In August 2013, Lavergne-based Left Brain Digital Productions (LBD) premiered Johnny Dynamo, and the simple web series of twelve minute episodes quickly turned into big business for CEO & founder of LBD, Joe Thomas. With over 5 million viewers—and rave reviews and awards nominations—Johnny Dynamo is one of the most successful web series today.
Recently, LBD has been hard at work on a new series, Mr. Frost. Lazlo Frost is a gay talk radio star who falls from grace after his colorful antics land him a three year FCC ban. Following his forced sabbatical, Lazlo Frost moves to Nashville and mounts a comeback as part of a fledgling station’s final efforts to stay afloat. Frost’s ratings soar, but not everyone in the town is laughing: many locals would be glad to form a mob and chase Frost right back to Detroit!
The new 30-minute comedy stars Greg Standifer. Standifer previously won accolades for his role as Terry Lowell in Johnny Dynamo. He also played Andy Katz in The Accidental President, and recently wrapped production on, The Body Sculptor (2015).
Until two years ago, Standifer wasn’t actively involved in acting. Then Standifer met Thomas, who had already written the pilot for what would become Mr. Frost but had yet to find the right person for the role. Thomas believed that if Greg was as big of a character on screen as he was off, then he might be just the man for the job. Thomas wrote Standifer a small part in Johnny Dynamo, which allowed the actor to prove he could carry the studio‘s next vehicle.
While gay characters on television have become almost common in recent years, most gay characters still tend to be stuck in supporting roles, centered around ‘fad’ themes like coming out or battling depression. Gay characters also tend to be younger and either twinky types or very GQ. Standifer is excited to star in a show as an older gay actor, whose image doesn’t exactly fit the molds projected by mainstream media.
Frost’s flamboyancy definitely prompts his classification as a queen. Standifer laughs off concerns that this would alienate, rather than endear him to, the gay community, claiming he would never take on a role portraying the community in a bad light. “Anyone that can’t laugh at or with Mr. Frost needs to lighten up! I have always found humor to be the best medicine. Funny is funny!”