On My Radar: Jared Lapidus

What’s the most creative advertising idea you’ve seen recently?

While on a stroll in my Brooklyn neighbourhood, I recently stumbled onto what looked like a small airplane parked on the street. Turns out it was some sort of street-legal scooter-with-wings advertising a local locksmith’s “speedy service". I can’t help but admire the chutzpah it took for someone to come up with this idea (and think it was a good one), and then commit to driving this contraption around the streets of NYC everyday.

What website(s) do you use most regularly? 

Probably YouTube. At this point, the algorithm knows me better than I know myself, and it’s constantly serving me new videos that are totally irresistible to my strange tastes. It’s like, “Why yes, I would like to stay up until 3am watching videos of artisanal candy being pulled by hand. I never thought you’d ask!”

What’s the most recent piece of tech that you’ve bought? 

My MacBook Pro. I go through six-year cycles where I buy the latest and greatest top-end MacBook, and then proceed to absolutely run it into the ground. Once it’s finally coughing up dust and making all kinds of worrying noises, I’m forced to find a replacement and take the old one behind a barn.

What product could you not live without?

I’m a minimal needs/minimal maintenance kinda guy, so I dunno, maybe my Tushy? (HelloTushy.com, to avoid confusion). Turning any old toilet into a glorious bidet-appointed spa? Thank youuuu.

What’s the best film you’ve seen over the last year?

I recently rewatched Midnight Run and, gosh, does it hold up. The R-rated dramedy feels like an unsung sub-genre from a bygone era (could probably fit Get Shorty and Grosse Pointe Blank in there, too). Plus, DeNiro and Grodin make a ridiculously entertaining duo. They really don’t make ‘em like they used to.

What film do you think everyone should have seen?

A Fish Called Wanda. It’s jockeying for position as my all time favourite comedy – a crime caper with a great story, great characters, brilliant comedic set pieces and not an ounce of fat on it. Kevin Kline’s performance should’ve earned him Oscars in perpetuity.

What’s your preferred social media platform?

For better or worse, I avoid social media. Better for my mental health, worse for my career. Is YouTube considered social media? Yes? Great. Then I pick YouTube again. Hot tip – YouTube Premium removes the ads, and allows you to listen to videos with the screen off, effectively turning any video into a podcast.

What’s your favourite TV show? 

This is a conventional answer, but The Sopranos is probably the greatest show ever made, and hits totally differently as an adult than it did as a kid. Back when I was a teen, I watched the show as it aired, and saw myself reflected on screen as the rebellious Anthony Junior. But rewatching it 20 years (and two kids) later, I had an epiphany. Am I… Tony now?

What’s your favourite podcast?

This is a perfect opportunity to plug my old college roommate Ian Fidance’s podcast, Bein’ Ian with Jordan. He and his co-host Jordan Jensen are hilarious. They have amazing guests, and they film the show in the basement apartment he and I used to share together. It’s like a real life Wayne’s World (which is another film everyone should have seen).

What have you been most inspired by recently?

Back in 2017, I directed a kids’ historical sketch comedy show for Netflix called The Who Was Show, which I absolutely loved making, but obviously I wasn’t the target audience. Cut to eight years later – my nieces, nephews and friends’ kids have come of age, and all tell me how they’re obsessed with the show, know the musical numbers by heart, and their schools are even using it as a teaching supplement. I totally underestimated the impact the show would have and now, with my own growing family, I’m way more interested in making dedicated comedy content for kids.

If you could only listen to one music artist from now on, who would it be?

Prince [below]. He did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels. Or was that Ginger Rogers? Either way, the point stands.

If there was one thing you could change about the advertising industry, what would it be?

Just like the actors who star in the spots, let’s figure out a way for commercial directors to benefit from residuals as well. Who’s with me?!

Who or what has most influenced your career?

My childhood obsession with my father’s laserdisc collection. It was a supremely goofy media format, but that oversized box art was like catnip to my young cinephile mind. And we all know how much young cinephiles enjoy catnip.