P-Hound?

I was cast by Allison Jones, CSA. She's such a wonderful lady, and she also happens to cast most of the major Apatow films and comedies in Hollywood! Hopefully she'll call me back for some future projects. Anyway, I walked in, read with her on tape, then got the call two days later that I got the part!

Here, i brought you a friendship pizza.

http://i.imgur.com/FHwc01g.jpg

I'll eat all kinds of pizza.

Do you think you would be a part of either season 5 or the movie? I thought you were one of the best new characters this season.

THANK YOU! I don't know honestly, but believe me, if I have the chance, I will jump on it!

We quote Michael talking about you at the airport all the time! That was so funny. "Well, of course P. Hound's gonna vote against you."

I will always vote against you.

Are you excited for the return of Breaking Bad?

Yes and no. That just means it's the end. And the end makes me sad. Especially when it's the end of a delicious burger. Breaking Bad is a delicious burger...

Yo P-Hound! Love you on the new season!! What's your Bluth's Original Frozen Banana of choice?? I peg you as a George Daddy man.

Boom. Yep! Love the grahams!

Favorite moment on set?

Honestly? Every time I walked on. Also any time I was able to make my other castmates laugh. I was busy trying to learn and so tried to stay out of the way as much as possible.

Did you ever get to see George Michael's full chicken impression?

Nope. Damn matador pants.

Edit: I just came back on my mobile real quick to see if there's more stuff to answer, clearly there is. I'll be back occasionally! Keep asking more questions! RJN