00:00:00
Paul Rudd. >> Paul Rudd who's who's kind of the ageless uh movie star of our times. Um
00:00:09
>> yeah, there is something weird about that. He's so fantastic. >> He's a good-looking
00:00:13
youthful glow. >> Yes. And he's funny. >> He gets to do both. He gets to do drama
00:00:19
and funny. And uh I think he's a fivetime over there at SNL hosting. And um >> obviously he was Ant-Man, but he's in
00:00:27
the Marvel verse or whatever it's called. And uh >> he does a lot of stuff. He was in
00:00:32
Friendship, a movie that just came out. >> Um what a good time. He comes, he likes
00:00:38
to come and have some laughs. >> Mhm. >> And he's excited to meet you.
00:00:44
>> Yeah. We, you know, I calmed him down. I go, "Look, I'm just a person."
00:00:49
Anyway, he uh we talk about his career. I remember asking him this question. When when did you feel rich or what was
00:00:56
your first big paycheck? you know, and that was he had an interesting answer for that. Takes a long time to build up
00:01:02
to something that's substantial, even though you ah big movie star, you know,
00:01:05
it's hard to negotiate that. >> Spoiler alert, it was the Queen Mary. >> And
00:01:11
he has uh a really cool Paul McCartney story. >> Oh, that's right. >> Which you know me, I can talk about
00:01:17
anything beetley >> forever. All right, let's let him tell it. Here he is. Paul Rod,
00:01:29
>> fivetime. >> Yeah. >> Remember the fivetime hosting club? >> Yeah.
00:01:34
>> We're going to go over Clueless. He launched pretty fast. >> Yeah.
00:01:38
>> Halloween. Halloween 6. I was in Halloween 2. Stacy Dash was in Moving. I
00:01:44
was in Moving. So, Six Degrees of >> I read for moving for real. >> And you're moving. Yes. You move a lot.
00:01:51
No, I read for the movie Moving and they said, "We're trying to get Dana." And I
00:01:54
said, "Oh, fuck." >> For the schizophrenic guy who who takes who does goes crazy and takes Prior's
00:02:00
car across the country. >> Okay. Paul, did you read for that part? >> No, I didn't. You know, I was still in
00:02:06
college. I remember when it came out and um >> it was very exciting, but I never got,
00:02:11
you know, I was just still in school. I never It was It was a little bit before my uh my time in the industry.
00:02:18
>> He turns down movies right now. That's all you do is turn down movie.
00:02:22
>> Oh yeah. Yeah. Oh my gosh. It's a It's a a daily occurrence. All the stuff I'm
00:02:27
turning down. >> They used to call Kevin Klein Kevin Dline. >> I don't know. That was Ca. I don't know.
00:02:35
They call Paul Rudd, but what I got exhausted. This is quite a resume. >> I know. It's like where do you start?
00:02:42
>> It seems like a dream. If I had a kid come out of college, I would probably
00:02:45
>> There's no declining there. It's Yeah, I'll do it. Sure. Great. All quality
00:02:50
work. >> Where do I sign? >> You know, you you produce, you co-write,
00:02:54
you co-wrote the sequel to Ant-Man. Is that right? >> Yeah. Yeah. The the the first one and
00:03:00
the second one. >> No. Come out. Now, I didn't uh write that one, but I did. I
00:03:05
>> So, they come to you as an actor and then they say and then you say, "Well,
00:03:09
I'd like to co-write or they offer it or how does that happen?" >> No, it just kind of happened. Uh it h it
00:03:14
you know the when Ant-Man first started I was cast in that movie by Edgar Wright
00:03:20
who was the original director and uh there was a script and then they wanted to do something else and then there was
00:03:26
another script that they had hired from uh they had written another person or another two people I don't know had
00:03:33
written another script. Edgar left the project. there was another uh script that came along and it just seemed like
00:03:41
uh it was a little all over the place and when we were looking at other directors, Adam McKay came in and then
00:03:50
he and I were talking. We were talking about what we could kind of do with the movie and then they hired us uh to write
00:03:55
it, the two of us. So Oh, cool. So, Adam and I kind of holed up in a uh in a hotel room for a couple months and then
00:04:03
just really tried to cruise through that. But he's such a great I mean, you know, May I would say the two of you in
00:04:11
a room writing and making your choices, no wonder it was a hit. I mean, Adam is brilliant. You're I don't think I was
00:04:18
not aware, but now I look at all the the hits you've had. I'm assuming you had a
00:04:22
hand in all of it. you sometimes you're a hired actor, but you seem like you'd
00:04:27
say to Jud Appatile, you know, how about if I do this? >> I don't know.
00:04:31
>> Well, I think you guys know, yeah, the way I think we've worked with a lot of
00:04:34
the same people. There does seem to be uh a lot of improvisation or every, you know, kind of a collective effort on,
00:04:41
you know, certainly with the way Jud works, we're all kind of working on things together. and um
00:04:45
>> do your judgment if you want to come down. >> It always sounds like he's got a little
00:04:56
bit of a he needs to blow his nose. >> Oh, this is great. I love your idea.
00:05:01
This is a bookmark impression I haven't worked on. I really love your idea. >> Is that Regis?
00:05:06
>> Uh it's Regis. >> It's Jud doing Reges. >> All my impressions start from Regisling.
00:05:13
Anyway, are you ready for this? Did you say what's with the Shanley? >> My was that was that was my Jud
00:05:22
as Regious. >> Oh, as just looking at the Diaries of Chandling. >> I don't do that's my
00:05:31
>> That's so great. I love that. That's like my Biden always ends with Pirates
00:05:35
of the Caribbean. Just makes me happy people. It's not inflation pirates. Pirates of the Caribbean. So the the
00:05:43
idea that you're Regis always ends with Shanley doing is great. That's the kind of Yeah,
00:05:50
I'm a bigger fan. >> Well, Paul, I know Dana's kind of screwing around, but I'm doing an
00:05:55
interview here. Um Oh, Paul. Okay. You did >> Walter Kronite. >> Yes. Uh, I'm actually when I saw
00:06:04
Ant-Man, I I don't see all the Marvel ones because uh part of me is, you know,
00:06:10
obviously a little jealous, but some of it is like when you when you have well, when you have to I can't help it, but
00:06:17
when you have to please the whole world, it's a little different than doing an
00:06:21
artsy movie or like, you know, maybe even Anchorman or movies that are just to like this is fun for just comedy fans
00:06:28
that kind of like the joke on the jokes kind of stuff. And then when you do something that's for the world, uh, it's
00:06:34
probably gets a little watered down because, you know, it's got to be for everybody and that's just the way it is
00:06:38
and they do well. But when I saw Ant-Man, I was surprised that it was had so many clever moves to it that by the
00:06:45
time it ended, I thought during it, I thought, "Oh, might this might be a phase." But then it held all the way
00:06:51
through and it made me go see the second one and the same thing happened. And I thought, "Oh, that's cool." cuz this
00:06:57
Ant-Man wasn't probably one of the ones that was the biggest ever that they were
00:07:01
going to make, but turns out to be one of the funniest and best ones. >> Oh, well, thanks, man. For real. For
00:07:06
real. For real. It did. It did seem like it was a little Those ones were a little
00:07:10
different than the than the rest. I mean, they were they kind of existed even though they were part of that
00:07:14
Marvel universe. They existed in their own space and they were a little smaller and um uh you know, it that the whole
00:07:22
thing really is run by Kevin Feige, the guy who does you know, who orchestrates kind of most of that Marvel universe.
00:07:28
And Kevin Feige is actually a he's a pretty big comedy fan and a lot of the stuff that he likes. Uh, and I, you
00:07:37
know, I got to know him while we were making these is really kind of abstract, funny, not, you know, particularly
00:07:45
crowd-pleasing stuff. >> Mhm. And uh I remember we were in Atlanta filming I think it was this it
00:07:54
was either the first or second Ant-Man I don't remember but no it would have been the first one
00:07:58
and Tim and Eric were on tour and we went I went to go see him and Kevin went went with me and we went backstage
00:08:07
afterward and he had never met Tim Hideker >> and he and here's like the head of
00:08:12
Marvel kind of >> you know fanboying out on Tim Hideker because he just loved all the crazy
00:08:18
stuff he was doing. And he's actually in the second Ant-Man. And in the first
00:08:22
one, um, Greg Turkington, who plays Neil Hamburger for those real deep comedy fans and does on cinema, at the cinema,
00:08:33
>> uh, with Tim H Highdecker, he's in the first Ant-Man. So, you know, there's a
00:08:37
big, uh, contingency of On Cinema at the cinema, uh, fans, Kevin being one of them. It's it it the the layers of the
00:08:47
onion go through. >> That's nice though because also those days when you know someone's come to the
00:08:51
set that you kind of know or something that's always a fun day on the set. >> Yeah.
00:08:56
>> Did you and Adam McKay ever write something and you said, "Let's just put
00:08:59
it in. They're never going to go for this." And then they were maybe surprised.
00:09:06
>> I remember I don't know of anything that they went they went with. I remember we thought,
00:09:13
"Oh, this would be cool." Like in the first one, we thought, oh, you know,
00:09:15
it's we were also kind of trying to retain or or go with what we read in Edgar's version that he wrote with a guy
00:09:22
named Joe Cornish that we thought was great. And there's this heist movie, but
00:09:25
we put in this idea that like what if he does a test run and actually accidentally fights an Avenger? That
00:09:30
would be really cool. And we were laughing about it and we put it in and we did wind up shooting it. But I think
00:09:36
in the second one we talked about the um villain being kind of uh this thing that
00:09:42
went from person to person. We loved the idea of having Nathan Fielder be the bad
00:09:46
guy because it just seemed like a really weird choice and funny. >> Yeah. >> But then when you're and and then it
00:09:52
would hop from person to person and I guess when your villain is an invisible gas,
00:09:57
>> it doesn't they don't really feel like they're going to make that movie.
00:10:01
>> I remember we liked that idea. I think most of the ideas we had that we really
00:10:05
liked didn't get made. >> Oh, okay. Well, we sound a little bit bitter.
00:10:12
No way. >> No, not at all. Not at all. I do still want to see Nathan Fielder as a villain
00:10:17
in a movie. >> Oh, yeah. He That's That's a perfect choice. >> Nathan for you. That's the name of a
00:10:23
show, right? Or >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. That was, by the way, I think one
00:10:27
of the funniest shows of the last two decades. Yeah. >> Uh, yes. I totally concur. So, you do
00:10:34
you do Ant-Man and you're how big? So, you're already a superstar. I'll just
00:10:38
say it. Or big star. Then you're in a Marvel thing and how does that what's
00:10:45
that like? It's like your fame went to this other idea, right? I mean, >> the whole thing was is was and is
00:10:52
strange because it's not really I never saw that coming. Uh I certainly didn't
00:10:57
imagine that um you know years later I would still be kind of doing something like this. I was never a comic book
00:11:04
reader. I was that was not my world really. Um, and while it's been, you know, an amazing thing to be a part of,
00:11:11
for sure, uh, the whole thing kind of over time >> just it became so much bigger and a
00:11:18
bigger thing in my life where I would go outside and people would just yell Ant-Man and that, you know, and it's
00:11:25
such a global thing. marble. >> You know, when you go to the airport, I just had this when I went to Wisconsin.
00:11:31
>> The people that aren't fans, but they have pictures and all these, you know,
00:11:36
Funko Pops to sign on. Yeah. >> And they literally like hate me, but they want me to sign everything. And
00:11:42
then the second I stop signing, they hate me worse. It's just the weirdest thing that's turned into, oh my god, I
00:11:48
have fans. And then, oh, it took me a while to figure out these aren't fans at
00:11:52
all. They just sign out. Just Yeah, that's that that's it. That's true.
00:11:57
That's >> They're like trading baseball cards >> and they all hang out at the airport.
00:12:01
It's a weird thing. >> Yeah. And I go I go they were at the gate, Dana, in Wisconsin. I go I go I I
00:12:06
go I'll sign one each of these things, but what then they hate me immediately.
00:12:11
But then I go, "Just how do you know what my flight is? How do you know anything?" And they're like, "No, no,
00:12:15
it's all cool." I go, "No, but you're at the gate." And then they, no matter how
00:12:18
many times I say no, they walk all the way down to baggage >> and then they still hold them out and I
00:12:23
go, "Did I change my mind last five seconds?" And then they go all the way
00:12:26
to my car and then I get mad. And it's always weird because I'm I'm not in a
00:12:30
Marvel movie. I'm just like I just I don't get it. And then you're not You
00:12:34
don't even like me. What are we doing? >> They manipulate me by saying you're
00:12:38
nicer than Spade. >> Yeah. >> So then I just keep going. I am. >> No, I'm nice to other people. Not that.
00:12:43
>> No, >> I'm nice. I'm nice to >> I would imagine there you get No, there
00:12:47
are fans there. They want you like a Joe Dirt poster or uh >> don't you rack your brain for another
00:12:53
one >> like all that stuff you Yeah. You get >> Emperor's New Groove. Yes.
00:12:56
>> What's that? >> Emperor's New Groove. It's a David animated hit.
00:13:01
>> Yeah. >> Oh, Paul, I don't want to over talk about it, but you know when we started
00:13:05
the Oh, >> what was it like on Groove? >> Groove. You know who was on it at first
00:13:10
with me? Hey, how's it going? Owen Wilson. Uh, >> you know, we could we could go to
00:13:16
Argentina and go surfing if you want to. >> All right. >> Yeah, there you go. Now,
00:13:23
>> I used you know what I worked I love Owen Wilson. There was a moment when you
00:13:27
when you're around him, you kind of can't help but fall into an Owen Wilson
00:13:30
voice. >> He's so different. He reminds me of Well, there's there's Woody Harelson,
00:13:37
Billy Bob Thornton, and Owen Wilson. It just just seem to have this different frequency the way they're navigating
00:13:43
life. >> They talk weird. They say things different, but they're so charming, you
00:13:48
know? >> They say everything at kind of their own speed, their own vibration.
00:13:53
>> And Owen is a really I mean like he's brilliant. He's a really smart guy.
00:13:58
Yeah. >> Uh, and you know, we worked on this movie together and there was this scene
00:14:05
that um, uh, we were talking about what the definition of love was to us, our characters. It was and and we kept doing
00:14:15
it over and over again. And um and and then the next day he said, "You know, I
00:14:20
remember this article I read in the New Yorker and it was it was from like 10 years ago or something and he had found
00:14:28
a copy of it and printed it out." I thought, "Who remembers an article they
00:14:34
read from the New Yorker that was somehow applied to the scene that we were talking about?"
00:14:38
>> Yeah. >> I'm shocked he has a printer. >> Did he have a definition of love? I'm
00:14:43
trying to Someone asked me that. I'm not sure. >> Yeah. I don't think uh
00:14:47
>> I think the Owen is a It's Owen and then a door opening. >> Yeah.
00:14:52
>> Yeah. What does Owen turning into um Regis Filin sound like? >> You know, are you ready for this?
00:15:03
>> We could go surfing in Argentina, you know, but I sent him a with my phone a
00:15:09
little painting that I did. He goes, "We got another Basot on our hands."
00:15:15
>> He's a big art collector and extremely well read. >> Yeah. >> And Billy Bob Thornton is his own other
00:15:22
lane. You know, he talked about the 2016 election. All he said to me was, "We got
00:15:27
some John Wayne [ __ ] going on." Just stuff like that. Just taking the whole
00:15:33
election and distilling it. But back to Paul for sure, >> who is uh obviously like almost a cast
00:15:46
member of Saturday Night Live. And now you're working with Steve Martin and Martin Short on Murders in the Building.
00:15:53
Are they fun or are they kind of >> Oh, they're amazing. Yeah, they're
00:15:57
they're the greatest. >> I know. That's that's like a dream job
00:16:02
to be on a set with those two guys, right? I mean, just >> It is. Yeah. I mean, you know those guys
00:16:06
and it's just so it's so fun to be in the room with them. Um, and to see them
00:16:12
just kind of interacting with each other because obviously they are best friends.
00:16:16
They love each other and it's a series of non-stop insults. Um, but you know,
00:16:25
for someone like me, I mean, I can't think of anybody I I'd be more kind of
00:16:31
knocked out by Steve Martin from, you know, since the >> Sure. >> I think the moment I ever realized
00:16:36
people could make a living talking, I was so obsessed with him. >> I saw him in the 70s. I saw him at the
00:16:43
boarding house in the 70s and he was just magic >> right away. His stand up when
00:16:48
>> Yeah. And he recorded some of those albums at the boarding house. Yeah. 300
00:16:52
seats kind of old and weird. >> I can recite those albums. I don't know
00:16:54
why he was same thing, Paul. I was one of the first ones I locked into and I just couldn't
00:17:00
>> get enough. >> Yeah. And I know and you are the same. It's like as soon as as soon as uh you
00:17:05
start hearing one of those routines, I still remember every intonation, every line. And I found that to be kind of
00:17:12
true with a lot of people um kind of in our generation, you know, that that uh and I've talked about it with Jud or
00:17:19
some of these other comedians that those records that he put out and and Steve Martin standup and were so kind of
00:17:29
instrumental in uh forming senses of humor and and everything else. I I can't
00:17:35
imagine anybody else in my life that had probably more of an impact. So now on me. So now to be like sitting in the
00:17:44
room with him. >> Sure. >> And talking with him is it's amazing.
00:17:47
And Martin Short, I mean, >> I don't think there's a >> We've had that. We all We all give it up
00:17:53
to Martin Short. >> I know. Everyone does >> far as just funny. >> No one's anti Martin Short. The
00:18:00
>> But you got Selena. You got also I saw a photo yesterday. Very photogenic.
00:18:04
Beautiful Merryill Street. Um, so it's her too. So, it's Merryill Street.
00:18:12
>> Yeah. >> Yeah, >> it really is. >> I know. It's I I still can't uh quite
00:18:18
wrap my brain around it. >> Yesterday was the first day we filmed and it was kind of a big scene and it
00:18:24
was the first day that we were all there and I and um I was just panicked. >> Mhm.
00:18:29
>> I mean, I I'm like, "Oh, don't forget any of my lines. Don't uh I was
00:18:35
>> have fun. Don't try too hard. Don't Yeah. Um, right. It's just the pressure
00:18:39
>> and then and then and then and then when I was leaving Meryill Street, who I I'd
00:18:43
met before, but I don't know really. And I mean, I'm so kind of >> uh I mean, I'm freak in a good way.
00:18:51
>> She's a freak. >> She was like saying goodbye. She kissed me on the cheek and I kissed her on both
00:18:58
cheeks like we were in Paris. Um, and it was so weird. She didn't say anything, but I was so uh I didn't know
00:19:06
how to behave because I was so literally >> so starruck started a little bit and and
00:19:12
I was like driving home and I thought I kissed both of her cheeks. She I feel like an idiot. Yeah.
00:19:20
>> What do I say? Well, maybe it's cuz all the classic kissing sketches, which I
00:19:25
don't know how many you've done, >> but they were like electrically funny.
00:19:29
And I think you were in the very first one and maybe you did it other times you hosted.
00:19:33
>> The kissing family, the vocal checks. >> Yes, >> it was the I was in the very first one
00:19:38
and I came back. I did a few of them. Yeah. >> Do you kiss at rehearsal or not?
00:19:42
>> Yeah. >> You do? >> We we we did. Yeah. I mean, you really go for it in the um
00:19:48
>> in front of people. Yeah. >> Live show. >> Um >> but I think
00:19:53
>> I think so. I think I think one time I even did it when >> uh Jason Seagull was hosting and I came
00:20:00
back and just did the sketch >> and I think he I think he kissed me and threw this might have been during dress
00:20:05
he threw me so hard against the wall the whole set almost fell like the wall. >> And he's a pretty big guy, right? It's
00:20:13
like >> he's a very big guy and a very forceful kisser. >> It's such there's a little bit of
00:20:17
tension around it. It's irresistible not to not laugh because it's like the
00:20:22
characters are doing it and also Paul Rudd is French kissing Fred Armerson. >> Yeah. Yeah, it's just
00:20:29
>> the thing that would always and this is this is what I remember the most from it
00:20:34
and it was and I remembered it in the very first one was Fred uh always saying uh we're we're vocal checks and he was
00:20:45
like it's not we're we're just we're family we're >> we're just vocal checks
00:20:49
>> vocal check >> and it was always such an earnest reading that uh >> we were rehearsing I started laughing
00:20:55
and it was it was the one it wasn't the kissing that made I think us laugh. It
00:21:00
It was funny. It was Fred going jacks. >> Fred has an earnest gear in his comedy
00:21:06
when he would do the Californians and the way he sincerely, no, we took the 101. Just the whole attitude is so
00:21:14
earnest. But I I get that gear that he has. It's so original and funny. You know,
00:21:19
>> one time um this must have been I don't know like 15 years ago maybe. Uh I was
00:21:27
at a it was Bill her was having a birthday dinner and this and it was at a restaurant and we're sitting around
00:21:34
across from and across the table might have been more than 15 years ago but Bill uh Fred was talking about the
00:21:42
Beatles and uh and you know his love for the Beatles and he just kept talking about the Beatles and at one point I
00:21:49
said so all right so now if I want to listen the Beatles like what album should I start with or start asking a
00:21:56
question like I've never heard of the bandw >> and then he started saying like they're
00:22:00
just these four lads they're kind of mop tops there's an album and he would start
00:22:04
talking to me cuz the guy is the master bit and he'll stick with it >> and um I won't talk to Fred for months
00:22:12
and months and then all of a sudden I'll get an email and it'll be something
00:22:15
about the Beatles and like this is the band that I was talking about and this has now gone on forever. I still get
00:22:21
messages every once in a while from Fred updating me on some new things or some things about the Beatles, the band he
00:22:26
was talking about that night. >> He's such a musical comic and his rhythms and we he we had him on it once
00:22:33
you get going on the Beatles. He knows, you know, the two time to the eighth time in the middle 80s. It's just he's a
00:22:41
musicologist, you know. >> You ever did you ever see his that DVD put out drumming complicated drumming
00:22:48
techniques with Yens Henman? Yes. Well, I did see his special where he goes around all the different drum kits and
00:22:54
plays different. >> Yeah. Yeah. They had that standup special, a comedy just for drummers. But
00:22:58
yeah, he put out like a drumming. >> Oh god. Was that Yeah, it was complicated drumming techniques with
00:23:04
Yans Henman. I remember when my son was really little, he was obsessed with it. >> He loved drums, but I don't think he got
00:23:10
the >> drums are fun though. >> Yeah. Yeah. But it's such a specific
00:23:17
kind of thing that he's doing and I just god I thought it was the funniest thing
00:23:21
ever. >> Well, when I first saw him at the uh do the the accent pick at a bit at the
00:23:26
Largo, so he's going around and he's doing new New Hampshire whatever and
00:23:30
he's the accents are really good and then he's getting I didn't realize in
00:23:34
real time he's getting very specific like Bakersfield. I'm from Bay has feel
00:23:38
like he's making up accents really and it slowly slowly burn, you know, burns
00:23:44
the audience down. When I saw you with Bill her and Fred and some of the sketches, I thought, "Wow, that's just
00:23:51
that's so much fun to be with those two guys." Oh, man. >> First time. Was that sort of the the
00:23:57
group was Kristen Wig and those guys? >> And then when you come back, is it
00:24:01
different every time or would it sort of overlap? >> The first couple times they were still
00:24:05
there. I mean, it actually made it a lot easier uh because I had a couple of friends on the show and a couple friends
00:24:11
who were writers, so I, you know, obviously had always wanted to host the show or somehow be involved.
00:24:18
And um so the first time I got to >> host the show, it it was a little easier
00:24:23
cuz my friends were a few of my friends were there, Bill being one of them. Um, and then yeah, it's now I it's it's been
00:24:30
an interesting thing to host over the course of several years where yeah, I think maybe the fourth time or so I went
00:24:36
back and was like, "Oh my gosh, it does feel really different because it's new
00:24:39
people." >> Maybe it was 2013 you did by 2013 had Fred and Bill left because you that's
00:24:45
that was your next hosting 2008 2010 the third time was 2013 and then maybe Kate
00:24:51
McInnon had come in. I don't know if Kristen Wig had left and you had Kate McInnon.
00:24:55
>> Yeah, I don't know whether or not it was the third time, the fourth time. Kate
00:24:58
was there. Um, >> yeah, it might have been. I think maybe I don't I don't remember exactly.
00:25:03
>> Was Kenan Thompson there? >> Kenan Keenan was there. Keenan was there
00:25:07
when you were there. I think >> Kenan is the greatest. >> He was a child actor on the show and
00:25:13
then he just stayed on. >> Oh, >> that guy is an MVP, man. >> He never stumbles a line.
00:25:19
>> He just doesn't miss a moment. I mean, every single time the camera will just
00:25:24
like cut to him. He's got the perfect still expression. He's just so good.
00:25:29
>> Takes a while to get that way on that show because you're waiting for a camera
00:25:32
to cut to you like you're in a Jeopardy sketch. >> Has to cut to you and you know when too
00:25:36
early you're kind of waiting and then you do your face. It's >> it's it's hard.
00:25:40
>> It's really true because there are so many little technical things that um it
00:25:44
just takes time to learn such as when that camera is cutting to you. you know, you're those those uh
00:25:50
>> those pauses are unnatural. So, um you just have to learn those kinds of
00:25:54
things. That's something I I think I over >> the course of hosting a few times
00:26:00
started to pick up because I never nobody ever tells you, oh, this is how you should really read the Q cards. This
00:26:06
is how you really need to wait for that camera. And I was unaware having not worked on shows really like, oh yeah,
00:26:13
when that light goes on over the camera, wait till you see that in your peripheral vision. There's another thing
00:26:17
when you do a sketch, Dana, you know this. You get a big laugh at at uh you know dress and then you pause on air and
00:26:25
it doesn't get a laugh and you look crazy or because there's nothing there
00:26:29
but you're waiting or you run over it cuz it didn't get a laugh at dress and
00:26:32
you run over >> your laugh cuz you get it. You're like, "Oh, [ __ ] I stepped on it."
00:26:37
>> It's horrible. And if you think you're on camera for whatever reason and then
00:26:41
your line just doesn't do anything and you realize later you weren't on camera
00:26:45
but at the moment it kind of deflates you for a moment. >> You know you think oh what did I do
00:26:50
different than the dress show? It is it is like trying to catch the wind. I mean
00:26:54
there there's but but did you get to a point it took me 80 shows as a cast member I think to get comfortable enough
00:27:01
to say I'm consistently having fun >> but as a host you know what was it like
00:27:06
just the second time compared to the first time and the third time I mean you feel you seem incredibly comfortable
00:27:13
>> I'm not >> all the way through but you're you're acting okay
00:27:16
>> I'm not comfortable I you know the the first time I was on total adrenaline and
00:27:22
it was so >> crazy. I remember feeling so uh exhausted when we finished the dress
00:27:29
rehearsal and then I thought, "Oh my god, I have to do this again." Now, the
00:27:33
the first time I remember that first time feeling that um it was also really weird for me because uh not to bring
00:27:41
things down, but the first time I hosted was I think two weeks or so, almost 3 weeks after my father had died. So I was
00:27:50
in this state of uh >> complete kind of was I was in I was grieving but I was also yeah I was also
00:28:00
kind of half there but I was so excited to host SNL. Um, and so it was the the entire experience was just kind of uh
00:28:09
out of body. And I remember when it finished, I thought, how do these people do this every week? Because it it was
00:28:16
such a, you know, it it's such a sprint and all of the quick changes and running
00:28:24
around. Um, and then the pressure and the stress and all of it. Uh, it the whole thing was was wild. I was I had a
00:28:32
great time, but it was such a an emotional experience. >> Kind of a beating, too.
00:28:37
>> Yeah. Yeah. You wake up with bruises and things. You don't know what's going on.
00:28:40
Everything's moving so fast. >> You're sprinting. You're banging your
00:28:42
head. And then they want you to get to a party at 2:00 a.m. You've already done
00:28:46
an 18 hour day. Uh Paul over here, what would you like, you think? And then it's
00:28:53
it's like ridiculous. You go through all these walls of fatigue. But David and I
00:28:56
could tell you that being host is generally speaking so much harder to be a cast member.
00:29:02
>> Yeah. >> You're in everything. >> Yeah. You're in everything. And you can
00:29:05
be an update. You could be in the cold opening. You do a pre-tape. >> Yeah. Well, it was very exciting. And
00:29:10
then the second time I went back, I think I think it was the second time Paul McCartney was my Yes. was the
00:29:16
musical guest. So I I mean >> Holy [ __ ] >> It was incredible. By the way, the first
00:29:21
musical guest I had was Beyonce. >> The second one was McCartney. And I've
00:29:25
had amazing musical acts. >> So you you get to go, ladies and gentlemen, Paul McCartney. You know, so
00:29:31
all these dream dream state fever. >> I have a I still have the Q card. He
00:29:34
signed it for me. [ __ ] >> What would you like me to say on it, Paul? >> I got a call. Actually, it was about
00:29:41
1:00 in the morning and Bill her called me. I was he says, "You want to know
00:29:45
who?" He goes, "Sorry I'm calling so late, but I have to tell you, you want
00:29:48
to know who your musical guest is?" And really said, he said, "Paul McCartney."
00:29:53
And I couldn't go back to sleep. >> God damn. Well, out of out here's your
00:29:58
>> I think this is the guy Fred Armison was talking about. >> It sounds familiar.
00:30:03
>> You had One Direction, you had DJ Khaled. >> Out of those musical guests.
00:30:08
>> Yeah. >> Do you have anyone's number? >> Um I You know what? I think I had NY
00:30:17
from One Direction. >> He works at Urban Outfitters now. >> No, I'm kidding. That's the old spade, I
00:30:23
would assume. >> That's that's that's the Hollywood men. I don't do that.
00:30:27
>> And we emailed each other a few times. They were great. >> Yeah. >> They were super
00:30:32
>> They're awesome. >> Cool. And it was so crazy because it was like the height of One Direction. Oh my
00:30:36
god. How crazy. >> Were sleeping outside and Yeah, it was. >> And they're mad. You're the one walking
00:30:41
out. They're like, "Where the [ __ ] is Harry Styles?" So, >> by the way, totally.
00:30:48
>> Yeah. No [ __ ] It's hard to get to know like we were told sort of uh between the lines don't
00:31:00
talk to the host a lot like don't you know you don't want to get in their face
00:31:03
when you're a cast member other than cuz it's like when do you get to know each
00:31:07
other during a week because you know you do read through and you leave and you're
00:31:11
sort of separate and you leave and then in rehearsals you're sitting around for
00:31:16
a little bit so you can kind of [ __ ] about it while you're in between. We're
00:31:20
going to fix something. Give us a minute. Fixing a light. And then you kind of get to know the host a little
00:31:25
just cuz you're right next to them. And then you do this, do this. There's the
00:31:29
show, but everything's moving a million miles an hour. Then there's a rap party.
00:31:33
And then you feel like this kinship, >> but you didn't know any anyone that
00:31:37
well, but it's sort of a good feeling because you went through this. So the next time you host might be more fun
00:31:42
because you feel like you've got a base now with everybody, >> right? >> And you sort of know. I imagine it's
00:31:46
different with, you know, with every host >> is there because the first time I did it
00:31:52
and and subsequently second, third time, I mean, I've I've known people on the
00:31:55
show and have been friends with people on the show. >> And you do guest spots, too. You know,
00:32:00
>> I had done guest spots. Yeah. But there the um the uh the idea it's like, okay,
00:32:05
well, that first day they were coming around giving a pitch >> and then I thought, okay, well, I can at
00:32:10
least go hang out with my friends and talk about sketches. So, you know, you guys know how that week works. And then
00:32:16
if Tuesday comes around, you and you go out to dinner with Lauren and a few other people from the show.
00:32:21
>> Mhm. >> Some hosts will then just go back to their hotel after that dinner.
00:32:27
>> Yeah. >> I live in New York, but it so it's like I just have to go home, but also after
00:32:31
the dinner, well, I'm going to go back to 30 Rock and >> help them write,
00:32:35
>> sit with the writers and hang out with my friends and maybe try and come up
00:32:38
with ideas. And so I was I have always been um every time I posted in those rooms and trying to you know pitch
00:32:47
things or or help with if people are writing things to kind of go around and >> that is the fun. You know you sit on
00:32:54
some filthy couch and you shoot around ideas and you're like this could be on national TV in three days
00:33:01
and uh it's just you guys are laughing saying the stupidest [ __ ] going what if
00:33:04
we put that in there? What if we say like it a juice? I mean those sketches writing them and you hear in the hallway
00:33:10
and you go this sounds funny >> massive procrastination with anxiety it's getting oh it's two okay it's three
00:33:19
at some point we got to make its decision and then it's a fury of like we'll do this we'll do this we'll do
00:33:24
this you know >> but whenever I see people with talent I'm always in awe of them when I see
00:33:29
them start to do their thing like Kristen Wig was kind of shy and just like hey what's up and then she just all
00:33:35
of a sudden like monster character or something super talent. Did you experience that in a way with different
00:33:41
cast members where you're like like Bill her is so shy and Fred Armer said they're so sweet and shy and soft-spoken
00:33:47
when you first meet them and then they go out there what THE [ __ ] GOING ON YOU KNOW THEY'RE JUST
00:33:52
>> and you think how can you be talented you're quiet and polite >> there are well there those guys are
00:33:57
comedy sants I mean I I don't know how and Kristen I mean they're like genius
00:34:03
really incredible what they do and >> you know um I'm always amazed and I'm
00:34:10
I'm such a fan such a fan of funny people and comedy and people that have been on that show, fans of you guys and
00:34:18
and so >> like to to you know see to see all of this stuff kind of >> you know in person and then get to do it
00:34:26
with them uh it it's it's pretty mindboggling. Yeah. And to see Kristen Wig is uh she can kind of she can do
00:34:34
everything. >> Yeah. to see them in their natural habitat when they get into a character
00:34:39
and they're in a sketch and they're cooking. >> It's really fun to watch everybody
00:34:43
killing it. >> Yeah. >> It's also fun, like you said, when you're when you're kind of in rehearsing
00:34:48
a sketch or they're figuring stuff out and you're standing around with everybody.
00:34:52
>> It's fun to see cast members who are obviously really close with one another
00:34:57
uh start to do >> bits. I mean, the king of it and so >> hanging out is
00:35:04
hilarious. Yeah, we would do that, too. I would try to write people into sketches I just
00:35:10
wanted to hang out with. >> Like, you know what I mean? Just put everyone in because I know rehearsal is
00:35:14
kind of boring. >> They just have the tape on the floor. You don't know where this this [ __ ]
00:35:18
set isn't even made yet. And then you're just blah. They're like, "Okay, hold on.
00:35:22
We got a lighting thing." And then you're just making fun of each other and
00:35:25
someone's eating in the corner. And the pressure is off at that point. It's not
00:35:29
pressure. You're just trying to get the blocking down and it gets harder throughout the week. But it's definitely
00:35:33
>> well you do you do Wednesday and you hopefully it lands right that's the read
00:35:38
through and by Thursday you run it for the crew and they kind of giggle there's
00:35:42
no sets first time second time >> but you get a feel for it you get a feel
00:35:46
with the crew you get a feel laughs >> by the time the dress show came around
00:35:50
on Saturday I was thinking we got nothing you know I it'd been beat down all the rehearsals and all the
00:35:57
walkthrough everyone >> did you feel that like this thing peaked on Thursday
00:36:01
>> oh yeah no one's laughing anymore. We we we depend on the crew. They've already
00:36:05
heard it five times. You're like and then hopefully sometimes at dress you're
00:36:09
like, "Damn, this is killing. It's really fun." But then you have to not
00:36:13
peek at dress. How did you manage that? >> Well, I just I just want to try and make
00:36:16
my way through it. Imagine peeking at dress and not and not. But um that has happened. I mean, there was one sketch
00:36:23
that I I think like repeatedly kept coming back that I always liked and it never made the show. And I think the
00:36:29
second or third time I said, "Look, can we try it again?" But we never got one
00:36:32
time. >> If it goes through read through and doesn't get on, it's got a stink on it.
00:36:37
>> Even if there's no if there's no other reason other than someone just read it
00:36:40
wrong or they forgot to do the accent and you go, "No, no, it's just go."
00:36:43
Nope. The second time read, everyone just leans back and you're like, "Don't
00:36:46
you [ __ ] take a dive on this one. It's good." >> And it's hard to resuscitate it. Or if
00:36:52
it got undress and goes away, >> there's always that, well, there's a
00:36:56
reason it didn't get on air, so it's hard to resuscitate. >> And I've had that. It went undressed and
00:37:00
then it didn't go and but I always loved it. >> Give it a chance. >> Do you want to share with us maybe
00:37:06
>> it was about the giving tree. I remember it was a dad reading giving tree to his
00:37:11
kids not realizing that it's so sad and he starts to spiral out and and and then
00:37:18
you know winds up >> crying and you know uh drinking and the cops come to the house. I mean it it you
00:37:25
know it just devolves into this uh even now as I describe it I'm thinking no I see why this
00:37:32
>> what was the what was the kid's name >> in the sketch >> I don't remember the kids names
00:37:38
>> I'm just trying to do an impression of Lauren not thinking the sketch is going
00:37:41
well at read >> I think maybe Bobby Moahan might have been one of the kids but I think maybe a
00:37:45
girl was one of the girls might have been named Susie >> um Susie's sad uh Bobby Bobby sits back
00:37:53
uh Bobby Bobby Bobby uh has a tear. Uh and that's >> this is at reading stage direction,
00:38:00
>> right? Yep. >> Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. To >> and it's starting, you know, like this
00:38:04
one's not going to make it. >> Yeah. Sense memory. >> Is has there ever been like for you
00:38:08
guys, did you ever do a sketch that like was the biggest surprise that it was the
00:38:14
sketch killed so hard and you really didn't see that one coming? Is there one
00:38:19
that sticks out for either one of you that >> Well, I would say for you want to go
00:38:24
David from my very first SNL I'd never done sketch and the church lady sketch
00:38:30
with Sigourney Weaver and Phil Hartman and stuff moved up to the first sketch and and then it really killed and it
00:38:39
really it's shocked me. I'd never had a dress on. I'd done a little bit of the
00:38:44
character in my standup so that was that was a big surprise. Yeah, I just did one where it wasn't
00:38:50
that big of a sketch, but where I was a receptionist and I kept condescendingly talk to people and go and you are like I
00:38:56
it was like a Hollywood person didn't really made people explain their credits
00:39:00
and then uh it was last in the show and got put to first in the live show and it
00:39:05
was Roseanne Phil came in as Jesus and uh there was one other person but it it killed and it was first one up and
00:39:13
that's that was rarely happening with me Dane it happened every week but to get
00:39:16
the first sketch out That was a big one. >> When I did the pepper boy with Sandler
00:39:21
Boy, >> it wasn't really happening throughout the week. It wasn't really It did not
00:39:27
happen at dress, but we both just went for it hard. Of course, we had Farley in there, too. The ultimate Button. So,
00:39:35
that crushed on air enough that Sandler called me at 4 in the morning, just said, "Carvey, pepper
00:39:43
boy." That was it. It's hard to kill in a restaurant sketch in the corner.
00:39:50
>> Yeah. >> You know, it's not at home base, right, Paul? I mean, you know, you hard to time
00:39:54
the laughs. You can't quite hear the audience. >> Yeah. Yeah. You're kind of off to the
00:39:57
side. It's true. Where the above you where you're doing the sketch on this on
00:40:01
stage makes it a difference. Huh. >> Yes. Cuz you you can immediately kind of
00:40:04
feel and hear the audience or you're not sure you you scored. >> They're watching it on a 12-in TV and
00:40:10
the audience, you know what I mean? They're like, >> "Yeah."
00:40:11
>> Oh, wait. Cuz they can't see. >> It's a really interesting point that you
00:40:14
don't hear about that often. where you're actually doing. Well, I would have when I got used to this
00:40:19
process, I would go to where the set designers were. They had a little map of 8H
00:40:25
>> and I'd look at my sketch and I'd see it in the corner >> and I'd say, "Could I get this near home
00:40:30
base or whatever?" And they go, "Well, not not if there's that."
00:40:33
>> What a [ __ ] cheater. >> They go, "Not if there's an entrance."
00:40:36
I, "So, what if I take the entrance out?" Oh, yeah. Then we can move it
00:40:39
here. >> Oh my god. >> No kidding. That's fascinating. >> Oh, yeah. You know, I learned all the
00:40:44
concentrate. >> That's true. >> You got to do it, you know. But >> what what about Please Don't Destroy.
00:40:50
That group was really good. Paul, you did one called Good Variant. I saw it. It was funny as [ __ ] They got a lot of
00:40:55
different moves in those things. >> Yeah. Well, you know, we were supposed
00:40:57
to do a version of that. Those guys are great, by the way. Um the the fifth time, my fifth time uh I hosted the show
00:41:07
was cancelled the day of. It was the I think it's the only time in SNL history
00:41:11
that a show got cancelled that day and it was with you and >> Well, Tom Hanks was there. Tom Hanks and
00:41:17
Tina >> were there because they had come in because they were in the monologue.
00:41:23
There was a big huge five timer. >> Yeah. Mhm. >> And then the show got cancelled at about
00:41:27
2 or 3 in the afternoon, but they were already there. So, we were trying to come up with a show on the fly. It was
00:41:34
really a fascinating thing to see and be a part of. But earlier in that earlier that week, I was going to do a uh please
00:41:42
don't destroy video, a version of the good variant. >> Yeah. >> Um but the shoot got cancelled because
00:41:49
one of the guys got co >> Oh, same [ __ ] >> And so they had already had a crew and
00:41:55
the uh camera everything was set up to film something that night. We took a sketch and turned it into a into a film
00:42:04
and then we filmed that and then they showed that during the show. >> Was it that one or this one?
00:42:08
>> No, it was the one HomeGoods. It was a show. It was the one with uh with 80 and
00:42:14
Kate about wanting grandkids and and >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Okay. I remember that
00:42:17
one. >> Yeah. So, that was that was done in place of the Please Don't Destroy.
00:42:23
>> It was it was COVID closure, right? And it was uh >> it was co Yeah. Because it it it
00:42:28
happened it was that week where the really uh that omocrron variant really >> came back hard. Yeah.
00:42:33
>> Yeah. Yeah. People were >> Yeah. Everyone thought it was kind of going away and then it came back [ __ ]
00:42:38
hard around November, December or something. Yeah. >> Yeah. It was I mean it was really uh
00:42:43
tense and that you know we were all going through our testing and then that morning I remember going in and getting
00:42:48
tested Saturday morning >> crossing your fingers >> totally and I remember I got the results
00:42:54
of my test. It came back negative and I I was just jumping for joy. Like, thank God. Perfect, bro. And then and then the
00:43:03
whole thing got shut down. >> Can't do without the host. So, you get through and then they shut it down.
00:43:07
Anyway, that's such a drag. >> Yeah. Um, it was a bummer. >> And that that monologue was weird
00:43:11
because I I hosted for Kimmel once and it was in a house with a monologue with no people. So, I said to the crew
00:43:19
before, "You we rehearsing it." I go, "You can laugh." They go, "Oh, we're not
00:43:22
supposed to." I go, "Please, God, give me a tiny noise. Anything to play off
00:43:27
of, just to dart my eyes around, just to make it feel like there's some life in
00:43:30
here because >> just to nothing is too hard." So, when you did yours, I could hear a little bit
00:43:36
of something. That must have been crew or writers or something. >> Yeah, I think that's what it was. Um,
00:43:42
and you know, Michael Chay and and and and Kanan stuck around, but that that was it. And uh and yeah, some of the
00:43:48
crew guys. And so there was some laughter and Higgins was there. Uh but it was so strange. It was such a weird
00:43:56
feeling >> that that was one of the weirdest most I mean just no audience on Saturday Night
00:44:02
Live because >> no audience and also no real rehearsal no nothing and and for the hours before
00:44:08
the show it's like well what do we do? What I mean we have to write something
00:44:14
and figure out what it is. And I remember Lauren saying, "Do you have any um Christmas uh you know episode that
00:44:22
you really like?" And I said, "You know, I remember when I was in high school
00:44:28
seeing >> uh Steve Martin talk about uh you know, the his Christmas wish and
00:44:35
memorized it and I loved it because Steve Martin and um and so it was great. >> We'll dig it up.
00:44:40
>> It's on. It's in the show. Wait a minute. You now officially have joined
00:44:44
uh the 70 timer club of someone who does a great Lauren. >> Yeah, >> it is so weird whenever you are around
00:44:52
anybody. Doesn't matter when they were on SNL people start talking about Lauren, they just start going into
00:44:58
>> they go right into it. So you >> you spent a lot of time with Lauren
00:45:02
because Lauren spends a lot of time with the host and also you get start. You're
00:45:06
a friend. >> You're the third Paul. He likes Paul McCartney. Paul Simon.
00:45:11
I I like all the polls. No, he's he's he's we love him, too. He's he's an
00:45:16
amazing guy. >> Yeah. Nobody's ever done what he's done. >> Not even close.
00:45:22
>> Yeah. >> I mean, 50 years. Are you going to be at the 50th? >> I certainly hope so. Yeah. I mean, I
00:45:28
would love to. I was at the 40th, which was I mean, what a incredible >> That was a real [ __ ] blow.
00:45:33
>> I remember we had a little running gig. I just had met you that night or
00:45:36
something. That's right. liked you right away and I would every time I'd go do
00:45:41
something I'd say to you, I'm gonna bring you up. It was so ridiculous. I'm
00:45:44
going to do Wayne's World. I'm gonna bring you up. That's right. >> Yeah, that was the the 40th. Uh, but so
00:45:53
with Lauren and your relationship, do you have any I mean I I hate to say, hey, I have any stories about Lauren,
00:45:57
but did you ever stay all night at the party or do you kind of cuz Lauren will stay till 6:00 a.m. Do you kind of
00:46:03
Lauren, I got to go or >> No, I will never I'll never leave early. Um, are you smoking out, especially if
00:46:11
I'm sitting at a table with Lauren? I mean, I will uh you know, even recently
00:46:16
I I went just to to um watch the show and it's like I'm at that party and it's
00:46:22
like the greatest thing. I'm sitting with I went with Marty and Steve were hosting
00:46:25
>> and uh and I'm at the table afterward with Martin Short and Lauren and then of
00:46:30
course I'm in the middle and I just want to start hearing them talk about Three
00:46:34
Amigos >> which of course happened >> and uh >> and it's >> it's amazing. It's amazing there. There
00:46:42
are there are many times that I just kind of step outside of what's actually
00:46:48
happening in the moment and say can I cannot I cannot believe this. I just can't believe it. And there's something
00:46:54
like having it on this show with these guys. I had it at that at that table listening to the three amigos stories. I
00:47:00
had it when I was hosting SNL and uh Paul McCartney was the musical guest and there were many times that week that I
00:47:06
mean I couldn't believe what I was seeing. And I had that same thing. I did a I did a I did one of those um I did a
00:47:13
you know a Lonely Island video that week and Andy and I they pulled in Paul McCartney who did a little thing on it
00:47:21
and I love it >> and we were standing around the three of us for an hour and he was just telling
00:47:25
us stories about John Lennon and the Beatles and everything. >> Wow. Now I'm jealous.
00:47:32
>> Yeah. I'll tell you one of the honestly one of the coolest things I have ever
00:47:36
experienced ever >> was on the Thursday, you know, Thursday for um people that don't know that's
00:47:43
when the band really kind of comes in for the first time and they do their run through. And so we were taking those
00:47:50
pictures that you they use for the bumpers >> next to the stage. So Thursday comes in,
00:47:55
Thursday happens, the band comes in and we're taking pictures and um Marielle
00:48:01
and I said, "We're not going to take pictures. We have to go watch Paul
00:48:04
McCartney." So we did and um he performed I played a couple of songs and then there was a grand piano on the
00:48:11
floor and um he didn't know what he was really going to play so he just came
00:48:16
down and sat behind the piano and there's maybe you know the crew is there. It's probably about 20 people.
00:48:23
>> And he sat down at the piano and he just started playing the long and winding
00:48:27
road. >> Wow. I got chills. I got chills. >> I know. And I was standing 10 ft
00:48:34
>> 10 feet behind him, >> you know, and and I'm just I hadn't met
00:48:37
him. I hadn't I was just kind of observing and like I couldn't believe I
00:48:42
was in the same room with Paul McCartney. But I was standing behind him and I was looking at his hands playing
00:48:46
the keys and I was looking at his feet pressing the pedals and hearing him sing Long and Winding Road and thinking, "Oh
00:48:54
my god, that's the that's him. That's the guy who made this." And those are
00:48:59
the foot pedals that he you know that he pressed that same way when he recorded it. And it was it was amazing. It was
00:49:06
just amazing. And everyone applauded when he finished. He said, "Oh, thank you. Thank you." Then he went into Lady
00:49:10
Madonna. And then more people kind of started coming into the room and Lauren came in
00:49:16
>> and he wound up playing about 10 Beatles songs just for us in the room.
00:49:21
>> Just piano. >> Just piano. >> Yeah. >> You know, how does how does he come up
00:49:26
with those those middle eights they call them? The change ups and the the chord structure and how it just hits you every
00:49:32
time. >> Iman Lennon, >> it's divine. There's no I mean I'm I'm
00:49:36
in that I don't think they're the greatest band that has ever existed. They're the greatest band that ever will
00:49:42
exist. They are like Shakespeare. They're like Bach. They're like every several hundred years somebody or
00:49:50
something comes along that redefineses that kind of beauty. And um and I think the Beatles are that they are for me. I
00:49:59
>> I couldn't have said that better. That's really well put. And Cheryl Crow said to
00:50:02
us that she thought that Blackbird and Yesterday were the greatest songs ever written for for her. I There's so many.
00:50:09
That's the thing. They have so many. And she thought it was, she didn't say it in
00:50:12
a heavy way, almost divine. There's almost something like how did those two guys essentially go to high school
00:50:18
together and then find those other two guys and find George Martin and write a hundred masterpieces
00:50:25
in six years, you know? It's crazy. >> And then and maybe record three of them
00:50:30
in one day. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Remember Dana when he said dur we we talked to him Paul and he said uh
00:50:36
>> during that get back thing we were fawning over you know that the documentary and we said unbelievable he
00:50:41
said he came in with was it yesterday or and he goes >> well for that one he did have long and
00:50:47
windy road and he had get back you know he was in kind of >> he said I came with it and I go do you
00:50:52
walk in like I got a [ __ ] banger and he goes no you can't you have to go under and just go hey I got I got one if
00:50:59
you guys want to hear it I worked on just to probably just for ego- wise like let everyone go let us find it if we
00:51:06
like it you know and I think it was either yesterday or some other monster >> well yesterday was a little earlier but
00:51:12
he did let it he was he he he did uh >> and they love it >> let it be I think on on
00:51:17
>> yeah oh yeah he was playing that and then um >> uh and then my god when he sits down
00:51:23
he's playing and he is playing >> uh get back and George and Ringo are
00:51:27
just sitting across from listening and Ringo starts clapping his hands to a beat And and you just think and same
00:51:33
thing like I'm how are we seeing this? This is the first time these guys are
00:51:37
hearing this. >> They don't know what this song is going to be. It's just
00:51:42
>> it's magical. I couldn't get over that that I wanted nine more hours. I
00:51:46
couldn't what I was seeing. >> Wow. And you know I in my age group I was you know watching them in real time
00:51:53
having older brothers. So I was nine when they're on Ed Sullivan. But I love
00:51:57
when I hear someone who probably first heard them in the 70s late 70 after they because the
00:52:04
>> the wave was so high and by they left at 69 I don't think anybody even them
00:52:09
understood what had happened >> right >> so and then people like you come along
00:52:12
and then younger people keep coming along and we're all trying to figure it out
00:52:17
>> and Dennis Miller said to me he doesn't he he can figure out the stones he can
00:52:21
figure out Pink Floyd Dennis Miller said he can figure out Zeppelin and he goes honest to God Carvey I can't wrap my
00:52:27
mind around the Beatles. Okay. >> It's too much. >> I know. It's It's true. It It Because
00:52:33
they have that thing u that you can't define. It's something otherworldly.
00:52:39
It's why if you play the Beatles for kids now, they caught on to them. There's just it's it's hitting all of us
00:52:46
on some kind of level that is something else. I don't know what it is, but >> I'll show you this thing. I just got
00:52:52
Paul. I got [ __ ] Lennon's glasses from that photo. >> Oh my god. His real glasses from that
00:53:00
photo. Oh my god. Isn't >> that sick? >> Damn. David is holding up a picture of
00:53:06
John Lennon and he bought the glasses at an auction. I'm just telling the listeners.
00:53:11
>> It was a bit steep, but it was because you never see [ __ ] like that come along.
00:53:16
And I saw it and I was like >> and I called the auction place and he goes, "Well,
00:53:21
>> it's going to go up." I said, "I got to try to get in there." And I just got
00:53:24
horny for I was like, "It's too [ __ ] cool." Cuz win in your life, Lennon and
00:53:28
McCartney and >> and they they had proof it was his and I said, "Oh, >> I used to do it with a friend of mine at
00:53:34
some of the SNL parties." >> Everyone's really, you know, just cool
00:53:39
people are coming to the SNL party. Maybe it's Elton John or whatever. And we used to imagine, you know, what if
00:53:44
John Lennon could walk in, you know, we were like, who would just everyone would
00:53:47
just stop? And >> so, yeah. Anyway, I'm with you, Paul. We, you, me, Fred Armerson, and David,
00:53:54
and whoever else wants to join us. We should have dinner and just fan out on on try to
00:53:59
>> There are like I can't I I will talk about the Beatles forever, I just once
00:54:05
that subject comes up or if I see a picture or if there's some kind of video
00:54:09
clip or something, um I conversation stops. >> I know. I love the unheralded ones kind
00:54:15
of compared to we hear let it be a lot and hey Jude they're brilliant but here
00:54:18
there and everywhere >> for no for no one I mean no reply by John Lennon is one of the most
00:54:25
heartbreaking pieces of and Paul maybe wrote the middle eight anyway back to Paul Rudd who's a super beetle fan
00:54:37
>> oh I have a question about Clueless he's been in so many monsters like Anchorman
00:54:40
and Clueless >> when did you make your first million dollars. Was it around clueless or
00:54:46
around after that? God >> wouldn't have been clueless. >> No, that was
00:54:50
>> But did that get you paid after that or did it take another five years?
00:54:53
>> No, no, no, not not at all. >> I'm going to guess. >> Let me see if that was 95. Oh, by the
00:54:59
way, we came out '95 and so did Billy Madison. So, Clueless, Tommy Boy, Billy
00:55:04
Madison. >> Oh, that was [ __ ] some comedies. My god. Yeah. >> Mhm.
00:55:09
>> Yeah. I don't I don't way way way later. Way late. Well, it might have been it might have been like
00:55:16
actually kind of around Marvel >> because it wasn't you were in ensemble
00:55:20
one. So, they can't pay everyone that much if you're in a movie with Will
00:55:23
Frell or Steve Carell or >> Oh, yeah. A lot of those. Uh so then then when it was Paul Rudd's movie then
00:55:31
they do a little bit better. >> I honestly I'm just like I'm just happy
00:55:34
to work. >> Of course. Well, I know >> and certainly and certainly with those
00:55:37
guys. I mean, you know, do it for free. >> Wet Hot American Summer is a little
00:55:42
nugget that's just that might I mean, now I don't remember everything about
00:55:46
it, but I remember going, "This is a cool movie." And we I I try to get that
00:55:50
director to do something, I think, because I thought I go, "Oh, [ __ ] This
00:55:54
is such a weird funny, cool, low-budget, well done." You must hear about that one
00:56:00
a lot. Yeah, it it it um I think it was probably partially responsible for me getting cast in Anchor Man, honestly,
00:56:09
because it was a movie that came out and and you know, no one knew it really, but
00:56:13
comedy fans and comedy writers >> Yeah. >> really kind of took to it and and I
00:56:20
>> I loved it when I read it. It took a while to get it made. No one wanted to
00:56:24
make it, >> but um I had met David Wayne and Sha Walter and a lot of those guys. is they
00:56:30
were in a comedy troop called The State that used to be on MTV >> and um you know they lived in New York
00:56:37
and I lived in New York and um and I was a comedy fan anyway and we had some mutual friends and so I met them and and
00:56:43
David said man this script uh if you want to read it I think I had just done Clueless I mean it wasn't that long
00:56:52
afterward >> and um >> and I read it and thought I've never >> like this is the funniest thing I've
00:56:58
ever read and you you never get to really read anything that really makes you laugh like that or I certainly
00:57:03
hadn't up until that point. >> I did I felt that way with Anchor Man too, but um I I used to keep that script
00:57:11
around and just read it for pleasure because it was so funny >> and also to get it from the script to
00:57:16
the screen. There's so many ways you can screw it up and you know, I'm sure you
00:57:19
know this. I've done a lot of comedy movies and some just don't connect by
00:57:23
the time you go through all the process and you're like, "Fuck, where did it go
00:57:26
wrong?" And uh >> well, I think that with that it was just like uh there weren't many cooks in the
00:57:32
kitchen. Yeah. And it was it didn't it didn't it you know it had a very small
00:57:36
budget. No one was really paying any attention. And we filmed it at a summer camp and it was people everyone that
00:57:41
worked on it I think we all had similar s sensibilities and we found the same things funny and so
00:57:47
>> meatballs or something. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah, it was like a singular
00:57:49
voice. And I remember Zack Orth, the actor that he, a friend of mine that was working on the film, halfway through
00:57:55
said, "I don't know if this movie will ever come out. I just want to get a copy
00:57:59
of it." Uh, you know, uh, very good sign. I just wonder, you know, when I'm
00:58:04
looking at these notes here, you know, studying your career, it it's quality. I
00:58:09
mean, I don't see any any evidence of you taking a role because because you needed the money or something. It just
00:58:17
seems like there's a consistent theme with you. You It's all the way through.
00:58:22
You You did uh Living with Yourself. You executive produced, got a Golden Globe nomination where you played opposite
00:58:27
yourself. All kinds of quality work. So, were you ever tempted like have you have
00:58:31
they backed up the Brink Truck for commercials? I mean, but commercials are totally fine. I would do any commercial
00:58:37
if anyone's listening right now. In the 90s, you weren't supposed to do them.
00:58:40
Taco Bell. Sorry. But that have you gotten stuff where because of Paul Rudd, you know, the the indust
00:58:49
like I'd like to take a lot of money. It's just not for me. You know, you're
00:58:53
at that point now where you have to navigate that. >> Well, yeah. I I think that I'd say
00:58:58
through the, you know, majority of my career, I've always tried to make as many um decisions if I had the luxury of
00:59:06
making a decision uh to, you know, to have it be some an artistic decision and never trying to do anything for the
00:59:12
money. And >> um >> that's usually good. know >> sometimes sometimes you you you have to
00:59:18
I could certainly point you to a couple on that resume that >> say well that one I kind of like
00:59:24
>> okay well we'll ignore that you know >> but no I would say I would say uh of of
00:59:30
the decisions that I've made in my career >> Mhm. 97 to 98% of that has been because
00:59:38
I really thought uh it was something I wanted to do and that it had the potential to be something fun or
00:59:45
interesting or something I would want to see. >> Um and and I tried to always have that
00:59:51
kind of be my guiding light. When I was in my 20s and 30s and I wanted to be an actor, I really also went a different
01:00:00
kind of way. And I would always think of bands that I really liked. I always think of music always seemed to kind of
01:00:06
be the the north star for me more so than other actors or uh uh acting uh careers. I I would just think of
01:00:14
musicians that I liked and I lot I liked lots of cool indie musicians and I thought well would you know would Tom
01:00:21
Weights think this is cool? Would he do this or would Elvis Costello do this? Would he make this decision? And it
01:00:27
seemed like all the things that I liked were artistic decisions made by people who I admired. And so I really tried to
01:00:34
kind of follow that path with comedies that, you know, I think with Wet Hot American Summer and then when Anchor Man
01:00:43
came around, those were two things I really really wanted to do. um because I felt as if more than anything else I'd
01:00:50
I'd ever read up until that point, it spoke to uh me and my own kind of what I
01:00:56
thought was funny. Um and I really wanted to be a part of that. Um and and I think that that then turned into
01:01:04
working with Jud over and over again. I didn't see much like the Ant-Man thing,
01:01:09
I didn't see that lane coming. I did not expect over the following many years to
01:01:14
work with a lot of those guys again uh on a lot of comedies. I'm you know it
01:01:18
it's still it was the most fun. It still is. >> Uh but it's it was always I think I was
01:01:25
always following that like this would be fun. I think this is funny. I really like these people. I like these actors.
01:01:32
I'd love to be a part of this. So >> wow. I think you're twin the two lanes
01:01:37
that explain this. One is what you just said and the other of never losing a sense of awe and wonder of this
01:01:46
remarkable good fortune we have to be in show business. And for sure you you meet
01:01:52
people that get bitter or kind of angry or whatever, you know, rather than just like
01:01:57
>> I can't believe we're able to actually do this on any level, you know? I mean,
01:02:02
right now I'm working. >> I think that all the time. >> Yeah. I'll be, you know, even it's like
01:02:10
you're in the middle of some some scene and you're just going some improvisation
01:02:15
about farts or something. You can I'm at work right now. This is my job. >> Okay, before we before we let you get
01:02:24
back to your other job, so you you label things. Kevin Dan told me you love a pouch, which you make labels, and you
01:02:31
love to put labels. >> I love a pouch. >> And you put labels on everything.
01:02:36
>> You have one. This is my These are my >> There it is. >> That just organizes my organizes your
01:02:42
brain to get it labelled. >> These are my These are my AirPods. And by the way, it's my second case. That's
01:02:47
why it says number two on it. >> That's hot. >> All right. So, that's Are you of with
01:02:52
your wife and are you the tidy one or or equally as far as how having the kitchen
01:02:57
clean and stuff like that? >> Uh well, she can be she's pretty clean. She'll, you know, uh, but I I think that
01:03:03
there's a there's a level that I will take it that is maybe a little, you
01:03:08
know, >> Yeah. I'm kind of the >> a little too Jean the anal retentive
01:03:12
chef. >> Yeah. Oh, fell. >> Do you have any other secret secret show
01:03:19
business dream? >> I mean, would you want to get >> direct >> do a Gary Oldman like playing Churchill
01:03:24
kind of thing or, you know, or Scorsese movie where you're a gangster or just
01:03:29
whatever comes? I don't know. Yeah, I you know I don't I don't necessarily
01:03:33
point in terms of like a type of role, but I mean I would certainly like to do things I haven't done and work with many
01:03:39
people that you know like great directors like Scorsese and there's so many incredible directors.
01:03:44
>> If Tarantino wanted you in a film, would you take the call? >> In a heartbeat for sure.
01:03:50
>> That's a good plan. I got obsessed with the last one, Once Upon a Time in
01:03:54
Hollywood. >> Oh my god, >> I saw it so many times. >> It's so good. Yeah,
01:03:58
>> he's great. What? What an amazing director he is. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I would I would jump at the
01:04:02
chance. Cohen brothers. I mean like it just there's so many >> there's so many uh
01:04:08
>> that you're just going to say yes. Yeah. >> Mike Lee. >> Um I mean there's so many great
01:04:13
directors. Most people I think probably wouldn't think of me for some of these
01:04:17
things at this point, but I'd love to do more kind of versatile, you know, dramatic roles or whatever, but uh I
01:04:25
don't know. I've also haven't really tried to, for better or worse, guide my
01:04:31
career by thinking, well, I just did a comedy, now I'm going to do something
01:04:35
really dramatic. You know, I think other actors probably do that and it's might
01:04:40
be smart. I just think like, oh, that'd be fun. >> Yeah. Doesn't always sync up perfectly
01:04:45
like that. >> No. No. And that's the other thing, too, is that people always say, "Well, why
01:04:49
did you choose this and why did you choose that?" And I I want to say, well,
01:04:53
you know, you don't always get to choose. >> Yeah. >> There's a bit of whimsy to it. Jack
01:04:57
Palance told me that once. They got all the parts. It's all about the parts. And
01:05:02
if you get the parts, Spencer Tracy got took that part. I didn't get to do that
01:05:05
part. I don't do a Jack Pants. That's an old reference lost on younger viewers.
01:05:09
>> Not at all. You start doing some one- arm push-ups right now. I'm gonna, you
01:05:12
know. >> Oh, yeah. >> All right. Well, thank you, Paul. >> Thank you.
01:05:16
>> You're a [ __ ] stud. >> This has been really interesting and
01:05:19
enjoyed it very much. Yeah. So, I feel like I know you a lot better than I did after the 40th.
01:05:25
>> I know. Well, this is the great thing. Well, when I see you at the 50th, we're
01:05:29
gonna really have a lot to talk about. And And I'm coming up. If you bring me
01:05:34
up on the 50th, I'm coming up. >> I'll be so excited to see you. I'll kiss
01:05:37
you on both cheeks. >> Yeah. >> And then go, "What did I just do?"
01:05:42
>> I'll be plus one. >> Uh Paul, thanks, buddy. Very cool of you
01:05:47
to come on and talk. And uh >> thanks for having me, guys. I appreciate it. Say hello to
01:05:51
>> I really appreciate it. >> Steve and Marty and I I've never met
01:05:54
Melena. >> Tell her I love her. >> I will tell her. >> Hey guys, if you're loving this podcast,
01:06:05
which you are, be sure to click follow on your favorite podcast app. Give us a review, fivestar rating, and maybe even
01:06:12
share an episode that you've loved with a friend. If you're watching this
01:06:16
episode on YouTube, please subscribe. We're on video now. >> Fly on the Wall is presented by Odyssey,
01:06:22
an executive produced by Danny Carvey and David Spade, Heather Santoro and Greg Holtzman, Mattie Sprung Kaiser, and
01:06:29
Leah Reese Dennis of Odyssey. Our senior producer is Greg Holtzman and the show is produced and edited by Phil Sweet
01:06:36
Tech. Booking by Cultivated Entertainment. Special thanks to Patrick Fogerty, Evan Cox, Mora Curran, Melissa
01:06:45
Wester, Hillary Shuff, Eric Donnelly, Colin Gainner, Shan Cherry, Kurt Kourtney, and Lauren Vieiraa. Reach out
01:06:54
with us any questions to be asked and answered on the show. You can email us at fly onthewallsey.com.
01:07:01
That's audacy.com.