From Frank Grillo’s Guiding Light memories and Scarlet Rose Stallone’s hilarious career advice to James Quattrochi’s surprising story of survival, The Buzz goes all in on Tulsa King.
Covering the PaleyFest NY event of Tulsa King had its share of surprises. By the end of the evening, I had spoken with several members of the cast, collected some incredible stories, and experienced a few moments that reminded me exactly why this was one of the most exciting carpets to cover.
I also sat down for an extended conversation with actor, producer, and director James Quattrochi, who plays Sally Dogs. What began as an evening celebrating Tulsa King became something much bigger: nine conversations about loyalty, ambition, survival, unexpected opportunities, and the people who bring this series to life.
Welcome to The Tulsa King Extravaganza.
Frank Grillo, Guiding Light, and a Blast From the Past
There was absolutely no way I was going to interview Frank Grillo without bringing up Guiding Light. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love daytime television, and Frank’s portrayal of Hart Jessup has stayed with me for years. In fact, 2026 marks thirty years since he first appeared in the role.
What followed was one of the funniest exchanges of the entire evening. We revisited Hart’s complicated history, including the relationships and dramatic circumstances that made Springfield such an unforgettable place. Frank laughed about how he has come to appreciate Hart more as he’s gotten older, and I couldn’t resist joking that perhaps Hart had somehow escaped Springfield and reinvented himself as Bill Bevilaqua.
Of course, Bill has plenty of problems of his own.
Frank admitted that he initially expected his time on Tulsa King to be relatively brief. Instead, his character has continued to play a significant role in Dwight Manfredi’s world. As a rival and occasional complication for Sylvester Stallone’s Dwight, Bill brings a particular energy to the series.
What I appreciated most was how effortlessly Frank moved between discussing his current work and revisiting a character from thirty years ago.
Scarlet Rose Stallone Has Some Thoughts About Spencer’s Future
If Frank Grillo delivered one of the funniest conversations of the evening, Scarlet Rose Stallone certainly gave him some competition.
I started by congratulating Scarlet on her promotion to series regular after four years on the show. Surprisingly, she revealed that she hadn’t even known about the promotion until she saw the announcement.
From there, we began discussing the extraordinary number of jobs her character, Spencer—also known as Spence—has managed to hold.
Ranch hand. Bartender. Barista. Ecstasy dealer. And back to ranch work again.
Scarlet joked that Spencer has already had around nine jobs, and I couldn’t help wondering whether the young woman should simply retire. After everything she’s experienced, hasn’t she earned the right to sit back in a rocking chair?
Scarlet entertained the idea, although she also had a few suggestions involving Spencer’s attraction to a certain bad boy. We discussed Cole, his complicated relationship with Spencer, and the memorable season-three finale in which Dwight wasn’t particularly interested in hearing what Spencer had to say.
The fact that Dwight is played by Scarlet’s actual father made that exchange even funnier.
Then came the moment that may be my favorite visual gag from the entire red carpet. Scarlet suggested that I email her some ideas about what Spencer should do next. Rather than simply promise to get in touch, I immediately handed her my business card.
She as well as the security guard standing nearby was laughing at our exchange. It was one of those spontaneous moments you couldn’t script if you tried.
And for the record, Scarlet, I’m still thinking about Spencer’s next career move.
Jay Will on Tyson’s Identity, Family, and Ambition
One of the most compelling character journeys on Tulsa King belongs to Tyson, played by Jay Will.
When viewers first met Tyson, he was Dwight’s driver. But over time, his role in Dwight’s organization has evolved, and so has his understanding of the world he’s chosen to enter.
During our conversation, Jay and I discussed Tyson’s identity, his relationship with his family, and the complexities of a young Black man finding his place in an environment that wasn’t necessarily built for him.
What stood out was Jay’s willingness to explore the emotional side of Tyson’s choices. This isn’t simply a story about a young man becoming involved in organized crime. It’s also about belonging, ambition, loyalty, and the consequences of decisions that affect the people closest to him.
Tyson’s mother remains an important presence in that story, particularly as she watches her son become increasingly involved in Dwight’s business.
As Jay explained, Tyson is now focused on expanding his own enterprise and building a future for himself and his family.
Chris Caldovino on Goodie’s Loyalty and the Tulsa King Family
Loyalty is one of the defining themes of Tulsa King, and Chris Caldovino’s Goodie embodies that idea in his own way.
During our conversation, Chris discussed Goodie’s commitment to Dwight and the relationships that have developed among the cast over the course of the series. After several seasons together, those relationships have become an important part of the experience for the actors themselves.
Chris also reflected on the opportunity to work with Samuel L. Jackson, describing the excitement of sharing scenes with someone whose work he has admired for years.
There was a genuine appreciation in the way Chris spoke about his colleagues. Even after years in the industry, getting to work alongside performers such as Jackson and Stallone can still be an extraordinary experience.
And there will be more action ahead for Goodie and the other characters.
Vincent Piazza on Vince, Dwight, and Loving Someone to Death
I couldn’t let Vincent Piazza get away without mentioning how his character Vince was introduced to viewers.
After all, getting punched and ending up on the floor is quite an entrance.
Vincent took the joke in stride, and we quickly moved into a discussion about Vince’s place in Dwight’s world. He’s a survivor, and his relationship with Dwight has developed in some unexpected directions.
When I asked whether Vince truly respects Dwight, Vincent offered an intriguing perspective: he believes Vince loves Dwight deep down.
Then came the ominous observation that sometimes you can love someone to death.
Vincent’s comments offered a glimpse into the complicated emotional dynamics of the organization. In this world, affection and conflict aren’t necessarily opposites. Sometimes they’re practically inseparable.
Gretchen Mol Introduces a Different Kind of Challenge
Gretchen Mol joins the Tulsa King ensemble as Amanda Clark, an ambitious political figure whose approach to rules and authority may not align particularly well with Dwight Manfredi’s way of doing business.
Gretchen described Amanda as someone who isn’t especially fond of the mob, which immediately made me curious about the possibilities.
Could Amanda become one of Dwight’s most formidable opponents?
We also discussed what it was like joining an established series with such a recognizable cast. Gretchen spoke about familiarizing herself with the show and her appreciation for the creative talent involved, including connections to projects and collaborators she had encountered earlier in her career.
What interests me about Amanda is the possibility of a conflict that isn’t settled through the usual methods. Dwight knows how to handle threats from rival criminals, but a politically ambitious opponent operating through institutions and rules presents a very different challenge.
Garrett Hedlund Teases More Music
Sometimes you only get time for one question, so you make it count.
When I spoke with Garrett Hedlund, I wanted to revisit the musical moment from the previous season’s finale. Specifically, I was curious whether audiences might hear more music as the story continues.
Garrett didn’t reveal much, but he offered an interesting tease about potentially sharing the stage with someone else—or, more precisely, allowing another performer to have their moment.
He encouraged viewers to stay tuned.
Mike “Cash Flo” Walden on Bigfoot’s Loyalty
Then there’s Bigfoot.
I spoke with Mike “Cash Flo” Walden about his character’s loyalty to Dwight and the unpredictable situations that loyalty can create.
Mike’s background as a professional wrestler made for an interesting part of our conversation. He’s been known as Cash Flo for so long that the name has practically become part of his identity.
I could relate. After years of hosting The Buzz, I’ve had plenty of people call me Buzz rather than NaVell.
We also discussed Bigfoot’s willingness to do whatever needs to be done for Dwight. Mike teased that audiences should expect more of that determination as the story continues.
Considering some of Bigfoot’s previous adventures, that could mean just about anything.
James Quattrochi: The Tulsa King Character Who Was Supposed to Die
To round out this extravaganza, I sat down for an extended conversation with James Quattrochi, who plays Sally Dogs.
Unlike the quick-moving red carpet interviews, this discussion gave us the opportunity to explore not only Tulsa King, but also James’s remarkable career as an actor, producer, and director.
And he had a major revelation: Sally Dogs was originally supposed to be killed off in season two.
James explained that he had filmed episodes seven, eight, and nine, with the expectation that his character would die in episode ten. But before that happened, a revised script arrived.
Sally Dogs survived.
Instead of leaving the series, James returned for subsequent seasons and is now preparing for season five.
I told him that I saw the decision to keep his character as a tremendous compliment. While neither of us could know exactly what motivated the writers’ decision, I couldn’t help thinking that something about his performance and presence had made an impression.
James was gracious about that observation, emphasizing the importance of being prepared, treating people respectfully, listening, and doing the work.
Our discussion then turned to the extraordinary actors he has worked alongside.
He recalled observing Sylvester Stallone and Robert Patrick as they prepared scenes, learning from their approach to performance, blocking, and production. For James, the opportunity to work with such experienced performers remains an education.
He spoke about the responsibility of carrying forward what those artists have taught him.
That idea resonated with me. After twenty years in podcasting, I still believe that the moment I stop learning is the moment I stop growing.
John Travolta, Acting Nerves, and Finding Your Center
James also shared an experience involving John Travolta.
Before working with Travolta, an actor he had admired for much of his life, James began feeling anxious about the opportunity. He returned to techniques from his acting training to help himself focus and prepare for the scenes.
Even experienced performers can find themselves in awe of the people sitting across from them.
From Daytime Television to Directing
James discussed his work on Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless, including his experiences navigating the demanding production schedules and precise blocking required on daytime dramas.
He also recalled playing a fertility doctor on The Young and the Restless and joked about how unsuccessful the character had been at helping anyone become pregnant.
But perhaps the most moving story came when James explained how he became a director.
While writing the screenplay for True Friends, he experienced an emotional moment that convinced him he needed to direct the film himself, despite having no previous directing experience. That decision helped lead him down a path he hadn’t originally planned.
His philosophy about unexpected opportunities was simple: “Don’t force it, don’t fight it, allow.”
James and I talked about how our perspectives change as we get older, how we learn from our experiences, and how sometimes the best opportunities arrive when we’re willing to embrace a different direction.
A Little New York Sports Talk—and an Unexpected Invitation
Of course, we couldn’t end our conversation without discussing sports.
James is a New York Giants fan. I’m a Philadelphia Eagles fan. Fortunately, we found some common ground with the Yankees, along with a shared appreciation for the excitement of watching a city celebrate a major sports victory.
We also agreed that celebrating should never involve destroying property or harming other people. Sports are supposed to bring people together, and some of the best memories come from celebrating alongside complete strangers who suddenly feel like old friends.
As our conversation came to a close, James told me how much he enjoyed speaking with me and expressed interest in returning to the podcast. Then he suggested that I should visit the set of Tulsa King.
Now, I’m certainly not going to pretend that means a set visit is officially on the calendar. But I appreciated the gesture, and I would absolutely welcome the opportunity.
One Unforgettable Experience
Looking back on this entire experience, what strikes me isn’t simply the number of interviews I completed. It’s how different each conversation was. You can prepare your questions, research the characters, and study the stories, but you never know when a conversation will take you somewhere unexpected.
The new season of Tulsa King is streaming now on Paramount+.
Watch and listen to The Buzz – BuzzWorthy Radio for the complete Tulsa King coverage, featuring Frank Grillo, Scarlet Rose Stallone, Jay Will, Chris Caldovino, Vincent Piazza, Gretchen Mol, Garrett Hedlund, Mike “Cash Flo” Walden, and James Quattrochi.
