Tim Cook dinner launched Apple TV+ in 2019 and nonetheless cannot get an appearing position in its reveals — picture credit score: Apple
He does these Apple keynotes, he starred in a “Severance” promo, and oh, yeah, he controls Apple TV+. However none of that was sufficient for Seth Rogen, who reportedly turned down Apple after they needed Tim Cook dinner to get a cameo on “The Studio.”
It is unlikely that Cook dinner filmed an audition tape for “The Studio,” however you then by no means know as a result of it is also been reported that Apple would not intrude with productions on Apple TV+. AppleInsider contacts in tv say that final is true, until your present is in bother, wherein case Apple is throughout you.
“The Studio” is just not in bother. Already commissioned for a second run, Seth Rogen’s comedy drama about Hollywood is a vital hit, and attracting buzz round Apple TV+.
Most just lately, that focus has been on how “The Studio” acquired Ted Sarandos, head of Netflix, to be the most recent of the present’s big variety of cameos. These cameos may be so essential to the present’s Hollywood satire that in accordance with Deadline, creator Seth Rogen says he as soon as scrapped a whole episode when he could not get who he wanted.
He hasn’t stated who he’d needed for that cameo, however because the episode was dropped, clearly Tim Cook dinner wasn’t ready within the wings all season. As a substitute, it is now been revealed that Cook dinner was put ahead for this newest position, the one taken by Netflix’s head.
Whereas the information has solely damaged now that the Netflix cameo has aired, Enterprise Insider journal says that Cook dinner was proposed — and instantly rejected — early on within the course of.
“They requested if we might use Tim Cook dinner as a substitute, and we stated no,” Seth Rogen revealed to the publication through the red-carpet premiere for “The Studio” on the SXSW Movie & TV Competition in March 2025.
That might be the identical pageant at which Apple’s Eddy Cue and producer Ben Stiller enthused about how Apple by no means interferes with its reveals.
Tim Cook dinner has additionally had a go at comedy in Apple’s Mom Nature sketch
It isn’t as if the cameo look is lengthy — it is 65 seconds — however nonetheless Sarandos has been praised for simply agreeing to do it. He performs himself, revealing that actors at all times thank him of their awards acceptances as a result of he writes that into their contract.
If that is not self-deprecating sufficient, he provides: “I imply, in any other case, why on the earth would they presumably thank us? We’re bean counters. They’re artists.”
Possibly Tim Cook dinner might’ve pulled off that type of dig at studio bosses — he is completed comedy earlier than — however Sarandos’s character additionally has to swear repeatedly. If Tim Cook dinner is not actually a continually well mannered particular person, he is labored onerous to look so and this might’ve been a jolt.
It might’ve been a wonderful jolt, actually. If Cook dinner had stated this dialogue on this approach, he could be being applauded for his capability to mock himself. He is actually been prepared to play up facets of his keynotes, as with Apple’s “Mission: Not possible” skit about his slide clicker.
Tim Cook dinner retrieves his slide clicker in Apple’s “Mission: Not possible” skit — picture supply: Apple
However the cause he was turned down was most likely to not do along with his appearing capability, or something remotely towards an Apple TV+ present being meta about Apple TV+. As a substitute, it was as a result of Netflix is a lot greater in movie and tv than Apple that Ted Sarandos is that a lot greater a participant.
So as a substitute of kudos to Tim Cook dinner for a cameo, kudos to Apple for not interfering the present. Thoughts you, extra kudos for Sarandos for mocking himself in a rival streamer’s hit present.
Nonetheless, it isn’t the primary time Cook dinner has didn’t get a starring position as himself. Again in 2018, Hank Azaria — greatest identified for “The Simpsons,” and “Mad About You” — received the position of Tim Cook dinner in “Tremendous Pumped,” a drama sequence on Showtime that you’ve got by no means heard of.
He should not really feel ignored, although, since that very same sequence forged Rob Morrow as Eddy Cue.
