Interview: Joel Kim Booster and Michaela Jae Rodriguez

Lori talks to Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (“Pose”) and Joel Kim Booster (“Fire Island”), two of the cast members of the Maya Rudolph-fronted comedy, “Loot,” now streaming on Apple TV+.

Joel Kim Booster and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (2025)

SIDEWALKS host Lori Rosales speaks to actors Joel Kim Booster and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez about starring in the Maya Rudolph-led streaming comedy series, “Loot.”

PLEASE NOTE: This online version of the interview is slightly different than how it appeared on the TV episode with segments rearranged. The sound has been removed from the promotional clips.

Mini-Biographies:

Born on February 29, 1988, in Jeju Island, South Korea, Joel Kim Booster plays Nicholas in Apple TV+’s “Loot.” An actor, comedian, producer, and writer, he started his career as a stand-up comedian and copywriter. Booster released a stand-up album, “Model Minority,” in 2018. In 2022, he wrote, executive produced, and starred in the Emmy-nominated, Hulu romantic comedy “Fire Island,” a queer, modern retelling of “Pride and Prejudice.” Additionally, he co-produced and wrote for “Big Mouth” and “The Other Two.” Booster had roles as Tony in the Hulu series “Shrill” and as Jun Ho in NBC’s short-lived sitcom “Sunnyside,” in addition to guest roles in popular shows like “Search Party,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and a dramatic turn in “Industry.” He also does voice acting, including as Charles Lu in the animated series “Big Mouth,” Jingle Jim in “Santa Inc.,” and Variety Show Host 1 / Idol Host / Romance Saja in “KPop Demon Hunters.” Booster released his first hour-long stand-up special, “Joel Kim Booster: Psychosexual,” on Netflix in 2022. Currently, he also is the presenter of the reality dating show “Love Hotel” on Bravo/Peacock.

Born on January 7, 1991, in Newark, New Jersey, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez plays Sofia, the no-nonsense head of a billionaire’s charity foundation, opposite Maya Rudolph in the comedy series “Loot.” Her career started as Angel Dumott Schunard in an Off-Broadway revival of the musical “Rent” in 2011, for which she won the Clive Barnes Award. She played Ebony in the 2017 independent musical film “Saturday Church,” Emma in “Adam,” and Carolyn in “tick, tick… BOOM!.” On TV, she appeared in guest roles on “Nurse Jackie,” “The Carrie Diaries,” and “Luke Cage” before finding international acclaim for her starring role as the house mother Blanca Evangelista in FX’s “Pose” (2018–2021), a performance that garnered her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama in 2022 and making her the first transgender actor to win the award. Additionally, she appeared as Nicolette in “American Horror Story: Delicate,” Marine in “Skincare,” and voiced Nightbird in “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” and Zagan in episodes of “Dead End: Paranormal Park.”

Interview Credits:

• Recorded: October 8 2025
• Host / Producer: Lori Rosales
• Editor: Richard R. Lee
• Special Thanks To: Apple TV+, 3 Arts Entertainment, Universal Television