Xolo Maridueña Talks ‘Cobra Kai’ and ‘Parenthood’ [Exclusive Interview]

Best known for his role as Victor on NBC’s Parenthood, Xolo Maridueña can now be seen on the new Youtube Red series, Cobra Kai, a sequel to the Karate Kid franchise.

I had a few questions for Maridueña about his role on the new series, how he got his start in acting, and his biggest takeaways from working on Parenthood.

Tell-Tale TV: When did you first decide you wanted to become an actor, and what led to that decision?

Xolo Maridueña: Well, I am actually pretty sure that most young people have that thought cross their minds, right? The difference, perhaps, was when I told my mom.

She got on the phone with an agent who had reached out to her a few years back when we lived in Vegas, and that agent was still interested in representing me. I think I liked the idea of seeing people who look like me on TV. I still like that idea.

Tell-Tale TV: You star as Miguel on the upcoming series Cobra Kai. What can you tell us about your character?

Maridueña: Miguel is a microcosm of every new kid in school, well every kid, if he had some of the most comedic geniuses writing his conversations. The thing I really like about Miguel is that you get to see his vulnerable side before the other part of him takes over.

He is a kid that maybe hasn’t received enough direction from anyone other than his mom. When he finds that other path, via Johnny Lawrence and Cobra Kai, that’s when things get really interesting.

He’s not a jerk but he really is someone who at times does have the jerky part that can come out. As the series progresses, what I hope you see is Miguel’s hero’s journey.

Tell-Tale TV: Can you talk about how you prepared for your role? And what’s been the biggest challenge for you?

Maridueña: If I can go in back in the Hot Tub Time Machine I would have told myself to stop arguing with my mom when she would force me to go to yoga class, because by far the lack of flexibility was the toughest part of getting ready for the part.

It wasn’t a technical issue. It was just plain old muscles that didn’t want to move. I mean sometimes I came back home feeling like my body belonged to Grandpa Simpson.

All that to say that the biggest challenge in getting together for this role was touching my toes and doing the splits. I’m still trying to get there.

Tell-Tale TV: What do you think audiences will enjoy most about this series?

Maridueña: It’s the perfect generational show. If you’re someone my age or maybe 10-years older, you can sit and watch it with your dad and both of you are going to love this show.

The Karate Kid Easter eggs, the dynamics between Johnny and Daniel San, the young people in Cobra Kai who really are learning to find themselves outside of what other people think about them. This is a great show to binge and then re-watch to make sure you picked up on the old and new fun stuff.

Tell-Tale TV: You’re starring alongside original cast members Ralph Macchio and William Zabka. What has it been like working with them?

Maridueña: From the very beginning, they were both super open to help me understand Miguel. Billy, in particular, was just the coolest guy. I think a part of him understands that I am about to embark into a role that has shades of his “Johnny Lawrence” and he wanted to prepare me for the physical and mental challenges that being “that guy” brings with it to a role.

The real magic sauce to Cobra Kai, though, are Josh [Heald], Jon [Hurwitz], and Hayden [Schlossberg]. Those guys really were able to envision what the evolution of Karate Kid can really be, and they hit it on the head.

Tell-Tale TV: Many fans will know you from your role as Victor on Parenthood. What was your best memory from that series?

Maridueña: The people I worked with. 100%, to this day. I love hearing from Erika [Christensen] and Savannah [Paige Rae]! I see Sam [Jaeger] on a regular basis because we live very close to each other, and I like to stop by on my way to the farmer’s market.

Tyree [Brown] is really just my brother from another, I can’t wait to work together with him again, but even if we never did, he’s family. They all are in many ways.

Tell-Tale TV: What was the most important thing you learned while working on that set?

Maridueña: Listen more than you talk when you’re working with legendary crews.

Tell-Tale TV: When you aren’t busy working, how do you like to spend your time?

Maridueña: I love to stay busy, so I play tennis on my school’s team, I like to play basketball, I love record shopping with my dad, playing video games, and writing.

I play Dungeons and Dragons, and sometimes I just like to get in my car (I’m a new driver) and just drive to run errands. The most important of all errands is my search for LA’s best burger.

Tell-Tale TV: If you could work with anyone on television, who would it be and why?

Maridueña: That’s a tough one, but if tomorrow, I could walk on to any set, I would want it to be Brooklyn Nine-Nine. I want to try out my comedic chops, and what better place to do that than one of the funniest shows on the screen?!

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Be sure to catch Xolo Maridueña on Cobra Kai, available on Youtube Red.

Featured image credits: Photo: Tim Schaeffer / Cellar Door Studios LA @cellardoorstudios.la — Grooming: Joseph Adivari @adivaribeauty

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