Ask a celeb: Howie Mandel, Viggo Mortensen on ‘Pokemon Go’

“Pokemon Go” has permeated many facets of society, including celebrity culture.

Justin Bieber was recently spotted playing the game in New York. And “America’s Got Talent” judge Howie Mandel, who will perform at Montreal’s Just for Laughs festival on Friday, admits he’s caught up in the hype. Well, sort of.

The Canadian Press recently asked Mandel and other stars what they think of the phenomenon.

“I’m trying to do it,” said the Toronto native. “I’ve been doing it for two days now, without using a phone, just running around public parks throwing balls at the air, hoping I hit something and rise to a new level.

“I love it,” he added. “It’s a way to get these digital gamers off the couch. I’m fascinated by it. I’ve been a part of it and I’m on the hunt.”

Viggo Mortensen, Oscar-nominated star of the new film “Captain Fantastic,” said he hasn’t played it but his son has explained it to him and he doesn’t judge it.

“When I do have a little bit of free time, there are other things that I personally would like to do (rather) than that. But I can understand it’s a fad,” he said. “It probably won’t last forever but people are running around like chickens with their heads cut off, chasing these illusions.

“But they’re also having a fun. There’s no point in being judgmental about it. I don’t have a criticism, I just think it’s amusing.”

Vancouver’s Finn Wolfhard, a 13-year-old lead cast member of Netflix’s retro scary series “Stranger Things,” is a big fan.

“I’m level six, I’m almost seven, but I’m not one of those guys that gets out of the car and goes to tackle someone to get a Pikachu,” he said.

“I just walk around for fun. Last night I did a walk and everyone, literally everyone, was playing.”

Toronto actor Sarah Gadon, who has a flurry of upcoming projects including Xavier Dolan’s “The Death and Life of John F. Donovan,” is curious but doesn’t want to play just yet.

“I’m scared to download it because I have too much work to do and I get really obsessive with games,” she said. “So maybe when I’m finished in December, I’ll download me some ‘Pokemon Go.’ I don’t even think I really know what it is.”