Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend - Matthew Rhys Returns Again

Episode Date: December 1, 2025

Actor Matthew Rhys feels ashamed about being Conan O’Brien’s friend. Matthew sits down with Conan once again to discuss the best beer for this time of year, overcoming his own imposter syndrome t...o play legendary Welsh actor Richard Burton in his one-man show Playing Burton, and doing script chemistry reads with his wife Keri Russell. Plus, Adam Sachs shares a surprising stat from the Team Coco YouTube channel. For Conan videos, tour dates and more visit TeamCoco.com.Got a question for Conan? Call our voicemail: (669) 587-2847. Get access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using this show link: https://siriusxm.com/conan. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Hello, my name is Matthew Rees. And I feel ashamed about being Conan O'Brien's friend. Finally! Yes! An honest answer! Oh, God, that felt good. I feel unburdened and light. Fall is here, hear the yell, back to school, ring the bell, brand new shoes, walking loose, climb the fence, books and pens, I can tell that we are going to be friends I can tell that we are going to be friends
Starting point is 00:00:36 Hey there Welcome to Conan O'Brien Needs a friend I put a little pause between Conan O'Brien and needs a friend Kind of a dramatic You know what makes it really dramatic Is explaining it
Starting point is 00:00:47 I guess I had that coming And you're fired Fair enough Sona, Matt, how you guys doing? Good, how are you? I'm doing okay I'm just a little bit of a follow-up The nation's gripped because recently I talked about my trip to the eye doctor.
Starting point is 00:01:06 Sonam of Sassian took me there, filling in for David Hopping, who went to a Midwestern wedding. Again, way too much backstory. Can I just say this is like a third installment in the ongoing saga of your eye? I say saga. I never say saga. Yeah, saga is weird. I've never heard saga. What the hell was that?
Starting point is 00:01:23 And by the way, it was Bob's saga. Okay. Because you guys are right. And that's probably worth stopping for and you're not assholes. You're checking every box right now. Not assholes, we're stopping for. I don't know why I still work here.
Starting point is 00:01:39 No, I don't either. I was going to say in the saga that it started with your eye postural leaning on the mic, then your visit to the optometrist to do bits where you stayed for hours. And then now there's another installment. I did so many great bits in that waiting room.
Starting point is 00:01:54 Here's the thing. You know, I have prescription classes and they needed to make them a little. little stronger, but everything's fine. Are my eyes leaking a bit? Sure they are. Just they're dry. What are you even looking at right now? I'm worried about your depth of focus. What about my mental focus? That's what you should be working because my brain is also leaking. You're saying it like, are my eyes leaking? Sure. Sure they are. Should they be normal? Oh, please. Ocular jelly is oozing everywhere. No. And so it's very common for people with my talent. It's just too much talent.
Starting point is 00:02:29 And this is how sometimes the eyes reject the talent. It's seeping out of you. Is that your talent? Yeah, the eyes, it's like, is there going to be room for eyes or talent? And I always hang on to the talent. Yeah, you and Ionize, Cody, the two great wits of all time. So, worked with Iron Ice, Cody, but that's a whole other story. Anyway, back to the main story, they give me the drops.
Starting point is 00:02:50 I'm going to use, everything's fine. Me, peepers are fine. It's all good. And who needs eye jelly anyway, I always say? So I'm about to leave and this woman said, Hey, Conan, have you ever thought of contact lenses? And I said, you know, I've never, ever used contact lenses. My distance is fine.
Starting point is 00:03:07 I just mean pretty much for reading. I need a little correction with distance, but really not much at all. And she said, you know, once you get used to them, they're really handy, and you wouldn't have to carry glasses around because you can forget them and where they go and did someone steal them and let's put out a warrant. So I said, I'll, well, sure. And she said, yeah, they're so thin now.
Starting point is 00:03:25 They really work great. brought in some context, and she said, I'll show you how to pop them in and pop them off. And I went, great. Cut to a montage that lasts about 55 minutes. Not that I was timing it or anything with Sona in the waiting room. And the woman's saying, no, no, you just, you just, and me holding my eyes open and trying to jab it in there, but I'm, you know, I've got fluttery eyelids that are like, and I've never liked people getting near my eyes.
Starting point is 00:03:56 And she said men are more prone to that than women. We just, and I've noticed it in the makeup chair forever. Whenever people get near my eyes, I grip the handles of the chair and I could crush them. I'm just so freaked out by people going near my eyes. I kept trying and kept trying and failing and saying, and I came up against something I just couldn't do. And I'm not used to that. I'm not bragging. I'm bad athlete, and there's a million things I can't do.
Starting point is 00:04:25 but this I just thought oh I'll be able to do this and I couldn't do it and when I was done my eyes both my eyes were so red did you get them in I got them in and then I it was time to get them out that was a whole process I of course doubled down on I don't even know that I want contacts but I am not losing this battle so I'm not wearing them now because I wanted to give my eyes they said keep your eyes and rest for a couple of days because it looks like I went Seven rounds with the champ. I came out of there. You saw my eyes. You looked really stoned. Yeah. You did. You had like a glazed over look.
Starting point is 00:05:04 It looked really stone. Yeah. You were really struggling. My eyes were so red. And I couldn't believe this is something people do all the time. Have you ever worn contacts? Well, that's funny. You should say that because I used to wear a context.
Starting point is 00:05:16 I hated them. And when I went for the first time to try them on, the optometrist was trying over and over to get them in my eyes. And he finally put them down. He sighed. And he went, I don't know how to say this, but you have abnormally strong eyelids. What? I was like, of course. You know what?
Starting point is 00:05:31 That's the strength I have is eyelids and not like biceps or. But your wife, when your wife saw you on the beach, she was like, gee. When I winked at her. You've got strong eyelids, yeah, mister. But I have astigmatisms and I just can't handle them. They dry my eyes out. I don't like them. I do, too.
Starting point is 00:05:49 So does Conan. Yeah. He has an astigmatism too. Check us out. So did you? We're cool. But Sona, you got. used to it. I, and I, I wonder
Starting point is 00:05:57 if me saying that... You don't, there's a microphone right in front of your mouth. Oh my God. You were doing an announcement on a cruise ship in a storm. Oh my God. You were telling people to get back into their cabins. You asked the lady a question. I know, but she's started to do this. I'm channeling my rage. Edwardo, be fair.
Starting point is 00:06:14 Edwardo, be fair. You don't have to answer. You can plead the fifth. I'm channeling my... I'm taking deep breaths and I'm channeling it right now. Okay, go ahead. Tell your story. Give it to them. Don't channel them. I wonder if if me telling you that I was able to do it when I was 12 may have contributed to you getting more kind of like, well, I can do it too. Because I kept saying I did this when I was, I've been more in contact since I was 12.
Starting point is 00:06:35 A girl of 12 can wear contact. Yeah. You know, I, first of all, I'm an ally of all women. And I empower you and I'm happy for you. What's that? Awful. What you say? Well, I want to say that I've worn.
Starting point is 00:06:53 You can back off the mic. I'm more contacts, but Eduardo has a very special contact situation that I think might. Is this going to prove helpful to Conan? Possibly. Maybe. I think you guys are all wusses. Yeah. I do want advice.
Starting point is 00:07:10 I do. I do want advice. And also, I'm telling you this, David Hopping told me that his mother, like, teaches people how to put contact lenses in and out. Yes. Seriously. And that I'm going to have a Zoom with her. But what is your advice?
Starting point is 00:07:24 So I wear Scolero lenses, which are the... Bragg. Yeah, so it's a very specific type of contact. Is this a company owned by former Judge Scalia? How did you know? No, it's first... I use Ginzburgos. But I have to use this...
Starting point is 00:07:41 I hate you. I hate you so much. That was good. I hate you so much. Look at me. Look at me. I wish we could do a thing where I pull a string and confetti comes down on me. And I would do this. Fair is fair.
Starting point is 00:07:52 He was wrong to assault you, but that was funny. I have a plunger that I have to use to take out my... That's the plunger. And you're calling us, wussies? Are they hard? I have to take it out with this because there are rigid gas permeable lenses that I have to wear. Also, so you have a little plunger, which you use a little plunger for your eyes. For my context.
Starting point is 00:08:12 And occasionally for a mouse's toilet. Every now and then, Eduardo is sitting reading a paper at home. And he hears me, me, me, me, me, me. What's that little fella? Oh, me, me, me, me, me. Oh, really, huh? Well, that's embarrassing. And you, you have guests coming?
Starting point is 00:08:33 Me, me, me, me, me, me, me. I'll take care of it. You're welcome, buddy. Anytime. Just wash it. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Happiness everywhere.
Starting point is 00:08:51 Anyway, I don't know. It's just one of those things I don't like. to walk away from something and so I'm going to double down on this you famously have said that you'll do anything in the name of comedy so I think if you think of it in terms of you got to be funny that's a really have Liza film you bring them in and we'll do it here on the podcast okay okay yeah I'll do it why don't we compete we'll have some cases because you get very competitive yeah we could compete sure I'll do whatever I'm told to do all right you guys onward and sideways my guest today won an Emmy for his port of Russian spy Philip Jennings in the FX series, The Americans. He now stars in the new Netflix series The Beast in Me. I love this fellow. Matthew Reese, welcome. I'm going to come right out with it.
Starting point is 00:09:45 Oh, God. I developed an insane man crush on you. You've been on the first time you were on the podcast, it was, I believe, during the It was, it was. And you were virtual. Yes. And I thought I liked this chap enormously, and I was a big fan of your work. Then you came in and did it in person, and my heart's been fluttering ever since.
Starting point is 00:10:07 Oh, stop your giddy Irish ways. Keep going. I can't. No, go on, go on. It's literally, oh, stop, but go on. Yes, always. So many confusing signals. I know.
Starting point is 00:10:17 You are an absolute delight. You're an imp. Yeah. You omitted the CH before that, didn't you? Didn't you? You are a Welsh leprechaun, if there is such a thing. Is there an equivalent in Wales of the leprechaun? We're called weptricons.
Starting point is 00:10:32 Yes. Okay, they have weapons. Weaponized lepracons. So I just, I was like, oh my God, I want to just go hang out with this man. Let's do it. And I had, not just yet. Oh, let's do this first. And then we can monetize it.
Starting point is 00:10:46 And then you and I will hang out and we'll spend the profits. But I'm going to tell you a quick secret, which is that, You were talking about a boat that you had purchased, that you had fixed up yourself. Yes. And you were floating this boat around the Hudson River, the East River? The East and the Hudson. And the harbor of New York. And you were driving it around.
Starting point is 00:11:07 And so I was intrigued, so intrigued by a conversation that I looked up a photo of you in your boat. And I thought, well, that's a handsome looking boat. And then I start doing a deep dive on the boat. And up popped a model, a replica of that same type of boat. Yeah. Popped up, and I said, I'm going to get that from my man crush. Eat your heart out, Oliphant, Matthew Reese. And so it popped up, and I said, I'm going to get it.
Starting point is 00:11:32 And then I hit on the screen, it's quite expensive. Oh, yes. And suddenly I lost my two messence for this boat. But part of me is thinking, I've got to scrape up the money and get you this model. It's a model of the boat that you have. And I feel like, Adam, we have to scrape up the funds to make this happen. He's giving the thumbs up and you'll pay for it. Maybe always...
Starting point is 00:11:54 I'm asking him there's no microphone on him. You'll pay for it and that's a nod. Yes. Good. I'll get this for you. No, no. Surely we can start some kind of Kickstarter now. A go fund me that begins right now. Can I tell you something?
Starting point is 00:12:06 Yes. People love it when celebrities start a Kickstarter for a childish amusement that they will keep for themselves. Yes. Especially men, because they will relate to it. They said, he needs that model. It's the model we've all deserved. It checks a box with.
Starting point is 00:12:21 They're not emotional hearts. I want to connect with you, and I'm going to start by saying, I adore your work, but whales. Let's start with whales, because that's the secret to cracking this gentleman, whales. You are Welsh through and through. I am. And there's so much that I don't know about whales. Yes. I really don't, because it's a mystery to me.
Starting point is 00:12:44 I know that you don't use any vowels when you write something. They were outlawed by the English in 1282. They stole your vowels. Yes. Take their vowels. That'll learn them. Yes, they'll drown in their own spit. So I know that it's very important to you
Starting point is 00:12:59 and the Welsh language is very important to you. It is. Now, I did a travel show recently and I went to Ireland and I appeared on a show where they only speak... It's a soap opera where they only speak Irish.
Starting point is 00:13:14 Yes. And all my lines were in Irish. It was very difficult. Yes. Is the Welsh language more difficult than Irish? similar at all. Help me. I would say it's akin in many ways in its difficulty level as to as to learning. Ironically, for two Celtic languages, they're very, they're very different. Wells is far more similar to Breton, Northern France, and Manx on the Isle of Man. If you see those
Starting point is 00:13:42 languages, Cornish as well, you can see the similarities with the Scots and the Irish. They share that similarity. But with regards to kind of hard, guttural sounds, I think we're right there with the Irish. Yes, it sounds like someone has thrown silverware down some stone steps when you guys speak. I'll be taking that one home. Yeah, that's yours. And I'll get you the model.
Starting point is 00:14:05 And this, it is important to you that Welsh is spoken in your home occasionally, is that right? You're trying to teach it to some of the children? I am, I am, with varying degrees of success. But, you know, Carrie and I have a nine-year-old son, And I spoke to him purely in Welsh from the moment he was born and continued to do so. Really? How's he doing at school?
Starting point is 00:14:28 Not very well. Not very well. Yes, his friends bring umbrellas and raincoats. He's been held back 15 times. Yes. Which is hard to do for a nine-year-old. It is, but he's managed it. He's now at the point.
Starting point is 00:14:43 And it's kind of kills me a bit. But obviously, when as conversations become more evolved and more complicated, and I realize, if you haven't, if you haven't introduced more complex Welsh words early on, now, you know, when I speak to him and I bring in a complex Welsh word, he'll just say, oh, just say it in Mama's language. Yes. And I go, oh, rats. So I feel the beginnings of starting to lose him, which sort of breaks my heart. But not lose him. Losing maybe for now. I know it'll peak and trough and ever and flow. My hope is, well, that's what I'm threatening him with, you know. As long as you're threatening your child, good things will come.
Starting point is 00:15:20 That's what I've said. I've monetized it, and I've threatened college with it, and all kinds of toys in between. Christmas can be canceled at the cancellation of Welsh. And I'm curious, first of all, oh, you mentioned Christmas. Christmas in Wales, one of the great poems of all times. And so occasionally I fantasize about what would it be like to have Christmas in Wales? Is it as romantic as I think it is, or is no, the reality is, everyone just goes to Walmart and gets a Christmas tree like we do here.
Starting point is 00:15:53 Yes, of course. And, you know, excessive drinking and kind of shouting mainly. And then no one can remember what happened on Christmas Day. Is it true that your Santa is a terrible alcoholic? Yeah, well, it is. A raging one. A raging one. But it makes for great frivolity on the rooftops.
Starting point is 00:16:08 Yes. But apparently there's only one Welsh Santa, because all the other Santa's refused to do Wales. Because, you know, it was... They won't go there. No, they were like, give it to that drunken fool. Yes, that imp. He lost his naughty and nice list a long time ago.
Starting point is 00:16:23 He doesn't know, you'll scound or you'll get nothing. It was quite good. Only the irony is if you're given coal in Wales, kids are overjoyed. They're like, oh, look what I got! Shut that up, your assholes, England! We'll have a warm Christmas after all! Yes, aha, let's cook on this! You know, it's so funny, my first introduction to you really was your role in the spectacular
Starting point is 00:16:49 TV show, The Americans, and when I first spoke to you on the podcast, it was unsettling. Because, I mean, the sense I get is that anyone in Britain or the United Kingdom is much better at doing an American accent than, of course, than we are at doing anything similar to your accident. It is an accident. It's a terrible accident. They leave me, by the grace of God, go I. But a happy accident, I will gladly admit to.
Starting point is 00:17:17 But I do, and I know if I said this last time, I do believe that the amount of American television we grew up watching and as young kids going out into the yard to play Starske and Hutch or the A-Team or Airwolf or any of those, you know, as kids growing up, whereas kids in America don't go out to the school yard to play downtown Abbey, which is seemingly the only thing that... I did. Well, yes, of course. I was taunted and beaten. You were like, fetch me another pheasant, boy. Yes. I used to always want to play Scrooge, you know. Yes, yes.
Starting point is 00:17:47 You, boy, fetch me the goose in the bushes window. I must have it. Yes. I'm not playing Tiny Tim again. Yeah, I was beaten roundly by everyone in my neighborhood. But I found this over the years that when I would talk to anyone who was from England, Scotland, Wales, they just have such a great storytelling custom that it was always a fun interview. Yeah, yes.
Starting point is 00:18:09 Well, you know, I think, you know, the Celts do, we viciously and proudly say, you know, The oral storytelling tradition handed down from the midst of time is still, you know, is now the modern day pub raconteur and that's who we've remained to be. I just want to go back. You know, Dylan Thomas sold the rights
Starting point is 00:18:28 to a child's Christmas in Wales to an inordinate amount of people as he was rampaging around New York. He was just saying, I have this wonderful little story I should like to sell you the rights. And they were like, oh, great, yes. Harper's Bazaar bought it.
Starting point is 00:18:41 Everyone bought the rights to... He sold it like 800 times. 800 times, which I thought was the one. one of the greatest grifts of all time. And at the time of kind of pre, you know, pre-computer madness. And famously, he passed in a pub, I think. He collapsed. Downtown.
Starting point is 00:18:57 He collapsed. Downtown right here, outside the White Horse. Yes, the White Horse. And then passed at St. Vincent's, yeah. Yeah. And I don't know if the White Horse celebrates that. Well, there's still a famous poet died or got sick here and died. Yes.
Starting point is 00:19:12 Not many restaurants or pubs want that known. No, all can say it. He's also on the mural at, it's not Manetta Tavern. It's the Waverly Inn. He's on the wall there as well. But he's still heavily pictured at the white horse. It's worth a quiet pint of Guinness on that. They made a lot of money off of him, I suppose.
Starting point is 00:19:28 They did. Yeah, there's still a lot of Welsh tourists who pay the, you know, the pilgrimage, who make the homage and the pilgrimage there. When you belly up to a bar, what is your, what is your logger? What is your pint? What do you like to have? Now, that depends exactly in the time of day and the time of year. 3.30, October, late October.
Starting point is 00:19:45 It's 3.30 in the afternoon. Guinness. This is a light rain. Guinness? Guinness. Incredible. I love a Guinness. Yes.
Starting point is 00:19:50 I love a Guinness. How much did you get through an island? I did pretty well. Yeah. I love a Guinness and it does taste better in Ireland. I totally agree. I will say that. I totally agree.
Starting point is 00:20:00 We're just talking about all things Welsh. I've taken it upon myself to do probably the Welshest of all Welshest of all Welsh things and I'm going to do a one-man play about Richard Burton Yes, I know about this. Oh, you do? Yes, I do know about this. This is, you're going to play and this is your return to the Welsh stage for the first time in, how many years?
Starting point is 00:20:29 22. 22 years. Yeah, yeah. That's got to be a little terrifying. Now at this point, sorry, I was trying to link into the facts about the oral storytelling tradition, but I wasn't a complete. And then get us back to Guinness, please. Well, Burton's the, an easy link back to
Starting point is 00:20:45 How are you going to get from Richard Burton to alcohol? I don't know. Give me, just gives me a moment. He had a friend called Richard Harris. You can come back in a week. Yes, I've cracked it. Yes. So, yes, you're going back to the Welsh stage where you got your start.
Starting point is 00:21:00 You did. When you were about a wee lad, you're going to go back for the first time in 22 years. What is your greatest fear that they just stare at you? There is that. Well, there's a number of things. I was fortunate to play Dylan Thomas once in a film. And I realize when you go, especially to a place like Wales where we have a few but select but incredible icons, Dylan Thomas, Richard Burton, Shirley Bassie, Shan Phillips, Rachel Roberts. We have these incredible performers, actors, singers, everything. But the nation itself has an incredibly personal relationship, an individual personal relationship with that icon.
Starting point is 00:21:35 So your take on Dylan Thomas is wildly different from what everyone else deems it to be. So a lot of people are like, I saw you, Dylan Thomas. I don't think you got it right. You know, there's a, that's right. Yeah. And that could be a, that could be someone driving a bus. Or, or my father in this case. Yes.
Starting point is 00:21:53 That's all dads. Yes, but he does drive a bus. Yes, which is ironic. So, so one of my great fears is that one, this, I have this thing where I'm going, where I think all the people of boy tickets are going to go, who does he think he is that he can play Richard Burton? Now, that is a great, I would. say Welsh, I'd go as fast to say Celtic affliction as to who do you think you are syndrome. Oh my God, yes. I mean,
Starting point is 00:22:17 if that was an Olympic sport, we would podium every time. So there is that, then there is the secondary version or level to that which you go, when you do it, they go, well, that wasn't Richard Burton. That wasn't Richard Burton at all. And also... I knew Richard Burton. Yes. We were in school together. Yes. That's the problem
Starting point is 00:22:34 is you're rubbing shoulders with people. You're performing for people who have a personal, very strong connection with this. The fight, This is what I've done to myself. The final performance of the tour is in the chapel that Richard Burton attended. It'll be live streamed to the miners' arms, which is the pub that he and his family drank in. And his family have been invited to the chapel to watch the final performance.
Starting point is 00:22:57 I think they've made it the final performance so I can literally fall on my sword at the curtain call with an apology. I say, sorry Jenkins is, uh-huh. Yes. You know, Harry? Do you know Harry? Harry, curious about time. Yes. So you are going to get, yeah, I mean, that's your fear. My money's on you. I'll say that.
Starting point is 00:23:16 Thank you very much. You are, I think, one of the finest actors alive, and I think that you will carry it off gloriously. But I also fear for you, terribly. Well, I'm very excited about another matter involving you, Mr. Reese. If I can call you, Mr. Reese, Mrs. Reese doesn't seem right. Mysteries. History's mysteries. That should be your podcast
Starting point is 00:23:41 where you talk about history that's not true. I am a massive fan of the historian Mr. Robert Caro. I've read all of his works. I've interviewed him. I stalked him for a while.
Starting point is 00:23:52 I think he's just a treasure, as they say, national treasure. And one of his great books, maybe one of his greatest books, if it's not the Lyndon Johnson series, the power broker about Robert Moses is one of the most amazing historical works.
Starting point is 00:24:10 in history, I understand that you may be working on some kind of version of the power broker? We are working on... Who is we? Well, maybe you're not allowed to talk about this yet. I don't want to get you
Starting point is 00:24:25 in... I mean, I do want to get you in trouble, but not for this. But remember the last time, yes, you very kindly bailed me out. Yes, there's a... What can you say? What do you just say what you can say? There is a select group of us who have approached a very well-known... A bunch of There are a few of us, known criminals who are conspiring.
Starting point is 00:24:44 But at the moment, dear Mr. Caro has, he doesn't have an issue with handing over the rights to the power broker. Other agencies and publishing houses do. So at the moment, it's in this stalemate whereby I know the flicks called Net are trying to. Work things out. Yes, and acquire the rights to the power broker. It's been pitched. They do want to do it. Is it possible, then, that you would play Robert Moses, the man who, more than anyone,
Starting point is 00:25:15 created the New York City that we know today? Yes, that's basically the fundamental pitch. Okay. I have no sway in this business at all. I have a little bit of sway with Robert Caro just because I think he knows me. I've interviewed him. He knows I'm a huge fan and the acolyte of his. But I would do everything in my power to make sure that you play.
Starting point is 00:25:36 I think you'd be amazing. and I think that would be just a terrific project. I certainly think it's a story and a book that needs to get made because the sheer scale and scope of it. But also Moses as a human being, as an individual, if you read that play, book is staggering. It lays Shakespeare to the sword because you cannot quite believe the ascent of that man.
Starting point is 00:26:03 And that man had more power than maybe anyone in American history save a president but he was able to it's unimaginable now yes but he could just say I think this highway should go here and all of these buildings
Starting point is 00:26:19 in my way shall be destroyed and these communities removed and these communities removed and it would happen as if he were a czar yes and it was the way he understood power and that's a real caro's obsession is how people accumulate power and how they use it and who are the masters at
Starting point is 00:26:37 And, of course, the other one is Lyndon Johnson. And it's just this thing that he writes about so well and he understands so well. That beautifully, beautifully put. I'm very talented. You are, but it's the understanding of power. I might be the Robert Moses of comedy. Oh. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:26:52 I have lay waste to so many communities. When I have a joke I want to do, I destroy communities in my whole tenements and buildings come down. In your way, yes, yes. And then it's just a quick wordplay pun. But people have lost their buildings. I hope this happens So do I And I will pray on that tonight
Starting point is 00:27:14 When I kneel and I say my prayers It's all about my career Of course Nothing about the family No, think of the commission Yes I would love that I would love that to happen
Starting point is 00:27:23 So would I I'll make it happen Okay good You heard it here first Yes And you'll hear it here last Now I want to bring up One more Celtic thing
Starting point is 00:27:31 Which is you have claimed That you have And that you have profited From in your career Celtic eyes Oh, yes, yes. Tell me what are Celtic guys, what they are, and then I'll ask you my follow-up question.
Starting point is 00:27:43 Well, actually, what I was going to say it was an accusation, but it was more than an inquiry. You're not to accuse me of anything. No, I have a number of things I'd like to accuse you of, but we'll wait until we stop rolling for that. Yes. It was, I sat down at a dinner party in Los Angeles once, and a very, very dashing older kind of silver fox gentleman
Starting point is 00:28:01 turned to me and he just went, Irish. I went, no, Scottish. I went, no. Well, then what are? are you? I said, well, oh, of course, the other Celt. And I said, I'm sorry, what made you say that? He goes, Celtic lids. You've got Celtic lids. He goes, I could really help you out. He was a plastic surgeon. And what he was inferring was, is this sort of slight droop on the top of our eyes, which is, I think, you know, centuries being downtrodden makes you go, oh, I'm so sorry.
Starting point is 00:28:25 You know, genetically, it's... And the coal dust. That does it too? It's everything, yeah. It's having, it's both emotional and practical that you keep dust out of your eyes, but also you take your place, you know, in society and apologize for being there, more importantly. Someone was going to try and fix your, you'd say lids, I'd call them peepers. Cheapers, creepers, what's
Starting point is 00:28:48 inside those peepers? Exactly. Yes. One of my favorite poems also. From Dylan Thomas. Devin Thomas says, he did a lot of great stuff. He does. He did. Purple, polka-dot bikini was his. Yes, with the sidewalk ends. So I'm fascinated that anyone
Starting point is 00:29:04 would try and touch those eyes, because those are great. I would think they've been so useful to you in acting. Well, there's another moment when the Americans was finishing I believe it was the New Yorker, the wrote a very nice article saying that I was like, what is it called the king of downtrodden tragedy? And there was a photo of me
Starting point is 00:29:20 and I looked at the photo and I went, that's my resting face. I'm not acting, I'm not doing anything. That is what my face looks like. You can project whatever it is you wish upon that downtrodden face. And if you
Starting point is 00:29:36 bleed in some emotional music, it might give you something cinematic. But at that moment, I was doing nothing. Yes. Which, that's all it does. Cut you to the quick.
Starting point is 00:29:46 It fans the flame of your imposter syndrome. That all it does. All right, this brings up my next question. Yeah. First of all, look at my eyes. Yes. Do I have anything,
Starting point is 00:29:57 is there any Celtic, anything going on in my eyes? My eyes are narrow. They're suspicious. They're creepy. Yeah. It's kept me out of film my entire life. What can we do?
Starting point is 00:30:07 Help me. Help me. I did watch a documentary about Charlie Sheen the other day. And he said there was this one time where obviously he was struggling with substance abuse, which isn't funny. But one thing he did, he realized he was falling asleep mid-take. And he asked you know this? Yes. And he asked for the cup of ice.
Starting point is 00:30:27 And he inserted an ice cube into his rectum. Yes. And he said it gave him like. And it finished the scene. Yes. Then they show the scene in the documentary. And he's very present. away. And I thought in that
Starting point is 00:30:38 moment, I went, good God, he's cracked it. My downtrodden lids, if I just give the old, you know, one up the chute, right? And I've gone, bing! And like, all of a sudden, you know, you're... Right now, you're doing it. Look at me. I'm like, I could play Scarface again. I'm like, oh, fuck you, Dave, right?
Starting point is 00:30:55 Right? It just gives you the zing. So you're saying, if I shoved ice up my ass, these eyes would open up. Oh, like, like... I'm trying to think of something that opens up. Just like a mall on Christmas Eve. There you go, now we're talking.
Starting point is 00:31:11 So I, what's called it, pulling a sheen from now on. Oh, okay, good. I think that's the way to do it. You need to pull a sheen. Yes, I'll be back in a minute. Yeah, and then zing, ring, and then in you come. You talked about imposter syndrome. Yes.
Starting point is 00:31:26 Everybody has imposter syndrome. Weirdly, with this Richard Burton piece, it's the first one-man show I've ever done. and the true great fear I have is that I will forget my lines because that's it it's just like stand up it's just you in the audience what I've started doing now
Starting point is 00:31:43 is doing a run through if I go wrong is not stopping or correcting myself is seeing how I get out of that because that will ultimately be I think the lifeline so that is an entirely new discipline for me yes it did a little bit on stage
Starting point is 00:31:58 but you're always with another actor who will help you catch you throw it back to you They're your cue. 100%. They're giving you, I mean, you're leading each other, but it's a dance,
Starting point is 00:32:07 and now you're out there alone. Yes, and I forgot my lines in the past and another actor has saved me. And this, for the first time, playing Richard Burton, going home after 22 years, I will do something alone.
Starting point is 00:32:20 And my, what I'm intrigued is, how do I, exactly what you say, how do I get out of those moments where it doesn't seem like I messed, or try and make it seem to it. I have a suggestion?
Starting point is 00:32:30 Yes. If you're open to it. Don't do it. If you can get out of the play, I would get out. Yes. I think you're a terrible actor. Yes. Good.
Starting point is 00:32:37 This is good. You shouldn't be on the stage. No. Should I get my eyes done? Yes. And immediately get your eyes done. Ice, please. Soie!
Starting point is 00:32:45 You should put a little thing in the program. Yeah. A little message. Yeah. And it says, you know, they always say this takes place. Yeah. On New Year's Day, Richard Burton's apartment in 1968. Okay.
Starting point is 00:32:59 Was it 68? Yeah. I just was making that day out. I know. I was. We literally said at the same time. Okay, so this is how good I am. I know.
Starting point is 00:33:05 Of course I don't have an imposterous. God, he's good. Yes. So, um, you should have a little thing that says on this day, Richard Burton has a very bad cold. And then you come in, enter coughing. Yeah. Then start your speeches. Let the cough melt away.
Starting point is 00:33:19 Yeah. But anytime you start to lose it a little bit. Good God. Thinking. The whole time. What's next? What's next? Find it.
Starting point is 00:33:30 Find it. Find it. Find it. Find it. Oh. And then you'll find, yeah, that's it. The cough. And people will say he'd never missed a line.
Starting point is 00:33:38 Yeah. And God, he made me feel like he really was sick. Good God, that's genius. That's the work of genius. Well, you should direct theater. You know what? No one's ever said that to me and no one ever will seriously. But I'm going to take you up on that.
Starting point is 00:33:53 Something to consider. Quit everything I'm doing. What would be the Irish one-man show that you would want to do? Which Irishman? Well, wait, surely there's one about Harry. You could do. Oh, my God. Well, I mean, first of all,
Starting point is 00:34:04 the worst thing I could do in my career would be, for me, an American, you know, third generation, Irish American, to return to Ireland and attempt a true accent. Do it.
Starting point is 00:34:18 They would destroy me. Do it. A true accent. Do it. They would destroy me. Do it. Was Harris ever on your show? Yes, he was.
Starting point is 00:34:25 How many times? He was on once, I believe, and I watched the interview recently because one of the problems with doing so much volume, thousands and thousands of hours of television, four of them quite good. I decided that, oh my God, I remembered. I got to speak to the great iconic Richard Harris,
Starting point is 00:34:49 and I have a very dim memory of it. And then I realized, wait a minute, I can watch it. So I typed in Conan, Richard Harris. He came up. I watched the whole interview. He was spectacular. And at one point, he finishes his story with great bravado and throws himself back in his chair, roaring, laughing.
Starting point is 00:35:08 And his chair starts to tip over, and Andy and I kind of grab him and pull him back. He was an absolute delight, everything you'd want him to be. And now you have this retrospectively where, you know, when the great star, you look back and go, now I'll watch me talking to him. Yeah, but you know, it's funny. I'm often, when I see those moments, I think,
Starting point is 00:35:26 why is he there? meaning why is not why is Richard Harris there? Why is Richard Harris there? Why wasn't it Peter O'T? No, why isn't it just me alone? Yes. Why is Harris mucking it up?
Starting point is 00:35:38 I could have done much better with that story. Yeah, exactly. No, I just see myself with a Richard Harris or a David Bowie and go, oh my God, it's that thing where you just are, can you lose him? Why is he there?
Starting point is 00:35:52 But I'm sorry, but that's how we all feel. I know, I know. Because the other person is legitimate and you are not legitimate and that's just the way it is and you have to accept it. Yes, and we go through the world meeting these people
Starting point is 00:36:03 and feeling like that. I also do think the Celtic gene doesn't help us. The English is much better at it. You know, there is a thing, there's a true suspicion when I go back to, when I go back to Ireland
Starting point is 00:36:14 and I love it there and I love the people but I know that if you've gone off to America, if your people went off to America and then you're coming back as a television personality in America, you're asking for it.
Starting point is 00:36:30 Of course. You know, who the fact do you think? Oh, here he is. Bertie fucking big balls. Look at him. Exactly, and that's the attitude when they stamp your passport. And everybody's hilarious.
Starting point is 00:36:44 That's the other thing I've learned. And you probably have this in Wales too where I'll think, well, I've really been honing my craft. And then I get off the plane and I get in a cab and the cab driver is funnier than anyone. I never imagine. And that's why. And they won't forget a grudge.
Starting point is 00:37:01 I was in Belfast. We're driving along. I was going to do, they were having some thing for Game of Thrones that they wanted me to host. It was during the last season of Game of Thrones. And they said, would you come up and I go to Belfast for the first time
Starting point is 00:37:14 and I get in a cab and we're driving along. And then I notice out of the side, I say, hey, it says Harland Wolf. I remember, and the way, back of my mind, Harlan Wolf's shipyard, that's where they made the Titanic. They made the Titanic. And I said to the driver, I said, that's where they made the Titanic. He went, that's right.
Starting point is 00:37:34 And I said, oh, that ship didn't last too long, did it? And he went, he said, ah, the English had sunk it. He said, it was in pretty fucking good shape when we gave it to him. And I'm like, and he said it as if this was something that went down two days ago. He's still got that ship on his shoulders. When we gave it to the English, it was for me didn't tell him to run it into an eye You fucking And so, I mean, it's just
Starting point is 00:37:58 I love the old wounds That are as fresh Oh, my father still talks about 1282, you know Yes, when the English killed off From the last of the Royal Welsh family They're like, well, it all turned to shit then, didn't it? You're like, what, I suppose?
Starting point is 00:38:11 Yes, I don't know. So everything after 1282 has been No, no wonder we're all like this, you know, We're trying to block out the world It's been crapo ever since. To say it's all been shite Ever since It was plain, it was golden age up until then
Starting point is 00:38:29 Yes We were okay until the Bronze Age came along Yes, they ruined it for us You, I must discuss Briefly The power broker You're a lovely partner Oh yes
Starting point is 00:38:42 She is a power broker Is she a power broker? In every sense I am a mere pawn Is that true to she control you? Sorry, prawn is what she calls me Yes Are you a prawn?
Starting point is 00:38:54 In many ways, shellfish to the nth degree. I'm just curious. I watch, I'm going to give a quick shout out to the beautiful and talented Carrie Russell who I'm entranced by the diplomat. She's incredible in everything she does. I was stunned to find out and still stunned that you two, because you're actors
Starting point is 00:39:13 and you start in this series together, the Americans, you had to have a chemistry read. Yeah. To have a chemistry read with someone who then later on becomes your life partner it's fascinating to me because I never had a chemistry read
Starting point is 00:39:26 with my wife and I think we should Don't you have an agent Surely you have management Dear God what are they doing Don't give them 10% I think if my wife and I had a chemistry read I wouldn't have children right now
Starting point is 00:39:39 The whole thing would have fallen apart He should have nothing So the fact that Get her out of there But it got me thinking That everyone should have a chemistry read Before I mean essentially that's That's what people, some people do.
Starting point is 00:39:53 Yes. The Catholic Church has some version of it. Well, of course. Where they, you should get together and have some conversations in the company of a priest. Yes. But that's no chemistry read. Let's face it. Did you know in the chemistry read, we have real chemistry?
Starting point is 00:40:08 No. No. No. I couldn't. And I struggle a bit with the term chemistry read because, you know, I've done so many of them. They go, well, they want you to do a chemistry read. And then you go, do you mean they just want me to act with another actor? Is that what they want me to do?
Starting point is 00:40:20 It's a silly term. Yes. And then I think sometimes what they secretly do is in between the acting, they want to see if you're joking and having fun or you might like each other. Do you know what I mean? If they might get on set, I honestly don't know. I struggle a bit with the term chemistry because I'm always like, I can pretend to like that person in the room and then hopefully they'll give me the job
Starting point is 00:40:39 and then I'll act my best in the acting bits. But that's all pretty much I can do. Yes. She had to slap me in our chemistry read. And the director said, one of the reasons he said, What we cast you is because you took that slap so well. And I went, I had no idea she was going to slap me. It was absolutely.
Starting point is 00:40:56 I was reeling in shock that she did it. It really hurts. Oh, my ears were ringing. They went, God, you took it so well. I was like, it caught up with me like three days later. Yeah. I had no idea that was happening. So, you know, there are strange happenstance like that where you go, oh, thank God.
Starting point is 00:41:11 I didn't go, oh, Christ, what are you doing, woman? Is there tape rolling on this? Yeah, oh, yeah. It's so funny to me, the idea of your family. being able to at any point, look at a tape of this is when our parents met each other and it's you getting the shit kicked out of you.
Starting point is 00:41:27 Yes, yes. Well, they're like, well, that must, that's like any Wednesday, really. But also. I forgot, yes. Constant beatings. Of course. Oh, there's that again, yeah.
Starting point is 00:41:37 But we'd actually met about 15, 16 years prior to that. Oh, wow. And at a kickball party that Jennifer Gray threw in Los Angeles. And I'd ask. Those are famous. Those are famous. Which is why I fought my way in.
Starting point is 00:41:52 I was like, God damn it! There's a reason they call it dirty dancing, and I'm making my way in. It can't really mean kickball. It must mean some other kind of kickball. It's code. Yes. So at the end of the party, I'd asked for her number,
Starting point is 00:42:07 and I'd then very drunkenly left a message on her, you know, back in the old days when it was, you know, and she said some drunken Welsh idiot left her message, and that was me. So we kind of reminded ourselves of each other, after that. So I'd remembered that I'd met her many, many years earlier, but it wasn't the time and place for me to go,
Starting point is 00:42:24 oh, guess what? Do you remember that? Faithful night, and I opened a beer with a key on my thumb. And I was inebriated and had to walk home and left you a message, all made of consonants, not a single vowel. Well, I remember that when we did our first podcast, and as I said, it was during COVID.
Starting point is 00:42:46 And it looked like you were talking in a big. You were... Still there. You were shrouded in darkness. Yes. That's my aura. It looked so sad. And then in the background, this angel walks by with a hamper of laundry.
Starting point is 00:43:00 I know. And I was like, ah! He's... Carrier! And I put my creep classes on and started filming. But she was... Telegram! It won't work.
Starting point is 00:43:12 You're on Zoom! Yes. Dammit! Separated by Zoom. Oh my God. Creepy tricks won't work. I want to talk about this new project, and there's a little strange,
Starting point is 00:43:23 I have some connection to this project that you've done, The Beast in Me, which is that early, early on, I had this production company and the wonderful and very intelligent, wise, David Kissinger said, there's this script that I found that's amazing.
Starting point is 00:43:40 He brought it to me. I read it. I think Jody Foster had seen it. So Jody came in, and we just started talking about how amazing this script was. Because we were doing our best to try and shepherd this thing along. But once people hear Conan O'Brien's involved, everyone flees.
Starting point is 00:43:56 That imposter. That imposter. Yeah, yes. He's phoning it in again. Is he wearing those glasses? Did you get one of his telegraphs? Yes. They're not real, you know.
Starting point is 00:44:05 Yes. And so time goes by, and then I find out that, oh, wait, this is actually going to happen. But I wasn't sure. For a while, we were thinking who is going to play this part. and then I find out it's Claire Daines and then I find out that it's you and I had no no one would listen to me anyway
Starting point is 00:44:24 but someone did call me at one point and said what do you think of for the part for the second lead or the co-star of it what do you think of Matthew Reese and I was like I love that guy he's got to do this I want to have my name in something
Starting point is 00:44:42 that you're in and listen I take no credit for anything I'll demand money I'll make sure that I take a big enough piece that it hurts the production. Always. Always. That's why I did it for bread.
Starting point is 00:44:55 Yeah, exactly. But no, I can take no credit for anything other than I loved this script a long time ago and I very much wanted to see this make it and I hope my name was of some use. It may have harmed. Well, no. And my 70% of the profits, I'm ashamed.
Starting point is 00:45:15 No, you shouldn't be. No, you've earned it. You burnt it. And thank you for the vote of confidence. By doing nothing, I've earned it. Oh, stop. It's the other thing that no one realizes the amount of years are going to development.
Starting point is 00:45:26 So when people are like you and Jody Foster are going, no, this should get made. You know, thank God that you do. Jody was a child at the time. Yes, she'd just done taxi driver. She had on taxi driver. I was in fourth grade. And I said, I think we should make this.
Starting point is 00:45:40 And no one listened to us because I was in Brookline, Massachusetts. And she just unbucked. Mugsy Malone with Alan Parker. Yeah, so, you know, it was a long time ago. Yes. People don't understand how long it takes. And these circuitous roots, it's a musical for a while. Now it's an animated series.
Starting point is 00:46:00 Yeah, no, it's very true. I was all going to be done with cats for a while. Yes. Well, they haven't ruled that out. But it was, it reminded me of, I want to be careful with this, but it was, there's a sense of it being an old-fashioned thriller, which I haven't seen in a very long time where a concept kind of is sometimes
Starting point is 00:46:19 overpowering and overwhelming in certain productions these days and what I just loved was that you have two people who are basically intrigued with each other and therefore begins a very gripping and thrilling cat and mouse game. It's old-fashioned thriller
Starting point is 00:46:34 tension and I love that about it because when I read it did the same thing that it does when you watch you go oh my God how is this going to unfold Yeah, that's how I felt reading that script for first time. The fact that Howard Gordon is the brain behind this. Well, also, you know, when I said, when obviously it was Claire's project, so when they
Starting point is 00:46:56 said, you know, Claire Dane's, Howard Gordon, you know, the homeland team are back together. And as soon as you hear that, you're like, okay, I'm in. Yep. And then they said, we didn't ask you. I was like, I know, but I'm still in. Do you just crash meetings and go, I'm in? Yes. Yeah, and they go, who is that?
Starting point is 00:47:10 Yes. Stop saying that. I'm in. Yeah. Yes. You somehow got into this room. You know, it's funny, I've heard you say in, I think I've heard you say in more than one interview. Oh, I'm not an A-list actor.
Starting point is 00:47:22 I don't know. I think of you, I don't know. Maybe actors think about that more than anyone else, but I don't see why anyone wouldn't want you first and foremost for something. Because you're money in the bank. Money in the bank. You're 70% in the bank. What I want to start, what I want to start, okay, is in showbiz parties, just going up to other actors going, what letter you? What letter you?
Starting point is 00:47:43 A? Are you A? A. B. Yes. But really, how many A's are there anymore? A-list? I mean, truly. I don't know what it even means. I would say five. Who are they? I don't know. I don't know. See, that's what you... Bizz Clippler. Your good old... Chaz Maloney. Crazy Chaz. Tadirac. Is he still around? Sheila McGee? See, it doesn't mean anything anymore. No, I know. But who, like, Meryl. Meryl. Meryl Streep, A. Oh, yes. Harrison Ford. A.
Starting point is 00:48:09 No. He's fallen terribly. Why? Because he's gone to TV. I think he's on radio now. He's doing ads. He said, go to that car wash. It's a good one. Of course. Of course. But I think, but it's very personal.
Starting point is 00:48:22 It's, you know, Merrill, it doesn't matter what your opinion is. She's up there. Always A. And, yeah, and Harrison Ford, yes. A. He walks on screen and you go, oh, my God, because you've grown up with these. Some of that, too, is longevity. You've grown up with him.
Starting point is 00:48:34 Yes. You're still a young lad. You need more. Stop your ways. Stop your ways. Tom Cruise. Another A. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:48:40 Sure. People who basically, when they. walk on screen, you feel safe or comfortable, because you go, oh, we're okay now. Right, but I think it's increasingly, increasingly maybe an irrelevant term. Everything's so fractured now. Yes. We used to walk
Starting point is 00:48:54 into the old movie palaces and buy our popcorn and our sody pop and we'd sit there and we'd watch the golden legends up on the screen. Those days are over. We're watching things on an airplane. We're watching things on little screens on their phones. I
Starting point is 00:49:10 watch all the Academy-nominated movies on my phone. No, you don't. And sometimes I think that's still too big and I crack the phone in half and I watch it then. Through one eye. Through one little, my squinty eye. Yeah, yeah, which one today? Yeah, exactly.
Starting point is 00:49:23 I'll use the left for this one. Oh, yes, it's what they deserve. And also we've Instagram, you know, we've read on Instagram what they've had for lunch. So there's no mystery. The mystery's gone. Well, that's why you should stop telling people what you've had for lunch. Why? People love it.
Starting point is 00:49:36 I had an egg mayonnaise sandwich just before I came in. I'm 30 seconds from a heart attack. Stay off. egg, mayonnaise sandwiches, for God's sake. No, I won't. Damn you. You'll do as you're told. No, I won't is the devil's work, and I love the devil. Oh, I just want to rent a cabin with you so we can just yell at each other.
Starting point is 00:49:52 Yes. Nothing sexual. No? Me at first. But then we're just yelling at each other. Damn you, I'll have your eyes! You know, it's just you and I yelling at each other. It's basically mutiny on the bounty. Yes. But we're all, but we're both vying us to be, for who plays Captain Bligh. Who's blind, yeah. Damn your eyes!
Starting point is 00:50:08 I feel terrible for one man right now, and that's his name is Eduardo. I don't know if you can hear us, Eduardo, I hope you can. Is he doing this? He is doing all the mixing right now. And I think his board is probably on fire. Is that what we can smell? Because you've got a Welshman and an Irishman
Starting point is 00:50:24 screaming at each other out shouting. These very sensitive microphones. He'll have tinnitus for life. Exactly. But he'll think of us. Yeah, and he'll know how to say tinnitus, which most people don't. Oh, do you say tinnitus? I don't even say it anymore because I can't pronounce things over the ringing in my ear.
Starting point is 00:50:40 Do you have it? I have it all the time. What's that? I do. I want to get, why did the ear horn go away? The old ear trumpet that comes out that people used to, in 1920s, we'd go, eh, yes. I want to get one of those in my dotage. And then it'll be selective, because you can put it to your ear depending on who's talking.
Starting point is 00:50:58 At what time. So exactly. And with a hearing aid, people don't know. But if I have a giant horn that I hold up to my ear, it'll be great because I'll be listening to someone else. And then you'll start to talk and I'll put it down. Oh, and that's the ultimate social tool. Yes. The ultimate burn that what you're saying means nothing to me.
Starting point is 00:51:17 It just goes down and it never comes up. Slow horn down. Yeah, the S-H-T. You got S-H-Ted by your... Oh, yes. So am I coming back to your house tonight? What's happening? Yes, I'd say we'll stop off somewhere for a few cold ones
Starting point is 00:51:29 and then text, Kerry, that we're on the way. A few cold ones meaning ice for our ass. Yes. Two five-pound bags, please. Would you like some ice? No, we brought our own. Yes. We both blow on our thumbs.
Starting point is 00:51:40 it comes shooting out. Yeah. Oh, come on, David. Grow up. It's not the first time. Yeah. Jesus Christ. David's had to insert it most of the time.
Starting point is 00:51:49 Ice me, David. No, sheen me. Sheen me. Sheen me. Do you have Mr. Sheen in this country? The polished furniture polish. I talked to him on the podcast last week. Last week.
Starting point is 00:52:00 Yeah. I don't know when this one, this one's coming out soon, isn't it? Okay. Yeah. So, yes, I talked to the man. He's doing well. Good. He's fine.
Starting point is 00:52:07 He's in good. Fine fettle. Great. Yeah. Good. Your eyes just went. dead because I was talking about another actor. Yes, well, there's three, I was holding, I was actually holding three sheens in my head.
Starting point is 00:52:19 I had Charlie Sheen, obviously, his wonderful father. Yes, Martin Sheen. Martin. And then also Michael Sheen, a fellow Welshman who is responsible for this one man, Richard Burton, because he's taken over the Welsh National Theatre and said, come and do something in Wales, I went, I'll come and do it. I admire you. Well, thank you.
Starting point is 00:52:37 I'd like to grow up and be you one day, only I'm older than you. I can tell my wife today, she's in New York with me, saw that I had a little joy in my step today and I said, I'm seeing Mr. Matthew Reese and I couldn't be happier. You're hilariously funny and you're a joy to be around. I hear you're a monster on set. True.
Starting point is 00:52:56 But I wasn't on set, so I don't care. And I just wish you all good things. I really do. Well, thank you very much. I appreciate those words enormously, especially coming from you. That's such a great man? Yes.
Starting point is 00:53:07 Let's elaborate on that. So I'm sorry. As a great man or more. Maybe the greatest. Maybe the greatest man. I was trying to get to that, possibly the great. Let's get sooner, sooner. Sorry, sorry, the greatest man I've ever met. Maybe the greatest comic of all time.
Starting point is 00:53:18 Well, that goes without question. Is it why it's written here? Sorry, what, we rehearsed this. Yes, I'm sorry. What else am I best to say again? It's all so embarrassing. Yes. Go with the gods, old friend.
Starting point is 00:53:34 Be well. Thank you very much. And a joy to be here, as always. Thank you for the invite. Last week, we were doing a state of the podcast, and it got sidetracked by Sona and the Brazilian buttlift, which is not a new Indiana Jones movie. But it is a children's story. It's a children's book coming out soon. Sona and the Brazilian buttlift.
Starting point is 00:54:02 Mommy, that's my favorite book. This is part two. So, Adam, we interrupted you because you were listing our incredible act. We had a ton of accolades, and I got embarrassed, and we got off track. Lots of awards. Great guests. And I was talking about how we've started doing full. Lots of awards.
Starting point is 00:54:21 A major awards. We started doing full-length video in May, and numbers are great. And again, the concern was, is it incremental audience, or are we just taking people away from the podcasting? Now, the interesting thing is on the history of the sort of the podcast, delivery has been RSS. So when, you know what that is kind of. No, I don't. When people have listened to podcasts in the past, when you use the podcast app, you're getting an RSS feed delivering you the podcast, and you have to subscribe to that, right?
Starting point is 00:54:50 So subscribers to the podcast will get the podcast every week. And we have built up a huge audience in podcasting over the past seven years on the podcast app. People have subscribed. Yep. The interesting thing about YouTube is we have a very large YouTube channel, over 9 million subscribers on YouTube. When we put out. Related to the podcast.
Starting point is 00:55:10 Completely unrelated. That's Conan content from before you chimps. That's very true. That was built on TBS content and lots of great. One man's dream. We're keeping them subscribed. But the interesting thing about YouTube is when we put a podcast video on that channel that has 9 million subscribers, about half of the views to our podcast video come from
Starting point is 00:55:33 non-subscribers, meaning that YouTube has algorithmically suckered those. Algorithmically is exactly the word. YouTube is serving our content to people who didn't subscribe. Who actively dislike me? I mean, I doubt it. I think YouTube thinks that they're going to like this content. And so it's sharing the content more and more, which is actually awesome because it's growing our, the old legacy podcast is a very deliberate act.
Starting point is 00:55:58 You know, you had to subscribe. Then you get your podcast. This is like we're growing our audience on YouTube because all these people who didn't already subscribe are getting fed the content and watching the content. So we're an invasive weed. Best description I've ever heard of this podcast. Is Conan going to be like a YouTube personality, though? Should he be like, hey, smash that like button and subscribe?
Starting point is 00:56:22 Yes, we probably, the crazy thing is, and we talked about this a little bit on the last time, but like podcast, because podcasts are becoming so, are distributed so much on YouTube as a billion people a month are watching podcasts on YouTube, which is a crazy number. The sort of podcast world and the YouTuber world, Sona, that you're talking about, they're kind of merging. Like podcasters and YouTubers are all part of this larger creator economy now, and you're there. It's hilarious that no one has sat me down, including you, and talk to me about any of this. I'm saying that's what this is. That's what this is. I know, I know. We can't sit you down unless there's a microphone in front of you.
Starting point is 00:57:01 Or a camera, it turns out. That's incredible. You should become more of like a YouTuber, like do some pranks and like, yeah, unbox stuff. I'm going to start unboxing stuff. Yeah. Here, drink this urine. I don't even know enough about YouTube stuff.
Starting point is 00:57:22 I don't either. Well, I will say Conan, sorry to interrupt you, but the other, the thing that you've joked about a bunch now, which is becoming more and more true, is that you're back to hosting a late-night show. Because not only is YouTube the number one. destination for people to listen to podcasts. It's also the number one streaming platform now and the number one thing that people are watching on TV in their living rooms. So you have essentially just gone back and created another talk show. I make this joke repeatedly, but it's so funny to me that I deliberately left late night after 28 years. I loved it. I enjoyed every second. I said that's
Starting point is 00:57:57 good. I'm going to go now. I'm going to do my little podcast. I'm going to do my little travel show for HBO Max. I hope they always call it HBO Max and don't start messing with the name. Uh-oh. And then everything, you know, that was it. And I'll work on my body at the request of everyone.
Starting point is 00:58:19 And then this... What? Well, people said you've got to fix that body. That was the big thing I heard. I just don't like the way you worded it. It's weird. Body. Anyway, now we're doing this podcast and it keeps growing
Starting point is 00:58:31 and people started to say things like, we should do some in front of an audience. And if there's an audience, we should have Jimmy Vivino there and some band and other people in the band. It'd be really funny if you came out first and warmed up the crowd. Now you should do a monologue
Starting point is 00:58:43 and then call out the other guys and do the podcast. Hey, it'd be really good if we put this up on YouTube. And now people are telling me, I love your show. And I'm like, it's not a show. It's a little podcast. But it doesn't matter to me.
Starting point is 00:58:57 It's fun. It's organic. We're having a blast. I'm not asking. I'm telling you. Um, it's, uh, it's really, uh, enjoyable. And all joking aside, you're not going to like this, but we have a secret sauce here with you guys. It's really, it's a really nice environment. I never know what's going to happen. Uh, I'd be miserable if I was here alone. And, uh, you guys are really
Starting point is 00:59:21 funny. And this is lovely. I'm having a really good time. I'm having a really good time. Yeah. Yeah. It's very nice of you to say. Thank you. It's all led by you, boss. And there you go. Oh, man. You're really. You shouldn't have handed it back to me. I know, but I was, you were being sincere, so I was sincere back to you. I was so sincere to get you to hand it back to me. Yes, I lead the way and it would never have them without me. Well, that's it for the state of the show.
Starting point is 00:59:44 Adam, this has been a good pep talk. Thank you. And also, thank you to Adam. Yeah, thank you. Very much. His leadership, his common sense. Of course, Eduardo, always there, working the knobs, guiding us at the helm, taking care of us, Blaze, shouting into the microphone, things we don't need to.
Starting point is 01:00:01 here um uh just what a lovely it's such a fun group it's a fun group it's a highlight of my day every day it's did did you hear anything about the advertisers mad that we talk still a lot about like a lot of jizz and stuff like they don't mind they don't mind no they don't know we're getting yeah now we're getting uh jiz only I was going to say your sponsorship is jiz monthly yeah yeah it's appropriate the magazine a jizinator yeah if you shot some jizz and you don't know where it is use the jizzinator we want the jizzy for
Starting point is 01:00:31 best podcast. We won the Jizzy. And you beat Jizz Taylor. Yeah. Yeah. And we've been invited to New Orleans Jizz Fest. And trust me, you got to wear a raincoat to that thing. Stay on the podcast. Stronger than ever. Conan O'Brien needs a friend with Conan O'Brien, Sonam of Sessian, and Matt Gawley. Produced by me, Matt Gourley. Executive produced by Adam Sacks, Jeff Ross, and Nick Liao. Theme song by the White Stripes.
Starting point is 01:01:04 Incidental music by Jimmy Vivino. Take it away, Jimmy. Our supervising producer is Aaron Blair, and our associate talent producer is Jennifer Samples. Engineering and mixing by Eduardo Perez and Brendan Burns. Additional production support by Mars Melnick. Talent booking by Paula Davis, Gina Batista, and Britt Kahn. You can rate and review this show on Apple Podcasts,
Starting point is 01:01:28 and you might find your review read on a future episode. Got a question for Conan? Call the Team Coco hotline at 669-587-2847 and leave a message. It too could be featured on a future episode. You can also get three free months of SiriusXM when you sign up at SiriusXM.com slash Conan. And if you haven't already, please subscribe to Conan O'Brien needs a friend wherever fine podcasts are downloaded.

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