Adam Brody Opens Up About His Efforts for a Role in Blue’s Clues
Adam Brody shared insights on the challenges he faced during his early acting auditions and the opportunities he missed.
“I was really eager for Blue’s Clues in the beginning,” Brody, 45, mentioned during The Hollywood Reporter’s comedy roundtable interview released on June 11. “I put in a lot of effort, yeah. I auditioned for it in 1999, truly wanted it, but didn’t land the role. I would’ve enjoyed it.”
Blue’s Clues was aired on Nickelodeon from 1996 to 2006, featuring Steve Burns in a role where he solved clues provided by an animated dog. After Burns, now 51, exited the show in 2002, the role was taken over by Donovan Patton (Joe) and Josh Dela Cruz (Josh).
Meanwhile, Brody kept searching for his big break.
“I auditioned for many of those early roles. There was one for Dawson’s Creek. I remember reading with Scott Speedman, feeling quite nervous,” he reminisced. “I think that role eventually went to Michael Pitt.”
Brody eventually found his big break on Fox’s The O.C. as Seth Cohen, which opened doors for a variety of TV and film roles. Rising to A-list status also gave him the freedom to be more selective about the roles he pursued.
“I wasn’t overly picky, but looking back, I was more selective than necessary. I passed on some projects that could’ve been enjoyable, even if they weren’t deemed ‘cool’ at the time,” he stated during the THR panel. “I suppose I thought, ‘I’m on this teen drama and I’m aware of my opinions, but I believe I have good taste. While my talent can be hit-or-miss, my taste has always been fairly solid.’”
He continued, “I wanted my work to truly reflect that sense of taste, but I struggled to find it. As my opportunities started to narrow, I grew a bit frustrated. Eventually, perhaps because I got married and had a child, or maybe it was just the right moment, I decided to ease up and say, ‘I’ll just take whatever work comes my way and do my best.’ Ironically, that decision led to more rewarding projects.”
Currently, Brody plays Noah, affectionately known as the “hot rabbi,” in Netflix’s Nobody Wants This. His performance even earned him a nomination for a Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice Award.
“I’m receiving a lot of intriguing offers. My inbox is busier than it used to be,” Brody joked to THR in December 2024. “If I’m avoiding something, it’s probably not too similar to the show. Beyond that, the quality of writing is invaluable, and anyone would be fortunate to work on something well-written.”
Brody stars in Nobody Wants This, created by Erin Foster, alongside Kristen Bell, Jackie Tohn, Timothy Simons, and Justine Lupe. They are currently working on season 2.
