YOU LOOKIN AT ME?: P Diddy plays un-hinged record Sergio Roma in "Greek." (Universal Pictures)
Story Created:
Jun 2, 2010 at 4:16 PM PST
Story Updated:
Jun 7, 2010 at 4:32 AM PST
Not content with using his oversized persona to become a music mogul, fashion impresario, perfume designer, restaurateur, beverage supplier and Broadway star, Sean “P Diddy” Combs can now add comedian to the resumé.
Diddy, who spoofs himself as a crazed record label boss in the R-rated comedy “Get Him to the Greek,” has been winning early praise in the latest laddish caper from the Judd Apatow stable.
He plays a character called Sergio Roma, who entrusts his lowly music executive Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) to deliver outrageous British rocker Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) to Los Angeles’ Greek Theater for a lucrative revival concert in 72 hours or else.
The film is a spinoff to the hugely successful “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” which reunites Brand, Hill and Marshall director Nicholas Stoller.
The role gave Combs a chance to release his inner child — first imparting to Green how to control an artist by “mind intercourse,” then engaging in some Chaplinesque Vegas slapstick where he becomes intimately familiar with a car windshield.
“The [back] story to my character is that he’s been in the music industry since he was 6,” said Combs, recently promoting the film in L.A. “He used to road manage Pink Floyd, was an assistant hairdresser to James Brown at 10, scored women and drugs for Rick James at 12 and used to take care of Prince’s guitar.
“Sergio’s just been in the industry for such a long time, he knows the ins and the outs and feels like he has these magical super powers that give him the ability to manipulate your mind to do whatever he wants.”
Art imitating life? “Yeah, I’ve definitely met the Sergios, Aldouses and Aarons,” he said. “These characters truly exist in the record business.”
As for Combs’ own aura, he learned of the film through the grapevine and was so determined to get the gig he flew himself out to the audition, preparing diligently with his acting coach.
“But when I got there, they just said forget the script, we’re just gonna improvise some scenes,” said Combs, recalling his introduction to the Apatow comedy factory. “They give you so much freedom. You can walk round with your pants down and they’ll let you do it, it just better be funny.”
And according to Combs, he was just happy to be part of the mix.
“Aw man, these guys are like the Yankees of comedy,” he said. “They’re the champs, they do it the best and to be able to be just an understudy and learn from these guys was a blessing.”
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