Stephen A. Smith is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Executive Producer, host of ESPN's First Take, and co-host of NBA Countdown.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
My next guest knows a thing or two about the
state of California. He served as the thirty eighth governor
of the state, and he happens to be an Emmy
and Golden Globe Award winning actor. He now stars and
executive producers the Netflix hit series Foo Baar. Please welcome
the one and only Arnold Schwartzernegat to the show. Sir.
(00:25):
It is an honor and a privilege. How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
I'm doing terrific, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
It came back from Austria just a few days ago
and with the little cough.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
So if I have a cough attack in the middle
of this, just you know, be patient.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
VI Meal, OK, listen, and I'll do you one better. Dammit,
I run this show. I'll pause, cut out the cough,
and it get right back to you so nobody will
notice the cough. So you don't have to worry about
it today. You have to worry think about it. Listen up, honor,
before we get into fool Ball, because I can't wait
to talk to you about that Netflix series. I really
joyed watching it and I can't wait to talk to
(01:02):
you about it. But news obviously takes president first. Before
we get into that series. I wanted to get your
thoughts on the current unrest taking place in Los Angeles
after ICE agents rated several businesses and protests that led
President Donald Trump to order the deployment of two thousand
National Guard troops to the city. What's your reaction to
all of this.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
My reaction is I hope that the solvedest problem as
quickly as possible, as you know that Los Angeles has
gone through some really bad fires recently, and I think
this is the last thing that we need right now,
and I just hope that they will solved as quickly
as possible because it's going to hurt the people of
(01:44):
Los Angeles. It's going to hurt, you know, tourism, it's
going to hurt business, the revenues which they're always short
off Los Angeles and the state of California. So I
just really hope that all of them can coordinate that
and work together in solveest problems as quickly as possible.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
As mentioned, you served as California's governor from two thousand
and three to twenty eleven, as a Republican in a
traditionally democratic state. Homeland securities are Tom Holman appeared to
threaten to arrest Governor Gavin Newsom before he walked back
that comment. On Fox News this morning, Newsom says he's
now suing the Trump administration for involving the National Guard
to begin with, what are your thoughts on how Governor
(02:23):
Newsom is responding to the ice raids and the National
Guard being on the ground in La.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Well, you know, I the last thing I ever do
is criticize a sitting governor. I think that you know,
when you have been in this job, you know how
challenging it is. And on top of it, you know,
we have a different point of view and a lot
of things. I'm a Republican and he's a Democrat, so
he thinks differently about those kind of issues and about
(02:51):
a lot of issues as far as that goes. But
I never will criticize him because he is to do
it his way. People elected him as a Democrat, and
people elected me as a Republican, so I did it
my way. I was always when I was governor, very inclusive.
I worked with the Democrats and the Republicans and the
client of State and the independents. I've worked with everyone
(03:11):
together to solve this problem. But weld immigration problems then
and we have immigration problems now. It's just really a
shortfall and the shortcoming of the politicians because they never
solved the problems. And this is a creation better politicians
in a way, because they don't solve the problem. The
immigration issue can be resolved very quickly by giving more
(03:33):
in working permits in student visas to people and then
they don't have to come in here legally.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
So to me, that is a way to solve it.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Democrats and Republicans can come together under this issue and
solve this issue.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Arnold, do you find this to be a nationwide issue
or is it a special circumstance in a case In
the case of California.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Now, the immigration is year has been going on since
Ronald Reagan, and I think that the idea was always
that this solve this issue.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
For decades.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
After decades, the politicians didn't because each one of the
parties is interested to not solving it because they can
raise money based on that. Republicans through the hardline and
the Democrats to the inclusive kind of a spiel, and
so they all raise money on that, they all campaign
on that, so they don't really want to solve it.
(04:23):
To me, those problems out there as a politician, if
the responsibility not to be a party servant, but to
be a public servant. In order to serve the public,
you have to solve this problem and to make it
the coherent kind of an immigration policy. Right now, we
don't have one.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Last question on this issue. You publicly endorsed Kamala Harris.
The Democratic Party appears to be in flux as facts
come to light about Joe Biden's fitness to serve a
certain term a second term. What does the party need
to do to get back on track? In your estimation,
even though you were not a member of that party,
what advice would you give them?
Speaker 2 (05:01):
You know, no advice.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I think that they will figure out themselves of the
mistakes that they've made in the past, as much as
the Republicans always have to figure it out and the
mistakes they've made in order to get re elected again.
And so I think they will figure out. They're very
very smart people in the party, and the Republicans have
very smart people in the party. The important thing is
(05:25):
just kind of like to kind of serve the people.
And if you can prove that you can help the
people's lives and you can put this so they can
put food on the table, they can take care of
the families. If you can do that, then you can
get the vote. If you run the other way, and
if you're just kind of a political hack that only
serves the party, then you have the danger that people
(05:46):
will abandon you and go any other direction.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Listen, that's all I got to ask you about that
on this particular subject, because I've got to get into
your series on Netflix. Mister Arnold Swartzenegger. Season two of
Football begins streaming on June twelfth. Talk to me about
this series. I love it. I gotta admit it. I
love the father daughter dynamic, both CIA agents. It's been fabulous.
(06:10):
What made you decide to do.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
This Well, they came to me with the idea of
doing True Lies but on TV and to do the
for streaming service for Netflix. And I like the idea
because True Lies was truly one of my favorite movies
that I've ever done. Yes, and because he has the
right balance of comedy and action and drama and violence
(06:39):
and fun stuff and love and family and all of
this kind of combinations that I thought made the movie
so successful. And so I said to myself, if we
can do a version of that on TV, I think
we will have a home run. And that's exactly what
we hit in the first season with the home run.
I mean the amount of people that watched it. It
(07:00):
was number one for endless amount of time. And so
then of course Netflix decided to do number two, and
not only to make it number two, but to also
make me the chief Action Officer of Netflix. And now
you know, then that means that you're not only responsible
for your action show, but for others as well. But
(07:21):
the bottom line is is, you know, I was delighted
when they you know, kind of pulled the trigger and
said we want to have a second season. And you know,
our contract is for two seasons anyway, and so I
was happy that they did in that direction, and we
were having a great time shooting it. The writers did
a brilliant, brilliant, store you know kind of job in
(07:44):
writing it, because I thought, well, there's a lot of
things I did not know when I got into this
TV business, like, for instance, you know, the beginning the
rating of the amount of people that watched the beginning
of a series versus the amount of people that watched
the end of a series. You know, the what is
the completion rate and all of those kind of things.
So I was always wondering, why did this series start slow?
(08:06):
And then they kind of ramp it up, and you know,
I've seen it on second at the second season. I mean,
it's like, it starts out great, and he explains everything
where we are and the action that the comedy noise,
but all of a sudden towards the end, it really
starts ramping up the amount of action days and I said,
whoa boy, maybe there's a little bit too much, but
(08:26):
I mean, any case, they did a fantastic job, and
I was so happy to work with the same actors
again as they worked in the in the first one,
except Carrion Moss came to become part of the team
and an odd love from decades ago, and she helped
me bring down the Berlin Wall and to fight communism
(08:47):
and all those kind of things. So that whole backed
up story came back again. And of course now I'm
having a dilemma with an old love and I'm, you know,
have a wife that don want to gain back, and
all of that going on in the midst of this huge,
huge skill action in comedy.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
In the midst of all of that with you scheduled
to turn seventy eight years of age, if I remember correctly,
come late July July thirtieth, If I remember correctly, I mean,
do how shocked are you at the success that you're
having at this stage and point in your life and
in your career you're missed the action you're drawing up
(09:27):
true lives Jamie Lee Curtis. Let. Let's not forget how
fabulous she was in that movie, and how fabulous of
a movie it was overall. But I imagine that you
had some reservations as whether or not you'd be able
to achieve this level of success at this stage and
point of your career. Yet and still you're here and
you're doing it well.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
I mean, first of all, you're absolutely right.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
You know, if you get older, then there is not
as much interest in you as a major star than
it is with the younger guys. And I benefited from
Dedvan I was thirty, thirty five, forty fifty years old,
and others are benefiting from that. So that's that's clear.
But my kind of a you know, staying power has
(10:11):
been because I think I chose wisely the kind of
projects that I did, and that yes, there was a danger.
And I think that's the point that you're hitting is
not only the age, but I was governor for seven years,
and those seven years I did not do a movie
or a TV show or anything like this. So they
were just in the replays of other shows that they've
done in the past. And so it's very hard to
(10:33):
then come back again after that. And by that time,
also half of the people, you know, Republicans, half of Democrats.
They say about who he was a Republican. I don't
want to watch his show with orders.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
So he goes through all of that ords at the
same time.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
But that the bottom line is is that I'm very
fortunate that I was able to kind of come back
after I was finished with the governorship and that I'm
at the place where I'm now. But I have to
tell you the main reason for this is that I'm
in America. Because America still is the land of opportunity.
(11:08):
It's the greatest country in the world. And no matter
how many problems we have and how many kind of
debates they are about leadership and this and that, and
the you know, the Congress and the accomplishing everything and
all of those kind of things, and the riots.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
I mean, it is the greatest country in the world.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
I just came from overseas and I had an environmental
conference in Vienna, Okay. And people still that day come
up to me and say, please, anold can you help
me to get to America, just like it was fifty
years ago and they asked me they can they help
them to come to America. So, I mean the desire
for people wanting to come here is because it is
(11:47):
the greatest country with the most opportunities. And I've seen
it firsthand. Everything that I've ever accomplished, because my movie career,
which was my family, the money that I made and
they're becoming governor of the great state of Curtiforia, the
environmental action, the after school programstead that've created, my work
with Special Olympics, all of this stuff happened because it
(12:08):
was in America. And so I loved this country and
I cannot wait to celebrate this two hundred and fiftieth anniversary.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
The feelings that you have that you just described about
the United States of America, I imagine you have always
felt that way, but has it elevated since you were governor.
Like being a governor of a state as large as California,
the United stated large state in the United States of America.
Being a governor of that state for those years, did
(12:38):
it make you elevate your level of appreciation for America
even more so in the aftermath of being a governor
than you had before you became governor.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Well, I would say that, you know, I don't think
that anything could elevate.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Okay, my enthusiasm got it.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
About being in America since nine in sixty eight, since
it came here, and I was so enthusiastic being here.
Then in nineteen eighty three it became an American citizen,
and that elevated it. Of course, now I am an American,
so that was fantastic. When you become governor, it makes
(13:19):
you realize since that didn't work my way up the
political ladder. It makes you realize of how complicated things
really are and how difficult it is really to work
and to bring everyone together local government, state government, federal government.
How you as a state could be kind of like
(13:39):
an environmentally friendly state, but the federal government has no interest.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
So you have to understand that.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
You have to understand that not everyone can thank the
way you do, and you have to appreciate that, and
that's what that did. I worked with everyone together and
never looked at anyone as the enemy, and I always
was very inclusive. And it made this the capital of
Sacramento kind of a university for me.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
I learned so much.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
And one thing I learned definitely is my interest in
my love for policy, not so much so for politics,
but for policy solving problems and how do we make
life for people better.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Now that you're back, you're out of office, you're no
longer an elected official, You're back in Hollywood. Are you
enjoying it now more than you did before?
Speaker 3 (14:28):
I love it, you know. But it's it's not just
you know, doing fubar. It's not just being on a
set of food and working with wonderful actors and actresses
and all of that. It is that the whole combination
of the movie business, TV business, the environmental work that
(14:50):
I do, the after school broken work that I do.
I make great, great family, I mean make kids. I'm
so proud of them. And you know, yesterday my daughter
came over with has three. We had three kids, and
make grand children. Just love coming over the house and
feeding the animals and Lulu and whiskey, my donkey.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
You know, the.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Dogs, okay, you know, and the pig, and I mean
they just love coming over and doing all of that
with me, and so they love their Opah.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
That's what they call me Opah.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Right, How do you feel about doing TV? Because this
is your first ever TV role. You've been doing movies
all of these years, but to my understanding, is your
first TV role.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Correct, it is the first TV series, and it is
quite different because you work much faster, so you don't
have much time. You know, in the movies, you maybe
shoot three to four pages a day. When you do
a TV it's like seven, eight, nine pages a day,
sometimes even ten to twelve pages a day. So it
(15:56):
really moves much faster because there's not as big of
a budget as it is with movies.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
But I mean it's okay. You get used to that.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
You get very disciplined to learn your lines and to.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Hit the mark. That is the most important thing in
this business.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
You know, to me is kind of like listen to
the director, listen to the writers, and hit your marks
and say your dialogue and then work, work, work. I
feel like when I do like a movie, I feel
like I'm a plumber get up in the morning at
six o'clock in the morning and they go to work
and they do exactly what they ask me to do.
(16:34):
And then they go home at night and you crash
in bed, or you go and have some time to
work out a little bit, because fitness is working out
is very important. But I tell you it is if
this doesn't matter how old you are. If you have
a clear vision of making something successful and being involved
in a great project like this Netflix project is fuba.
(16:56):
I mean, then you're enthusiastic about the whole thing. You
have energy, and you to go out there and promoted.
Like sitting here right now and talking to you. It's
another job for me, right, It's fun for me. I
love talking about you, about that to you, about my
projects and about food and off those kind of things.
So some people consider this as a job and part
(17:16):
of the job. I don't even see that the job.
I can see that as a fun thing to do.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
I always tell people the difference between the job and
a career is a job is doing what you have
to do to sustain or elevate your quality of life.
A career is doing what you want to do. It
just so happens to do those things, and you're talking
about a career. And by the way, football, I mean,
I got to talk to you about the title of
this show. Now, it's originally you know, the acronym originated
in the military, which stands for a situation that is
(17:43):
f up beyond all recognition? Is that what food ball
stands for with the title of this show or is
there another?
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Yes, fuber stands for fucked up beyond all recognition?
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yes, exactly, Yes, yeah, it did you.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
I know you cannot say it then because otherwise you
get crucified.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Oh, I say fucked up beyond all recognition? I just
said it, like you. Did you come up with it?
Did you come up with the title?
Speaker 2 (18:18):
I suggested?
Speaker 3 (18:19):
And the I think everyone liked the idea because they
isn't originally a different title, and then they went for
it with this title.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
And it's just such a great thing. I'm fuba.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
You know, it's just fun because everywhere you go in
the world when you promote this thing, people always ask
is what does it mean?
Speaker 2 (18:38):
What does mean?
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Then I tell them what it means, and then they
try to translate it in their own language.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Of course, then it doesn't work. The same way.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
But I mean, that's what it means that the other
thing that makes the show success for reason, I just
want this add that is which is maybe a term
you don't know either or that you maybe don't know,
and that is, uh the seventh piece.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Okay, you know, but the seven I do not educate me.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Please.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Proper proper prior planning prevents pissed poor performance. Okay, okay,
So that is very important because this show was really
well written. This show was very well prepared, and that
is the most important thing. Is did you go there
for the arsals, did you work in the stunts, did
you working all the magic stuff? Did you see on
(19:24):
the screen? And then you go all out with that.
But it's the proper prior planning that prevents pissed poor performance.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
You know. Last question. I'm thinking about this now and
I'm asking myself Arnold Schwarzenegger, an elite bodybuilder, world class athlete,
and action hero, on what have you? You're approaching your
seventy eighth birthday and you seem like you can go
on and on, like you've got so much time left
because you got so much energy. What's your advice to
(19:54):
those out there who are younger who haven't achieved as
much yet walk around far too often acting like they're tired.
What would you say to those folks about what they
need to do to get a little spry in this
step to be as energized as Arnold Swarzenegger appears to
do as he's talking about his Netflix hit series Football
(20:14):
right here with your boy, stephen A. Smith, what advice
would you give Ziemen?
Speaker 3 (20:19):
I tell you one thing, and I think you talked
about that many times, and that is the only way
you can have energy is when you have a vision.
Because when you have a vision, that means that you
have a specific goal that you want to go and
chase after. And so everything that you do basically is
(20:40):
a step closer to discord and making discord a reality.
And so to me, when I was working out in
the gym five hours a day, I didn't say to myself,
oh my god, I cannot wait until I have my
fifty or five hundred sit ups over. Oh my god,
I have to do another set of lived with five hundred.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
And fifty pounds or six hundred pounds. I didn't do
any of that.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
I was looking forward to every single rep and every
exercise that I did because it got me one step
closer to this vision I had of being missed the
universe being the world champion in body building. And the
same was also the case with acting. When everyone said
you would never be an actor, you would never be
a leading man, I was fighting and fighting because either
clear vision of being another cleaned Eastwood or another one
(21:27):
of the Hercules characters in the movies or something like that.
So there's no one could shine me away from that.
So that guy gave me energy. The same is when
I had a vision about what to do with California
and I ran for governor, I could really talk to
the people, you know, very openly and clearly about what
I wanted to do with California, and they bought in
(21:48):
because it was very clear and because.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
I had a very clear vision.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
So I think this is it's all about the vision,
because the vision makes you have a purpose and a goal,
and then you chase after that. So no matter how
your old you are, as long as your a vision,
you're gonna be in the red track and you always
have energy.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
I just want to let you know it's such an
honor and privilege to have been talking to you I've
been a fan for many, many years. True Lives is
one of my all time favorite movies. I love total recall. Oh,
by the way, are you ready for this? One of
my favorites. Almost as crazy to say everybody talks about
terminated terminator. Terminator. You know another movie of yours. I
loved Kindergarten Cop. I loved that one. You're telling you
(22:27):
a school teacher for crid out loud. You know what,
I'm massperated the school teacher. I've loved you for years
and I can't thank you enough. And this Netflix series
Football is special. It's got that kind of potential. I
really like it. I really enjoy it, and I'm honored
to have had you on the show man. Thank you
so much, Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
It was a great pleasure. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
All Right, buddy, you take care of yourself. The one
and only Arnold Schwarzenegger right here on a Stephen A.
Smith Show. You can catch the season two premiere of
Football June twelfth on Netflix. I know I'm not gonna
miss it. I watched all the episodes from season one. Y'all.
It's a hell of a show. It's a hell of
a show. M h m hm
My next guest knows a thing or two about the
state of California. He served as the thirty eighth governor
of the state, and he happens to be an Emmy
and Golden Globe Award winning actor. He now stars and
executive producers the Netflix hit series Foo Baar. Please welcome
the one and only Arnold Schwartzernegat to the show. Sir.
(00:25):
It is an honor and a privilege. How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
I'm doing terrific, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
It came back from Austria just a few days ago
and with the little cough.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
So if I have a cough attack in the middle
of this, just you know, be patient.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
VI Meal, OK, listen, and I'll do you one better. Dammit,
I run this show. I'll pause, cut out the cough,
and it get right back to you so nobody will
notice the cough. So you don't have to worry about
it today. You have to worry think about it. Listen up, honor,
before we get into fool Ball, because I can't wait
to talk to you about that Netflix series. I really
joyed watching it and I can't wait to talk to
(01:02):
you about it. But news obviously takes president first. Before
we get into that series. I wanted to get your
thoughts on the current unrest taking place in Los Angeles
after ICE agents rated several businesses and protests that led
President Donald Trump to order the deployment of two thousand
National Guard troops to the city. What's your reaction to
all of this.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
My reaction is I hope that the solvedest problem as
quickly as possible, as you know that Los Angeles has
gone through some really bad fires recently, and I think
this is the last thing that we need right now,
and I just hope that they will solved as quickly
as possible because it's going to hurt the people of
(01:44):
Los Angeles. It's going to hurt, you know, tourism, it's
going to hurt business, the revenues which they're always short
off Los Angeles and the state of California. So I
just really hope that all of them can coordinate that
and work together in solveest problems as quickly as possible.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
As mentioned, you served as California's governor from two thousand
and three to twenty eleven, as a Republican in a
traditionally democratic state. Homeland securities are Tom Holman appeared to
threaten to arrest Governor Gavin Newsom before he walked back
that comment. On Fox News this morning, Newsom says he's
now suing the Trump administration for involving the National Guard
to begin with, what are your thoughts on how Governor
(02:23):
Newsom is responding to the ice raids and the National
Guard being on the ground in La.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Well, you know, I the last thing I ever do
is criticize a sitting governor. I think that you know,
when you have been in this job, you know how
challenging it is. And on top of it, you know,
we have a different point of view and a lot
of things. I'm a Republican and he's a Democrat, so
he thinks differently about those kind of issues and about
(02:51):
a lot of issues as far as that goes. But
I never will criticize him because he is to do
it his way. People elected him as a Democrat, and
people elected me as a Republican, so I did it
my way. I was always when I was governor, very inclusive.
I worked with the Democrats and the Republicans and the
client of State and the independents. I've worked with everyone
(03:11):
together to solve this problem. But weld immigration problems then
and we have immigration problems now. It's just really a
shortfall and the shortcoming of the politicians because they never
solved the problems. And this is a creation better politicians
in a way, because they don't solve the problem. The
immigration issue can be resolved very quickly by giving more
(03:33):
in working permits in student visas to people and then
they don't have to come in here legally.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
So to me, that is a way to solve it.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Democrats and Republicans can come together under this issue and
solve this issue.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Arnold, do you find this to be a nationwide issue
or is it a special circumstance in a case In
the case of California.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Now, the immigration is year has been going on since
Ronald Reagan, and I think that the idea was always
that this solve this issue.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
For decades.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
After decades, the politicians didn't because each one of the
parties is interested to not solving it because they can
raise money based on that. Republicans through the hardline and
the Democrats to the inclusive kind of a spiel, and
so they all raise money on that, they all campaign
on that, so they don't really want to solve it.
(04:23):
To me, those problems out there as a politician, if
the responsibility not to be a party servant, but to
be a public servant. In order to serve the public,
you have to solve this problem and to make it
the coherent kind of an immigration policy. Right now, we
don't have one.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Last question on this issue. You publicly endorsed Kamala Harris.
The Democratic Party appears to be in flux as facts
come to light about Joe Biden's fitness to serve a
certain term a second term. What does the party need
to do to get back on track? In your estimation,
even though you were not a member of that party,
what advice would you give them?
Speaker 2 (05:01):
You know, no advice.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I think that they will figure out themselves of the
mistakes that they've made in the past, as much as
the Republicans always have to figure it out and the
mistakes they've made in order to get re elected again.
And so I think they will figure out. They're very
very smart people in the party, and the Republicans have
very smart people in the party. The important thing is
(05:25):
just kind of like to kind of serve the people.
And if you can prove that you can help the
people's lives and you can put this so they can
put food on the table, they can take care of
the families. If you can do that, then you can
get the vote. If you run the other way, and
if you're just kind of a political hack that only
serves the party, then you have the danger that people
(05:46):
will abandon you and go any other direction.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Listen, that's all I got to ask you about that
on this particular subject, because I've got to get into
your series on Netflix. Mister Arnold Swartzenegger. Season two of
Football begins streaming on June twelfth. Talk to me about
this series. I love it. I gotta admit it. I
love the father daughter dynamic, both CIA agents. It's been fabulous.
(06:10):
What made you decide to do.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
This Well, they came to me with the idea of
doing True Lies but on TV and to do the
for streaming service for Netflix. And I like the idea
because True Lies was truly one of my favorite movies
that I've ever done. Yes, and because he has the
right balance of comedy and action and drama and violence
(06:39):
and fun stuff and love and family and all of
this kind of combinations that I thought made the movie
so successful. And so I said to myself, if we
can do a version of that on TV, I think
we will have a home run. And that's exactly what
we hit in the first season with the home run.
I mean the amount of people that watched it. It
(07:00):
was number one for endless amount of time. And so
then of course Netflix decided to do number two, and
not only to make it number two, but to also
make me the chief Action Officer of Netflix. And now
you know, then that means that you're not only responsible
for your action show, but for others as well. But
(07:21):
the bottom line is is, you know, I was delighted
when they you know, kind of pulled the trigger and
said we want to have a second season. And you know,
our contract is for two seasons anyway, and so I
was happy that they did in that direction, and we
were having a great time shooting it. The writers did
a brilliant, brilliant, store you know kind of job in
(07:44):
writing it, because I thought, well, there's a lot of
things I did not know when I got into this
TV business, like, for instance, you know, the beginning the
rating of the amount of people that watched the beginning
of a series versus the amount of people that watched
the end of a series. You know, the what is
the completion rate and all of those kind of things.
So I was always wondering, why did this series start slow?
(08:06):
And then they kind of ramp it up, and you know,
I've seen it on second at the second season. I mean,
it's like, it starts out great, and he explains everything
where we are and the action that the comedy noise,
but all of a sudden towards the end, it really
starts ramping up the amount of action days and I said,
whoa boy, maybe there's a little bit too much, but
(08:26):
I mean, any case, they did a fantastic job, and
I was so happy to work with the same actors
again as they worked in the in the first one,
except Carrion Moss came to become part of the team
and an odd love from decades ago, and she helped
me bring down the Berlin Wall and to fight communism
(08:47):
and all those kind of things. So that whole backed
up story came back again. And of course now I'm
having a dilemma with an old love and I'm, you know,
have a wife that don want to gain back, and
all of that going on in the midst of this huge,
huge skill action in comedy.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
In the midst of all of that with you scheduled
to turn seventy eight years of age, if I remember correctly,
come late July July thirtieth, If I remember correctly, I mean,
do how shocked are you at the success that you're
having at this stage and point in your life and
in your career you're missed the action you're drawing up
(09:27):
true lives Jamie Lee Curtis. Let. Let's not forget how
fabulous she was in that movie, and how fabulous of
a movie it was overall. But I imagine that you
had some reservations as whether or not you'd be able
to achieve this level of success at this stage and
point of your career. Yet and still you're here and
you're doing it well.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
I mean, first of all, you're absolutely right.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
You know, if you get older, then there is not
as much interest in you as a major star than
it is with the younger guys. And I benefited from
Dedvan I was thirty, thirty five, forty fifty years old,
and others are benefiting from that. So that's that's clear.
But my kind of a you know, staying power has
(10:11):
been because I think I chose wisely the kind of
projects that I did, and that yes, there was a danger.
And I think that's the point that you're hitting is
not only the age, but I was governor for seven years,
and those seven years I did not do a movie
or a TV show or anything like this. So they
were just in the replays of other shows that they've
done in the past. And so it's very hard to
(10:33):
then come back again after that. And by that time,
also half of the people, you know, Republicans, half of Democrats.
They say about who he was a Republican. I don't
want to watch his show with orders.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
So he goes through all of that ords at the
same time.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
But that the bottom line is is that I'm very
fortunate that I was able to kind of come back
after I was finished with the governorship and that I'm
at the place where I'm now. But I have to
tell you the main reason for this is that I'm
in America. Because America still is the land of opportunity.
(11:08):
It's the greatest country in the world. And no matter
how many problems we have and how many kind of
debates they are about leadership and this and that, and
the you know, the Congress and the accomplishing everything and
all of those kind of things, and the riots.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
I mean, it is the greatest country in the world.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
I just came from overseas and I had an environmental
conference in Vienna, Okay. And people still that day come
up to me and say, please, anold can you help
me to get to America, just like it was fifty
years ago and they asked me they can they help
them to come to America. So, I mean the desire
for people wanting to come here is because it is
(11:47):
the greatest country with the most opportunities. And I've seen
it firsthand. Everything that I've ever accomplished, because my movie career,
which was my family, the money that I made and
they're becoming governor of the great state of Curtiforia, the
environmental action, the after school programstead that've created, my work
with Special Olympics, all of this stuff happened because it
(12:08):
was in America. And so I loved this country and
I cannot wait to celebrate this two hundred and fiftieth anniversary.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
The feelings that you have that you just described about
the United States of America, I imagine you have always
felt that way, but has it elevated since you were governor.
Like being a governor of a state as large as California,
the United stated large state in the United States of America.
Being a governor of that state for those years, did
(12:38):
it make you elevate your level of appreciation for America
even more so in the aftermath of being a governor
than you had before you became governor.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Well, I would say that, you know, I don't think
that anything could elevate.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Okay, my enthusiasm got it.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
About being in America since nine in sixty eight, since
it came here, and I was so enthusiastic being here.
Then in nineteen eighty three it became an American citizen,
and that elevated it. Of course, now I am an American,
so that was fantastic. When you become governor, it makes
(13:19):
you realize since that didn't work my way up the
political ladder. It makes you realize of how complicated things
really are and how difficult it is really to work
and to bring everyone together local government, state government, federal government.
How you as a state could be kind of like
(13:39):
an environmentally friendly state, but the federal government has no interest.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
So you have to understand that.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
You have to understand that not everyone can thank the
way you do, and you have to appreciate that, and
that's what that did. I worked with everyone together and
never looked at anyone as the enemy, and I always
was very inclusive. And it made this the capital of
Sacramento kind of a university for me.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
I learned so much.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
And one thing I learned definitely is my interest in
my love for policy, not so much so for politics,
but for policy solving problems and how do we make
life for people better.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Now that you're back, you're out of office, you're no
longer an elected official, You're back in Hollywood. Are you
enjoying it now more than you did before?
Speaker 3 (14:28):
I love it, you know. But it's it's not just
you know, doing fubar. It's not just being on a
set of food and working with wonderful actors and actresses
and all of that. It is that the whole combination
of the movie business, TV business, the environmental work that
(14:50):
I do, the after school broken work that I do.
I make great, great family, I mean make kids. I'm
so proud of them. And you know, yesterday my daughter
came over with has three. We had three kids, and
make grand children. Just love coming over the house and
feeding the animals and Lulu and whiskey, my donkey.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
You know, the.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Dogs, okay, you know, and the pig, and I mean
they just love coming over and doing all of that
with me, and so they love their Opah.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
That's what they call me Opah.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Right, How do you feel about doing TV? Because this
is your first ever TV role. You've been doing movies
all of these years, but to my understanding, is your
first TV role.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Correct, it is the first TV series, and it is
quite different because you work much faster, so you don't
have much time. You know, in the movies, you maybe
shoot three to four pages a day. When you do
a TV it's like seven, eight, nine pages a day,
sometimes even ten to twelve pages a day. So it
(15:56):
really moves much faster because there's not as big of
a budget as it is with movies.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
But I mean it's okay. You get used to that.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
You get very disciplined to learn your lines and to.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Hit the mark. That is the most important thing in
this business.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
You know, to me is kind of like listen to
the director, listen to the writers, and hit your marks
and say your dialogue and then work, work, work. I
feel like when I do like a movie, I feel
like I'm a plumber get up in the morning at
six o'clock in the morning and they go to work
and they do exactly what they ask me to do.
(16:34):
And then they go home at night and you crash
in bed, or you go and have some time to
work out a little bit, because fitness is working out
is very important. But I tell you it is if
this doesn't matter how old you are. If you have
a clear vision of making something successful and being involved
in a great project like this Netflix project is fuba.
(16:56):
I mean, then you're enthusiastic about the whole thing. You
have energy, and you to go out there and promoted.
Like sitting here right now and talking to you. It's
another job for me, right, It's fun for me. I
love talking about you, about that to you, about my
projects and about food and off those kind of things.
So some people consider this as a job and part
(17:16):
of the job. I don't even see that the job.
I can see that as a fun thing to do.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
I always tell people the difference between the job and
a career is a job is doing what you have
to do to sustain or elevate your quality of life.
A career is doing what you want to do. It
just so happens to do those things, and you're talking
about a career. And by the way, football, I mean,
I got to talk to you about the title of
this show. Now, it's originally you know, the acronym originated
in the military, which stands for a situation that is
(17:43):
f up beyond all recognition? Is that what food ball
stands for with the title of this show or is
there another?
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Yes, fuber stands for fucked up beyond all recognition?
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yes, exactly, Yes, yeah, it did you.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
I know you cannot say it then because otherwise you
get crucified.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Oh, I say fucked up beyond all recognition? I just
said it, like you. Did you come up with it?
Did you come up with the title?
Speaker 2 (18:18):
I suggested?
Speaker 3 (18:19):
And the I think everyone liked the idea because they
isn't originally a different title, and then they went for
it with this title.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
And it's just such a great thing. I'm fuba.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
You know, it's just fun because everywhere you go in
the world when you promote this thing, people always ask
is what does it mean?
Speaker 2 (18:38):
What does mean?
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Then I tell them what it means, and then they
try to translate it in their own language.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Of course, then it doesn't work. The same way.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
But I mean, that's what it means that the other
thing that makes the show success for reason, I just
want this add that is which is maybe a term
you don't know either or that you maybe don't know,
and that is, uh the seventh piece.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Okay, you know, but the seven I do not educate me.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Please.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Proper proper prior planning prevents pissed poor performance. Okay, okay,
So that is very important because this show was really
well written. This show was very well prepared, and that
is the most important thing. Is did you go there
for the arsals, did you work in the stunts, did
you working all the magic stuff? Did you see on
(19:24):
the screen? And then you go all out with that.
But it's the proper prior planning that prevents pissed poor performance.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
You know. Last question. I'm thinking about this now and
I'm asking myself Arnold Schwarzenegger, an elite bodybuilder, world class athlete,
and action hero, on what have you? You're approaching your
seventy eighth birthday and you seem like you can go
on and on, like you've got so much time left
because you got so much energy. What's your advice to
(19:54):
those out there who are younger who haven't achieved as
much yet walk around far too often acting like they're tired.
What would you say to those folks about what they
need to do to get a little spry in this
step to be as energized as Arnold Swarzenegger appears to
do as he's talking about his Netflix hit series Football
(20:14):
right here with your boy, stephen A. Smith, what advice
would you give Ziemen?
Speaker 3 (20:19):
I tell you one thing, and I think you talked
about that many times, and that is the only way
you can have energy is when you have a vision.
Because when you have a vision, that means that you
have a specific goal that you want to go and
chase after. And so everything that you do basically is
(20:40):
a step closer to discord and making discord a reality.
And so to me, when I was working out in
the gym five hours a day, I didn't say to myself,
oh my god, I cannot wait until I have my
fifty or five hundred sit ups over. Oh my god,
I have to do another set of lived with five hundred.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
And fifty pounds or six hundred pounds. I didn't do
any of that.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
I was looking forward to every single rep and every
exercise that I did because it got me one step
closer to this vision I had of being missed the
universe being the world champion in body building. And the
same was also the case with acting. When everyone said
you would never be an actor, you would never be
a leading man, I was fighting and fighting because either
clear vision of being another cleaned Eastwood or another one
(21:27):
of the Hercules characters in the movies or something like that.
So there's no one could shine me away from that.
So that guy gave me energy. The same is when
I had a vision about what to do with California
and I ran for governor, I could really talk to
the people, you know, very openly and clearly about what
I wanted to do with California, and they bought in
(21:48):
because it was very clear and because.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
I had a very clear vision.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
So I think this is it's all about the vision,
because the vision makes you have a purpose and a goal,
and then you chase after that. So no matter how
your old you are, as long as your a vision,
you're gonna be in the red track and you always
have energy.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
I just want to let you know it's such an
honor and privilege to have been talking to you I've
been a fan for many, many years. True Lives is
one of my all time favorite movies. I love total recall. Oh,
by the way, are you ready for this? One of
my favorites. Almost as crazy to say everybody talks about
terminated terminator. Terminator. You know another movie of yours. I
loved Kindergarten Cop. I loved that one. You're telling you
(22:27):
a school teacher for crid out loud. You know what,
I'm massperated the school teacher. I've loved you for years
and I can't thank you enough. And this Netflix series
Football is special. It's got that kind of potential. I
really like it. I really enjoy it, and I'm honored
to have had you on the show man. Thank you
so much, Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
It was a great pleasure. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
All Right, buddy, you take care of yourself. The one
and only Arnold Schwarzenegger right here on a Stephen A.
Smith Show. You can catch the season two premiere of
Football June twelfth on Netflix. I know I'm not gonna
miss it. I watched all the episodes from season one. Y'all.
It's a hell of a show. It's a hell of
a show. M h m hm
Host
Stephen A. Smith
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