One of the highest compliments you can pay to a TV show is this: It knows exactly what kind of show it is. And that’s very much the case for “What Would Diplo Do?” the new Viceland scripted comedy showrun by and starring James Van Der Beek.
What is a Diplo? You don’t necessarily need to know the answer to enjoy the series, directed by Brandon Dermer and starring Van Der Beek as a world-famous DJ who travels the world with an eclectic crew of characters performing sick concerts and getting into hijinks. But the answer is that Diplo (born Thomas Wesley Pentz) is a real Edm artist who (theoretically) is nothing at all like Van Der Beek’s portrayal. And that fact is part of what makes the series work so well, as Van Der Beek pushes his character portrait beyond simple caricature into the most out-there realms.
What is a Diplo? You don’t necessarily need to know the answer to enjoy the series, directed by Brandon Dermer and starring Van Der Beek as a world-famous DJ who travels the world with an eclectic crew of characters performing sick concerts and getting into hijinks. But the answer is that Diplo (born Thomas Wesley Pentz) is a real Edm artist who (theoretically) is nothing at all like Van Der Beek’s portrayal. And that fact is part of what makes the series work so well, as Van Der Beek pushes his character portrait beyond simple caricature into the most out-there realms.
- 8/4/2017
- by Liz Shannon Miller
- Indiewire
There are two kinds of people in this world: people who worship the ground Diplo walks on, and people who are wrong.
James Van Der Beek is taking on the hilariously complicated process of turning real-life DJ, producer, singer and songwriter Thomas Wesley Pentz (better known by his stage name Diplo)
...
Read More >...
James Van Der Beek is taking on the hilariously complicated process of turning real-life DJ, producer, singer and songwriter Thomas Wesley Pentz (better known by his stage name Diplo)
...
Read More >...
- 7/28/2017
- by Lindsay Macdonald
- TVGuide - Breaking News
Kate Hudson and Diplo (real name, Wesley Pentz) sparked romance rumours yet again when they were spotted getting close at Vanity Fair’s Oscars After Party over the weekend. The Hollywood Reporter claims the stars were holding hands with a source telling E! News that their evolving relationship is “casual and fun.” Related: Kate Hudson And […]...
- 3/1/2017
- by Sylvia Ogweng
- ET Canada
Is there anything Diplo can’t do? The 38-year-old producer, real name Wesley Pentz, has established himself as one of the hottest acts in dance music, releasing hits as a solo act, with Skrillex as half of Jack Ü, and with his dancehall trio Major Lazer. While the success of his music career speaks for itself, it looks like the producer is ready to immortalize it on celluloid as he announces his upcoming show What Would Diplo Do? for Viceland.
The unlikely show will star an even more unlikely James Van Der Beek as Diplo, who rose to prominence for his titular role on Dawson’s Creek. Viceland has ordered six episodes of the show to start, which will serve as a comedic exposé into the life of the world class DJ.
Diplo and Van Der Beek will serve as executive producers alongside Kevin Ksatsu, while Oscar winner and Viceland...
The unlikely show will star an even more unlikely James Van Der Beek as Diplo, who rose to prominence for his titular role on Dawson’s Creek. Viceland has ordered six episodes of the show to start, which will serve as a comedic exposé into the life of the world class DJ.
Diplo and Van Der Beek will serve as executive producers alongside Kevin Ksatsu, while Oscar winner and Viceland...
- 1/5/2017
- by Connor Jones
- We Got This Covered
For the latest episode of his long running Diplo and Friends radio show, Wesley Pentz, better known by his DJ name Diplo, dropped a special two hour mix filled with an emphasis on Miami bass music. Known for his diverse tastes and eclectic range of influences, the world famous musical curator brought his A game for the latest edition of his show for BBC Radio 1 Xtra.
Diplo opens the episode with legendary German electronic group Kraftwerk’s “It’s More Fun To Compute,” before mixing in a variety of Miami’s best, including tracks from 2 Live Crew, Salt N’ Peppa, Sir Mix-a-Lot andDestiny’s Child, while making sure to include Tag Team’s classic hit “Whoomp! (There it is).”
While the mix features heavy on iconic Hip Hop tracks, Diplo doesn’t fail to include tracks from his contemporaries, working in Tchami’s “After Life,” the GTA remix of his own “6th Gear” with Alvaro,...
Diplo opens the episode with legendary German electronic group Kraftwerk’s “It’s More Fun To Compute,” before mixing in a variety of Miami’s best, including tracks from 2 Live Crew, Salt N’ Peppa, Sir Mix-a-Lot andDestiny’s Child, while making sure to include Tag Team’s classic hit “Whoomp! (There it is).”
While the mix features heavy on iconic Hip Hop tracks, Diplo doesn’t fail to include tracks from his contemporaries, working in Tchami’s “After Life,” the GTA remix of his own “6th Gear” with Alvaro,...
- 11/24/2015
- by Connor Jones
- We Got This Covered
Remember when Diplo wasn’t a caricature of himself? The Mad Decent head honcho, government name Wesley Pentz, was the early 00’s tastemaker behind M.I.A.‘s ubiquitous 2008 summer smash “Paper Planes” from her Diplo produced blockbuster debut Piracy Funds Terrorism Vol. 1 and after the album, he went on to work with just about everyone in the industry; […]
The post ‘Peace Is The Mission’ By Major Lazer Review: A ‘Major’ Letdown appeared first on uInterview.
The post ‘Peace Is The Mission’ By Major Lazer Review: A ‘Major’ Letdown appeared first on uInterview.
- 6/6/2015
- by Ross Perkel
- Uinterview
Daddy Diplo! Los Angeles-based DJ and music producer Diplo (Thomas Wesley Pentz) has welcomed his second son with his ex Kathryn Lockhart, Us Weekly can exclusively confirm. The little boy's name is Lazer Lee Louis Pentz, and he weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces at birth. Major Lazer is an electronic music project created by Diplo. Katy Perry's on-again beau, 36, is already dad to son Lockett, 4. A source close to the DJ said he is currently spending time with his ex and his little boy, buying [...]...
- 11/16/2014
- Us Weekly
Boyfriends come and go, but Cheetos are forever! Katy Perry Instagrammed a (very recent) #ThrowbackThursday video from Halloween, "when I was a sad cheeto that no one wanted to cuddle at the end of the night." In the video, the still-in-costume (the Flamin' Hot version, mind you) singer dramatically lip syncs the words to Celine Dion's "All by Myself." So why wasn't Diplo right there devouring Katy's fantastic Frito Lay ensemble?! The Edm producer (real name: Wesley Pentz) had a holiday show at Las Vegas' Surrender Nightclub. Sadly, this meant he couldn't cuddle with his Cheeto cutie back home in California. Don't think, though, that he forget about his...
- 11/6/2014
- E! Online
There was a familiar face during Katy Perry's globe-trotting birthday celebration! The singer was spotted arriving at the Le Bourget airport in Paris on a private jet from Marakesh, Morocco, alongside Edm producer Diplo (real name Wesley Pentz) on Saturday. "They goofed around on the tarmac and Katy looked cute in her matching Adidas track suit and flip flops," an insider tells E! News. After posing for some pictures together, the duo and Perry's camp took a shuttle into the city and got ready for a night out in the City of Light. "Katy was seen dressed up with her entourage as they walked to the very romantic Restaurant le Jules Verne on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower," the...
- 10/28/2014
- E! Online
We wonder if she roared when she heard the news. DJ and producer Diplo - Katy Perry's rumored boyfriend of seven months - is reportedly going to be a dad for the second time. And no, it's not Perry who is pregnant. According to the New York Daily News, Diplo's ex-girlfriend Kathryn Lockhart is expecting her second child with the musician, and is due very soon. (The couple also have a 4-year-old son, Lockett.) If the math is correct, then Lockhart, a former bartender, would have been very newly pregnant when Diplo, whose real name is Wesley Pentz,...
- 10/25/2014
- PEOPLE.com
We wonder if she roared when she heard the news. DJ and producer Diplo - Katy Perry's rumored boyfriend of seven months - is reportedly going to be a dad for the second time. And no, it's not Perry who is pregnant. According to the New York Daily News, Diplo's ex-girlfriend Kathryn Lockhart is expecting her second child with the musician, and is due very soon. (The couple also have a 4-year-old son, Lockett.) If the math is correct, then Lockhart, a former bartender, would have been very newly pregnant when Diplo, whose real name is Wesley Pentz,...
- 10/25/2014
- PEOPLE.com
Katy Perry and Diplo basically confirmed that they're still together, after they both shared pics from their Jamaican getaway over the weekend. The famous DJ and producer (born Thomas Wesley Pentz) snapped a pic of his feet in a hammock, while the pop star posted a selfie in the same exact setting on her Instagram. Diplo has since deleted his Instagram picture. Fans immediately noticed that the hammock was the same based on the red printed fabric—so much for staying under the radar! "Swaying on the hammock under mango trees, fresh freckles on my face, everything irie," the "birthday" singer wrote alongside the serene photo. And while they haven't been spotted together...
- 6/9/2014
- E! Online
Katy Perry fueled rumors she was romancing DJ Diplo after the two were spotted attending the New York City premiere of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 on Thursday, April 24, but who is the pop singer's newest beau?
Katy Perry Dating DJ Diplo
Perry, who recently ended her turbulent relationship with known player John Mayer, was first spotted getting cozy with Diplo while attending Coachella. The two were reportedly caught making out at the outdoor festival and Perry, 29, and Diplo, 35, were described as being very affectionate.
“They were stealing kisses at first. As the night progressed, there was a lot of touching,” a source told Us Weekly.
On Thursday, the cute pair had dinner together before heading over to the Spider-Man 2 premiere after party, where they were photographed laughing with Bj Novak, who stars in the film.
“Diplo and Katy were super affectionate. It’s a really fun relationship for them both,...
Katy Perry Dating DJ Diplo
Perry, who recently ended her turbulent relationship with known player John Mayer, was first spotted getting cozy with Diplo while attending Coachella. The two were reportedly caught making out at the outdoor festival and Perry, 29, and Diplo, 35, were described as being very affectionate.
“They were stealing kisses at first. As the night progressed, there was a lot of touching,” a source told Us Weekly.
On Thursday, the cute pair had dinner together before heading over to the Spider-Man 2 premiere after party, where they were photographed laughing with Bj Novak, who stars in the film.
“Diplo and Katy were super affectionate. It’s a really fun relationship for them both,...
- 4/29/2014
- Uinterview
It seems like Katy Perry may be getting close to another musician. Almost two months after splitting from John Mayer, Perry has been spotted spending time with Diplo (real name: Wesley Pentz). On Thursday, the singer, 29, and the L.A.-based producer and DJ, 35, went to dinner at the Marlton Hotel in New York City. Then they headed to the Amazing Spider-Man 2 after-party at Skylight at Moynihan Station. "They were very affectionate, very lovey-dovey" at the bash, a source says. And when they weren't "all over each other," the source continues, "they were constantly looking at each other." As they departed,...
- 4/27/2014
- by Jackie Fields
- PEOPLE.com
It seems like Katy Perry may be getting close to another musician. Almost two months after splitting from John Mayer, Perry has been spotted spending time with Diplo (real name: Wesley Pentz). On Thursday, the singer, 29, and the L.A.-based producer and DJ, 35, went to dinner at the Marlton Hotel in New York City. Then they headed to the Amazing Spider-Man 2 after-party at Skylight at Moynihan Station. "They were very affectionate, very lovey-dovey" at the bash, a source says. And when they weren't "all over each other," the source continues, "they were constantly looking at each other." As they departed,...
- 4/27/2014
- by Jackie Fields
- PEOPLE.com
At the end of a Saturday interview with Diplo, Jillionaire and Walshy Fire of Major Lazer during the second weekend of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, I mentioned my upcoming conversation with 2 Chainz, scheduled for later in afternoon.
Diplo's eyes lit up: "Tell him to come on stage and perform with us."
In 2 Chainz' smoke-filled tour bus about an hour later, I casually brought up Diplo's request. The interview, which was slowly wrapping up, ended abruptly: 2 Chainz took out his phone and immediately called Diplo. When the call went to voicemail, 2 Chainz asked me to reach out to my contact in Diplo's camp. I did, and eventually Diplo's people spoke to 2 Chainz people -- all while a freshly baked Chainz frantically listened to "Bubblebutt" and tried to re-memorize his lines.
Thirty minutes later, Jillionaire and Diplo were telling a crowd of rabid festival goers that...
Diplo's eyes lit up: "Tell him to come on stage and perform with us."
In 2 Chainz' smoke-filled tour bus about an hour later, I casually brought up Diplo's request. The interview, which was slowly wrapping up, ended abruptly: 2 Chainz took out his phone and immediately called Diplo. When the call went to voicemail, 2 Chainz asked me to reach out to my contact in Diplo's camp. I did, and eventually Diplo's people spoke to 2 Chainz people -- all while a freshly baked Chainz frantically listened to "Bubblebutt" and tried to re-memorize his lines.
Thirty minutes later, Jillionaire and Diplo were telling a crowd of rabid festival goers that...
- 4/24/2013
- by Kia Makarechi
- Huffington Post
Acclaimed as an electronic DJ and producer, Thomas Wesley Pentz, better known as Diplo, is in talks with 20th Century Fox to develop a new script on a story that centers around three teens who want to get into Diplo's Electronic Music Festival, described as "8 Mile meets Project X." Though the Grammy-nominated musician is best known for his music--either solo, as part of the group Major Lazer, or working with acts like M.I.A, Beyonce, and No Doubt--Diplo has always maintained a strong interest in film. He studied film at Temple University and told GQ in an interview that he would "love to take a year off to do strictly film work." He actively dipped in toes in the world of film a years earlier. He produced a documentary released on DVD in 2010. Called "Favela on Blast," Diplo's directorial debut documents the world of music in Brazil's favelas.
- 4/16/2013
- by Maggie Lange
- Thompson on Hollywood
One lucky concert goer snapped this photo of Thomas Wesley Pentz, better known by his pseudonym, Diplo, at a gig in Canada this past week. The Philly-based rapper and DJ was capitalizing on a Kodak moment, lifting what appears to be a phone to capture the crowd at Toronto's Sound Academy, and in the process, set the stage for a pretty impressive Instagram shot:
The image is just one of many caption-worthy pictures in this week's Instagigs collection, shared with us by our favorite music-meets-art, crowd-sourcing organization. Among the other amazing photos are dreamy snapshots of Foxygen in Toronto, Toro Y Moi in Los Angeles, and Questlove and D'Angelo in Brooklyn.
For more on #instagigs, check out last week's article (featuring indie pop star, Solange, on the stage at NY's Webster Hall). As always, submit your own photos to the reel by adding the tag #instagigs to your images on Instagram.
The image is just one of many caption-worthy pictures in this week's Instagigs collection, shared with us by our favorite music-meets-art, crowd-sourcing organization. Among the other amazing photos are dreamy snapshots of Foxygen in Toronto, Toro Y Moi in Los Angeles, and Questlove and D'Angelo in Brooklyn.
For more on #instagigs, check out last week's article (featuring indie pop star, Solange, on the stage at NY's Webster Hall). As always, submit your own photos to the reel by adding the tag #instagigs to your images on Instagram.
- 3/11/2013
- by Katherine Brooks
- Huffington Post
Diplo's production catalog is so varied that fans can love some of his work, while judging -- or even hating -- other projects. Someone who dislikes Major Lazer's big-room, electro-dance-meets-Kingston tracks might love, say, Chris Brown. Fans disappointed with Usher's newer songs may still blast M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes." Maybe they judge anyone who listens to Justin Bieber, but love Robyn. Perhaps folks have that dubstep song from the Internet Explorer commercials stuck in their head, but would rather be rocking to some Yelawolf, or Wale.
But here's the fun part: Diplo produced for all of them. From niche artists on his label, Mad Decent, to the likes of Snoop Dogg Lion and No Doubt, Diplo (real name: Thomas Wesley Pentz) has kept busy infiltrating nearly every sub-genre of pop music.
Unlike most producers, however, Diplo is a household name in many of the genres he touches.
But here's the fun part: Diplo produced for all of them. From niche artists on his label, Mad Decent, to the likes of Snoop Dogg Lion and No Doubt, Diplo (real name: Thomas Wesley Pentz) has kept busy infiltrating nearly every sub-genre of pop music.
Unlike most producers, however, Diplo is a household name in many of the genres he touches.
- 9/21/2012
- by Kia Makarechi
- Huffington Post
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