Peter Grosz Explained

Peter Grosz
Birth Place:New York City, New York, U.S.

Peter Grosz is an American actor and television writer. He is most recognizable for appearing in Sonic Drive-In's "Two Guys" commercials, in which he appears as the straight man in a double act with improvisational comedian T. J. Jagodowski until it was replaced by families in 2020.

Early life and education

Grosz was born in New York City, and was raised in Scarsdale, New York.[1] Grosz is Jewish. He attended Northwestern University, graduating in 1996.[2] One of his college roommates during that time was fellow actor Seth Meyers.[3]

Career

From 2002 to 2012 and 2014 on, Grosz has starred as one half of the "Two Guys" for the Sonic Drive-In commercials alongside fellow improviser T. J. Jagodowski.[4] [5] In 2020, it was reported that Sonic's commercials would be going in a different direction, but that the "Two Guys" series would continue to be part of the chain's advertising in some way. Lori Abou Habib, Sonic's Chief Marketing Officer, said that the commercials are "a huge part of our voice, and they’ll be part of our brand going forward."[6] The two actors also appeared together in the 2006 film Stranger Than Fiction.

Grosz worked as a writer for The Colbert Report from 2007 to 2010,[7] where he has appeared on screen at least four times: once as the Time-Travelling Brandy Thief, once as a version of himself on September 23, 2008,[8] once on May 13, 2010, to interrupt Stephen Colbert's attempt to introduce guest band The Hold Steady, only to perform the introduction himself, and on January 9, 2013, as McGnaw the Gluten-Free Beaver.[9] In addition, the May 13, 2010 episode ended with Colbert wishing farewell to the Time-Travelling Brandy Thief; Grosz confirmed on his Facebook page that this was his last episode of the Report as a writer. Additionally, the birth of his child was announced on the show on March 9, 2009.[10]

Grosz joined the writing staff of Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2014.

Grosz recurred on the HBO comedy series Veep, playing callous oil lobbyist Sidney Purcell over four of the first five seasons.[11] He also played Mike Pence on The President Show.[12]

On December 18, 2018, Grosz appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Stephen Miller, Senior Advisor for policy to US President Donald Trump, in a sketch with Colbert about Miller's appearance on Face the Nation the previous Sunday.

Grosz also routinely appears as a panelist and has been a guest host on the NPR show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!.

In April 2023, he made his Broadway debut playing Robert Sarnoff, President of NBC, in the Tony Award-winning play Good Night, Oscar, opposite Tony Award winner Sean Hayes.

Filmography

Acting

Film

Notes
2005Shelly's Archery Instructor
2006Stranger than FictionIRS Co-Worker #5
2008Guy in Windbreaker
2014DriftersAlbertShort film
2015Slow LearnersDr. Mark Sonderskov
2017AardvarkAnthony
Rough NightCliff
2021Things Heard & SeenMartin
Here TodayDoctor Joe
2022Sommelier
Who Invited Charlie?Trey Reynolds

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007Science DigestBrad CraneEpisode: "Animal Guy"
2011Curb Your EnthusiasmMinyan Member #2Episode: "Mister Softee"
2012Key & PeeleDavid SchwartzmanEpisode: "Landlord"
2012–2019VeepSidney Purcell12 episodes
2013Chef Michael DinaldiEpisode: "Let's Sell Out with Real Late Night Characters"
Inside Amy SchumerJason's FatherEpisode: "Clown Panties"
2014DeadbeatJeremy GoldbergEpisode: "The Ghost in the Machine"
2014–2015Late Night with Seth MeyersVarious characters12 episodes
2015–2016Cop ShowManager18 episodes
2016VinylNate Druker2 episodes
Odd Mom OutDylan UngerEpisode: "The O.D.D. Couple"
Jon Glaser Loves GearPhotographerEpisode: "Photography"
2019Mike PenceTelevision film
Alan ColmesEpisode: "2001"
You're Not a MonsterFrankenstein / Freddy / Cannibal4 episodes
Living with YourselfToo HipEpisode: "Va Bene"
Bernie Zucker3 episodes
2020Little AmericaMan with YarmulkeEpisode: "The Silence"
At Home with Amy SedarisAmy's DateEpisode: "First Dates"
2021Search PartyRoger CarrotsEpisode: "Something Sharp"
DirectorEpisode: "Hot Mushroom Meat"
Gossip GirlMr. SpencerEpisode: "You Can't Take It with Jules"
2022Fleishman Is in TroubleCamp director2 episodes
2023New AmsterdamEricEpisode: "Right Place"
White House PlumbersEarl SilbertEpisode: "True Believers"
2024ElsbethLeonard RosenEpisode: "A Classic New York Character"

Theatre

Notes
2023Good Night, OscarRobert Sarnoff, President of NBCBroadway debut

Writing

YearTitleNotes
2007UCB Comedy OriginalsEpisode: "2 Square"
The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show8 episodes
2007–2010The Colbert Report189 episodes
2008The Daily ShowEpisode: "Indecision 2008: Election Night - America's Choice"
2011Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!: A Royal Pain in the NewsTelevision special
201466th Primetime Emmy Awards
2014–2015Late Night with Seth Meyers44 episodes
2017The President Show21 episodes
2020At Home with Amy Sedaris2 episodes

Notes and References

  1. The Chosen Ones: An Interview With Peter Grosz . . January 27, 2018 . Aschenbrand, Periel.
  2. Web site: The Good Humor Man: Northwestern Magazine - Northwestern University . July 1, 2022 . northwestern.edu.
  3. News: October 18, 2011 . Q&A with Seth Meyers, Northwestern homecoming parade Grand Marshal . . October 18, 2017.
  4. Web site: Sonic Drive-In revives 'out of work' spokesmen . Andrew Adam Newman . February 21, 2012 . . February 15, 2016.
  5. Lazare, Lewis (June 19, 2014) "Thanks Sonic: Two (funny) Guys are headed Uptown" Chicago Business Journal
  6. Stanley, T. L. (February 20, 2020) "After 8 Years of ‘2 Guys’ Ads, Sonic Moves in a New Direction With Mother LA" Adweek
  7. News: Ms Interpreted . "The Colbert Report" welcomes a new writer: Peter Grosz . Nofactzone . March 16, 2007 . August 21, 2010.
  8. http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/185616/september-23-2008/peter-grosz-insults Colbertnation.com: Peter Grosz insults
  9. Web site: Thought for Food - Wheat Addictions - The Colbert Report . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206234456/https://www.cc.com/video/52uula/the-colbert-report-thought-for-food-wheat-addictions . dead . December 6, 2021 . Comedy Central . December 6, 2021 . January 10, 2013.
  10. Web site: New Baby Abraham Carter Grosz - The Colbert Report . https://web.archive.org/web/20210124170652/https://www.cc.com/video/4bvnlr/the-colbert-report-new-baby-abraham-carter-grosz . dead . January 24, 2021 . Comedy Central . December 6, 2021 . March 10, 2009.
  11. Web site: Peter Grosz. IMDb. 2018-02-01.
  12. Web site: With 'The President Show,' Comedy Central commits to peak Trump . Christie . D'Zurilla . April 3, 2017 . . April 10, 2017.