kirby

Kirby, whom I first noticed in the great Canadian series “Slings & Arrows,” a Shakespeare-themed backstage comedy not unlike “Étoile,” and who played a convincing Lenny Bruce in “Maisel,” rockets between nervous energy and being a nervous wreck as Jack; his flying up and down stairs is a motif here.

That meant veteran right-hander and former Texas Rangers closer Kirby Yates was summoned to try to finish off his old club.

Kirby had previously collaborated with Sherman-Palladino and Palladino on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” playing comedian Lenny Bruce.

They later wrote Jack specifically for Kirby.

“I didn’t ask about his trajectory because, inevitably, it was going to change,” Kirby says.