- 8 hours ago
The winner of Netflix's reality competition series 'The Circle' Joey Sasso joins The Hollywood Reporter In Studio to discuss his strategy while playing, what was going through his mind and more.
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00:00Ayo Circle, what up?
00:01Sitting here with your boy Joey Sasso and you're watching In Studio with The Hollywood Reporter.
00:09Congratulations.
00:10Thank you, buddy.
00:11How has it been since being out of the show but also like people watching it?
00:17It's crazy because after the show wrapped, you come off this just wave of I know everything that happened.
00:24But I can't say anything.
00:25So I come back working my normal job, doing everything and I'm just sitting there for months thinking how are
00:32people going to react to the show?
00:33You never know if they're going to like it, if they're not going to like it.
00:36And then the show comes out and reception out of the gate was just huge.
00:41And when you got off the show too, no one really knew about the show yet either.
00:44It was only kind of until it premiered that people really caught on.
00:48People knew about the other version.
00:49Yeah, I think people really only found out the show was a thing.
00:53I want to say shortly before the holidays, which is crazy because you would think, okay, this is coming out
00:59in January.
01:00It's going to be known about Thanksgiving and start building.
01:04But, dude, it just happened so quick.
01:07And that overnight success or blowing up thing is often overly used.
01:13But it really happened in this case.
01:15I went from, I want to say, 1,200 people on Instagram to I think I hit 65,000 people
01:22in a week.
01:23And now as we speak, I'm up to I think 150 some odd thousand in three weeks essentially.
01:30That's wild.
01:31Now going off of this kind of overnight success, a lot of people didn't really know about the show until
01:34it kind of really caught on.
01:36How did you know about applying and how did you kind of get on the show?
01:39I can't remember exactly how it happened where I saw something online about applying for a show that was probably
01:45going to be for Netflix based on social media.
01:47And I knew it was reality driven and I was very skeptical because I'm an actor and you're always told
01:53you don't do reality television.
01:55It's a stigma.
01:55And I get it.
01:56But I kind of went with my gut because me thinking I know it all, which I don't, was don't
02:02do it.
02:03Everything else in my gut was like, well, the concept is so different.
02:07And how often do you actually have a reality show that has a real message and a commentary?
02:12So I was like, you know what?
02:14Don't get in your own way.
02:15Go do it.
02:16Have a good time.
02:17And I can't be happier that I did.
02:20Even if I didn't win the show.
02:22I made it to that final.
02:23That's all I wanted to do.
02:24That was my whole goal the whole time was make it to the finals.
02:28Winning, that's out of my hands.
02:30The fact that I won.
02:32Yeah, luckily you won.
02:33I can't.
02:34I still can't.
02:35$100,000 a year.
02:36Dude, it's insane.
02:36Like I never thought about it.
02:38I've watched that finale clip so many times because I remember blacking out, like thinking
02:45I'll be probably fifth or fourth.
02:47I'll go sit down.
02:48We're all going to hang out after.
02:50Shoebe or Sammy's going to win.
02:51I can't wait.
02:52We'll celebrate.
02:53Then it's me and Shoebe.
02:55And the host says, she's like, your hand's shaking.
02:57And I remember just announce it because I'm like, I never even thought of this.
03:00And then my face is on the screen.
03:03And that step back I take, that's when it just, I wasn't even there.
03:06I was like, what just happened?
03:08One of my favorite moments on the show was when it was the anonymous chat room.
03:12And I think it was Alex was like, actually, I didn't know there was a catfish filter.
03:15But then also like Faker the Berry or something.
03:18Oh, yeah.
03:18I said Faker the Juice.
03:20Faker the Juice.
03:21Faker the Juice, yeah.
03:22How fun was that getting to kind of be anonymous and kind of using that as a strategy to get
03:27into the game, I guess?
03:28That was fun, man.
03:29I mean, that's the thing is whenever there were opportunities to really show who I am as
03:35a person, for better or worse, depending on who's watching, I really kind of took that.
03:39Because I remember when Mercedes, aka Karen, was like, who said that?
03:44I'm going to say it right now because you've heard a lot.
03:46You owned up to it.
03:48Oh, yeah.
03:48I'm the one who said it because I couldn't help myself.
03:51And it's like, at a certain point, there was a lot of people who were eliminated who
03:54were like, I feel like everyone's fake here.
03:57Everyone's just lovey-dovey.
03:58And I don't agree with that, but I just think when you have opportunities like that, people
04:03are obviously talking shit.
04:05I love breaking balls and talking shit.
04:07Some people take it very seriously.
04:09I don't.
04:10So why not step up and be like, yeah, dude, I said it.
04:13Let's stir the pot a little bit.
04:14Let's make things interesting.
04:16You know what I mean?
04:16Were you surprised that kind of the OG cast members made it to the final five?
04:21And do you think it's hard for people who come in later to win?
04:24Do you think it's impossible for them to win?
04:25Or do you think they had an equal shot?
04:27You know, I don't know if it's impossible.
04:30The one thing I'll say about the experience that surprised me was I'm always so loyal.
04:36And I feel loyalty to those people that I didn't even technically meet.
04:40And I'm not used to getting that in return.
04:43I think the thing that kind of bonded us even more is new people did come in.
04:47And we all looked out for each other, which I would think it wouldn't be that way.
04:51But I do think for new people coming in, it's kind of difficult to stay in.
04:59Who would you say was the worst catfish?
05:02Like, who were you really on to?
05:04Without a doubt, I'd have to say Alex, a.k.a. Adam.
05:08Because it wasn't shown in the show, but my nickname for him was Stupid Adam.
05:13Okay.
05:14Because I just thought, after Antonio was blocked, and I truly felt guilty and terrible,
05:21I was like, I am not going to think anybody isn't who they say they are, no matter what.
05:26And then he comes in, and I'm like, I want to say so bad that he's not who he is.
05:31But I was wrong before.
05:32I'll be wrong again.
05:33So I'm like, I remember just saying, I'm not saying you're not Adam, but Adam, you say some stupid things.
05:40You just say stupid things over and over again.
05:42So I'd sit there and be like, he's stupid Adam.
05:44That's who he is.
05:46He's stupid Adam.
05:47He'd be saying, like, I think we've seen it in the show when he says, like, Daddy can chain me
05:51up tonight.
05:52Like, when he's trying to flirt.
05:54And I just remember sitting there going.
05:55That's not how you do it.
05:56What are you, like, ugh.
05:59Like, you just want to take a shower.
06:00And then, you know, afterwards I meet Alex, and he's a great kid.
06:03Yeah.
06:03How shocked were you meeting Seabird?
06:06Not that shocked, to tell you the truth, because I knew at that point someone.
06:11Someone had to be.
06:12Someone had to be a catfish, and I was just hoping it wasn't Sammy or Shuby.
06:16That's what I was preparing for.
06:17Like, if it was one of them, I probably would have reacted the same way Shuby reacted, because he was
06:23close with Rebecca.
06:24You, Sammy, Shuby, and Chris, I think you guys were all the most genuine.
06:28And I don't think anyone would really think of you guys as a catfish.
06:31Like, if I was on there, I wouldn't be like, this person's catfishing.
06:35Dude, you get dark, though.
06:36I'm telling you.
06:36Like, at the end of the game, man, I was, like, went from, like, this is so much fun.
06:42I was still having fun, but I'm like, all right, now it's a game.
06:45I'm looking at the screen.
06:46I got to use this person to get to that person, to this one, to that one, and you start
06:49playing this chess game.
06:50And then I remember thinking, like, what if Shuby isn't Shuby?
06:55I never thought about this before.
06:56I'm looking at his profile, and I'm like, it's kind of the perfect catfish.
07:00It's unassuming.
07:01It's all these, like, you get in your head with this stuff, man, because this is all.
07:05You're by yourself.
07:05It's all you have, man.
07:06You're just sitting there thinking these interactions are genuine and real.
07:10And I just remember thinking, God, please, just let Shuby be Shuby.
07:14And I seen his face with that big old smile, and I was never happier in my life.
07:18How long was filming?
07:21I want to say, everyone's asked me how long were we actually in the apartments for.
07:25Yeah.
07:25I don't know.
07:26Like, when you sign up, they tell you, we don't tell you the day.
07:30We don't tell you the time.
07:32That's part of the mental thing of the game of kind of losing your shit and trying to keep it
07:36together.
07:36So, I don't know, man.
07:38I always make the joke of, like, I felt like Morgan Freeman and Shawshank just trying to get out and
07:43be free,
07:44meet my friend Andy Dufresne on the beach.
07:47How so crazy did you get kind of being alone?
07:50Insane.
07:50Insane, yeah.
07:51Yeah, I mean, I can be fine doing what I got to do, but it's just, you think with a
07:58reality show and a competition show,
08:00it's like, oh, I'm going to have time to do some push-ups, work out.
08:05And I could have, but I got used to pretty quick anything I want to do, because you don't know
08:11when things are going to happen.
08:12Things are going to come.
08:13Anytime I want to do something, something happened, and I'm just distracted, can't do it.
08:18So, I just got used to, I'm sitting my ass on this couch.
08:21I'm going to doodle.
08:22I'm going to think about what's going on, assess the situations, and then eventually something's going to happen.
08:27Did you get annoyed with yourself by, like, talking to yourself all day every day?
08:31No, that's good.
08:32Dude, I'm a loud idiot.
08:33Yeah, yeah.
08:33Like, everyone's like, when they found out I'm an actor, they're like, oh, it makes sense.
08:38Yeah.
08:38He's playing it up.
08:39And I'm like, dude, this is me.
08:41Like, my best friend, Nick, he summed up me on the show, I think, in the best way.
08:45He's like, Joey on The Circle is equivalent of him FaceTiming his family any time of the day.
08:51Oh, that's awesome.
08:51Because that's what, I'm just loud, and I'm, you know, stupid, stupid sense of humor.
08:57And a lot of people think that's played up for cameras.
09:00But I'll tell you, man, you don't, obviously, you always know what you're there doing.
09:05But you're living there.
09:06Like, you're just being yourself, doing your own thing.
09:10Like, if you were trying to play something up for cameras, like, I just don't think that would work.
09:13I think you'd be gone pretty quick.
09:15Now, you won the show, but you also won over viewers.
09:18Did that surprise you becoming a fan favorite?
09:19And why do you think that happened?
09:22You know, I think it's interesting because watching the reception of me going week to week and knowing the outcome,
09:31I was kind of like, at first, I was like, oh, shit, like, there might be riots when they know
09:35I won this thing.
09:37But it was cool because my entire life, it's kind of been the same thing.
09:41I've always gotten prejudged by people, especially living here in L.A.
09:45I stick out, like, a sore thumb.
09:47So you see me walk into a room, and I'm loud.
09:48I'm confident.
09:49I break people's balls, and people are like, this kid is so Jersey Shore, stereotypical asshole, you know?
09:56It's East Coast mentality.
09:57I'm from Boston, too.
09:58It's like, East Coast out here is, like, very different than the other people.
10:00But, like, we both know the type that does exist.
10:03Yeah, of course, of course, of course.
10:04But I think the thing that's always been different about me is, don't get me wrong,
10:09I do have that side to me of just being loud and stupid, but I'm the exact opposite.
10:15Like, I love every single person.
10:17I take anyone under my wing.
10:18I would do anything for anybody.
10:20And to have viewers be able to see that over the course of 12 episodes was really cool
10:26because I just remember seeing so many tweets and things from people that were like,
10:30Episode 1, get this kid out of here, I can't stand him.
10:34Episode 8, I will die for Joey.
10:35Don't you touch him.
10:37Now, getting to your winning moment, did you find out how the other players rated you,
10:41and how did they rate you?
10:43No.
10:43So I talked to Shuby, actually, a couple days ago, and Shuby is so analytical.
10:48Like, I am not.
10:50And he's like, that's the crazy thing is I never really started weighing out all these things.
10:58Like I said, I would think about what could happen, but he really was, like,
11:02mathematically thinking about stuff.
11:04And he told me the other day, he's like, dude, I don't even think it was close.
11:07He's like, I think everyone put you first besides Seaburn.
11:12And I was like, and he's doing the math, and he's saying he talked to this person and that person.
11:16I'm like, I thought it probably, in my mind, it's like one vote.
11:20And he's like, no.
11:21He's like, it was probably four to you with maybe one to me, and everyone else put him second.
11:28But I thought for sure, Shuby's winning.
11:30I'm going to be happy for my boy.
11:32It came down to the two of us.
11:34And the fact that people have embraced, like, our bromance, like, you're just there, and
11:38like, that's your boy.
11:40And the fact that people love that, those are the things for me I just didn't see coming.
11:44But you put him as number two, right?
11:46And you were going to put him lower.
11:47Yeah.
11:47Correct.
11:48Correct.
11:49You caught on to the fact that that was a winning strategy.
11:53Why didn't other people do that?
11:55You know.
11:56Clearly, because you kept being an influencer.
11:58Why would they bring you as number one?
12:00They basically just wrote you the check.
12:02It's weird, because looking at it from that perspective, I totally get it.
12:09But from my look, I was just like, man, I could do that.
12:15No.
12:16But I have a pit in my stomach thinking about that.
12:18Because I never came into the game with that mentality, ever.
12:23It sort of would have been like me becoming the super influencer and then blocking Shuby
12:28because he was a threat that never went through my mind.
12:33So you would think people would say, I'm tanking this player in the ratings because
12:37they're going to be closer and this is going to edge me up.
12:39But I think that's what made this cast so special is all of us in the end really, truly
12:44cared for each other.
12:45You were all happy with whoever won, kind of.
12:46Yeah, like we all really ranked how we felt personally based off of the interactions in
12:51the circle.
12:52And I don't know if that could happen.
12:54Like that to me is like the lightning in the bottle.
12:56I think they'll change it up.
12:57I think it's going to be much more tactical of, dude, I love you.
13:00You're my boy.
13:01I'd be happy if you won.
13:03Get in eighth place because you are not taking this check away from me.
13:06I think those are the things that are going to happen after the first.
13:08If you were eliminated, who would you have gone to visit?
13:11Shuby.
13:12I had to think about it for a second because I'm like, oof, depending on situations that
13:16happen, but it should be.
13:17Would you ever play the game again maybe as like a catfish?
13:20No.
13:20No.
13:21One and done.
13:21Yeah.
13:22Like I've said it to so many people because the hard thing I have for me right now is
13:28now I'm going to be seen as I'm a reality dude who thinks he's an actor.
13:32If I was looking at me from outside respect, I'd be like, you dick.
13:37Like, dude, just be who you are.
13:40Like, don't be like that person who's now trying to be a musician or a rapper.
13:44And it's like, no, man, I've been an actor for almost a decade out here struggling, pursuing
13:50it.
13:51And, you know, got my brain.
13:53And you made it being yourself.
13:54Being myself, which is actually cool.
13:56That's why I'm happy to see how it's going to transpire for new opportunities.
14:00Because when you go into Reed, the one problem I've always had is I know I could shoot the
14:05shit with anyone.
14:06And that's great.
14:07I can't do that when I go into Reed because we're all there being professional.
14:10It's a rotating door in and out.
14:12And you read, you go, you go.
14:14And now it's like when I go into rooms, there's going to be a different mentality because people
14:19do know my personality.
14:20And I think that does make you get looked upon differently.
14:24So I ended up making my film.
14:27It's called Young Lion of the West.
14:28We're in post-production right now.
14:29Seven-year passion project, bro.
14:31And post-production, all of a sudden, the show comes up.
14:34And I'm like, we got the movie.
14:37That's coming.
14:38It's a process.
14:39What do I got to lose here?
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