The sixth and final season ofThe Handmaid’sTalemay have wrapped up, but star Sam Jaeger stopped by for aDebunking AIsession withScreenRantto discuss the series. In each episode ofDebunking AI,a known actor, director, or other creative responds to an AI chatbot’s assumptions about their lives and career. Given the current state of AI, expect fun facts and even more fun misconceptions. Plus, each episode reveals interesting information about the current and past projects of its guests.
Sam Jaeger has been a recurring player inThe Handmaid’s Talesince season 2. As Mark Tuello, a representative of the United States government in exile (and someone who has apparently beenin love with Serenafor a long time), Jaeger portrayed a complicated ally for Elizabeth Moss’ June–a relationship which came to a head inThe Handmaid’s Taleseason 6. Outside of the long-running Hulu show, Jaeger has appeared in such projects asWolf Man, Law & Order True Crime,andParenthood.
In his episode of thisScreenRantoriginal series, Sam Jaeger reflects on his most obscure acting roles and fun things like his favorite foods. Check out the video, above, or read on for highlights. Plus, be sure to check out more episodes ofDebunking AI, like this one withLove, Death + Robots’ Tim Miller.
How Much Did AI Get Right About Sam Jaeger?
“He Enjoys Hip-Hop Dance” – True Or False?
Sam Jaeger’s most memorable scene inParenthoodwas when his character, Joel Graham, proposed to Julia Braverman (played by Erika Christensen), and outside of acting, he loves a warm bowl of chili paired with a slice of homemade apple pie. At least, that’s what AI thinks.“That is not true,”Jaeger said about the chili. AboutParenthood,he corrected the chatbot with“I was married to Julia Braverman from the start of the series, so that is indeed false.”That said, the actor revealed,“I like chili with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”
AI did correctly state that Jaeger appeared in Clint Eastwood’sAmerican Sniper, and that his acting career began with a guest appearance onLaw & Orderwhile he was still in college.“That is true,”Jaeger said,“It’s kind of one of those rites of passage in New York. You do it, and you’re like, ‘Well, I did Law & Order. I guess I made it.’”The chatbot also stated that Jaeger studied acting at Otterbein college, which is also a fact.
Unfortunately, AI’s biggest swing was quickly debunked.“He has shared that he enjoys hip-hop dance, a pastime he embraced alongside the cast of The Handmaid’s Tale,”Jaeger read from the chatbot, replying,“That is not true … I’m willing to humiliate myself in a myriad of ways–it’s not my go-to for free time, though.”
Sam Jaeger Reflects On His Handmaid’s Tale Journey
Plus, Could He Return In The Testaments Spinoff?
AI said Jaeger joinedThe Handmaid’s Taleas a guest in season 2 and became a series regular in season 3, to which the actor responded,“Close. I became a series regular in season 4.”The actor then relayed a story in which he toldThe Handmaid’s Taleteam that he was slightly less available than they may have expected–“And I think they got nervous and were like, ‘We’ve got to make this guy a series regular.’”
“The moral of the story is: Lie.”
Interestingly, the chatbot got it right when it stated that Jaeger’s character Mark Tuello was originally slated to be in just one scene of the series. Jaeger was hired only as a guest star, but, in his words,“It was a great scene with Yvonne Strahovski, the matriarch of The Handmaid’s Tale, and I guess we hit it off well enough, and the scene was different enough from the tone of the show that they were like, ‘I think we can bring this character back.’”
Jaeger also revealed he’s surprised his character lasted as long as he has inThe Handmaid’s Tale: “I always felt like, at the end of The Handmaid’s Tale… I assumed I was a goner. I got on the phone with the showrunners and I was like, ‘How long do I last? When do I get killed on this?’ and they were like, ‘You make it through the end of the series.’ I was like, ‘That is crazy.’”
Before signing off, Jaeger read the AI chatbot’s assumption that he may appear in the upcomingThe Handmaid’s Talespinoff seriesThe Testaments. “This is exciting, because this determines how employed I am in the coming years,”he said. In the words of the chatbot,“It’s quite possible that Mark Tuello could appear in The Testaments, given his key role as the US government liaison in The Handmaid’s Tale. His character could provide an important link between the original series and the new storyline.”
Jaeger’s response?“Say, AI, I think you’ve got a future as a writer. But please don’t write, because I’ve read what you’ve got so far, and it is garbage.”
For Handmaid’s Taleand Sam Jaeger, check out the full episode ofDebunking AI.
The Handmaid’s Tale
Cast
The Handmaid’s Tale is a television adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel, released in 2017. It is set in a dystopian future where a woman is compelled to live as a concubine under a strict fundamentalist theocracy.
