April 14, 2026 • 63 mins
This week on Thanks Dad, Ego sits down with legendary comedy actor Will Ferrell! Ego and Will chat about their time at USC, how they each got into comedy, and their experiences on SNL. They also talk about dealing with critics, Will’s supportive parents, and how he met his wife.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
So delightfully chill and it's nice.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Did you play golf today? I didn't. It's only because
your bracelet says golf that I was like, this show
would be a perfect day.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
That's one of our sweet blue members on the show.
I just finished. Okay, that's golf centric and that was
our working title of the show. And she made bracelets
for everyone that say golf.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Oh that's so sweet. How long do you keep things
like that.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Until it falls off?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Okay? And they do inevitably fall off.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
We do, okay, either break or fall off.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
And then you're like, Okay, I don't have to. I
don't have to. I don't have to. God, thank god.
Stupid bracelet.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
But I started wearing bracelets because people would give me
these bracelets and of people, you know, who I wanted
to be thought of and yeah, and they would see
him later and we're like that meant so.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Much, and oh that's very sweet. And I I have
a couple of bracelets. I have a couple of bracelets
in my closet that don't wear. But I like the
day I.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Guess that I've still wore these guys. When I visited Rwanda,
Oh wow, sweet guys, gave me the bracelet.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
That's incredible. That one's not going to fall off.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
That one's well, no, look, this is perilous here.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Is Oh, it's gonna it's gonna snap at some point.
Oh well, I like that. It's the last How long
you had that one?
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Going on? Two years?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Two years? I'm just okay. The germophobe in me is
thinking about the amount of dirt as sweet as that is.
The men from Rwanda who gave you the bracelet, I'm like,
oh man, two years it was.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
And it was brand new, brand new bracelet. It's seen
some were in terror. I know it's not the most had.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
It's okay though, that's that's okay. If you're wearing a tux,
you're still wearing the bracelet. You're not taking it off.
No one's getting you to take that off or anything. Okay,
I respect it. I should do an intro for you,
I believe so, my next guest, the podcast episode has started.
Will I do everything out of order? It's really hard
for the editors. Yeah, but just so you know, you're
(02:21):
allowed to clear your throat here, you're allowed to burp
whatever other things, because my audience understands this is totally
imperfect and we're all human, and that is something when
I really want to drive home. But my next guest,
I always want to look at my next guest. You
know from I'm going to nail one of these intros.
It's been a while for me. But okay, my next guest,
(02:43):
you know from step Brothers, Anchorman, Saturday Night Live and
The Big Money Players Network, it's Will Ferrell. Woo, you're
allowed to do You're allowed to do that? Can you guys?
Imagine Will Ferrell me to clear his throat for three.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Minutes in and I had to clear my throat? Is
that a new record? Is that the earliest?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
But you're drinking bubbles?
Speaker 1 (03:12):
So?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Do you want a Camma meal tea or something?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
No, No, we're going to be great.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
We don't even have that here, I don't think. But
we do have a Kama meal tea. He doesn't want it.
He doesn't want it. They're so ready. I know.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
I feel bad.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
That's the best. Don't feel bad.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
I just get one anyway.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Do you want a chem te you want a caramel tea?
It's happening. Anything can happen here. Okay, well, yes, I'm
so happy to have it.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Oh, I'm so happy to be here.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
It's truly a joy and a pleasure. And we have
a couple of things in common.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yes, we're both tall, yes, okay, and we both went
to USC and.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
That's what I thought, but I didn't know for sure.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Yes, yes, yes, a trojan.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
When did you graduate? Wait?
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Oh, I'm not allowed to say my age? Okay, it's Hollywood, right,
sometime in the last thirty years.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yes, okay, but I graduated.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
I graduated twenty ten.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
For you?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
You did you? You were?
Speaker 1 (04:15):
You? Were? You a theater major?
Speaker 2 (04:19):
I was not. I was a biology major.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Gosh, I love that, really because I wasn't either.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Okay, good, and I love I do love that. I
do love that. You did a whole other thing. Yeah,
what was your major?
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Wait? What you what got you off track to be
the world's most renowned biologist?
Speaker 2 (04:39):
My personality and my and my knowledge of biology it's hard, yes,
it's but it's it was never going to be my thing.
It was never going to be my thing. It was
part of like, yeah, I had to go study a
real thing and then I could come to California. I'm
from Maryland, so yes, okay, yeah, and was.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
La like like a full culture shock thing in a
good way or bad way, but both.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
I would just say full culture shock, some good, some bad,
big time, big time. I was like, what is this place?
I once made a joke in line at the cafeteria
by floor tower, shout out to the old door floor floor.
They knocked it down. Do you know that? They knocked
floor tower down?
Speaker 1 (05:23):
They knocked mine down too, Trojan Hall.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
They knocked down Trojan Hall. I hadn't heard a.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Horrible, ugly three story cinder block building. They should have
leveled it when I was there.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Oh it was bad. I think I didn't even want
to live in Oh yeah, I know, Trojan Le. But
they knocked it down. They knocked up both. What the
hell is that about? That they're knocking down in our buildings?
But in line floor floor, I'm in line at the
cafe by floor and I made a joke that was
like ang Danzel Washington's niece. And one of the lunch
ladies was like really, And I was like, oh, am
(05:57):
I at a place where I could really Denzel Washington speeth,
And I was you could be at USC people are
related to people there for real? Wait, what did you study?
Speaker 1 (06:10):
I was throw it clear.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Number two.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Yes, I was a sports information.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Major, sports information.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Which was such a rigorous, intensive major that they scrapped
it after ten years. They only offered it for like
ten years.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
And then it's sports journalism, sports journalism. Why did they
call it information? Do you think as opposed to journalism
which weeks?
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Because you could become a sports information director, which is
the person out of college who is basically in charge
of sports media. Okay, yeah, you're You're the kind.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Of chief, like an executive.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Like a chief marketing officer. You like you had all
the interviews with the players and the coaches, do all
this stuff. So you could be either a sports information
you could be a print journal or you could be broadcast.
So I was going to be on ESPN. That was
my That was my plan.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Oh I need to ask what derailed you? But your
kamamel Tea has arrived. Matt Our executive producer, Matt come
and make an on camera appearance. I'm Matt. He's got
he's got camera, mel t He's got camera mel Tea.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Oh it's not even warm. No, No, I'm just saying no.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Matt knows how to produce a podcast, but he cannot
make a cup of tea.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
It is. It looks amazing. I got three beverages going
on here.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I love it. One of them is going to clear
your throat real good. Oh I know it. Okay, So
how you be derailed?
Speaker 1 (07:48):
I so this will be interesting to compare notes because
I was a big athlete jock in high school, played
sport like sports. In fact, my wife and I were
just commenting on how much we missed team sports. Oh yeah,
and because she played college soccer and this, that and
(08:10):
the other. But so I played a lot of sports.
I loved it, my dad and I I liked being
funny with my friends. But it wasn't like a I
didn't do high school theater. You didn't do any of that.
I loved comedy. I was such a fan. But yeah,
my dad, I grew up watching him as a struggling
(08:33):
working musician, and I thought, not gonna do.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
That, No way.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
And I thought that the merge, merging of being like
a sports reporter or a sports you know, anchor, would
be the best in both worlds. It would be more
of a stable job, but something I really like. And yeah,
and then when I was done with school, I still
was like, and that's when I went to see my
(09:00):
first show at the Groundlings, and I thought, WHOA, that
looks like fun and and so they had a school
and so yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
You said it was just such disdain, Well only.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Because I was like, you know, living back at home
with a college degree, driving from Orange County back to
LA taking classes at the Growlings, and working as a
bank teller.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Well that was noble. Yeah, that was respectable. I worked
at the bank. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
But I was like, okay, I'm not going to do sports. Yeah,
I don't. I don't. I don't want to be a newscaster.
I want to I want to be like Chevy Chase.
I want to pretend to be a newscaster.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Right.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
So that's how I got derailed.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Luckily, it's a good thing. We're all grateful. Just trust
and give that. We're very grateful. You got derailed. You
as an athlete, what was your main sport? What was
your You're the one you were like, I'm best at this.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
I was captain of the basketball team.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Okay, no, my senior year.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
No big deal with averaging one point two points a game.
So that's pretty That means just a lot of court time,
a lot of tough defense, Okay, read a lot, a
lot of spirit. Okay, you weren't counting on me to score,
so uh. And then I was a kicker on the
(10:23):
football team.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
I just my friend this morning said to me about
kickers because we were talking about Kim Zulziak from Real
Housewives of Atlanta because we were watching some show and
somebody mentioned Kim. It's a very long wounded way of saying.
She told me that, like Kim was married to a kicker.
And my friend says to me today, she goes kickers.
That's like the bottom of the that's.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Is that weird?
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Okay, tell me more, because I don't know anything about
sports only.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Because kickers only, it's either you go in there, you
don't get you never get hurt, you don't have to
do all the hard things that the football regular guys
have to do. Yeah, you go in there and you
kick this ball and it's either glory or you miss it,
and they hate you. They love you, but you're still
an outcast regardless. Okay, because even if you win the
(11:10):
game with the last second kick, they're like, no, that
was great, but okay, you still didn't even get your
uniform dirty.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Okay. So we had one point two points in Yeah,
but I was.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
But I was funny with my teeth, so I was
kind of like in the mix though. And then I
played baseball too. Anyway, I just.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
You loved sports sports. You loved sports sports and one
point two points. I just want to reiterate, that's not
a lot. That's terrible. At first, I was like, in
high school, is it on? Is it on a curve
of some sort?
Speaker 1 (11:44):
No, that's just the that means that's the average, so
sometimes lower so sometimes zero and most of the times
zero and then other times maybe five points a game.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
But I was like the sixth man. I was the
first guy off the bench, and I was like always
talking the guys up.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Yeah, okay, Spirit a lot of spirit, you said as much.
You said though that you didn't want to be like
your dad's traveling musician. That was tough. What were you
observing that was so tough about it?
Speaker 1 (12:13):
I was just seeing the Yeah, the instability of what
he was doing. That he would have long stretches of
of you know, he might work at a nightclub for
a year and then all of a sudden he'd he'd
be like, well, I'm switching jobs. I'm like, oh, and
now you've like, oh, did you not like that place anymore?
(12:34):
He's like no, they just said we're good. We're getting
a new piano player.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Like yeah, whoa, Okay.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
That's hard, but yeah. At the same time, I would
I loved watching him play, and I loved he played
on and off with the Righteous Brothers for twenty five years,
and so I'd see him do shows in Vegas and
on the road and that was like so cool. So
I I was being charmed the whole time, and uh,
(13:05):
you know, but but I literally was like, no, I'm
gonna I don't know what my job's gonna be, but
I'm gonna carry a briefcase m.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
I want to have, yes, exactly? Did was he supportive
of your interest in comedy once you exhibited that he he.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Was, Actually he was, No, he both my parents were encouraging,
but they weren't. I wouldn't say they were like, you can't.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Do anything, Yeah, you're so funny.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
They were more like when they finally saw you know,
I kind of I kind of had to explain this
place called the Growlings, and I started doing a little
bit of stand up comedy and did you have you done?
Did you do stand up a lot.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
No. Right before I got on SNL, I had done
like an open mic. I did one because I was like, oh,
that'll be fun to dabble in this summer. So like
the June of that year.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Tride my hand at that yeah, which I was like, oh, no,
sketch comedy is the way to go.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Safety in numbers, okay, okay yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
And and so they they would come and see and
they were like, wait, you're pretty funny.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Not laughing, but okay, I see it.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
And and but my dad gave me. My dad gave
me the best advice ever. I went and had lunch
with them one day and I was like, so, I'm
going to move back up to LA and Dad, I
think I want to really give this a shot. I
don't know what that means, but I just know the
groundlings I'm working my way up through, and I know
it's a place they come look for up and coming talent.
(14:44):
Blah blah blah. What are your what's kind of what
would you say to that? He's like, he said, if
it if it was based solely on talent, I wouldn't
worry about you, which is really sweet. He goes, but
there's so much luck involved, and he's like, just give
it a shot. He goes, but if you ever reach
a point where you're banging your head against the wall
(15:06):
and it doesn't feel fun anymore, it's okay to quit.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
He gave me. Yes, that's great.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
So it's like, if you saw it written down, it
would not be an inspira. It would not be on
a calendar of you know, the cat just hang in there.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Yeah, it would not be right. It wouldn't be that.
There's a lot of lt Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
But he said, so just know that. It's like it's
it's a bit of a crapshoot, but it's not your fault, like,
so just keep trying it and see what happens. So
now some people would take that. Some people might react
and go, you don't believe in me. For me, it
(15:48):
took the pressure. I was like, this is probably not
gonna happen. Yeah, So I'm just gonna go have fun
and I can always be a substitute school teacher. It's
not a knock on sub tote substitute.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
And here are substitute teachers. They could be great.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
They're vital, cog and important important.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
I had one tell me to be serious and.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
You know, well, you tried to be you try to
study biology.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
I did. I try because of him. I don't remember
his name, but he was like, little girl, be serious
because we were.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
Were you always so? Were you always the cutup? You
were always the cut up?
Speaker 2 (16:27):
I was often.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
But no.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
I went to high school and middle school with some
of the funniest people who are not comedians. Some might
be substitute teachers now, some might be working for you guys.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Yeah, some of the funniest friends.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Yes, same, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
And I was a very conscientious class.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Clown, conscientious one.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
I would push it to the limit. If the teacher
was like, hey, watch it, I'd be like, you got
it problem, And.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
I'm a good kidnapped. Yeah, I mean it's I think
it's interesting though, when people are like you work with
all the funniest people, and I'm like, gosh, I wish
you had known Aaron from my high school there too,
Like these people are really funny. I do work with
some of the funniest people.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Book.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Oh there's some people you don't even know that aren't
doing comedy right now. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
No, we would. I owed a group of friends. We
would go to a party, a high school party, we
maybe would have a beer, I don't know, but it
wasn't about that. We literally would go and just start
messing with people and we'd just start taking like here's
a for instance that made us laugh. We'd go into
the freezer of whoever kid's house who's throwing the party,
(17:35):
and just start taking all the frozen food out and
just piling it up and started microwaving stuff. And then
drunk kids were like, what are you doing, We're like,
and then we just make up stories of like, oh,
so and so told me to just start microwaving frozen food.
Biz are stuff.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
You were improvisers that make ourselves laugh.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Yeah, and now the trend continued.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Did you actually do improv by the way, because Groundings
is largely sketch, right.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
It's large, Yeah, and that was more the focus of
specially especially when I was when you're part of the
Sunday show at the Groundings, which is that you know
the B team before you make it to the main stage.
You're writing three to four sketches a week and you're
(18:23):
it's just like a which was such a good training
ground for us. Now, oh yeah, to not have to
rely on, as you know, writers to cast you yeah,
at least, well, at least I can figure just figure
something out for myself.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
It's almost the reverse of UCB, where UCB used improv
to generate characters and sketch and maybe you'd you'd bolster
it with writing later. This was the opposite. So I
I didn't really improvise until after I got on the
main stage. Yeah, and to this day, that's still a
scary proposition.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
Oh, improv for you. Yeah, I feel like you'd be
great at it.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
I love doing it, like on camera. But but when
I watched, like when reopen, when I did Askat.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
With you guys, I remember, now you were.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
So incredible, thank you, Holy crap. I was just watching
you guys, going, damn it. They're good.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
I mean, but we used your source material, your stories,
but and you're anecdotes.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
But when I was doing the monologue, so for your
watchers and listeners, yes there's this show at uc B. Yes,
and you have someone who stepped you step out and
you just the audience. Yel is a subject and you
have to just create a monologue.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Yes, and it should be true and.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
It should be true. And someone yelled, I don't know
if you remember this, yelled Space.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Now that you're saying. And I do remember actually to Space.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
I was like, this is gonna be easy. I'm just
gonna Can I.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Get a Kim and Milty please, I'm just I'm kidding,
I'm kidding. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
It was totally blanky.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
I remember you, I remember, but I feel like you
were putting so much pressure on yourself. Did you feel
the need to be funny in your I just but.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
It wasn't even I knew. It was like, this doesn't
have to be funny, it can just be a story.
I literally was like, Space, Space, Space.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Do you remember what you ended up telling us with
the story?
Speaker 1 (20:25):
I think I remember something about watching one of the
Space missions as a kid that took place on my
birthday July sixteenth, okay? And then July sixteenth everyone, And.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
By the way, when you said that I'm not gonna lie,
I did clock and I thought I'll have to shoot
a text or something, put it in the phone. And
I also was like, my agent's birthday is July sixteenth, okay,
well Ferrell in my kitchen, yes, and she shares a
birthday with her.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Father, and I shared a birthday with my grandmother.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
This is spooky, what's going on here?
Speaker 1 (21:04):
And my oldest son shares a birthday March seventh with
his grandmother.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Well, my birthday's March tenth, and what does that mean
for any of this?
Speaker 1 (21:15):
March tenth.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Surely you've got a relative.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Know what March ten?
Speaker 2 (21:20):
No, y'all know what March tenth is. The day I
was born, the day you're born. But space your birthday.
Space on your birthday.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
And then for the second monologue, I think I called
back my birthday again July sixth, which I think I
also share with the Crown Princess of Sweden. And I
think I might have told a story of how I
tried to send her a twenty dollars gift card to Ikia.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
I think this sounds new and familiar at the same
time somehow, And I.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Tried to have my assistant call their office and they
did not. The Swedish royal family did not understand the
humor in me sending a twenty dollars gift card to
the princess Crown Princess of Sweden.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Okay, different kind of senses of humor.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Maybe yeah, she'll watch this and know where that twenty
dollars gift card.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Came from you think she's watching my podcast potent.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
For I know for a fact, have you checked your
numbers in Sweden?
Speaker 2 (22:25):
I haven't checked my Swedish. No, may Matt, can we
put this Swedish to walk around in public? And oh
my god, oh this is good to know I should
go there to feel something.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
It's it's, it's Abba, It's Scars Guard and it's and it's.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Those are the top three and the Stockholm This is
huge when I get over there to feel something. Well.
I got asked though, but you were trying to explain
(23:08):
the groundlings to your parents, right, which is a hard
thing to explain to anyone who's not doing comedy, Because
I know what the groundings are. Is are the groundings is? Is?
I know what the growndings is. But I know a
lot of people might say to their friends or their
parents Will Ferrell, you know Will Ferrell, So he went there,
(23:29):
That's what I'm going to go do. Who were you
citing to your parents? If anyone I.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Was citing, where did you have anyone to I was citing.
I was citing the fact that I knew a lot
of people from SNL had come there but like a
Lorraine Newman from the original SML Coast, Conan O'Brien did
growling stuff, peewee herman.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Oh, and other people and other people. That's okay, Oh
my god, that was a great list.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
No, no, there was, there's there's so many more. But
then subsequently as we started started taking class, and then
there was just an incredible group of people there between
Chris gatan Cheri, oh, Terry Chris, and Wig Maya. The
(24:27):
list so at least started yeap list. Oh and that's
thank you.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
So okay my senior year USC.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
Yeah, I go there to watch a show for the
first time. Lisa kudro Is on stage prior to kind
of that character she'd play on Friends that got not Friends,
the character she played on Mad About You that she
was like this waitress, this dingy waitress that then got
her the friends thing. But I was like, this woman's incredible,
(24:57):
Holy crap. Uh. There were great people like Patrick Bristow,
Mike McDonald, Tim Bagley, Uh yeah, uh, Kathy Griffin. So
and it was just this powerhouse of people and and
I actually get called up on stage in an audience
(25:20):
participation thing where they wanted people to be and so
I got picked on and thrown into like an improv thing. Yeah,
and I didn't say a word. I was so yeah,
but I it wasn't enough to to scare me off. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Do you get nervous still anymore? Yes?
Speaker 1 (25:44):
But not Yeah, a little bit, a little bit of nerves,
but not terrible.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
What kind of stuff makes you nervous?
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Well, like, when you're about to step on stage at
the iHeart podcast you're in a full speed skating skin
type bodysuit. Ye to do a bit about how you
were cut from the Olympic speed skating team. Yeah, to
(26:17):
very little laughter.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
There was Were you getting nervous during No?
Speaker 1 (26:25):
I was just like, oh, here we go. You could
have just stepped out there in a suit and tie,
because I even commented because you, of course looked beautiful, lovely,
and I'm like, you think I'd get it by now,
I don't need to like, but then you were like
you sweetly, were like I wish I was wearing that.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
I kind of did, but I pull it off.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
I get to hide behind a crazy costume and the way.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
But also but yeah, so there's a little pang of
nerves there. But then once I step out I just
start laughing, going, this is ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Yeah it wasn't. That's the fun, that's the fun. But
have you ever heard I don't. I'm mighty sorry.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
I get, but I don't get nervous so much in
performance as I do meeting people, either like athletes, big
time athletes that I've watched, or like people music. Okay, yeah,
things like that.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Do you feel that?
Speaker 2 (27:17):
I so, I don't. I'm trying to. I do get biology,
but when I'm meeting scientists, okay, I know, you know what.
I would be nervous and starstruck to meet doctor Fauci, right,
I would. I was doctor Anthony Faucid love him, God
love him. Not everyone loves him, but I love Fauci.
(27:39):
I just love a T shirt.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
You have a Fauci T shirt in Fauci, we trust.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
I need to get Remember when he was here from ourselves.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Yes, I'm sorry, despite what you believe, he really did
save us.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
Well that's what I feel, despite what you believe as well.
And I'm with I'm just so with you on that.
And I thought, what a brave man who was really
trying his best. And when he resigned, I was like job,
well done, my good and faithful servant. I was like,
you gotta be tired. What an experience you just had?
What an experience His family was getting death threats. That
(28:15):
was crazy.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
That take two hour naps every day for a year,
and that was it. And that was honestly walk the
door around.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
He was up around the glass and just taking two
hour naps. The poor man. I'm like, well done. I
got to get an Infauci We Trust shirt like that.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
That was funny.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
I would be nervous to meet him. I met Bill
Nye at SNL, but like sometimes meeting people at SNL
is a little like, oh, there's that person. So you
don't even have a chance to get nervous necessarily, like
look up and you're like, I'm sorry that human is he?
Speaker 1 (28:50):
That's what I always tell it was, it's such that
place is so unique in many in many ways, but
you didn't have time to get nervous, Yeah, because here
was the super famous person who was thrown into your
world and they were like they were like looking for
a life preserver, and then this common ground and by
(29:11):
the end of the week you were like, what's up.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Yeah, hugging on stage exactly always asking, Hey, did you
get much sleep last night? You asked the host that
on Saturday Morning standard question, did you get a lot
of sleep? Varying answers. But I remember one host saying
to me, it's my second season. I remember one host
just wanting to thank them for doing my sketch and
they were like, sorry if I was weird. I was
(29:36):
so nervous and I just wanted you guys to like me.
And I was like, you just won fifteen Emmys two
weeks ago, and I really was like, you are worried
about us liking you. You're a star darling, I know, like,
what are you?
Speaker 1 (29:50):
Then?
Speaker 2 (29:50):
That was fascinating. I think in that that was just
a pivotal moment for me because I was like, Oh,
they come in here and they're coming on our territory
and are like we want.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
You to things. It seems so after you've been there
for a while, just seems like no big deal. But
it's a huge to step into that environment.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Yeah, how did you know when it was time to.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
Leave so much hate on the internet? Serious? I did
have I did have a really good lesson in when
I looked online my first year, my first season on
the show, I looked on one of those those dumb
(30:35):
lists that who knows makes up and they were like
ranking the cast in order, and someone had sent me
a thing and and it was really favorable, and I
was like, oh, that's so nice. And then I was like, oh,
let's look, let's search some other stuff up. And then
the next thing I pulled up was like I hate him.
(30:59):
Someone should drag him behind a car. Like it was like,
and I never looked again.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
Really, oh, you've been so disciplined.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
And I had horrible personal reviews of my first show,
very first show, and it was like most annoying newcomer.
Oh but I And so I was like, oh, I
have a decision here. I could really take it to
heart or I could just laugh at it. So I
(31:31):
just kept it on the door of my office. It's
just like to remind me, like, look, just have fun.
As many people that like you, there's just gonna be
just as many people who you know. Uh, anyway, what
was the point of my story.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
I'm just I'm hanging on your every word. But it
was like, when did I decided?
Speaker 1 (31:51):
I don't know, I don't I just uh. I was
on for seven seasons and it was just some thing was.
It was kind of like, okay, I think this is
a good, good time. Yeah. Yeah, and I but it's
not like it's not like I had this pile of
(32:11):
scripts waiting for me. I had, I had shot Old School,
but that wasn't that was being pushed, which is never
a good sign. They were they were holding onto the movie.
It was like, okay, uh. And then the only other
thing we were working on was we were developing this
(32:34):
script that needed some work about a guy raised by
elves on the North Pole, and so that was the
only other thing that was even a possibility, And so
it wasn't. I just was like, you know what, I
have some momentum right now, let's go test the waters.
(32:57):
And Lauren tried to convince me to stay.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
Did it almost work?
Speaker 1 (33:02):
No, Okay, yeah, he sweetly tried to, And I was like,
I think I should just you may be right, but
I'm gonna I'm.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
Gonna try, yeah to go see. I think it worked out.
I'm really happy. Yeah so far, I'm like, so far,
so good. Yeah, it worked out. But you seem to
also really good perspective, even when you talk about the
critique and putting that on the door of your office
and just kind of laughing at it.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
How do you? I don't know, I just it it
like it kind of it kind of takes the power
away from someone coming out. I just end up laughing, going, God,
someone took the time to be that mean. It's kind
of funny. And I remember I remember reading a review
(33:59):
by Roger Ebert for Step Brothers, which is so delicious.
It was like, please do not watch this movie, do
not rent it on DVD, do not tell your friends
about it, that this this a film like this is
horrible for filmmakers, for the film industry in general. It's
(34:20):
the literally the fall of Western civilization. It's mindless and terrible.
But we'd gotten enough fun reviews to balance it out
that it was just like, yes, it was just like
a badge of honor.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
Okay, yeah, So has any review ever hit you felt
like a gut punch to you?
Speaker 1 (34:39):
Honestly, there's been times where someone has has with all
the best intentions. I used to have a publicist to
be like, you should read this so and so review
on the thing, it's pretty good. What they neglected to
say was the first paragraph was how much they've hated
me and everything I've done.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
Oh pfect, Yeah, this was really surprising. He actually does
have talent.
Speaker 1 (35:03):
Okay, And and then I once read a review of
forty year Old virgin I saw that, and because Steve Carell,
when we're making Anchorman, was talking about the premise he
had of this idea of a guy who's still a
version of fro him like, oh, Steve, that's hilarious. Anyway,
Steve goes off, he makes the movie. I see there's
(35:24):
a review of it, and I'm like, oh, I want
to read, and I'm and it once again, it started
with how much this reviewer hated me, and that and
that Steve Carell who showed up an Anchorman, and and
so I was once again, I was pleasantly surprised. However,
(35:47):
like this weird.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
This is again by association.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
But Steve is actually amazing performer and actor in this
movie is phenomenal. And I was like, wait a minute,
how did this happen? So uh yeah, so I've learned it.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
Just stay away, Yeah, okay, grain of salt.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
Stay are you able to stay away?
Speaker 2 (36:08):
I am, just because it's like it's too risky. Keenan
once told me all the thought, all the opinions and stuff,
really early on He's like, noise, it's noise, and I
was like, wow, you guys just have sort of like
the I think the part of me that wants to
be like a good student and it's resonating. In the
past has been like I want to you want to
know what people are thinking. But I sort of I
(36:29):
love the notion of just.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
So you kind of do you want to kind of
know what's out there? And yeah, and and then you're
you're quickly quickly burned.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Yeah, and then you just don't let it though, you
like put it on a door and go, this is funny.
Speaker 1 (36:44):
Yeah, exactly did you?
Speaker 2 (36:46):
Were you a person who had like goals growing up?
Like proper I've written out my goals. No, not your.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
Thing, I didn't. I yeah, like the five year plan,
Yeah no.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
None of that. No, you just followed the.
Speaker 1 (36:59):
Fun I just yeah, I just kind of the one
thing that I did. I guess it wasn't a goal,
but it was a it was a feeling that I
decided to remember and follow. Was in high school once
again back to I didn't do theater, I didn't do
(37:21):
any of this stuff. Yet loved making my friends laugh,
loved coming to school with a lunch paal as a senior,
as an eighteen year old young man for no reason,
like a Peanuts lunch pail, okay, and then just sit
and eat my lunch out of a lunch pail just
(37:42):
to make or come in a weird outfit or one
year buddies. We started. I don't know if your high
school were big into clubs, but they had club Day
and we decided to start our own club called the
Reptile Club, Say more please, And everyone got a reptile
(38:03):
nickname and a laminated card.
Speaker 2 (38:07):
And were there actually reptiles involved, No, there were no reptiles.
Speaker 1 (38:12):
Very good, but we had one meeting and we showed
a film strip on like the Komodo Dragon, and we
held a Reptil Club dance. Who went to that had
like we had like two hundred kids show up for
the Reptil Club.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Kid. How many kids were at your high school? A
thousand more eight almost two two thousand.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
My graduate class was like five hundred.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
Okay, so ten percent of the student body showed up
to Reptile Yes, okay, I'll take it, Okay, it's fine.
Speaker 1 (38:44):
Anyway, I was always doing almost Andy Kaufman performance art stuff. Yeah,
and a buddy of mine, my friend Bart are Our
other friend Steve, was the student body president, and he
was trying to sell There was a campaign to sell
(39:04):
senior class T shirts to raise money for whatever the
gift the senior class was going to give to the
school always leave behind, you know, a brand new marquee
or something. But the T shirts weren't selling. So he
was like, can you you know there's always like one
day a week morning announcements, like in between first and
(39:25):
second period. Do you guys think he could think of
like a like almost like a radio campaign to sell these.
So Bart and I started writing these sketches. They were
radio sketches. We were doing like character voices we were
doing we were making fun of students and teachers, and
it became this big hit. But I remember sitting there
(39:48):
crafting what was like a paragraph, and I thought, what
I what felt like twenty minutes to me. I looked
and it was midnight and I'd started at like eight
o'clock that night. Oh wow, And I thought, oh, that
didn't feel like work. Yeah, And I should remember that
(40:08):
writing this little piece of comedy and rewriting and so
not a goal per se, but remember that that you
know that. I was like, I should hang on to that,
still too afraid to admit that I think I want
to do comedy. But I still was like I held
on to that little exercise.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
How long did it take you to tell your So
telling your parents was one thing, but telling like friends,
I want to do comedy. And did that feel scary
at all?
Speaker 1 (40:38):
No, because I just was like, you know, kind of like,
you know, a little bit in my own world. And
then you know, as you check in with people, like
what are you what are you up to? I'm taking
classes at this thing? It was too hard to explain.
So and then as I as I started performing more
and I could invite people to shows, then it became
(41:00):
a thing where like, oh, this is what you've been
kind of working on the last couple of years. Yeah.
But I had a lot of friends who are like, oh, yeah,
doesn't surprise me.
Speaker 2 (41:10):
Yeah, suits you makes sense. We were waiting for you
to we we always knew you were a comedian. So
did where do you fall in the sibling lineup? Do
you have siblings?
Speaker 1 (41:18):
I have a younger brother, okay, and then a much
younger sister.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
Yeah, you're the oldest.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
I'm the oldest.
Speaker 2 (41:26):
I feel like it's often the youngest who goes off
and does are you the I'm the youngest.
Speaker 1 (41:31):
Of how many four? You're the baby.
Speaker 2 (41:34):
I'm the baby, and you gotta love me, you know.
Speaker 1 (41:40):
So you were fighting for a tent, you were like yeah,
and no one cares.
Speaker 2 (41:45):
And they're significantly Now it's not a significant My oldest
brother is eight years older than I am, and so
and then my brother closest in ah me is five
years older than I am. So they like I was
just like a little past was like a.
Speaker 1 (41:57):
Little pip sweet yeah, run around.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
Yeah that my oldest brother's like in high school. I'm
in elementary school, no one, and I was entertaining myself,
but yeah, I got to do whatever. So it's just
interesting because I feel like oftentimes the story for people
is I was the youngest, and I'm the one who
went off and did the acting thing and the common thing. Yeah,
are your siblings in entertainment at all? Uh? No? Okay,
(42:23):
yeah not at all? Yeah, and your wife loves sports
as well.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
But I don't want to talk about my wife.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
Cut this part. Cut this part.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
I know I'm not gonna we're not going to go,
but comedians are good actors. People actors give comedians that
about you.
Speaker 2 (42:53):
But I know I gotta get I gotta get.
Speaker 1 (42:55):
Over there, some.
Speaker 2 (43:00):
East Norwegians, but bit some bits twenty dollars gift cards
like the meat balls, the meat the meatballs. Oh, people
don't talk about the Swedish meatballs enough. They're good. Yes,
my wife, Yes, how did you meet Vivica?
Speaker 1 (43:15):
I met Vivica in an acting program really down at
there's a theater down in Inks like.
Speaker 2 (43:23):
You were pissed at me. I met Vivica in interacting program.
I met No.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
I don't know why I had that emphasis I loved.
I think it was more my discovery of that revelation. Okay,
there's a place, South Coast Repertory Theater. Okay down there.
If you've ever been to South Coast Plaza, I have.
Speaker 2 (43:43):
Been to the mall. I've been to the mall.
Speaker 1 (43:45):
It's a fabulous mall.
Speaker 2 (43:46):
That's a gorgeous mally. We've got to revive malls.
Speaker 1 (43:49):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (43:50):
I did you hang out at the mall when you
were growing up? Loved it me too. On a Friday
night to get just dropped off at the mall, I
would just.
Speaker 1 (43:57):
Go my brother and I would take public transit go
to the.
Speaker 2 (44:01):
Mall and just were you even buying stones.
Speaker 1 (44:04):
There's another great one in Newport Beach called Fashion Island.
Speaker 2 (44:07):
I've been to Fashion Island as well, not a great
one to that's beautiful, open air manning. That's a good mall. Okay, sorry, Vivica.
You South Coast REPERTORIY So.
Speaker 1 (44:16):
South Coast Repertory is a really great Tony Award winning
regional theater company, and they have which I grew up
going to see shows. My mom would occasionally be a
dose in there, and I know she forced us to
see like check Off, like ten years old watching the
Seagull going Okay, I think I follow yeah cultured, Yeah, yeah,
(44:43):
I know it's so cultured and and yeah after post
my my graduate years, which is kind of you know what.
My mom was very progressive in the sense of here,
I I graduate from college, I moved back home. She's like, no, sweat,
(45:05):
let's just treat this like graduate school. And you just
need a job to pay for like gas money, otherwise
I'm not going to charge you rent.
Speaker 2 (45:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (45:12):
Yeah, So I start taking the classes, the growlings, but
she also gets me a scene steady class as a
Christmas present at this South Coast Repertory because they also
taught classes, and I loved it. I'd never had just
done basic scene steady class. I sign up for the
next one, and then I start talking to the teacher.
(45:32):
She's like, you should do the Professional Conservatory program in
the summer. It's like a ten week mini like drama school,
like five days a week, voice movement, script analysis, scene work,
all this stuff. And she's like, they need they always
need guys. In other words, you're not that good. No,
(45:55):
So I go, but how do you audition?
Speaker 2 (45:57):
Like?
Speaker 1 (45:57):
You just need to do like a classical piece and
a so I memorized like a Shakespearean sonnet. I did
a sonnet, and then I did a scene from Uh,
oh gosh, what was that play? They made it into
a movie with Rob Low and Jim Belushi. Uh huh
is it called about last Night?
Speaker 2 (46:18):
No, Matt's googling what doesn't Matt doy.
Speaker 1 (46:24):
And is that also the name of the play or
Chicago in the Yeah, yes, sexual Perversity And there's a
really famous monologue. So I did that, and so I
got into the program, and then uh, I I saw
(46:50):
this beautiful woman who seemed really stuck up after type
doing like voice spocal warm up.
Speaker 2 (46:59):
Yeah, okay, like red leather, yellow leather, red leather, yellow leather, a.
Speaker 1 (47:05):
Piece of work. Meanwhile, she's looking back at me, like,
who's this weirdo frat guy who wears his hat backwards?
Speaker 2 (47:13):
Were you in a frat? I was what frat? Were
you in?
Speaker 1 (47:16):
Delta Delta to delta.
Speaker 2 (47:18):
Sounds made up Delta delta tod I'm like, what you
caught me? Okay, all right, okay, it's real, Okay, sorry,
but continue to paint the picture. No, but I thought
I'm lying. I thought about being like I was tried
out the gamma.
Speaker 1 (47:38):
But you would like run a sorority, like with your personality.
Speaker 2 (47:42):
And your cue. Yeah, I didn't freshman year at SC
like doing rush. I believe it is. I was like,
I don't understand, I don't understand this, But God blessed
the sororities and the fraternities, and I said it because
I don't want those communities to come from me. Okay,
So so you were in a frat okay, but frat
(48:03):
guy had turned backwards Okay.
Speaker 1 (48:06):
And then I knew I had another friend, our mutual friend,
Sarah was like, oh, and I was in the different
There was two groups, the Red group and the Blue group,
and Vivica and Sarah in the Red group.
Speaker 2 (48:24):
I was in the lower Republican Okay, super republican.
Speaker 1 (48:32):
Anyway, Sarah's like, I met that tall blonde girl. She's
actually really nice, and I'm like, okay. Anyway that we
later became friends, dated, and we've been married for twenty
five years. Incredible, But we met there and then it
was like really such a strong connection that it kind
(48:54):
of scared us off. So for five years we were
just friends, really kind of said hi to each other
here and there, checked in on each other, but we're
just literally like dated other people. And then we circled
back to each other.
Speaker 2 (49:10):
Okay, yeah, you spun the block, as the youth.
Speaker 1 (49:12):
Say, Okay, I felt you know, that was my goal.
I was driving over here, I'm like, I'm going to
spin the block. I'm gonna make sure I spin the block. Yeah, well,
so I spuned the block.
Speaker 2 (49:24):
You did spend the block. You already did it. You
spun the block over twenty five years ago when you
and Vivico started dating officially. How did you take it
from friend zone?
Speaker 1 (49:35):
Because well, we we went we like we're dating, and
it it it went. It went from friend zone to
not to it went from zero to sixty right away.
Speaker 2 (49:49):
Oh okay, yes, Oh, so we were in the program
while you were in.
Speaker 1 (49:52):
There front we were like we were an item.
Speaker 2 (49:56):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (49:56):
But then when we when it kind of fizzled, did you.
Speaker 2 (50:00):
Do something wrong? I didn't the guys always do something.
Speaker 1 (50:04):
She kind of had the foresight to break break up
because we talk about it now, because she was like,
we were too young. Were we gonna get married? No,
we were like twenty two and twenty three, okay, and
she was like it was just too like we were
too young.
Speaker 2 (50:18):
So you guys were not together when you were at SNL.
Speaker 1 (50:21):
You were just started again. Oh when I started in
ninety five?
Speaker 2 (50:26):
And how was that? Did she move to New York
with you? Nope, you did long distance.
Speaker 1 (50:30):
We did long distance.
Speaker 2 (50:31):
Tell me what it was like for you.
Speaker 1 (50:33):
It was totally fine because I went back to LA
every summer. Okay, she would come out, we'd go back
and forth. Because you know that schedule, there's so many.
Speaker 2 (50:42):
Breaks, there's so many breaks, and we.
Speaker 1 (50:44):
Just were like made it work.
Speaker 2 (50:46):
Even you don't you didn't feel the weight of the
stress of the job. No, no, you're just an easygoing guy.
What's your sign? July sixteenth? We know so, wait, don't
sell me. I don't know much. I love to ask everyone.
There's I should we should change the name of the
podcast to what's your I'm a Pisces. You my friend,
(51:07):
I'm gonna say you're a Leo. Damn it, that's the
end of July. Okay, stand by, Okay, okay, okay, no, no, no,
stand by. It's coming to me June. Gemini. You're a Gemini.
If you're not a Gemini and you're not a Leo,
what could you be? A crab from Maryland? Okay, because
(51:27):
that's where I'm from. Okay. For the listeners, will is gesture.
For the viewers, lucky you, Okay. Lateral movement, lateral movement. No,
Libra's October. I'm just gonna go through a watch. I'm sorry.
It's hard. Outer shell cancer, yes, ah, okay, oft inside goey,
but like cru crunchy outside.
Speaker 1 (51:50):
Kind of approach, approach things latterly at times.
Speaker 2 (51:55):
Yeah, very loyal okay.
Speaker 1 (51:59):
And but but if I have to use my pictures,
I'm not afraid to use my You.
Speaker 2 (52:04):
Use your pictures you've used your pictures?
Speaker 1 (52:08):
Did that spend the block too?
Speaker 2 (52:09):
That did not? Unfortunately, I don't know how to put this,
but no, that wasn't That wasn't that wasn't quiet. It
wasn't not, but it wasn't it either. Okay, So, but
you're so like chill and easy going, and I'm wondering,
(52:31):
how are you? Is Vivica like this also?
Speaker 1 (52:35):
She is just she's a Taurus O TuS match.
Speaker 2 (52:41):
Okay, are you into? You're into a stride?
Speaker 1 (52:43):
I kind of love it. I'm not super in, but
I was like the kid I discovered the horoscope in
the paper, and I loved reading the horoscope a day late. Okay,
to be like I I did find a lucky coin
on the street whatever. Yeah, I did have a satisfying meal.
(53:05):
That's way too gentle.
Speaker 2 (53:06):
Yes, lives not.
Speaker 1 (53:08):
So much, Okay, I kind of I kind of think
it's fun.
Speaker 2 (53:12):
It's fun. That's what I say. That's what I say
all the time. But now I know what cancer is
because I didn't.
Speaker 1 (53:17):
Have that in and both love the home.
Speaker 2 (53:21):
So you're a bit of a homebody.
Speaker 1 (53:23):
Totally can be okay, like love just hanging out.
Speaker 2 (53:27):
I like to take a good trip, freaking a freak
to take an a.
Speaker 1 (53:36):
Don't give me that look.
Speaker 2 (53:39):
I'm gonna shut in. I didn't say that. I think
it's fine that you met Vivicant Acting School. I think
it's good and I believe you that you like to
take a good trip. I'm not wielding any accusations here.
This is just my face. This is just my face.
Don't read into it, even though I'm an actor and
I'm supposed to be giving are your kids and the biz.
Speaker 1 (54:02):
Uh. My oldest son is a musician and he's uh yeah,
Magnus Fair.
Speaker 2 (54:12):
He's a good name.
Speaker 1 (54:13):
Damn, he's got music out there right now. I'm plugging
Magnis right now, shamelessly dad, very talented singer. Uh he yeah,
so's he's trying to do his thing. Yeah, uh and uh.
And then Matti, my my middle son is a is
(54:34):
a freshman at USC and he's he's into possibly doing
some acting stuff. And then my youngest boy is still
in high school.
Speaker 2 (54:44):
South Coast Repertory.
Speaker 1 (54:47):
Bound bound. You never know, hard to say, hard to say.
Speaker 2 (54:51):
But you go with the flow, so it kind of
doesn't matter.
Speaker 1 (54:53):
It doesn't matter because you'll have there. But I'm just
I'm happy if they're happy whatever.
Speaker 2 (54:58):
Parents say that, But did you do you feel you
understood that expression until you had your kids or like
you've kind of always.
Speaker 1 (55:05):
Probably not, Yeah, I kind of don't. I run across
some parents who are like, they want to study philosophy,
but how do you make money doing that? I'm like,
let them do philosophy if they if it, if it's
I think there's so much mental angst out there right now.
If young people can just find like, they'll figure out
(55:26):
how to you know, uh make a living somehow. But
if they're if they're passionate about something, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (55:34):
Yeah, right, I think so. I've seen friends go to
like medical school and be absolutely miserable, but it's like
the thing their parents wanted them to.
Speaker 1 (55:41):
Do, and they just they thought, I'll just it'll get.
Speaker 2 (55:44):
Better, yeah at some point and they'll have the stability.
And I'm like, I definitely think chasing the joy is
the way, is truly the way. I'm gonna This is
a perfect segue to a segment I like to call
that's nice, but what about me? Okay, And I just
check in with my guests to be like, and how
does that hit you? Aggressively or yeah, well no, well
(56:07):
just to the point of chasing the joy. Honestly, I
was earlier saying to somebody I met with Hannah, who
we may work with soon, that's weet, okay. I just
had coffee with Hannah and I was saying, we were
trying to decide in the pastry case if I should
get anything or I should just stick to the macha.
I was like, I'm trying to be I'm trying to
be healthy and be conscientious about how much carbs I consume.
(56:32):
I just decided this like two and a half weeks ago.
It's not for me. I like eating, oh Bill, and
I'm like, chase the joy, right, that's okay. When it
comes to free well, thank you. But there's like being
mindful about there's things that my body legitimately can't digest,
well struggles to digest. But I'm like, but I feel
such a joy when I'm eating.
Speaker 1 (56:53):
Yeah, from a almond croissant.
Speaker 2 (56:58):
An almond croissanto, raz very croissant, Sure, a buttermilk stone, Yeah,
I don't. A macaron i, don't you.
Speaker 1 (57:09):
Know, half a banana bread, half a loaf of banana bread.
Speaker 2 (57:13):
Zucchini bread will done excuse me. Done, So I think
you're on board. So I guess the question has been
answered in that it's like just enjoy, right right? No, okay, no, No,
I was.
Speaker 1 (57:30):
I was trying to think of is there any reason
not to just enjoy? I can't think of it.
Speaker 2 (57:36):
Find one, right, I was. I was like, I've been
curious about different personality types. Yeah, and like, what is
it to be a person who's like I eat super healthily,
like I'm I'm structured like alpha.
Speaker 1 (57:49):
This is weird because I'm in a stretch right now
where I'm eating very healthy. I'm trying to eat really healthy.
Speaker 2 (57:55):
I knew you were the person to ask. It's like
I knew cosmically, Okay, tell me what this is, tell
me to just because.
Speaker 1 (58:02):
My wife was on this really health and she I
saw how it was. Literally she was in just a
better like every it changed everything. Yes, I was like,
should I try that too? And so yeah, I'm doing
this whole little kick right now. Now understand, I've you're
(58:25):
looking at someone who's I've like, I've had to work
out just to look fat like everyone who meets me.
I've had a whole career of people going You've lost weight.
I'm like, no, I'm the same. I just look fat.
I don't have good angles. I swear well that everyone
(58:46):
it comes up to me is like you've lost weight.
I'm like, no, I'm the same. I just got a
fat face. So I've always I love fitness, I love
going to the gym. I love I've run three marathons
in my life a long time. Okay, so I don't
mind it.
Speaker 2 (59:07):
So, yeah, it's making you feel better. I think that's
what I was curious about. I'm like, what are the
people who are like more structured about their eating and
are more mindful and like Vivica's on this kick, right
and it makes her feel better. I'm like, is this
going to make me feel better? But then I'm like,
I want my snacks.
Speaker 1 (59:28):
I don't know there's a balance, right, Yeah, such a
lame answer, but yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (59:33):
Is that really what you believe?
Speaker 1 (59:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (59:36):
Yeah, okay, I'm not just saying it. I'll take it.
I'm so disappointed by just stop now. I guess this
is the end.
Speaker 1 (59:46):
I guess this is put this podcast out.
Speaker 2 (59:48):
Let's cam this one.
Speaker 1 (59:50):
I feel like I ruined it. I didn't have anything
really super insightful.
Speaker 2 (59:55):
I think you said lots of good things. I think
you said lots of good things. I think people are
going to enjoy this.
Speaker 1 (01:00:02):
We were just in New York this past week.
Speaker 2 (01:00:04):
Yes, I was like we were No, No, I actually
was though. Why did I freeze up? When did you
get back to LA?
Speaker 1 (01:00:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:00:11):
Yesterday?
Speaker 1 (01:00:12):
Okay, yeah, we were there Monday through Friday.
Speaker 2 (01:00:14):
Okay, wow, what were you? Okay?
Speaker 1 (01:00:16):
Have you ever? Have you been to this uh Indian
restaurant in Midtown called Ambassadors.
Speaker 2 (01:00:21):
This clubhouse we'll get out of here. Have I been? No?
You know what, I'm obsessed with Jim Conna in London, London,
because I'm going to tell you I asked Michael Chay
for a food recommendation. This is just the silliest thing
because I love food and Michael Chay goes and I
was like, unlikely source. I'm going to ask Michael Jay
where I should eat in London because this guy doesn't
(01:00:41):
care about anything. I love it. He doesn't care, but
he goes Conna. But it ended up being.
Speaker 1 (01:00:49):
So many place is phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (01:00:51):
It's incredible. So I took I have so many foody
friends who gave me all kinds of extensive lists and
Michael Chane is like from Conna. I went there. I
haven't stopped thinking about it. Good that team has opened
up Ambassador's Clubhouse in New York City. I was trying
to go last week.
Speaker 1 (01:01:06):
So we went with with friends, Yes, and and we
took the boys and because they're very thank God adventures
eaters and love, you know, and I but I allowed
myself to go off my it was so good. I
had joined everything, I ate everything.
Speaker 2 (01:01:24):
And it was good, delicious, and you have no regrets
about agress. That's what I'm saying. But I think maybe maybe.
Speaker 1 (01:01:30):
I mean, did I purge in the bathroom after Yes, the.
Speaker 2 (01:01:33):
Normal way, the normal way? That side, yep, not that side, yep.
To be clear, to be clear, all right, you got
to make sure out the the bottom side.
Speaker 1 (01:01:43):
If you're watching.
Speaker 2 (01:01:44):
If you're watching, you get it that way. If you're
not watching, we're pointing at a butt. Okay.
Speaker 1 (01:01:50):
But no, I was like, I'm not. I'm not staying
on the plan tonight.
Speaker 2 (01:01:55):
Imagine you go to Ambassadors the Ambassador's Clubhouse, and you stay.
Speaker 1 (01:01:59):
I had one.
Speaker 2 (01:02:02):
Get it mad here? I would I would if I
went to dinner with some cartoons, get the scrub, Yes,
get out of here. Yeah, I'm I don't. I'm not.
I don't believe in.
Speaker 1 (01:02:14):
That that's interesting, so you know your.
Speaker 2 (01:02:17):
You know, which is why I'm like, why would I
ever try to pretend to be a girl who's like
and this morning, I ate, I don't fucking I don't
even I don't really love breakfast. I'm like what. Last week,
number of friends got calls from me being like, what
is everyone eating? And they're like, what's the nature of
the question? I go, how many times can a girl
eat eggs in the morning? I said, what do you?
(01:02:37):
And I'm pulling friends. I said it to a friend
on Saturday. He goes, ago, you asked me this on
Wednesday and I was like, sorry, I forgot I was
talking to you about this because I'm like, that's everybody eating.
I just every once in a while go to this, like,
what is everyone eating? I don't want to eat eggs
if I eat another piece of salmon again? And I
love salmon, But how many times in a week in
one eat salmon?
Speaker 1 (01:02:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:02:57):
But I'm privileged, yes, and honor and Simon and will.
I think this is a perfect place to get me
out of here and get you out of here before
I say something bad. Oh god, I'm just kidding. No,
thank you so much, Thank you so much. This has
(01:03:19):
been a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (01:03:20):
Oh my god, this is so fun.
Speaker 2 (01:03:21):
Thanks Will, I appreciate you. Thanks Dad. Is a production
of Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and iHeart podcast. I'm
your Host Ago wodem Our producer is Kevin Bartelt, and
our executive producer is Matt appadaka
So delightfully chill and it's nice.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Did you play golf today? I didn't. It's only because
your bracelet says golf that I was like, this show
would be a perfect day.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
That's one of our sweet blue members on the show.
I just finished. Okay, that's golf centric and that was
our working title of the show. And she made bracelets
for everyone that say golf.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Oh that's so sweet. How long do you keep things
like that.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Until it falls off?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Okay? And they do inevitably fall off.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
We do, okay, either break or fall off.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
And then you're like, Okay, I don't have to. I
don't have to. I don't have to. God, thank god.
Stupid bracelet.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
But I started wearing bracelets because people would give me
these bracelets and of people, you know, who I wanted
to be thought of and yeah, and they would see
him later and we're like that meant so.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Much, and oh that's very sweet. And I I have
a couple of bracelets. I have a couple of bracelets
in my closet that don't wear. But I like the
day I.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Guess that I've still wore these guys. When I visited Rwanda,
Oh wow, sweet guys, gave me the bracelet.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
That's incredible. That one's not going to fall off.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
That one's well, no, look, this is perilous here.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Is Oh, it's gonna it's gonna snap at some point.
Oh well, I like that. It's the last How long
you had that one?
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Going on? Two years?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Two years? I'm just okay. The germophobe in me is
thinking about the amount of dirt as sweet as that is.
The men from Rwanda who gave you the bracelet, I'm like,
oh man, two years it was.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
And it was brand new, brand new bracelet. It's seen
some were in terror. I know it's not the most had.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
It's okay though, that's that's okay. If you're wearing a tux,
you're still wearing the bracelet. You're not taking it off.
No one's getting you to take that off or anything. Okay,
I respect it. I should do an intro for you,
I believe so, my next guest, the podcast episode has started.
Will I do everything out of order? It's really hard
for the editors. Yeah, but just so you know, you're
(02:21):
allowed to clear your throat here, you're allowed to burp
whatever other things, because my audience understands this is totally
imperfect and we're all human, and that is something when
I really want to drive home. But my next guest,
I always want to look at my next guest. You
know from I'm going to nail one of these intros.
It's been a while for me. But okay, my next guest,
(02:43):
you know from step Brothers, Anchorman, Saturday Night Live and
The Big Money Players Network, it's Will Ferrell. Woo, you're
allowed to do You're allowed to do that? Can you guys?
Imagine Will Ferrell me to clear his throat for three.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Minutes in and I had to clear my throat? Is
that a new record? Is that the earliest?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
But you're drinking bubbles?
Speaker 1 (03:12):
So?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Do you want a Camma meal tea or something?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
No, No, we're going to be great.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
We don't even have that here, I don't think. But
we do have a Kama meal tea. He doesn't want it.
He doesn't want it. They're so ready. I know.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
I feel bad.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
That's the best. Don't feel bad.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
I just get one anyway.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Do you want a chem te you want a caramel tea?
It's happening. Anything can happen here. Okay, well, yes, I'm
so happy to have it.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Oh, I'm so happy to be here.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
It's truly a joy and a pleasure. And we have
a couple of things in common.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yes, we're both tall, yes, okay, and we both went
to USC and.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
That's what I thought, but I didn't know for sure.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Yes, yes, yes, a trojan.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
When did you graduate? Wait?
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Oh, I'm not allowed to say my age? Okay, it's Hollywood, right,
sometime in the last thirty years.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yes, okay, but I graduated.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
I graduated twenty ten.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
For you?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
You did you? You were?
Speaker 1 (04:15):
You? Were? You a theater major?
Speaker 2 (04:19):
I was not. I was a biology major.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Gosh, I love that, really because I wasn't either.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Okay, good, and I love I do love that. I
do love that. You did a whole other thing. Yeah,
what was your major?
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Wait? What you what got you off track to be
the world's most renowned biologist?
Speaker 2 (04:39):
My personality and my and my knowledge of biology it's hard, yes,
it's but it's it was never going to be my thing.
It was never going to be my thing. It was
part of like, yeah, I had to go study a
real thing and then I could come to California. I'm
from Maryland, so yes, okay, yeah, and was.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
La like like a full culture shock thing in a
good way or bad way, but both.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
I would just say full culture shock, some good, some bad,
big time, big time. I was like, what is this place?
I once made a joke in line at the cafeteria
by floor tower, shout out to the old door floor floor.
They knocked it down. Do you know that? They knocked
floor tower down?
Speaker 1 (05:23):
They knocked mine down too, Trojan Hall.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
They knocked down Trojan Hall. I hadn't heard a.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Horrible, ugly three story cinder block building. They should have
leveled it when I was there.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Oh it was bad. I think I didn't even want
to live in Oh yeah, I know, Trojan Le. But
they knocked it down. They knocked up both. What the
hell is that about? That they're knocking down in our buildings?
But in line floor floor, I'm in line at the
cafe by floor and I made a joke that was
like ang Danzel Washington's niece. And one of the lunch
ladies was like really, And I was like, oh, am
(05:57):
I at a place where I could really Denzel Washington speeth,
And I was you could be at USC people are
related to people there for real? Wait, what did you study?
Speaker 1 (06:10):
I was throw it clear.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Number two.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Yes, I was a sports information.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Major, sports information.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Which was such a rigorous, intensive major that they scrapped
it after ten years. They only offered it for like
ten years.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
And then it's sports journalism, sports journalism. Why did they
call it information? Do you think as opposed to journalism
which weeks?
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Because you could become a sports information director, which is
the person out of college who is basically in charge
of sports media. Okay, yeah, you're You're the kind.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Of chief, like an executive.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Like a chief marketing officer. You like you had all
the interviews with the players and the coaches, do all
this stuff. So you could be either a sports information
you could be a print journal or you could be broadcast.
So I was going to be on ESPN. That was
my That was my plan.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Oh I need to ask what derailed you? But your
kamamel Tea has arrived. Matt Our executive producer, Matt come
and make an on camera appearance. I'm Matt. He's got
he's got camera, mel t He's got camera mel Tea.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Oh it's not even warm. No, No, I'm just saying no.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Matt knows how to produce a podcast, but he cannot
make a cup of tea.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
It is. It looks amazing. I got three beverages going
on here.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I love it. One of them is going to clear
your throat real good. Oh I know it. Okay, So
how you be derailed?
Speaker 1 (07:48):
I so this will be interesting to compare notes because
I was a big athlete jock in high school, played
sport like sports. In fact, my wife and I were
just commenting on how much we missed team sports. Oh yeah,
and because she played college soccer and this, that and
(08:10):
the other. But so I played a lot of sports.
I loved it, my dad and I I liked being
funny with my friends. But it wasn't like a I
didn't do high school theater. You didn't do any of that.
I loved comedy. I was such a fan. But yeah,
my dad, I grew up watching him as a struggling
(08:33):
working musician, and I thought, not gonna do.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
That, No way.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
And I thought that the merge, merging of being like
a sports reporter or a sports you know, anchor, would
be the best in both worlds. It would be more
of a stable job, but something I really like. And yeah,
and then when I was done with school, I still
was like, and that's when I went to see my
(09:00):
first show at the Groundlings, and I thought, WHOA, that
looks like fun and and so they had a school
and so yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
You said it was just such disdain, Well only.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Because I was like, you know, living back at home
with a college degree, driving from Orange County back to
LA taking classes at the Growlings, and working as a
bank teller.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Well that was noble. Yeah, that was respectable. I worked
at the bank. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
But I was like, okay, I'm not going to do sports. Yeah,
I don't. I don't. I don't want to be a newscaster.
I want to I want to be like Chevy Chase.
I want to pretend to be a newscaster.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Right.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
So that's how I got derailed.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Luckily, it's a good thing. We're all grateful. Just trust
and give that. We're very grateful. You got derailed. You
as an athlete, what was your main sport? What was
your You're the one you were like, I'm best at this.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
I was captain of the basketball team.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Okay, no, my senior year.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
No big deal with averaging one point two points a game.
So that's pretty That means just a lot of court time,
a lot of tough defense, Okay, read a lot, a
lot of spirit. Okay, you weren't counting on me to score,
so uh. And then I was a kicker on the
(10:23):
football team.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
I just my friend this morning said to me about
kickers because we were talking about Kim Zulziak from Real
Housewives of Atlanta because we were watching some show and
somebody mentioned Kim. It's a very long wounded way of saying.
She told me that, like Kim was married to a kicker.
And my friend says to me today, she goes kickers.
That's like the bottom of the that's.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Is that weird?
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Okay, tell me more, because I don't know anything about
sports only.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Because kickers only, it's either you go in there, you
don't get you never get hurt, you don't have to
do all the hard things that the football regular guys
have to do. Yeah, you go in there and you
kick this ball and it's either glory or you miss it,
and they hate you. They love you, but you're still
an outcast regardless. Okay, because even if you win the
(11:10):
game with the last second kick, they're like, no, that
was great, but okay, you still didn't even get your
uniform dirty.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Okay. So we had one point two points in Yeah,
but I was.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
But I was funny with my teeth, so I was
kind of like in the mix though. And then I
played baseball too. Anyway, I just.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
You loved sports sports. You loved sports sports and one
point two points. I just want to reiterate, that's not
a lot. That's terrible. At first, I was like, in
high school, is it on? Is it on a curve
of some sort?
Speaker 1 (11:44):
No, that's just the that means that's the average, so
sometimes lower so sometimes zero and most of the times
zero and then other times maybe five points a game.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
But I was like the sixth man. I was the
first guy off the bench, and I was like always
talking the guys up.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Yeah, okay, Spirit a lot of spirit, you said as much.
You said though that you didn't want to be like
your dad's traveling musician. That was tough. What were you
observing that was so tough about it?
Speaker 1 (12:13):
I was just seeing the Yeah, the instability of what
he was doing. That he would have long stretches of
of you know, he might work at a nightclub for
a year and then all of a sudden he'd he'd
be like, well, I'm switching jobs. I'm like, oh, and
now you've like, oh, did you not like that place anymore?
(12:34):
He's like no, they just said we're good. We're getting
a new piano player.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Like yeah, whoa, Okay.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
That's hard, but yeah. At the same time, I would
I loved watching him play, and I loved he played
on and off with the Righteous Brothers for twenty five years,
and so I'd see him do shows in Vegas and
on the road and that was like so cool. So
I I was being charmed the whole time, and uh,
(13:05):
you know, but but I literally was like, no, I'm
gonna I don't know what my job's gonna be, but
I'm gonna carry a briefcase m.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
I want to have, yes, exactly? Did was he supportive
of your interest in comedy once you exhibited that he he.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Was, Actually he was, No, he both my parents were encouraging,
but they weren't. I wouldn't say they were like, you can't.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Do anything, Yeah, you're so funny.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
They were more like when they finally saw you know,
I kind of I kind of had to explain this
place called the Growlings, and I started doing a little
bit of stand up comedy and did you have you done?
Did you do stand up a lot.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
No. Right before I got on SNL, I had done
like an open mic. I did one because I was like, oh,
that'll be fun to dabble in this summer. So like
the June of that year.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Tride my hand at that yeah, which I was like, oh, no,
sketch comedy is the way to go.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Safety in numbers, okay, okay yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
And and so they they would come and see and
they were like, wait, you're pretty funny.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Not laughing, but okay, I see it.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
And and but my dad gave me. My dad gave
me the best advice ever. I went and had lunch
with them one day and I was like, so, I'm
going to move back up to LA and Dad, I
think I want to really give this a shot. I
don't know what that means, but I just know the
groundlings I'm working my way up through, and I know
it's a place they come look for up and coming talent.
(14:44):
Blah blah blah. What are your what's kind of what
would you say to that? He's like, he said, if
it if it was based solely on talent, I wouldn't
worry about you, which is really sweet. He goes, but
there's so much luck involved, and he's like, just give
it a shot. He goes, but if you ever reach
a point where you're banging your head against the wall
(15:06):
and it doesn't feel fun anymore, it's okay to quit.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
He gave me. Yes, that's great.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
So it's like, if you saw it written down, it
would not be an inspira. It would not be on
a calendar of you know, the cat just hang in there.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Yeah, it would not be right. It wouldn't be that.
There's a lot of lt Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
But he said, so just know that. It's like it's
it's a bit of a crapshoot, but it's not your fault, like,
so just keep trying it and see what happens. So
now some people would take that. Some people might react
and go, you don't believe in me. For me, it
(15:48):
took the pressure. I was like, this is probably not
gonna happen. Yeah, So I'm just gonna go have fun
and I can always be a substitute school teacher. It's
not a knock on sub tote substitute.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
And here are substitute teachers. They could be great.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
They're vital, cog and important important.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
I had one tell me to be serious and.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
You know, well, you tried to be you try to
study biology.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
I did. I try because of him. I don't remember
his name, but he was like, little girl, be serious
because we were.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
Were you always so? Were you always the cutup? You
were always the cut up?
Speaker 2 (16:27):
I was often.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
But no.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
I went to high school and middle school with some
of the funniest people who are not comedians. Some might
be substitute teachers now, some might be working for you guys.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Yeah, some of the funniest friends.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Yes, same, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
And I was a very conscientious class.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Clown, conscientious one.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
I would push it to the limit. If the teacher
was like, hey, watch it, I'd be like, you got
it problem, And.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
I'm a good kidnapped. Yeah, I mean it's I think
it's interesting though, when people are like you work with
all the funniest people, and I'm like, gosh, I wish
you had known Aaron from my high school there too,
Like these people are really funny. I do work with
some of the funniest people.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Book.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Oh there's some people you don't even know that aren't
doing comedy right now. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
No, we would. I owed a group of friends. We
would go to a party, a high school party, we
maybe would have a beer, I don't know, but it
wasn't about that. We literally would go and just start
messing with people and we'd just start taking like here's
a for instance that made us laugh. We'd go into
the freezer of whoever kid's house who's throwing the party,
(17:35):
and just start taking all the frozen food out and
just piling it up and started microwaving stuff. And then
drunk kids were like, what are you doing, We're like,
and then we just make up stories of like, oh,
so and so told me to just start microwaving frozen food.
Biz are stuff.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
You were improvisers that make ourselves laugh.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Yeah, and now the trend continued.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Did you actually do improv by the way, because Groundings
is largely sketch, right.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
It's large, Yeah, and that was more the focus of
specially especially when I was when you're part of the
Sunday show at the Groundings, which is that you know
the B team before you make it to the main stage.
You're writing three to four sketches a week and you're
(18:23):
it's just like a which was such a good training
ground for us. Now, oh yeah, to not have to
rely on, as you know, writers to cast you yeah,
at least, well, at least I can figure just figure
something out for myself.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
It's almost the reverse of UCB, where UCB used improv
to generate characters and sketch and maybe you'd you'd bolster
it with writing later. This was the opposite. So I
I didn't really improvise until after I got on the
main stage. Yeah, and to this day, that's still a
scary proposition.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
Oh, improv for you. Yeah, I feel like you'd be
great at it.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
I love doing it, like on camera. But but when
I watched, like when reopen, when I did Askat.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
With you guys, I remember, now you were.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
So incredible, thank you, Holy crap. I was just watching
you guys, going, damn it. They're good.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
I mean, but we used your source material, your stories,
but and you're anecdotes.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
But when I was doing the monologue, so for your
watchers and listeners, yes there's this show at uc B. Yes,
and you have someone who stepped you step out and
you just the audience. Yel is a subject and you
have to just create a monologue.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Yes, and it should be true and.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
It should be true. And someone yelled, I don't know
if you remember this, yelled Space.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Now that you're saying. And I do remember actually to Space.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
I was like, this is gonna be easy. I'm just
gonna Can I.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Get a Kim and Milty please, I'm just I'm kidding,
I'm kidding. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
It was totally blanky.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
I remember you, I remember, but I feel like you
were putting so much pressure on yourself. Did you feel
the need to be funny in your I just but.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
It wasn't even I knew. It was like, this doesn't
have to be funny, it can just be a story.
I literally was like, Space, Space, Space.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Do you remember what you ended up telling us with
the story?
Speaker 1 (20:25):
I think I remember something about watching one of the
Space missions as a kid that took place on my
birthday July sixteenth, okay? And then July sixteenth everyone, And.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
By the way, when you said that I'm not gonna lie,
I did clock and I thought I'll have to shoot
a text or something, put it in the phone. And
I also was like, my agent's birthday is July sixteenth, okay,
well Ferrell in my kitchen, yes, and she shares a
birthday with her.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Father, and I shared a birthday with my grandmother.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
This is spooky, what's going on here?
Speaker 1 (21:04):
And my oldest son shares a birthday March seventh with
his grandmother.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Well, my birthday's March tenth, and what does that mean
for any of this?
Speaker 1 (21:15):
March tenth.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Surely you've got a relative.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Know what March ten?
Speaker 2 (21:20):
No, y'all know what March tenth is. The day I
was born, the day you're born. But space your birthday.
Space on your birthday.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
And then for the second monologue, I think I called
back my birthday again July sixth, which I think I
also share with the Crown Princess of Sweden. And I
think I might have told a story of how I
tried to send her a twenty dollars gift card to Ikia.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
I think this sounds new and familiar at the same
time somehow, And I.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Tried to have my assistant call their office and they
did not. The Swedish royal family did not understand the
humor in me sending a twenty dollars gift card to
the princess Crown Princess of Sweden.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Okay, different kind of senses of humor.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Maybe yeah, she'll watch this and know where that twenty
dollars gift card.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Came from you think she's watching my podcast potent.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
For I know for a fact, have you checked your
numbers in Sweden?
Speaker 2 (22:25):
I haven't checked my Swedish. No, may Matt, can we
put this Swedish to walk around in public? And oh
my god, oh this is good to know I should
go there to feel something.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
It's it's, it's Abba, It's Scars Guard and it's and it's.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Those are the top three and the Stockholm This is
huge when I get over there to feel something. Well.
I got asked though, but you were trying to explain
(23:08):
the groundlings to your parents, right, which is a hard
thing to explain to anyone who's not doing comedy, Because
I know what the groundings are. Is are the groundings is? Is?
I know what the growndings is. But I know a
lot of people might say to their friends or their
parents Will Ferrell, you know Will Ferrell, So he went there,
(23:29):
That's what I'm going to go do. Who were you
citing to your parents? If anyone I.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Was citing, where did you have anyone to I was citing.
I was citing the fact that I knew a lot
of people from SNL had come there but like a
Lorraine Newman from the original SML Coast, Conan O'Brien did
growling stuff, peewee herman.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Oh, and other people and other people. That's okay, Oh
my god, that was a great list.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
No, no, there was, there's there's so many more. But
then subsequently as we started started taking class, and then
there was just an incredible group of people there between
Chris gatan Cheri, oh, Terry Chris, and Wig Maya. The
(24:27):
list so at least started yeap list. Oh and that's
thank you.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
So okay my senior year USC.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
Yeah, I go there to watch a show for the
first time. Lisa kudro Is on stage prior to kind
of that character she'd play on Friends that got not Friends,
the character she played on Mad About You that she
was like this waitress, this dingy waitress that then got
her the friends thing. But I was like, this woman's incredible,
(24:57):
Holy crap. Uh. There were great people like Patrick Bristow,
Mike McDonald, Tim Bagley, Uh yeah, uh, Kathy Griffin. So
and it was just this powerhouse of people and and
I actually get called up on stage in an audience
(25:20):
participation thing where they wanted people to be and so
I got picked on and thrown into like an improv thing. Yeah,
and I didn't say a word. I was so yeah,
but I it wasn't enough to to scare me off. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Do you get nervous still anymore? Yes?
Speaker 1 (25:44):
But not Yeah, a little bit, a little bit of nerves,
but not terrible.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
What kind of stuff makes you nervous?
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Well, like, when you're about to step on stage at
the iHeart podcast you're in a full speed skating skin
type bodysuit. Ye to do a bit about how you
were cut from the Olympic speed skating team. Yeah, to
(26:17):
very little laughter.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
There was Were you getting nervous during No?
Speaker 1 (26:25):
I was just like, oh, here we go. You could
have just stepped out there in a suit and tie,
because I even commented because you, of course looked beautiful, lovely,
and I'm like, you think I'd get it by now,
I don't need to like, but then you were like
you sweetly, were like I wish I was wearing that.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
I kind of did, but I pull it off.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
I get to hide behind a crazy costume and the way.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
But also but yeah, so there's a little pang of
nerves there. But then once I step out I just
start laughing, going, this is ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Yeah it wasn't. That's the fun, that's the fun. But
have you ever heard I don't. I'm mighty sorry.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
I get, but I don't get nervous so much in
performance as I do meeting people, either like athletes, big
time athletes that I've watched, or like people music. Okay, yeah,
things like that.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Do you feel that?
Speaker 2 (27:17):
I so, I don't. I'm trying to. I do get biology,
but when I'm meeting scientists, okay, I know, you know what.
I would be nervous and starstruck to meet doctor Fauci, right,
I would. I was doctor Anthony Faucid love him, God
love him. Not everyone loves him, but I love Fauci.
(27:39):
I just love a T shirt.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
You have a Fauci T shirt in Fauci, we trust.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
I need to get Remember when he was here from ourselves.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Yes, I'm sorry, despite what you believe, he really did
save us.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
Well that's what I feel, despite what you believe as well.
And I'm with I'm just so with you on that.
And I thought, what a brave man who was really
trying his best. And when he resigned, I was like job,
well done, my good and faithful servant. I was like,
you gotta be tired. What an experience you just had?
What an experience His family was getting death threats. That
(28:15):
was crazy.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
That take two hour naps every day for a year,
and that was it. And that was honestly walk the
door around.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
He was up around the glass and just taking two
hour naps. The poor man. I'm like, well done. I
got to get an Infauci We Trust shirt like that.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
That was funny.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
I would be nervous to meet him. I met Bill
Nye at SNL, but like sometimes meeting people at SNL
is a little like, oh, there's that person. So you
don't even have a chance to get nervous necessarily, like
look up and you're like, I'm sorry that human is he?
Speaker 1 (28:50):
That's what I always tell it was, it's such that
place is so unique in many in many ways, but
you didn't have time to get nervous, Yeah, because here
was the super famous person who was thrown into your
world and they were like they were like looking for
a life preserver, and then this common ground and by
(29:11):
the end of the week you were like, what's up.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Yeah, hugging on stage exactly always asking, Hey, did you
get much sleep last night? You asked the host that
on Saturday Morning standard question, did you get a lot
of sleep? Varying answers. But I remember one host saying
to me, it's my second season. I remember one host
just wanting to thank them for doing my sketch and
they were like, sorry if I was weird. I was
(29:36):
so nervous and I just wanted you guys to like me.
And I was like, you just won fifteen Emmys two
weeks ago, and I really was like, you are worried
about us liking you. You're a star darling, I know, like,
what are you?
Speaker 1 (29:50):
Then?
Speaker 2 (29:50):
That was fascinating. I think in that that was just
a pivotal moment for me because I was like, Oh,
they come in here and they're coming on our territory
and are like we want.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
You to things. It seems so after you've been there
for a while, just seems like no big deal. But
it's a huge to step into that environment.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Yeah, how did you know when it was time to.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
Leave so much hate on the internet? Serious? I did
have I did have a really good lesson in when
I looked online my first year, my first season on
the show, I looked on one of those those dumb
(30:35):
lists that who knows makes up and they were like
ranking the cast in order, and someone had sent me
a thing and and it was really favorable, and I
was like, oh, that's so nice. And then I was like, oh,
let's look, let's search some other stuff up. And then
the next thing I pulled up was like I hate him.
(30:59):
Someone should drag him behind a car. Like it was like,
and I never looked again.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
Really, oh, you've been so disciplined.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
And I had horrible personal reviews of my first show,
very first show, and it was like most annoying newcomer.
Oh but I And so I was like, oh, I
have a decision here. I could really take it to
heart or I could just laugh at it. So I
(31:31):
just kept it on the door of my office. It's
just like to remind me, like, look, just have fun.
As many people that like you, there's just gonna be
just as many people who you know. Uh, anyway, what
was the point of my story.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
I'm just I'm hanging on your every word. But it
was like, when did I decided?
Speaker 1 (31:51):
I don't know, I don't I just uh. I was
on for seven seasons and it was just some thing was.
It was kind of like, okay, I think this is
a good, good time. Yeah. Yeah, and I but it's
not like it's not like I had this pile of
(32:11):
scripts waiting for me. I had, I had shot Old School,
but that wasn't that was being pushed, which is never
a good sign. They were they were holding onto the movie.
It was like, okay, uh. And then the only other
thing we were working on was we were developing this
(32:34):
script that needed some work about a guy raised by
elves on the North Pole, and so that was the
only other thing that was even a possibility, And so
it wasn't. I just was like, you know what, I
have some momentum right now, let's go test the waters.
(32:57):
And Lauren tried to convince me to stay.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
Did it almost work?
Speaker 1 (33:02):
No, Okay, yeah, he sweetly tried to, And I was like,
I think I should just you may be right, but
I'm gonna I'm.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
Gonna try, yeah to go see. I think it worked out.
I'm really happy. Yeah so far, I'm like, so far,
so good. Yeah, it worked out. But you seem to
also really good perspective, even when you talk about the
critique and putting that on the door of your office
and just kind of laughing at it.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
How do you? I don't know, I just it it
like it kind of it kind of takes the power
away from someone coming out. I just end up laughing, going, God,
someone took the time to be that mean. It's kind
of funny. And I remember I remember reading a review
(33:59):
by Roger Ebert for Step Brothers, which is so delicious.
It was like, please do not watch this movie, do
not rent it on DVD, do not tell your friends
about it, that this this a film like this is
horrible for filmmakers, for the film industry in general. It's
(34:20):
the literally the fall of Western civilization. It's mindless and terrible.
But we'd gotten enough fun reviews to balance it out
that it was just like, yes, it was just like
a badge of honor.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
Okay, yeah, So has any review ever hit you felt
like a gut punch to you?
Speaker 1 (34:39):
Honestly, there's been times where someone has has with all
the best intentions. I used to have a publicist to
be like, you should read this so and so review
on the thing, it's pretty good. What they neglected to
say was the first paragraph was how much they've hated
me and everything I've done.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
Oh pfect, Yeah, this was really surprising. He actually does
have talent.
Speaker 1 (35:03):
Okay, And and then I once read a review of
forty year Old virgin I saw that, and because Steve Carell,
when we're making Anchorman, was talking about the premise he
had of this idea of a guy who's still a
version of fro him like, oh, Steve, that's hilarious. Anyway,
Steve goes off, he makes the movie. I see there's
(35:24):
a review of it, and I'm like, oh, I want
to read, and I'm and it once again, it started
with how much this reviewer hated me, and that and
that Steve Carell who showed up an Anchorman, and and
so I was once again, I was pleasantly surprised. However,
(35:47):
like this weird.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
This is again by association.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
But Steve is actually amazing performer and actor in this
movie is phenomenal. And I was like, wait a minute,
how did this happen? So uh yeah, so I've learned it.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
Just stay away, Yeah, okay, grain of salt.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
Stay are you able to stay away?
Speaker 2 (36:08):
I am, just because it's like it's too risky. Keenan
once told me all the thought, all the opinions and stuff,
really early on He's like, noise, it's noise, and I
was like, wow, you guys just have sort of like
the I think the part of me that wants to
be like a good student and it's resonating. In the
past has been like I want to you want to
know what people are thinking. But I sort of I
(36:29):
love the notion of just.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
So you kind of do you want to kind of
know what's out there? And yeah, and and then you're
you're quickly quickly burned.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Yeah, and then you just don't let it though, you
like put it on a door and go, this is funny.
Speaker 1 (36:44):
Yeah, exactly did you?
Speaker 2 (36:46):
Were you a person who had like goals growing up?
Like proper I've written out my goals. No, not your.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
Thing, I didn't. I yeah, like the five year plan,
Yeah no.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
None of that. No, you just followed the.
Speaker 1 (36:59):
Fun I just yeah, I just kind of the one
thing that I did. I guess it wasn't a goal,
but it was a it was a feeling that I
decided to remember and follow. Was in high school once
again back to I didn't do theater, I didn't do
(37:21):
any of this stuff. Yet loved making my friends laugh,
loved coming to school with a lunch paal as a senior,
as an eighteen year old young man for no reason,
like a Peanuts lunch pail, okay, and then just sit
and eat my lunch out of a lunch pail just
(37:42):
to make or come in a weird outfit or one
year buddies. We started. I don't know if your high
school were big into clubs, but they had club Day
and we decided to start our own club called the
Reptile Club, Say more please, And everyone got a reptile
(38:03):
nickname and a laminated card.
Speaker 2 (38:07):
And were there actually reptiles involved, No, there were no reptiles.
Speaker 1 (38:12):
Very good, but we had one meeting and we showed
a film strip on like the Komodo Dragon, and we
held a Reptil Club dance. Who went to that had
like we had like two hundred kids show up for
the Reptil Club.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Kid. How many kids were at your high school? A
thousand more eight almost two two thousand.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
My graduate class was like five hundred.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
Okay, so ten percent of the student body showed up
to Reptile Yes, okay, I'll take it, Okay, it's fine.
Speaker 1 (38:44):
Anyway, I was always doing almost Andy Kaufman performance art stuff. Yeah,
and a buddy of mine, my friend Bart are Our
other friend Steve, was the student body president, and he
was trying to sell There was a campaign to sell
(39:04):
senior class T shirts to raise money for whatever the
gift the senior class was going to give to the
school always leave behind, you know, a brand new marquee
or something. But the T shirts weren't selling. So he
was like, can you you know there's always like one
day a week morning announcements, like in between first and
(39:25):
second period. Do you guys think he could think of
like a like almost like a radio campaign to sell these.
So Bart and I started writing these sketches. They were
radio sketches. We were doing like character voices we were
doing we were making fun of students and teachers, and
it became this big hit. But I remember sitting there
(39:48):
crafting what was like a paragraph, and I thought, what
I what felt like twenty minutes to me. I looked
and it was midnight and I'd started at like eight
o'clock that night. Oh wow, And I thought, oh, that
didn't feel like work. Yeah, And I should remember that
(40:08):
writing this little piece of comedy and rewriting and so
not a goal per se, but remember that that you
know that. I was like, I should hang on to that,
still too afraid to admit that I think I want
to do comedy. But I still was like I held
on to that little exercise.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
How long did it take you to tell your So
telling your parents was one thing, but telling like friends,
I want to do comedy. And did that feel scary
at all?
Speaker 1 (40:38):
No, because I just was like, you know, kind of like,
you know, a little bit in my own world. And
then you know, as you check in with people, like
what are you what are you up to? I'm taking
classes at this thing? It was too hard to explain.
So and then as I as I started performing more
and I could invite people to shows, then it became
(41:00):
a thing where like, oh, this is what you've been
kind of working on the last couple of years. Yeah.
But I had a lot of friends who are like, oh, yeah,
doesn't surprise me.
Speaker 2 (41:10):
Yeah, suits you makes sense. We were waiting for you
to we we always knew you were a comedian. So
did where do you fall in the sibling lineup? Do
you have siblings?
Speaker 1 (41:18):
I have a younger brother, okay, and then a much
younger sister.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
Yeah, you're the oldest.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
I'm the oldest.
Speaker 2 (41:26):
I feel like it's often the youngest who goes off
and does are you the I'm the youngest.
Speaker 1 (41:31):
Of how many four? You're the baby.
Speaker 2 (41:34):
I'm the baby, and you gotta love me, you know.
Speaker 1 (41:40):
So you were fighting for a tent, you were like yeah,
and no one cares.
Speaker 2 (41:45):
And they're significantly Now it's not a significant My oldest
brother is eight years older than I am, and so
and then my brother closest in ah me is five
years older than I am. So they like I was
just like a little past was like a.
Speaker 1 (41:57):
Little pip sweet yeah, run around.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
Yeah that my oldest brother's like in high school. I'm
in elementary school, no one, and I was entertaining myself,
but yeah, I got to do whatever. So it's just
interesting because I feel like oftentimes the story for people
is I was the youngest, and I'm the one who
went off and did the acting thing and the common thing. Yeah,
are your siblings in entertainment at all? Uh? No? Okay,
(42:23):
yeah not at all? Yeah, and your wife loves sports
as well.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
But I don't want to talk about my wife.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
Cut this part. Cut this part.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
I know I'm not gonna we're not going to go,
but comedians are good actors. People actors give comedians that
about you.
Speaker 2 (42:53):
But I know I gotta get I gotta get.
Speaker 1 (42:55):
Over there, some.
Speaker 2 (43:00):
East Norwegians, but bit some bits twenty dollars gift cards
like the meat balls, the meat the meatballs. Oh, people
don't talk about the Swedish meatballs enough. They're good. Yes,
my wife, Yes, how did you meet Vivica?
Speaker 1 (43:15):
I met Vivica in an acting program really down at
there's a theater down in Inks like.
Speaker 2 (43:23):
You were pissed at me. I met Vivica in interacting program.
I met No.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
I don't know why I had that emphasis I loved.
I think it was more my discovery of that revelation. Okay,
there's a place, South Coast Repertory Theater. Okay down there.
If you've ever been to South Coast Plaza, I have.
Speaker 2 (43:43):
Been to the mall. I've been to the mall.
Speaker 1 (43:45):
It's a fabulous mall.
Speaker 2 (43:46):
That's a gorgeous mally. We've got to revive malls.
Speaker 1 (43:49):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (43:50):
I did you hang out at the mall when you
were growing up? Loved it me too. On a Friday
night to get just dropped off at the mall, I
would just.
Speaker 1 (43:57):
Go my brother and I would take public transit go
to the.
Speaker 2 (44:01):
Mall and just were you even buying stones.
Speaker 1 (44:04):
There's another great one in Newport Beach called Fashion Island.
Speaker 2 (44:07):
I've been to Fashion Island as well, not a great
one to that's beautiful, open air manning. That's a good mall. Okay, sorry, Vivica.
You South Coast REPERTORIY So.
Speaker 1 (44:16):
South Coast Repertory is a really great Tony Award winning
regional theater company, and they have which I grew up
going to see shows. My mom would occasionally be a
dose in there, and I know she forced us to
see like check Off, like ten years old watching the
Seagull going Okay, I think I follow yeah cultured, Yeah, yeah,
(44:43):
I know it's so cultured and and yeah after post
my my graduate years, which is kind of you know what.
My mom was very progressive in the sense of here,
I I graduate from college, I moved back home. She's like, no, sweat,
(45:05):
let's just treat this like graduate school. And you just
need a job to pay for like gas money, otherwise
I'm not going to charge you rent.
Speaker 2 (45:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (45:12):
Yeah, So I start taking the classes, the growlings, but
she also gets me a scene steady class as a
Christmas present at this South Coast Repertory because they also
taught classes, and I loved it. I'd never had just
done basic scene steady class. I sign up for the
next one, and then I start talking to the teacher.
(45:32):
She's like, you should do the Professional Conservatory program in
the summer. It's like a ten week mini like drama school,
like five days a week, voice movement, script analysis, scene work,
all this stuff. And she's like, they need they always
need guys. In other words, you're not that good. No,
(45:55):
So I go, but how do you audition?
Speaker 2 (45:57):
Like?
Speaker 1 (45:57):
You just need to do like a classical piece and
a so I memorized like a Shakespearean sonnet. I did
a sonnet, and then I did a scene from Uh,
oh gosh, what was that play? They made it into
a movie with Rob Low and Jim Belushi. Uh huh
is it called about last Night?
Speaker 2 (46:18):
No, Matt's googling what doesn't Matt doy.
Speaker 1 (46:24):
And is that also the name of the play or
Chicago in the Yeah, yes, sexual Perversity And there's a
really famous monologue. So I did that, and so I
got into the program, and then uh, I I saw
(46:50):
this beautiful woman who seemed really stuck up after type
doing like voice spocal warm up.
Speaker 2 (46:59):
Yeah, okay, like red leather, yellow leather, red leather, yellow leather, a.
Speaker 1 (47:05):
Piece of work. Meanwhile, she's looking back at me, like,
who's this weirdo frat guy who wears his hat backwards?
Speaker 2 (47:13):
Were you in a frat? I was what frat? Were
you in?
Speaker 1 (47:16):
Delta Delta to delta.
Speaker 2 (47:18):
Sounds made up Delta delta tod I'm like, what you
caught me? Okay, all right, okay, it's real, Okay, sorry,
but continue to paint the picture. No, but I thought
I'm lying. I thought about being like I was tried
out the gamma.
Speaker 1 (47:38):
But you would like run a sorority, like with your personality.
Speaker 2 (47:42):
And your cue. Yeah, I didn't freshman year at SC
like doing rush. I believe it is. I was like,
I don't understand, I don't understand this, But God blessed
the sororities and the fraternities, and I said it because
I don't want those communities to come from me. Okay,
So so you were in a frat okay, but frat
(48:03):
guy had turned backwards Okay.
Speaker 1 (48:06):
And then I knew I had another friend, our mutual friend,
Sarah was like, oh, and I was in the different
There was two groups, the Red group and the Blue group,
and Vivica and Sarah in the Red group.
Speaker 2 (48:24):
I was in the lower Republican Okay, super republican.
Speaker 1 (48:32):
Anyway, Sarah's like, I met that tall blonde girl. She's
actually really nice, and I'm like, okay. Anyway that we
later became friends, dated, and we've been married for twenty
five years. Incredible, But we met there and then it
was like really such a strong connection that it kind
(48:54):
of scared us off. So for five years we were
just friends, really kind of said hi to each other
here and there, checked in on each other, but we're
just literally like dated other people. And then we circled
back to each other.
Speaker 2 (49:10):
Okay, yeah, you spun the block, as the youth.
Speaker 1 (49:12):
Say, Okay, I felt you know, that was my goal.
I was driving over here, I'm like, I'm going to
spin the block. I'm gonna make sure I spin the block. Yeah, well,
so I spuned the block.
Speaker 2 (49:24):
You did spend the block. You already did it. You
spun the block over twenty five years ago when you
and Vivico started dating officially. How did you take it
from friend zone?
Speaker 1 (49:35):
Because well, we we went we like we're dating, and
it it it went. It went from friend zone to
not to it went from zero to sixty right away.
Speaker 2 (49:49):
Oh okay, yes, Oh, so we were in the program
while you were in.
Speaker 1 (49:52):
There front we were like we were an item.
Speaker 2 (49:56):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (49:56):
But then when we when it kind of fizzled, did you.
Speaker 2 (50:00):
Do something wrong? I didn't the guys always do something.
Speaker 1 (50:04):
She kind of had the foresight to break break up
because we talk about it now, because she was like,
we were too young. Were we gonna get married? No,
we were like twenty two and twenty three, okay, and
she was like it was just too like we were
too young.
Speaker 2 (50:18):
So you guys were not together when you were at SNL.
Speaker 1 (50:21):
You were just started again. Oh when I started in
ninety five?
Speaker 2 (50:26):
And how was that? Did she move to New York
with you? Nope, you did long distance.
Speaker 1 (50:30):
We did long distance.
Speaker 2 (50:31):
Tell me what it was like for you.
Speaker 1 (50:33):
It was totally fine because I went back to LA
every summer. Okay, she would come out, we'd go back
and forth. Because you know that schedule, there's so many.
Speaker 2 (50:42):
Breaks, there's so many breaks, and we.
Speaker 1 (50:44):
Just were like made it work.
Speaker 2 (50:46):
Even you don't you didn't feel the weight of the
stress of the job. No, no, you're just an easygoing guy.
What's your sign? July sixteenth? We know so, wait, don't
sell me. I don't know much. I love to ask everyone.
There's I should we should change the name of the
podcast to what's your I'm a Pisces. You my friend,
(51:07):
I'm gonna say you're a Leo. Damn it, that's the
end of July. Okay, stand by, Okay, okay, okay, no, no, no,
stand by. It's coming to me June. Gemini. You're a Gemini.
If you're not a Gemini and you're not a Leo,
what could you be? A crab from Maryland? Okay, because
(51:27):
that's where I'm from. Okay. For the listeners, will is gesture.
For the viewers, lucky you, Okay. Lateral movement, lateral movement. No,
Libra's October. I'm just gonna go through a watch. I'm sorry.
It's hard. Outer shell cancer, yes, ah, okay, oft inside goey,
but like cru crunchy outside.
Speaker 1 (51:50):
Kind of approach, approach things latterly at times.
Speaker 2 (51:55):
Yeah, very loyal okay.
Speaker 1 (51:59):
And but but if I have to use my pictures,
I'm not afraid to use my You.
Speaker 2 (52:04):
Use your pictures you've used your pictures?
Speaker 1 (52:08):
Did that spend the block too?
Speaker 2 (52:09):
That did not? Unfortunately, I don't know how to put this,
but no, that wasn't That wasn't that wasn't quiet. It
wasn't not, but it wasn't it either. Okay, So, but
you're so like chill and easy going, and I'm wondering,
(52:31):
how are you? Is Vivica like this also?
Speaker 1 (52:35):
She is just she's a Taurus O TuS match.
Speaker 2 (52:41):
Okay, are you into? You're into a stride?
Speaker 1 (52:43):
I kind of love it. I'm not super in, but
I was like the kid I discovered the horoscope in
the paper, and I loved reading the horoscope a day late. Okay,
to be like I I did find a lucky coin
on the street whatever. Yeah, I did have a satisfying meal.
(53:05):
That's way too gentle.
Speaker 2 (53:06):
Yes, lives not.
Speaker 1 (53:08):
So much, Okay, I kind of I kind of think
it's fun.
Speaker 2 (53:12):
It's fun. That's what I say. That's what I say
all the time. But now I know what cancer is
because I didn't.
Speaker 1 (53:17):
Have that in and both love the home.
Speaker 2 (53:21):
So you're a bit of a homebody.
Speaker 1 (53:23):
Totally can be okay, like love just hanging out.
Speaker 2 (53:27):
I like to take a good trip, freaking a freak
to take an a.
Speaker 1 (53:36):
Don't give me that look.
Speaker 2 (53:39):
I'm gonna shut in. I didn't say that. I think
it's fine that you met Vivicant Acting School. I think
it's good and I believe you that you like to
take a good trip. I'm not wielding any accusations here.
This is just my face. This is just my face.
Don't read into it, even though I'm an actor and
I'm supposed to be giving are your kids and the biz.
Speaker 1 (54:02):
Uh. My oldest son is a musician and he's uh yeah,
Magnus Fair.
Speaker 2 (54:12):
He's a good name.
Speaker 1 (54:13):
Damn, he's got music out there right now. I'm plugging
Magnis right now, shamelessly dad, very talented singer. Uh he yeah,
so's he's trying to do his thing. Yeah, uh and uh.
And then Matti, my my middle son is a is
(54:34):
a freshman at USC and he's he's into possibly doing
some acting stuff. And then my youngest boy is still
in high school.
Speaker 2 (54:44):
South Coast Repertory.
Speaker 1 (54:47):
Bound bound. You never know, hard to say, hard to say.
Speaker 2 (54:51):
But you go with the flow, so it kind of
doesn't matter.
Speaker 1 (54:53):
It doesn't matter because you'll have there. But I'm just
I'm happy if they're happy whatever.
Speaker 2 (54:58):
Parents say that, But did you do you feel you
understood that expression until you had your kids or like
you've kind of always.
Speaker 1 (55:05):
Probably not, Yeah, I kind of don't. I run across
some parents who are like, they want to study philosophy,
but how do you make money doing that? I'm like,
let them do philosophy if they if it, if it's
I think there's so much mental angst out there right now.
If young people can just find like, they'll figure out
(55:26):
how to you know, uh make a living somehow. But
if they're if they're passionate about something, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (55:34):
Yeah, right, I think so. I've seen friends go to
like medical school and be absolutely miserable, but it's like
the thing their parents wanted them to.
Speaker 1 (55:41):
Do, and they just they thought, I'll just it'll get.
Speaker 2 (55:44):
Better, yeah at some point and they'll have the stability.
And I'm like, I definitely think chasing the joy is
the way, is truly the way. I'm gonna This is
a perfect segue to a segment I like to call
that's nice, but what about me? Okay, And I just
check in with my guests to be like, and how
does that hit you? Aggressively or yeah, well no, well
(56:07):
just to the point of chasing the joy. Honestly, I
was earlier saying to somebody I met with Hannah, who
we may work with soon, that's weet, okay. I just
had coffee with Hannah and I was saying, we were
trying to decide in the pastry case if I should
get anything or I should just stick to the macha.
I was like, I'm trying to be I'm trying to
be healthy and be conscientious about how much carbs I consume.
(56:32):
I just decided this like two and a half weeks ago.
It's not for me. I like eating, oh Bill, and
I'm like, chase the joy, right, that's okay. When it
comes to free well, thank you. But there's like being
mindful about there's things that my body legitimately can't digest,
well struggles to digest. But I'm like, but I feel
such a joy when I'm eating.
Speaker 1 (56:53):
Yeah, from a almond croissant.
Speaker 2 (56:58):
An almond croissanto, raz very croissant, Sure, a buttermilk stone, Yeah,
I don't. A macaron i, don't you.
Speaker 1 (57:09):
Know, half a banana bread, half a loaf of banana bread.
Speaker 2 (57:13):
Zucchini bread will done excuse me. Done, So I think
you're on board. So I guess the question has been
answered in that it's like just enjoy, right right? No, okay, no, No,
I was.
Speaker 1 (57:30):
I was trying to think of is there any reason
not to just enjoy? I can't think of it.
Speaker 2 (57:36):
Find one, right, I was. I was like, I've been
curious about different personality types. Yeah, and like, what is
it to be a person who's like I eat super healthily,
like I'm I'm structured like alpha.
Speaker 1 (57:49):
This is weird because I'm in a stretch right now
where I'm eating very healthy. I'm trying to eat really healthy.
Speaker 2 (57:55):
I knew you were the person to ask. It's like
I knew cosmically, Okay, tell me what this is, tell
me to just because.
Speaker 1 (58:02):
My wife was on this really health and she I
saw how it was. Literally she was in just a
better like every it changed everything. Yes, I was like,
should I try that too? And so yeah, I'm doing
this whole little kick right now. Now understand, I've you're
(58:25):
looking at someone who's I've like, I've had to work
out just to look fat like everyone who meets me.
I've had a whole career of people going You've lost weight.
I'm like, no, I'm the same. I just look fat.
I don't have good angles. I swear well that everyone
(58:46):
it comes up to me is like you've lost weight.
I'm like, no, I'm the same. I just got a
fat face. So I've always I love fitness, I love
going to the gym. I love I've run three marathons
in my life a long time. Okay, so I don't
mind it.
Speaker 2 (59:07):
So, yeah, it's making you feel better. I think that's
what I was curious about. I'm like, what are the
people who are like more structured about their eating and
are more mindful and like Vivica's on this kick, right
and it makes her feel better. I'm like, is this
going to make me feel better? But then I'm like,
I want my snacks.
Speaker 1 (59:28):
I don't know there's a balance, right, Yeah, such a
lame answer, but yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (59:33):
Is that really what you believe?
Speaker 1 (59:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (59:36):
Yeah, okay, I'm not just saying it. I'll take it.
I'm so disappointed by just stop now. I guess this
is the end.
Speaker 1 (59:46):
I guess this is put this podcast out.
Speaker 2 (59:48):
Let's cam this one.
Speaker 1 (59:50):
I feel like I ruined it. I didn't have anything
really super insightful.
Speaker 2 (59:55):
I think you said lots of good things. I think
you said lots of good things. I think people are
going to enjoy this.
Speaker 1 (01:00:02):
We were just in New York this past week.
Speaker 2 (01:00:04):
Yes, I was like we were No, No, I actually
was though. Why did I freeze up? When did you
get back to LA?
Speaker 1 (01:00:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:00:11):
Yesterday?
Speaker 1 (01:00:12):
Okay, yeah, we were there Monday through Friday.
Speaker 2 (01:00:14):
Okay, wow, what were you? Okay?
Speaker 1 (01:00:16):
Have you ever? Have you been to this uh Indian
restaurant in Midtown called Ambassadors.
Speaker 2 (01:00:21):
This clubhouse we'll get out of here. Have I been? No?
You know what, I'm obsessed with Jim Conna in London, London,
because I'm going to tell you I asked Michael Chay
for a food recommendation. This is just the silliest thing
because I love food and Michael Chay goes and I
was like, unlikely source. I'm going to ask Michael Jay
where I should eat in London because this guy doesn't
(01:00:41):
care about anything. I love it. He doesn't care, but
he goes Conna. But it ended up being.
Speaker 1 (01:00:49):
So many place is phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (01:00:51):
It's incredible. So I took I have so many foody
friends who gave me all kinds of extensive lists and
Michael Chane is like from Conna. I went there. I
haven't stopped thinking about it. Good that team has opened
up Ambassador's Clubhouse in New York City. I was trying
to go last week.
Speaker 1 (01:01:06):
So we went with with friends, Yes, and and we
took the boys and because they're very thank God adventures
eaters and love, you know, and I but I allowed
myself to go off my it was so good. I
had joined everything, I ate everything.
Speaker 2 (01:01:24):
And it was good, delicious, and you have no regrets
about agress. That's what I'm saying. But I think maybe maybe.
Speaker 1 (01:01:30):
I mean, did I purge in the bathroom after Yes, the.
Speaker 2 (01:01:33):
Normal way, the normal way? That side, yep, not that side, yep.
To be clear, to be clear, all right, you got
to make sure out the the bottom side.
Speaker 1 (01:01:43):
If you're watching.
Speaker 2 (01:01:44):
If you're watching, you get it that way. If you're
not watching, we're pointing at a butt. Okay.
Speaker 1 (01:01:50):
But no, I was like, I'm not. I'm not staying
on the plan tonight.
Speaker 2 (01:01:55):
Imagine you go to Ambassadors the Ambassador's Clubhouse, and you stay.
Speaker 1 (01:01:59):
I had one.
Speaker 2 (01:02:02):
Get it mad here? I would I would if I
went to dinner with some cartoons, get the scrub, Yes,
get out of here. Yeah, I'm I don't. I'm not.
I don't believe in.
Speaker 1 (01:02:14):
That that's interesting, so you know your.
Speaker 2 (01:02:17):
You know, which is why I'm like, why would I
ever try to pretend to be a girl who's like
and this morning, I ate, I don't fucking I don't
even I don't really love breakfast. I'm like what. Last week,
number of friends got calls from me being like, what
is everyone eating? And they're like, what's the nature of
the question? I go, how many times can a girl
eat eggs in the morning? I said, what do you?
(01:02:37):
And I'm pulling friends. I said it to a friend
on Saturday. He goes, ago, you asked me this on
Wednesday and I was like, sorry, I forgot I was
talking to you about this because I'm like, that's everybody eating.
I just every once in a while go to this, like,
what is everyone eating? I don't want to eat eggs
if I eat another piece of salmon again? And I
love salmon, But how many times in a week in
one eat salmon?
Speaker 1 (01:02:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:02:57):
But I'm privileged, yes, and honor and Simon and will.
I think this is a perfect place to get me
out of here and get you out of here before
I say something bad. Oh god, I'm just kidding. No,
thank you so much, Thank you so much. This has
(01:03:19):
been a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (01:03:20):
Oh my god, this is so fun.
Speaker 2 (01:03:21):
Thanks Will, I appreciate you. Thanks Dad. Is a production
of Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and iHeart podcast. I'm
your Host Ago wodem Our producer is Kevin Bartelt, and
our executive producer is Matt appadaka
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