Jake Johnson is back in leisure suits and pinkie rings for 'Minx': 'That is where I find Doug'
LOS ANGELES — Jake Johnson can't explain the exact science behind it, but there's something about a dude wearing a jumbo pinkie ring that exudes influence.
Best known for his seven-year run on "New Girl," Johnson became an unwitting Internet crush as Nick Miller, a lovable mess and a misanthropic almost lawyer turned bar owner turned published author who keeps his money in a Ziploc bag and doesn't see the point in washing his bath towels.
But if you thought nobody could be cool enough as cool Nick Miller, Johnson came strutting in as Doug Renetti.
Doug is Johnson's character in the 1970s-set TV series "Minx" — a magnetic and slightly sleazy publisher of an erotic magazine who finds a reluctant business partner in feminist Joyce Prigger (Ophelia Lovibond) and launches the first Playgirl-esque nude magazine for the female gaze. Like Nick, Doug is an underdog of sorts. But this role has Johnson fitted in polyester leisure suits, shirts unbuttoned low enough to show off his chest hair and, of course, those gaudy rings. (More on that later.)
The series returned for its second season last week, switching to Starz. (The network picked up the series after Max pulled the plug late last year.) It continues Johnson's busy summer. Last month, he reprised his role voicing Peter B. Parker in the animated sequel "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse." Then comes the release of "Self Reliance," the comedy thriller film he wrote, directed and starred in, which will be available to stream on Hulu on Sept. 8.
Speaking over video from his home in Los Angeles, the actor discussed the Kanye West lyric that motivated him during his early years as an actor, making his directorial debut with "Self Reliance," and getting into the advice business for a new podcast. This conversation, which took place before the SAG-AFTRA strike, has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Q: You look like you're having the best time in the ' 70s wardrobe. I saw a tweet that said, "define sex
