Brandon Larracuente (Sal Vasquez on Chicago Fire)

Summary

One Chicago Podcast – Brandon Larracuente (Sal Vasquez on Chicago Fire)

Date: October 23, 2025
Host: Brian Luce
Guest: Brandon Larracuente (Sal Vasquez on Chicago Fire)
Special Guests: Writers Alec Wells and Victor Taran

---

Episode Overview

This episode of the One Chicago Podcast features an in-depth and lively conversation with Brandon Larracuente, the actor behind Sal Vasquez, the newest member of Chicago Fire's Firehouse 51. Host and producer Brian Luce, himself a former Chicago cop, guides listeners through Brandon's journey joining the series, the challenges of portraying a firefighter with a loaded family history, and the emotional punch of a recent key episode inspired by true events from the show's writers.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Brandon’s Journey to Chicago Fire

• Transition from Policing to Firefighting (in TV)

  • Brandon previously played rookie cop Alex Diaz on On Call, another Wolf Entertainment series.
  • Both he and Brian reminisced about their previous work together, noting the intensity and camaraderie built during short but immersive training for On Call.
  • Brandon reveals that he was in a career lull, working with his wife on their own projects, when Wolf Films reached out, eventually leading to his casting on Chicago Fire.
  • Quote (Brandon, 07:56): “I was in a lull between jobs and I really had nothing upcoming for me. So, one, to work with the same people again who are such, you know, joys to work with, but also to explore a new city that I've never been to before. It was. It was a win-win for me.”

• On Being the New Kid in an Iconic Show

  • Brandon discusses the challenge and honor of joining a long-running, tight-knit cast and crew, describing it as "jumping onto a moving train.”
  • He shares how cast members reached out before filming began, helping ease the transition for him and his wife.

The Character: Sal Vasquez

• Background and Depth

  • Sal comes from a family with a complicated law enforcement history – his father, a former cop, is now incarcerated for falsifying evidence, and this backstory influences Sal’s approach to authority and teamwork.
  • Sal’s tendency to challenge orders and act with conviction is partly due to his personal baggage, not lack of skill.
  • Quote (Brandon, 13:09): “People might misconstrue his confidence for cockiness... but he just knows his shit, man. You know, he knows the job really, really well.”

• Personal Storyline Highlights

  • Sal's father is attempting to get parole, drawing Sal into a struggle between loyalty and truth.
  • Sal is single and lives in a stylish West Loop loft, which was recently filmed for the show.

Behind the Scenes: Filming and Firehouse Camaraderie

• Initiation Rites

  • The tight-knit crew is known for their good-natured ball-busting, which Brandon embraced as soon as he felt comfortable.
  • He highlights David Eigenberg (Hermann) as being especially welcoming (and merciless in his on-set teasing).

• The Emotional “Herman House Fire” Episode

  • A deep dive into season 14, episode 4—a pivotal, emotionally charged episode where Herman’s house burns while his teammates struggle to pull him to safety.
  • Brandon describes the scene’s tension: stepping up to physically pull Hermann out as debris falls, with Eigenberg refusing to “help,” making it realistic and raw.
  • Quote (Brandon, 17:50): “David actually didn't help me at all, man, that day... He’s like, ‘you gotta earn it.’”
  • The episode was inspired by real-life events: writer Victor Taran lost his home in the LA fires; the honesty and pain from his experience informed the script.

The Reality Behind the Drama: Real-Life Inspiration

• Writer Perspective
  • Alec Wells and Victor Taran provide behind-the-scenes context for the “Herman House Fire” episode.
  • Victor Taran describes the emotional reality of returning to a lost home, and Alec stresses the focus on the authenticity of grief, not just lessons learned.
  • Quote (Alec, 39:58): “Herman doesn’t need to learn a lesson. This isn’t about learning a lesson. This is about the tragedy of what he went through and sitting in that. And the real person who has something to learn is Mouch. And what Mouch learns is it’s not just stuff.”

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Tickled pink. Nobody uses that expression.”
  – Brandon Larracuente (03:18)

• “They joked with me, said I went to the dark side, but it’s all love, man. They’re really happy for the opportunity.”
  – Brandon on his retired NYPD parents’ reaction to acting as a firefighter (05:03)

• “You know, what Wolf and them have created is something special and how they conduct themselves... they would ask me to join something else that's been going on for years.”
  – Brandon (10:28)

• “He knows who he is, man. And he knows who he's not... he knows his shit, man.”
  – Brandon describing Sal Vasquez (12:05, 13:09)

• “Herman, we gotta go... debris is falling, and I'm seeing the roof is about to cave in on top of him. So I grab him by the collar and pull him out.”
  – Brandon recounting the tense fire rescue scene (16:50)

• “When you write from a place of truth, it's almost in a way, like, therapeutic, because you're getting your pain and all your past experiences out there on paper.”
  – Brandon reflecting on the writers’ true-life inspiration (18:52)

• “My first day on [the firetruck], I accidentally did this... I see the little lever right here, and I pulled it. I had to. And it scared the crap out of everybody on set.”
  – Brandon on filming stunts and driving the firetruck (27:12)

• “Rick LeFever Jr. is actually my stunt guy.”
  – Brandon on the show’s family-like stunt team (29:32)

• “You didn't sleep?” “You still get the jitters?” “I hope, I pray that they never go away.”
  – Brian and Brandon, discussing stage nerves after years on set (32:21–33:13)

• “Elliot Stabler. Because he reminds me a lot of my father in real life. Just balls to the wall, no bullshit, tough.”
  – Brandon, asked which Wolf show character he’d love on Chicago Fire (33:40)

• “I feel like if the nerves go away, you really stop caring, you know? So I hope, I pray that they never go away.”
  – Brandon (33:13)

---

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Brandon’s Wolf Entertainment Journey & On Call Stories — 03:03–08:00
• Landing the Sal Vasquez Role & Developing the Character — 08:12–15:30
• Breaking Down the Herman House Fire Episode — 16:23–21:07
• Real-Life Inspiration: Writers Alec Wells & Victor Taran — 37:39–41:26
• Behind the Scenes: Stunts, Camaraderie & Jitters — 24:10–33:21
• Lightning Round: Fun, Favorites, and Hypotheticals — 33:30–36:11

---

Flow and Takeaways

• Brandon Larracuente brings Sal Vasquez’ complex backstory to life, sharing the authenticity he brings from his own family and professional experience.
• The cast and writers of Chicago Fire work with real camaraderie and honesty, drawing from real events—and keeping the set both fun and rigorous.
• The "Herman House Fire" episode showcased the show’s emotional core, with scenes rooted in genuine grief and hope, both for the characters and audience alike.
• The behind-the-scenes teamwork, trust, and emotional authenticity make Chicago Fire and the broader One Chicago universe a standout in serial storytelling.

---

For the Fans

Even for those who haven’t watched the episode, this podcast gives an engrossing look into what makes Chicago Fire tick: complex characters, authentic drama, real-life inspiration, and heartfelt collaboration, all seen through the welcoming and witty lens of its new star and dedicated creative team.

Transcript

[Brandon Laraquente]

So good, so good, so good.

[Nordstrom Rack Announcer]

New markdowns are on at your Nordstrom Rack store. Save even more. Up to 70% on dresses, tops, boots, and handbags to give and get.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Cause I always find something amazing. Just so many good brands.

[Rakuten Announcer]

I get an extra 5% off with.

[Brandon Laraquente]

My Nordstrom credit card Total queen treatment.

[Nordstrom Rack Announcer]

Join the Nordy Club at Nordstrom Rack to unlock our best deals. Big gifts, big perks. That's why you rack.

[Brian Lucci]

Hey, I'm Brian Lucci, and this is the official One Chicago podcast. Action. There's so much cooking right now in the One Chicago universe, but. But today we're talking Chicago Fire, and I got the show's new guy in the hot seat, Brandon laricuente. He's no stranger to the wolf pack. You may know him as Alex Diaz from On Call, or maybe you even know him as young Ben Rayburn for Bloodline. But here we call him Sal Vasquez, the latest addition to Firehouse 51. And listen, if you haven't seen last night's episode of Chicago Fire, well, you better go do that and then come on back because we're dropping spoilers over here. We won't always do that, but today we will spoil. Like that milk sitting in your fridge since March. Now that it's safe, we're going to talk about that brutal Herman house fire. We'll go backstage with Brandon on the day he filmed that scene with Eichenberg.

[Brandon Laraquente]

So we're tussling out the door, and we're going down the stairs. And David actually didn't help me at all, man, that day.

[Brian Lucci]

I love that he didn't help me.

[Brandon Laraquente]

No, no. He's like, you got to earn it.

[Brian Lucci]

We'll also rate Brandon's favorite stunts.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Actually driving the fire truck. First time I had to drive, they were like, okay, you're gonna drive from, you know, these two city blocks. And I just gunned it, man.

[Brian Lucci]

That's right. I got Brandon to spill all his secrets on how he trains mentally, physically, to become Sal Vasquez. Later on, we'll hear from the guys who lived it and wrote it, the story that ripped our hearts out. If this episode felt totally real to you, that's because it was one of the writers went through the same thing as Herman. He lost his home in the LA Fires earlier this year. You will hear from Victor Taran and Alec Wells. And, man, let me tell you, this one's gonna hit you right in the chest. That's all coming up right after the break. Don't go anywhere. Every drop of jack Daniels is mellowed through sugar maple charcoal, giving Jack its smooth taste. That's what makes Jack Jack.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Please drink responsibly. Jack Daniels and old number seven are registered trademarks. Tennessee whiskey, 40% alcohol by volume. Jack Daniel Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee.

[Brian Lucci]

First of all, thanks, Brandon, for coming to join us on the podcast.

[Brandon Laraquente]

My pleasure.

[Brian Lucci]

My producers called me up and they said that I was going to have the opportunity to be able to talk to you. And I was above the moon. Let me just say tickled pink.

[Brandon Laraquente]

You and me are the only two people in this world who still use that expression.

[Brian Lucci]

Tickled pink.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Nobody uses that expression.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, yeah, I love tickled pink. I'm an old soul. So your new to Chicago Fire, but you're not new to the. To the Wolf world, and you're definitely not new to me, which I think is amazing. Like, I seen you when you arrived on campus and I ran over and gave you a big hug, you muscular bastard. I was like, wow, here he is. So what's so cool about that is I had the opportunity to be able to go out to Long beach and you were playing Alex Diaz, which was a probationary police officer on the hit show. The show on call was. It was created by Elliott Wolf and Tim Walsh. And Tim Walsh. Amazing. And I had two other friends on there that were the executive directors. So here you are, you're playing this awesome cop, this cool rookie. You're going through all these things. We trained a little bit. We trained actually in the writers room.

[Brandon Laraquente]

We did. You know, that was the most intensive training that we've ever done is over the course of what, a weekend.

[Brian Lucci]

We only had three days. Yeah, we cried, we rocked and we rolled. It was so neat.

[Brandon Laraquente]

We shared some stories, man. You know, just heart to hearts. And you just. Yeah, yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

And then they asked me if I'd stay. So I stayed seven more days on set. And when I seen the episodes of like, pulling over the car, the guy with the tinted windows, this, that, and you guys, the gang bangers, and it was like, man, I never wanted to leave because there was this incredible energy. Then I started hearing rumors. I got a few phone calls from friends from la and they said that you quite possibly were coming this way. And I'm like, okay, wait a minute. So here you are and you landed on your feet. Unfortunately, those feet ended up in some fireman's boots, right?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yes, they did.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah. You traded in your pistol for a fire hose.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah, my badge too.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, yeah, Badge and everything. So I'm sure your mom and dad are Upset about that because they're. Aren't they NYPD Blue?

[Brandon Laraquente]

They are retired nypd. And, you know, they joked with me, said I went to the dark side, but it's all love, man. They're really happy for the opportunity that I have in front of me, and they couldn't be more supportive.

[Brian Lucci]

So I was upset, too, because I started, like, trying to, like, whispers in ears and say, you have no idea how good this kid moves. You have no idea how much he feels like, you know, like a policeman. And then I don't know what happened. And then they told me you were coming. And then I get a call from one of the Chicago writers about an episode that was coming up, and they told me, it's Brandon. I'm like, dude, full circle. How cool is this? You know what I mean? Like, here's this young kid that I seen. Your head was shaved, right?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

They had cool storylines for you.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah, they did.

[Brian Lucci]

You know, this. This filled with energy. And I go, here he is. He's stuck in Chicago with me now and the wonderful world here. Like, how did this all come around? Because I know you weren't working for a minute, right?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was actually working on a couple projects that my wife and I do together on the side. We have our own production company, and we. I was in the middle, actually, of a. Of post production, and I got a call from Peter Jankowski, and he.

[Brian Lucci]

Who's the man who's the president of Wolf Films?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah, he is. He's amazing. And he called me and he said, hey, Brandon, do you have a second to speak? I stepped out and I said, of course, Peter. He said, there might be an opportunity for you on one of our other shows. Wouldn't tell me what it was at the time. He said, how do you feel about moving somewhere else for work? And I said, well, considering the fact that we don't really have children at the moment, wherever life kind of takes us, we're up and able to do it. So time goes on, and they want me to come in to meet Andrea Newman, who is the showrunner of Chicago Fire.

[Brian Lucci]

Fabulous lady. She's wicked spy.

[Brandon Laraquente]

She is, isn't she?

[Brian Lucci]

She.

[Brandon Laraquente]

So I got the opportunity to meet her. I went to the Wolf offices in. In Los Angeles, and we just really hit it off. We spoke for, like, an hour and a half, not even about the show, about the character, just, like, getting to know each other. And I left there, and my wife called me. She's like, how'd it go? And I'm like, it went great, but I still don't know, like, there was no offer on the tip. There was nothing, but it was just. It was just getting to know each other. And she. I was like, you know, if that's all that comes from it, that's great. You know, another person that I get to meet, you know, in the wolf world. And about a week goes by, maybe a little more than that, and I get a phone call from Anastasia, and she basically officially asks me if I would love to join Chicago Fire. And I said, absolutely. I mean, they've been such a joy to work with. I got to meet you through them. Yeah. But everybody at Wolf, I mean, I.

[Brian Lucci]

Mean, Rebecca McGill, Anastasia, Peter Jankowski, Elliot. Elliot with the podcast, and Elliot with his own show. I try to explain to people like this wolf world, if you're in it and you work hard, they're going to keep you forever. And they'll honor that, you know, and there's million opportunities. Like, Eric Lasell started out, like, as an actor on er, ultimately gets an opportunity to direct. He does whatever. Next thing you know, he's at our executive producer.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yep.

[Brian Lucci]

So Anastasia calls you. How cool is this?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Oh, my God. Yeah, it was great because like you said at the time, I was in a lull between jobs and I really had nothing upcoming for me. So, you know, one, to work with the same people again who are such, you know, joys to work with, but also to explore a new city that I've never been to before. It was. It was a win. Win for me.

[Brian Lucci]

Wow. When you did take it, did they break down the character to you?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah, yeah. I actually, once, you know, everything was signed and paper, I was able to actually, like, pick her brain as to, like, who this character was. And she had some really great ideas for my character, Sal. I mean, he comes from a. My character in the show. His father's also ex law enforcement. And throughout the season, you. You turn to. You learn why he's no longer on the job, and it's really. You spiral down who this guy is and where he comes from, and it's really, really fascinating. Something that, from what I've heard, they really haven't done in Chicago Fire in a while, which is like, lean into the more the darker drama of these characters.

[Brian Lucci]

Wow.

[Brandon Laraquente]

What's up, Girardi?

[Brian Lucci]

You still shooting, huh?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yep.

[Brian Lucci]

Ah, I figured you'd be too busy these days.

[Brandon Laraquente]

What was sitting around the firehouse?

[Alec Wells]

Tv.

[Brian Lucci]

Yep.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Hey, how's the family? You wanna say that again? Oh, damn. Do you?

[Brian Lucci]

This show's amazing. I mean, there's guys that you just fall in love with. Like, Mouch, half man, half couch. Like, you know, when you get into it. Mayo. You know what I mean? Like, that lady is just.

[Brandon Laraquente]

She's great.

[Brian Lucci]

Samurai's just badass.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah, man. Taylor's effortlessly cool, man.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Doesn't even have to try. He's just. He just.

[Brian Lucci]

You've walked in to Chicago. When you hit the campus here. Did you ever see anything like this? Like, I mean, three shows at the same time?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Never. No, no. What they have here, what they've established here, what they've built here, it's an anomaly, you know, it's. It's. It's one of the last few true, like, shows of its kind. And you know what was nice and what helped in my transition was that a lot of the cast members actually reached out to me before I ever touched down here in Chicago. Just saying, hey, if you need advice on where anything at all, just reach out to us. And that was nice because, you know, it's always hard to jump onto what I consider a moving train, you know, something that's been going for years and.

[Brian Lucci]

Has legs since 2012.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Oh, my gosh. I graduated high school in 2012. That's insane.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah. So, I mean, it's got to be intimidating. You got a show since 2012. They're on their 14th season. So what was it like when you were asked to join, like, a legacy show like this? Was it. Was it, like, holy cow.

[Brandon Laraquente]

It was an honor, man. And it's something that even, like, now I. I don't take for granted. You know, what Wolf and them have created is something special and how they conduct themselves. You know, they're all professionals, and it meant a lot to me that they, you know, loved working with me enough that they would ask me to join something else that's been going on for years. Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

So the whole fire crew is a bunch of ball busters. Did they raz you a little bit when you about being a new kid on the block?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Of course. Of course. David being the first one, man, it's fun. Cuz, like, now that I'm comfortable with them and stuff, I bust their balls back. And it's great, too, because even Miranda, too, like Miranda, you know, they all just, like, friendly.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah.

[Brandon Laraquente]

In the beginning, they didn't know if I, you know, how this guy to take it and stuff.

[Brian Lucci]

Skin. Yeah.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Right. But now, oh, they just let it fly.

[Brian Lucci]

Herman. Herman's bananas. I mean, he's a cuckoo bird. You realize it.

[Brandon Laraquente]

He is the Best man. I tell you what, I look forward to working with him every day because I know that's going to be a fun day.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah. You know, so I've known him forever, like, for 13 years. And, you know, it's hard, like, with people. Oh, I know. You don't want to be, like, a name dropper. Oh, I know that star. He's never felt like a star to me. And I don't mean it in an inappropriate or bad way. He's just. He's always like, big hugs. Yeah, we done. I've been out with him so many times, but always doing good things, you.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Know, and he knows everyone's name. Yeah. You know, knows about their family. Yeah. Oh, man, he's.

[Brian Lucci]

He's good. That's a tight crew.

[Brandon Laraquente]

It is.

[Brian Lucci]

You got a tight crew.

[Brandon Laraquente]

It is. And I was very intimidated going into it, but like I said, like, the fact that they reached out and welcomed me with such open arms, it made not only my transition, but my wife, who came with me to Chicago, both of ours, like, seamless.

[Brian Lucci]

Tell us about who Sal Vasquez is to you.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah, Sal, I feel like he knows who he is, man. You know, and he knows who he's not. He comes from a dad who just wanted the absolute best for him and wanted to see him succeed in a way. You know, his father's tough, gives him a lot of tough love, but he expects big things from him. And I think, Sal, now that he's an adult, he expects big things from himself, and he runs into adversity. He approaches it head on. A lot of the times, people might misconstrue his confidence for cockiness. Yeah, but he just knows his shit, man. You know, he knows. He knows the job really, really well. And the reason for him bouncing around from firehouse to firehouse is not because he's not a good firefighter, because sometimes he feels like he might be getting advice from someone who's his superior, that might not be the actual right thing to do. And sometimes he might have gone above their head and, you know, superseded them, and that can piss a lot of people off. And when he meets Kid and she doesn't like it either, and she comes to Pascal and she's like, you know, who the hell is this guy? Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

Chain of command. Yeah, but you make mistakes, you die.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Absolutely. It's life and death. But as the audience and Kid and the other characters are quick to find out, he's got a good heart. You know, he's got the right intentions. He just. He just knows his stuff.

[Brian Lucci]

Are you married on the show?

[Brandon Laraquente]

No. No.

[Brian Lucci]

Oh, so you're single. Is there a certain neighborhood they got you living in or they didn't tell you?

[Brandon Laraquente]

I know I have a beautiful loft. We actually filmed it a couple days ago in West Loop. So I guess that's a good spot, bro.

[Brian Lucci]

That's the spot in Chicago.

[Brandon Laraquente]

It is.

[Brian Lucci]

So I know the police department pretty much back and forth, but I don't know the fire department. So with that said, when they brought you in, like, I mean, on call, you were a probationary police officer. Do they have that probationary status?

[Brandon Laraquente]

No, no, no, no. That's something I asked very early on, you know, how long has he been on the job? And she said he's been on for a couple years. He's just been bouncing around from firehouse to firehouse because he has a. With authority because of something that happened to his father. You know, his father got busted. We're on episode four now, right? So I think I can. Yeah, his father got busted for, quote, unquote, planting evidence. He really wanted to put some guy away who probably deserved to be put away. And I think the prosecutor, the defending attorney must have found out, used that against him in court, and the whole case went south. The guy ended up going free. And my father's actually now in prison.

[Brian Lucci]

So who's a police officer?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Was a police officer.

[Brian Lucci]

So he falsified signature reports. He got what they call a Giglio Act. Cause he lied on his stand, and it's official misconduct. So he goes to jail for about 10 years.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Absolutely. And right now, what's happening in the show, he's trying to get parole, and he's asking his son, which is played by me, a huge favor. And it's hard because my character, Sal, is torn between wanting to do right by his father and clear the family name. But also, like, something's not right, and I have to search for the truth. I need to get a look at the Bianchi case file. Can you get it for me? You know how much heat I can catch with my sergeant phone gun? I do, I do. And I wouldn't ask if it wasn't a life or death thing. Listen, Sal, whatever happened with your old man's investigation, it doesn't matter anymore.

[Brian Lucci]

It's over.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Not from my dad, it's not. And it's this back and forth tug of war that we unfold throughout the first. We're in episode five now, so. First five episodes? Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

And to be a fireman. I mean, first of all, you're a good person. People don't run through burning doors.

[Brandon Laraquente]

No, People go away from them.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, they run away. So going into the gray areas or stepping into the dark is very, very, very tricky. So your father, for whatever passionate reason he had, I'm sure Ms. Newman and the rest of the writers are gonna be able to come up with it. That's cool. I've seen that before.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah. He wanted to provide justice for the family of the woman who was murdered, but he kind of took it into his own hands, and he screwed up the whole thing.

[Brian Lucci]

We all have our own moral compass, and on that show, they've done it a few times. But I love that. I love that you see that there's a human in here that can make a mistake. So we talked about 1404 a little bit earlier. And for everyone out there, Listening land, that's season 14, episode four. And I told you I couldn't put the script down. You know what I mean?

[Brandon Laraquente]

That's a good one.

[Brian Lucci]

And here's this young kid and Herman doing 100 miles an hour on the truck to get over there. And he thinks that his daughter is in the home because she was supposed to stay home sick, right? And he starts going at the fire, and you guys can't get him out of the house. We end up realizing she's not in the home. So I don't blame anyone for not stopping him. Because you ain't stopping me, right?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Of course not.

[Brian Lucci]

But then you, as your character, can you explain, like, what happened there? I'd love to hear this.

[Brandon Laraquente]

So the chief tells us to evacuate immediately. So we start going down the stairs, and Kid goes first, I go second. And over my right shoulder, I notice that Herman kind of takes a detour. And when I look back, I'm noticing that he went back to his living room, and he started to take stuff. Mementos, frame photos and stuff. And I'm like, herman, we gotta go. And he's like, you know, he's not listening. He's locked in. Herman, we gotta go. Herman. Herman. Hey, if you wanna go, take on. So as that's happening, debris is falling, and I'm seeing that the roof is about to cave in on top of him. So I grab him by the collar and pull him out. And of course, you know, he's not happy. Let's go, man.

[Brian Lucci]

Guys, get him the hell away from me.

[Brandon Laraquente]

So we're tussling out the door, and we're going down the stairs. And David actually didn't help me at all, man, that day.

[Brian Lucci]

Oh, I love that. He didn't help me.

[Brandon Laraquente]

No, no. He's like, you gotta earn it. So we were really tussling, and we go down stairs, and we end up in the front of the yard. And he's like, you know, get this guy away from me. He's pissed off, which I don't blame him. You know, in that moment, all he is focused on is his home and the memories that might evaporate because of the fire. So I. I give him some space, and there's a beautiful moment where, like, I think he's trying to go back inside. And Taylor's character sevuride is like, herman, it's gone, man. Accept the fact. And Herman's wife comes behind him, and they just watch their home just. I'm getting chills.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, it's so. It's so good.

[Brandon Laraquente]

It's a great episode for him.

[Brian Lucci]

It's all gone. It's all gone. Little things touched me, like when they. The door frame. I know it sounds silly, but the door frame where they measured the kids. Like, things that you can't replace.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

It was inspired by one of the real writers on Chicago Fire who lost a home. You know this, right?

[Brandon Laraquente]

I heard about that. Yeah. During the fires, the recent fires, the LA fires. When you write from a place of truth, it's almost in a way, like, therapeutic, because you're getting your. Your pain and all your past experiences out there on paper. But it's also a very vulnerable thing to share that with the world. And I'm grateful to, you know, Victor and everybody else who's allowed us to embody. Embody their pain, you know, in a way.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Right.

[Brian Lucci]

When you were driving over on a truck, did they film that, too, where you see Herman.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

And you see him get out. Could you tell about that? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Brandon Laraquente]

We're in the common room and we hear the address.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah.

[Brandon Laraquente]

And the other firefighters know that. So we all get in the car, and as we're on the way there, I believe another fire station's like, you know, we're taking the fire. And Severide supersedes him and goes, no, we got it.

[Brian Lucci]

Without hesitation.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Without hesitation at all. And they're like, no, no, no. Like, stand down. And Sevride took. We're already on our way. We're going. So, of course, when we get there, before I even put the car in park, Herman's jumping out of the. And we all just go inside, you know, and we reconvene the front real quick. But we're in there. And of Course, you know, it's your fellow firefighters, you know, so one you're worried about, like, you know, his kid being in the home. We don't find out that his kid's not in the home until we're inside. So y. The stakes were super high. And David, man, he. He killed it. He did an amazing job.

[Brian Lucci]

And my heart was beat. I can't wait to see it. I haven't had the opportunity to see it, but I. But I can't wait to see it.

[Brandon Laraquente]

It's a good one.

[Brian Lucci]

So here you are, you're wrestling with him out front. The other firefighters are looking at you. They're thinking, what. Who does this prick think they are? Or did they understand why you attacked them? Not attacked them, but stop them.

[Brandon Laraquente]

No, sure. Yeah. We get into it later. So, you know, cuz I have some guilt, you know, attached to it as well. My character does. And later on, a kid comes into the bunker room and she's like, hey, I want you to know that, you know, you did the right thing.

[Brian Lucci]

Oh, so kid back. She may.

[Brandon Laraquente]

She does. She does. And I appease her. And I'm like, yeah, of course I know. But, you know, there's still some guilt there. Until later on in the episode, Herman. I run into him in the. In the breezeway, and he's looking for like, the Jaws of steel or something.

[Brian Lucci]

The jaws of life.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Jaws of life. Sorry.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah.

[Brandon Laraquente]

And I hand it to him, but when he calls me back and I look at him, he says, thank you. And the thank you is not for what I just handed him. The thank you is for something much greater than.

[Brian Lucci]

So from last night's episode, is there any moment at all that behind the scenes that you think the fans should know about?

[Brandon Laraquente]

One of the things that. The reasons why I love working with David, it's like he's in it, man. He wears the tank. He doesn't take that thing off. He's sweating his ass off. He's in it. He'll even sit in the fire for a while. He's just an actor that really just embraces the elements around him. And of course, working with him, you want to do the same. You want to be on that level. So watching his work ethic in Marathon Brand is as well and stuff like it just. It draws you in. So being able to see it on screen is one thing, but I get the privilege of watching them in their preparation, and that's a whole other experience for me.

[Brian Lucci]

We gotta take a quick break, but I got more good stuff with Brandon when we come back.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Upgrade your laundry routine with a durable and reliable Maytag laundry pail at Lowes. Like the new Maytag washer and dryer with performance enhanced stain fighting power designed to cut through serious dirt and grime. And what's great is this laundry pair is in stock and ready for delivery when you need it the most. Don't miss out. Shop Maytag in store or online today at Lowes.

[Nordstrom Rack Announcer]

This episode is brought to you by Rakuten. If you're shopping while working, eating, or even listening to this podcast, then you know and love the thrill of a deal. But are you getting the deal and cash back? Rakuten shoppers do they get the brands they love, savings and cash back. And you can get it too. Stack sales on top of cash back and feel what it's like to know you're maximizing savings. It's easy to use and you get cash back sent to you through PayPal or check. The idea is simple. The brands you love pay Rakuten for sending them shoppers, and Rakuten shares the money with you as cash back. Download the free Rakuten app or go to rakuten.com to start saving today. It's the most rewarding way to shop. That's R A K U t e n rakuten.com.

[Brian Lucci]

Every story you love, every invention that moves you, Every idea you wished was yours. All began as nothing. Just a blank page with a blinking cursor asking a simple question. What do you see? Great ideas. Start on Mac. Find out more on apple.com Mac we're back, and we're talking with Brandon Laraquente, the new man of mystery on Chicago Fire. So we're up to episode four right now. Has there been a favorite scene or a favorite episode or a favorite moment where you were like, wow, this is. I'm gonna. I think I'm gonna end up loving doing this.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah, everything's been cool. Like I said, this has been a whole new experience for me, being able to put out fires, you know, wear the uniform. But for me, one of my favorite scenes was when we finally get to meet Sal's father and he goes to visit him in prison and he is able to have a very candid conversation with his father. And you get to see where Sal comes from. I'm a firm believer that we are a byproduct of our upbringing and our environment. And a lot of people might look at Sal and perceive him one way, but once you get to meet his dad, you go, oh, I see. I now understand him a lot More.

[Brian Lucci]

Hello. This is a call from the Metropolitan Correctional center and will be monitored and recorded. Do you accept?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yes. Hey, dad. Sal's an onion man. Like, he. He has a tough outer shell, and his superpower is the fact that he's able to brush things off and act like nothing bothers him. But deep down, as we start to unveil the layers as the season progresses, you start to notice that Sal is a sensitive guy who. Who just wants to be liked, honestly, who just wants to be liked by his superiors and respected, you know, as. As do we all. Me personally, in my personal life, like, when I get that, you know, good job from someone that I really respect, it means the world to me. So Sal constantly seeks that from his father, and his father's one of those guys who doesn't really offer that much in the firehouse.

[Brian Lucci]

Who's playing that. That role? Is it Mayo? Is it Miranda?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah, yeah, Miranda.

[Brian Lucci]

Miranda's kind of got you under the wing. She's probably.

[Brandon Laraquente]

But we have a locker room scene, and it was funny because, like, I arrived there, and I don't even know that kid's my. My lieutenant. I just walk into the locker room, and she's like, hey, you know, nice to meet you. And I'm so focused on just finding my locker that I don't even realize that she's my lieutenant. So that's the first time where I really rub her the wrong way because I kind of played a little bit too casual, you know, for her liking. Yeah, he has the posture of, like, I'll sleep anywhere, you know, My locker's in the corner over there in the back. Sure. You know, I'll take that one. He's there to do his job.

[Brian Lucci]

I love that.

[Brandon Laraquente]

I want to say Miranda's amazing, dude, because, like, when you actually know her as a person and you see the light that she is, and then also like to see, like, her step into the role in the shoes of kid. I mean, they're two separate people. So kudos to her because she really. She really nails that character.

[Brian Lucci]

Vasquez is brand new, but if you can make a bucket list of things you'd like to happen to him in upcoming seasons without telling any secrets, what would it be? Anything. Especially, like, love interest, dark personal secret, an evil twin, and an incredible stunt.

[Brandon Laraquente]

I don't like to know what's ahead. I like to go script by script. So, sure, yeah. I mean, a love interest is great because Vasquez is so guarded. So it'd be nice to see maybe if somebody can break down those. Those walls.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah. A little vulnerable.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah, of course. Of course. I mean, so far, they've got me doing a bunch of stuff that I've never done before, I think. I mean, I've never joined a fire truck before, you know, so I get to cross that off my list. You know, growing up as a kid, you play with the little talk.

[Brian Lucci]

That horn down the floor. Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Brandon Laraquente]

My first day. So my first day on, I accidentally did this.

[Brian Lucci]

Go ahead.

[Brandon Laraquente]

I did, man. I was in the truck, and. And I see the little lever right here, And I pulled it. I had to. And it scared the crap out of everybody on set. But it's like, you know, I waited my whole life for this.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, you had to get there. I was working one time with him, but just as a policeman who had a movie detail. And it was fricking freezing out. I mean, freezing out. I couldn't feel my toes. So I said, I'm gonna go sit in the fire truck. I get in the fire truck. Herman's in there. I'm ready to say, stupid Herman. Stupid Herman. Sitting in the back, aggravating everybody. But he knows I'm a real cop, so he starts busting my chops. So I didn't realize. I move over and I stand in, and there's a little horn. And I stepped on the horn while they were filming.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Oh, my God.

[Brian Lucci]

And they had to, like, cut. And they're all looking at me. But here's the problem. I didn't know. I was, like, still giving it pressure.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Sure, sure.

[Brian Lucci]

So I didn't know where it was. I thought it was my ass. You know, I kept lifting my butt up. I'm moving around. He didn't help me. He didn't say. He wouldn't tell me. It's your foot, dummy. You know? So finally I lift my feet up, and the horn stops. A hundred people are looking at me like a jackass.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Who invited this guy?

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah. Yeah. And he took great pleasure in it.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah. That's David, man.

[Brian Lucci]

That. That.

[Brandon Laraquente]

That is textbook David.

[Brian Lucci]

All right. The episode 1404 that we talked about, that episode is an example of how the show could be pretty emotional. What scenes are most fun for you.

[Brandon Laraquente]

To play this show? There's an air of levity, you know, at certain points, but also, like, sure, you can get into the drama, but, like, the way the writers weave, you know, each character, and in between that, I mean, that's life, right? Like, it's like we have our personal life at home that we have to deal with, and a lot of the times, it's not pleasant, but when we go to work, you know, we can't always bring that to work. So watching Sal kind of transition from his personal life and leave that, but at the same time, like, it starts to bleed as the season progresses and other people start to take notice. So that fine line of how much do I reveal, how much do I hold close to the vest? That's been really fun for me.

[Brian Lucci]

Oh, wow. I love that. So you got to drive the fire truck. You're brand new in Chicago. Here you are in the goofy boots and the awesome coat. Have you did any stunts or. They have something coming up.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So I try to do all my own. We have a wonderful stunt team. Rick LeFever, he's our head stunt coordinator, and what's amazing is his daughter and his two sons are also part of the stunt team. So Rick LeFever Jr. Is actually my stunt guy.

[Brian Lucci]

He's also the med.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Is he?

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's the med. Main stunt guy, too. So what do they have you do? I got to hear this because I.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Love tons of stuff, man. I mean. I mean, give me a few. For one, actually driving the fire truck, which is tough as it is.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, yeah.

[Brandon Laraquente]

First time I had to drive it, they were like, okay, you're gonna drive from, you know, these two city blocks. And I just gunned it, man. And Reza, which is. Which is our directing producer in our show.

[Brian Lucci]

Reza Tabrizi.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Correct. He is known for More Blood, Faster, More Fire. I think this might have been the first time in his 14 years of being on the show where he actually asked someone to slow down. Really? Yeah, because I just. I gunned it.

[Brian Lucci]

Things a little heavy on the pedal. I was thinking the same thing. So you did the driving of the truck. Give me another one.

[Brandon Laraquente]

A couple days ago, we were on. We did. We did the scene where Herman's house is on fire, and we filmed that in what we call a burn stage, which that was my first time experiencing that.

[Brian Lucci]

I've walked through it. I've never. I've never did anything in there. It's tough.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Go ahead.

[Brian Lucci]

Tell me about the smoke.

[Brandon Laraquente]

It's a lot of smoke. So we film all the interior stuff of the burning stuff in a controlled environment, which was what we call the burn stage. And we had to film a scene where I'm pulling Herman out, and as we're doing that, there's fire going on around us.

[Brian Lucci]

This is when he's not helping you.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Correct? Yeah. So that was new for me. Too. But also, it's like they're big on safety, and we do a bunch of rehearsals. That way we make sure that on the day, nothing goes wrong. But I trust them, you know, with my life. I mean, you kind of have to.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, yeah.

[Brandon Laraquente]

You're dealing with real fire, but to watch what they do, that was a real treat for me.

[Brian Lucci]

So you're wrestling with Herman. You're on the floor. You could feel the flames, right?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Oh, my gosh. Yeah. Even though you got that fire suit on, it's still. Yeah, you're burning up.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, yeah. Herman's told me that he lost a few eyebrows throughout the, throughout the years. So you got this fire going. You're wrestling with this main character who's been on a show for 14 years. He's not helping you. You get up and you're like, are you ever nervous? Like, am I doing this right? Am I doing too much?

[Brandon Laraquente]

So when I first got in the show, my first day, I couldn't sleep the night before. I'm always nervous. It's always that pent up energy that you just want to put out. But it's like once you step on the set and once you start to learn the character a bit more. And what helps me is the writers gave me permission to bring myself to this character, you know, to, hey, if you have an idea, you know, go with it. You know, trust your instincts. And that gave me permission. They gave me the freedom to just, like, breathe, breathe. So that really helped me step into these shoes. This show's been great, man, because it's not only me. I'm sure people on your show, and I don't know about so much about Med, but for sure, Chicago PD and fire, like, it pushes you, it pushes you beyond your comfort zone. You know, you read the script and you go, I can't do this. How am I gonna do? And then, of course, you show up on set and you got all these people depending on you, and you do it and you learn about yourself, what you're capable of. It's amazing.

[Brian Lucci]

You know, you just said something. It's like you didn't sleep. Then I, I been, this is my 13th year. Like, I still don't sleep.

[Brandon Laraquente]

You still get the jitters.

[Brian Lucci]

I, I, I got, I love it, though. It's like, it gives you the energy. What people don't understand is we're in this world where they're creating these, these awesome shows, right? But there's also a great responsibility that a, you're playing this guy and maybe some fireman's husband, wife, sister, aunt, cousin died.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

And you got to do it right? You can't phone it in.

[Brandon Laraquente]

No.

[Brian Lucci]

So I don't know. I carry that weight, you know, as a policeman. I'm one of 13,500 policemen that are active, and out of 13,000 retirees, I don't know all the answers. So I'm constantly making calls and trying to get it right. And this is Wolf. He's all about, like, attorneys and firemen and hospitals, and so I. I don't know. Did your jitters go away? Because mine have not.

[Brandon Laraquente]

I feel like if the nerves go away, you really stop caring, you know? So I hope, I pray that they never go away.

[Brian Lucci]

Way they say, when you stop being scared, you should quit.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

There's a lot of cops that stopped being scared, and that's dangerous. Okay, Brandon, it's time for lightning round of rapid fire questions. Okay, Ready?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Got it.

[Brian Lucci]

If you could bring any character from any Wolf Entertainment show, Law and Order, svu, FBI, any of the other Chicago shows on the Chicago Fire, who would you choose and why?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Oh, man, Elliot Stabler. Because he reminds me a lot of my father in real life. Just balls to the wall, no bullshit, tough. You know, he reminds me so much of my dad, so I would love to bring him, you know, if I could, in the show, out of all the shows.

[Brian Lucci]

You got a second one? I want to hear a second one.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Mariska. Yeah, of course.

[Brian Lucci]

Mariska, right?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah. She's tough as nails, right? I grew up watching svu, so for me, it's anybody from that show.

[Brian Lucci]

Is it Mariska, your love interest? No. Brandon, which Chicago Fire character would you most want to run into a burning building with and why?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Oh, that's a good question. For me, it would have to be Herman. Cuz Herman, I think he would put, unfortunately, his own life above anybody else's. And. And he's also someone that I know I don't have to worry. Like, is he doing his job? I. I know he's there to do his job. I'm there to do mine, and I don't have to overcompensate what I'm doing to protect him and whatnot. So I think Herman, I would trust Herman more than anyone I could see.

[Brian Lucci]

Like, you. You truly love and respect a guy. Like, he is revered. You know what I mean? Like, and it doesn't take long.

[Brandon Laraquente]

No.

[Brian Lucci]

That's kind of beautiful.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah, he's very heart in his sleeve. And I think knowing Herman is loving Herman.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, I like that we're Making that T shirt. Freddy, he never had a role model growing up. His father was in and out of jail, and me, I was trying to fill that G. I still am.

[Brandon Laraquente]

So.

[Brian Lucci]

If you can find it in your heart, you, Honor, please have mercy on him. Brandon, if you could trade places with one Chicago Fire character, who would you pick?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Oh, okay. So for me, it would be Mouch, because Mouch gets to use the fire hose. Hose. And I have yet to do that. I probably won't do it unless I get, you know, switched to engine, but, yeah, I think it'll be match.

[Brian Lucci]

Really? You don't get to use the hose? I didn't know that. I thought everybody could. Did they trade you with the hose?

[Brandon Laraquente]

No.

[Brian Lucci]

Did you touch the hose?

[Brandon Laraquente]

No.

[Brian Lucci]

Is there any reason?

[Brandon Laraquente]

I've stepped over the hose?

[Brian Lucci]

You stepped over?

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

Which of your fellow actors would be the best actual firefighter?

[Brandon Laraquente]

I feel like Miranda, because Miranda's got a lot of heart. When we went to go breach doors and stuff like that, like, she's such a sponge, and she's always willing to learn. I mean, God, we're 14 years in, and she's still doing ride alongs. I feel like she'd make a great fireman.

[Brian Lucci]

So I know that this show has, like, changed my life. You know what I mean? And I know, like, in acting, it's changed your life, and. And I don't know how it's going to be here in Chicago and what Chicago is going to be all for you, but it sure is a hell of a good start to be part of this, right?

[Brandon Laraquente]

It is.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah.

[Brandon Laraquente]

It's a blessing, man.

[Alec Wells]

And.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, so we're looking forward to, hopefully, many more episodes with you guys.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

So don't call your cop dad and mom. I'm here for you for any of those things.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it's. It's been awesome, Luch, and being able to see you and everybody else, you know, some familiar faces from on call. It's been. It's been nice, man.

[Brian Lucci]

Yeah, we're fortunate. We're fortunate to have all, you know, three shows that come together. It's how many characters. It's how many crew members. It's how many people doing this. How many people excited. It's 14 hours a day. You know, we're working 12, 14 hours a day, and we're whistling to work. And you can't wait to get here.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

You know, I mean, it's like, wow. And you're playing a superhero.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

A freaking.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Yeah.

[Brian Lucci]

You know, so say what you want, but you know what I mean, it's sure better than playing the UPS guy.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Right.

[Brian Lucci]

So thank you so much for coming. You've been my friend for a couple years now, and I hope for many more. Yes. And we're going to stay in this family, so thank you very much.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Thank you, Luch. I appreciate the words.

[Brian Lucci]

Appreciate you, brother. That was Brandon Laraquente, AKA Sal Vazquez from Chicago Fire. And writer Alec Welch told us just why he decided to make the new guy pull Herman to safety.

[Alec Wells]

Vasquez is new. He's the newest guy. He doesn't have this long history with Herman, so in a way, he's the perfect guy to pull him out. And there's a version where Vasquez saved Herman's life in that moment because the fire had serious collapse potential and it could go down any second, and the right thing to do was pull Herman out. And, you know, Herman's anger at Vasquez in that moment, it's not about Vasquez because firefighters, so many of them have stories of people whose houses are burning down and they try to run back inside. They try to run back inside to get the safety security box or, you know, their marriage certificate or whatever. And firefighters say these dumb people risking their lives for some item, for some piece of junk. But then Herman, despite himself, finds himself doing the exact same thing because it's his house. It's personal. It's his.

[Brian Lucci]

And speaking of personal, we talk a lot about how we craft authentic stories on the one Chicago shows. Well, so much of this episode was pulled from the painful real life experience of another fire writer, Victor Terrence. Victor lost his home in the LA fires earlier this year. Everything gone. Here he is talking about reading that script for the very first time.

[Victor Taran]

It's weird, but reading the Herman's coming home to their temporary apartment, like, I had a visceral reaction to that. There are some things that just get indelibly printed in your mind and, like, I could describe for you, like, moment by moment, walking into that apartment for us for the first time and taking it in, because it's like a dream until then. And then all of a sudden, it's real. Like, you're experiencing it in this very real way. It's like you must have really logged the story so perfectly because the way Mouch just excuses himself, it was like when I read that, I cried. Yeah, yeah. And the two scenes with Mouch really got me. Those also made me incredibly emotional. It's not just Steph scene felt like it was like ripped right out of my brain.

[Alec Wells]

Once the script was assigned to me, I felt a real responsibility to get it right and to take Victor's experience and translate it into the show in the best, most accurate way possible. The story went through a couple iterations as far as where Herman ended up emotionally, probably my favorite story is between him and Mouch. And, you know, Mouch kind of puts his foot in his mouth a little bit by saying it's just stuff to Herman. And he's doing it in an attempt to reassure Herman and make him feel better, but it sort of causes a rift between them. And Herman is in his burned down house sort of searching for any remnants of anything that might remain. And I spent a lot of time with Victor trying to figure out what lesson is Herman learning here. Like, is Herman learning to let go? Is Herman learning to move on? You know, what is Mouch saying to him? And Victor and I finally got to a place where we said, herman doesn't need to learn a lesson. This isn't about learning a lesson. This is about the tragedy of what he went through and sitting in that. And the real person who has something to learn is Mouch. And what Mouch learns is it's not just stuff. And that's why Mouch shows up and he's not trying to pull Herman out of the house. He says, I'm just here to help. To me, that was the. That was like, oh, once we cracked that, I felt like we really figured out, what is this about?

[Brian Lucci]

That was two of Wolf World's best Chicago Fire writers, Alec West Wells and Victor Taran. One Chicago airs on Wednesday night at 8, 7 Central on NBC, and you could stream it on Peacock. The One Chicago podcast is a production of Wolf Entertainment and USG Audio. The series is hosted by me, Brian Lucci, its executive produced by Dick Wolf, Elliott Wolf and Steven Michael at Wolf Entertainment, Josh Block at USG Audio, and John Yell Kastner at Spoke Media. Our showrunner is Derek John, our producer is Maggie Dubrizi, and our audio producer is Jason Mark. Video production by Bo Delmore. Coordinating production by Tess Ryan. Our production assistant is Montserrat Rodriguez, with engineering and mix by Evan Arnett and original music by John o'. Hara. This series is produced by Spoke Media and distributed by Realm Production Support for USG Audio by Josh Lalonghi. I'm Brian Luch. Thanks for listening and we'll see you all soon.

[Rakuten Announcer]

From the darkest corners of our imagination comes a game that's more ridiculous than terrifying. Welcome to Tickled to Death, the horror comedy game show where nothing is sacred, everything's a little unhinged. And the only thing more cursed than the questions are the jokes. I'm Roz Hernandez, your fearless host, and each week I'll be leading a brave group of guests through twisted horror, horror trivia, improv games, and enough sarcastic banter to make you question all your life's choices. So come for the screams, stay for the snark. Listen to Tickled to Death wherever you get your podcasts and hit follow, unless you want the show to follow you. In the meantime, don't get Tickled to death.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Hey, Michael.

[Brian Lucci]

Hey, Tom.

[Brandon Laraquente]

You want to tell him or you want me to tell him? No, no, no.

[Brian Lucci]

I, I, I got this. I want people out there. People lean in. Get close, get close. Listen, here's the deal. We have big news. We got monumental news. We got snacktacular news. Yeah. After a brief hiatus, my good friend.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Michael Ian Black and I are coming back.

[Brian Lucci]

My good friend Tom Kavanagh, I are.

[Brandon Laraquente]

Coming back to do what we do.

[Brian Lucci]

Best, what we were put on this earth to do. To pick a snack, to eat a snack, and to rate a snack scientifically, emotionally, spiritually. Mates is back. Mike and Tommy Snacks is back. A podcast for anyone with a mouth. With a mouth. Available wherever you get your podcasts.