Good Hang with Amy Poehler
Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Steve Carell

2h ago1:17:0712,811 words
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Steve Carell's got a good embouchure. Amy hangs with the comedy legend and 'Rooster' star and talks about getting recognized in Massachusetts grocery stores, eating hot fudge sundaes on the set of 'An...

Transcript

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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 sketch

comedian who I first saw on the stage at Second City, and wanted to be like ever since.

Steve Karel, joining us, Steve and I are going to talk about a lot of things. We're going to talk about Second City. We're going to talk about Anchor Man. We're going to talk about the office. We're going to talk about the smooth tones of the baritone horn.

And we are going to 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 old roommate, a person who was there from the beginning, and who is also another hilarious and famous Steve, and that's Steve.

It's Steven Kobayer. >> Hello, Steven Kobayer, Bajoura. 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, with up to 597 miles per tank in the cross trek hybrid, a car that I've given my family

and up to 581 miles per tank in the forest or hybrid, another car that I also enjoy. Subaru. Love goes the extra mile, visit Subaru.com/hybrid to learn more, range based on EPA estimated combined fuel economy and a full tank of fuel, actual mileage and range may vary. I just want to start by saying, you were the senior to my freshman when I arrived at

Second City in Chicago, and it was you and Amy Sedaris and Correll, and Paul Nello, and

you were all getting ready to go to exit 57, which was, at the time, just the thought that you could go and be the captain on stage, and then go have your own sketch show, which just felt like such a dream. >> We had no idea what we're doing, and we thought that the answer was, what if we just

β€œworked 24 hours a day, wouldn't that make things funnier?”

And it made things weirder because you would fall into a chemo psychosis, and not have any sense. And I go back and I watch those sketches, now I go, take out the pace. >> Oh, yeah, are you doing? >> Oh, God, yeah, I look at our old sketches and I'm like, you want to go six minutes

on this? >> You really got it, you're going to stay up all night, fighting for cuts. >> Yeah. >> I think we play a little better if it was half the time. Was Second City where you and Steve first met?

>> Yeah, I was there, I mean, I worked there in the box office that didn't have any job. I had gone, I had done a gig overseas, and then I came back with no money, and little else, sleeping on a friend's floor, I didn't have a dime, and my friend Ann Libra said, she was the box office manager, and she said, you can answer phones here like two days a week if you need 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 mean, I never imagined that I would be at Second City because I

β€œwas, I was real in Prove, I was, I was, I had done, you know, I, I, I, I, I remember, I”

probably left pick, and those people talked a lot of shit about Second City. >> Yeah, there was a fun East Coast West Coast thing happening. >> How do you know? >> Yeah. >> I was like Lincoln Avenue, North Wales, this situation going on.

>> Yeah. >> And I was very much cross-currents, that's where we were, I did it cross-currents. >> Yeah. >> And then I went there and I saw the show and I was like, no man, I do, and then I went there and I saw the show and I went, oh, everybody here's cares just as much as anybody else.

They just happen to be sold out every night and this liquor. >> Right. >> I kind of like this. And then I took classes and I didn't know Steve, Steve had gotten there, year, year and a half ahead of me, something like that.

He was a little bit ahead of me in that, you might call process or like kind of rep system there and, and I didn't know him at all, a year later, a year after I started working there, I was invited to a audition and I auditioned and I got into the National Touring Company, which was like a red letter day in my career.

β€œI got into the tourco and I think I got hired like on a Thursday and then like on Saturday”

they said, can you go in at Northwest, because you used to be the theater on the Northwest? And I went, oh, yeah, sure, 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, you know how gifted musically he is right? >> I did not, I did not know that.

β€œ>> If it's made of brass, he can play it.”

>> Yeah. >> That's how. >> Me. I did not know that. >> I pick up a 10 whistle or a quarter, he can play, he plays the, I understudied for Steve.

When I was at, when I was in tourco, I finally said like, you're going to put me, you

got to let me understudied or I'm going to leave. >> I joy said, down threat, 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 love doing it, but I got to 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 understood you'd like ETC or something and

β€œthen they said, Crel's got to go, he's got like a browns chicken commercial.”

>> Yeah, big deal. >> You could live off that for years. >> Oh shit, man. >> Yeah. >> We're all jealous.

>> Oh yeah. >> Wait, he got a bacon bit spot, and so, he's selling, if you don't know what assurance to children, Jesus, that sounds like a great gig and I, so anyway, they said, could you, could you go for Crel and I said, he plays the euphony, he played the baritone horn, which is like a little tuba.

He plays the baritone horn in that do I have to play the baritone horn and they said yeah, yeah Yeah, I don't know how to play the baritone horn and they said okay, well, let's add it to do it And Scott adds it and I said no, no, no, no, I'll learn it. I'll learn it. When do I win? When do I win? And they said six days. Wow and so I and they wouldn't rent me a horn. No, got the horn. You can't spend it.

It costs like 450 bucks, which is like what you get paid in a month at second city, but I had to go in a

domain stage. And so I want to curl and I said, would you I don't can't be cheap music. Can you please write out the fingering for the horn and teach me an ambiture? You know what's an ambiture? Oh, that's the That's the thing that makes the sound in the horn and like you can get like three different I knew I was going to learn a new word from this interview. I knew you were going to teach me a great ambiture is a great word, especially if someone cuts a fart in front of you. And nice thing to

say is you got to say, oh, nice ambiture. You know, really tight on an armature. And um, French horn. And so anyway, 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 taps. Oh, you're hitting those drums? Wait, no, who is put um, listeners? I don't know if you can hear, but there's some drums happening in your house.

Is someone playing? That's my song. 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. Come on, Brooklyn. And so they're he's going now they're to practice because they're drummers out for the week. He was rubbing in first brother. Yeah. That's kind of like you want. That is all you want. That's exactly. I was going to say the

sound of your son practicing to sub in for your other son. That's like a dream. Yeah, I met Correll, uh, met Correll at Northwest, uh, back in in 1988. And so when you guys were on the daily show together, it was like, just like carbon together. Right, you were by the way, that viral clip.

I'm sure you've seen on your phone of you guys reacting to the incredible ad for the Dana Carvey

Rupert variety special. Yeah, it is 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

β€œof home improvement. And in it, Jonathan Taylor Thomas's character, I believe, 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 want to die, dad. And then the next voice over is and the mug rupere Dana Carvey show tonight on ABC. 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 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 said early on at second city that I

Realized, well, I think I should do this for the rest of my life, meaning com...

kind of biting whether I was going to do drama or comedy because I was doing straight theater and Chicago at the same time. And I, but we laughed 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'm like, if it can be this joyful, in failure and there's also another joy and success, then I'd be dumb not to pursue this for the rest of my life. But that's so beautifully said that it is joyful and failure. That is

beautifully said that's exactly it. It's almost like because there's so much empathy for what's happening to the person who's eating it. But if you know just to extrapolate on that even more, there has to be a belief that you'll be okay. I know you asked to for me to think of what I would want to ask. Yeah, what would you want to ask Steve? Thank you. The amazing thing about Steve is his ability to do anything. It is, I know a lot of talented people, but I don't know many

β€œpeople who can do almost anything. And, and first of all, I mean, I remember one of my really”

early impressions of Steve is while 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 tentiveness like like a scenic tension. And I see that same ability. Like I marveled with that

ability and also how 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 caligraphic 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 a 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. For different character and tension or with a different energy and tension. Or is he really just approaching in a totally different way? He's like well that's you know that's a sketch or that's something incredibly broad like anchor man or dinner for schmucks or now I'm doing fox capture. Yeah. Because he do it in a different way because I admire him so much in both directions. Same

and and as far as I know, he's never talked about his process. So I don't I've never seen him do it.

So I don't and I've worked with him since 1988. I mean we room together practically for 10 years and I don't know what it is. That's a great question. And I mean you're really good at this.

β€œYou should you should you should try to make this your job asking questions. Are there any”

I already of these jobs left? No. No. Okay. No. The podcast is. Well I thank you so much for this time. What a pleasure. Thanks so much. And 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 boss and over or he's playing a deep space nine which which has one of my favorite lyrics in any of his songs which is your your heads and deep space nine. I'm not taking you to family thanksgiving.

Vip. Vip clouds destroy 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. You know what I mean? Yeah. I mean I think Steve's going to be so happy that we talked because and we could talk about your relationship a lot today and I hope we do because

β€œit's very special. Back then I'm associated with him that people still come up to me and say Steve”

Karrell like they'll still get the name wrong. Yeah sure sure. I just love it. I feel that way about like I feel like you and Steve have a little bit of a with 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 what someday I'll do something someday. I'll do something with him again. Ask him what he's doing because tell him I need a gig. Okay great. Yeah we'll let Karrell pick your next gig. Okay perfect.

All right. All right. Thank you so much for having a great conversation. Thanks so nice talking to you.

Okay. Take care. Bye. This episode is brought to you by all state checking all state first could

save you hundreds on car insurance. That's smart. Not checking the meaning of a word all the kids say before using it yourself. Not smart. Not slayworthy. Yeah checking first is smart. So check all state first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with all state. Potential savings varies subject to terms conditions and availability all state North American insurance company and affiliates North Brook Illinois. Thank you for doing this.

Thanks for having me.

feel about somebody like based kind of on the first time you see them like you know you just get

β€œlike imprinted with when you first meet them at 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 bags like being like am I going to 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 to 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

yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah and you were you're 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. You got commercials. That was always so exciting

β€œto meet you remember Ken Campbell? Yeah sure. So Ken Campbell was the first one 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 the some complaints inside 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 going to get paid to do it. He's getting paid and he's in Hollywood and he's a big shot. He's going to have insurance everything. I remember coming out 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 watch and I remember he ordered steak and I thought oh man that guy has he's got it made. He's rolling in the restaurant or he's steak watching the show. Oh well speaking of steak and speaking of

restaurants before I go any further I need to point out you're the first guest the technically my

father booked for me. Bill Poler. Okay let's tell the story what happened. Nice is people. So back in back in Matthew. We'll see how this story goes. You were in my mom's home. I don't want to open a can of one. What all I know is I got a phone call saying good news we saw Steve Correll at a restaurant and we told him that he should be on your on your show. So we think we've booked him as what my parents said. I was like my dad and I was like what did you say?

That's exactly no he's you know Amy does a podcast like I know. Well let's set the scene you're in Matthew Tuesdays at a nice restaurant. A nice restaurant out in the burbs. Like it will do something like that give give it health. Yeah out in rotten masks. Yep. Like it was and nowhere near where we live. No we just I was meeting my brother out there. Yeah I know my parents were out there. I know that their friends Tom and Sue. Lovely lovely for some. They introduced

themselves and and we got to they were very charming lovely. Okay and I know that surprises you

β€œand and you're 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 off. You're like I think I have to be asked.

I'm not going to just throw my hat in like today. Today at awkward and they were like oh there must they got a light there's they must be a light. They were treated. They were like forget it. Oh no well maybe she doesn't have a park. I don't remember what you did. Maybe no no that's not right. There's somebody else who you're thinking that had a fight. They were so nice. Yeah so I think maybe that planted the sea. I mean I forget that you're a Boston boy. Yeah I grew up in

Acton. I know and why do I mean you don't see Mary Boston to me. How so like how? Well you're polite and thoughtful. I don't sit or 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 mean I love Boston. I love where I'm from. I love the directness. I love the like the real loyal like just really really good honest people.

But there is a tough in it. Well do you say it? There is a brightness and honestly I'm

Going to say it.

That I love but it's sometimes tough to me. If you know if you can anticipate that yeah. It's actually very charming. Very true. And you just kind of take it at face value because I remember going back and you know shop around 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

β€œlove you. Don't get cocky. Don't. Don't you're one of us. Don't embarrass us. Don't you dare grow or change?”

Mostly change. Yeah. Where did you go college? Denison University. And how did you go? Ohio. And then how did you find out about Second City? Touring company. Thank you too. Ohio State University. And we bought tickets and right then in there I thought that'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 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 not even your material. You're just going out performing someone else's stuff and it's making people laugh and it just I thought

β€œthat's it. That's what I wanted to do. When you were in college you were thinking about being an actor.”

I was a history major. Oh, that makes sense. So I was not allowing myself to kind of consider that seriously. Because you probably didn't know a lot of people who were actors growing up and had that job. Yeah. No. It didn't seem I mean in Massachusetts. Yeah. Yeah. You're 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'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 in my parents. Yeah. Honestly. I've really wanted to after all they invested in me and my education or my brothers. I I just felt like I owed them. So they could like when when when when you're older they could go up to someone in

β€œa restaurant and say you should join my sons law school. They could bother someone in the restaurant.”

Never got a chance to say that. And so then your end medicine you see the touring company. You think I'm going to go to Chicago. It's two friends of mine from Dennis and after we graduated they gave me 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 were on? 85. And you just were living in a cheap do you remember the

rent of your first apartment? $600 split three ways all utilities included. Fantastic.

What was your job then? What were you doing? I waited tables at Whole Hands. Oh yeah. That was a hot spot. Who? 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 because 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's such youthful,

exuberant enthusiastic times, but what what what feelings and thoughts come up for you. 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. Yeah. And 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 also, you know, I think about it now as you're talking about it is I think sometimes when I think back at Sketch 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

Challenge 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, we're going to drive this into the ground. It's an exquisite feeling. It's so good. Your partner will be like, we're bombing. We're and work. 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 nose to have another, a lot of times it's just the

β€œlight's just slowly flowing. What do you like about it? I know you mean, what is the thing about it?”

I don't know. I think it's, I guess just throwing everything off of you like 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 to hard. But sometimes when you can just allow it to kind of wash over you. Yeah. The things that you might find are really interesting and it's like a little death. It's in the closest. It feels like you

are, I mean, I'm trying to think, because when you're explaining it, I'm getting this feeling of what it felt like when it was, when you, I mean, one thing is we weren't usually alone. No, we weren't bombing alone. And that's, I can't imagine. Did you ever do stand up? 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, like, honed a set. I bet you would be, I bet you were great at it. 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

β€œwith people. Me too. So I think that that's what I mean is the bombing with people is like a special joy.”

I completely. But the one, well, of the many things of the 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 10,000 hours on stage and all that stuff. But you met your wife. Yeah. How did you meet Nancy? Well, it's the great holiday, it's Nancy. This is going to sound super creepy. But I was teaching

class at the second city. Okay. And she was in my improv character class. And, uh, and she was

hilarious and super smart, beautiful, like, I, I, I, I do remember she was a real catch back then because Nancy is so funny. 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 can get one. So nice. And they're so nice. Like, and cool. It's cool and nice and sweet to everybody. You really snagged the bed. 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 her, did nothing like dead eyes, no affect in her face. And I'm like, boy, she is not buying any of this. It hates me, hates his class,

β€œknows I'm a phony. And, uh, and it turns out she was just nervous. Mmm. That's what she told me.”

And when she gets nervous, she gets like stone face. 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 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 diaco, can we 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 shirt, who would you go? Oh, my god. That's such a funny comment. And it was all just, just this circuit is, you, you know someone down the bar is just saying, get to it. My, yeah. Come on. You're annoying everybody. And I think I finally said, you know, if I, if I were going to ask somebody in a day to 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, somebody like you asked me out, that I would love it. It would be fantastic. Then there was a pause. And I said, do want to go with. So it's super ugly. Like, you went.

When two doors out of the other bar, you know, like, then that, that was the ...

And then you could, when you left Chicago, where you weren't married yet. No, we were engaged.

β€œWe got engaged a week before she got us a now. Wow. So yeah, we went on our honeymoon and came back and moved”

right to New York for her start rehearsals. But what I wanted to do was not to get a lot of students. The semester-by-trag laptop, the soft-handed internet. So it's a master's real-time. I said, you can say that you're a hero. Yeah, you're a hero now, right? But you don't understand. Exactly. The man was jealous. He was just like that. And when he then works, he's a catch-in.

That's right. Safe. Like that. He's going to give you a chance. Now, let's go. In the back of the street. A love in the ballroom. And Maggie, a young boy. This world is much more than a big Britannian. From the left hand in the real name. The Western history of the Western history.

And decomear of TripAdvisor.de, Shrekstrich, Gross Britannian. So you people know, like, in a way ahead of its time, Dana Carvey show,

β€œthat you were you in Kobair and others, Michael and Conan were all writers on?”

Oh, bunch of people, yeah. Incredible cast of writers. And you were also in the rap company. Like, did you you did stuff? Yeah. I mean, I was. Dana calls the sketcha tears. Can we talk about Dana Carvey for a second? Because Dana Carvey was so, it was really important to me. Like, he was, you know,

you always kind of fall in love with that, that cast. And then when you're like 13,

that you see in us now, and it was Dana and Phil Harmon and Jan Hooks. Like, Dana is so funny. He is so funny. He is so funny. I don't know if there's anyone funny or alive, too. Like, do 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. Because 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 going to happen. My agent. Way to build the up. I was feeling very good about myself saying it's hard. So, I moved. I moved to New York. And was able to, the next thing I got was Dana Carvey. Yeah. And that really changed everything.

Yeah. That was my first kind of step into something other than second city. Yeah.

I mean, that show, I remember it being this, it felt like an experiment. Yeah. And 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. They said stop. They said stop doing that.

β€œWell, you heard about the first episode. Did you hear this story?”

Tell us again. The first scene of the first day in a Carvey show was Dana playing Bill Clinton. And he was city to the desk in the Oval Office talking about how he is the nurturing president. President. And at a certain point, he opens his shirt to reveal a prosthetic breast plate, like, teats, if you will. And I think he had eight nipples. Yes. And they brought which was to reveal no rig to lactate. And so they brought a bunch of puppies and stood them on the

desk. And the puppies started suckling because he was the nurturing president. And so we started, we were following home improvement. And they said the ratings went from home improvement and they could chart it, like, be getting into this sketch. It just, like, you could hear the drop off of it.

We still don't know what it is done. It was the show was over. And that was the first episode

of the first scene. Oh, God, that's funny. ABC 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 such a credit. ABC allowed it to happen. Um, yeah, they, they took some huge swings. And it was fun because like Colbert,

I shared an office and we could, and we worked together a lot at second city.

of casts together. And we come up with an idea and go down to Smiles office, Robert's Michael, and just pitch something. Mm-hmm. And he'd say, let's, yeah, let's go. Yeah. And we'd 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 as I know. Yeah. You really did work on a bunch of, like, really specific, interesting places. Like, the daily show is, is it's own system that kept changing with different kind of

versions of the same thing. But what was it like, what was that feeling like when you were all

there, young working on that? And it was so well received. It was similar to second city. Yeah.

β€œAnd, and 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 going to work, but we're going to give it our best shot. It was a lot of improvising on that show. Um, you know, 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 you were kind of undercover. Did you ever feel bad when you were drinking people?

I did, I did not, I did not like it, especially at first, because I was new when I was kind of

following the template. Yeah. And I never felt good about mocking someone who doesn't

deserve it. Yeah. And so I, I tried, and I know Colbert, Steven gave me great advice, which

β€œwas come up with a character. Mm-hmm. 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 super serious about everything you was asking. Uh, but it was not, the, the, the, the onus was on me to be. Right. I was, I was the idiot. Yes. He had to take the, to take that off of the people. I was going to join one field piece, which were, um, it was a cling-on speakers convention. Mm-hmm. And, you know, you go and obviously the idea is let's make fun of people who meet and learn how to speak cling-on. And they were the

nicest gentlest. I, I really, and I really like these people a lot. Yeah. They were very kind. Yeah. And I thought, well, what, who are they harming? No one. I mean, it's, it's just harming was 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 one of these where they're interested in the, it made them happy. 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 understandings. Can we think of it? Such an interesting way to put it. Just like, go on, get this right. It's so... Why is the world so long? And that energy of that is so funny. And it's so funny. But Steve and was right. And Steve and that took a lot of it, a lot of that 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 it. In terms of being unkind or trying to make someone look 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. Yeah. Who care? 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 and mine? I don't think so. No, not at all. Because, I mean,

we've all seen the audition itself. That character is chef's kiss. That might have been the most fun I've ever had professionally. Like definitely comes. 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 the first things I ever did.

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 might be one and done. And I'm going to, I'm going to

β€œenjoy it. Yeah. But what? Well, you should do. During, they used to do daily's every day. And”

watch that. Everyone would watch them. They have a daily's trailer on set. And it was all on film, still. So you'd watch from a few days before. They developed the film. And you just see selections

From a few days earlier.

And then the four of us and other cast members too. And the producers would go into this trailer.

β€œAnd we'd all get hot-fudge Sundays. And catering before we came in. So we all said, eating hot-fudge Sundays”

and watching the daily's. And that thing is so hard. I know. I know. I mean, I thought this, this was, is this it? I can't, this is what you would dream. Yes. It's what you would dream. And it was just pure joy. And you would just laugh at what you had done a couple of days before. And most, you know, I'm sure you're the same way. Watching yourself. Yeah. But get to somebody else's stuff. Totally. And it's just to watch what everybody else is doing. Oh. Because you can't really watch.

While you're in it. You're doing it. But they're kind of watch objectively. Oh. Yeah. I know you mean,

like sometimes I have no, like, I don't know if I nailed it, but I'm going to be in a funny movie. I don't know if I, yeah. I don't know if I'm going to be the funny one in the funny movie, but I'm going to, but I'm going to be in one. If I cannot be, if I cannot detract from everyone else being funny, that's usually 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. Yeah. And our trying want to get sweaty and they're trying

super hard. Yeah. And I don't know how you feel about improv as used in filling. I have a strong feeling about it, actually. Well, because I, I feel like, especially during that time. So I was in Anchorman, I got cut. You were in the, the battle. I was in the, um, no, in the original one. In the original

β€œAnchorman, 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 are people who have the DVD extras. No, 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. I remember it all. Chuck D from Public Enemy. Because of course, Kevin Corrigan, they were like the weather underground. They were 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 bulletin bank teller or something. But I went and worked for a day. And so I have a picture of me in Chuck D and me and my and a great outfit. And we're like, we're gonna be an anchor man. And then my K was like, we're not gonna be doing it. I don't, I don't think you out there. Well, there was another like a flashback scene that I don't know if we shot or

whether I did, it's kind of a blur. But the idea was, it's, it's a bit of a brick, uh, backstory, origins, or the 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 the shit done. That kind of thing. And then you cut to now he's, he's their trusty mascot. Yeah. But you don't know what happened to be funny. It's really fun. Um, but in, in terms of, there was a lot of improv. Yeah, when during that time, there was a lot of like

an Adam loves to improvise and hold it. And like, great. And I used to love it because I felt like I, I could do it well. But it also, it did, it did wear me down a little bit as the years went on. Yeah. No, I, I, I, I, you feel this way about improv. I do, which is sometimes people were like,

it's great. You can improvise. And I'm like, oh, it's, here, I, here's what it's you take. I,

β€œI think it's, 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 I think this was true on the office. Mm-hmm. The scripts were great on that show. Oh, yeah. Like really strong every, every episode. And can I ask your question? Yeah. About Parks and Rec. Yeah. So, you, you know, you led that show for so many years. Did you ever, what, how did you maintain the, the dignity of that character? And like, how did,

How did you, how were you able to center that character all the way through?

very easy for, you know, when writers turn over, when staff 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 are like the creators of the actual, the writers who created the

β€œcharacter. Um, so how did, do you feel like you protected your character going through?”

It's a good question. I feel like 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's funny that you bring up that exact thing because Parks and Recreation 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-confident and but like we came. I would take that as a huge insult. We were all, you know, Parks and Recreation, the worst launch ever. Everyone was like, this is not the office. We don't like this. I just remember being like, I'm like, you're not

β€œSteve and you're not, we don't like it. And I remember being like, oh, I think I just associated”

with this like, well, our pilot, you heard about our pilot. I know. And I want to talk to you. That was the lowest testing pilot in the history. I think of NBC. People really hated it. Like not just kind of, they actively hated it. They actively hated this show. And I don't quite know how it got legs after that. Well, I remember the moment. So, Mike Sure, who is writing was running update, and I wasn't doing update them, but I was just a cast member on SNL. And we

were watching the British office like everyone else and loving it. And I remember they were going to make the American version. And everyone was like, this is a terrible idea. It was terrible. 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 was a, is a great producer.

And he's also kind of, he's very adapted, putting together casts. Like the, the alchemy and the chemistry between those people. Yeah. 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 were no hierarchy at all. And that cast. So I, I attribute that to him. Yeah. Um, but the, you know, I'm a poor man's architecture vase.

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. Yeah. 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. Yeah. Of one of the show of, 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 going to go on an addition with that. Yeah. 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, no, I never. Especially with me. And comedy that's done well. No. No. Pass. Yeah. So you went in not knowing you're not watching the air. No. Yeah. And it, well, it's funny that you guys all heard, oh, oh, the, you know, they're doing an American version and everyone had the same reaction.

β€œAnd I remember, Red. Red told me, it's like, don't do it, man. Don't, don't. Don't audition.”

It is like, there is no, there's no way. Yeah. Everyone's like, don't even touch this. Don't touch this. Ten foot, Paul. And did you have like a major premise or theme about Michael's arc? Like, if you were to to sum it up, would you say, what was like, what was his, was kind of his simple mission statement as a character early on? This, this was like a dream come true for him to

Be in a documentary and be able to not only be in charge of all of these peop...

have the ability to perform and be watched and be loved. Right. So I think so much of, of who he,

β€œwho he is was, was about being loved just being so good. I wouldn't even say respect. I think”

he just wanted to be loved. 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 that I said, one, one thing I'm going to pitch is that the last day is not the last day. Like everyone thinks that they're going to 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 it by his own terms. And he sort of beyond being celebrated that way.

And he's that's that's that's 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 work is exactly the same. And 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 an, and everyone in that show is provided this like feeling of safety and security in a time when people are very, very anxious and they return over and over again. What does that feel like people tell you that I've

β€œprovided a public service, really? And in that way, I think I'm more than an actor.”

You got cocky. You got cocky. Don't get cocky. Don't get cocky. No, but it's true. But it's true. It's nice. Like we, we fell in love with the journey of Michael. We really, really, we do. We love him. And I will say like what your, 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 going to do and say, and how is he going to do it? And then watching him, swing and miss over and over again while still being loved is like, they just, they didn't know how to put that in the 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 where you said to Pam. I leaned in. I went,

we're, we're, we're, we're, we're, we're, we're just to make it look like I was saying something. You did, you didn't know. No, you did. No, we had, we had a very, a very emotional sad moment. Love that moment, such a good moment. Okay, so we do something on the show where we talk to people who know our guests and who are friends of our guests to get a question to ask them, when 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 live earth study. I was 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 any way like. And Stephen talked a lot about those early times to a view, and what it was like to watch you on stage. 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

β€œinstrument, which I did not know that you're like very good at brass instruments. Is that a lie?”

It's 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, your tone horn? Oh, day. I know. Right. You're like ladies. I don't, you're like ladies. I've got a baritone. I played the baritone horn in the morning. Why do you pick the baritone horn? I love the tone. I want to know what it sounds like. It's sometimes, it's, it's also called a uphonium. It's basically a small tuba. I know, sexy.

Baritone. I play the small tuba. And yeah. And I also play, would you like to go on a second day? Do you like that? The five? Yeah. Sorry, I can't, I got to get commercials off of my YouTube. YouTube, if you can find a

Way to, okay, here we go.

Well, Tony is a trombone teacher. I'm telling you, it's very nice. This podcast is going to elevate

Baritone horn play. You know, like, never before. I love Tony. Here we go.

Right. You've phonium or baritone horn. Right. Well, it's a quite a large instrument. Yeah, you hold it like this. Yeah. And I had the bell that went out like this and did you play the band? 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 the learn how to play the Baritone horn because he was my understudy. Yes, he mentioned that he had to understudy any

had to learn the Baritone horn in like six days. Unbelievable. And he did talk about somebody who can do anything. Like, I mean, I played the Baritone horn since I was in fourth grade. He learned it in six days. So, yeah. And he told me that he also taught me a word. I've completely forgotten it. It's a word that describes when you make the sound of the whew. Do you remember the name of the word? I'm Bashar. Yes, Bashar. You taught him and I'm Bashar. What was it like working with Stephen?

β€œAnd what do you remember about meeting him for the first time? I just think, I think about him a lot”

to be honest. I just, I have, I'm in awe of him. He's so smart. He's so funny. He is someone who can literally do anything. He's, he can sing. He's a great writer. One of the funniest people I know. And a wonderful father and husband. Like, just like one of these straight arrow, yeah, I would trust him with my life kind of guys. 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 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 partners is, is like you just, they knew you when you were struggling like in that, you just, they, they have a part of your life in them and

β€œyou and theirs. Yes. And that's what it feels like with the two of you. Well, it, for me, too.”

Yeah. To, to, to, to learn at the same time. Yeah. And to be going through and I'm sure, you know, certainly you and Tina experience 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. It was just learning how to trust other people and, and I just,

I just trust him. And I, as a person, as a performer, he's just fun. He's a, I, 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

β€œidea. I love to do a play with him. I think it would be or or anything, honestly. I would, I would”

do a great idea. Do anything with him. His question for you because of course it was was very thoughtful and interesting, which was, you know, he was saying like, I've known Steve for so long what 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 think about it differently? Do you approach it differently? I'll preface this by saying whenever

I hear an actor start talking about their loss. I'm going to cut the answer. A character doesn't know if they're in a comedy or drama. 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's lean towards drama. Sometimes it's a mixture of both. But but I, I think if if you can tell a character knows there in a comedy, it's intrinsically less funny. Yes. Like I look,

like somebody like Alan Arkin or Peter Sellers and they always seem very true to their character.

Yes.

intensely dramatic or something crazy funny. Yes. It was the same, like, not the same, kind of not the same acting. It 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. Yeah. We're going to laugh. Well, you're a said actor. Sometimes waiting for where do you for the laugh? It'll move. They're like, look around like, like, like a punch line. Like, we just suck it. We're, also the other thing that makes me so stressed out and like sweaty is in real life when people say, like, I'm funny. I don't know. I don't know. If you got to say it out loud, I don't know. If 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 the, and reverse it, right? Like, if you, if I went up to like a, you know, and like, if I went up to Merrill, and I was like, I'm pretty dramatic. Like, reverse it. Be like, I'm pretty good. Being pretty sad. Deep. I'm pretty, I can get pretty sad.

β€œAnd be well by it. I think when I cry, I'm going to make other people cry. So I've cried.”

Something to a lot of my friends have seen me cry. I'm Steve. I mean, I'm going to glaze you for

a second. Beautiful boy. Fox catcher. The patient. You're so good. 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 go, obviously, haunting the set. I don't know. I just think I should be in background. I think I'd be just, just, just wear a ballroom background. And I just like, but like, almost. It's like, it's like, it's incredible. Like, you can't. Yeah. Yeah. Can't tell if it's me or not. Yeah. But, but I love what she said about the two of you working together, because 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, we talked about that. Yeah. It was together before.

β€œAnd it took us 15 years after that to become friends. Because it is true. I'm very, I think”

closed off is what the world you're looking at. I'm not shy. I'm just, I'm just, I'm in a trouble. But, um, but are you? I'm pretty shy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I guess I'm, I bet people think like you're going to 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, this, you know, I had a dinner party for the Oscars one year. That was so fun. And I had a, I had a few couples over. And it was

really fun. It was fun to have everybody over. But that's, that's very unlike us. Like we don't, I don't, we're not, I think we're more social now that we're getting older, I guess. Times right now. I'm just litify some of these friendships. But, um, so the Oscars and we and very nice dinner. And we taped it. We put it, you know, we were taping the Oscars. And yeah, we ate first, like civilized. And then we were going to be like, let's go, we're going to get to the commercial.

They're going to go in and we're watching. We can fast forward through the awards that we like.

And we looked at the, the tape. And we hadn't added the extension and Oscars always go long.

So, like the big awards we missed. We completely missed. Yeah. And we were frantic. Like,

β€œI think, let me go online. We just started a now seed. Like,”

one of the awards. I'm kind of acting it out. 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 going to be kind of crazy. Yeah. I'm pretty, yeah. I'm not, I'm not out there. No, no, who I really envy envy admire is Will. Yeah. Like, he just owns it. Well,

fair. Like he'll show. Yeah. Will, fair. He he he he'll show up at a king's game. He was wearing a

Refs uniform the other day.

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 loves it. And I'm 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 going to do it. I was in Beverly Hills. I was

driving around and a tour bus went by. And I thought I'm going to, I'm going to do it. I'm going to wave. And I would, hey, everybody, not a person. They were like, knowledge. They were like, what? Who's

β€œthat? And I, I think they shrugged in this little ball like last time I'm ever doing anything. They were like,”

what have you been in? And you're like, oh my god. You just start listing your resume. Oh yeah. It's like, why did I even choose that? Yeah. It was certainly no gift to anybody. Oh god. No. Oh god. I mean, I mean, that is what I love about you Steve. It's like, I feel like for many things.

One is that I feel like you're just such a incredible actor, performer and collaborative person

to work with. And I do look forward to being in the play that you and Steven do together. Yes. How about who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? Why don't do it? Yes. All right. Two things, though, I like to go to bed early. And I don't want to do as many performances as they

β€œmake 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. It would be like, going to we get a word to get started, like, much a lazy motherfuckers. Do you have two things out? Shout it to shout it out. Where are we work? Where did 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 haven't been killed off on a couple shows, morning show you were killed off. Morning show, the patient, the last show. The last three shows. What's going on? I people love to see me killed off. It's a thing. Yeah. Now, your new show you're not. Okay. Let's talk about Rooster. Yes.

β€œSeason one, so far as I get it. Just came out on HBO. What is it about?”

It's about my character, Greg, is a writer, not unlike Carl Hayeson, whose daughter is a professor at a prestigious East Coast University. I go to that university to just do a reading. And in order, 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 writer and resident. And so I become the writer and residents at this college that my daughter. And so it really

changes the dynamic between me and my daughter. And it's like you're stepping into this like academic or old. I like to see you as a professor. I like that a lot. Yeah. It's fun. Yeah. I think it's relief. And the cast is stacked, such a good, good group. What's it like doing another show with like how does it feel? It was really, it was great. Yeah. It had that sense of freedom. Yeah. And that sense of anything can happen at any time. We can try stuff.

Everybody's a great improviser. People you know, talking before about improvising and in character. Yeah. Everybody's so good at that. It's it's very well written and funny. Yeah. I love it. I really love it. Congrats on that. It's going to 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 face time? Oh, my gosh. Do you mind? No. Because I told them that we were

interviewing you. And my mom texted back. Okay. It was the Gibbit Hill Grill in Grotten, Mass. Now, when I call my dad before when I texted my dad and said, where did you see Steve Krill? He didn't answer me back. And mom said he was at the gym. Let's see if we can get a hold of him. Hi, Mama. I've got Steve Krill here. How are you? How was your meal? It was very nice. I

Believe I had the stuff squad.

how Steve doesn't seem like he's from Boston. Doesn't have any kind of accent. But neither do you, Mom. Oh, John even makes fun of me. How mad is dad going to be that he didn't answer the phone. He's at the gym. Oh, bills right here. Steve, do you mind? Of course. Dave Karol's on the phone here. Sit up. Steve Karol. Hey, are you just lounging on the couch? He's in his recliner.

β€œWhat time is it there? Hi, Pop, look who you secured for me. Yes. Do I get any benefits from that?”

I don't like that. What do you call it? Fine. Fine. Fine. Fine. Fine. It's fine, it's fine. You go to restaurants now. Are you just going to be like scoping for people for the show? 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. Pollard. That's not right. That's weird. Don't let your husband talk. That's, that's close.

I'm not finally fit to voice now that I think. Well, thanks you guys for the assist. We had a great

interview and dad. I owe you a couple bucks. Bye. So, Steve, thank you for being with my parents.

β€œAnd before I finish, I go to ask you my most important question, which I almost forgot to ask you,”

which is, what is making you laugh these days? 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 the righteous gemstone. Oh. And that first season was such a joy. Loved it. Danny, incredible. Incredible. But can we talk about, um,

80 for a second? Mm-hmm. 80 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 unexpected and like completely different approach to a character, um, so unique and specific. Yeah. I know, and to talk about like improvising in character, she, 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 that. 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 divine. Yeah. It's really good. I, and it's one of those, I, just, I, it just kind of flip by. Like it didn't, um, was under, under our radar. And on a whim, we just said, you know, I've heard good things. I 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 Correll. Thank you for talking

to my parents. Um, you know, for this polar plunge, I just want to reiterate how grateful and lucky I am to be a Boston girl. You know, me and Steve are Boston kids who made it big.

β€œAnd, 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, or, right, let a roll off you shoulders, all right, because you're still the best number one. Don't forget, um, Boston forever. Uh, go socks. Okay. Thanks for listening and, uh, we'll catch you next time on Good Hang, bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss Berman and me, Amy Poler. The show is produced by the

ringer and paper kite for the ringer production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spalaine, Kaya McMullen, NLA as a nearest for paper kite production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy Miles.

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