The Surgeon's Files: The Prodigal Son Podcast

Each week, The Surgeon’s Files: The Prodigal Son Podcast will break down the week’s episode of Prodigal Son and bring you interviews with the show’s cast and creatives! Think of it as the unofficially official companion podcast for the series.

This week, hosts Mike and Sheila discuss Episode 4 of Season 2, “Take Your Father to Work Day”. Afterwards, stick around for our exclusive interview with the Michael Potts (who plays Martin’s new therapist in tonight’s episode, Dr. Brandon Marsh)!! Michael was amazing to talk to, giving us so much time to take us behind the scenes on set at Prodigal Son and for indulging our fanboying over his amazing career in theater as well as on TV and in the movies. A definite Do Not Miss Interview!

58:08 – Time Code for Start of the Michael Potts Interview.

Announcement: If you love the music from Prodigal Son (and songs like it), check out our The Surgeon’s Files Spotify Playlist!

Guest Bio – Michael Potts:

Michael Potts is an accomplished actor of stage and screen who most recently starred alongside Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman in the Netflix film adaptation of August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Previously, he starred as the heartwarming “Mr. Hawkins” in the Tony® nominated musical The Prom. In 2018, Potts received critical praise for his role as “Joe Mott” alongside Denzel Washington in the Tony® nominated Eugene O’Neill revival The Iceman Cometh. For his role in Iceman, Potts received the distinguished “Richard Seff Award,” which is presented to veteran actors for their performances in supporting roles both on and off Broadway.

Potts is widely recognized for his role as the well-mannered yet feared assassin, “Brother Mouzone” on HBO’s critically acclaimed series The Wire alongside Idris Elba and Dominic West and as “Detective Maynard Gilbough” in the Emmy® Award winning HBO drama True Detective,
opposite Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.
On the stage, he is known for originating the role of “Mafala Hatimbi” in the Tony® award
winning musical The Book Of Mormon. In 2015, he starred in the HBO six-hour miniseries, Show Me a Hero, co-created by David Simon (The Wire) and directed by Oscar winner Paul Haggis.

As a graduate the Yale School of Drama, Potts’ extensive theater background has afforded him
several performances on New York’s theater stages. Roles in Rent, The Tempest, Twelfth Night and Richard III garnered him the Falstaff Award for best ‘Male Supporting Performance’ and The Village Voice’s Obie Award for his portrayal in the off-Broadway production of The American Play.

He is an active supporter and contributor of the 52nd Street Project, dedicated to the creation and production of new plays for, and often by, kids between the ages of 9-18 that reside in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in New York City. The organization achieves this goal through a series of unique mentoring programs that match kids with professional theater artists.

WATCH PRODIGAL SON:

Prodigal Son

MORE IN THIS PODCAST SERIES

1 | 2 | 3

FOLLOW THE HOSTS:

Sheila | Mike

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Credits:

Music:
“Epic Dark Hollywood Trailer” by Jon Wright, licensed by Pod Clubhouse.

This podcast was recorded in Pod Clubhouse Studios and edited by Caroline Daley and assembled by Michael Caputo.

Each week, The Surgeon’s Files: The Prodigal Son Podcast will break down the week’s episode of Prodigal Son and bring you interviews with the show’s cast and creatives!

NOTE: We recorded this episode, as well as our interview with Tom Payne, on Monday, May 10. Literally minutes after we finished recording, the news circulated that Prodigal Son had been cancelled. So, when you listen, it’s going to sound like we’re still waiting on renewal news because we were. We hope it gets picked up somewhere but, if not, please listen to Tom’s words about his time working on the show and let us appreciate the time we got to spend with these characters and their stories. We hope you enjoy the listen.

This week, Mike and Sheila deep dive into Episode 212, “Sun and Fun”! Afterwards, stick around for our exclusive interview with Malcolm Bright himself, the wonderful Tom Payne! Tom stayed with us for almost an hour and took us through his entire time with the show and even teased next week’s finale! He was very gracious with his time and gave wonderfully thoughtful answers, a true delight to speak to. Do Not Miss This Interview!

1:22:36 – Time Code for Start of the Tom Payne Interview.

Announcement: If you love the music from Prodigal Son (and songs like it), check out our The Surgeon’s Files Spotify Playlist!

Guest Bio: Tom Payne

Prior to PRODIGAL SON, Tom Payne played “Jesus Monroe” in the hit cable series “The Walking Dead.” A beloved character in the comic book series, he debuted in the middle of Season Six and remained on the show through Season Nine. Previously, Payne starred on “Luck,” from creators Michael Mann and David Milch, playing the lead role of jockey “Leon Micheaux.”

Payne made his feature film debut in “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day,” opposite Amy Adams and Frances McDormand, and starred in the feature “The Physician,” with Stellan Skarsgard and Sir Ben Kingsley.

He also has worked extensively on U.K. television, including roles in the series “Skins,” “Waterloo Road” and “Casualty,” as well as the miniseries “Agatha Christie’s Marple.” Additional TV credits include the telefilms “Best: His Mother’s Son”; “Wuthering Heights,” opposite Tom Hardy; “Miss Marie Lloyd”; and “He Kills Coppers.”

In February 2020, he received the Discovery Award for his television work from the Savanna College of Art and Design (SCAD) at its annual aTV Festival in Atlanta, GA.

A U.K. native, Payne is a graduate of London’s Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where he earned his B.A. in acting.

Follow Tom on Twitter at @justanactor and Instagram at @thetpayne

WATCH PRODIGAL SON:

Prodigal Son

MORE IN THIS PODCAST SERIES

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

FOLLOW THE HOSTS: