“Truth-shaming?” Joey asked. “What’s that?”
“It’s like fat-shaming but for honest people,” Cash explained. “It’s the reason famous people can never be totally truthful when they speak publicly. Think about it—everyone usually has the answer they want to hear before they ask the question, especially from celebrities. However, if we answer honestly and it differs from what people want to hear, unintentionally bursting a bubble or two, we get shamed for it. We’re called ungrateful, selfish, disgraceful—everything but truthful. Alternatively, if we give the answer everyone wants to hear, but it doesn’t seem genuine enough, we’ll get shamed for that, too. It’s a real mind fuck.”
“So you have to constantly lie to make people happy?” Joey asked.
“Not constantly—that would be exhausting,” Cash said. “I’ll give you an example. One of you guys pull up my Rolling Stone interview from last February. Read the answers I gave the writer and I’ll tell you if they’re honest or not.”
They weren’t sure they wanted to play this game, but Sam got on his phone and found the article online anyway.
“Okay, first question: How does it feel to be the face of a global phenomenon?” he read. “Your answer: Oh gosh, I’m not sure how to answer that. You say that like I’m single-handedly responsible for the show’s success, when it really takes a village to make the show work. Our crew deserves as much credit as I do.”
“See, that was completely honest,” Cash said. “There wasn’t a single white lie in it. Next?”
“What’s it like to be beloved by so many Wizzers around the world?” Sam read. “Your answer: I don’t know how to describe it. Entertaining people and giving them a break from reality is why we become actors, isn’t it? I’d say it’s validating, but it’s much more than that—it gives me purpose and I don’t take it for granted.”
“Also 100 percent true,” Cash said. “Next?”
“What’s next for your career?” Sam read. “Your answer: I’m busy finishing the ninth season of Wiz Kids but have a few film projects lined up for our hiatus and maybe even a play in the West End.”
“Bold-faced lies,” Cash said. “I didn’t have a single project lined up for this hiatus. You gotta say that shit so no one labels you as a future has-been—that’ll kill a career. Even if it’s obvious you’ll never do anything but the show you’re on, you can’t admit it.”
“But you’ve done more than Wiz Kids,” Joey said. “You did that independent movie Lucky, about the blind and deaf soldier who lost his leg in World War II.”
Cash was shocked. “You guys saw that?”
“Opening night,” Topher said. “We had to drive to a bad neighborhood in Michigan to see it, but we were there.”
The actor was touched and the corner of his mouth curved into a grin, but it only lasted a second.
“No one else saw it,” he said somberly. “The critics were vicious, but I think they were still mad Wiz Kids had become a hit and were taking their aggression out on me. Funny how movie reviews can be scathing yet never mention a thing about the plot or characters. Long story longer, no one’s going to cast me in another movie again. Back to you, Sam—this is fun!”
Cash flicked his cigarette out the window and then lay across the luggage in the back with his hands behind his head.
“Damien Zimmer has said the Wiz Kids cast and creative team is like a family. Would you agree?” Sam read. “Your answer: Definitely. That’s all you said.”
Cash groaned. “Damien Zimmer has despised me from day one. Every time I get any recognition he writes me into a coma or puts me through something horrendous as punishment. After I was on the cover of TV Guide, he put a dangerous stunt into a script and it broke my ankle. After I won a People’s Choice Award, he put my character in a coma for twelve episodes. The list goes on. Next?”
“Your costar Tobey Ramous just booked the lead role of a huge studio franchise. Are you jealous of his success?” Sam read. “Your answer: Not at all. Having a friend in a huge movie just means I get to attend a huge premiere to support him.”
“Of course I was jealous,” Cash confessed. “But Tobey really needed that gig for his self-esteem. We were really close friends until Us Weekly did a poll asking which of us was hotter. For whatever reason, I won and Tobey didn’t take it well. He started lifting weights and doing steroids to cope and our friendship shriveled up with his balls. Next?”
“Are the rumors that you and Amy Evans are more than friends true?” Sam read. “Your answer: No. That’s a rumor the Wizzers who like our characters’ relationship started. I’m glad they’re so invested in the show, though.”