The cast and crew of Peacock’s acclaimed comedy Poker Face gathered at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre for a special PaleyFest premiere of Season 2 on March 29. Fans were treated to the first episode, “The Game is a Foot,” featuring the formidable Cynthia Erivo as a group of troubled quintuplets. Although reviews of the episode are under embargo until its official premiere on Peacock on May 8, the enthusiastic audience reactions of laughter, gasps, and applause signal a promising start to the new season.
Following the screening, Emmy nominee Aidy Bryant hosted a lively Q&A session with an all-star panel, including star, executive producer, director, and writer Natasha Lyonne, creator and director Rian Johnson, and directors such as Clea DuVall. Also featured were Season 1 guest star Judith Light and Season 2 guest stars like GaTa, Haley Joel Osment, John Cho, Kumail Nanjiani, and Melanie Lynskey.
Though Cynthia Erivo was absent from the event, her “amazing” performance was praised by Bryant before introducing the panel members who play significant roles throughout the new season. During the session, the panelists engaged with the audience, revealing insights into the coming series despite some playful distractions like a quick round of “What’s your favorite holiday?”, where Thanksgiving narrowly surpassed Christmas.
Behind the Scenes with Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne
Rian Johnson shared insights into the creative process of the show, stating, “I wanted to do what we did in Season 1, just more of it.” He elaborated that the focus was not on developing Natasha Lyonne’s character, Charlie, through a grand arc but rather on creating compelling episodes. Revealing that the complex Season 2 premiere was shot in a mere 10 days, Johnson emphasized the challenging but rewarding nature of the production.
Johnson explained how Cynthia Erivo’s quintuplet roles were filmed, eschewing elaborate camera technology for a more traditional approach. “We would literally leave the camera, Cynthia would do half of her scene, she would go and change, and come back and do the other half,” he explained. Lyonne praised Johnson’s execution, calling it “the most Rian Johnson episode to ever Rian Johnson,” and described the intricate filming process as a “delight to behold.”
Erivo herself has expressed enthusiasm for the challenging role, telling Vanity Fair about her curiosity to play multiple characters simultaneously, stating, “I knew that my head would be split into many different spaces but I was like, ‘Well, if not now, then when?’” She detailed the intricacy required to maintain continuity in interactions between her different characters.
An Array of Guest Stars Adds to the Fun
The Q&A uncovered upcoming performance highlights, such as Kumail Nanjiani’s portrayal of “Gator Joe,” a character with both physical and vocal transformations. Gator Joe, located in the Florida panhandle, was described humorously by Nanjiani as requiring a rapid dialect study to authentically portray an accent despite the short preparation time.
John Cho, another guest star, discussed his role as a “villainous swindler” in an episode inspired by David Mamet’s House of Games. Melanie Lynskey, his co-star in the episode, recalled the intense dialogue exchanges they engaged in, much to Cho’s admiration of her meticulous approach to the scenes.
Haley Joel Osment added to the light-hearted tone with his character, a social media influencer whose wedding is sponsored by an energy drink. This humorous subplot continues the blend of mystery and comedy characteristic of the show.
Future Prospects and Closing Reflections
Aidy Bryant humorously remarked on the abundance of guest stars, hinting at the expansive lineup by joking about the extensive time it would take to mention them all. When asked about potential ambition for future cast choices, Lyonne playfully acknowledged Bryant, fueling laughter and anticipation for what lies ahead.
As Poker Face gears up for another thrilling season, the mystery-of-the-week format promises fresh encounters and enigmatic adventures for Lyonne’s character, Charlie, whose unique ability to discern dishonesty remains at the series’ core. The Season 2 premiere is set for May 8, 2025, with new episodes streaming every Thursday, inviting audiences to follow Charlie’s cross-country crime investigations.
