Nathan Lane on Death of a Salesman, Mouse Hunt, and Mickey Rooney
- Jul 1, 2026
- 1:06:45
- Full Episode
Nathan Lane joins Dana and David this week to reminisce with Dana about their time with Mickey Rooney, working with Christopher Walken on Mouse Hunt, and his current run as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman on Broadway. Also, Dana hates plays, Only Murders in the Building, and starring in The Nutcracker 3D with Elle Fanning.
On Audacy’s Fly on the Wall, Saturday Night Live stars Dana Carvey and David Spade take listeners behind the scenes and reminisce about their favorite SNL moments, memories, and sketches with special guests.
Listen free: Apple: link.pscrb.fm/f0281/flyonthewallseriesapple-27cc3 Spotify: link.pscrb.fm/f0281/flyonthewallseriesspotify-e5650
Brief Summary
Nathan Lane discusses his career, theater challenges, and experiences with Mickey Rooney and <i>Death of a Salesman</i> in this episode.
Key points
- Assumptions About Sexuality. A humorous exchange about assumptions regarding Dana's sexuality.
- The Biggest Show in History. A bold claim about the show's potential success.
- Mickey Rooney's Restaurant Idea. Mickey Rooney envisioned a restaurant with leprechaun waiters and gold pots for bills.
- The Nutcracker in 3D. A bizarre film where Nathan Lane plays Albert Einstein in a musical version of The Nutcracker.
- Mouse Hunt's Unique Challenges. Nathan Lane shares the challenges of working with trained mice in Mouse Hunt.
- The Connection with the Audience. Theater provides a unique connection, making performances feel special and fulfilling. "It's the last bastion of the human connection in telling a story."
Episode highlights
- Assumptions About SexualityA humorous exchange about assumptions regarding Dana's sexuality.“I'm just glad we like girls.”14:37Jul 1, 2026
- The Biggest Show in HistoryA bold claim about the show's potential success.“This is going to be the biggest show in the history of television.”15:34Jul 1, 2026
- Mickey Rooney's Restaurant IdeaMickey Rooney envisioned a restaurant with leprechaun waiters and gold pots for bills.“And get this, we're going to hire little people to be the waiters, but they'll be dressed as leprechauns.”23:33Jul 1, 2026
- The Nutcracker in 3DA bizarre film where Nathan Lane plays Albert Einstein in a musical version of The Nutcracker.“I was Albert Einstein and I had a song called Everything's Relative.”31:01Jul 1, 2026
- Mouse Hunt's Unique ChallengesNathan Lane shares the challenges of working with trained mice in Mouse Hunt.“The mice were very sweet.”37:43Jul 1, 2026
- The Connection with the AudienceTheater provides a unique connection, making performances feel special and fulfilling. "It's the last bastion of the human connection in telling a story."“It's the last bastion of the human connection in telling a story.”47:23Jul 1, 2026
- The Emotional Toll of ActingActors often face emotional exhaustion from performing intense roles repeatedly. "It's an emotionally violent sport."“It's an emotionally violent sport.”55:44Jul 1, 2026
- Reflections on a Dark RoleThe character's struggles resonate deeply with the actor, connecting personal experiences to the role. "I always kind of connected it to Willie Lman."“I always kind of connected it to Willie Lman.”58:53Jul 1, 2026
