We Get the Scoop From BJ's Wholesale 'Newscasters'

Meet actors Megan Lynch and Matt Walton

This just in: Muse caught up with Megan Lynch and Matt Walton, who portray the “newscasters” BJ’s Wholesale Club campaigns from Terri & Sandy and director Nalle Sjöblad. The wacky work debuted last year, and a holiday edition dropped this week.

We spent two minutes with Megan and Matt to learn more about their background, their creative inspirations and recent work they’ve admired. 

Megan and Matt, tell us …

Where were you born and raised, and how did you get into acting?

• Megan: I was born and raised in Westchester, N.Y., and have lived in Manhattan since graduating from Boston College. I studied theater, English and French. I was accepted into the NBC Page Program, and from there I worked at the Today Show, where I fell in love with the fast-paced energy of a newsroom. I continued to study acting at The Freeman Studio and improv at UCB Theater. My gut told me to swap production for performance and move in front of the camera. My first commercial was for sausage—shout out to Premio! I have been in dozens of commercials both on camera and as a voice artist. I’ve become a GIF for JIF Peanut Butter, appeared in Everything’s Gonna Be All White and made my network TV debut on FBI: Most Wanted.
• Matt: I was born and raised in rural central New Jersey. I decided to pursue acting in New York while still in high school after thinking comic book art had no future. Oops! I approached my career with the mindset that failure was never an option. My first paid gig was at 19 and I haven’t stopped working since. I’ve done soaps, a bunch of TV and films. I’ve been directed by Jodi Foster, David Fincher, Martin Scorsese and the Coen Brothers. I’ve acted with James Spader, Jennifer Lawrence, Ewan McGregor and Al Pacino. My favorite projects have always been sketch comedy and satire—stuff like The Onion and College Humor vids. But my bread and butter has been commercial and voice-over work. 

Play

Talk about your influences. What films and TV do you love?

• Megan: Growing up, I was enthralled by Carol Burnett, Lucille Ball and Mary Tyler Moore. Their ability to make the viewer laugh hysterically one minute and feel so deeply the next was captivating. So, it’s no coincidence that today I am a huge fan of Kristen Wiig, Amy Poehler (let’s go B.C.!), Issa Rae … and of course the amazing Jennifer Coolidge.
• Matt: For some reason, my favorites are the ones who remind me of my parents, like Jeff Bridges, Tommy Lee Jones, Harrison Ford, Michael Caine, Sally Field, Audrey Hepburn, Jane Fonda and Sigourney Weaver. My favorite movies are the perfect ones, at least by my reckoning—the 10 out of 10s. That’s a diverse and rather long list, but here’s a random sample: Rear Window, Dazed and Confused, Witness, Joe Versus the Volcano, Toy Story 3, Green Book, The King’s Speech, The Fugitive, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, The Empire Strikes Back.

Other than BJ’s, do you have some beloved commercials?

• Megan: While I often find myself singing the jingle for Jenny Craig, I don’t know that the spot would make my beloved commercials list. A few that I still think about are the M&M’s Christmas ad “They Do Exist,” “Pardon Me, But Do You Have Any Grey Poupon?” and the Cindy Crawford Pepsi ad. Plus, Pizza Bagels. Because when pizza’s on a bagel, you can eat pizza any time! 

Play

• Matt: TV was a very important thing in my family growing up. Everyone discussed it all the time, especially the commercials. So, I take my work in this field very seriously and with deep delight. I think my all-time favorite spokesperson would have to be Joe Isuzu played by the great David Leisure. It’s the perfect blend of writing, acting and directing, and a quintessential campaign that lasted for years and became part of the culture. More recently, you can’t beat “The Most Interesting Man in the World.”

Play

Talk about the BJ’s work. Put us on set for the latest ads.

• Megan: From the moment we step on set to camera wrap, we are “Ann and Tom.” Matt makes me laugh. We have so much fun. We are encouraged to improvise and let loose. The camera keeps rolling and we get to just play. The professional, determined Ann coupled with Tom’s ability to irritate her is the best dynamic. Matt’s impression of a robot still makes me laugh every time I think about it. (You’ll see).
• Matt: We try on a bunch of different costumes while enjoying local delicacies (pizza and beer) and read through three dozen or so script ideas. Production then whittles those down to a number we can feasibly shoot in one day, while Megan and I have a lovely dinner and rehearse for the next morning. Then it’s non-stop improv comedy on our news set for 10 straight hours. Everyone contributes fresh ideas as we go along, and we crank out about between 12-20 spots for your viewing pleasure. It’s not work when you love to do it.

Is there anything your anchor-desk characters would like to add?

• Megan as Ann: (Straightening in my seat and adjusting my blazer). It’s important that the audience know that I do everything in my power to uphold journalistic integrity. Tom’s one-track mind about deals at BJ’s is not only frustrating but, frankly, embarrassing. I cannot take responsibility for his behavior. I can suggest that you focus on me while you watch. Ignore him. That’s what I do.
• Matt as Tom: This is off the record, right? Ok, cool. Well peeps, it’s taken me my entire life to admit this, but I have a problem. Call it an addiction, call it an obsession, or call it a way of life. But all I ever think about, all I ever DREAM about, are the incredibly low prices and astonishing selection of quality products and delicious food items on sale every day at BJ’s Wholesale Club. Sounds crazy, right? But what’s crazier is that I’m having this conversation with you instead of filling my big red cart with their holiday deals! And this is from the bottom of my heart. BJ’s doesn’t pay me to say things like this. The ad agency does.

Play