Hi, my name is Ian Ziering. I've been a professional actor for the last 38 years. I've been fortunate to work on some incredible projects. And I look forward to many more. My latest is Sharknado 2: The Second One, airing tomorrow night at 9 PM/8C in the US and airing within 24 hours globally in 90 other countries throughout the world. Fun fact: at the age of 49, I decided to take a fun risk and try my hand at Chippendales, which really highlighted all the hard work I do on my diet and exercise. It was fun. And being a dad is the best role I've ever played.

Anyways here at reddit HQ in New York to take your questions with Victoria - AMA!

https://twitter.com/IanZiering/status/494207484018831360

Update: Thanks so much for spending some time with me. If you'd like to see some behind-the-scenes pictures, I will be live-tweeting and posting during the premiere on SyFy tomorrow July 30. Find me at @IanZiering.

Comments: 231 • Responses: 70  • Date: 

onesonesones24 karma

Do you think Donna Martin deserved to graduate after getting drunk at prom?

IanZieringHere62 karma

A little known fact: during the filming of that scene, we were all screaming "DONNA MARTIN MASTURBATES!"

sydneywhit17 karma

My favorite rapper is Brian Austin Green. Who is yours?

IanZieringHere17 karma

Tupac. Biggie Smalls.

MentalStampede15 karma

So, why Eye-an instead of Eee-an?

Respectfully, an Eee-an.

IanZieringHere11 karma

That's what I've been called since birth.

MentalStampede3 karma

I guess you're lucky in a way, all my life people have been calling me Ian your way instead of my way. Very clever of your parents to predict that ahead of time!

IanZieringHere8 karma

My mother was a very creative woman. And needed an I to name me after my grandfather, whose name was Irving.

dayofthedead20413 karma

Hi Ian,

Are you a fan of the HBO series "Game of Thrones" and if so who's your favorite character?

IanZieringHere26 karma

LOVE IT. I love the Stark girls. As a matter of fact, I had a picture with them at Comic-Con. Looking for a picture right now, I'll show you soon!

Photo proof! https://twitter.com/reddit_AMA/status/494209813434597377

Shouldbeworking2212 karma

In a different world, could you and Tara Reid make beautiful babies?

IanZieringHere19 karma

She's definitely a good looking girl! But then again, my wife's no cheeseburger. Have you seen her?

IMelted10 karma

If a sharknado was real, what would you do to survive?

IanZieringHere21 karma

Have you seen the movie??

I'd get myself the biggest, baddest chainsaw i could find.

Keith_Creeper10 karma

What do you bench, bro?

IanZieringHere15 karma

225!

Keith_Creeper2 karma

Not too shabby!

IanZieringHere6 karma

Thanks!

seismicor10 karma

Hi, Ian. Jason Priestley told me that He wants to co Star with you in Sharknado 3. Would you li ke him to appear in the third movie?

IanZieringHere14 karma

I would absolutely love it.

Lord_Buckingham9 karma

Ian, after all of your hard work, and years put into your career, can you now afford to live in the 90210 zip code?

IanZieringHere30 karma

Do I want to live in the 90210 zip code?

swapper78 karma

We must know: chunky or smooth peanut butter?

IanZieringHere23 karma

You know, it depends on what I'm feeling like. If it's a quality organic jelly that I'm pairing the nut with, then I'd have to say chunky. But if it's some cheap-o brand, then let's just go with smooth. And to be clear, JIF rules.

shivan218 karma

As a youngster, how much were you similar to Steve from BH90210?

IanZieringHere27 karma

Well, we looked alike! Other than that, I enjoyed the benefits of being raised in a very loving, nurturing environment. My parents never gave me money to pacify me.

32MPH7 karma

What did your loved ones say when you told them you were starring in Sharknado?

IanZieringHere15 karma

I actually have to give credit to my wife, it was at her behest that I got involved with this movie in the first place, because I get my health insurance from my unions and there are certain quotas I need to achieve to get that coverage, my wife wanted to make sure we had all our bases covered for the baby we were going to have in the very near future.

IanZieringHere10 karma

And that created the world's biggest social media explosion!

32MPH2 karma

Hats off to your wife and congrats on the baby, having friends over this weekend to watch Sharknado 2!

IanZieringHere8 karma

Sweet!

VADRphoto7 karma

Hey there Ian.

I was wondering if you happened to catch the RiffTrax (Mystery Science Theater 3000 guys) presentation of Sharknado. If so, what did you think? Do you have any opinions on parody of work? With the recent (renewed) success of Weird Al, and the long running gag films such as I Still Know What You Were Doing Last Summer in the Aisle Looking For the Butter, But I Can't Believe It's Not Actually Butter (Just a working title, btw), The Naked Gun, Top Secret (a personal favorite), and many others, do you find that actors (none specifically, just as a whole) at times take their job as entertainers too seriously?

P.S. - What was it like working with a 19 yo Christina Applegate? You know... for science.

IanZieringHere7 karma

Didn't see it. Looking forward to seeing it soon though. The one episode I did of Married with Children, she was not in that scene. I have met Christina since, and she's a doll.

Flyingpinguinz6 karma

Hi Ian, let me just start off by saying I really loved the work of Sharknado, and cannot wait to see the 2nd one tonight. Sharknado was the best shark movie I've ever seen. I have three questions. 1) do you believe Sharknados pose a serious threat to humanity as a whole, or do you believe chainsaws are simply too much for the Sharknados to handle? 2) Would you consider making Shark Hurricane? Or possibly Shark Volcano? 3) (and the more important one) How would I go about getting a role in Sharknado 3? My skills include protecting screaming girls, jumping inside of sharks, and a fearlessness related to high speed winds in a circular motion. Do I fit the profile?

IanZieringHere8 karma

1) I don't believe that Sharknados are a serious threat to humanity.

2) I wouldn't do anything that would dilute the success of this franchise. If I bleed, it's Sharknado blood.

3) Yes. That, and bribe money, should certainly get you into the next one. It's worked for me! :)

Florencefg866 karma

What do you miss the most about the 90's?

IanZieringHere14 karma

Gangster rap.

scrawnybrawny6 karma

Which 90210 character do you think would live the longest in Sharknado?

IanZieringHere6 karma

Steve Sanders. And I'm saying that because I played him. Who would die the soonest: whoever the slowest runner is, they would probably be eaten first.

scrawnybrawny3 karma

I'd like to see a sharknado descend upon Beverly Hills. I think he'd outlive them all too.

IanZieringHere9 karma

May I introduce you to Sharknado - a small television movie that takes place in Beverly Hills. You can see it right this very second on Netflix, I believe.

Shouldbeworking225 karma

Why should we watch Sharknado 2?

IanZieringHere7 karma

Because it's awesome. And it's as good as the first, only better.

Shouldbeworking224 karma

Hell yeah. Can't wait to see it! We typically play a drinking game to it.

IanZieringHere4 karma

Sweet!

lavothas5 karma

As a shark trainer, have you trained any other marine or land animals, and if so how does training sharks differ from them?

IanZieringHere13 karma

I find training squids to be most difficult. However, piranhas can be snarky as well. Dolphins are pushovers, and sharks just don't listen.

Dcoil15 karma

Ian,

My wife is a devout 90210 fan (even to this day, she has all the DVDs and still recorded every episode on DVR when it was on the soap network). I know she would love to tell you that Steve was her Dad's favorite character, and although she was a Dylan girl, she was always rooting for Steve right up until the end of the show.

My question for you is: What do you think Steve Sanders would be doing in 2014 Beverly Hills? I always envisioned him being an agent to the stars.

Congrats on the new Sharknado movie, and good luck in the future!

IanZieringHere28 karma

Thanks!

Currently Steve Sanders is divorced. He's living in the cloud forest in Costa Rica, where he's the personal life coach to the world's most interesting man. He runs around wearing capri shorts and espadrilles, and screaming back at the howler monkeys.

geebee7655 karma

Would the Peach Pit survive a sharknado?

IanZieringHere14 karma

If Willie is still cookin' behind the grill, the Sharknado wouldn't have a chance.

beerbitches5 karma

What is your favorite beer?

IanZieringHere9 karma

Dos Equis.

1841lodger4 karma

Lager or Amber?

IanZieringHere4 karma

The lager.

supremesuperextra5 karma

What would be a good snack to have while watching Sharknado 2?

IanZieringHere12 karma

Sushi!

IanZieringHere14 karma

Payback's a bitch.

man_mayo5 karma

What scene from a TV show or movie would you love to have a "do over" on?

IanZieringHere16 karma

I would like Ned Stark not to die, OK? I think Ned Stark should at least have hung around until season 2.

alfamonke5 karma

Will there ever be a Sharknado that you die in, then come back in the next AS the Sharknado? And if so, how would you succeed where the other Sharknado's failed?

IanZieringHere9 karma

Do you live in Colorado? 'Nuff said.

Fozzy245 karma

What has been your favorite movie or tv show that you've acted in?

IanZieringHere3 karma

You know, I have so much fun working as an actor that it's hard to pick just one.

Fozzy242 karma

Alright thanks for answering my question! And one more if you don't mind but what actor or director have you enjoyed working with the most?

IanZieringHere9 karma

Really enjoyed working with Tony Scott filming Domino. That movie was overlooked and underrated. And one of the masterpieces that came from Tony's body of work.

shivan214 karma

Would you rather fight 100 cosmic mouse sized sharks or 1 shark sized cosmic mouse?

IanZieringHere5 karma

I'd have to go with 100 cosmic mouse sized sharks.

mikeyfreshh4 karma

Sharknado or Bearicane: What's scarier?

IanZieringHere11 karma

Sharknado. Or using the bathroom after my father.

cmallard20114 karma

Mr. Ziering, you were not in the 1997 adventure-horror classic Anaconda, but had you been, in what ways what it have been better than the masterpiece audiences were treated to that spring?

IanZieringHere18 karma

It would have been fun to see the anaconda spit me out because it choked on my mullet-hair.

MsJessD44 karma

Hi Ian, what is the best compliment you've ever received ? Much love from France xx

IanZieringHere14 karma

I'm always flattered when someone comes up and tells me they've enjoyed seeing one of the projects I've been a part of. It's always very flattering. I did a show called Dancing with the Stars, and had my 85 year old dad in the audience. After I received my marks, and was walking back to the holding room, my father stood up in a quiet ballroom and yelled "That's my boy!"

Smurfie904 karma

Which was more fun to make Biker Mice from Mars, or Sharknado?

IanZieringHere4 karma

Biker Mice was a blast. Not having to memorize lines just made it so easy. Being an intergalactic freedom-fighting mouse is also something I don't get to portray too often. On the other hand, being a hero in a science fiction action adventure is also something that doesn't come along too often. They both have their merits and I'm very happy to be a part of both of those projects.

swapper74 karma

If you could choose to be the best scientist in your field or have mad cow disease, which one would you take?

IanZieringHere6 karma

I'd have to go with scientist. And cure cancer.

jonnieve4 karma

What do you regret in life?

IanZieringHere6 karma

I have no regrets!

Isuhydro3 karma

If you could get a superhero movie who would you want to play?

IanZieringHere8 karma

Aquaman.

Isuhydro4 karma

I'll see what I can do.

IanZieringHere5 karma

I appreciate that. Especially if you're a member of the Justice League.

DinoVee3 karma

How do you stay looking so beautiful and young?

IanZieringHere3 karma

Clean living, mostly. But where that leaves off, I pick up with a fantastic line of anti-aging skincare that works on a genetic level as well as a vitamin supplement that is packed with anti-oxidants. All of my anti-aging secrets come from NuSkin.

Frajer3 karma

How did the Flaming Lips wind up on 90210 link http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uJC6GWZGswY

IanZieringHere9 karma

We had a fantastic music booker that brought us some incredible talent - Christina Aguilera, Luther Vandross, Karas Flowers currently known as Maroon 5.

FrostedFlakez3 karma

What's your favourite Angry Bird?

IanZieringHere3 karma

Stella.

Barry-Allen3 karma

Do you ever go back to Newark, NJ and reminisce or is just too far gone for you?

IanZieringHere6 karma

I get a good dose of Newark every time I fly into the airport there.

kummfamily3 karma

We here at the Kumm house are thrilled and appreciative to have received your amazing package! What's your favorite part of being a celebrity?! Kenzie says, "#sharkhero, can we go kill some sharks?"

IanZieringHere5 karma

The give-back.

cmmn518redux3 karma

Hi, Ian! So Terrible Things My Mother Told Me is on youtube. When was the last time you watched it? Eleanor is such a horrible mother.

IanZieringHere5 karma

That was an after school special I did in the late 80's.

Ion_Beam3 karma

How does one become a shark tamer? It sounds awesome!

IanZieringHere5 karma

Start with tropical fish, then move on to saltwater.

hottovix3 karma

So, what are you wearing? wink

IanZieringHere4 karma

Briefs.

hottovix3 karma

How was your experience on the Today Show this morning?

IanZieringHere4 karma

It's great. Going on the Today show is a blast.

wabysaby3 karma

Love the killing of a shark with a chainsaw from the inside.

In a zombie apocalypse what is your weapon of choice?

IanZieringHere7 karma

I'm going to have to stick with the chainsaw.

MONKSFTW3 karma

Hey Ian Ziering! Thank you so much for giving us this opportunity, I'm a huge fan of Sharknado and can't wait to watch the sequel

  • What was it like working with the cast and crew on Sharknado?

  • Will we see a third instalment of Sharknado?

  • Nicolas Cage, yay or nay?

Thank you again for giving us this chance, on behalf of this AMA I'd like to give commend you on your talents and wish you luck on your current and future projects

IanZieringHere5 karma

Being that we shot this movie in 18 days leaves very little time to mess around. Everyone was very professional, and worked very hard. Our crew in New York like our crew in California was fantastic.

SyFy has already greenlit Sharknado 3! Title to be determined. Look for it July 2015.

I have a reoccurring dream with Nicolas Cage's face on a unicorn. Yay.

dngwall3 karma

I loved your voice over work. Are you working on any voice overs now? Also have you ever surfed?

IanZieringHere2 karma

Not working on any VO projects currently. And I have surfed.

heytherehandsome3 karma

What was it like working with James Spader in Endless Love?

IanZieringHere8 karma

It was like working with the same character from Blacklist.

xhotxwater3 karma

What was your reaction after being pitched Sharknado? Did the project appeal to you, or were you surprised such an idea existed?

IanZieringHere3 karma

I had a lot of trepidation in doing the first movie. There were a lot of holes in the script left to be filled by visual FX. And working on a movie this ambitious with a scant budget made me think I'd be paired with Sid & Marty Kroft level special FX rather than James Cameron Avatar technology. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

xhotxwater2 karma

That is something I walked away from the movie thinking about. For the budget they had this movie was REALLY ambitious and tried to make everything they wanted to do, happen on screen.

IanZieringHere7 karma

I gotta give credit to Anthony C. Ferrante, our director, who had the vision and foresight to shoot a hundred million dollar script on a hundredth of that budget.

sconce26003 karma

Says here that you are going to be in the upcoming season of the Celebrity Apprentice: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Apprentice_(U.S._season_14)

Is that true? When does it air?

IanZieringHere2 karma

I cannot confirm or deny that. Time will tell.

Funky_Farkleface3 karma

Do you think Sharknado 1 and 2 are better than all the programming on Shark Week combined?

IanZieringHere6 karma

Different strokes for different folks.

xhotxwater3 karma

What did you think about Rifftrax riffing the movie? Would you like seeing them take on Sharknado 2: The Second One?

IanZieringHere3 karma

Of course! I haven't seen the first one yet, but anytime something is held up for ridicule, what it really does is just highlight the impact that it has had on the public. I'm fine with it.

binnyzhan3 karma

I am super excited about Sharknado 2. Were you surprised at the reception of the first movie and how popular it was? If the franchise continues, how many sequels would be you willing to do?

IanZieringHere6 karma

I was as shocked as everyone else was when Sharknado first aired. It did something no other TV movie has done on a global level unprecedented before or since. I would be happy to be a part of the franchise for as long as I can hold up a chainsaw. And may you live to 100, and may the last words you hear be mine.

trollinwithdagnomies3 karma

Do gingers have souls?

IanZieringHere5 karma

There's a lot of soulless people walking around. Not all of them have red hair. As a matter of fact, if you ever go to a Comic-Con, take a look at the people that are signing autographs who are sitting next to John Schneider from the Dukes of Hazzard. They've had their souls sucked right out of them.

Macc143 karma

Flying or invisibility?

IanZieringHere7 karma

Invisibility. No, wait, I'd have to say flying. What's the benefit of being invisible?

jonemillard2 karma

What's the craziest thing we should expect to see in Sharknado 2: The Second One?

IanZieringHere3 karma

Not going to be a spoiler! You tell me! Tweet to me what You think after you see it wednesday night!

Keith_Creeper2 karma

What was your wife's initial reaction to your choosing to be a Chippendales dancer?

IanZieringHere11 karma

She said "Go get it, Magic Ian!"

BruinScott2 karma

Ian,

Why in Sharknado 1 does your character end back up with Tara Reid? Didn't you know we wanted to see Tara eaten by a shark and see you end up with the chick who gets with your son instead?

IanZieringHere6 karma

I didn't write this movie. If you have story ideas, consider submitting them to Thunder Levin (the writer) - you can find him on Twitter. Or Anthony C. Ferrante, the director. Both are on Twitter.

Awesome04502 karma

On a scale from Meh to Heckle Yeah!, how great is Sharknado 2?

IanZieringHere5 karma

From the one to Heckle Yeah scale, it's definitely a Heckle Yeah.

theArnoldFans12 karma

Ian, WHO would win in a fight...A shark or tomorrow's birthday boy - Arnold Schwarzenegger?

IanZieringHere4 karma

Arnold Schwarzenegger.

[deleted]1 karma

[deleted]

IanZieringHere7 karma

Seriously?! Bartender, cut this guy off.