Actor Guzman offers humorous take on broadcasting

Luis Guzman has a unique look and an identifiable but unusual speaking voice, both of which have helped him create a niche for himself as a character actor in Hollywood.

He wouldn't argue the notion that he's really good at playing the bad guy, or the bad guy's friend, or, conversely, a rough-around-the-edges cop who's trying to track down the bad guy and his friends.

However you slice it, Guzman has made being "that guy" -- the one who you take one glance at and say, "I know that guy from somewhere" -- into an art form. He's added a slew of hit movies to his resume, beginning in the 1980s, and you never know what he's going to jump into next.

Take for example his two most recent ventures. He's starring, vocally, in a new animated movie titled "Turbo." Guzman's character owns a taco stand with his brother (played by Michael Pena) in this flick about -- wait for it -- snail racing.

Guzman described his character, Angelo, as "the greatest taco maker in the world," whose secret ingredient helps a snail develop super powers. He offered this insight during his second recent venture, where he paired up with MLB.com's Jeremy Brisiel in the latest edition of "Express Written Consent," sponsored by Klondike.

Back for a second season, "EWC" is an exercise in broadcasting where nontraditional announcers -- i.e., celebrities -- try their hand at calling a Major League game. Or, in Guzman's case, commenting on the All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game, which took place on All-Star Sunday at Citi Field in New York.

Guzman's "calls" added to the hilarity of the event, seeing his comments were limited to mostly "Oh! Oh! Oh!" regardless of if he was observing a Bernie Williams home run or a Kevin James belly-flop slide into second base.

"He looks a little cocky up there," Guzman said, watching the portly yet surprisingly agile James dramatically wave to the crowd and salute his cheering teammates.

"The goal in my life is to rearrange my backyard so I have this kind of field," Guzman said of the makeshift baseball field used for the celebrity game. "My own field of dreams."

During his time in the booth, Guzman was presented nine baseball terms and asked to choose one to associate with a topic presented by Brisiel. For example:

"Before acting, you worked as a youth counselor at Henry Street Settlement [in New York's Lower East Side]. What was that like?"

Guzman selected the terms "Swing for the fences."

"Best job I ever had," he said. "Helping young people to help themselves."

"You decided to buy 600 acres in Vermont," Brisiel said, referring to Guzman's current home state, where he resides with his family.

"There's so much space out there," Guzman said. So logically, the term he selected was "In the gap."

And what about his overall acting career to this point?

"Go the distance," Guzman said. He followed that with an impromptu off-the-cuff shout-out to his broadcast partner: "You're asking really good questions. I'm proud of you."

In "Start, Bench, Cut," Guzman was given three extremely famous choices: Al Pacino (his co-star in "Carlito's Way"), Jack Nicholson and Robin Williams.

Guzman chose to start Williams, bench Nicholson and cut Pacino.

"He was going to leave me in the movie," he said. "He made other plans without me."

MLB.com will be unveiling more original broadcasts over the next several weeks. Among the new crop: John C. McGinley, the Madden brothers (Benji and Joel), Kevin Pollak and Robert Horry.

So bookmark EWC to see which storyteller's story is the most fun and whose future in the booth is brightest.