Entertainment Spotlight: Josh Thomas, Everything’s Gonna Be Okay
After making his mark as an award-winning and hugely successful stand-up comedian and television panelist, Josh Thomas turned his hand to writing, acting and co-executive producing his own television show for ABC TV, inspired by his life and his comedy, called Please Like Me. Following the success of Please Like Me in Australia and the US, Josh went on to create, write, star, and produce Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, which recently made its premiere in the US on Freeform and received widespread critical acclaim. Josh took the time to answer our questions about Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, bugs, and more:
How does the final result of Everything’s Gonna Be Okay Season 1 compare to your initial draft of the show? Any major changes or additions?
I am not really sure what we would call the initial draft of the show. Before writing a script, we have to pitch the season outline, then episode outlines, then scene breakdowns then we write the first of 4 official drafts for each episode. Internally (between me, the writers, other producers and the studio) we do about 3 drafts of each step. That’s like… 24 drafts before we get the shooting script.
Then, on set we shoot each scene about 12 different ways, and that gets given to one of our editors and they do the editor’s cut. Then the director does their cut and then I get to do my first of 3 cuts.
All of these steps are usually hundreds of pretty minor changes, but it has a big result.
At every step I try and ignore what we thought about the episode before, and view it with fresh eyes.
I like, honestly can’t remember when we made any major changes and additions.
If you could take a masterclass on any subject, what would you learn and who would you want to teach you (e.g. a cooking class with Gordon Ramsay)?
I wish I understood lighting in photography and cinematography better! It’s the most bamboozling part of being on set to me.
Who would I get to teach me though?
Umm, Ezra Miller. I know he wouldn’t be good at teaching me but honestly, I’d prefer to hang out with Ezra Miller than to do learning.
Which episode of Everything’s Gonna Be Okay Season 1 was your favorite to make, and which was your favorite to watch?
The finale is set in NY and that is just a real dream. I can’t believe they let me get away with that. So, that was my favourite to make.
My favourite to watch is Episode 9 - there is a lesbian love story with two of our autistic characters and also caterpillars and it just makes me so happy.
What inspired the bug theme in Everything’s Gonna Be Okay?
Well, I was in the shower with a boy I liked and he was leaving me to live in the bush and study grasshoppers and I just thought that was so charming so I stole it for my character.
Also, I got some pet bugs and were just obsessed with them. They are so precious and interesting but people never give them a chance!
Were any scenes or moments from the show based on your own experiences?
Just one… there is a scene in an all-inclusive resort where I throw ceviche on my boyfriend’s head as a joke and he gets so mad at me and then we have a drunk fight. It happened, I did it to a boy. I saw the love drain out of his eyes.
If you could give one of the characters a spinoff series, who would it be and what would the series be about?
I can’t answer that! If I chose one the rest of the cast will riot. (The answer is Tellulah, obviously)
Can you tell us some of the other titles that you considered for the show before landing on Everything’s Gonna Be Okay?
None! Everyone just accepted it.
I took it from a scene in Please Like Me.
In your opinion, what’s the most interesting thing about you that people may not know?
I’ve done like 6 one-hour solo shows and written 32 episodes of TV based on my life so like… I don’t really have any secrets left.
People are always shocked by how messy I am which shocks me in return because like, don’t I seem like such a mess? I thought so.
What’s next for you?
Hopefully another Season of Everything’s Gonna Be Okay! If not then like… a heavily discounted holiday thanks to COVID-19.
Thanks for taking the time, Josh! Catch the season one finale of Everything’s Gonna Be Okay tonight at 8:30p/7:30c on Freeform. For more content, check out the Everything’s Gonna Be Okay Tumblr!
We know him! He’s on our show!















