Grown-up Individual, Jack Innanen, and His Pursuit for the Title of 'White Boy of the Month', Emphasizing His Distinctive Mustache
Revised Article:
Jack Innanen's not beating around the bush: he's sported his hip, "in" mustache since 2020, well before it went mainstream. "Gotta make that clear, man - I got this bad boy since '20," he states.
Innanen, known for his rib-tickling vids on social media, is the droll star of FX's hit sitcom "Growing Up," following a motley crew of 20-somethings living together in Queens, trying to navigate life's tricky terrain. He plays Paul Baker, the easy-going, oblivious boyfriend of Issa (Amita Rao), blowing minds by bringing his mate "Jules" to a gathering, not realizing she's Julia Fox. Paul Baker's dimwitted charm has earned him a legion of fans online, prompting Innanen to launch a crusade for "White Dude of the Month" on his spammy TikTok account.
Weeding out Wisdom with Chris Black
Legal Disclaimer - User Agreement, Class Action Waiver, and Arbitration Provisions, and Privacy PolicyWhen Innanen hopped on our Zoom, his wall adorned with classic film posters, including Deliverance, Blow-Up, and Cassavetes' Faces, was clearly visible. We grilled him on Paul Baker's big moments, his mission for the White Dude of the Month title, and his ever-present facial hair.
GQ:* So, how did your comedy videos lead to "Growing Up"?Jack Innanen:* I've been crafting videos for ages. A true child of the YouTube era - I was producing Minecraft vids in middle school, and a whole heap of cringeworthy ones in high school. But I got serious about sketch comedy in 2019, and moved to New York. The thought of acting became a tangible possibility. The moment I saw the part for Paul Baker, I was like, "That's me, man. I know this guy. Let me be him!" The script was uproariously funny, so I was gung-ho about nabbing that role. I had zero formal acting training. I reckon those years of churning out skits offered some sort of education. But it's a whole different ballgame, acting.
How old are you now?I'm 26 now.
So, being 22 isn't that far off for you. How did Paul Baker remind you of yourself at that time?Yeah, still a reasonably accurate representation, especially since I was 24 when I bagged the role. The show explores the time after university when the wave of adulthood crashes down, but you're still a kid. It's about discovering who you are, who you are to the world, who you fall in love with, where you live, what you do for a living, and whether you're a decent person, a good son, and a good brother. All of that hits you at once, I reckon. I was 22, 23, trying to figure out if I wanted to return to university to pursue acting, and questioning if I belonged in my friend group or not. I know I'm more anxious than Paul Baker, to be honest.
You and Paul Baker share the same mustache, which is currently quite fashionable. When did you decide to embrace the mustache trend?It's hysterical! When we were shooting, some of the crew joked, "Are you excited to shave that thing once production wraps up? You're raring to ditch that stache, right?" I said, "Nah, man, I've had this for six years." I quarantined at home in Toronto in 2020 and decided to grow it out. I shaved it twice since then. Lately, with the Top Gun revival, the stache is in vogue, and now it's cool again. Couldn't be happier about that!
- Jack Innanen's wall, visible during their Zoom conversation, was adorned with classic film posters, such as Deliverance, Blow-Up, and Cassavetes' Faces, indicating his deep interest in cinema.
- Innanen's comedy videos on social media platforms like TikTok have earned him the role of Paul Baker in the hit sitcom "Growing Up," a character he admits being a real-life embodiment of, given the show's portrayal of the personal and life challenges faced by 20-somethings.
- When asked about his signature mustache, Innanen explained that he started growing it in 2020 and has only shaved it twice since, finding it convenient that the mustache trend has now become fashionable again, thanks to the Top Gun revival.
- The cultural relevance of entertainment and pop-culture elements, such as mustaches, movies, and celebrities, are not lost on Innanen, who pointed out that he began sporting his mustache in 2020, well before it went mainstream, showing his keen understanding of the ever-evolving trends in pop culture.
