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Weekly watcher: David Sullivan of 'Flaked' got his start at 'a Starbucks off Frankford'

Acting wasn’t the first thing on David Sullivan’s mind when he was let go from his first job out of college.

"I remembered being on stage in high school," he said.

"I loved acting but I never thought you could make a living acting."

Fast-forward to his "great role" as best friend Dennis on Flaked. TheNetflix original series follows Chip (Will Arnett) as he navigates sobriety, friends and lies in Venice, Calif.

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"When you first meet Dennis, you’re not sure if you like him or you feel sorry for him or you hate him or you just want to give him a hug," Sullivan said. "He’s a sweetheart and he’s just kind of reaching. Unfortunately, he finds Chip who helped him through recovery."

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He originally auditioned for another role on the series.

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“I just went in guns a-blazing. I went in angry, I went in on edge - I thought I had offended the casting office,” he said. But his choice paid off: he got called back to read for Dennis. And he’d like everyone to know: “I’m not an angry person.”

Before this, Sullivan did a tour of all your favorite shows: Boston Legal; CSI; CSI: NY; NCIS; NCIS: Los Angeles; Justified; and New Girl. And he was in the Oscar-winning Argo. That puts his squarely in the "Hey, It's That Guy" category.

“What’s funny is that you’ll see my face and say, ‘How do I know that guy,” he said. “Did I take classes with him at Baylor?”

Maybe: Sullivan was born in Tyler, grew up in Longview and walked onto the football team at Baylor, where he graduated in 2000. Then, he went to work.

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"I worked for a software company right off 635," he said. "I lived and worked [in Dallas] for almost four years. I got laid off."

Acting, never really out of his head, came next. His first role was in Primer, which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 2004. He says it was five of them and a $7,000 budget.

"We shot that in Dallas," he said. "I met a director at a Starbucks off Frankford ...

"That gave me the opportunity to leap to Hollywood."

And he's still traveling, this time from role to role. He's on hold for The Mindy Project and "I'm constantly teaching other actors and coaching other actors," he says. He has films Max at the Sarasota Film Festival and Girlfriend's Day set for a fall release. Girlfriend's Day is based on a true story and shot in and around Victoria, Texas.

He may have gone about it a different way, but now he has the job he wants.

“There is no path,” he says. “You love what you do, you explore your art and eventually, people will give you the opportunity to do it.”

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SUNDAY

Game of Thrones: He's back. Now, let's see what they're going to do with it. 8 p.m. HBO

United Shades of America: This week's episode is called "Latino USA." W. Kamau Bell explores Trump and his relationship with Latinos and why the term Hispanic may be wrong, among other subjects. 9 p.m. CNN

MONDAY

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Dancing With the Stars: North Texas' Von Miller was eliminated last week, but there's still plenty of dancing left. And another elimination will be tonight. 7 p.m. ABC

The Real Housewives of Dallas: You know there's going to be fallout from the spilled wine from the last episode. Let's hope it doesn't fall out on Tiffany. Plus, Brandi welcomes her formerly estranged grandfather with a barbecue. 9 p.m. Bravo.

Jane the Virgin: Hilarity ensues as Jane plans Mateo's first birthday party. 8 p.m. The CW

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Castle: Castle can only conclude that the Antichrist is involved when an escaped inmate drops dead in his office.

Damien: It's the season finale and, as always, all hell is about to break loose. 10:08 p.m. A&E

TUESDAY

New Girl: It's the eve of the wedding and Shmidt is rewriting his vows. And then, it's CeCe's wedding day! 7 and 8 p.m. Fox

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The Voice: A singer is eliminated. 7 p.m. NBC

Marvel's Agents of ShieldThe department has to register Inhumans following the events in Captain America: Civil War. 8 p.m. ABC

BattleBots: The Gears Awaken: Twelve robots compete for the last available spots in this preview of Season 2. 9 p.m. ABC

WEDNESDAY

Empire: The family takes center stage in "Rise By Sin." Lucious' calculating mother shows that the apple never falls far from the tree.

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Chelsea: Chelsea Handler is back with a talk show, three days a week. Netflix

Underground

: The future is not promised to the Macon 7, even with the plantation miles behind them, in the season finale. 9 p.m. WGN

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THURSDAY

Scandal: Drama goes to another level as the presidential candidates pick their running mates. 8 p.m. ABC

Invictus Games Orlando 2016: The Games, conceived by Prince Harry, continue. 7 p.m. ESPN2

Inside Amy Schumer: In the season premiere, Schumer aims her wicked wit at fantasy football fans. 9 p.m. Comedy Central

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FRIDAY

Shark Tank: If they fund it, I would go: The Sharks get asked to buy into an adults-only sleepaway camp. 8 p.m. ABC

The Originals: Freya has more visions about the prophecy that would spell the end of her family unit. 8 p.m. The CW

Live! With Kelly and Michael: It's "Michael's Flashback Friday Farewell on Friday the 13th." 9 a.m. Fox

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SATURDAY 

Outlander: Jamie and Claire just can't catch a break, can they? 8 p.m. Starz

This week in home entertainment

Your Blu-ray player's ears are burning. Deadpool, also known as The Merc With the Mouth, is coming to home entertainment on May 10. Ryan Reynolds may have finally found his perfect superhero alter ego in Wade Wilson, a mercenary with  a particular set of skills, a motormouth and just this much of a heart. A couple of X-Men join him in taking down a baddie, though he's not that good himself.

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Also out this week: Beauty and the Beast: Season 3 (2012); The Boy; Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood: Goes to the Doctor; Synchronicity; and Where to Invade Next.

For more TV news, views and reviews, follow @DawnBurkes on Twitter.