Steve Carell

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Hello everyone, welcome to another episode of Good Hang. We have a comedy legend on today. A hilarious leading man, box office. giant, and um sketch comedian who I first saw on the stage at Second City and, you know, wanted to be like ever since. Steve Correll joining us. Steve and I are gonna talk about a lot of things. We're gonna talk about Second City. We're gonna talk about Anchorman. We're gonna talk about the office. We're gonna talk about the smooth tones of the baritone horn.

And we are gonna talk about his new HBO show, Rooster. out now. So we get into a lot of fun stuff and before we talk to Steve, we talk to someone who knows Steve so we can speak well behind his back and get a question for me. And we are joined by his old second city buddy

His um old roommate, a person who was there from the beginning and who is also another hilarious and famous Steve. And that Steve is Stephen Colbert. Hello, Stephen Colbert. Bonjour. This episode of Good Hang is presented by Subaru. Some cars go the extra mile. Long-range Subaru hybrids take that to a whole new level.

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I just wanna start by saying, you know, you were the senior. To my freshman when I arrived at at Second City in Chicago. And it was you and Amy Sederis and um Corell and Din Paul Danello and you are all getting ready to go do exit fifty seven, which was Uh at the time, just the thought that you could go and be like the captain on stage and then go have your own sketch show, it just felt like such a dream. We had no idea what we were doing and we thought that the answer was what if we just worked

24 hours a day, wouldn't that make things funnier? And it made things weirder because you would fall into a chemopsychosis and not have any sense. And I go back and I watch those sketches. Now I go, pick up the pace. Oh yeah. How are you doing? Oh God, yeah. I I look at our old sketches and I'm like, You wanna go six minutes on this? You you really gonna you're gonna stay up all night fighting for cut?

I think I think we'd play a little better if it was half the time. Was Second C where you and Steve first met? Yeah, I matter of fact, I was there. I got I mean, I was I w I worked there in the box office'cause I didn't have any I had gone, I'd done a gig overseas, um, and then I came back with no money. I mean, literally, I was sleeping on a friend's floor. I didn't have a dime. I I I uh

And and my friend Ann Libera said she was the box office manager and she said, You can answer phones here like two days a week if you need s like basic cash. So I started answering phones and then I found out that you could take classes for free. If you worked there, even if you're like part time like I was. And so I said, Well, I I mean, I never imagined that I would be at Second City because I was. I was real improv. I was I was uh I had done uh you know i IO

I didn't Improv Olympic and those people talked a lot of shit about Second City. Yeah, there was a fun East Coast West Coast thing happening on the U.S. But it was like Lincoln Avenue North Wales situation going on. Yeah. And I was very much Cross currents, that's where we would I I did it across currents. Mm-hmm.

And um and I was like, No man, I do and then I went there and I saw the show and I went, Oh, everybody here cares just as much as anybody else. They just happen to be sold out every night and there's liquor. And like I kinda like this. And then I took classes and I didn't know Steve. Steve had gotten there a year, year and a half ahead of me, something like that. He was a little bit ahead of me in that.

you might call it process or like kind of rep system there. And uh and I didn't know him at all. A year later, a year after I started working there, I was invited to audition. And I auditioned and I got into the National Touring Company, which was a s like a red letter day in my career. I got into the the Turco and I think I got hired like on a Thursday and then like on Saturday they said, Can you go in at Northwest?'Cause there used to be the theater on the n at Northwest.

And I went, uh yeah, sure. I I you know, I learned whatever I needed to learn as quickly as I could. I went up there and I met Steve kind of like from backstage, watching him on stage. I met him in rehearsal. He's so gifted with music. You know how gifted musically he is. I did not I did not know that. He c i if it's made of brass, he can play it.

Yeah. You're kidding me. I did not know that. He can pick up a tin whistle, a recorder. He can you know he can play he plays the I I understudied for Steve. When I was at when I was in Turco, I finally said, like, I either gonna put me you're gonna you're gonna let me understudy or I'm gonna leave. Mm-hmm. And Joy said, Don't threaten.

I don't respond to threats. I'm like, it's not a threat. I've been here for four years or almost four years at this point. I'm like and I and I love doing it, but I gotta go figure out what else I can do. I hope this isn't a threat. And so literally the next day they said I I understudied like ETC or something and then they said, uh, Corell's gotta go

He's got like a Browns chicken commercial. Yeah. Big deal. Something like that. You could live off that for years. Oh shit, man. Yeah. We were all jealous. Oh yeah. Wait, he got a bacon bit spot? And so he's selling funeral insurance to children. Jesus, that sounds like a grade gig. And I so anyway, uh they said, could you Could you go in for Corell? And I said he plays

The euphonium, he played the baritone horn, which is like a little tuba. And he goes, he plays the baritone horn in that. Do I have to play the baritone horn? And they said, yeah. Yeah. I said, I don't know how to play the baritone horn. And they said, okay, we'll ask Adzid to do it. And Scott adds it. Yeah. And I said, No, no, no, no, I'll learn it. I'll learn it. When do I when do I need to go in? And they said, Six days. Wow.

And so I w and they wouldn't rent me a horn. I went and got the horn. I got it. It cost like two hundred and fifty bucks, which is like what you'd get paid in a month at Second City. But I had to go in on the main stage. And so uh I I went to Corell and I said, Would you I don't can't read sheet music. Can you please write out the fingering for the horn and teach me an embassure? You know, what's what's an embassure? Oh. That's the

That's the thing that makes the sound in the horn. And like you can get like three different options. I knew I was gonna learn a new word from this interview. I knew you were gonna teach me a new word. word, especially if someone cuts a fart in front of you. A nice thing to say is y you go you just go, Ooh, nice amateur. You know. Really tight on an arbor shirt. And um French corn. And so anyway

Uh I I was dating this girl, now my wife, Evie McGee, in New York and I was supposed to go see her that weekend. What did we do all weekend? We sat in her apartment and I learned anchors away. Pretty woman and tap.

Oh, you're hearing those drums? Wait, no, who is pus um uh listeners, I don't know if you can hear, but there's some drums happening in your house. Is someone playing? That's my son. Oh, that's so cute. Wait, you're talking about music and your son is starting to play drums down in the basement? My son is practicing because He's going into his brother's band. They got a gig next weekend in Brooklyn. And so they're he's going down there to practice because they their drummers out for the week.

He's subbing in for his brother, yeah. That's kind of like That's all you want. I that is all you want. That's exactly I was gonna say the sound of your son practicing to sub in for your other son, that's like a dream. Yeah, I met Corell uh I met Corell at Northwest. Uh back in in nineteen eighty eight. And so when you guys were on the daily show together, it was like

Just were in Carvey together. That's right. You were in Car by the way, that viral clip, I'm sure you've seen on your phone of you guys reacting to the gr incredible ad for the Dana Carvey root beer. variety special hour it's the k so I don't want to die.

For people that don't know, that show that you wrote on was incredible and so ahead of its time, but there's a really funny moment where both you and Steve are shown an ad from that time where you are following a very special episode of home improvement. And in it, Jonathan Taylor Thomas' character, I believe, s thinks he is going to die. He thinks he's ill or sick and he says, like it's very

Sweet and him and Tim Allen are having a moment and he says, I don't wanna die, Dad. And then the next voiceover is Yeah. And the Mug Root Beard Dana Carve show tonight on ABC. It's so funny. It's so and watching you and Steve laugh. is so funny. It's so it's and to me that's like I I I I I don't know how to explain it other than the joy of that to me sums up what it feels like. To have funny friends and get to make things with them. The joy of failure. Yes.

Was something that I sa I s I said early on at at at Second City that I realized, Oh, I think I should do this for the rest of my life, meaning comedy. because I was kind of biting whether I was going to do drama or comedy because I was doing straight theater in Chicago at the same time.

And I but we'd laugh so hard when we or someone else on stage would fail, but the other person on stage who was failing would also laugh. And I went if this if it can be this joyful in failure and there's also another joy in success. then I'd be dumb not to pursue this for the rest of my life. That's so beautifully said that it is joyful in failure. That is beautifully said. That's exactly'cause it there's so much empathy for what's happening to the person who's Eating it.

There has to be a belief that you'll be okay. I know you asked to uh for me to think of uh like uh what I would want to ask. Yeah. What what would you want to ask, Steve? Thank you. The amazing thing about Steve is Um his ability to do anything. Hmm. Is I know a lot of talented people, but I don't know many people who can do almost anything. And and first of all I mean my I remember one of my really early impressions of Steve is wow he can make anything funny. Yeah.

He can make any moment very full not funny but funny but also very full. Very full of presence and energy and what we would call tensiveness, like like the a scenic tension and I see that same ability. Like I marveled at that ability. And also He would never fuck around. He was always very professional. And I remember looking at him backstage at Second City and going, why is he so good? And I came up with this conclusion and I wrote it down on a piece of paper.

with a calligraphic pen and I taped it on the back of my little locker area to remind myself and it just said work. Because what I saw at Steve was that he worked really hard. Yeah. And he never phoned it in. And I'm curious what his process is like when he does drama or what people would perceive as drama and uh versus comedy or what people would perceive as comedy. And the reason why I say perceive is

Is it all the same to him? Yeah. But with a different character intention or with a different energy intention? Or is he really just approaching it a totally different way? He's like, well that's you know, that's sketch or that's something incredibly broad like Anchorman oh or you know, dinner for schmucks or now I'm doing fox catcher. Like does he do it does he do it in a different way? Because I admire him so much in both directions. Same. And and and as far as I know

I mean he's never talked about his process. So I don't I I mean I've never seen him do it. So I don't and I've worked with him since nineteen eighty eight. I mean we were roomed together practically for ten years and I don't know what it is. That's a great question. And um Uh I mean you're really good at uh really good at this. You should

You should try to make this your job, asking questions. Are there any uh are any of these jobs left? No there no, okay. No. Podcast it is. Well, um, I thank you so much for this time. What a pleasure. Thanks so much. And and um do we know what song your son is playing down in the basement before we go? Do you know is it an original? He's either playing Bossa Nova or he's playing uh Deep Space Nine.

Which uh uh which has one of my favorite lyrics uh in any of his songs, which is Your your head's in Deep Space Nine, I'm not taking you to Family Thanksgiving. Vape vape clouds destroyed your mind. I'm not taking you to family Thanksgiving, which is really tells a story. It's like you're a Swifty with your own children. Like you're just trying to break down all the lyrics. I got the bracelets. Yeah. Ha ha ha.

I I mean I think Steve's gonna be so happy that we talked because and we could talk about your relationship a lot today and I hope we do because it's very special. Fact that I'm associated with him, that people still come up to me and say, Steve Carell like they'll still get the name wrong. Yeah, sure, sure. I just love it. I feel that way about like I I feel like you and Steve have a little bit of what what Tina and I have, which is we're just like

People put us together all the time and I couldn't be happier about it. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. I still someday I'll do something. Someday I'll do something with him again. Ask him what he's doing, cause tell him I need a gig. Okay, great. Yeah. We'll we'll let Corral pick your next gig. Okay, perfect. All right, all right. Thank you so much, buddy. Have a great conversation. So nice talking to you and seeing you. Okay, take care. Bye.

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You're in good hands with Allstate. Potential savings vary, subject to terms, conditions, and availability. Allstate North American Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. Thank you for doing this. Mike, thanks for having me. Steve Corell is here. Um and Steve, I feel like you f always feel the way you feel about somebody, like based kind of on the first time you see them. Like, you know, you just get like imprinted with when you first meet them. And I first met you.

When you were on stage. I never really knew you in Chicago. I just watched you perform. And you were the senior when I arrived with my bag. like being like, Am I gonna try to do this, you know, business? Like, what is this? And you guys were like the Cool seniors. Well, we also you hear about the people who they've just hired too, and you're one of those people that stuck out immediately. You know, people were talking about you super early on. And you always kind of keep tabs like, well, who's

Who's next? Who are the you know, who are the up and comers? Yeah, yeah. And you were you were definitely one of those people. You were in the very like you were in that class of people that number one were crushing it on stage and then also went on to do things like you had jobs, you got hired to be made money, you got commercials. That was always so exciting to to meet

You remember Ken Campbell? Yeah, sure. So Ken Campbell was the first one of of like our group to kind of step out and got he got a He got a show called Herman's Head. Oh yeah. Where they were all inside out a precursor to Inside Out. That's right. Yeah, exactly. He was the first person to have a job and it was Astounding. Yeah. Like, oh my, he's really doing it. Yeah, he's really gonna get paid to do it. He's getting paid, and he's in Hollywood.

And he's a big shop. He's getting him insurance? Everything. I remember coming out and visiting him and we were doing a little, I don't know, some some weird little theater show like one night. And he and his wife were there just to watch. And I remember he ordered steak. And I thought, oh man, that guy is.

He's got it made. He's rolling in. Sitting in the restaurant ordering steak, watching the show. Well, speaking of steak and speaking of restaurants, before I go any further, I need to point out you're the first guest.

That technically my father booked for me. Bill Polar. They let's tell the story. What happened? The nicest people. So back in back in Massachusetts. We'll see how this story goes. We You have issue. Well, you were in my mom said I don't want to open a can of worms. We saw Steve Corell at a restaurant and we told him that y he should be on your on your show. So we think we've booked him is what my parents said. I was like, My dad. And I was like, What did you say?

That's exactly no. He's y you know, Amy does a podcast. Like I know. Well let's set the scene. You're in Massachusetts at a n nice restaurant. A nice restaurant out in the burbs. Like we were. Gibbet Hill Farms. Hill Farms. Out in Grotten Mass. Yep. Like it was and nowhere near where we live either. We just I was meeting my brother out there. Yeah. I don't know why my parents were out there. They were with their friends Tom and Sue. Lovely, lovely foursome. Um, they introduced themselves and

And we got to t they were very charming, lovely. Okay. Um, and I know that surprises you. And And and your, you know, your dad brought up your podcast and your mom said, you should be on. And I was like, I've never been asked to be on. You were like, I think I have to be asked. I d I'm not gonna just throw my hat in like, Hey, hey, I wanna be on the side. Did they get awkward and they were like, Ooh, there must they get quiet. There's there must be a reason why.

They they retreated. They were like, forget it. Oh no, no. Well it maybe she doesn't have a park. I don't remember what she did. Maybe no, no, that's not right. It was somebody else we were thinking that had a park. Um they were so nice. Yeah. So I think maybe that planted the seed. I mean I f I forget that you're a Boston boy. Yeah, I grew up in Acton. I know. And why do I mean you don't seem very Boston to me. How so? Like how well you're polite.

And thoughtful and considerate. There's a different I will say politeness registers differently in Massachusetts. That's true. When you go back And people recognize you. Do you have a different experience than you do here or in New York. I I mean I I I am n I love Boston. I love where I'm from. I love the directness. I love the Yes. Like the real loyal, like s like just really, really good, honest people. But there is a definite

Um how would you think about it? There is a brusqueness and honestly I'm gonna say it. There's just like a you're not better than me quality about Boston that I love, but it's sometimes tough to be on the receiving end. If you If you know, if you can anticipate that, yeah, it's actually very charming. Very true. Um, and you just kind of take it at face value. Because I remember going back and, you know.

shop around, I was in the supermarket. One guy came up to me and said, Hey, Steve, I know you. That thing you did was good. Don't get cocky. It's all that. Love you. Don't get cocky. Oh yeah. Don't don't. You're one of us. Yeah. Don't embarrass us. Don't you dare grow or change. Mostly change. Yeah. Where did you go to college?

Denison University. And then how did you g Ohio and then how did you find out about Second City? touring company. Came through Ohio State University and we bought tickets. And right then and there. I thought that's it's funny. Nancy and I were just talking about this exact thing. Yeah. That the touring company seemed like And she saw a touring company too. It seemed like the most fun job to have. Yeah. Of any job I could even imagine.

Yeah. And you you know, you roll into a college town, you do all of these great sketches that are bulletproof because they've been tried and true and have been at Second City for years and years and they always work. Yeah. So you feel like Just you're on top of the world. You're going it's not even your material. You're just going out and performing someone else's stuff and it

Uh in making people laugh and it just th I thought that's it. That's what I want to do. When you were in college, did you you were thinking about being an actor? I I was a history major. Ah, that makes sense. So I was not allowing myself to kind of consider that series. No. It didn't seem I mean in Massachusetts. I mean

Your neck of the woods too. Yeah, it just doesn't seem like it's like it's a real it didn't seem like a real job. Exactly. It's like I I'll I'll either be that or an astronaut. You know, it didn't seem like a plausible final destination in terms of a career. So I always I thought maybe history, maybe law school, something. Something that sounded something that sounded good to my parents. Yeah. Honestly. I really wanted to, after all they invested in me and my education, my brothers, I

I just felt like I owed them something. So they could like when when when you're older, they could go up to someone in a restaurant and say, You should join my son's law school They could bother someone in a restaurant. And so then you're in Denison, you see the touring company, you think, I'm gonna go to Chicago.

It's two friends of mine from Denison, uh, after we graduated, they gave me a call randomly and said, we're moving. We're going to Chicago. Wow. And I don't think I would have had the guts to do it myself. just by myself. But we're getting a place. We're going to start an educational theater company, which will help pay some of the bills and we'll get jobs and we will pursue careers as actors.

And that's and I was in. What year was that then you arrived in? And you just were living in a cheap do you remember the rent of your first apartment? Six hundred dollars split three ways, all utilities included. Fantastic. What was your job then? What were you doing? I waited tables at Hula Hands. Oh yeah. In Chicago. That was a hot spot, Hoolands. Oh yeah. Whole hands on division. Yeah. That's I mean, it was so fun back then to be in that city. That city felt like it was.

I don't know, maybe just'cause I was young when I was there, but it felt like it was something was crackling and happening. I mean, when you think back about those Chicago times. what comes up for you? I mean it I mean it's such youthful, exuberant, enthusiastic times, but what what what feelings and thoughts come up from? I think well, like all of the things we learned in class at Second City, having that freedom to fail

And there were very few constraints in terms of what you could try. Yeah. And and at Second City itself, it was the same thing. Like Being on stage every night and working it out and figuring that audience is such a great barometer. And

And if you if you're not doing it well or right, they'll tell you. Yeah. You'll feel it. And it was so much fun. So much fun. And and also, you know, I think about it now as you're talking about it is I think sometimes when I think back at Sketch and Improv I kind of like I don't know. I think like, oh, I wasn't working material like a stand up or something, but that's not true. We really had to we had different audiences every night, rowdy audiences expecting stuff from us. Yeah.

And like you had to learn how to kind of be hung out to dry a little bit on stage and be okay with it. Did you embrace that? I we used to we used to challenge each other. Okay. the to embracing the awfulness of the scene and like challenging each other not to leave because it's so easy if something's if something's failing, you just want to bail. Like during an improv scene. Oh yeah. But

It was sort of a badge of honor. Uh uh. We're we're gonna drive this into the ground. It's an exquisite feeling to so look at your partner and be like, We're bombing. We're and we're and let's hold hands. And let's let's do this together. And sometimes you'd be able to pull it out of a nosedive and other a lot of times it just the lights just slowly.

Slowly paid. But what do you like about it? I know what you mean. What is the what is the thing about it? I don't know. I think it's I guess just throwing everything off of you. throwing all of all of the worry, all of the concern of this isn't working and getting into your head about why isn't it working? We have to make it work. Everybody gets sweaty. Everybody

Everybody starts trying too hard. But sometimes when you can just allow it to kind of wash over you, the things that you might find are really interesting. I mean, is it like a little death? Is it the closest to it feels like you are I mean, I'm trying to think I'cause I when you're explaining it, I'm getting this like feeling. Of what it felt like when it was when you I mean, uh one thing is we weren't usually alone. No. We weren't bombing alone.

And that's I I can't imagine. Did you ever do stand-up? I occasionally, like when I would be asked to do small shows. And I didn't mind it. I kind of liked it, but I never really liked it. honed a set. I bet you would be I bet you were great at it. I I I found it easier or I liked doing it as I was older. When I was younger I just didn't think I understood I had like a lot of respect for the art form and I didn't and I wanted to be with people. I wanted to perform with people. Me too.

So I think that that's what I mean is the bombing with people was like a special joy. I completely. But the one well, of the many things at Second City, I know it like created lifelong friendships and like, you know, you got your we all. figured out how to like get our ten thousand hours on stage and all that stuff. But he met your wife. Yeah.

How did you meet Nancy Walls, the great hilarious Nancy Walls? This is going to sound super creepy. But I was teaching class at Second City. Okay. And she was in my improv character class. Dang. And uh and she was hilarious. and super smart, beautiful, like I I I have to remember she was a real catch back then because Nancy is so funny. Great. Um and also beautiful. And I remember everyone being like, This is not quite fair.

It's not quite fair. How tall and pretty and funny she is. Like you usually get you don't get you get about one. She's so nice. And no, so nice. Like And cool. Cool and nice and sweet to everybody. But you really snagged the babe. Tell me about it. Yeah. And we so but I thought she hated my guts because I'd be teaching And talking and I'd look over at her, de nothing, like dead eyes, no affect in her face at all. And I was like, Boy, she is not buying

Any of this. She hates me, hates his class, s knows I'm a phony, and Uh, and it turns out she was just nervous. Mm. That's what she told me later. And when she gets nervous, she gets like stone faced. Yeah. She just doesn't want to show anything. That's a powerful move to do because it really makes the other person work for it. Yeah. Yeah. And she worked across the street, um

She was a a waitress across the street at uh bar called The Last Act. Oh yeah. So after shows or after class I used to go over and I used to sit at the bar and I'd order a Diet Coke and we'd talk. But it took so long because we both kind of talked around the whole thing forever and never like finally one day the conversation went something like You know if

We're talking about people that we like or like what what's your who would you go out with? Oh my god, that's such a funny combo to have. And it was all just just this circuitous It you you know someone down the bar is just saying, get to it, Mike, come on. You're annoying everybody. And I think I finally said, You know, if I were I if I were gonna ask somebody on a date, it'd be somebody like you, like you'd be like that template of somebody that I'd love to go out with. And she's like,

You know, if somebody like you asked me out, that would I would love it. It would be fantastic. Then there was a pause and I said, Do you wanna go up? So lame. It was so super uncool. We went so we went two doors out of the other bar. You know, like Then that's that was the beginning of it. And then you could w when you left Chicago, were you weren't you weren't married yet? No, we were engaged. We got engaged a week before she got SNL.

Wow. So yeah. We went on our honeymoon and came back and moved right to New York for her star rehearsals. This episode is brought to you by CarMax. You know when people are like, you do you? Yeah, well that's what it's like buying a car with CarMax. You can shop however you want, which could be online. while you're on the sofa, in your pajamas, or in store, where you can test drive every car, ask every question, and lock down every detail. Plus they've got options to keep your wallet happy.

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So y you people know like the in uh way ahead of its time, Dana Carvey show that you were you and Kobert and others Smigle Conan were all writers on? A bunch of people, yeah. Incredible cast of writers. And and you were also in the rep company? Like did you you did stuff with

And I mean I I was Dana call is the sketch of tears. Can we talk about Dana Carvey for a second? Because Dana Carvey was so was really important to me. Like he was You know, you always kinda fall in love with that that that cast that when you're like thirteen. that you see in S N L and it was Dana and Phil Hartman and Jan Hooks and like Dana is so funny. He is so funny. He is so funny. I don't know if there's anyone funny or live too. Like two

to be in a room with him is incredible. He's just a super funny, incredibly nice guy. Like I owe him And smigle everything for that opportunity on that show. Cause that was I was at a point in Chicago, my agent had told me, If something doesn't happen for you soon, it's not gonna happen. My agent Way to build me up. I was feeling very good about myself. Dang it. That's hard. So I moved I I moved to New York. Yeah. Um and was able to the next thing I got was

Dana Carvey. Yeah. And it it ch that really changed everything. Yeah. That was my first kind of step into something um other than Second City. Yeah. I mean uh that show I remember it being this It felt like an experiment. Yeah. And it was it felt like it was like you guys got An opportunity to make whatever you wanted with other people's money. And then they noticed you were doing it. And they said, Stop. They said, Stop doing that. Well, you heard about the first episode.

Did you hear this story? Tell tell tell us again. The first scene of the first Dana Carvey show was Dana playing Bill Clinton, and he was sitting at a desk in the Oval Office. Talking about how he is the nurturing present president. And at a certain point, he opens his shirt to reveal uh a prosthetic breastplate like. teats, if you will. And I think he had eight nipples. Yes. And they brought which which had real mouth which were rigged to ra lactate.

And so they brought a bunch of puppies and s them on the desk and the puppies started suckling because he he was the nurturing president. And so we started we we're following home improvement. And They said the ratings went from home improvement and they could chart it like at the beginning of this sketch, it just Like you could hear the drop off. It was so sharp. It was done. It was the show was over. And that was a first episode, first scene. Oh God, that's funny.

A B C was not not happy. No. It was uh But somebody had to approve that that was the first sketch. Somebody had to I mean it was not a To their credit, ABC allowed it to happen. Um yeah, they they took some huge swings and it was fun because Like Colbert and I shared an office and we could and and we worked together a lot at Second City. We were in a a bunch of casts together and We come up with an idea and go down to Smeigle's office, Robert Smiggle, and just pitch something. Mm-hmm.

And he'd say, let's yeah, let's go. Yeah. And would do it on the show that night. I mean, it was the kind of it was as close to live as you could get without being SNL. Yeah. You really did work on a bunch of like really specific, interesting

places. Like the Daily Show is is i is its own system that kept changing with different kind of versions of the same thing. But what was it like? What what was that feeling like when you were all there young working on that and it being so well received? It was similar to Second City. Yeah. I and and I th I think those are the I guess those are the kind of environments that I am drawn to. Yeah. That everyone is just in it together. Yeah. And

There's a spontaneity to it and and we don't know if it's gonna work, but we're gonna give it our best shot. It was a lot of improvising on that show? Um, you know, n in the field pieces, yes. Yeah. Uh because you just had Especially early on, they didn't know that we were a comedy show. So so we were kind of undercover. Did you ever feel bad when you were tricking people? I d I did not. I did not like it at f especially at first because

I was new and I was kind of following the template. Yeah. And I never felt good about mocking someone who doesn't deserve it. Yeah. Uh and So I I I tried and I know Colbert Steven gave me great advice, which was come up with a character. Um and that will make it much more palatable. And my character was Someone who didn't quite understand, didn't quite get it. Um, but was r super serious about everything he was asking. Uh but

It was not the the onus was on me to be I was I was the idiot. Yes, yes, I think the to take that off of the people. I remember doing one field piece which were Um, it was a Klingon speakers convention. And you know, y you go and obviously the idea is let's make fun of people who meet and learn how to speak Klingon. And they were the nicest gentlest. I d I I really and I really like these people a lot. They were very kind. Yeah. And I thought, well what who are they harming? No one. I mean it's

It's just harmless fun. It's just People enjoy each other's company and have a shared hobby. I mean, how is it any different than a woodworking club or a photography club? It's just it's what they did. It's what is where their interests lie and that it made them happy. And I thought.

No, it has to it has to be about what an idiot I am. Well you're really good at that, Steve. You're so good at playing someone who's frustrated by their own lack of understanding comedically. Such an interesting way to put it Just like gorgeous get this right. It's so Why is the world so wrong? It's so and that energy of that is so funny. And it's so funny. But is but Steven was right. And Steven, um

uh that that took a lot of it a lot of that uh strain away because then it then it wasn't making fun of people. And there, you know I just there's no I don't like playing pranks on in in terms of i being unkind or trying to make someone looks stupid unless they deserve to look stupid. But

More often than not, these people didn't. They were you know, some of them were just eccentric, but who cares? Like that's yeah. That's the spice of life. And so do you think that Adam McKay, who wrote and directed Anchorman, wrote Brick with you in mind? I don't think so, no.

Not at all. Because I mean, we've all seen the the audition. It's so that character is Chef's Kiss. That might have been the most fun I've ever had professionally. Like with those guys. Well, one of the things we do every day when we were shooting, and it was really like my first big it's one of one of the first things I ever did. Um And I just, I couldn't believe my good fortune. I thought this might be it. You know, this might be the one that I just this m might be one and done. And uh I

I'm gonna I'm I'm going to enjoy it. Yeah. But what what we used to do during uh they used to do dailies every day. And watch them and you'd watch everyone would watch them. They'd have a a dailies trailer on set. And it was all on film still. So you'd watch from a few days before they develop the film and you'd just see selections from a few days earlier.

And so we'd have lunch. This was every day. We'd have lunch. And then the four of us and and other cast members too and the producers would go into this trailer and we'd all get hot fudge Sundays. Eating hot fudge Sundays and watching the dailies. Oh my god. And acting is so hard. I yeah I know. I know. I mean, I thought this is this what it's Is this it? As a kid As a little kid, this is what you would dream that acting would be. Yes. Yes. It's what you would dream. Um

And it was just pure joy. Oh, and you would just laugh at what you had done a couple of days before. And most, you know And I'm sure you're the same way. Watching yourself, you're like, but get to somebody else's stuff. Totally. And it's Just to watch what everybody else is doing. Because you can't really watch while you're in it, while you're doing it, but to kind of watch objectively. Oh yeah.

I don't know if I nailed it, but I'm gonna be in a funny movie. I don't know if I yeah. I don't know if I'm gonna be the funny one in the funny movie, but I'm gonna but I'm gonna be in one. If I if I can not be if I cannot detract from everyone else being funny, that's usually right what I feel my job is. If I

Because I feel like when people you can tell when people want to be the funniest thing and are trying when it gets sweaty and they're trying super hard. Yeah. And I I don't know how how you feel about improv as used in film. I have a strong feeling about it actually. Well,'cause I I feel like especially during that time. So I was in Anchorman. I got cut.

You were in the fight the battle scene. I was in the um Were you in one? No, in the original one in the original Anchorman there was a whole other, if you remember that giant the alarm clock. The alarm clock. That's right. So there was I wasn't in the alarm clock, but there you people who have the DVD extras know there was like a whole other world of like bad guys that got cut out of that movie. I think an hour's worth of material at Meyer Rudolph.

Chuck D from Public Enemy because of course. Kevin Corrigan. They were like the weather underground. They were this like, you know, um feisty group of rebels. you know, uh, trying to upset the city. I don't know how it had to do with you guys. But it was pages and pages and months and months. And I was I did a scene with them where I was like a bank teller.

You know, like a belligerent bank teller or something. But I went and worked for a day. And so I have a picture of me and Chuck D and me and Maya in a great outfit and we're like, We're gonna be an anchor man and then McKay was like, We're not gonna be I don't know. There's a whole other movie out there. Well, there was another like a flashback scene that I don't know if we shot or whether I it's it's kind of a blur. But the idea was there's it's it's a bit of a brick.

uh backstory, origin story, that he was their platoon leader. In in Vietnam. And he was like the biggest badass. Oh wow. And then like, follow me. We're getting this shit done. That kind of thing. And and then you cut to now he's he's their trusty mascot. Yeah. But you don't know what happened in between. Really funny. That's really funny. In in terms of

There was a lot of improv. Yeah. So during that time there was a lot of like and Adam loves to improvise and totally and like great. And I used to love it'cause I felt like I I could do it well. But it also it d it did wear me down a little bit as the years went on. Yeah.

No, I d I agree. Do you feel this way about improv? I do, which is sometimes people are like, It's great, you can improvise and I'm like Oh it's here I here's my take. What's your take? I I think it's I think it's a great tool. Mm-hmm. But I don't think it is the the I think it's a means to an end. Mm-hmm. I don't think it's let's just do a big improv thing. Yeah. Because

And and and I think this was true on The Office. Mm-hmm. The scripts were great on that show. Like really strong every every episode. And can I ask you a question? Yeah. About Parks and Rec. Yeah. So You, you know, you led that show for so many years.

Did you ever Wha how did you maintain the uh the dignity of that character and like how did how did you How are you able to center that character all the way through? Because I think it's very easy for, you know, when writers turn over. when staffs turn over, sometimes new writers are more fans of the show and are kind of writing to the most obvious elements of a character as opposed to you know, people who were like the creators of the actu actual the writers who created the character. Um

So how did do you feel like you protected your character going through That's a good question. I feel like uh the the short answer is Mike Scher, who really was the best captain and just kept everyone's characters very sacred and safe and really paid attention to what we would and wouldn't say. Um, I think we started off like a little

wacky and we had to adjust on the fly. So we did some like early adjusting on that show and then locked in after that. Um but I know what you mean. Like there would be times where I would have to say like, I don't know if I don't know if this is too far. I don't know. But not a lot. I feel like everyone was in flow there. Everyone really got it. But it it's funny that you bring up that.

Exact thing because parks and recreation w came after the office and there's really only two people that I've been told I am a poor man's version of. And one of them is you, which I take I take that as high compliment. And but like we came I would take that as a huge insult. We were all you know, Parks and Rec had the worst launch ever.

Everyone was like, This is not the office. We don't like this. I just remember being like and we're like, you're not Steve and you're not uh we don't like it. And I remember being like, Oh, I think I just dissociated and was just like, well But our our pilot, you heard about our pilot. I know, and I want to talk about the pilot was the lowest testing pilot in the history, I think, of NBC. It it people people really hated it. Like not just Just kind of They actively hated it. And I don't

quite know how it got legs after that. Well I I I I remember the moment so w Mike Scher who was writing was running update in I wasn't doing update then but I was just a on a cast member on S and L And we were watching the British office like everyone else and loving it.

And I remember they were gonna make the American version and everyone was like, This is a terrible idea. This is a terrible idea. No one no one can be as good as Ricky Gervais. No one can do that show. And then we heard it was you. And we were like, Oh. Oh, whoever's making the show wants it to be funny. You know, like it was this thing of like, oh, that's a very, very good choice. Well, Greg Daniels is was a

is a great producer. And he's also kind of uh he's very adept at putting together casts. Yeah. Like the the alchemy and the chemistry between those people. I and we all got along So well. Yeah. We're we all bonded instantly and we all felt like we were a part of a team. There was no there was no hierarchy at all in that cast. So I I attribute that to him. Yeah. Um But the

You know, I'm a poor man's Ricky Gervais. But you never watched the I didn't. And never have watched the UK. No. Even now. No, I've watched all of his other shows, but I've never watched I know what you mean. I don't know if I would have wanted to watch either. I just would have felt too stressed about I watched like a minute of one of the show uh of him.

And he was so good. Yeah. And so specific and so funny. I thought if I watch a second more, I'm just gonna go on an audition with that. I I won't be able to even imagine it a different way. And I mean, are you like me? I mean, I don't enjoy comedy. No, I can't no. I never especially with me. And comedy that's done well? No. No.

Yeah, so you went in not knowing, you not watching the yeah. And it well, it's funny that you guys all heard, oh, oh, the uh, you know, they're doing an American version and everyone had the same reaction. And I remember Rudd. Rudd pulled me aside and was like, don't do it, man. Don't don't audition. Don't audition. It is like There is no there's no way. Yeah. Everyone was like, Don't even touch this. Don't touch this. Ten foot pole. And did you have like a a major

premise or theme about Michael's arc? Like if you would to sum it up, would you say what was like what was his Um early on This this was like a dream come true. for him to be in a documentary and be be able to not only uh be in charge of all of these people, but to have the ability to perform. and be watched and and be loved. Right. It's I think so much of of who he

who he is was was about being loved. Just being wanting so good. L I wouldn't even say respect. I think I I think he just wanted to be loved. Um And the last like a year before I knew I was going to leave, I talked to Greg about like what potentially the the last arc for him would be. And I did want there to be a sense of of growth for him. Yeah. That uh I said one th one thing I'm gonna pitch is that the last day

is not the last day. Like everyone thinks that they're gonna have a they're going to have a party for him. But he leaves the day before. Because he doesn't he doesn't need it. He doesn't he wants to say goodbye on his own terms and he's sort of beyond being celebrated that way. And he's that's that's I that I thought would be

An interesting way for him to go out. The Office is a show that people watch when they're stressed. when they're sad. And during I'm sure you had this happen too, like during the pandemic, everybody rewatched those shows. They went back to it. Like you have provided and and everyone on that show has provided this like feeling of Safety and security in in a time when people are very, very anxious and they return over and over again. I've provided a public service, really.

Uh oh. You got cocky. You got cocky. You got cocky. Don't get cocky. No, but it's true. But it's true. It is it's nice. Like we've we fell in love with the journey of Michael and we really, really We do. We love him. And I will say like what your Um, what your what the office did for me and watching it with my kids is like exactly the way in which they enjoyed and learned this feeling.

of what the kids would call like cringe. But the sparkly weird feeling of like, oh no, like tension and a little bit of stress about what is Michael gonna do and say and how is he gonna do it and then watching him swing and miss over and over again. while still being loved is like they just l they didn't know how to put that into words, but they loved that. They loved that about him. It's such a I mean congrats on a great show. I don't know what else to say. I have no question here, you know.

What did you say to Pam at the airport? Tell us what you said to Pam. I leaned in, I went just to make it look like I was saying something. You did? You didn't? No. No, you did say something. No, we had we had a very

A very emotional shared moment. Love that moment. Such a good moment. Okay. So we we do uh something on the show where we talk. to people who know our guests and who are um friends of our guests to get a question asked them and we talk well behind their back and so we talked to Stephen Cobert today. Oh my gosh. I know. He was in his living room. It looked like a liv or study. Mm hmm. I was s so psyched to talk to him because like you, Stephen, you both were

You know, I kind of only got to know you later. I didn't know you in Chicago and you were both these examples of like, you know, aspirational performers who I wanted to be in in any way like. And Steven talked a lot about those early times with the two of you and and what it was like to watch you on stage and And he talks about like how you can do almost anything, you know, like that you have this ability.

to be really, really big and really small and you can have these characters that are really shallow and really deep. He told us that you can play any instrument, which I did not know. That you're like very good at brass instruments. Is that a lie? Pretty amazing, isn't it? Did you learn? Did you take lessons? I took lessons. Like what was your what was your instrument of church choice? Oh dang. I know, right? You were like ladies. You were like You're like ladies, I've got a bear chair.

I uh I play the baritone horn in the market. Why why'd you pick the baritone horn? I love the tone. I wanna know what it sounds like. It's sometimes I it's it's also called a euphonium. It's basically a small tuba. I know. Sexy. I play the small tuba. Yeah. And I also played the first one. Would you like to go on a second date? Do you like that? The five? Yeah. Um sorry, I can't I gotta get commercials off of my YouTube. YouTube if you can find a way to Okay, here we go.

Yeah. It's somewhere between a trombone tuba and a French horn. Trombone teacher. This podcast is going to elevate baritone horn players like never before. I love Tony. Here we go. Right. Young player starts on euphonium, you've probably leave Euphonium or baritone horn. Right. Well, I it's a quite a large instrument. Yeah. You hold it like this. Yep. And I had the bell that went out like this and Did you play in the band? So I played in the band. I played in the jazz band. I played yeah.

I played it. I played it at Second City. Stephen Colbert had to learn how to play the baritone horn because he was my undersetter. Yes, he mentioned that he had to understudy and he had to learn the baritone horn in like six days. Unbelievable. And he did. Talk about somebody who can do anything. Like I I mean, I'd played the baritone horn since I was in fourth grade. He learned it in six days. So

Yeah. And he told me that you he he also taught me a word. I've completely forgotten it. It's a word on uh that describes when you make the sound of the vr the vr. Do you remember the name of the word? Ombouchure? Yes.

Embouchure. Um what was it like working with Steven and and what do you remember about meeting him for the first time and um Wow. I I I just think I you know, I think about him a lot, to be honest. I I just I have I'm in awe of him. He's so smart. He's so funny. He he is someone who can literally do anything. He's he can sing. He c he's a great writer. Uh one of the funniest people I know. And

a gr a wonderful d father and husband, like just like one of these straight arrow, yeah, I would trust him with my life kind of guys. Um And we got a lot. Working with him, you know, when you work well, you and Tina, when you know someone can finish your sentence. I I I mentioned that to him that like there's a feeling as we get older when people knew us when that feels really

like beyond special and valuable. It's like you just have been through a lot with someone. Yeah. And when you've met them at the beginning of what eventually will be like the best thing about your life other than your family. Yeah. and your um partners is is like you're just they knew they knew you when you were struggling like in that you just they they have a part of your life in them and you and theirs. Yes. And that's what it feels like with the two of you.

Well it for me too. Yeah. I I and uh to to to learn at the same time. Yeah. And to be going through and I'm sure, you know, y certainly you and Tina experienced that and others to have that As you were saying, like those sort of formative years when you don't really know what you're doing. Yeah. But you're having fun and you're all having fun together and you're trusting each other.

And I think that's one of the great things about Second City was just learning how to trust other people. And um and I just I just trust him. And I as a person, as a performer, um He's just fun. He's a I I c I c I can't wait to see what his next thing is because Well, we were talking about it and we think you should decide. What his next thing is? Yes. Well, I'm always pitching the two of us doing a play.

I love that. That's a great idea. I'd love to do a play with him. I think it would be or or anything. Um honestly. I would I would That's a great idea. Do anything with him. His question for you, uh because of course it was, was very thoughtful. And interesting which was

You know, he was saying, like, I've I've known Steve for so long, but I don't really know his process. We've never really talked about it. In terms of like, is there a difference between when you're doing something dramatic and doing something comedic? Do you think about it differently? Do you approach it differently? I'll preface this by saying

Whenever I hear an actor start to talk about their own. A character doesn't know if they're in a comedy or a drama. Mm-hmm. They're just living their life. Right. And so if funny things happen around this character, then the movie or the show is a comedy. But if it's tragic or or scary or whatever, it's it leans towards drama. Sometimes it's a mixture of both. But

But I I think if if you can tell a character knows they're in a comedy, it's intrinsically less funny. Yes. Like I look, I like look somebody like Alan Arkin or Peter Sellers and They always seemed very true to their characters. They were never like you couldn't tell whether Alan Arkin was doing something intensely dramatic or something crazily funny. Yes. It was the same like not the same kind of not the same acting. He played different characters.

But he was equally committed to both of them and never letting on. He was never winking like I'm in a comedy. Yeah. Here we go. Yeah. Watch this joke. You're gonna laugh. What do you ever sense actors sometimes waiting for the waiting for the laugh in a movie? They're like look around like they like a punchline. Like, wait a second, where the also the other thing that makes me so stressed out and like sweaty is in real life when people say like I'm funny. And I'm like, oof.

I don't know. I don't know. If you gotta say it out loud. I don't know. Have you ever had an executive I I had an executive once say, Listen,

I know comedy. Okay. Like I know it. I know it. I know it. I've studied it, okay? It's such a subjective thing. And and and th and reverse it, right? Like if you if I went up to like a you know, an like if I went up to Merrill and I was like, I'm pretty dramatic Like reverse it'd be like I'm pretty good at being pretty sad. Pretty deep.

I'm pretty I can get pretty sad and people will buy it. I think when I cry, I'm gonna make other people cry. So I've cried. Something to cry A lot of my friends have seen me cry. But Steve, I I mean I'm gonna glaze you for a second. Beautiful boy, fox catcher, the patient. You're so good at that that that series was so incredible. I loved you in four seasons. I loved that series and I look forward for season two and your ghost, obviously haunt haunting the set. I don't know. Um

I just think I should be in background. I think I should just like where's Baldo in background and I just like turn but like almost It's like was that inscrutable. Like you can't yeah. You can't tell if it's me or not. But but I love what she said about the two of you working together'cause I do think that you both have similar qualities. You you work really hard, you're very professional, and you're shyer than people would think, both of you.

Yeah, well I r we talked about that. Like we worked together before and it took us fifteen years after that to become friends. Because it is true. I'm I'm very I think closed off is what you the word you're looking at. I'm not shy. I'm just impenetrable. But um but are you? I I'm pretty shy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I well, I guess I would I I I bet people think like you're gonna be the life of the party. Oh no. Yeah. Do you remember? Coming to my house for the I loved your house.

But but tell that story. So Nancy and I had a dinner party uh for the Oscars one year. That was so fun. And had a had a few couples over. And Uh, it was really fun. It was fun to have everybody over. But that's that's very unlike us. Like we don't w I don't know, we're not I think we're more social now th I've that we're getting older, I guess. Time's running out. I have to solidify some of these friendships.

But um so the Oscars and we had a very nice dinner and we taped it. We put it you know, we we were taping the Oscars. And Yeah, we ate first like civilized and then we were gonna be like, let's go we're gonna skip the commercial and we can fast forward through the awards that we like. And we looked at the the tape and we hadn't add added the extension and Oscars always go long.

So like the big awards we missed. We completely missed. Yeah. And we were frantic, like I think somebody got online. We just started announcing like Kind of acting it out. I my my memory of that time and feeling was that it was really fun. Like so I can only imagine the stress of like, oh shit, we didn't record the Oscars. But also I mean, that was just fun. That was so fun. But yeah, I think that people probably assume that you're gonna be kind of crazy.

Yeah, I'm pretty yeah. I'm yeah I'm not I'm not out there. No who know who I really envy uh envy I admire is uh Will. Yeah like he just owns it. Will Farrell. Like he'll show yeah, Will Farrell. He he he'll show up at a a Kings game He was wearing a refs uniform the other day, just sitting in his seat. He came as as Uh his character from Elf.

year before last and was just smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer. But he just he just kind of owns it. I know. And he people love it. And I'm s I'm way too introverted to do that. Yeah. I won one time. And I would never do this, but I thought I'm just gonna do it. I was in Beverly Hills, I was driving around and a tour bus. Went bye. And I thought, I'm gonna I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna wave. And I went, hey everybody, not a person. They acknowledged, they were like, what? Who's that?

And I I I shrank into this little ball like last time I'm ever doing anything. They were like, What have you been in? And you were like, Um, what yeah You just start listing your resume. Oh man. I was like, why did I even do that? Yeah. Oh god. That was like No. Oh God. Oh God. I I mean I you're you're I mean, that is what I love about you, Steve. It's like I feel like

Well, for many things. One is that I feel like you're just such a incredible actor, performer, and and and collaborative person to work with and and I do look forward to being in the play that you and Steven do together. Yes. Um how about who's afraid of Virginia? Well. Wanna do it? Yes. Alright.

Two things though. I like to go to bed early and I don't want to do as many performances as they make you do. I think about our times when like the hardest part of our day was at the end of our day when we would do our shows and it was like in jeans. shuffling out there. Be like, can we get a word to get started? Like a bunch of lazy motherfuckers. Shout a few things out. Shout it, just shout it out. Where do we work?

Where do the two of us work? What's our relationship? What's my first line? What's my last line? And what are some of the lines in between? But you have been killed off on a couple shows. Morning show you were killed off. Morning show, the patient. The last three shows. The last three shows. The last three shows have been killed off. What's going on? I people love to see me killed off.

It's a thing. Yeah. Now your new show, you're not. No Okay, let's talk about Rooster. Yet. Season one. So far so good. Okay. It just came out on it just came out on HBO. Yeah. W what is it about? It's about My my character, Greg, is a writer, not unlike uh Carl Hyesen, whose daughter is a professor at a prestigious East Coast University.

I go to that university to just do a uh reading and In order my my daughter kind of gets into some trouble and the president of the university this is a long winded version. President of the university asks if I'll stay on as a resident, you know, a writer in residence. And so I become the writer in residence at this college that my daughter and so my it it really changes the dynamic between uh me and my daughter. And it's like you stepping into this like

academic world. Yeah. I'd like to see you as a professor. I like that a lot. Yeah. It's fun. Yeah. I think it's really and the cast is stacked. Such a good, good group. What's it like doing another show with like, how does it feel? Yeah really It was great. Yeah. It was it it had that sense of freedom. Yeah. And that sense of anything can happen at any time. We can try stuff. Um everybody's. a great improviser. People, you know, s talking before about improvising

In character, on point. Everybody's so good at that. So great. Um it's it's very well written and funny. Yeah. I I love it. I I I really love it. Congrats on that. It's great. It's gonna be my parents' favorite show. I

Hope to run into them at that restaurant. Well I was hoping actually. Would you would you mind if we just FaceTime them quick? Oh my gosh. Do you mind? No. Cause I told them that we were interviewing you. And my mom texted back, okay, it was the Gibbet Hill Grill. Yeah. In Groton Mass. Yeah. Now when I call my dad before When I texted my dad and said, Where did you see Steve Carell? He didn't answer me back. And mom said he was at the gym. Let's let's see if we can get a hold of him.

Hi mama. I've got s I've got Steve Carell here. Oh my god, how are you? How are you? How is how was your meal? It was very nice. I believe I had the stuff scrawled. Scrun. Scrunchy. Now scrub is a Boston fan. We were talking about how d Steve doesn't seem like he's from Boston. He doesn't have any kind of accent. But neither do you, Mom. Oh, don't even make fun of me. I know you're gonna ask me to say screw. Tonika How mad is dad gonna be that he didn't answer the phone? He's at the gym.

Oh Bill's right here, Steve, do you mind? Of course. Steve Corell's on the phone here. Steve Corell. Hey. are you just lounging He's lounging on the uh recliner. He's in his recliner. What time is it there? Hi Pop, look who you secured for me. Yeah. Uh, do I get any uh benefit from that? Yeah, like a what do you call it? Like a find find screen? Yes, find its fee. Are you uh you when you go out to restaurants now, are you just gonna be like s scoping for people for the show?

That's what we kinda do. Uh you'd be interested to know what I said after you left. I said, His wife is beautiful. Weird. Weird. Thanks, Dad. Yeah, what's that about? Hey Mrs. Polar, that's not right. That's weird. Don't let your husband talk much that's that's gross. I I'm I'm filing for divorce now that I Well, thanks you guys for the assist. We had a great interview and dad I owe you a couple of bucks. Bye.

So, Steve, thank you for being with my parents. And before I before before I finish, I gotta ask you my most important question, which I almost forgot to ask you, which is what is making you laugh these days? What are what are what are you watching, reading?

Who's making you laugh? What do you like? I Nancy and I just started we're late to it, but just started watching uh The Righteous Gemstone. And that first season was uh such a joy. Loved it. Danny Incredible. Incredible. But can we talk about um Edie for a second? Mm-hmm. Edie Patterson on that show. I'd never seen her before. Oh my God. She's so funny. So see that's when when you start when you see someone that just comes out of the blue. Yeah. And

uh uh unexpected and like a completely different approach to yeah a character. Um so unique. And specific. Yeah. I know. And t talk about like improvising in character. Mm-hmm. She D na like everything she's saying is tumbling out of her mouth, it seems like. Yeah. I don't know how much is written or improvised, but it looks like a lot is improvised, but I don't know.

But everything is kind of tumbling out of her mouth, but it's never ever a false note. She's just staying in the Yeah. All those characters are nuts. Yeah. I really like it. That is an amazing cast, John Goodman. I love John Goodman. I do too. Adam Devine. Yeah, it's really good. I I and it's one of those I just I it just kind of You know, I've heard good things and started watching it. Let me call my parents and see what they think. Okay, let's see. Thank you, Steve. Thank you for doing this.

Thank you, Steve Corell. Um, thank you for talking to my parents. Um You know, for this polar plunge, I just wanna reiterate how grateful and lucky I am to uh be a Boston girl. You know, me and Steve are Boston kids who made it big and um It is really nice always to feel like you were part of a community and that's what being from Boston feels like. So, um

Don't come at me, Boston, if I said one thing that made you mad, all right? Let it roll off your shoulders, all right? Cause you're still the best, number one. Don't forget. Um Boston Forever. Uh go soft. Okay, thanks for listening and uh we'll catch you next time on Good Hang by.

You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss Berman, and me, Amy Polar. The show is produced by The Ringer and PaperKite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spillane, Kaya McMullen and Alea Zaniris. For Paperkite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy Miles. Two teams. One cup.

The primetime stage is set for the TGL presented by SoFi Finals, Los Angeles Golf Club versus Tigers Jupiter Lynx. Keep up, it's playoffs. Tune in Monday, march twenty third, nine PM Eastern on ESPN two, and Tuesday, March twenty fourth, seven PM Eastern on ESPN and on the ESPN app. The UPS store is making packing and shipping Easter gifts quicker than ever this year with UPSA. Quicker than a walk around the park.

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