Jack McBrayer Appreciates That ‘Zillow Gone Wild’ Is Family Friendly Viewing: “I Love That Kids Are Watching” 

Over the course of his varied career, Jack McBrayer has built a reputation as one of the nicest guys in Hollywood. After winning over audiences as plucky NBC page Kenneth Parcell on 30 Rock and through his notable voiceover work in Wreck-it Ralph and Phineas and Ferb, McBrayer has entered a new era in his career as host of the extremely successful HGTV series, Zillow Gone Wild. Now in its second season—which is based on the popular Instagram account— the show follows McBrayer as he receives guided tours of non-traditional homes with amazing architecture and unique décor.

“We saw 30 houses from all over the country,” reported McBrayer when asked about the new season. “I didn’t really picture myself hosting a home show, and here I am.” When asked about some of the houses he was most excited to share with audiences, McBrayer did not hesitate to describe the fantastical abodes: “In Pennsylvania, we see a house that looks like a shoe; in San Juan Capistrano, we see this Spanish hacienda that looks like you’re walking into a fairy tale.” Audiences can always expect the unexpected with this show!

“I didn’t really picture myself hosting a home show, and here I am,” said McBrayer. One thing that surprised McBrayer is that families are watching his antics together. “People are liking it [and] I also love that kids are watching this show,” said McBrayer. “That has been an unexpected delight.” McBrayer and HGTV have worked hard to make sure that Zillow Gone Wild remains “positive and celebratory and exploratory” as they showcase people who want to share their homes with the world. “We always put our best foot forward,” said McBrayer.

McBrayer stopped by the Decider studio to talk about the show, his delightful role in Apple TV+’s Murderbot, and his recent pop-up on Grey’s Anatomy.

DECIDER: Zillow Gone Wild is back for Season 2! What can viewers look forward to in this installment?

JACK MCBRAYER: We got a whole ‘nother season of crazy houses! We saw 30 houses from all over the country. I got to go to some fun places that I had never been to before. I’d never been to Taos, New Mexico. I’d never been to Tucson, Arizona. Each house was different from the one before. In Pennsylvania, we see a house that looks like a shoe. In San Juan Capistrano, we see this Spanish hacienda that looks like you’re walking into a fairy tale with hummingbirds and fruit trees. It looked like the Garden of Eden.

Out of the 30 houses you saw, could you see yourself living in any of one of them?

We always played this game with the crew. Like, if you had to move into one of these houses, which one would it be? I will admit, and I’m sure I’ve said this before, I’m a sucker for warm weather and I love a swimming pool. So, there were a few that fit the bill. There were some really pretty ones in colder climates. We were up in Wisconsin, and there was one we were calling the “Hobbit House” because it was almost underneath the ground, but it was so cool inside with like mid-century modern furniture.

Obviously, this series is based on the popular Instagram handle, but you’ve become the face of Zillow Gone Wild. Are people approaching you on the street with their own properties or wild places they’ve seen?

Nobody’s really submitting their own properties to me because they know I’m just a walking cartoon. I do have to say, it has been so impressive to see the response to this show. People I would not expect are like, “I love your real estate show.” I’m as surprised as anybody. I didn’t really picture myself hosting a home show, and here I am. People are liking it. I also love that kids are watching this show because I’ve always enjoyed children’s programming. That has been an unexpected delight.

Are you into home renovation? Have you taken any inspiration from these houses into your own personal spaces?

I am not into home renovation [laughs]. I love my house so much that I did not change a thing when I bought it. I bought the furniture with the house; I have not painted it; and, I have not knocked down any walls. The only thing I’ve done is bring in some plants. That does take some thought.

How do you travel from house to house each episode? By caravan? By bus?

By camel [laughs]. No, but when you’re seeing 30 houses all over the country, it’s a logistical nightmare. The production team have it down to a science. They’ll fly us to one location like, let’s say we’re in Florida. We’ll go to Sarasota today, Orlando tomorrow, and Hollywood the next day. The crew is fewer than 10 people so everybody’s wearing a lot of hats and being patient with each other. I don’t know how we do it, but we get it done. I’m also very grateful to the homeowners for allowing us to bring a camera crew into their space. We always put our best foot forward.

In a world where people are incredibly judgmental, you’ve created a safe space in Zillow Gone Wild. What does it mean to you that people trust you enough to open up about their lives and their homes?

That’s very, very important to me. When HGTV first approached me with the idea for this show, I was very interested. They wanted a comedian, but I was like: “Please know, I am not cynical. I’m not snarky. I’m not here to make fun of people or homes or anything like that.” And they were like, “perfect. We want this to be positive and celebratory and exploratory.” It feels good for me to do that. It’s very easy, feel-good viewing, which I’m proud of.

You have such a fun recurring cameo on Murderbot as part of the fictional crew of a fictional TV show that Murderbot is obsessed with called “The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon.” I know you’re friends with series star Alexander Sarsgaard. Did he ask you to be part of the series?

He is the sole reason I got the role. When they were developing the series, Alex was like: “Oh yeah, I’m friends with Jack McBrayer. You should put him in that.” And they did. So be friends with famous people. They’ll get you jobs. I’m a nepo baby [laughs].

If Apple TV was planning a spinoff series for “The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon,” what would you want for your character?

A bigger wig. We all look ridiculous, but like, I would be curious to see our characters getting different looks. Y’all gotta watch this show. It looks like I have a little bird nest on my head [laughs]. I mean, more so than today. It’s so fun to be part of a fantasy series where anything could happen.

You appeared on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 as a patient who had an “awake surgery.” How did that come to pass?

Like, in what world would Jack McBrayer be on Grey’s Anatomy [laughs]? Things just happen. You just stick around long enough in Hollywood, and you’re going to be on Grey’s Anatomy. What was very special for me about that episode is that I’m friends with Scott Speedman, who played my surgeon. So, I’m sitting there all day, strapped to a surgery table, just doing bits with Scott Speedman as he pretends to remove my kidney. That’s Hollywood for you.

The 20th anniversary of the 30 Rock premiere is coming up next year. Can you believe it?

I really can’t. It was such a special time in my life. I wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for my time on 30 Rock. I stay in touch with all those ding-dongs, and I owe a great deal to Tina Fey. The show changed everything.

30 Rock is across the street. I have to ask: when you happen to go over to NBC, are you treated like royalty by the pages there?

I kind of muscle my way in [laughs]. If I see a tour happening, I just lean in and say, “hey.” It’s so funny because I started that show when I was 33, which already is like a decade older than regular pages. So, I was like, “here comes this old man with his bird nest hair going.” It’s a treat to head over there. It still smells the same. It’s always fun to be back in my old stomping grounds.