Jason Schmidt Talks Buddy’s Journey on ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ [Interview]

The multi-talented Jason Schmidt is the perfect person to play the lovable Buddy Aldridge. His charming personality comes out even when talking about the tougher sides of Buddy’s persona.

Throughout Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies Season 1, Schmidt has seen this character go on a roller coaster of emotions and experiences. On a show about minority voices, the main white character isn’t meant to be the star, but Buddy still manages to be part of the ripple effects of everyone else finding their place in the spotlight.

I recently spoke with Jason Schmidt to discuss the ins and outs of playing a character that goes on a journey of self-discovery where he gets knocked down and somehow keeps pushing himself to get back up.

On Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies Season 1 Episode 8, “Or at the High School Dance…,” Buddy Aldridge sees his plans for the election and his connection to Jane spiral out of his control. It’s a fallout that has been a slow time coming until it just barrels down the hill toward a crash.

Starting off that downward spiral in the final episodes of the season was a “great privilege” for Schmidt and one that he’s so grateful to have early on in his acting career.

“I think he has the longest journey of any character on the show from point A to point B, where he starts and ends. And that’s just such a cool thing as an actor to not only explore a character but explore a character in such a poignant part of their life where they are actively changing every episode and re-evaluating,” Schmidt explained.

The thing about Buddy that viewers aren’t expecting is just how nuanced and complex he is despite, on the surface, just being another jock with a rich and powerful father. Buddy is willing to put work in and change the world around him, but he also has his own demons.

These demons rear their head anytime his big-hearted personality falls short of what is expected of him, either from his dad, teachers, friends, or even himself. 

“When he hurts other people and when his actions cause turmoil for other people, I think, honestly, it pushes him towards wanting to be a better person. I don’t think he really knows how to utilize himself best yet,” he said.

“He doesn’t really know who he is, and so he doesn’t know yet how to be a positive person in the world, which I think is part of the darkness he’s experiencing. But I think he’ll learn how to harness it eventually.” 

That turmoil comes out in negative ways for Buddy and those around him, but Schmidt truly believes Buddy is on a path toward positive growth, not a permanent downward spiral.

After all, the behaviors he displays during “Or at the High School Dance…” are the same actions he sees from his own father. Buddy has just found out that the things that make up his identity, football, and student council, weren’t justly earned by his own merit. 

“He put his identity into his accomplishments. Now he has no identity. He doesn’t know who he is. He no longer knows who ‘just Buddy’ is. He knows who he felt it with, Jane or Hazel, but he doesn’t know it himself. I think when he feels that misery, he’s just copying what his dad does when his dad feels that misery,” Schmidt said.

Speaking to Hazel and Jane as people who see Buddy beyond the image he puts forth to everyone else. There is also something to be said about the friendship between Wally and Buddy.

Much like how Jane and Hazel make Buddy feel like he can be himself, Wally gives Buddy the opportunity to see the world from a different set of eyes and experiences.

“Behind the scenes, Maxwell [Whittington] and I had decided that Wally and Buddy are best friends. They grew up together, and they have this kind of unconventionally close friendship. It’s not something we got to explore [as much] on the show, but if the series continues, I think it would be good for Buddy to have a close friend to help him through these hard times.”

“Wally has tried to do a little bit [of opening Buddy’s eyes], but Buddy hasn’t yet been as receptive to it because it’s not some girl he’s in love with,” Schmidt said.

Another relationship we see Buddy struggle with is his rivalry with Richie. These two are both in love with the same girl and have different reputations in the eyes of the adults and the rest of the town.

“I don’t know that they hate each other, but I think he’d be open to [friendship]. I also think there is a lot that he needs to work through before he could be friends with him. I think he’s realized throughout the series that what type of person you are isn’t about the way you dress or the way you act or if you drink or whatever. I think he’s figured out that a good person can come from anywhere.”

On a more personal note, Jason Schmidt feels that his very much in kin with what Buddy deals with based on his experiences in high school. While there are differences, ultimately, Schmidt feels he brings some of himself to the role.

“In high school, I felt like a little bit of a chameleon. I did a lot of things, so I didn’t always feel completely myself with every group of people that I was with. And I think Buddy has a similar feeling. I think that’s why he’s attracted to people like Jane or Hazel because they open him up and allow him to be his full self and not just the football player or the actor or the student council president, he gets to be Buddy, whoever that might be.”

While Buddy is this incredibly charming person who finds himself at home with just about everyone, Schmidt himself wishes he could take on a bit more of that within his own life. He feels that Buddy’s “charm and courage” are traits he could use more of going forward.

Internally, both Buddy and Schmidt share the same worries and insecurities. Buddy has these fears about being himself and pleasing those around him that Jason Schmidt feels he understands on a personal level.

“Buddy’s fear that he’s not a good person. That’s kind of a deep one, but I think there’s a constant worry that maybe you’re not doing enough or you’re not kind enough. And I think I relate to that with Buddy. But I think that means that you have a big heart because you care about [these things],” Schmidt explained.

When discussing the show as a whole, Jason Schmidt is just so grateful to be a part of something so historic. He’s aware of the impact the show will have because of the care it gives to creating a voice for minority individuals.

Just like he feels the show takes care with each character to give them “nuance and complexity,” Schmidt feels the writers and creatives took the time to really develop this show into one that can be relatable to everyone.

“I think it is handled in a really beautiful way. It’s touched on with nuance. It’s not shoved in your face. It’s just something that these characters were dealing with. It’s not the main problem. They’re not always thinking about it, but they run into it throughout their daily lives. It just happens, and that’s beautiful because it’s not a message, it’s just honesty.”

Much like its predecessor, Grease, this show does its best to ensure each song creates a moment for the characters singing. Sometimes, what they really want to say can’t be expressed in everyday language so they do it through song. 

One of the best moments to show how differently Wally sees the world is the song “Land Doesn’t Look So Bad.” Which also happens to be Schmidt’s favorite song from this season.

“It hits the perfect mixture of the Grease style and the more modern style that we’re doing with Pink Ladies, and it’s shot so beautifully. I think Maxwell [Wittington] and Shanel [Bailey] are just superstars in it.”

Ultimately, Schmidt loves that he’s been given the opportunity to play someone like Buddy — a character so layered and complicated under a shiny, easy-going surface.

“He really cares about how everyone around him is doing. So he’s constantly looking and making sure everyone in the room is okay, but at the same time, he then doesn’t know what to do with that information.”

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Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies airs Thursdays on Paramount+.

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