May 30, 2025 • 44 mins
The talented Rob Delaney sits on the TV Topics couch for a fun conversation that covers a lot of ground and even has an another musical interlude. We dive into his attention grabbing work in 'Dying for Sex'. Living in Britain, he brings some unique answers for the TV Topics portion of the conversation with a couple of series I have yet to watch and some classics including a darker take on 'The Brady Bunch' than I expected.
Give the episode a listen, even if you have not watched Rob in 'Catastrophe' or 'Dying For Sex' - once you are done, add them to your queue.
To keep up with all things TV follow TV Topics on Instagram for guest updates, polls, TV reviews, and other TV topics. You can also find Steven's work @Filmsnork on IG and at awardsradar.com.
#DyingForSex #Catastrophe #SharonHorgan #TV #BradyBunch #HappyValley #ChicagoHope #FX #FYC #RobDelaney
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:02):
Hey, where's the remote? It's time for TV Topics, where
those who love television discuss the series and
performances that should be on your radar.
Hi everyone, welcome to TV Topics.
I'm your host Steven Przykowski.For this episode I have the
pleasure of welcoming an actor who was put on my radar after
watching the British series Catastrophe with his Co star
(00:23):
Sharon Horgan. If you haven't watched it yet,
make sure you do. He was a revelation.
You may recognize him and his killer mustache from the
Deadpool films as Peter Wisdom, his work on Apple TV plus his
bad monkey or as neighbor guy onFX is dying for sex with Co star
Michelle Williams. Another must watch show.
We had a very nice conversation about a stellar work on the
(00:45):
series and of course some TV topics.
I hope you enjoy. Hi, this is Rob Delaney and
today I'm hanging out with Steven Prusakowski on TV Topics.
Thanks for joining me today. First of all, I want to say I've
been a fan since Catastrophe andwas very excited to see you'd be
working with Michelle Williams. I'm dying for sex.
Yeah, yeah. Massive, massive thrill.
(01:06):
This is my favorite job since Catastrophe.
Rightfully so, and we can alwaysuse more Rob Delaney.
Glad you think so. And we'll dive into dying for
sex in just a few. But before we do, let's talk
some TV topics. There's no wrong answers,
there's no pressure, just a bit of fun.
So looking back over the years, what was your relationship with
(01:27):
TV? Were your TV junkie watches
everything? Were you very selective?
Do you have go to shows? Well, I think about the sort of
touchstone shows from my adolescence and teen years that
I would watch with my mom, you know, appointment viewing.
And those were first Doogie Howser and then LA Law and then
(01:54):
the Ultimate Chicago Hope, whichshowed me sort of, there were
some really weird, particular intense stuff that they dealt
with on Chicago Hope that reallyimpressed me.
And, and that would be the, I'd say the moment where I realized
(02:19):
like, oh, this stuff is art would be some of the gnarlier
episodes of Chicago Hope. And then I let's see, I got
married at 29. I'm 48 now.
And so for the last 20 years, you know, TV decisions are
(02:40):
typically made by my wife and myself together.
So they have to be very, very good if we're going to watch
them and tick boxes for each of us.
And that has drastically cut down the amount of TV that we've
watched. And also the, you know, the
number of children that we've had is made TV.
(03:01):
You know, I have to be very selective.
So like right now for example, Ican do and or and that's about
it. Nothing like that.
I can't miss other than and or at the moment.
It's difficult as the, as, as things shift, you know, once you
get married or in a relationship, you have to
decide, do I watch this on my own?
Do I do we do we wait because there's seasons or series that
(03:23):
I'll start and then I'm like, oh, my wife would like this.
Yeah. Her first ability, you know, a
chance to sit down and watch it is like 2-3 days later.
And then I'm waiting for the next episode.
I'm like, wait, no, no, no, I want to keep going.
And she's like, I no, we can't. So then you're like, oh wait, I
made a big, big mistake here. Yeah.
Do you watch together? Do you wait for each other or do
you watch alone? We'll watch together when we
can. You know, we're sort of in the,
(03:48):
you know, the thick of it right now with our kids.
We've got two of her adolescents, you know, a 14 year
old, a 12 year old, a six year old.
So like, by the time we get themto bed, we're lucky if we can
squeak out an episode. Rarely a movie, which I would
love to do, but yeah. So we'll wait for each other if
(04:08):
it's a good show that we both love.
Yeah, certainly. There's a prime time show that
you remember being the first oneyou really loved, no matter how
good or bad it was. Like it sounds like Chicago Hope
might be up there, but is there another one?
Well before that, you know, I mean, like a lot of people my
age and demographic, I have the entire Brady Bunch, you know,
memorized. You can't there isn't an episode
(04:30):
I haven't seen and I love that alot.
I thought that was really well made.
I mean, certainly that was like factory TV, you know, Sherwood
Schwartz, super producer, reallyknowing how to put together like
commerce television. But you know, like a lot of
(04:53):
those guys, he did it really beautifully.
So that that was the first show where I was like, I've got a
show, you know, or maybe and then it would have been around
the same time Pee Wee's Playhouse.
But of course, Brady Bunch was on in the afternoon and reruns
where I grew up in Boston and Hughes Playhouse was only on
(05:15):
Saturday mornings. So I'm trying to fix in my mind,
was I the same age? I think I would have been so
when I would have been disco, not just watching TV as narcotic
or like it's time to watch TV, but being like, I love this
thing. The great thing with the Brady
Bunch is the 2 parters and you're like, wait, they just,
they bought it up a notch. They had like the Grand Canyon
(05:35):
episode and the tiki. Oh yeah, where you're like, wait
a second now the Brady's going to die here.
Yeah, real, real peril. You know, good stuff, Yeah.
Yeah, the Brady's in peril. And you're like, that's where my
introduction to Vincent Price came from.
Oh my God, that's right. Oh wow.
And what a treat. I mean, that's about as good a
crossover as you could ever get.And like you said, every single
(05:56):
episode, you can probably name any line and I can probably
place the episode. Don't think that current
generations or later generationshave that.
I think it might have kind of disappeared in the last 10 or 15
years. Yeah, when you're so much to do,
it's sort of interesting. I mean like the advent of like
24 hour news. Well, there's isn't, it's a
(06:16):
crazy big varied world, but there really isn't.
Nobody needs 24 hours of news. And there there was a real
beauty and a harmony to everybody.
Having fewer shows to choose from, then you could kind of be
united. And when they were on, I mean,
you mentioned Catastrophe earlier.
One of my favorite things about that was that in the UK, where I
(06:39):
live, that was on regular television on a particular
night, you know, not on streaming.
And so people had to tune in if they chose at a particular time.
Yes, they could watch it later, but if they watched it and it
wasn't any good, they wouldn't. TuneIn next week.
And I'm really grateful that I got A at least a little bit of
(07:03):
training in classic TV. And I really hope to bring that
to everything I do. You know, when they're now like,
yeah, make it as long as you want.
I'm like, no, keep it, keep tight, keep wanting more.
It must have been interesting asan actor, the day after it airs,
getting the reactions, you know,the conversation starts.
It's it's big, you know, like aswe see now with like the pit and
(07:25):
and the Last of Us, big loud conversations.
And then they kind of dwindle and then the next episode comes
and the next conversation startsup.
So being on the other side as asan actor hearing people and
watching people respond week after week must have been a real
treat it. Really, really was.
And what about shows that make you laugh?
Is laugh most? Is there one that you put on for
(07:47):
a, you know, a laugh or that youcan always count on or for pick
me up? Well, something that's airing
now, I mean, they're in between seasons 2 and 3.
Alan Partridge's This Time with Alan Partridge is something that
I won't miss these days that hasme doubling over with laughter.
(08:13):
Yeah, it's kind of funny becausea lot of the stuff that I make
is not necessarily classic set up punchline comedy, but I
certainly love to watch it and or what makes me laugh.
When Will Forte is on, I think you should leave.
(08:35):
He just speaks that language so well.
I mean, that whole show is great, but his sketches in
particular I really love. It's always fun to see somebody
who can meet Tim Robinson and, you know, elevate.
It is really nice. So those are some things that
make me laugh. Did you see his last Manhattan
(08:57):
Earth show? Oh, yeah.
Yeah. Tremendous.
Yeah. Yeah, that was, it's a shame.
I I was hoping that they'd closeit out.
He'll be he, he'll be on comedy Mount Rushmore.
Like, he's like, you know, we are in TV, so we know him and,
and a lot of people know him, you know what I mean?
But he's just so solidly building such a wonderful body
(09:20):
of work. I'm a yeah big big big Will
Forte fan. I agree he's one of the best.
He's really underappreciated. And is there a character from
any era that and for any reason that you would like to have
played? Oh, that's a great question.
Yeah, Maybe I'll come back to that.
I don't want to sit here and wait.
That's fine thinking about that.That's a new question.
(09:41):
I I know it's a big one. So what about ATV show that you
watch it would surprise your fans?
Botched, the story about the, the, not the story the, the
reality TV show about the Beverly Hills plastic surgeons
who help people who've been victim of bad plastic surgery
(10:03):
that my wife and I found just surfing through the channels
here in the UK. And we were like, what?
And, and then we kind of tried to turn it off and, and
couldn't. And we've watched many, many
episodes of Botched. I think what I like about it is
that a lot of reality TV is satanic and poison and a blight,
(10:28):
but that particular show, they're trying to help people,
you know, and so the kernel, youknow, the like it's life springs
from is they want to help peopleso that kind of reality TVI can
get behind. Yeah, I wouldn't turn that on
now that I hear that, Yeah. Then again, maybe I would with
that positive spin to it. Is there a show that you enjoy
(10:51):
or enjoyed that you feel like people didn't watch enough?
That like no one talks about. Big fan of The OA, which was on
Netflix and ran for a couple seasons.
That show was so unique and I really love Brit and Zal, the
(11:12):
people who made that. There's an earnestness to that
show that I thought was really courageous because they it's,
it's not tongue in cheek, it's not ironic.
It's a, it was a really lovinglycrafted, incredibly exploratory
(11:37):
show. And it was, they were dead
serious about it. And and so just like such care
went into that show that I mean,I was like, what, what are they
doing? You know, it's so come they come
at TV from such a different angle than anybody else.
(11:58):
So that, yeah, when that ended it with the end of the second
season, I was like, no, I mean, I must have more.
Yeah, Bridge. Incredible.
I spoke with her and her such anintellectual approach to
storytelling, but also telling great stories.
And she has like so many, so many layers to it.
Her her most recent series, samething kind of really predicted a
(12:22):
lot of this AI and where it's going and it's like, I was
hoping it was wrong, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to
be. We'll see.
You know, I think that Earth, you know, if you think about
like mushrooms and tree roots and stuff in the way, like Earth
will just shake us off like fleas if it needs to.
Yes, I'm worried about people, but not worried about this
(12:44):
beautiful planet. You know, it'll, it'll be fine.
I hope that we can part of its future, but.
Well, hopefully shakes the rightpeople off, you know it's.
Like yeah, that'd be nice. Yeah, if it was more selective.
Let's hop into your work on Dying for Sex.
I thought it was an incredible series.
I thought it was really touchingand poignant.
(13:05):
Besides working with Michelle Williams, what made you want to
play Neighbor Guy? Oh, well, I mean, let's talk
brass tacks here because there doesn't have to be a what else
other than Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Kim Rosenstock, Liz
Merryweather, Shannon Murphy whodirected it?
(13:25):
That's more than enough. So the creative team, you know,
bananas, then add to that a truestory that had already been road
tested by the podcast. You know, the podcast is
tremendous and resonated with people very deeply.
(13:46):
And so then, of course, you know, yes, I read the script and
it was the tone that they struckwas so honest and beautiful and
warm and life affirming and incredibly sad, which is
(14:06):
important. So yeah, you try to think about
the team and then the material, you know, no way for me to say
no to that. So you're already, as soon as
you heard that you know the team, you're, you're in the
door. No, nothing was stopping you
anyways. Yeah.
So your character doesn't have aformal name.
(14:27):
Were you given a back story or did you create a back story for
him? It's interesting because he's
sort of a synthesis of guys in Molly's life, in her real life,
you know, so he is drawn from a few people and then a few people
that, you know, she might have wished she had met as well.
And so due to the sort of sacredarea that we were navigating in
(15:00):
with the show, and I say sacred because it's really the
borderline between life and death and I, I strove to not.
This acting job for me was more about like stripping away any
kind of artifice or choices or anything like that and really
(15:23):
just trying to be as nakedly present as I could be because I
knew that that would help them just capture better stuff and
have better takes that they would have to play with and
stuff. So I more than any job I've ever
had, I just really tried to really listen to Michelle as
(15:48):
Molly and just really be there and just be as honest as
possible. So it was, it was different the
preparation that he did for thisand I've done for anything
really. And you really have to put
yourself out there so it in waysit would be uncomfortable for
many. Were there hurdles for you that
(16:09):
you know, like how did you approach that?
Yeah, I mean, in the more difficult scenes, you know, that
we're shooting in in Molly's hospital room, I, you know,
would have to like budget my dayemotionally because I knew, you
know, I'd be crying a lot and and it's hard to do that all day
(16:32):
and then, you know, hit the different things that you need
to do. So I definitely was like a bit
of a emotional zombie, you know,when we weren't rolling in
certain part because I just had to sort of, you know, I'm not
one of those people who like, oh, call me by my character's
name or don't look at me or anything like that.
But I would keep more to myself and just try to be slow and calm
(16:57):
and, you know, listen to music and, you know, not go stand
around to the food crafts table or anything like that.
So it was so those days were hard, you know, or shooting
stuff where, you know, Molly is dying.
That's not, I didn't enjoy it, you know, and and it is very
(17:20):
realistic and very sad. So it was some heavy stuff to
sort of navigate. So just had to.
What was great though, was that Michelle, Shannon, Liz and Kim
were all really kind and supportive people and it was
(17:40):
hard for everybody. So we would all kind of lean on
each other and help each other on those more difficult days.
And your character, even in the kind of the the darkest of
moments had brings some levity here and there, which is there's
also, you know, not only for thecharacters on screen, but for
the viewer. Very helpful because it is very,
very heavy. It had me in tears.
(18:02):
And, you know, I've, I've witnessed stuff in life that it
definitely connected with. And you had those moments of
like, OK, gives you a second to breathe, kind of managers manage
your your own emotions, I guess.They did such a great job with
it. I mean, because when you want
the the gamut of emotions that you run in anyone episode of
(18:23):
this show as a viewer is pretty bananas.
So they are so daft. I, I am, yeah, remain quite
bowled over by by the work that they did.
And your character could have been really one-dimensional or
like a running gag, but there's much more to him, especially as
(18:46):
the relationship with Molly kindof evolved.
What does your character initially get from that
relationship before it becomes more of an emotional bond?
So I think, you know how, like, if you see somebody and you're
intrigued by them, you know, he's never not intrigued by her.
(19:07):
She piques his interest. And then there's some
electricity between them. And I think at first I think so
he does not know Molly's health situation.
So at first I think he thinks, oh man, I bet the jackpot I got
(19:30):
a hot neighbor and we can mess around together and but then not
too quickly, but soon enough it turns into something much more
profound. And you know, he does of course
find out. Not that she goes to tell him,
(19:53):
but she finds out what's up withhim.
I'm sorry he finds out what's up.
What's up with her health wise? And it doesn't scare him off.
You know, they've forged enough of a connection where he says,
all right, you know, and he recognizes things from his own
history that make him more, you know, needful of a true
(20:17):
connection with someone like Molly.
And he provides a similar sort of Oasis for her.
And so it really does evolve into something rather beautiful.
Would you say it's love? I think you could say, yeah, I
think you can say that. I think you can say love.
You know, it might be with a lowercase L You know, there's no
(20:41):
no guarantee that they would have stayed together as a couple
after we don't that will we would never know.
And of course, their relationship is not the primary
love story of the of the series,but it's a very important one.
And, you know, yeah, more than afew times, you know, he makes
her character smile and feel calm and relief and, you know,
(21:07):
excitement. And so.
And, and certainly she does for him.
And when it came to the more sexual elements, they are the
the the kink and her fantasies, etcetera, were there, was there
anything that was uncomfortable or does that not bother you at
all? And was your wife supportive of
(21:27):
that or does she? Yeah, I mean, my wife doesn't
think it's doesn't think it's awesome when I do a job with
this. But I mean, I've done enough of
them now where it's like, OK, the worst was when I had to kiss
Michael Fassbender in something and she was very upset about
(21:50):
that because she'd like to kiss Michael Fassbender.
She's like, it's bad enough Michelle Williams, how you're
kissing Michael Fassbender. And then the worst part is that
that movie where I kissed Michael Fassbender, the funding
fell apart in post production. And so it just that was years
ago. It's never seen the light of
day. There's just footage of me and
Michael Fassbender making out somewhere, but.
(22:12):
They always have that moment. Yeah, the hardest stuff to shoot
would be, I don't know, there were things that what made my
knees hurt. If I was like crawling around on
a wooden floor and couldn't wearknee pads or one time I had to
eat frosting out of Michelle's hands.
But they were the they were verykindly made like sugar free
frosting so that I wouldn't be like, you know, all this sugar.
(22:35):
But then it was weird because I was just seeing it's like
spackle and it would it was likethis flavorless goo that I had
to. I didn't like that.
Those were two things I didn't like.
So it's amazing how much ground this character covers.
I guess, you know, it's like when you first see him, he's
just kind of a schlep. And then it becomes this, you
(22:55):
know, this sexual relationship. And then it progresses into
something much deeper and much bigger.
And it's like, yeah, you know, when I first saw you, I was
like, OK, you're kind of more oflike a Comic Relief or
something, which at times you do, you do provide that as well.
But it's it's amazing how Laird the writing is.
Yeah, they really, they really pulled something special off.
(23:16):
And did your understanding of neighbor guy change as shooting
progressed? Is he someone you find more
relatable or is there are there elements of him that?
Oh yeah. I mean, I definitely felt more
relaxed and warmer and more me in the later episodes when he's
been able to really be honest with her and she with him.
(23:41):
That made for more interesting scenes.
I mean, yeah, my favorite sceneswith them are definitely where
they're talking and sharing truth with each other.
And go back into your Co stars. You have amazing Co stars Sharon
Horton in Catastrophe Now, Michelle Williams, who is
(24:03):
amazing. What is a vibe like on set when
you have to go from, you know, the intimate to her final days,
her final hours as a scene partner?
Like it must require a lot of trust between the two.
Yeah, I'm really happy that thatMichelle and I hit it off pretty
quickly. So we were able to hit the
ground running. You know, outside of her acting
(24:27):
career, she's just a really kindperson.
So spending time with her is just pleasant.
And, you know, she's been been doing this for for quite some
time and doing it very well. So she's able to, you know, kind
of welcome you into her process.And so, yeah, very generous
scene partner and a very nice person on and off camera.
(24:53):
Yeah. I can't say enough good stuff
about her. Is there anything you learned
from the making of this? Yeah, that let's say if a script
is a bucket, that bucket containcan contain many varied and
different and beautiful things. And that's OK.
(25:16):
You know, I mean, I'd be excitedfor, you know, a young writer to
see this show and realize, damn,you know, I can make people
laugh. I can make people cry, and I can
do it in the same episode. And so, yeah, I definitely
learned a lot about the construction of great script and
(25:39):
great episodes and how honesty is such a major ingredient in
those things. That'd probably be my biggest
take away. And what have the reactions been
from the fans and the viewers? It's been pretty wild.
(26:03):
I mean, it was very interesting to watch.
I watch the first 3 episodes with a crowd at the premiere.
You know, people were very movedby it, myself included.
And and then, you know, yeah, anybody who's seen it, like, you
know, who's gotten in touch withme or anything has been pretty,
(26:26):
yeah, people are are pretty affected by it.
It's a, it's a big deal of a show, you know, and it's very
emotional in, in ways that are delightful when you're laughing
and painful, you know, when you're crying.
And so, yeah, it's been really something.
Yeah, it really taps into some really authentic emotions.
(26:48):
That doesn't always happen. It's not like it's not just
played for drama. I'd really like, you know,
really hits you, I think, at least for me.
So let's move forward and close out with some TV topics again.
Did you think of a character from any era that you would you
would have liked to have played?I know it's difficult while
we're talking, but. Sure, I would have loved to have
played Mandy Patinkin's character on Chicago Hope.
(27:12):
Doctor Jeffrey. I forget what his last name is,
but he's, you know, he's an amazing heart surgeon and his
wife is in a mental hospital andhe is made to Patinkin.
So we still can play the piano and sing beautifully.
So and he does on the show. So that was definitely an
(27:34):
amazing character. He would have been fun to play
something like that. Oh, can I would have got.
I would like to sing at some point in the stuff that I do.
I used to do a lot of musicals but then once I found comedy I
really veered in that direction.But hoping, hoping to sing in
something someday. Yeah, there's a lot of sitcoms
(27:54):
and shows that now do musical like more music based than there
were. I guess with this great TV
landscape, maybe you can land something.
I'd I'd love to see it. Were you classically trained
singer or were you Is it just? I study musical theater at NYU
in the 90s and figured I would do musical theater.
(28:14):
Did a couple musicals after I graduated but then just, you
know, turned a hard left into comedy.
Is Broadway something you'd consider?
It would have to be the right show.
I wouldn't do it just to do it, but if it was like, you know,
something amazing or if it were a new musical that I could help
(28:36):
get attention on, then yeah, youknow, just a revival of
whatever. No, but something something
really great. Yeah, you're not going to show
up in Oklahoma. Well, Oklahoma is really great,
so maybe I would, you know, and there there was a recent
production of it that was superb.
So that would have been a blast to do.
(28:57):
You grab your remote control, a genie pops out and offering you
one TV based wish. What TV show do you want one
more season of? And it can be a prequel season
and season that's somewhere in the middle or a follow up season
after its initial run and it would be the same cast.
It's all magic, so it's as if time hasn't passed.
(29:20):
I'm going to say something so weird.
There is a show that my sister and I used to watch that was on
public access called Furniture to Go, and it was these two
guys, Ed Feldman and Joe Laurario, who were straight up
carpenters and refurbishers and they would do furniture on their
show. The show was about refurbishing
(29:41):
furniture, but they would also do skits in between.
They like were earpressed. They couldn't help themselves.
They were just funny weirdos. And so it's ATV show that if you
pitched it like people would be like, no thanks.
And it was wonderful. And my sister and I would like,
run home from school and watch it together so I could have one
more season of furniture to go. That's what I would pick.
(30:02):
That's a that's a new one. Is it online anywhere?
Can you find on YouTube or does it exist?
I think a little bit, yeah. Be curious to see some of that
and you kind of got into this before but binge watching or
weekly watching. More weekly watching.
I have binge watched shows if I'm like working out of town or
(30:24):
something, you know, like Breaking Bad.
I didn't watch originally, but then when I was making Bad
Monkey in Florida, I was like, well, it's time to finish
Breaking Bad, you know? So I, I watched many seasons
that I watched it like you wouldread a book, you know, and that
was a lot of fun. Did you watch Better Call Saul
(30:44):
as well? Oh yeah, crazy.
Crazy about Better Call Saul. I think that's brilliant.
I think I think that's one of myfavorites of all time.
They're both, they both are. But I think what they pulled off
with Saul to tell a story with characters you love and and
things you know and make it all make sense without it being
exploitative of the original andfeel like something unique is
(31:06):
just insane. I I don't understand.
Yeah, remarkable. Do you have a favorite theme
song, One that you can't skip? I mean, the three's Company 1's
pretty good. Like we've been waiting for you.
That's possible. I've hummed that more than any
other theme song in my life. Although sometimes my wife and I
the the theme strong for Hill Street Blues is just piano
(31:29):
chords. It's like, and many times my
wife and I have you could find us walking around going, doing
it, but also saying the words Hill Street Blues.
You go like Hill Street Blues, Hill Street Blues, Hill Street
Blues, Hill Street Blues, Hill Street Blues.
So that's that's another fun TV theme song thing that you're,
(31:52):
you can do that now in your own home.
That's a it's a great theme, great show, right?
It's similar era a little bit before I think with Chicago
Hope. Little bit before.
You nail like all the shows my dad used to watch and that it
was introduced to because he'd be on the couch, you know,
appointment television for him. Not now, Stevie, I'm watching L
(32:14):
Street Blues. Yeah, exactly.
Stevie watching L Street Blues. Come back tomorrow.
Yeah. Then it was, then it was LA Law
or whatever the next show was. How about ATV death that you
would stop if you could? Any character that you would
have prevented them from their demise?
(32:35):
I mean, well, Peter Mcnichol waskilled in a mugging on Chicago
Hope. And that like tore us apart in
my family. Not from each other.
I mean, we were, we were all torn apart by it.
Very difficult, particularly formy sister because she really
(32:57):
loved his character. But I wouldn't stop it.
I mean, that was it was amazing when that happened, you know, So
I'd be, if I knew, I don't know if I was on the subway platform
where it was going to happen andsomebody's going to stop the
gun. And I'd be like, no, don't.
It's good for the show. It's amazing how those big
moments are really connected with people because we did share
(33:18):
them. And when you didn't see them
coming out of the blue and there's no spoilers, none of
the, you know, the no Internet, no social media to ruin it for
you. You know.
Total, you know, out of the blue, cold cock sharing like,
holy shit, what what just happened?
And you have to process it in real time.
Here's a good one. What's the greatest moment in
(33:39):
television history according to Rob Delaney?
Greatest moment in television history.
I mean, something that comes to mind is the final episode of
Happy Valley by Sally Wainwright.
That's a British show, but you can watch in America, where
you've got Sergeant Catherine Cowood across the table from, I
(34:05):
think his name is Tommy, played by James Norton.
And she's been hunting him successfully getting him in
prison sometimes over the courseof three seasons.
And the final showdown between the two of them is a bravura
(34:26):
episode of television that totally blows your expectations
sideways. They you think you know what's
going to happen, and you do not.And yeah, that's some of the
best like Teta tet dialogue ever.
(34:47):
So there's moments that are as good, but nothing better.
And I just, that just popped into my mind, so I thought I'd
mention that. How many seasons are there?
3 Three seasons of. The show.
I'll definitely be adding that one to my queue.
Yeah, Happy Valley. I mean also if you like Breaking
Bad, I tell people when I recommend Happy Valley you would
(35:08):
rather have literal James Bond after you then Sergeant
Catherine Cowood from the Yorkshire Police Department
because she is nasty and she's played by Sara Lancashire in one
of the great TV performances. Man that sounds incredible.
Was that remade as AUS show? No, and anybody who should kiss
my ass, don't do that. That's good, I prefer that.
(35:31):
But there's a what is it that's coming out?
Oh, another round that I they, Ithink they were going to do a
Tom Cruise version. I don't know if you've seen that
with Mads Mads Mickelson. Oh, OK, with Tom Cruise, now
that that I would that I'd allowonly because I just love Tom
Cruise so much. He's like my number one favorite
actor just because seriously, because I'm like a Daniel Day
(35:54):
Lewis who I love, you know, who's like my character's nose
is shaped like this. And I learned how to fix shoes
the way that they did in ancientItaly.
But Tom Cruise, the belief that he like, he's like the things
are coming to get us, we got to stop him.
And he believes it so deeply. You're like, I believe it too,
Tom. I know you're still Tom Cruise,
but you're not because you're sointense that I believe you're
(36:15):
the guy. And so.
So I yeah, he can do no wrong inmy eyes.
No, I was in the opposite side of the coin.
But you know, maybe I'll try to,if it ever happens, I'll I'll
try it with a different, different perspective.
You're on the. You're probably on the healthy
side of it. You're probably on the correct
side of the coin, but. Every once in a while, hey, you
know, there's there's no right and wrong unless if you if you
(36:36):
appreciate it and you're doing something out of the respect for
it. I think if you're just there to
to collect a paycheck, then go away.
But if you say you know, this needs a, a bigger audience
because it's not going to ever find that huge audience.
It's always going to be a niche movie or a niche show.
So you know, if, if you're doingthis and you're like, you know
what, let's bring this to the masses, then I'm fine with it.
If you're doing it because you say, hey, I I see dollar signs
(36:59):
in my eyes and then take a hike and just just a couple more the
four TV shows that make up your,your TV Mount Rushmore for any
reason. Oh boy, I'm OK.
OK, Chicago Hope. I could have guessed that one.
I'm good. I'm a good guesser.
(37:20):
OK show. Mid Morning Matters, an Alan
Partridge show. It's sort of like in the middle
of the Partridge Evolution. And what I love about the show
is it's just like one locked camera on a studio.
I mean, each episode costs like $7.00 to make, but it shows you
that if your scripts are gold, you know, written by Robin Neil
(37:43):
Gibbons and Steve Coogan, and then you've got the right
person, you know, in front of the camera, Steve Coogan.
You don't need big budget blow them up some car chases.
Mid morning matters. You like hurt yourself laughing
at. So all right, obviously.
OK, I love that. So Chicago hope mid morning
(38:03):
matters. You can edit out my hems and
haws if necessary because I really I want to do well.
No, no, take your time. Let's see here.
I will say that was Steve Coogan.
He's a genius and oh, God, yeah,you know his work across the
(38:27):
board. But I really love the trip.
Yeah. Just that one seat alone where
he's sitting down with Rob, Rob,Rob Brydon and doing the Michael
Caine off. Yeah, I have to watch that scene
at least a dozen times and it never.
Gets off. Yeah.
Incredible. What else would you add?
OK, I would also, I'm going to put Happy Valley in there, Happy
Valley Mid Morning Matters just because what Sally Wainwright
(38:50):
did with the show and you know, any American people who are
watching who don't know the nameSally Wainwright, you're
welcome. Because there, she's made a lot
of shows and she's just an incredible writer and producer
of television. Kind of like, I mean, they're
like, like novel, like good novel.
You know, there are bad novels. But I mean, to say she's just a
(39:12):
master. And then let's go Brady Bunch.
Let's go Brady Bunch. What?
No, I don't need to waste anyonehere.
You're not going to beat that. I mean, you care deeply.
You know, the show is so anchored by Florence Henderson
and Robert Reed, you know, really good actors that this
(39:36):
family is built around and you their their relationship is
interesting, Mike and Carol. And then and then also there's
there's tragedy in the Brady Bunch universe.
Never alluded to you. Never.
You never come in and see Mike weeping because he misses his
first wife who got like hit by abus or you know, what was what
(40:00):
happened to? Because they couldn't be
divorced, they wouldn't allow that.
So I, I don't know what the circumstances were, they never
addressed that. But like, so 2 sad tragedies,
two young parents died and then the Bradys found each other and
have this enduring love. So it's a good show.
(40:20):
That's never discussed or never.You really never think about it.
You're you're more concerned like, wait, no, you can't get
rid of Tiger the flea. It's the flea powder, you fools.
And completely oblivious to the fact that, yeah, these these
this is a aisle, a union made intragedy.
The first, the first Missus Brady Louise Brady, Mike's
widow, did Underwater Demolitionand Too Fast one Day and got the
(40:43):
bends and died at Bobby's first birthday party.
You know, we don't know that, but.
That's on the on the director commentary.
If you can find the DVDs, well, that's a very unique Mount
Rushmore. I did not expect those besides
Chicago hope, I guess Happy Valley.
I could have guessed, but I in Happy Valley, I you've sold me.
(41:06):
I'm I'm going to check that one out.
I'm going to check it out tonight and we'll close on one
more. It's if you had a magic door,
one that allowed you to access any TV show you can.
So you'd live in this show, not the set you'd be able to walk
in. And if you're if it's a Brady
Bunch, you're hanging out with the Bradys for dinner.
You're not hanging out with actors.
Whatever series you want, you can go in whenever you want, as
(41:29):
long as you want. Your life outside the door
pauses so you don't miss anything.
You don't give up anything in real life.
No sacrifice. What show would it be and why?
I mean, it, it, it would be likegood times for The Jeffersons
because Can you imagine, you know, going into New York in the
1970s, probably good times because it would just be so
(41:57):
spectacular to walk around theirneighborhood, you know, I mean,
the music, the sights, the sounds, the smells, you know,
cars without catalytic converters.
I mean, it would just be incredible.
Without seatbelts and some of them I'm I'm.
Pick up a newspaper and then go see friggin T Rex play at Radio
(42:20):
City Music Hall or something. I mean what?
It would be bananas. You'd completely, completely
ignore the family or everything that we saw on the show and just
be like, hey, I'm out. I'm out again.
Wait, no, hold on. You have to hang out with us.
I love the the parents and good times.
John Amos and no Florida is her name on the show.
(42:41):
The ACT Esther Roll. That's her name.
No, I would totally love to hangout with them.
For sure. I would.
They'd come to the T Rex show with me.
Yeah, I'd invite them rather this it's up to them.
Force them. That would be an amazing
episode. Hey, I'm just hanging out with
Rob Delaney. We're going to see T Rex.
Yeah. Sorry.
You know somebody. Sorry.
Jimmy Walker. Keep your your your daily
(43:03):
adventures to yourself. We're going to go part.
On them, don't worry. Well, even a great guest.
I, I love exploring new shows and hearing about things.
What and, and, and the passion that you bring and the, and the,
and the scope of shows. You know, I usually people bring
up and, and I love the shows they bring up, but there's some
very, there's some mainstays in this, you know, there's this
(43:25):
Sopranos, there's friends and you, you kind of when it's as if
we, it's as if you had to use anantenna to find your TV and
everyone else had the same like cable system and you're like,
no, I'm bringing in some Canadian station.
And so very unique and, and I loved it.
So, but also your, your work on the series as well.
(43:45):
You're working catastrophe, you're working in Deadpool.
You're incredible in all of them.
And I look forward to seeing what you do next.
Well, thank you, Steven. Lovely to speak with you.
It was really my pleasure. Have a great day.
Take care. Thanks.
Bye bye. Well, that wraps another episode
of TV Topics. Thanks to Rob for being such a
wonderful guest. As I said in the interview, we
can always use more Rob Delaney.Keep tuning into TV Topics and
(44:09):
be sure to subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcast or wherever you
find your podcast. And if you really enjoy the
show, please give it a five starrating.
It really helps. You can also follow TV topics on
Instagram at TV under score Topics.
That's where we post guest announcements, news, polls,
clips, and a whole lot more. Thanks for listening and stay
(44:29):
tuned for more TV topics. TV Topics is produced by Steven
Przykowski. ZAP.
Hey, where's the remote? It's time for TV Topics, where
those who love television discuss the series and
performances that should be on your radar.
Hi everyone, welcome to TV Topics.
I'm your host Steven Przykowski.For this episode I have the
pleasure of welcoming an actor who was put on my radar after
watching the British series Catastrophe with his Co star
(00:23):
Sharon Horgan. If you haven't watched it yet,
make sure you do. He was a revelation.
You may recognize him and his killer mustache from the
Deadpool films as Peter Wisdom, his work on Apple TV plus his
bad monkey or as neighbor guy onFX is dying for sex with Co star
Michelle Williams. Another must watch show.
We had a very nice conversation about a stellar work on the
(00:45):
series and of course some TV topics.
I hope you enjoy. Hi, this is Rob Delaney and
today I'm hanging out with Steven Prusakowski on TV Topics.
Thanks for joining me today. First of all, I want to say I've
been a fan since Catastrophe andwas very excited to see you'd be
working with Michelle Williams. I'm dying for sex.
Yeah, yeah. Massive, massive thrill.
(01:06):
This is my favorite job since Catastrophe.
Rightfully so, and we can alwaysuse more Rob Delaney.
Glad you think so. And we'll dive into dying for
sex in just a few. But before we do, let's talk
some TV topics. There's no wrong answers,
there's no pressure, just a bit of fun.
So looking back over the years, what was your relationship with
(01:27):
TV? Were your TV junkie watches
everything? Were you very selective?
Do you have go to shows? Well, I think about the sort of
touchstone shows from my adolescence and teen years that
I would watch with my mom, you know, appointment viewing.
And those were first Doogie Howser and then LA Law and then
(01:54):
the Ultimate Chicago Hope, whichshowed me sort of, there were
some really weird, particular intense stuff that they dealt
with on Chicago Hope that reallyimpressed me.
And, and that would be the, I'd say the moment where I realized
(02:19):
like, oh, this stuff is art would be some of the gnarlier
episodes of Chicago Hope. And then I let's see, I got
married at 29. I'm 48 now.
And so for the last 20 years, you know, TV decisions are
(02:40):
typically made by my wife and myself together.
So they have to be very, very good if we're going to watch
them and tick boxes for each of us.
And that has drastically cut down the amount of TV that we've
watched. And also the, you know, the
number of children that we've had is made TV.
(03:01):
You know, I have to be very selective.
So like right now for example, Ican do and or and that's about
it. Nothing like that.
I can't miss other than and or at the moment.
It's difficult as the, as, as things shift, you know, once you
get married or in a relationship, you have to
decide, do I watch this on my own?
Do I do we do we wait because there's seasons or series that
(03:23):
I'll start and then I'm like, oh, my wife would like this.
Yeah. Her first ability, you know, a
chance to sit down and watch it is like 2-3 days later.
And then I'm waiting for the next episode.
I'm like, wait, no, no, no, I want to keep going.
And she's like, I no, we can't. So then you're like, oh wait, I
made a big, big mistake here. Yeah.
Do you watch together? Do you wait for each other or do
you watch alone? We'll watch together when we
can. You know, we're sort of in the,
(03:48):
you know, the thick of it right now with our kids.
We've got two of her adolescents, you know, a 14 year
old, a 12 year old, a six year old.
So like, by the time we get themto bed, we're lucky if we can
squeak out an episode. Rarely a movie, which I would
love to do, but yeah. So we'll wait for each other if
(04:08):
it's a good show that we both love.
Yeah, certainly. There's a prime time show that
you remember being the first oneyou really loved, no matter how
good or bad it was. Like it sounds like Chicago Hope
might be up there, but is there another one?
Well before that, you know, I mean, like a lot of people my
age and demographic, I have the entire Brady Bunch, you know,
memorized. You can't there isn't an episode
(04:30):
I haven't seen and I love that alot.
I thought that was really well made.
I mean, certainly that was like factory TV, you know, Sherwood
Schwartz, super producer, reallyknowing how to put together like
commerce television. But you know, like a lot of
(04:53):
those guys, he did it really beautifully.
So that that was the first show where I was like, I've got a
show, you know, or maybe and then it would have been around
the same time Pee Wee's Playhouse.
But of course, Brady Bunch was on in the afternoon and reruns
where I grew up in Boston and Hughes Playhouse was only on
(05:15):
Saturday mornings. So I'm trying to fix in my mind,
was I the same age? I think I would have been so
when I would have been disco, not just watching TV as narcotic
or like it's time to watch TV, but being like, I love this
thing. The great thing with the Brady
Bunch is the 2 parters and you're like, wait, they just,
they bought it up a notch. They had like the Grand Canyon
(05:35):
episode and the tiki. Oh yeah, where you're like, wait
a second now the Brady's going to die here.
Yeah, real, real peril. You know, good stuff, Yeah.
Yeah, the Brady's in peril. And you're like, that's where my
introduction to Vincent Price came from.
Oh my God, that's right. Oh wow.
And what a treat. I mean, that's about as good a
crossover as you could ever get.And like you said, every single
(05:56):
episode, you can probably name any line and I can probably
place the episode. Don't think that current
generations or later generationshave that.
I think it might have kind of disappeared in the last 10 or 15
years. Yeah, when you're so much to do,
it's sort of interesting. I mean like the advent of like
24 hour news. Well, there's isn't, it's a
(06:16):
crazy big varied world, but there really isn't.
Nobody needs 24 hours of news. And there there was a real
beauty and a harmony to everybody.
Having fewer shows to choose from, then you could kind of be
united. And when they were on, I mean,
you mentioned Catastrophe earlier.
One of my favorite things about that was that in the UK, where I
(06:39):
live, that was on regular television on a particular
night, you know, not on streaming.
And so people had to tune in if they chose at a particular time.
Yes, they could watch it later, but if they watched it and it
wasn't any good, they wouldn't. TuneIn next week.
And I'm really grateful that I got A at least a little bit of
(07:03):
training in classic TV. And I really hope to bring that
to everything I do. You know, when they're now like,
yeah, make it as long as you want.
I'm like, no, keep it, keep tight, keep wanting more.
It must have been interesting asan actor, the day after it airs,
getting the reactions, you know,the conversation starts.
It's it's big, you know, like aswe see now with like the pit and
(07:25):
and the Last of Us, big loud conversations.
And then they kind of dwindle and then the next episode comes
and the next conversation startsup.
So being on the other side as asan actor hearing people and
watching people respond week after week must have been a real
treat it. Really, really was.
And what about shows that make you laugh?
Is laugh most? Is there one that you put on for
(07:47):
a, you know, a laugh or that youcan always count on or for pick
me up? Well, something that's airing
now, I mean, they're in between seasons 2 and 3.
Alan Partridge's This Time with Alan Partridge is something that
I won't miss these days that hasme doubling over with laughter.
(08:13):
Yeah, it's kind of funny becausea lot of the stuff that I make
is not necessarily classic set up punchline comedy, but I
certainly love to watch it and or what makes me laugh.
When Will Forte is on, I think you should leave.
(08:35):
He just speaks that language so well.
I mean, that whole show is great, but his sketches in
particular I really love. It's always fun to see somebody
who can meet Tim Robinson and, you know, elevate.
It is really nice. So those are some things that
make me laugh. Did you see his last Manhattan
(08:57):
Earth show? Oh, yeah.
Yeah. Tremendous.
Yeah. Yeah, that was, it's a shame.
I I was hoping that they'd closeit out.
He'll be he, he'll be on comedy Mount Rushmore.
Like, he's like, you know, we are in TV, so we know him and,
and a lot of people know him, you know what I mean?
But he's just so solidly building such a wonderful body
(09:20):
of work. I'm a yeah big big big Will
Forte fan. I agree he's one of the best.
He's really underappreciated. And is there a character from
any era that and for any reason that you would like to have
played? Oh, that's a great question.
Yeah, Maybe I'll come back to that.
I don't want to sit here and wait.
That's fine thinking about that.That's a new question.
(09:41):
I I know it's a big one. So what about ATV show that you
watch it would surprise your fans?
Botched, the story about the, the, not the story the, the
reality TV show about the Beverly Hills plastic surgeons
who help people who've been victim of bad plastic surgery
(10:03):
that my wife and I found just surfing through the channels
here in the UK. And we were like, what?
And, and then we kind of tried to turn it off and, and
couldn't. And we've watched many, many
episodes of Botched. I think what I like about it is
that a lot of reality TV is satanic and poison and a blight,
(10:28):
but that particular show, they're trying to help people,
you know, and so the kernel, youknow, the like it's life springs
from is they want to help peopleso that kind of reality TVI can
get behind. Yeah, I wouldn't turn that on
now that I hear that, Yeah. Then again, maybe I would with
that positive spin to it. Is there a show that you enjoy
(10:51):
or enjoyed that you feel like people didn't watch enough?
That like no one talks about. Big fan of The OA, which was on
Netflix and ran for a couple seasons.
That show was so unique and I really love Brit and Zal, the
(11:12):
people who made that. There's an earnestness to that
show that I thought was really courageous because they it's,
it's not tongue in cheek, it's not ironic.
It's a, it was a really lovinglycrafted, incredibly exploratory
(11:37):
show. And it was, they were dead
serious about it. And and so just like such care
went into that show that I mean,I was like, what, what are they
doing? You know, it's so come they come
at TV from such a different angle than anybody else.
(11:58):
So that, yeah, when that ended it with the end of the second
season, I was like, no, I mean, I must have more.
Yeah, Bridge. Incredible.
I spoke with her and her such anintellectual approach to
storytelling, but also telling great stories.
And she has like so many, so many layers to it.
Her her most recent series, samething kind of really predicted a
(12:22):
lot of this AI and where it's going and it's like, I was
hoping it was wrong, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to
be. We'll see.
You know, I think that Earth, you know, if you think about
like mushrooms and tree roots and stuff in the way, like Earth
will just shake us off like fleas if it needs to.
Yes, I'm worried about people, but not worried about this
(12:44):
beautiful planet. You know, it'll, it'll be fine.
I hope that we can part of its future, but.
Well, hopefully shakes the rightpeople off, you know it's.
Like yeah, that'd be nice. Yeah, if it was more selective.
Let's hop into your work on Dying for Sex.
I thought it was an incredible series.
I thought it was really touchingand poignant.
(13:05):
Besides working with Michelle Williams, what made you want to
play Neighbor Guy? Oh, well, I mean, let's talk
brass tacks here because there doesn't have to be a what else
other than Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Kim Rosenstock, Liz
Merryweather, Shannon Murphy whodirected it?
(13:25):
That's more than enough. So the creative team, you know,
bananas, then add to that a truestory that had already been road
tested by the podcast. You know, the podcast is
tremendous and resonated with people very deeply.
(13:46):
And so then, of course, you know, yes, I read the script and
it was the tone that they struckwas so honest and beautiful and
warm and life affirming and incredibly sad, which is
(14:06):
important. So yeah, you try to think about
the team and then the material, you know, no way for me to say
no to that. So you're already, as soon as
you heard that you know the team, you're, you're in the
door. No, nothing was stopping you
anyways. Yeah.
So your character doesn't have aformal name.
(14:27):
Were you given a back story or did you create a back story for
him? It's interesting because he's
sort of a synthesis of guys in Molly's life, in her real life,
you know, so he is drawn from a few people and then a few people
that, you know, she might have wished she had met as well.
And so due to the sort of sacredarea that we were navigating in
(15:00):
with the show, and I say sacred because it's really the
borderline between life and death and I, I strove to not.
This acting job for me was more about like stripping away any
kind of artifice or choices or anything like that and really
(15:23):
just trying to be as nakedly present as I could be because I
knew that that would help them just capture better stuff and
have better takes that they would have to play with and
stuff. So I more than any job I've ever
had, I just really tried to really listen to Michelle as
(15:48):
Molly and just really be there and just be as honest as
possible. So it was, it was different the
preparation that he did for thisand I've done for anything
really. And you really have to put
yourself out there so it in waysit would be uncomfortable for
many. Were there hurdles for you that
(16:09):
you know, like how did you approach that?
Yeah, I mean, in the more difficult scenes, you know, that
we're shooting in in Molly's hospital room, I, you know,
would have to like budget my dayemotionally because I knew, you
know, I'd be crying a lot and and it's hard to do that all day
(16:32):
and then, you know, hit the different things that you need
to do. So I definitely was like a bit
of a emotional zombie, you know,when we weren't rolling in
certain part because I just had to sort of, you know, I'm not
one of those people who like, oh, call me by my character's
name or don't look at me or anything like that.
But I would keep more to myself and just try to be slow and calm
(16:57):
and, you know, listen to music and, you know, not go stand
around to the food crafts table or anything like that.
So it was so those days were hard, you know, or shooting
stuff where, you know, Molly is dying.
That's not, I didn't enjoy it, you know, and and it is very
(17:20):
realistic and very sad. So it was some heavy stuff to
sort of navigate. So just had to.
What was great though, was that Michelle, Shannon, Liz and Kim
were all really kind and supportive people and it was
(17:40):
hard for everybody. So we would all kind of lean on
each other and help each other on those more difficult days.
And your character, even in the kind of the the darkest of
moments had brings some levity here and there, which is there's
also, you know, not only for thecharacters on screen, but for
the viewer. Very helpful because it is very,
very heavy. It had me in tears.
(18:02):
And, you know, I've, I've witnessed stuff in life that it
definitely connected with. And you had those moments of
like, OK, gives you a second to breathe, kind of managers manage
your your own emotions, I guess.They did such a great job with
it. I mean, because when you want
the the gamut of emotions that you run in anyone episode of
(18:23):
this show as a viewer is pretty bananas.
So they are so daft. I, I am, yeah, remain quite
bowled over by by the work that they did.
And your character could have been really one-dimensional or
like a running gag, but there's much more to him, especially as
(18:46):
the relationship with Molly kindof evolved.
What does your character initially get from that
relationship before it becomes more of an emotional bond?
So I think, you know how, like, if you see somebody and you're
intrigued by them, you know, he's never not intrigued by her.
(19:07):
She piques his interest. And then there's some
electricity between them. And I think at first I think so
he does not know Molly's health situation.
So at first I think he thinks, oh man, I bet the jackpot I got
(19:30):
a hot neighbor and we can mess around together and but then not
too quickly, but soon enough it turns into something much more
profound. And you know, he does of course
find out. Not that she goes to tell him,
(19:53):
but she finds out what's up withhim.
I'm sorry he finds out what's up.
What's up with her health wise? And it doesn't scare him off.
You know, they've forged enough of a connection where he says,
all right, you know, and he recognizes things from his own
history that make him more, you know, needful of a true
(20:17):
connection with someone like Molly.
And he provides a similar sort of Oasis for her.
And so it really does evolve into something rather beautiful.
Would you say it's love? I think you could say, yeah, I
think you can say that. I think you can say love.
You know, it might be with a lowercase L You know, there's no
(20:41):
no guarantee that they would have stayed together as a couple
after we don't that will we would never know.
And of course, their relationship is not the primary
love story of the of the series,but it's a very important one.
And, you know, yeah, more than afew times, you know, he makes
her character smile and feel calm and relief and, you know,
(21:07):
excitement. And so.
And, and certainly she does for him.
And when it came to the more sexual elements, they are the
the the kink and her fantasies, etcetera, were there, was there
anything that was uncomfortable or does that not bother you at
all? And was your wife supportive of
(21:27):
that or does she? Yeah, I mean, my wife doesn't
think it's doesn't think it's awesome when I do a job with
this. But I mean, I've done enough of
them now where it's like, OK, the worst was when I had to kiss
Michael Fassbender in something and she was very upset about
(21:50):
that because she'd like to kiss Michael Fassbender.
She's like, it's bad enough Michelle Williams, how you're
kissing Michael Fassbender. And then the worst part is that
that movie where I kissed Michael Fassbender, the funding
fell apart in post production. And so it just that was years
ago. It's never seen the light of
day. There's just footage of me and
Michael Fassbender making out somewhere, but.
(22:12):
They always have that moment. Yeah, the hardest stuff to shoot
would be, I don't know, there were things that what made my
knees hurt. If I was like crawling around on
a wooden floor and couldn't wearknee pads or one time I had to
eat frosting out of Michelle's hands.
But they were the they were verykindly made like sugar free
frosting so that I wouldn't be like, you know, all this sugar.
(22:35):
But then it was weird because I was just seeing it's like
spackle and it would it was likethis flavorless goo that I had
to. I didn't like that.
Those were two things I didn't like.
So it's amazing how much ground this character covers.
I guess, you know, it's like when you first see him, he's
just kind of a schlep. And then it becomes this, you
(22:55):
know, this sexual relationship. And then it progresses into
something much deeper and much bigger.
And it's like, yeah, you know, when I first saw you, I was
like, OK, you're kind of more oflike a Comic Relief or
something, which at times you do, you do provide that as well.
But it's it's amazing how Laird the writing is.
Yeah, they really, they really pulled something special off.
(23:16):
And did your understanding of neighbor guy change as shooting
progressed? Is he someone you find more
relatable or is there are there elements of him that?
Oh yeah. I mean, I definitely felt more
relaxed and warmer and more me in the later episodes when he's
been able to really be honest with her and she with him.
(23:41):
That made for more interesting scenes.
I mean, yeah, my favorite sceneswith them are definitely where
they're talking and sharing truth with each other.
And go back into your Co stars. You have amazing Co stars Sharon
Horton in Catastrophe Now, Michelle Williams, who is
(24:03):
amazing. What is a vibe like on set when
you have to go from, you know, the intimate to her final days,
her final hours as a scene partner?
Like it must require a lot of trust between the two.
Yeah, I'm really happy that thatMichelle and I hit it off pretty
quickly. So we were able to hit the
ground running. You know, outside of her acting
(24:27):
career, she's just a really kindperson.
So spending time with her is just pleasant.
And, you know, she's been been doing this for for quite some
time and doing it very well. So she's able to, you know, kind
of welcome you into her process.And so, yeah, very generous
scene partner and a very nice person on and off camera.
(24:53):
Yeah. I can't say enough good stuff
about her. Is there anything you learned
from the making of this? Yeah, that let's say if a script
is a bucket, that bucket containcan contain many varied and
different and beautiful things. And that's OK.
(25:16):
You know, I mean, I'd be excitedfor, you know, a young writer to
see this show and realize, damn,you know, I can make people
laugh. I can make people cry, and I can
do it in the same episode. And so, yeah, I definitely
learned a lot about the construction of great script and
(25:39):
great episodes and how honesty is such a major ingredient in
those things. That'd probably be my biggest
take away. And what have the reactions been
from the fans and the viewers? It's been pretty wild.
(26:03):
I mean, it was very interesting to watch.
I watch the first 3 episodes with a crowd at the premiere.
You know, people were very movedby it, myself included.
And and then, you know, yeah, anybody who's seen it, like, you
know, who's gotten in touch withme or anything has been pretty,
(26:26):
yeah, people are are pretty affected by it.
It's a, it's a big deal of a show, you know, and it's very
emotional in, in ways that are delightful when you're laughing
and painful, you know, when you're crying.
And so, yeah, it's been really something.
Yeah, it really taps into some really authentic emotions.
(26:48):
That doesn't always happen. It's not like it's not just
played for drama. I'd really like, you know,
really hits you, I think, at least for me.
So let's move forward and close out with some TV topics again.
Did you think of a character from any era that you would you
would have liked to have played?I know it's difficult while
we're talking, but. Sure, I would have loved to have
played Mandy Patinkin's character on Chicago Hope.
(27:12):
Doctor Jeffrey. I forget what his last name is,
but he's, you know, he's an amazing heart surgeon and his
wife is in a mental hospital andhe is made to Patinkin.
So we still can play the piano and sing beautifully.
So and he does on the show. So that was definitely an
(27:34):
amazing character. He would have been fun to play
something like that. Oh, can I would have got.
I would like to sing at some point in the stuff that I do.
I used to do a lot of musicals but then once I found comedy I
really veered in that direction.But hoping, hoping to sing in
something someday. Yeah, there's a lot of sitcoms
(27:54):
and shows that now do musical like more music based than there
were. I guess with this great TV
landscape, maybe you can land something.
I'd I'd love to see it. Were you classically trained
singer or were you Is it just? I study musical theater at NYU
in the 90s and figured I would do musical theater.
(28:14):
Did a couple musicals after I graduated but then just, you
know, turned a hard left into comedy.
Is Broadway something you'd consider?
It would have to be the right show.
I wouldn't do it just to do it, but if it was like, you know,
something amazing or if it were a new musical that I could help
(28:36):
get attention on, then yeah, youknow, just a revival of
whatever. No, but something something
really great. Yeah, you're not going to show
up in Oklahoma. Well, Oklahoma is really great,
so maybe I would, you know, and there there was a recent
production of it that was superb.
So that would have been a blast to do.
(28:57):
You grab your remote control, a genie pops out and offering you
one TV based wish. What TV show do you want one
more season of? And it can be a prequel season
and season that's somewhere in the middle or a follow up season
after its initial run and it would be the same cast.
It's all magic, so it's as if time hasn't passed.
(29:20):
I'm going to say something so weird.
There is a show that my sister and I used to watch that was on
public access called Furniture to Go, and it was these two
guys, Ed Feldman and Joe Laurario, who were straight up
carpenters and refurbishers and they would do furniture on their
show. The show was about refurbishing
(29:41):
furniture, but they would also do skits in between.
They like were earpressed. They couldn't help themselves.
They were just funny weirdos. And so it's ATV show that if you
pitched it like people would be like, no thanks.
And it was wonderful. And my sister and I would like,
run home from school and watch it together so I could have one
more season of furniture to go. That's what I would pick.
(30:02):
That's a that's a new one. Is it online anywhere?
Can you find on YouTube or does it exist?
I think a little bit, yeah. Be curious to see some of that
and you kind of got into this before but binge watching or
weekly watching. More weekly watching.
I have binge watched shows if I'm like working out of town or
(30:24):
something, you know, like Breaking Bad.
I didn't watch originally, but then when I was making Bad
Monkey in Florida, I was like, well, it's time to finish
Breaking Bad, you know? So I, I watched many seasons
that I watched it like you wouldread a book, you know, and that
was a lot of fun. Did you watch Better Call Saul
(30:44):
as well? Oh yeah, crazy.
Crazy about Better Call Saul. I think that's brilliant.
I think I think that's one of myfavorites of all time.
They're both, they both are. But I think what they pulled off
with Saul to tell a story with characters you love and and
things you know and make it all make sense without it being
exploitative of the original andfeel like something unique is
(31:06):
just insane. I I don't understand.
Yeah, remarkable. Do you have a favorite theme
song, One that you can't skip? I mean, the three's Company 1's
pretty good. Like we've been waiting for you.
That's possible. I've hummed that more than any
other theme song in my life. Although sometimes my wife and I
the the theme strong for Hill Street Blues is just piano
(31:29):
chords. It's like, and many times my
wife and I have you could find us walking around going, doing
it, but also saying the words Hill Street Blues.
You go like Hill Street Blues, Hill Street Blues, Hill Street
Blues, Hill Street Blues, Hill Street Blues.
So that's that's another fun TV theme song thing that you're,
(31:52):
you can do that now in your own home.
That's a it's a great theme, great show, right?
It's similar era a little bit before I think with Chicago
Hope. Little bit before.
You nail like all the shows my dad used to watch and that it
was introduced to because he'd be on the couch, you know,
appointment television for him. Not now, Stevie, I'm watching L
(32:14):
Street Blues. Yeah, exactly.
Stevie watching L Street Blues. Come back tomorrow.
Yeah. Then it was, then it was LA Law
or whatever the next show was. How about ATV death that you
would stop if you could? Any character that you would
have prevented them from their demise?
(32:35):
I mean, well, Peter Mcnichol waskilled in a mugging on Chicago
Hope. And that like tore us apart in
my family. Not from each other.
I mean, we were, we were all torn apart by it.
Very difficult, particularly formy sister because she really
(32:57):
loved his character. But I wouldn't stop it.
I mean, that was it was amazing when that happened, you know, So
I'd be, if I knew, I don't know if I was on the subway platform
where it was going to happen andsomebody's going to stop the
gun. And I'd be like, no, don't.
It's good for the show. It's amazing how those big
moments are really connected with people because we did share
(33:18):
them. And when you didn't see them
coming out of the blue and there's no spoilers, none of
the, you know, the no Internet, no social media to ruin it for
you. You know.
Total, you know, out of the blue, cold cock sharing like,
holy shit, what what just happened?
And you have to process it in real time.
Here's a good one. What's the greatest moment in
(33:39):
television history according to Rob Delaney?
Greatest moment in television history.
I mean, something that comes to mind is the final episode of
Happy Valley by Sally Wainwright.
That's a British show, but you can watch in America, where
you've got Sergeant Catherine Cowood across the table from, I
(34:05):
think his name is Tommy, played by James Norton.
And she's been hunting him successfully getting him in
prison sometimes over the courseof three seasons.
And the final showdown between the two of them is a bravura
(34:26):
episode of television that totally blows your expectations
sideways. They you think you know what's
going to happen, and you do not.And yeah, that's some of the
best like Teta tet dialogue ever.
(34:47):
So there's moments that are as good, but nothing better.
And I just, that just popped into my mind, so I thought I'd
mention that. How many seasons are there?
3 Three seasons of. The show.
I'll definitely be adding that one to my queue.
Yeah, Happy Valley. I mean also if you like Breaking
Bad, I tell people when I recommend Happy Valley you would
(35:08):
rather have literal James Bond after you then Sergeant
Catherine Cowood from the Yorkshire Police Department
because she is nasty and she's played by Sara Lancashire in one
of the great TV performances. Man that sounds incredible.
Was that remade as AUS show? No, and anybody who should kiss
my ass, don't do that. That's good, I prefer that.
(35:31):
But there's a what is it that's coming out?
Oh, another round that I they, Ithink they were going to do a
Tom Cruise version. I don't know if you've seen that
with Mads Mads Mickelson. Oh, OK, with Tom Cruise, now
that that I would that I'd allowonly because I just love Tom
Cruise so much. He's like my number one favorite
actor just because seriously, because I'm like a Daniel Day
(35:54):
Lewis who I love, you know, who's like my character's nose
is shaped like this. And I learned how to fix shoes
the way that they did in ancientItaly.
But Tom Cruise, the belief that he like, he's like the things
are coming to get us, we got to stop him.
And he believes it so deeply. You're like, I believe it too,
Tom. I know you're still Tom Cruise,
but you're not because you're sointense that I believe you're
(36:15):
the guy. And so.
So I yeah, he can do no wrong inmy eyes.
No, I was in the opposite side of the coin.
But you know, maybe I'll try to,if it ever happens, I'll I'll
try it with a different, different perspective.
You're on the. You're probably on the healthy
side of it. You're probably on the correct
side of the coin, but. Every once in a while, hey, you
know, there's there's no right and wrong unless if you if you
(36:36):
appreciate it and you're doing something out of the respect for
it. I think if you're just there to
to collect a paycheck, then go away.
But if you say you know, this needs a, a bigger audience
because it's not going to ever find that huge audience.
It's always going to be a niche movie or a niche show.
So you know, if, if you're doingthis and you're like, you know
what, let's bring this to the masses, then I'm fine with it.
If you're doing it because you say, hey, I I see dollar signs
(36:59):
in my eyes and then take a hike and just just a couple more the
four TV shows that make up your,your TV Mount Rushmore for any
reason. Oh boy, I'm OK.
OK, Chicago Hope. I could have guessed that one.
I'm good. I'm a good guesser.
(37:20):
OK show. Mid Morning Matters, an Alan
Partridge show. It's sort of like in the middle
of the Partridge Evolution. And what I love about the show
is it's just like one locked camera on a studio.
I mean, each episode costs like $7.00 to make, but it shows you
that if your scripts are gold, you know, written by Robin Neil
(37:43):
Gibbons and Steve Coogan, and then you've got the right
person, you know, in front of the camera, Steve Coogan.
You don't need big budget blow them up some car chases.
Mid morning matters. You like hurt yourself laughing
at. So all right, obviously.
OK, I love that. So Chicago hope mid morning
(38:03):
matters. You can edit out my hems and
haws if necessary because I really I want to do well.
No, no, take your time. Let's see here.
I will say that was Steve Coogan.
He's a genius and oh, God, yeah,you know his work across the
(38:27):
board. But I really love the trip.
Yeah. Just that one seat alone where
he's sitting down with Rob, Rob,Rob Brydon and doing the Michael
Caine off. Yeah, I have to watch that scene
at least a dozen times and it never.
Gets off. Yeah.
Incredible. What else would you add?
OK, I would also, I'm going to put Happy Valley in there, Happy
Valley Mid Morning Matters just because what Sally Wainwright
(38:50):
did with the show and you know, any American people who are
watching who don't know the nameSally Wainwright, you're
welcome. Because there, she's made a lot
of shows and she's just an incredible writer and producer
of television. Kind of like, I mean, they're
like, like novel, like good novel.
You know, there are bad novels. But I mean, to say she's just a
(39:12):
master. And then let's go Brady Bunch.
Let's go Brady Bunch. What?
No, I don't need to waste anyonehere.
You're not going to beat that. I mean, you care deeply.
You know, the show is so anchored by Florence Henderson
and Robert Reed, you know, really good actors that this
(39:36):
family is built around and you their their relationship is
interesting, Mike and Carol. And then and then also there's
there's tragedy in the Brady Bunch universe.
Never alluded to you. Never.
You never come in and see Mike weeping because he misses his
first wife who got like hit by abus or you know, what was what
(40:00):
happened to? Because they couldn't be
divorced, they wouldn't allow that.
So I, I don't know what the circumstances were, they never
addressed that. But like, so 2 sad tragedies,
two young parents died and then the Bradys found each other and
have this enduring love. So it's a good show.
(40:20):
That's never discussed or never.You really never think about it.
You're you're more concerned like, wait, no, you can't get
rid of Tiger the flea. It's the flea powder, you fools.
And completely oblivious to the fact that, yeah, these these
this is a aisle, a union made intragedy.
The first, the first Missus Brady Louise Brady, Mike's
widow, did Underwater Demolitionand Too Fast one Day and got the
(40:43):
bends and died at Bobby's first birthday party.
You know, we don't know that, but.
That's on the on the director commentary.
If you can find the DVDs, well, that's a very unique Mount
Rushmore. I did not expect those besides
Chicago hope, I guess Happy Valley.
I could have guessed, but I in Happy Valley, I you've sold me.
(41:06):
I'm I'm going to check that one out.
I'm going to check it out tonight and we'll close on one
more. It's if you had a magic door,
one that allowed you to access any TV show you can.
So you'd live in this show, not the set you'd be able to walk
in. And if you're if it's a Brady
Bunch, you're hanging out with the Bradys for dinner.
You're not hanging out with actors.
Whatever series you want, you can go in whenever you want, as
(41:29):
long as you want. Your life outside the door
pauses so you don't miss anything.
You don't give up anything in real life.
No sacrifice. What show would it be and why?
I mean, it, it, it would be likegood times for The Jeffersons
because Can you imagine, you know, going into New York in the
1970s, probably good times because it would just be so
(41:57):
spectacular to walk around theirneighborhood, you know, I mean,
the music, the sights, the sounds, the smells, you know,
cars without catalytic converters.
I mean, it would just be incredible.
Without seatbelts and some of them I'm I'm.
Pick up a newspaper and then go see friggin T Rex play at Radio
(42:20):
City Music Hall or something. I mean what?
It would be bananas. You'd completely, completely
ignore the family or everything that we saw on the show and just
be like, hey, I'm out. I'm out again.
Wait, no, hold on. You have to hang out with us.
I love the the parents and good times.
John Amos and no Florida is her name on the show.
(42:41):
The ACT Esther Roll. That's her name.
No, I would totally love to hangout with them.
For sure. I would.
They'd come to the T Rex show with me.
Yeah, I'd invite them rather this it's up to them.
Force them. That would be an amazing
episode. Hey, I'm just hanging out with
Rob Delaney. We're going to see T Rex.
Yeah. Sorry.
You know somebody. Sorry.
Jimmy Walker. Keep your your your daily
(43:03):
adventures to yourself. We're going to go part.
On them, don't worry. Well, even a great guest.
I, I love exploring new shows and hearing about things.
What and, and, and the passion that you bring and the, and the,
and the scope of shows. You know, I usually people bring
up and, and I love the shows they bring up, but there's some
very, there's some mainstays in this, you know, there's this
(43:25):
Sopranos, there's friends and you, you kind of when it's as if
we, it's as if you had to use anantenna to find your TV and
everyone else had the same like cable system and you're like,
no, I'm bringing in some Canadian station.
And so very unique and, and I loved it.
So, but also your, your work on the series as well.
(43:45):
You're working catastrophe, you're working in Deadpool.
You're incredible in all of them.
And I look forward to seeing what you do next.
Well, thank you, Steven. Lovely to speak with you.
It was really my pleasure. Have a great day.
Take care. Thanks.
Bye bye. Well, that wraps another episode
of TV Topics. Thanks to Rob for being such a
wonderful guest. As I said in the interview, we
can always use more Rob Delaney.Keep tuning into TV Topics and
(44:09):
be sure to subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcast or wherever you
find your podcast. And if you really enjoy the
show, please give it a five starrating.
It really helps. You can also follow TV topics on
Instagram at TV under score Topics.
That's where we post guest announcements, news, polls,
clips, and a whole lot more. Thanks for listening and stay
(44:29):
tuned for more TV topics. TV Topics is produced by Steven
Przykowski. ZAP.
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