“You’re playing with a giant”: the 2016 co-star who left Walton Goggins “unbelievably intimidated”
Actor Walton Goggins reflected on his experience collaborating with Danny McBride on the HBO series Vice Principals, which debuted in 2016. In the two-season comedy-drama, Goggins portrayed Lee Russell, one of two ambitious high school teachers competing for the principal role. Despite his accomplished career and work with major filmmakers, Goggins admitted to feeling profoundly unnerved by McBride's improvisational abilities and comedic mastery during their scenes together.
Vice Principals generated modest critical response in its debut year but found stronger appreciation with its second season, which achieved unanimous critical acclaim. The series received limited major award recognition overall, though Goggins' performance was acknowledged at the Critics' Choice Television Awards. Goggins has remained vocal in defending McBride as an underappreciated talent in television, expressing a desire for the pair to reunite for future projects.
- Walton Goggins felt intimidated working with Danny McBride on HBO's Vice Principals, citing McBride's improvisational brilliance and comedic skill
- Vice Principals' first season (2016) received modest reviews, but season two achieved a perfect 100% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes
- Goggins earned a Critics' Choice Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Lee Russell