Actor Mark Teich's Mistake: Following the Career Paths of Others

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Joining me for Episode #28 of the “My Favorite Mistake” podcast is Mark Teich, an actor, comedian, writer, and director. Mark and I were high school classmates, botof “the My Favorite Mistake” podcasth graduating from Livonia (MI) Churchill High School in 1991. I played drums in the pit orchestra for at least four musicals that Mark acted, sang, and danced in (he later earned BFA degrees in all three disciplines). We catch up about high school days a bit in the episode, if you'll forgive us.

Mark honed his improv skills in Chicago and New York performing and writing in famed troupes such as The Second City and the Upright Citizens Brigade. He also enjoyed a highly successful comedy career culminating in four certified gold CD's, a certified gold DVD, two Comedy Central Presents specials, five worldwide tours… He performed at a sold-out Carnegie Hall with comedy partner Stephen Lynch. He has starred in four Disney cable shows… has been seen on shows like “Monk” and “New Girl,” and the movie “Leatherheads.”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been watching, say, a football game on TV… and there’s Mark Teich in a commercial. He’s been in commercials for more than 80 companies including Bacardi, Dell, Subway, Little Caesars, IHOP, Fidelity Investments, and TempurPedic… channeled MC Hammer in a Hallmark commercial that was named “World’s Best Commercial.”

He is currently starring as “Uncle Vin” in an online series called The Finchers, Presented by Viewsonic.

Today, Mark shares his “favorite mistake” which involves following others instead of charting his own path for his career. We also talk about actors auditioning for jobs and parallels to those of us who are “auditioning” in terms of sales presentations or other competitive settings. Mark is not the author of a book called “You Can Get Every Role.”

I think you'll enjoy the conversation, as I did. This was a lot of fun and I appreciate Mark making the mistake of joining me for a really fun episode to end the year with.

Rest in Peace, Mark.

You can listen to or watch the episode below. A transcript also follows lower on this page.