EXCLUSIVE: He’s the LA-based comedic force who built a massive online following reviewing….octopus.
Jake Shane is the man behind the wildly popular TikTok account @octopusslover8 garnering 3.6 million followers.
Shane turned his obscure obsession into millions of followers, he’s loved for his hilarious POV skits and his viral celebrity interviews with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Katy Perry.
Now Shane is diving into the world of Hollywood, landing a cameo role in the latest season of the critically acclaimed series Hacks, starring alongside the legendary Jean Smart.
Stream every episode of Hacks only on Stan.
Shane’s journey from quirky online reviews to rubbing shoulders with comedy royalty is nothing short of remarkable. And it all started with a fascination for eight-armed creatures.
“It all kind of happened over the course of a week,” Shane revealed, reflecting on his initial TikTok explosion.
“It just kind of blew up and my boss at the time was like, I will manage you. So then he became my manager and everything just started kind of happening.”
Beyond his viral TikTok presence, Shane has also ventured into the podcasting world with Therapuss, further showcasing his engaging and humorous take on life.
But it’s his foray into acting on Hacks that has the online world buzzing.
Speaking about his experience on the show, where he plays a social media manager, Shane was clearly still pinching himself. “It was just an honour,” he gushed.
“Honestly, it’s my favourite show. When I found out I got it, it was literally the best moment in my life.”
Shane’s admiration for the show runs deep, citing its sharp wit and well-developed characters as key reasons for his fandom.
“I love how funny [the show] is, but I love how much depth each character has,” Shane explained. He also drew a parallel between the show’s lead character, Deborah Vance (played by Jean Smart), and one of his comedic idols, Joan Rivers, noting the similar late-night television landscape both navigated.
Landing the role wasn’t just luck. Shane revealed a determined approach to joining the Hacks universe.
“I fell in love with the show and then I just kept auditioning for any role that would pop up and eventually one worked,” he said.
“I didn’t get one and I was kind of bummed and then I was like, OK, I’m just gonna post a bunch of skits this weekend, literally manifesting that it would make it to the writers room somehow and somehow it actually did.”
READ MORE: Here’s why Hacks is the one of the best shows on TV as fans describe the comedy as ‘perfect’
Playing a social media producer on the show felt surprisingly natural for the TikTok star. “It was cool. It felt like that would be my job if I wasn’t doing this,” he mused.
Working alongside the formidable Jean Smart was a highlight for Shane. “She was the pros of all pros,” he shared, clearly impressed.
“I wasn’t even expecting her to talk to me as much, but she sat with me and told me stories and just treated me like a friend she’s known for years. She was just so lovely.”
Shane admitted that transitioning from the fast-paced, solo world of TikTok to a large-scale production like Hacks presented its challenges. “It’s a lot harder,” he acknowledged.
“It takes a lot more work than just picking up your phone and filming.” The multiple takes and the pressure to deliver comedic moments consistently were a new experience. “It was hard to be funny every time and you want to be funny every time,” he said, “but yeah, it was hard. It was a challenge, but it was amazing.”
This taste of Hollywood has ignited a clear ambition in Shane. “Yeah, ideally this would be my career. I would love to act primarily,” he stated.
Reflecting on his unexpected journey, Shane remains humble. “I had zero clue,” he said about his initial social media foray leading to his current success.
As for what inspires his comedic content, Shane credits a wide range of influences. “It’s watching TV like Hacks and just consuming media and consuming pop culture and consuming the news,” he explained.
READ MORE: Jean Smart fulfils life long dream of becoming a stand-up comedian in new season of Hacks
He also had high praise for his Hacks co-star, Megan Stalter, who recently appeared on his podcast. “I consider her to be the funniest person in the world right now,” he declared. “She is just so deserving of all of her success and more. She’s just hysterical.”
Looking ahead, Australian fans might just get a chance to experience Jake Shane’s humour in person.
“I really wanna bring the tour down to Australia, really, really badly,” he revealed.
As his episode of Hacks is set to drop today on Stan, Shane shared his anticipation: “I’m excited to see, I’m excited for people to see me act in front of a camera for the first time.”
Stream every episode of Hacks only on Stan.
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