Celebrity Jobber with Jeff Zito – Seann William Scott

Date: October 17, 2025
Host: Jeff Zito
Guest: Seann William Scott

Episode Overview

In this episode of Celebrity Jobber, Jeff Zito sits down with actor Seann William Scott, best known for his legendary role as Steve Stifler in American Pie, as well as other comedic hits (Dude, Where’s My Car?, Road Trip, and Role Models). The conversation centers around Scott’s path to Hollywood, his upbringing in Minnesota, the quirky inspiration behind Stifler, the pivotal moments in his acting career, and his relatable stories of “jobbing” before stardom—including some humorous early work experiences. The episode also discusses his current project, Shifting Gears on ABC alongside Tim Allen. True to the podcast’s theme, Zito explores what Scott’s life might have looked like if showbiz hadn’t worked out.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Pop Culture Impact of “Stifler”

[02:02 – 03:22]

• Zito credits Scott with defining a “type” of friend in pop culture: “You put a name on everybody’s friend ... everybody has a Stifler in their life.”
• Scott reflects on the origins of Stifler:

  “There’s a little bit of stiffness, I think, in most dudes ... all of my friends from home in Minnesota are very, very funny. ... I stole little quirks and little things from a lot of them and just, you know, used for the character.” (Scott, 02:52)

• Stifler is an amalgamation of four or five high school buddies and “bits of every guy.”

Beyond Stifler: Acting Range & Typecasting

[03:59 – 04:54]

• Does Scott carry Stifler into later roles?
  Scott admits his early career leaned on similar comedic roles because “that’s what was coming my way.”

  “Let’s just try to make people laugh. ... In Shifting Gears, my character is not that smart, but he’s a good guy ... kind of like a human yellow lab. It’s a little different.” (Scott, 04:19)

Early Ambitions & The Move to LA

[05:02 – 06:05]

• On growing up in Minnesota: Sports were a big part of his youth—football, basketball, baseball.
• Becoming an actor “out of the blue”:

  “I just remember thinking, like, I just want to do this. I want to make people feel the same way that I feel when I see something great. ... It was super naive, but ... I was, like, moving to LA.” (Scott, 05:24)

• He had no other concrete plans before acting took over his ambitions.

The Big Break & Unlikely Comedy Path

[06:05 – 07:34]

• Struggles before American Pie and pursuing darker roles:

  “I wasn’t auditioning for comedies ... I was pursuing really darker roles. ... When American Pie came around, I was like, ‘I don’t look 18 ... I’ll never get this part.’ So let me just, like, go in and improvise and make this character something that I’m imagining. And I was like, holy shit, I got the part!” (Scott, 06:27)

• Scott credits a mix of luck, work ethic from sports, and risk-taking in auditions for his break.

First Jobs: From Dishwashing to Cracker Barrel Escape

[07:39 – 08:55]

• First job: Washing dishes at a Chinese restaurant.

  “That lasted a day. I was like, this sucks, man. My hands are burning. This is way too hard.” (Scott, 07:45)

• Second job: Cracker Barrel, but he abandoned ship within hours:

  “I walked in, got the job, and then ... I go, ‘Hey, where’s the bathroom?’ And I just found the exit and just went home.” (Scott, 08:10)

• Both jobs lasted only one day—Zito and Scott share a laugh over similar stories in radio.

Shifting Gears: Current Sitcom Life

[09:08 – 12:02]

• Scott describes his role and the show’s appeal:

  “I basically play mechanic in Tim’s restoration car shop... the character has grown up with Tim’s family ... they kind of have, like, a little chemistry. ... I’m just one of those characters ... that cracks one-liners ... just like the funny guys.” (Scott, 09:49)

• Show’s relatability:
  Zito: “Nobody wants to move back in with mom and dad ... but it’s just a fact of life. It happens. ... It’s relatable for a lot of people.” (Zito, 10:43) Scott agrees, adding:

  “The premise is really sweet ... a father and a daughter ... living together with different views ... trying to navigate that ... I love the show. ... I hope we get to do many seasons of it.” (Scott, 11:26)

Tim Allen, Sports Fandom, and Personal Connections

[12:07 – 12:50]

• On working with Tim Allen:

  “He reminds me a little bit of my dad who had passed. ... He’s also like a big kid ... very, very funny.” (Scott, 12:10)

• Bonding over sports teams:
  “We were just talking ... he’s a huge Detroit Lions fan ... and that’s what my dad did with the Vikings. I’m like, why do you get so stressed?” (Scott, 12:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There’s a little bit of stiffness in most dudes ...” (Scott, 02:52)
• “Let’s just try to make people laugh. ... my character in Shifting Gears is like a good guy, kind of like a human yellow lab.” (Scott, 04:19)
• “It was literally because I loved movies so much ... I just want to make people feel the same way that I feel when I see something great.” (Scott, 05:24)
• “That lasted a day. I was like, this sucks, man. My hands are burning.” (Scott on dishwashing, 07:45)
• “I go, ‘Hey, where’s the bathroom?’ And I just found the exit and just went home.” (Scott, 08:10)
• “He [Tim Allen] reminds me a little bit of my dad who had passed. ... just a big kid ... very, very funny.” (Scott, 12:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:02] – Stifler as a pop culture archetype
• [03:59] – Typecasting and shift to Shifting Gears
• [05:24] – Deciding to pursue acting, sports background
• [06:27] – The American Pie audition and his unexpected break
• [07:45] – Hilarious first job stories (dishwashing, Cracker Barrel)
• [09:49] – His character and storyline in Shifting Gears
• [11:26] – The show’s relatability in the modern family context
• [12:10] – Working with Tim Allen, memories of his father

Episode Takeaways

• Seann William Scott’s friendly, self-effacing personality shines through, contrasting with his iconic “Stifler” character.
• Humor and humility mark his early jobs—he’s honest about not sticking with anything he didn’t enjoy.
• His acting journey is marked by a late spark, a willingness to take risks, and a significant dose of luck.
• Shifting Gears offers Scott a chance to play a more wholesome, lovable character, with the show praised for its relatability and sweet premise.
• Scott and Zito leave listeners with a sense that many celebrities came close to “jobber” status — reminding us all of the value of perseverance, humor, and a little bit of good fortune.

For more episodes or past guests, visit celebrityjobber.com. New episodes streaming everywhere.