EXCLUSIVE: Snoop Dogg and Kal Pen Chat ‘The Underdoggs’
Snoop Dogg and Kal Penn star in Prime Video’s new movie, The Underdoggs. Also starring Tika Sumpter and George Lopez, the movie follows an ex-professional football player, who is sentenced to community serive where he has to coach a rag-tag pee-wee football team.
We got a chance to hear from the two stars regarding the movie, their own “underdogg” moments, and so much more. Check out what they had to say below.
Can you both talk about an “underdog” moment you’ve experienced in your life?
SNOOP: “Probably with this acting thing in the beginning. They didn’t believe that I could be an actor because I was so focused on rapping and not really like taking the time to think about the structure, the skill, the practice, and the things that go into it. So, I had to, you know, prepare myself to get better, but I started off as an underdog where I wouldn’t get roles or they would say nah, he can’t do it, we don’t think. I had to go practice. I had to go get better. I had to go do things to make sure that when I do get an opportunity that they couldn’t say no. “
KAL: “This just reminded me of the story about when Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle blew up, where for years when I was starting out, I went to drama school. I was trying to get my foot in the door, and I kept getting told, ‘Well, what part could you possibly play?’ Because look at you. Like I could play whatever. Like, you know, my background’s comedy. And this was the late ‘90s, early 2000s so it wasn’t really like that, right, unless people had an idea in their heads of what you’re supposed look like. And I remember seeing, I went to UCLA undergrad, I remember seeing a woman, I can’t remember her name, but I remember at the time she was, I think, the only Black woman on network TV. And people asked her questions in a format like this, and she said, ‘I know that I need to work harder than anybody else who’s going out for that job, and I know that, you know, that’s why I have an MFA in classical theater and when I walk into that audition room, if they’re sending me home without the job, they know that I know that I was the best person for the job.
So, I’m ready to work a thousand times harder than anybody else. And I kinda use that philosophy as the underdog. Then Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle comes out, and everybody forgets it tanked at the box office. It did not do well. The title wasn’t great. And I remember in Hollywood, like what was that, 2004, everyone after it tanked was like see, we told you two Asian American men just can’t open a comedy. And then it comes out on DVD, and people were buying it.”
SNOOP DOGG: “You can thank the hood for that.”
KAL: “Did they pay for it?”
SNOOP: “Yeah, we paid for it. Remember, I told you I bought a couple copies and sold a couple copies. But you got your street cred. You in there.”
KAL: “‘Cause Indian folks try to take credit. And they did not buy a copy. They gifted each other the DVD. But anyway, sorry, I don’t wanna take up too much time. That movie came out on DVD and people all over the country, not just in the pockets that studios thought, went out and supported it and we got a second and third movie. So, to your point, you know, I wish that there was a little more attention on hey, there are stories that are out there that can do really well. And obviously in the last 20 years, we’ve seen that especially with technology like Amazon and streaming.
Snoop, can you talk about the kids attempting to rap battle you on set?
“I had to show them who I was. They failed.”
Do they not know who you are?
“No, they did not know. Remember, they only 13, 14. They don’t know no better, so it’s like they babies, so I had to, you know, show ‘em some karate skills, you know, kick a few people down and show ‘em what it was about.
But I’m a big kid, and I’m loving this right here. This just feels so good. It feels like I’m back in school again. Like I had so much fun working with the kids. Like I had more fun with them than they had with me. I was able to do some things and try some things and then get with them before they become real big superstars.
This is the beautiful part right here. I can’t wait to see them in two or three years when they’re in real big movies and they’ll forget who I am.”
Snoop, the story is based off your real-life football program, Snoop Youth Football League. Who are the top three players, in your opinion, to come through your program?
“Top three kids that came through my football program? Ronnie Hillman. John Ross. And C.J. Stroud. ‘Cause he’s a top-two pick.”
For our final question, this is a black-directed film, mostly Black cast, black leads, would you consider this to be a Black film?
“I just think when they say that, when they start saying it’s a Black movie, that’s just trying to limit it. Trying to put it to a certain fanbase. You understand what I’m saying? So, when they do things like that and discredit the fact that it’s a great picture with great actors and great people no matter what walks of life they come from, because everybody in the movie is not Black.
Everybody that worked on the movie is not Black. But the people who are the leads in certain parts are Black, but that doesn’t discredit any and everybody. So, I feel like it should just be looked at as a great piece of work like any other project that’s not black. So, stop trying to put us low and say it’s a black movie and just say it’s a great movie with a couple of Black people in it.”
The Underdoggs is now out on Prime Video!
Photo credit: Wilford Harewood
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity