Last night on The Goldbergs, Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey) had a “yentavention,” and Barry Goldberg (Troy Gentile) did his best Queen tribute as a rap. Plus, the recurring character John Calabasas, played by Rob Heubel, made a welcome return. He’s had a career change but has he actually changed?
The Goldbergs is a huge ABC comedy hit that airs Wednesday nights and stars a cracking good ensemble including Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jeff Garlin, Sean Giambrone, Troy Gentile, Hayley Orrantia, and George Segal. Together they navigate the totally trendy 1980s and family life.
Their recurring character, John Calabasas, first debuted in 2014 in the Season 2, Episode 9, “The Most Handsome Boy on the Planet.”
In it, Calabasas is an ethically challenged “talent agent” and photographer who capitalizes on Beverly’s deep-held conviction that Barry is a godlike creature to dote on and make famous.
What are fans saying about the return of John Calabasas?
Clearly, fans of The Goldbergs loved seeing John Calabasas return to the series. Here’s what a few had to say:
https://twitter.com/WiscoCinephile/status/1060559805646036992
How do you make the greatest rock song better? Big Tasty + The Dropouts present ‘Bohemain Rap City!’ pic.twitter.com/27Hm0FYoB0
— The Goldbergs (@TheGoldbergsABC) November 7, 2018
What does John Calabasas do?
He does pretty much anything and whichever way the vocational wind is blowing, he’s capitalizing on it.
No longer a skeevy photographer Calabasas now ropes wanna be Tiffanys and Debbie Gibsons at the mall in his state of the art lip sync studio. Lucky participants pony up $19.95 (usually $500!) and he records their warbling songs.
Last night, John Calabasas popped up again on The Goldbergs smack dab in the middle of the mall with his 1980s lip sync recording booth in Willow Grove.
He asks Erica Goldberg: “Do you perchance dabble in the art of vocal songistry?”
Calabasas hooks Erica (Hayley Orrentia) like a Marlin into his “professional studio” to record a song. She’s actually good.
Erica picks Queen classic hit song, Bohemian Rhapsody.
“I want to be your manager,” says Calabasas who is falling all over himself as he tells Erica her bandmates are “no talent hacks” and that he wants to manage just her.
Turns out brother Barry was the one who nailed the Bohemian “rap”sody and stole her thunder.
Who plays John Calabasas?
Actor Rob Huebel is a riotously funny writer/comedian and producer who is a staple in the alternative comedy scene. A UCB and Adult Swim regular, he appears from time to time on The Goldbergs as Calabasas and has several Funny Or Die shorts under his belt.
Huebel has numerous film credits such as I Love You, Man, The Descendants and TV shows such as Transparent and The League. He can be found on broadcast series like Black-ish and The Mayor. last year he penned a funny op-ed about his three-way sex scene in Transparent for the New York Times.
The Goldbergs airs on Wednesdays at 8/7c on ABC.