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Seth Rogen may be stepping into the shoes of a powerful Hollywood executive in his upcoming Apple TV+ series The Studio, but deep down, he remains the same guy who got his start in the unpredictable world of show business.
At just 16, Rogen landed a role on 'Freaks and Geeks, a show that would later become a cult classic but was brutally canceled after just one season. That experience, he says, was his first real lesson in Hollywood's fickle nature.
"My first experience in all of Hollywood was making something great that no one wanted and was instantly canceled," Rogen told *Esquire* in a recent interview. "That was a good tone setter."
The 1999–2000 teen dramedy, created by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow, introduced a cast of then-unknowns, including James Franco, Jason Segel, and Linda Cardellini. It followed a group of high school misfits trying to navigate the awkwardness of adolescence. Despite its premature end, the show has since earned a reputation as one of the best one-season wonders in TV history.
For Rogen, the experience was bittersweet. It was his first professional job, yet it also exposed him to the brutal reality that talent and quality don't always guarantee success. "You can do everything right and still fail," he said. "You can do the best work there is, and it doesn't mean anyone's going to watch it."
Fast-forward 25 years, and Rogen has gone from playing a sarcastic high schooler to portraying the head of a major movie studio in The Studio, a new workplace comedy about the inner workings of Hollywood.
Rogen plays Matt Remick, a newly appointed studio boss who loves movies but constantly fears he's making them worse. The series follows his attempts to balance artistic integrity with corporate pressures, celebrity egos, and industry politics.
Rogen, who has had his share of success (Superbad, Pineapple Express, The Boys), as well as flops (The Green Hornet, An American Pickle), brings an insider's perspective to the show. He's not just starring in The Studio—he's also producing it, ensuring that the satire is as close to reality as possible.
The cast includes Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, and Catherine O'Hara, promising a blend of humor and absurdity as it takes on the chaotic world of filmmaking.
As for his 'Freaks and Geeks' character, Ken Miller? "He's probably a statistic, unfortunately," Rogen joked. But in real life, Rogen has defied the odds, turning an early disappointment into a long-lasting career.
'The Studio' premieres on Apple TV+ in March, offering a hilarious yet biting look at the madness behind the silver screen.
