Jake Johnson reveals how he inspired 'Drunk History' in teaser for Mythical Kitchen's new series [exclusive]

Jake Johnson will forever be known to television audiences as Nick Miller, the on-again-off-again love interest of Zooey Deschanel's Jess in Fox's smash-hit sitcom New Girl. The series helped launch him into the stratosphere as a charismatic comedic sensation, going on to land roles in everything from Jurassic World to the Spider-Verse movies and even his own film, Self Reliance. He's now about to take the pickleball court with his new film, The Dink, premiering on Apple TV this Friday, July 24, and casting him as a former tennis prodigy finding new meaning in playing the hot new sensation sweeping through his strict father's country club. Before that, however, the crew at Mythical Kitchen has prepared him a meal and a chance to reflect on his career thus far.

Just one day before the launch of The Dink, Johnson will appear on the latest episode of the YouTube channel's new culinary concoction, Breaking Down a Career in 5 Dishes, where host and Mythical chef Josh Scherer will guide him on a tasteful trip down memory lane through a chef's counter-style omakase experience. As the title suggests, five dishes will be prepared and presented for Johnson to sample, all of which take inspiration from some of his most iconic characters, whether that be Nick, Peter B. Parker, or sleazy publisher Doug Renetti from Minx. Each is meant as a conversation starter, sparking a more candid discussion about the behind-the-scenes experiences and memories that came from the entire creative process. Johnson is no stranger to getting deep with the Mythical Kitcheneers, having previously appeared on their Last Meals series, but this time, he'll get the chance to retell the story of how he inspired a classic historical comedy series.

Collider is excited to share a sneak peek from the episode in which Scherer asked about Johnson's history with Drunk History. The long-running show, where an intoxicated narrator recounts a piece of history while actors bring the scene to life in hilarious fashion, began as a web series in 2007 created by one of Johnson's friends, Derek Waters. Originally running in similar circles with other Second City Comedy alumni, they got together one fateful night when an inebriated Johnson told Waters a story about how Otis Redding died with many inaccuracies. So inspired and in stitches was Waters that he later asked Johnson if he wanted to get drunk with him again and recreate it for a video with actors in costumes accompanying him. Alas, as a commercial actor who had just joined the union, he ultimately passed, but the idea went on to become iconic and spawn a Comedy Central hit that lasted six seasons and even featured Johnson as a guest.

'Breaking Down a Career in 5 Dishes' Evolves Mythical Kitchen's Interview Style

Beyond the story, Johnson and Scherer also touch on how the Drunk History style went on to influence other series, spawning a sort of genre of its own. It's just a taste of the kind of career conversations that will make up 5 Dishes. Compared to the introspective Last Meals, which has had everyone from Tom Hanks to Gordon Ramsay thinking about their lives and eventual deaths, it looks to mix the personal and professional through the power of food in a casual setting ripe for bringing out must-hear stories from the making of iconic films and shows. For Scherer, the series represents a natural expansion of the in-depth interview style that has made Mythical Kitchen, itself a spin-off of Rhett & Link's Good Mythical Morning, a YouTube powerhouse with over 7 million cross-platform viewers and 1.4 billion lifetime views, with appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Jennifer Hudson Show, and more.

Johnson's episode of Breaking Down a Career in 5 Dishes will be released on the Mythical Kitchen YouTube channel on Thursday, July 23 at 6 a.m. ET. Check out our exclusive sneak peek in the player above.