Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara

Episode: Joseph Sikora Joins to Talk Power, Acting With Jerry, Friendship With 50 Cent and Being Tommy Egan
Date: November 6, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode bridges sports, acting, and pop culture as hosts Matt Leinart and Jerry Ferrara welcome acclaimed actor Joseph Sikora—best known as Tommy Egan from “Power”—for an extended, candid conversation about the Power universe, the realities of show business, friendship with 50 Cent, behind-the-scenes stories, and the craft of acting. The hosts also riff on World Series aftermath, dynasties in sports, TV’s most unforgettable on-screen deaths, and play a lively game of sports/actor trivia.

Highlights & Key Discussion Points

1. Post-World Series Sports Chat

(01:11–06:38)

• Matt & Jerry break down the recent World Series.
  • Dodgers praised for clutch, role-player performances more than star power:

    "It was the non-stars, right? The kind of forgotten guys that ended up stepping up and winning the World Series, man." – Matt (02:38)

  • Dodgers’ current dynasty compared to '90s Yankees.

    "Dodgers are now officially in '90s Yankee territory." – Jerry (03:55)

  • Insights into shifting TV ratings: MLB’s rise, NBA’s continuing struggles.

    “Baseball’s in a great spot right now. Major League Baseball's in a great spot. It was a great year.” – Matt (06:30)

2. Introducing Joseph Sikora (“Tommy”)

(06:38–13:13)

• Jerry recalls joining Power and meeting Joe:
  • Speaks highly of Joe’s acting and personal friendship; Power’s explosive success.
  • Jerry recalls the surrealness of being recognized for both Entourage (Turtle) and Power (Proctor):

    "I've run into an Entourage fan that's like, Turtle, what's up? And then I cross the street and it's a Power fan—Proctor..." – Jerry (12:21)

  • Shout-outs to Courtney Kemp (Power showrunner) and 50 Cent’s (Fif) real involvement as a producer.

3. Joseph Sikora on Tommy, Force, and Bringing Power to Chicago

(13:18–19:25)

• Joe discusses landing “Force” (Tommy’s spin-off) and creative pushback:
  • Gratitude for shifting to Chicago, his hometown, but saw creative struggles:

    "[First showrunner]... just not the right fit. I thought I was having a heart attack... it was just panic attacks." – Joe Sikora (16:49)

  • Fought for authenticity in Tommy’s story and Chicago’s depiction—did on-the-ground research, met with locals.

    > "...if we don't get blessed locally, we will not be accepted globally." – Joe Sikora (19:15)
    

  • Getting producer credit later helped him advocate for the character and narrative.

4. The Acting Process: Becoming & Leaving Tommy

(22:48–24:35)

• Matt asks about embodying intense characters:
  • Joe credits theater training for separating himself from roles; flips switch on/off easily.

    “Zero problem, zero. No problem whatsoever... you develop this muscle of flipping the light switch on and off.” – Joe Sikora (22:48)

  • Jerry and Joe reminisce about dialogue, dialect, and immersing in New York and Chicago cultures.

5. On-Screen Death: Killing Proctor, Behind the Scenes

(25:00–28:14)

• A deep-dive into the infamous Tommy-kills-Proctor scene:
  • Joe details filming it across two weeks, and the emotional/technical challenges:

    “I literally thought, man, people gonna hate me... we did it over two days.” – Joe Sikora (25:28)

  • Discusses collaborating with directors, script notes, and the importance of authenticity in violent scenes.

6. Craft, Fight Scenes & Set Injuries

(28:14–31:42)

• Joe and Jerry discuss the realities of shooting physical scenes:
  • Trust between actors is essential:

    “No actor wants to be getting their ass kicked on screen... but I always have the most trust with you.” – Jerry (28:54)

  • Recounting past injuries, the value of stunt doubles, the theater's discipline.

7. Friendship & Partnership with 50 Cent

(31:42–34:01)

• Joe fondly recalls first meeting 50 at G-Unit offices:

  “He just gives me the biggest hug, and he's like, ‘man, we're lucky to have you, man. That audition was crazy...’” – Joe Sikora (32:19)

  • Candid about “Fif’s” straight talk:

    “...to know you is to love you... but look, when you don't make me money no more, I ain't gonna with you.” – 50 Cent via Joe Sikora (33:14)

  • The story of 50 Cent shipping his own car for the Entourage cameo adds a character detail.

8. Collaborations, Working with Tom Cruise, and Never “Making It”

(35:41–39:08)

• Joe reflects on career highlights—Tom Cruise’s professionalism, ensemble work.

  • Humble, never feels “famous,” still pinching himself at opportunities.

    “I’ve never felt like I’ve made it... but I will say that I loved working with Tom Cruise so much.” – Joe Sikora (36:18)

• He treasures working with diverse creative teams, naming favorite co-stars.

9. Directing Ambitions & Storytelling

(39:08–41:39)

• Joe aspires to direct and produce—focuses on empowering his crews, collaborative storytelling.

  “Directing is really where I’m super comfortable and what I really love to do... I’d like to empower the rest of the crew so we can all kind of collaborate on these shots and tell the story.” – Joe Sikora (39:53)

10. Segment: Most Memorable TV Deaths

(42:14–47:53)

• Matt and Jerry draft their picks for “most memorable TV deaths”—mixing insight and playful banter.
  • Marissa (The OC) – Matt (43:03)
  • Scott from 90210 – Jerry (43:48)
  • Jack Pearson (This Is Us) – Matt (44:27)
  • Ned Stark (Game of Thrones) – Matt (45:28)
  • Wallace (The Wire), Hank Schrader (Breaking Bad), Chris Moltisanti (The Sopranos) – Jerry (46:18)
  • Honorable mentions:
    • Jerry’s own TV death as Proctor (“I’ve died a lot on camera.” – Jerry (47:34))
    • Matt’s wife’s on-screen death in “The Mentalist”

11. Twisted Tea Trivia and Sports Crossovers

(48:22–59:43)

• Annie Agar joins for trivia, actor-athlete hybrid questions.
  • Competitive banter, arguments over winning answers (especially around Terry Crews)
  • Fun fact exchanges, e.g. John David Washington played NFL football.

12. NFL What-If Game – “Combine Two Bad Teams to Make a Playoff Team”

(52:14–55:26)

• Debated which eliminated NFL teams, if combined, could make a playoff squad.
• Favorites included Bengals offense with Browns defense, Giants + Raiders, Cowboys offense with Browns defense.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the emotional aftermath of Power’s infamous shootout:

  “I’ve rewatched it like 15 times to see if you... you’ve worked on your…” – Matt (08:43)
  “I literally thought, man, people gonna hate me.” – Joseph Sikora (25:28)

• On the challenge and fun of being typecast—twice:

  “How does it happen again, twice? It kind of disproves the theory…” – Jerry (13:07)

• On working with 50 Cent:

  “But look, when you don’t make me money no more, I ain’t gonna with you.” – 50 Cent via Joseph Sikora (33:14)

• On acting and identity:

  “Zero problem, zero. No problem whatsoever…you develop this muscle of flipping the light switch.” – Joseph Sikora on moving in/out of character (22:48)

• Competitive banter over trivia:

  “If I beat you at your own game, then you need to just stop.” – Matt (48:56)
  “What’s the old saying? Excuses are like buttholes. Everybody’s got one.” – Matt (59:51)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Post-World Series Recap: 01:11–06:38
• Intro to Joseph Sikora, Power, and Acting Career: 06:38–13:13
• Joseph Sikora on Force & Chicago: 13:18–19:25
• Portraying Tommy & Actor Instincts: 22:48–24:35
• Filming Proctor’s Death: 25:00–28:14
• Trust & Set Injuries: 28:14–31:42
• Working Relationship with 50 Cent: 31:42–34:01
• Reflections on Fame, Tom Cruise, and Ensemble Work: 35:41–39:08
• Directing Ambitions & Set Collaboration: 39:08–41:39
• Draft: Most Memorable TV Deaths: 42:14–47:53
• Twisted Tea Trivia (Actors x Athletes): 48:22–59:43
• NFL “Combine Two Teams” Game: 52:14–55:26

Tone & Style

The hosts maintain a warm, relaxed, and playful rapport throughout, combining deep industry insights and authentic storytelling with friendly banter and sports-fan energy. Joseph Sikora’s candidness adds layers to the discussion—not only demystifying acting at the highest level, but making the creative struggles behind TV’s biggest hits accessible for all listeners.

Summary Takeaways

• Joseph Sikora’s Tommy Egan remains an iconic, multi-dimensional TV antihero, shaped as much by the actor’s behind-the-scenes commitment as by creative battles for authenticity.
• 50 Cent’s authenticity as a producer is matched by his ruthless candor and loyalty to his creative partners.
• The intersection of acting and sports reveals surprising similarities: team dynamics, professional dedication, and preparation under pressure.
• TV deaths—both to those who portray them and those who watch—leave lasting impressions, becoming cultural touchstones that connect fans and creators alike.
• The episode’s blend of nostalgia, debate, inside baseball, and competition makes it an enjoyable must-listen for fans of sports, entertainment, and storytelling.