Actor Eric Edelstein joins Matt and guest co-host Steve Berg to discuss his role as Detective Smiley Fusco in the 2017 return of Twin Peaks. Eric tells of how he went from being a fan of the original series to having a role in the return written specifically for him, what it was like to engage in Transcendental Meditation with David Lynch, and his experiences acting opposite Kyle MacLachlan. Plus, the three Drunk History vets reminisce about their respective appearances on the comedy program. Th...
Apr 23, 2024•1 hr
Actress and improviser Janet Varney joins Matt to discuss her role as Party Girl in the 2004 superhero film Catwoman. Janet tells us whether shooting party scenes are as bad as being at a party with people you dont know, crying on the drive home at 5am, and running into someone from her childhood on set. Plus, we hear how Janet had to pretend to be invisible for a pre-read for the role of Invisible Woman in Fantastic Four. This episode is brought to you by Audible (www.audible.com/WASTHERE) and ...
Apr 16, 2024•43 min
Actor Kevin Page joins Matt to discuss his role as Kinney in the 1987 action film RoboCop. Kevin talks about having to choose between continuing theatre or taking the role and what it was like getting obliterated by ED-209 and becoming the most squibbed man in film history. Plus, Kevin tells us about using a robot for an art gallery he owned for a couple of years and his role as Stu Chermack on Seinfeld. This episode is brought to you by Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: WASTHERE) and Hello ...
Apr 09, 2024•40 min
Actress Alanna Ubach joins Matt and guest co-host Amanda Lund this week to discuss her role as Serena in the 2001 comedy Legally Blonde. Alanna shares how Jessica Cauffiel helped her book the role by having her mirror her movements, improvising her Vietnamese line, and being an adopted blonde. Plus, we hear Alanna answer important questions like Why was Warner such a dork?, as she answers questions asked by Matts parents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Apr 02, 2024•44 min
Actress Azure Parsons joins Matt this week to discuss her role as Charmaine Boudreaux on the hit television series "True Detective." She tells Matt about her first reaction to reading her part as well as the strategies she took to enmesh herself into such a dark mindset. Then, she shares the unusual way in which she nabbed the role and her recollections of run-ins with Woody Harrelson. Later, Matt gets fellow "True Detective" actors Christopher Berry and Dave Davis on the line to talk about gett...
Mar 26, 2024•1 hr 7 min
In anticipation of the 40th anniversary, former child actor Cary Guffey joins Matt to share his memories of playing little Barry Guiler in Stephen Spielberg's 1977 classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Cary discusses what it was like to act in a movie before he'd seen one and explains how he earned the nickname "One Take Cary." Then, he tells the story of how he called out Richard Dreyfuss for missing a line during a scene, shares what it was like to be a part of the cultural zeitgeist fro...
Mar 19, 2024•42 min
Actor and comedian Tom Arnold joins Matt to give us a behind the scenes look on what it was like working alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the James Cameron 1994 action film True Lies. Tom tells us about how he ended up bonding with Arnold and James in his audition for the role of Albert Gib Gibson, many of his ad-libs making it into the final cut of the film, and James making a reluctant Arnold do a dangerous stunt by doing it in front of him. Plus, Tom confirms some trivia surrounding the mov...
Mar 12, 2024•40 min
Matt is back from his honeymoon to interview Steve Agee about his role as Gef the Ravager in the 2017 Marvel film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. In a I Was There Too first, Matt and Steve have a pre-interview before watching the film together. Among many great stories Steve reveals about his time on the film such as Stallone in the bridge chair, catching on fire himself, and getting beer squibbed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 05, 2024•59 min
While Matt is off getting married and honeymooned, I Was There Too will feature a special run of guest hosted episodes! This week actor Michael Ensign joins guest host Mark McConville to discuss the 1984 film Ghostbusters. Michael tells us about the multiple takes of his scene as the Hotel Manager due to the improvisation from the rest of the cast, his character standing up to Peter Venkman, and not realizing the popularity of the film until watching it in a theater with an audience saying the l...
Feb 27, 2024•51 min
While Matt is off getting married and honeymooned, I Was There Too will feature a special run of guest hosted episodes! This week actor Jack Grinnage joins guest hosts Amanda Lund and Maria Blasucci to discuss the 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause. Jack explains how he lied about his age to get a role in the movie, his college friendship with actress Beverly Long, and how they built the action around James Deans strengths. Then, they talk about the evolution of craft services, why everyone wanted ...
Feb 20, 2024•59 min
While Matt is off getting married and honeymooned, I Was There Too will feature a special run of guest hosted episodes! This week actor Peter Mayhew joins guest host Ben Blacker to discuss playing Chewbacca in every Star Wars movie. Peter tells us about how a photo of him in a local paper lead to him getting the role of a minotaur in Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, receiving a phone calls months later being offered a role in a little movie called Star Wars, his working relationship with Harriso...
Feb 13, 2024•58 min
While Matt is off getting married and honeymooned, I Was There Too will feature a special run of guest hosted episodes! This week actor David Dastmalchian joins guest host Steve Agee to discuss the 2013 thriller Prisoners and the 2015 superhero film Ant-Man. David tells us about being very grateful about landing the part of Bob Taylor in Prisoners, thinking he had actually hurt Jake Gyllenhaal during filming, and being thankful to director Denis Villeneuve for the opportunity to be a part of Bla...
Feb 06, 2024•1 hr 10 min
Once again Matt has lovingly pieced together a collection of the best anecdotes told on I Was There Too about experiences on the set of the Star Wars trilogy, Back to The Future, Die Hard, and many more. Youll hear from Steven de Souza, Tom Wilson, Lauren Lapkus, Ahmed Best, Jimmy Pardo, and more on topics ranging from beating Michael Jackson for the role of Jar Jar Binks to down to the wire re-shoots for Die Hard. Plus, Matt checks in with Starship 1, the mysterious real person that auditioned ...
Jan 30, 2024•59 min
Actor Ahmed Best joins Matt for a jumbo sized episode of I Was There Too to discuss playing Jar Jar Binks in The Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. Recorded live from Largo at the Coronet as well as the Earwolf studio, Ahmed tells us about the many stand in roles he played during the filming of the films, being pulled from the cast of Stomp in San Francisco, and contributing his own ideas on what the iconic Yoda lightsaber battle should look like purely as a fan of Star Wars. Plus, we find out if Ahmed ...
Jan 23, 2024•1 hr 8 min
In a first for I Was There Too, Matt ventures outside his home to watch a movie still in theaters, Kong: Skull Island. He is joined by the incredible Marc Evan Jackson who talks about his role in the film as Landsat Steve. If you havent seen the film, shower, get dressed, get in your car, go the theater, watch the film, and listen to this episode! Stay tuned after the interview for a preview for an upcoming podcast mini-series by Amanda Lund, a follow up to her brilliant podcast 'The Complete Wo...
Jan 16, 2024•51 min
Presented by the Alamo Drafthouse and recorded live from The Regent Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, Matt speaks with screenwriter Steven de Souza about the 1987 film The Running Man and 1988 film Die Hard. Steven lays urban myths to rest and goes in depth about both films including the unavoidable political aspects of the now 30 year old film The Running Man compared to todays political climate and the ever changing script almost down to the wire of Die Hard. Plus, we hear a bit how the cult cl...
Jan 09, 2024•58 min
Actor Jeffrey Weissman joins Matt this week to discuss his unique experience of playing George McFly in Back to the Future Part II and III after Crispin Glover left the films. Jeffrey tells us about the mix of acting and impression that went along with playing the role, being in a weird place as the new replacement on set, and hearing Crispins thoughts using his likeness. We also hear about Jeffreys other roles in Clint Eastwoods Pale Rider, Johnny Dangerously, Twilight Zone: The Movie, and Save...
Jan 02, 2024•47 min
Actor and artist Tom Wilson joins Matt this week to discuss being present (but also past and future) in the Back to the Future Trilogy as Biff Tannen, among other members of the Tannen clan. Tom tells us about finding a creative way to approach being asked the same questions about the films, which includes creating a handy postcard to present to anyone on the street that asks him the same questions over and over. We also hear what it was like for him - as someone who was bullied - to play a bull...
Dec 26, 2023•49 min
In another edition of I Wasnt There Too, professional comedian and Never Not Funny host Jimmy Pardo joins Matt to talk about being cut from the 2006 musical drama Dreamgirls. Jimmy goes deep into how his role of comedian was offered to him out of the blue, befriending an extra while being on set for 13 hours to shoot his one line, and when he heard the news of when his role was cut. Plus, Jimmy tells us about being cut out of The Informant!, Bob Odenkirk giving him a push to do stand-up comedy w...
Dec 19, 2023•55 min
Actor Dileep Rao has had the pleasure of working with auteur filmmakers Sam Raimi, James Cameron, and Christopher Nolan. Dileep joins Matt this week to talk about playing Yusuf, the dream chemist in Christopher Nolans 2010 film Inception and Dr. Patel in James Camerons 2009 film Avatar. He also comments on the validity of the Inception fan theories, being able to come to James Cameron with additions to his character, and how working with Sam Raimi on Drag Me to Hell was like working with family....
Dec 12, 2023•48 min
Celebrate the true holiday of the season, The Wookiee Life Day with Matt and special guest and professional camera man Larry Heider who has worked on countless TV projects including the infamous and wonderful Star Wars Holiday Special from 1978. Join them as they discuss how this special came to be including what Larry observed behind the scenes and all the great photos he took along the way. Plus, one more special visit from Starship 1, the mysterious real person that did audition for Star Wars...
Dec 05, 2023•54 min
Live from the Now Hear This Festival, actor, author, cat lover, and vanguard podcaster Marc Maron joins Matt to talk about his role as the Angry Promoter in the 2000 Cameron Crowe film Almost Famous. Marc tells us all about the pants his character wears, how his scene has now since established a catchprhase in the intro of his popular podcast WTF with Marc Maron, and why this role fits just right in his personal range as an actor. He also talks about his cats Monkey & LaFonda, what its like ...
Nov 28, 2023•59 min
On this very special 50th episode of I Was There Too, Matt invites you all along on his journey to fulfill a lifelong dream of getting professionally squibbed. Substitute host and podcast brethren Mark McConville interviews Matt and andrew from J&M Special Effects throughout the process and fellow podcast soulmates Paul F. Tompkins and Jeremy Carter beautifully provide the taut action drama of the fictional scenario in which Matt is to be fake shot. Plus, Matts dad, stepmom, and fiancée join...
Nov 21, 2023•39 min
Yub nub! On the final of three very special Star Wars trilogy episodes of I Was There Too, Matt is joined by Kevin Thompson who played the Ewoks Chubbray and Paploo in the original 1983 film Return Of The Jedi. Kevin tells us how he went from being a street mime to auditioning for the movie, how they shot swinging off the speeder bike, and the true danger that comes from being in the stunt world. He also talks about his role as Bear in the 1982 film Blade Runner and his reaction to finally getti...
Nov 14, 2023•59 min
On a very important bonus episode of I Was There Too, we will finally have the answer to the question asked last episode: Who physically played the body of The Emperor in the original version of The Empire Strikes Back? We know that Cio-Cio the chimp was used for the superimposed eyes of The Emperor. But did Elaine Baker or Marjorie Eaton ultimately appear onscreen? Matt shares some new information and interviews Cio-Cio the chimp to finally put this mystery to rest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...
Nov 10, 2023•9 min
On the second of three very special Star Wars trilogy episodes of I Was There Too, Matt is joined by Clive Revill who voices The Emperor in the pre-special edition 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back. Clive tells us about how director Irvin Kershner reached out to him for the role, finding the voice for The Emperor, and his thoughts on the final physical representation. Then, expert witnesses Pete the Retailer and Alex Robinson of the Star Wars Minute podcast join Matt to figure out who and actual...
Nov 07, 2023•55 min
On the first of three very special Star Wars trilogy episodes of I Was There Too, Matt is joined by Anthony Forrest who plays the sand trooper mind-tricked by Obi-Wan Kenobi at the Mos Eisley roadblock who said 'These arent the droids were looking for,' in George Lucas 1977 film Star Wars. Anthony tells us how he was cast as the sand trooper after also being cast as Luke Skywalkers friend Fixer in the deleted scenes from the film, not being able to see a thing in the helmet, and getting to work ...
Oct 31, 2023•51 min
Jazz and Bass veteran Putter Smith joins Matt this week to talk about playing the assassin Mr. Kidd in one of Matts all time favorite Bond films, Diamonds Are Forever. Well hear how he ended up getting a script for the film and doing a screen test with Paul Williams, getting to carry Sean Connery alongside fellow assassin Mr. Wint portrayed by Bruce Glover, and getting his arms burned for his death scene. Putter also tells us what it was like working with Thelonious Monk and the sessions for The...
Oct 24, 2023•45 min
Is there a guest as wonderful as Lauren Lapkus? Probably not. Lauren joins Matt to talk about playing Vivian, one of the control room workers dealing with the chaos that unravels in Jurassic World. We hear about how Lauren had to get NASA clearance to shoot her scenes, what it's like to be in a mega-blockbuster, and her experience auditioning for Star Wars Episode 8. As a bonus, Lauren tells us what it was like working alongside Joe Pesci and Don Rickles in a Snickers commercial. Later, Matt sha...
Oct 17, 2023•47 min
Rick Overton walked into his audition for Beverly Hills Cop and director Martin Brest asked him about a prophylactic. Why? He's still not sure. Rick joins Matt to talk about doing martial arts with Eddie Murphy on set, preparing for his role of Bonded Warehouse Night Manager with mirror douche work, and getting to improvise in the film. Then, we hear of Rick's experience playing Franjean, a brownie who serves as comic relief in Willow's journey, why Million Dollar Mystery fell apart, and getting...
Oct 10, 2023•38 min
