Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade - Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone
Episode Date: November 13, 2024Bridesmaids, Groundlings, and the Five-Timers Club with Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy ... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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David, you know about Airbnb, right?
I've had relatives that are coming to stay
and they're staying for a little while
and the hotel is far away or it's not quite the right fit.
And so they get an Airbnb and these things
are just a great use of digital knowledge.
Where you-
Oh yeah, I think people are just all moving that way
because just easy, you do it on your phone,
you check it out and you find, you know,
if you want your own privacy or whatever.
Yeah.
Or if you want a pool, you find one with a pool, you know, or one that you can bring your dog.
It's it's completely not one size fits all super adjustable.
I've used one in particular a couple of times and it was just charming and nice.
And yeah, very easy to use. So it's a good alternative
if you need a place to stay. Right, because hotels are great. It just sometimes,
hotels don't spend as much meticulously checking everything out. Airbnb, I think they always seem
to have personal touches and my friends say it's great and they would never do anything but that.
If you want a kitchen, you know, at the hotels it doesn't have a kitchen.
A full kitchen usually can get that and do all that.
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We've got a good one today, Dana.
One of my favorites, Melissa McCarthy.
I've been trying to get her on here for a while, but her and Ben Falcone, her husband, came in and lots of good, hard laughs, along with some info and interesting stuff, right? We get into basically a classic as of now, bridesmaids
and how she got that part, what she did in the part
and how that came through.
We talk about Ghostbusters, the all female cast
that she was a part of.
And we talk about when she went on SNL for a few episodes
doing Sean Spicer and driving the podium around New York.
And Beth Talcone, her husband, who directs a lot of her movies, super smart, nice guy,
and just their marital relationship as also being work life partners.
So it's-
And you'll see him in a lot of these movies because he's, if you don't know him by the name,
you'll know him because he's a funny performer as well. He sat next to her in Bridesmaids. I'll say
that. I think everyone's seen the movie already, but every time I get on a flight, there's someone
watching Bridesmaids. Yeah. Still. It's just a great movie. And I'd not, Melissa had worked,
but then that one just like blew her off, exploded because she was so good
in that movie and just had this long career. They're very humble, nice people, easy to talk to.
So I would press play if that's what you do. Or just keep, don't press stop.
Did they meet in the groundlings? Is that how it happened?
Yes, they met in the groundlings and we do talk about their love relationship
and when they knew and when they first saw each other.
And it really happened in one class, one time
when Ben gets on stage.
You'll hear that story.
It's really fun.
Yeah.
So here they are, Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone.
They're crammed in. All right. Oh, this is cute. Falcone.
Ah, they're cramping. Hey, all right.
Oh, this is cute.
We've never had a loving duo.
We've had little wide shots,
but nobody kind of cozied up like that.
Gay.
We're getting divorced later this afternoon.
Don't worry about it.
We're just getting our money.
That is my theory and it didn't work.
My theory is that when couples come out,
celebrity couples, and say it's just never been better,
it's just so much love, and they're on Instagram and stuff,
divorced six weeks later.
That was my theory, but I fucked up with Ben Affleck.
I thought they were gonna stay together
because it seemed so obvious that they were having trouble.
So fucking real.
Yeah, you can swear on this podcast,
but we won't swear very much.
Dana and I are separating later today also.
Oh no.
What hotel are you guys staying in?
I mean, you don't have to say the name,
but that's a very nice, that's not your house, is it?
This is, yeah, we have a little place here.
Oh, here being wherever that is.
Wherever we are.
Cause, we don't want to cause anything.
Wait, but are you shooting something right now presently?
She is.
Me?
Well, or she did, only murders in the building
is everywhere.
I did, I did that a while ago.
David, but it's out now.
It's on Hulu.
That is, being, oh my God,
being there with Marty and Steve
and like that whole group that was there,
it was like a fever dream.
Like I literally was like, so when I wake up
and they're just like, that didn't happen,
but you've been really ill.
I was like, okay, just enjoy it now.
Cause it seemed crazy.
Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis, Ava Lungoria,
playing themselves, Molly Shannon,
and then you play Steve Martin's sister.
Yeah, it must have been, it must have been a fun set.
Like everybody just goofing around, right?
Must have been a fun set.
Does it ever get serious?
You like that guy?
Yeah, I like him.
He digs deep.
No, it was so fun.
It was like, well, you know, but Marty just, he never stops making fun of Steve.
And it was like the greatest sporting event I've ever gotten to watch.
And Steve just wouldn't acknowledge.
And I was like, I could watch this like all day every day.
Yeah. just like wouldn't acknowledge. And I was like, I could, I could watch this like all day, every day.
Plus doesn't Steve help write because to have someone like those two guys, even throwing jokes in or just being in the vicinity of how fun it's just too perfect.
Yeah.
There are, there are, there are dream boats.
I'll say it.
I'll say it too.
I, those are my two, uh, Mount Rushmore's cause I'm in college in the late seventies,
one's on SCTV and one is touring the world
in stadiums and wild and crazy guys.
So those are my two from my age group.
Yes, which is my age group.
Yeah, those were the two,
those were like two of the guys
that you were just like,
you're never gonna meet them.
That'd be crazy.
That guy's doing what I wanna do
better than I'll ever do it right now on television.
But I can dream, you know?
So you are not currently promoting anything, you two,
for this podcast, or are you?
We are. We are.
Well, that's okay.
We win. But we would have done it anyway.
Let's get it out of the way.
And then I've got some pretty deep divey questions.
Well, if it's unopposed on a post it's pretty intense.
Those look like one word.
He just showed us something where I just see
serious one word, spread, raccoon.
No.
Don't give it away, Dan.
Not give it away.
They don't see it.
No.
I have others.
We have six hours ahead.
Okay. What are you currently?
What is,
I was going for the name of your production company, only for us, or one at a time.
On the Day productions.
What is On the Day productions up to?
Well, Ben and our good friend, Steve Mallory,
who we've written movies with,
we met him at Groundlings, super funny guy.
They have written this bizarre medieval comedy that so we're doing a podcast
that's like a radio play. You always explain it best. Yeah so like we just did the hardest
version of doing a podcast that you could ever do right so we because that's I sort of thought oh
it'd be fun to do a podcast but then it's all everything that you have to do with a live action production except
we don't have the visual part but I mean it's literally it's a fully produced
show called Hildy the Barback and the Lake of Fire and it's a comedy medieval
you know radio play it's like basically like a book on tape yeah but with a ton
of different voices and funny people and super funny super funny people and then
they were like oh we should make it harder.
There's an original song in each one.
And I'm like, we're doing this really poorly.
Yeah.
This has taken so much work, but it's really fun.
It's been really fun.
I did it during the pandemic.
One called, it's called The Weird Place.
Went through everything you just mentioned.
Just making a film, but just audibly
and all the different rules and games
of like drawing them in and effects and music
and mixing and voices.
Yeah, so I have empathy for you too,
what you've just been through.
Yeah, and just being like, and when I first read it,
also like part of the joke of the,
like the first thing is everything is with a G.
So it's like, you know, Gelendorf and Glendria and Glendria.
And I literally was like, I, I don't know if I could read it.
It was like breaking my brain.
And then I was like, Oh, I think at 54, I figured out I might be dyslexic.
Yeah.
And because of I don't do G's well either.
I was like, wow, fun facts.
Fun facts.
He said, these are the things we're learning.
I might be dyslexic.
E car,
Kamee.
Sorry.
I'm trying to McCarthy backwards.
Pretty good attempt.
Let me ask you this.
How many episodes,
when is it? Fair.
How many episodes and how long are they?
There are eight episodes in season one.
They're about 30 minutes long a piece.
And they're writing season two now.
We are writing season two.
And is it out now?
October 25th, the first episode drops
and then every Friday after that.
Okay. Perfect, perfect.
Now it's basically, it sounds like it's like
writing a movie or TV show that hard.
And then, but it's for this.
So it's a lot to get for an audience for a podcast.
That's good.
It's good for the audience.
It's a lot.
And there's so, it is like so many weird tricks.
Cause when you're like, well, wait, we're talking about like, you know, there's
centaur, like all of these things.
And I'm like, how do you, how do you describe this crazy, like middle earth
world that's also a comedy without just pure exposition?
Yeah, so that was the biggest thing was to try to,
and so Octavia Spencer's our narrator,
so that was step one.
So we've just got a great narrator
so she can say kind of anything and it works.
Yeah, that seemed definitely,
you're like, oh, that sounds fun.
Geez, we're smart.
Smokey voice.
Yes, and she can fill in gaps and stuff,
we're to explain. Marlupio was sad as he galloped through the forest
on his brave stallion.
He drew a sceptre at an oncoming stranger.
You're hired.
You're gonna be hired.
I was gonna say.
You're in.
Absolutely.
Here's the deal, which you guys are ready for,
but maybe this will become a feature
film because it is like sort of a, you know, or a series.
But you know, I learned with that one, because we had eight and everyone loved it and they
came out, yadda, dadda, doo.
Now where's nine?
What?
You're like, that was so much work.
You're like, never. so much work. You're like, never.
It's like Bridgerton, you gotta go in 2028,
we will have the next one.
Yeah, so just be ready for that.
You'll have super fans that'll be obsessed by it.
And when's the next episode?
2028, bitches.
You don't have to say bitches, I just threw that out.
I like it.
I like it too now though, yeah.
And I'll steal Spade's Bridgerton thing. And I'll be like, yeah, I just threw that out. I like it. And I'll steal Spade's, a Richardson thing.
And I'll be like, yeah, I just thought of that.
Take anything.
Well, is it PG-13 or do you have actual audio sex scenes
in this thing?
Let's get to it.
Oh.
There's lots of swearsies in it.
Lots of swearsies.
And then there's centaurs that are super sexually fluid
that wanna hit everything in front of it except me.
And actually the elves, kingdom of elves.
That sounds funny.
And the elves have sex with everybody except for Hildy
who's Melissa's character.
So they think-
Why is Hildy not getting any action?
And then as a parting gift, they give,
they give gifts to everybody and there's various things.
And then my, I'm like, oh, what is this?
Is it a magic potion?
And they're like, it's conditioner for your hair.
For your really dry hair.
Your black hair is so dry.
Your hair is pretty special.
Okay, so I get where it's coming.
Does your character ever pound?
It really comes from love.
Do you ever pound on the chest of a prince
and say, you impossible beast?
Does that ever happen?
Again, we're hiring that character.
Season two, yes.
You're an impossible beast.
Do I have to climb inside the giant's urethra?
She does, she stabs it in his urethra.
So this, okay, so it's fantastic voyage in a different way.
You're going inside the body through the Uri.
So it's sort of an adult show.
Just the once.
It's adult.
It's adult for sure.
It's adult, okay.
And the title is Prancing in the Enchanted Forest.
Now what is it?
It went out of my brain, I'm sorry.
Gildy, Gildy and the Gildy Monsters.
Gildy the barback and the lake of fire.
She's a barback.
Okay.
Barback.
I love barback, lake of fire.
That's funny.
Things that don't go together.
They absolutely don't.
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Melissa, I was on the road this weekend
and I realized when people talk about the weather,
it's just a nice thing to talk about
and people think it's very trite.
But if you're in an elevator and you go,
it's kind of hot today and they go,
oh yeah, everyone sort of agrees.
It's a good starter. Right. And you say, what's going on hot today. And they go, oh yeah, everyone sort of agrees. It's a good starter.
Right.
And you say, what's going on with Lebanon
right before they get off.
So you just kind of switch it up
because you say we've laid the groundwork,
we all agree on something.
And then now let's fight.
You put a base coat and then you just really get in there.
You understand.
When can you not say,
is it the political environment crazy?
When is that shelf life?
Can you still kind of announce that in an elevator?
What's going on, man?
It's crazy out there.
It actually makes it start talking about it.
So you can't do that.
You can't even say,
It's just nuts.
Let's not talk about this.
And they go, well,
and then you go, uh-oh.
We're gonna make sure that you two don't talk.
Where do you wanna go?
Because I'm kind of, my first blink instinct
besides promoting this is the husband wife dynamic,
creatively.
And so I wrote a list,
a list of husbands who've directed their wives.
There's the list.
And I think it's kind of interesting,
this dynamic, what it does to your relationship,
or how I can, you know, all that stuff and how you communicate.
Robert, Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman.
Sure.
Okay.
Okay.
Vincent Minnelli and Judy Garland.
True, again.
Okay.
Judd Apatow and Leslie Apatow.
Noam?
Yes.
Seen in action. Yep. John K Noam, seen in action.
John Krasinski, Emily Blunt.
Sure.
Ben Stiller, Christine, that worked out well.
Oh yeah, yeah.
I thought the Quiet Place director.
What did he direct her in?
The Quiet Place.
The Quiet Place?
Twice.
Yeah, and those were great movies.
Sam Mendes and Kate Winslet.
Right.
And Ben, is it Falcon or Falcon? Falcon. Falcon. Yeah. That's pretty cool.
I wish it was Falcon. I mean, if it was Falcon, it would become Falcon.
He's Falcon. When the kids go to bed, he becomes the Falcon.
Ah, coca! I mean, it's so funny.
Yes, it's, caw. I mean, it's so funny. I mean, I would say it was Falcon.
Yes, it's very aviator driven.
Yeah, I swear.
Yeah, he flies.
I'm on Daily Mail most of the time,
so I know what is happening in the world.
It's cocaine for an immature brain.
But anyway, just,
so you guys really started working together,
and it was just sort of like,
this is my blink on that.
It's like you're doing a movie, Ben's writing or producing.
What's your blink?
And then it's like a small leap to like, because I always tell kids, I tell the kids, people under 50,
you know, directing is blink because they think, well, I know this lens and I know a 45L, you know, it's all about blink, right? And so if your husband's there and his blink is the best on the set, well,
what, it was organically happened, right?
Let you direct it, you know?
Then what's blink?
Blink is like, blink is Spielberg looking at Robert Shaw,
and there's a take and he goes, yes, that's it.
Who has a gut instinct to kind of know when it's working
and then what to do with the pieces.
And that, I mean, I was on a movie once
and the makeup artist was the smartest guy on the film.
He just was talking casually
and he just had this blink instinct of when it was working,
why it was working.
Yeah, blink.
Is that the kids saying blink?
I like blink.
I just made it up.
Is it just you?
It's like fetch.
Dana's starting it today.
I'm gonna go, and next time I leave in elevator,
I'm gonna go, you guys, I just saying this,
you all have really good blink in here and walk out.
Yeah.
I get it going.
Get it going, get it, get it, get it.
I like it going.
Trending.
No, we met, we met at Groundlings.
Okay, you met at Groundlings.
That was the first problem.
We met at the Groundlings.
That's the first problem.
And we just would write together all the time
and like, and perform together.
And then when we first got a chance
to actually do a movie, we were meeting people
and nothing was working out. And it it really was like I think it was
Who's Toby but something like you why doesn't well doesn't Ben direct it and I was like because we kept going back to
Nobody knew the story as well as he did
Mm-hmm. And then so since we wrote it they said we could direct it and then she was filming a movie
So basically then she couldn't go direct it. So then I ended up directing it and she ended up producing it.
So it was like a that kind of vibe.
Which is pretty weird when you never think you're gonna get to do anything and then you get to do your own thing.
I just remember us driving on the lot and literally being like,
Oh my God.
Making where it kicked off.
I was like, wait, they're all look, people are looking at us like we're supposed to know something.
I'm not saying anything. I know. And we're supposed to know something.
Anything.
We're just like, oh my God. It's like, that wasn't Tammy.
What was it?
Yeah, Tammy was the first one.
That was great.
Can I go back for a second just into romance for a second?
Because we have a lot of fans because of David.
Just so you meet and the arc or the evolution of,
when was the thought that first came into either head like,
I think I might wanna marry this person.
Was it week one, a year later,
or you're not sure, don't remember?
I'll let you know.
No, I'm kidding.
Hey!
No, I knew kind of immediately we were in a class.
You're also like everyone's just trying to be the bigger like idiot to make people laugh.
And everyone's, we were doing monologues and including myself, it was like stupid and loud.
And somebody was really loud before you were even going to be really louder.
Yeah, yeah. and loud and somebody was really loud before you were even going to be really louder and crazier. And then Ben got up to do his and he was, he was someone's new
prison roommate and he was so stupid. I'm putting a gentle spin on it. But he was really,
really quiet. And he just did and it was like, he wasn't competing with anybody.
And everyone was like, kind of leaning forward because it was
super creepy, but super funny. And I immediately was like, Oh,
he's doing like, he's not trying too hard. He's doing his own
thing. And I literally, I think like, that was the first day.
And I think I already knew I was like, I kind of like him.
Like it was immediately like I was fascinated
and I thought, oh, I like that he's not having to like
be the loudest craziest.
And he's what he's doing is funnier than everybody else.
So I was like, blink, blink.
Okay, Ben's same story.
Oh, you blinked it.
She had a blink first day.
Same story for you choosing in that moment to go quiet,
getting kind of looking at her out of the side of your eye,
wait till she sees this or no.
Was it a flirting bit or was it just a regular comedy bit
where you're trying to work the room?
Yeah.
Okay, so when I was doing that monologue,
I knew I liked Melissa a lot
because she felt like
a friend that I wanted to hang out with immediately.
And then the love bloomed shortly thereafter.
That particular monologue, I think it was the first one that we had all done.
So I was just panicked and I thought I was doing terrible.
And I was saying, I remember one of my lines was, I know I'm not the prettiest owl in the barn,
but I'm still fun to work with or something like that.
Like, she's eating shit where I'm like,
what am I saying?
Why am I talking like this?
And she says everyone was laughing.
They were not.
There was one person laughing.
This lady was like, I felt like I was tanking.
But I was like, so when I started tanking,
I think what she liked is that I went softer instead of louder because I was like, so when I started tanking, I think what she liked
is that I went softer instead of louder.
Cause I was like, well, I'm clearly bombing,
so I'm just gonna go, I'm gonna do this.
Was it smooth sailing after that, or were there any other,
you know, acting classes or like sex labs?
Were there any other suitors for either of you?
Oh yeah, did you guys stay together?
I got so emotional when you come to a back seat of my car.
So, but you two-
This class was so deep.
You know, acting classes, I mean, come on.
It's a Petri dish for, you know.
It really is.
They tell you to make out with someone in a scene.
Do you have to kiss everyone in scenes or no?
It's not really acting.
It's, I mean, it's acting, but it's more improv or-
Yeah, it was written scenes and, they written scenes and improv scenes both. Okay.
But no, we never like, we never did anything like, there was no like, oh well, right, like a smooch
into a scene so I can kiss him. It was more like afterwards, like a really dive bar. I was like,
well, if you're going to hang out, like, well, if you're gonna hang out,
if you're gonna have another beer,
if we wanna hang out.
So we kept on hanging out and just having wage match.
Cause we're like, we wanted to hang out,
but we should have just-
And no one would make a move kind of thing?
Yeah. Oh, that's so sweet.
There was like, no one revealed their cards initially.
Soon we're laying on a pack of machines.
No, cause I think we became such good friends.
And also like, it's that weird thing of when
you're like, I'd like to change the dynamic.
Like, I don't know how, I think both of us didn't know how to weirdly bring that up,
but if we were both, I'd like to.
I've been wondering about changing the dynamic.
That's a refined line.
I'd like to change this in a different direction.
Is this character the change the dynamic guy in a movie? Because that's pretty funny. I like to change this in a different direction. Is this character going to change the dynamic guy in a movie?
Because that's pretty funny.
I like to change the dynamic.
Something Garth would say.
I like to change the dynamic.
He starts talking about owls when he gets nervous.
Well, what about you also, if you say that
and then the other person isn't into it,
then it ruins everything.
I know, I think that was the thing of like,
not only would a relationship not work out,
but then you're gonna lose someone
who's become one of your closest friends.
So you just did it.
And then, so it was like a weird start,
but then, but that was what, 25 years ago?
So it's-
Good Lord.
And then you start working together,
start doing stuff, directing, writing.
And the first one together was Tammy,
but you were doing a movie before that, or you were in Gilmore
Girls at some point around.
Gilmore, we had done bridesmaids together.
We were, we were married.
We were already married.
Yeah, we were married on that.
Okay.
We were married 19 years, just a couple of days ago.
Yeah.
So I'm not, I went to, I went to junior college.
I'm going to call it 2005 then.
Yeah.
19 around.
Yes, actually.
Yeah.
And so bridesmaids, when was that?
What was that era?
That would have been.
2002.
I have it.
11.
11.
Yeah.
So you've been married six years when that happens.
And when does Tammy happen?
Is that, that's first time Ben directed?
Yeah, that was not so long after Bridesmaids.
I think it came out 2014.
Yeah.
Okay.
So how did Bridesmaids do?
I was out of the country during the time.
Was it a hit?
Flop?
It did pretty well.
You know I'm kidding, right?
Ben was such a, Ben was a hilarious in
bridesmaids because, um, uh, I didn't know you
guys were connected in any way in real life.
And, uh, and when he comes in, it's just, it's
just such a great score part and funny.
And, uh, of course, Melissa was, um, did you
know after that, Melissa, was that sort of a bumping up, move the,
move the needle sort of situation?
Oh yeah.
For everybody.
Oh my God.
That's cause I, we were all in groundlings together
and like, we couldn't believe when we, like when
Annie and Kristen were like, we're writing a
movie for Judd.
I just remember all of us being like, is that
possible? Like we were truly just like, we're writing a movie for Judd. I just remember all of us being like, is that possible? Like we were truly just like, we're so happy for them. But it was also literally
like saying something that you're like, I, what? Like we couldn't process it, but it was so exciting.
And then they had been casting it for a while. And, and then I, they called me to come in and
I almost didn't because I got so nervous.
I knew this was such a big moment for them and I got a little nervous.
I was like, oh my God, if I'm too weird and I don't want to make them, if I'm going in
and I'm weird and then I don't want it to reflect poorly on them.
So the whole way there I was like, I shouldn't go.
And I don't do, I never had done that for other auditions, but this is also the first
time our good friends
were at the helm of it.
You're auditioning for your good friends.
Yeah, like Paul Feig and John are in there.
And you don't even know if it's like a favor
or if it's like, do I ruin it for them?
Yeah, I was like, I don't want to screw up
and then they're somehow damaged.
So I went in and I was reading with Kristin
and because we knew each other so well,
so we kind of went off the rails and we were like,
we did the audition, but also we're improvising.
And I got back in the car and I'm like, oh my God,
I think I said something about hand play with a dolphin.
Cause I was just kind of working with her
and then I forgot.
And I was like, I was too weird.
I was like, I was too weird.
Yeah, she came home and she was like,
I talked about sex with a dolphin and I'm like,
I've got to call them and apologize. And then when I got it, I was like, I was too scared. She came home and she was like, I'm way too scared. I talked about sex with a dolphin and I'm like, I've got to call them and apologize.
And then when I got it, I was like, wait, what?
So, it was so fun.
Well, just in that, what do you say to her, Ben,
when she comes in and says, I don't know,
I might've blown it.
I mean, how do you, hey, honey, you're great.
You know, I mean, what's the, what do you say?
Well, you know, honestly, cause she said,
I think I might've gone too far.
Cause I said something about hand play with a dolphin.
And of course I was like, that sounds pretty funny to me.
So that's a funny hand play with a dolphin is funny.
That will, they'll hear that and go at least on the set, you can turn her up or
down, but she will come up with shit to say, and then you can use it or not.
That's probably what happened.
I've never heard of that.
I've been funny as fuck.
Yeah.
That whole movie caught everybody off guard.
There was The Hangover, the first one,
and Tropic Thunder, some Will Ferrell movies.
Yeah.
And then this movie, to this day,
my sister sends me YouTube clips of scenes from that movie.
And I wasn't, I didn't really
watch the Gilmore Girls. I guess I knew of you or something, but when I saw you in the movie,
it was just all new to me. The character you were playing, how confident you were and everything.
And some about that's just like one of those movies that just is a great comedy, you know,
for all when everyone's scoring too. Scoring and everybody was playing.
And it was so like on set,
you were how Paul and Kristen and Annie were,
they're just like, yeah, do it.
Like go, go, go, like try it, try it, do whatever.
Like we have it the way it's written,
now do whatever you want.
And when you have people like that just,
like they're rooting for you actively
to be like a total jackass. It's like
it just felt like we were back at the theater and you know we're like I don't know it's funny for us
because I had never done everything that I did at the Groundlings was kind of more bombastic and
the only thing I'd ever really done was kind of more mild and like had Gilmore girls but
so it was so fun.
And, but I don't know that we thought people were
gonna, we didn't know how it was going to be
received.
And even that weekend, people were like, really
manage expectations.
We don't think it's going well.
And I was like, but I think it's really funny.
And they were like, we know the metrics on these
things.
It's not going to go well.
And I was like, I think you're wrong.
And they're like, we're not wrong.
I know. And I was like, I think you're wrong. And they're like, we're not wrong. Metrically, it might not be funny. I know. And I was like, what a terrible call to get.
It seems like all the movies that work is like, there's gotta be some improv involved.
Because when you're in a scene, you can, you can write it, you can read it, you can table
read it. And then when you get out there, there's always just something alive about
right that second of like, here we are, that's funny over there. I'm going to mention this.
And then whatever it is, somehow, as long as you get maybe an extra take in,
in my experience, is those the ones that people,
they remember the throwaways and the weirdest shit
over time.
And the tip of the screen,
it might not be the biggest laugh,
but then later they go, that means something.
I just think that's the magic, yeah.
Yeah, Gary Shanley and Larry David.
And to have Kristen back there, who knows what it's like to be out with the bullet,
both of you, have you been in really shitty experiences where the script supervisor looks
up and says, your hand was on the table when you said that line, you know, that kind of
constriction and a director that's never been in front of the camera.
So a little undercutty or awkward. I mean, maybe you guys took control of your career so early,
but did you have any experience like that? Because that sounds like heaven to me to be out there and
look up and seeing Kristen Wiig and Paul. And they're feeding you lines too. Like you can run
in a line to Kristen, she can run in one to you. And you're like, oh my God, everybody's doing it
on that movie. You would hear something, you'd shout out to somebody else.
Like, yeah, yeah.
Don't think, don't, don't think, just go, go, do it, do it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Cause I've definitely had that,
cause that was like the first time,
I didn't know sets could be like that at all.
Cause I'd had, you know, guest stars and stuff
where you're literally just expected to come in,
hit your marks, say your line in a way that
if you're on a multi-cam, the audience laughs a little bit.
If you're not, you make the director smile a little bit and you go home and
you're like, I don't know if I'm going to be in the movie or not, you know?
And this was the first, this was the first time that I didn't
think about any of that stuff.
In fact, to your point earlier, I used to choose props that didn't help me at all
because I didn't want to ruin stuff because you
know script you might come in and go you have that in your left hand when you
sit yeah so then I would just like put stuff down and I just be standing there
with my hands just like you know so I've definitely you always think you're not
gonna not use this a great take because the editing might be a hair off.
Who gives a shit?
We're not winning an editing award.
It's like people get it.
They go, this was the funniest one,
even though you had a different shirt on
and wanted to cut it.
And the matching department, all doing their job,
make up, hair, and coming in, really?
I think it's good. No, can we do it a little? And the hair, really, I think it's good.
No, could we do it a little in the hair?
No, I think, so, but the more thrown away it was,
but whatever happened in that movie, it just bounces.
It's like, and it's got such a following that everyone has.
Rose was an unsung hero too.
Rose did such a great job with her.
Rose is amazing in that movie.
Supposedly straight part.
I know, I only knew her from Damages,
which I was like, she was so good in that.
Like that show was so incredible,
but it was so like heavy and dark.
And then she came in and I was like,
oh, you're also really, really fucking funny.
I was like, that seems like you've got two scoops.
And I'll bet I do have to say.
Yeah, that's a rip off.
Two scoops.
Yeah, too pretty, too funny. She is the greatest, do have to say. Yeah, it's a ripoff. Two scoops, too pretty, too funny.
She is the greatest, worst person to break.
She breaks, there's a scene on the airplane.
If you look close, you can see her in the magazine.
Where finally she just, she literally just,
because she just laughs fully out loud
and it's like so endearing.
But she was like, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
But then finally she could not stop laughing.
And she was in the background of us.
And there's a part in the movie where you just see Rosie's
little arms go up and she's like,
and she has a magazine up, but they're shaking
and it makes me laugh.
Oh my God, what I saw there.
I'm gonna look for that.
It's great.
That's the one magic of film is that you're not supposed
to laugh.
So it creates this tension like being at the dinner table Thanksgiving and
the uncle falls over.
Was it Spy? You weren't with her at Spy?
Oh, my God.
Yes, with her and her 42 pounds of hair.
Spy was another hysterical one.
I've seen so many you've been in.
Yeah. Always such a fucking they're so great. You do such a good job.
The faster money and data move, the further your business can go to a
seamless digital future for Canadians. Let's go faster forward together.
In Life, Interact.
The Heat, St. Vincent's, anyone you want.
Spy, can you ever forgive me?
Oscar nomination.
Oscar nomination.
The Heat with Sandy.
Yes.
I mean, that was like the best.
Sandy was great too. Sandy Bullock. Sandy Bull Yes. I mean, that was like the best. Sandy was great too.
Sandy Bullock.
Sandy Bullock.
I feel like I got Bateman and Sandy really early on.
And I think it's like, I just felt like it was like,
oh, I got really lucky to work really early
with two people that are like delightful humans,
but also like really pros, like great
set etiquette, super nice people. And I was like, oh, like this is, you can just be like a normal
human. Know what they're doing. Yeah. You were like the crazy person with both of them and
that's great. And if they can hold up there and get their laughs, because sometimes it's a
thankless part. Sometimes if you're the straight man, but straight man is so important to make it all work.
And they're so good.
It's like, yeah, there's, I guess it's the straight
man parts, but like they were both so funny that
you're like, well, I don't know, it's not very
straight, but I get the, I get the roles, but I
don't know, I think it's kind of magic when you
can do that, but you're still getting laughs.
I'm like, that's a tightrope.
Right.
I mean, but it's such a, those both were great. I remember that ID theft, you're talking
about. And identity theft, what was it called? Identity thief.
I've never said it right. I think it wound up identity thief.
I think every time I did press for it, they're like, Hey, great job. That's not the name of the
movie. You keep, because at some point while we were filming,
it was just a weird constant barrage of like,
I.D. Thief, I.D. Thieves, I.D.
It was so much constantly looking at different names.
And by the time I got to press, I was just like,
I didn't, yeah.
But I said it wrong, I think on every single thing.
And they were like, we'd love for you to get the name right.
I'm like, well. There's certain titles. David just did a special and his special he did two years
ago. Remember it was really hard even for you to remember the title. I don't remember it.
Even now, is it? What? Which title?
Personal, nothing personal. A comedy special.
A stand-up special on Netflix. But the name is-
I think it was called, the first one was My Fake Problems, and then the second one was
Nothing Personal, because I made fun of people. And so I called it Nothing Personal, but no one,
and plus who remembers the name? You just go...
Personal Nobodies, what is it?
And then I did another one Friday, and this will air in six years,
and then the special will be three years over,
and then I'll be whatever.
What's the name of it?
We don't know.
So I didn't even have one at that point.
I didn't know what I was wearing until the show shot at seven
and I had three things backstage at seven,
and they're like, pick one, we gotta get you out there.
And I'm like, this one's sort of slimming,
but I never like, why wouldn't you do this
a week and a half ago?
Because I'm lazy and I'm a guy, and I'm like, this doesn you, wouldn't, why wouldn't you do this a week and a half ago? Cause I'm lazy and I'm a guy and I'm like, this
doesn't even fit me at all.
I put on something I just bought and I go, not my
size and they're like, can't you just throw it on
once before we start?
This isn't your problem, Melissa.
Yeah.
Let's get back to our guests.
I'm making your problem.
That's what we call a detour.
I'll do your fittings.
Oh, she would love to be part of those fittings.
Can you just mark them for me and I'll take them in?
I'm just going to do fittings for you for hours.
Every stand up who shows up to a special has not totally decided on what they're going to wear.
According to this producer, I tell them, well, they all do that last second.
Should I? Just nerves. they all do that last second. Should I just nerves?
It's a, it's the least important part.
That's the problem is that I'm like, I'm worried about my stupid jokes.
And then they're like, well, those are all falling flat.
So let's try to get them with the outfit.
But if you're out there and you're like, God, this shirt feels so
weird, isn't that distracting?
Well, Eddie Murphy did that, right?
With that one, didn't he do the one where he wore a little
like red leather or something?
And I don't remember, because it was so long ago,
but I was like, look, he had a cool outfit on.
That's for sure.
A red leather jumpsuit with a little phallic chain on it.
He's also cool.
Yeah, so if it's me, I can't try too hard.
Anything too far from J. Crew?
And they started to go, hmm.
I don't know, I would line up to see you in a red leather,
jumpsuit or two piece, just consider it.
A romper.
You've seen people that go, here's my special,
look at my special outfit.
And everyone's like, I can't even think of the jokes.
We're wondering why did you, who okayed this, this look?
Cause it's so not what you are, you know?
So I just go, I gotta be able to move my arms
because I do a lot of this.
Well, that would be a good start.
Hi folks.
Well, some stuff is so fitting.
You're just in a restraining jacket.
Yeah, you're just like, hey, now do I lift my arms ever?
Because if I don't, this is perfect.
I wanna see the show in a tight jacket.
I'll send you a copy.
I'll send you a copy.
You're going to get it ahead of everyone.
I know, I get it.
Thank you.
Okay, this is like a game show.
Pick a topic.
Okay, Ghostbusters, hosting SNL five times,
the four Sean Spicers.
Oh God.
You have five seconds. You pick. I have Ghostbusters questions. Spicer. Oh, Ghostbusters.
Okay.
Ghostbusters.
So what was the deal with Ghostbusters?
There you go.
It became controversial because it was women doing Ghostbusters.
What is that?
It was so ridiculous.
I mean, it's just too stupid where people were like, you're ruining my childhood.
I'm like, I, from the sound of you, I think you had a pretty shitty childhood without
a ghost.
I mean, I was like, I'm not going to do that.
I'm not going to do that.
I'm not going to do that.
I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to do that. I mean, it's just too stupid where people were like, you're ruining my childhood.
I'm like, I, from the sound of you, I think you had a pretty shitty childhood without
us doing anything.
Good answer.
Like if you're saying that like 30 years later, because women are going to like in the world
of redo's and all that, I was just like, I found it funny and like really stupid.
I was just like, then don't go see it, but ruining your childhood.
Like you seem pretty banged up already.
Right.
Maybe just be quiet and then skip it.
Listen, I love Ghostbusters, the regular one,
but when I see four or five funny people,
you go, there's something funny here.
There's no way Melissa, Chris, whoever was in it, I'm like, they're all funny. Something's funny. There's no way Melissa, Chris, whoever was in it,
I'm like, they're all funny.
Something's funny.
There's no way you can put them all in a room.
Yeah.
I think, no, it's a totally funny, weird group.
And Paul Fieg is like such a funny guy
and such a good director.
I do think there was just like so many,
for some reason, because it was like, oh, this is a thing.
So instead of us just running off and like doing what we do, there were a lot of cooks in that
kitchen. And that just never is good for comedy. It's just like everybody wanted a different thing.
So you're like, why don't you just let funny people and Paul Feig kind of do their thing. And
it's been working okay.
Right. You're like, when the less cooks, the better.
Always works better when they're not trying to please every quadrant.
It's so uncomfortable.
Especially when somebody who's super not funny is like,
here's what's a better idea.
And you're like, I'm telling you from the bottom of my heart,
it's not a better idea, but.
Yeah. I agree.
There you go.
That's why you guys taking control and doing your own things.
You don't answer to anyone, right?
With your movies pretty much or you do, you have given.
We answer all the time.
We, we get, we sure we get notes, you know, thank goodness Tammy, Tammy did pretty
well and so then we, you know, got to make more basically.
Yeah.
I mean, but everybody always,
they want you to do even better.
And then as we were doing more,
like streaming was coming around and,
comedies started being less than the movie theater at all.
And so we were trying to just basically-
Navigate the-
More or less, we just-
Vamscape, yeah.
I just wanted to make a funny movie that really-
Well, bigger budget is bigger problems, bigger opinions.
Yes, agree.
Totally. And I think that, yeah, I think it's like, and we like getting notes because if somebody
is confused or they're like, hey, this seems, that's a good bell to ring to be like, oh,
then how do we make it even better if we like this? But it's confusing to somebody. I love to get
that note because I'm
like, let's clear it up now and not have to try to reverse engineer it in post.
And I love a test screening. I know you guys have been through tons of them, I'm sure. But I like
them just because I like to make sure because sometimes you could have Maya, Rudolph, and
Melissa McCarthy on screen and I'm like, well, they're the funniest. And that was the joke that
all made us laugh. But then for some reason, it doesn't make an audience screen. And I'm like, well, they're the funniest. And that was the joke that all made us laugh.
But then for some reason, it doesn't make an audience laugh.
So I love the idea that then we can switch it out
and make something that is gonna make everybody laugh.
Cause that's obviously the goal.
It comes down to clarity.
You don't wanna belabor the clarity,
but if the audience isn't quite sure what you're going for,
then they go quiet.
And so that's where a test screening would go,
okay, either we have to swap it out
or do some, something expositional right before it or, you know, so.
It's still complicated because there's always a test screening where a joke,
no one saw coming, it's off, or it's just a pause or it's just a cutaway.
And you're like, holy shit, that was the biggest laugh.
I don't even know why.
Your favorite jokes do okay.
And you're like, this is why no one has it perfectly, because you just don't know in the way the edit
or the cut or the, you just said, oh my God,
these are five free laughs of something we never.
Totally. Yeah.
I know. So there's some laughs that we get where I'm like,
what? I can't, I can't, I couldn't have told you
on the day, I still don't understand it.
And then there's jokes that like, I still am like,
it's one of my top five and we cut it
because it just didn't land.
But I was like, I stand by the joke.
I'll take it out because I-
I stand by my performance.
It's funny how universally-
And I'll be in my trailer.
A whole audience will laugh at something
you don't see coming and you're like, they all saw something.
I didn't even see it on the monitor.
They all saw something just now.
And they all agreed we're laughing at this one. And you go, am I in the business? I don't even know.
Totally. It's so weird, but it's the fun of it.
That's kind of the fun of it. When it works, it's so satisfying and you
get a good cut and it's really flowing and working and getting laughs. I mean, it's such
a high because filmmaking is really freaking hard.
Getting all the trucks and the crew
and how are you with the coffee at five?
Yeah, it was gonna be fun today.
To do the dumbest joke you're wasting all this time.
Does anyone have a rubber chicken?
And you're like waiting in line.
And they're like, it's just for I drop it in the scene.
They go, that's, and you see the teamster guy goes,
this is what we're fucking wasting time with.
You're like, it might be one lap.
You could get a breakfast burrito if you go now. You're like, it might be one lap, but they're so hard to get.
You could get a breakfast burrito if you go now.
You could get a breakfast burrito at the truck if you go now.
They're gonna shut down breakfast in a second.
The main quest for the day.
I gotta get my hands on a burrito.
I can't tell you how many times
I've been waiting for something and then we do it.
And the crew just looks at you so pissed.
Cause they're like, we waited for that?
Which is like such pressure.
Cause you're still like,
and then you can tell they're just like,
Jesus, who put these assholes in charge?
I did a thing with Paul Feig in Spy
where I don't know why I found it the funniest thing
that she, I would weirdly take my foot out of my shoe
and I would just hold because I had
like nylon pads on you know those little like half no-show socks and I just kept weirdly like
putting it in camera for Paul and then we just got on a weird laughing jag and then underneath
this is so stupid by the way did not make movie. We could not stop laughing because I was like, I think her feet are cramping. And so we shot for like eight minutes, my feet just in these weird
little stockings, like kind of seizing up and having, having arches. And I was like rubbing
them and literally finally one of the cameramen that I really loved, he goes, for fuck's sake,
cameraman that I really loved. He goes, for fuck's sake, how long are we going to shoot this?
And you know, Paul and I, Paul and I were laughing so hard,
we were crying and then everybody else was just like.
Yeah.
And it did not make the movie.
Can we stop with the foot acting please?
It was so, I was like.
You go, we're out of film and you go, okay.
And then no one goes, we can't run out of film.
There's no film. But that's, they used to say in the old movies,'re out of film. And you go, okay. And then no one goes, we can't run out of film. There's no film.
But that's the, they used to say the old movies.
Running out of film.
And I go, oh, they hurry up your ad living basically.
Fly in the gate.
Remember fly in the gate.
This goes a long time.
Hair in the gate.
Oh my God.
Hair in the gate.
Best take of my life.
My first movie, we didn't have a playback.
I mean, it sounds stupid.
It's not stupid.
Obviously no movies did, but you just do it. When was your first movie? didn't have a playback? I don't mean to sound stupid. It's not stupid, obviously no movies did, but you just do it.
When was the first movie?
Jerry Lewis invented the playback.
How, where are we going here?
It was Abbott and Costello and Spades.
Go to Mars.
Go to Mars.
Or go to Nordstrom's.
They traveled to a bad script.
And so anyway, I told Dana, I had a crew guy go,
he's just sitting next to me, I'm waiting for my mark to go.
And he goes, I don't know who read this script,
but some of these jokes are clanking.
And I'm like, first of all, I read, I wrote it with somebody.
And I was like, do you know I'm in it?
I'm about to walk in.
I've been here for six weeks.
That's kind of rude. From me to you, two professionals, I? I'm about to walk in. I've been here for six weeks. That's kind of rude.
From me to you, two professionals,
I think I can throw in my opinion.
I'm like, you cannot.
You can't do it before they say action.
Got too familiar.
I also love the use of the word clanky.
Clanky.
Clankers, like very specifically.
He knows comedy so well, he goes,
I'll give you the lingo version. Clang. I told you not to hire my cousin.
Yeah.
They like, they go, I'm not one of those ass kissers
and yes, man.
I'm like, no, you're a crew guy.
I don't know you.
You can be a yes, man.
Just for this set.
You have so much going on.
He says I'm about to walk in, Jesus.
Yeah, and the rap party, you can tell me,
some stinkers in that one, huh? Even he's about to walk in, Jesus. And the rap party, you can tell me
some stinkers in that one, huh?
Even then don't say it actually.
I know.
Hey, you had fun, didn't you?
It was fun, Nick.
Looks like you're having fun.
Oh, they're taking dagger.
It looks like you're having fun out there.
How do you think it's going?
You think it's going okay?
What do you think?
That's also a loaded question.
Think they're gonna pull the plug on this one?
Do I think they're gonna pull the plug while we're shooting?
I don't think so.
Oh my God.
Oh, I can't even tell my stories.
They have those studios got money to burn.
Save it for the book.
So then, should we do an SNL thing? I mean, I thought, I mean, the five hosts and also the Sean Spicer thing was such a
poppy one.
You talked to that because it was one of those things that lined up and it just sort of went
pshh.
I don't know.
So you get a call from Lorne.
I did.
You come out.
Yes. And now who I Lauren. You'll come out. I did, and yes, and who I love.
Of course.
But, hello.
But he called in Kent Sublette,
who we also was a good friend from Groundlings.
I was in New York shooting,
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
So I did that during the week,
and then I would do SNL on the weekends.
But when he first called, I was like,
wait, what? You want me to do Spicer? I was like, I don't do impressions. I first called, I was like, wait, what, you want me to do Spicer?
I was like, I don't do impressions.
I don't, I was like, how am I gonna, you know,
how am I gonna look like Spicer and what,
I don't understand.
And he goes, oh no, the special effects,
it's not gonna be very hard for you.
And I was like, okay, first of all,
just a real kick in the dick.
But so I went in and it really was like,
we tried it out and he's also like amazing.
He's been there forever, as you guys know,
and he's so fast.
But then when I got into it, I just was freaked out
that it was like the closest I'd ever looked to my dad.
And I was like, oh my God, it turned into Mike McCarthy.
It was a funny look. Yeah, it was a great. He was like, oh my God, it turned into Mike McCarthy. It was a funny look.
Yeah.
He was like, no thank you.
No thank you.
A little too close to him.
Yeah, yeah, this is not a turn on.
I gotta be honest with you.
Wasn't that early on when they were using,
like they're using Dana now, like they use someone that was,
you know, that's a friend of the show to come on
when you weren't hosting, right?
You just pop in. Yeah, No, I wasn't hosting. I just, when it was just supposed to be one and done. And then he just,
it was constantly saying crazy stuff. And I remember I'd been working and I hadn't really
read the paper or paid attention to it that week. And they sent the one where he was hiding in the
bushes and like where all the reporters were just looking at him but he was like you know I'm invisible like a child yeah
and I remember calling him and I was like I just think it's funnier when we
use his exact words and don't make anything up like I can act differently
but it's better when we use like actually use factual things and Kent was
like yeah that happened it all happened he, and I hadn't watched the news that we, I thought even for
him, they had made up something crazy and he's like, still a
hundred percent true. I was like, holy shit.
Well, you, um, so people who are going, what are they talking
about? Sean Spicer was a press secretary under Trump and he was
very animated and aggressive with the press. And then they
brought you in to do it.
I remember loving it.
I don't remember when did you start steering the podium?
At some point, didn't you move the podium?
Was that the fourth?
I did.
I really was like, oh God, if we could put this on a, what are those things called?
I was like, if we could ever make, yeah, or whatever that little like, the mall cops
are on.
I was like, can you ever put a podium on that?
And it's such a crazy crew that you could say anything.
And they're like, yeah, I can have it in like 14 minutes.
And then the next week when I came in, it was there and literally they were waiting
for me and they're like, we have something to show you.
And I was like, I was like, and then when we got to go out and drive around New York,
I literally was like, if I stopped tomorrow,
I'd be okay with it.
That was just- That was an immediate laugh,
just stepping up and starting it.
Everyone's like, oh my God, oh my God.
It just, one of those things that is just funny.
I don't know, it's just- It's so stupid.
It's so funny, yeah.
And he's taking it kind of seriously or the character,
you know, just, and yeah, it's just so funny.
So that was-
It was good to poke fun at that.
It was like to poke that bear was really fun.
Yes.
And you got so aggressive and loud with it.
You know, you had to kind of top him,
but he was really aggressive,
but it was just a fun thing to play, right?
That energy of, you know.
So fun because it's normally like, you just can't, it's going to be too much, but he was too much,
so you're like, I guess there's no limit really. And you weren't trying to sound like him or
anything. No. I was just trying to be super angry and really like knee jerk and yeah, and just kind of do it,
just attack people for distraction.
Yeah, that's just a fun character to play.
I think I see maybe a movie,
maybe kind of live streaming called Spicer Returns.
Nah, maybe NASCAR.
No, I don't want him to return.
Okay.
So we went over to Spicer's.
We saw you at the 40th.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
We saw you at the 40th.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Do you remember how you were dressed when I met you?
I do.
Because I got super, I think when I first met both of you, I had Chris's jacket on.
Yeah, I think we were wondering, like, is that the real jacket?
I was dressed as his, like, down by the river guy that I got the news in.
You smashed into the mask.
And I, cause they like took it in for me.
And I remember, cause that was really his jacket and I got pretty choked up.
Cause that was like someone I, I waited on him when I worked at Starbucks once.
And I was like so shaky that I was like, just don't spill it on him.
He seemed so nice.
And, and to do that, it was the most nervous,
I think I've ever been in any performance.
And right before I went in my,
and I've never had this happen,
my legs were actually like doing this.
And I was like rocking back and forth in
the sweet stage manager
because I'd been there a bunch of times.
He's like, honey, are you okay?
And I was like, I don't know what's going to be fine. And then Ben had said,
don't pull back because he wouldn't have. So get in there and fucking burn it down.
Because that's what he would have done. And that's like the last thing I thought of. And I was like,
I just was so nervous to do someone that I literally watched. I have like a drawing of him.
It's like I just, I adored his humor and how vulnerable he was.
For sure, yeah.
We know now he's a singularity and the vulnerability and then the power together and the sweetness,
it's just a magic human.
One of David's very close friends.
I know. Well, and you two were just,
you guys were magic together.
Tommy Boy is just a perfect film.
A perfect movie.
It's a perfect movie.
And you two together, you could see
how much you loved each other,
and then it was still so funny.
It's like, it's just.
Did you two have a lot of creative freedom on that one?
Was that like, you just sort of went away somewhere,
or were there a lot of people telling you?
You know what made me think of it it was when you're talking about going from
bridesmaids to something else, that was one where it was low expectations, lower budget,
throw Farley and Spade out there and let's see what happens. And no one really was visiting the set
and no one was, and then she go, can we try this? They're like, okay. And Pete Siegel was director
and he was like, let's try it. And then the next one, Black Sheep,
they go, oh, we got something here. Even though it wasn't like a huge hundred million dollar movie,
but then they all come in and a director comes in and they're like, we know how to do this. And then
millions of notes and cutting scenes. And then it just got harder. And then the bigger the budget,
same thing, you know, it just gets, you don't get that, Bridesmaids is almost your freebie, you know,
and then after that everyone's like,
wait, she's really good, and now we gotta,
here's what we should do with her,
and then you go, oh no, no, no, this isn't,
if you could just pick, live or die with how you do it
is the goal, and if you two get to make stuff, it's great,
and then when you get so many, you see movies that get, you know, all the edges cut off because they're getting bigger budgets and, uh, you can see the big comedies.
No one's really laughing though, like that'll work. That'll work.
And then you go, well, but, but after the take, no one laughs.
It's like, you know what I mean? You can just tell that like someone says, oh, they throw in lines and you go, I don't know.
But you can tell during it sometimes you go,
I don't know if this is,
but I'm not in those big, big budgets,
but you can see the big comedies.
They just, we're a four quadrant worldwide movie.
And you go, so we gotta make sure no one really laughs.
We need to, everyone has a smile and no one's allowed.
Yeah, I get the the world as smiles.
It's like lots of smiles.
Or like think it's clever.
And I'm like, I would rather take harder swings
and get real laughs than be like, they're clever.
Well, if you're on stage,
you two have been on stage a ton.
And like, if the whole audience is smiling, you're bombing.
Or I feel like they have to be laughing.
You know, like the laugh is the thing.
Oh yeah, we gotta hear something.
Yeah, that's the hard part about comedy.
Drama, you don't have to hear anything.
You know, you can do a whole movie and go,
oh, it was good?
Okay.
But comedy, if you don't hear something the first minute,
you're like, uh-oh.
When you made that dramatic turn, you know, that was,
you know, can you forgive me?
I mean, completely different.
Melissa, was that like,
just exciting, just to not have to be funny for a change, you know, and be real?
I mean, it's like, I don't know, I prepared the same way because I still thought there was like
funny stuff about her. But yeah, it is like, if you're supposed to walk across the room,
and I'd walk across the room, I was like,
yeah, I guess, I'm not going to do alts. I'm not going to be like, let me do this limp. Yeah. Somebody comes out, hey, you could do that. Could you do it just right at the end? Can you
kind of spike the lens a tiny bit and wink? You know, you just walk. Yeah. But I love doing it
because I love, I also love that character. I was just like, man, she was, it was just such a crazy story.
And I didn't know why I didn't know who she was.
I felt like I should have,
but it was really, really fun to do.
Just get to kind of go in a different direction.
As you went along,
did you kind of get a vibe from everybody
that you could get nominated,
I guess, for best actress, right?
It was best actress in a motion picture.
I see. Yeah. You got an Oscar nomination for Bridesmaids, but did you have a sense of that? I guess for best actress, right? It was best actress in a motion picture.
Yeah. You got an Oscar nomination for bridesmaids,
but did you have a sense of that?
I'm really in the pocket, something's happening here?
Cause that's really hard to get.
I mean, especially for a little movie, you know, it's like,
I love that movie.
I love Marie Heller that directed it.
But I mean, I don't think you ever, I mean, I don't ever, I'm like,
no, I think this will get, I just don't think that way.
I was just glad, I mean, I was really happy with it.
Do you remember who won the Oscar that night?
I do.
Okay, Ben?
No, the first time you lost.
The first time you lost.
Well, she- Br brings this up daily.
It was hard because for bridesmaids,
Octavia Spencer, who's one of our best friends, won.
So if you have the incredible mixed emotions,
like you so want her to win,
but I'm disappointed Melissa doesn't win.
And then the second one, Olivia Coleman.
Oh, that's right.
For the favorite, and she was amazing,
and you're like, she seems like the best lady, and so.
Yeah, she's awesome. So the favorite and she was amazing and you're like, she seems like the best lady and so. Yeah, she's awesome.
So you're like, just getting there was already
like a fever dream, so I was like, I'm cool.
Oh, was she in a Kevin Hart movie or something?
What happened, was she in a comedy?
The favorite is a very quirky film.
Oh, the favorite, the favorite, right, right.
She does some off-label stuff.
I mean, she's like, you know, but it's just, you know, it's a promotion
for the entertainment industry. That's all, you know, it's like.
But to get an Oscar nomination for Bridesmaids when comedies, you know, obviously get overlooked
a lot and then to pop out with that, that's a huge deal.
It was like, I mean, I remember we were, because our kids were pretty little,
and you were up watching it,
which is also rare because it's not something you usually watch.
You had gotten up with one of the kids.
I think so. I walked in and I was like,
what are you watching?
Because he's usually not doing that.
We're watching the nominations.
I don't know where my brain went,
but I think they said my name.
And then they went on to say Octavia, Octavia Spencer. And I was like,
I was like, Oh my God, Octavia just got nominated for an Oscar.
And I couldn't believe it. And he's like, did you hear what was right before that? And I was like,
Octavia just got nominated for an Oscar. And he's like, did you hear your name? And I was like,
what? Like it didn't process.
I mean, when we're like in pajamas and like tired
cause our kids are like, oh, but.
It is not usual for a comedy like that
to get an Oscar nomination.
You might get types of awards that have comedy categories,
but yeah, that's pretty cool.
And it kind of always breaks my heart, not because of what,
but like, I just think, man, I think comedies,
I mean, I'm sure you guys feel, even though stand-up's doing really well now, but it's
like everybody that says something to me, they're like, we need you to keep making comedies,
but then there's some kind of narrative that like comedies don't work anymore.
I'm like, that's just not true.
If they're funny, they work.
That is out there, right?
When you pitch movies to streamers,
they're like, we'll get back to you.
I mean, there's just also a recession
in the industry as well.
But I think there's a lot of offensive.
Comedies can be cheap.
You know, R-rated comedies, and they're like,
ah, I just, I think right now is not the time for this one.
And you go, so there's no time.
I mean, it's not getting better.
Like, we're not getting less.
Hopefully it swings back where you go,
just do whatever, say whatever you want.
That'd be nice.
I think it has to because I think people miss it
and I think there's just stronghold on it
and I do think it's gonna swing back the other way
because everybody always needs comedy.
So it's like, not just because we do it.
We all grow up on it.
I think it's what people want, yeah, totally.
Absolutely, David was in one of the, two years ago,
The Wrong Missy, which was a big, broad, funny comedy
for Happy Madison.
So there's still a huge audience.
People want to laugh.
And also you were in the Seinfeld serial.
You were very funny in that.
That was a funny, funny, frosted.
Yeah.
Crazy, yeah. Crazy movie. That was, what was it like being funny. Frosted? Yeah. Crazy.
Yeah.
Crazy movie.
That was, what was it like being directed?
I haven't seen that many.
Yeah.
That many cameos.
I just haven't seen that many cameos and that many like comedy people in one room.
You're like, you can't do this anymore.
This is like an anomaly.
So that was kind of amazing.
Yeah.
It's good just like everywhere you looked.
It's like it's a mad, mad, mad world or something.
Yeah. It's just, it's every. Yeah. Here's another everywhere you looked. It's like it's a mad, mad, mad world or something. Yeah.
That's what it, yeah.
Here's another, you know.
Dana, anything else for these two lovely people?
We've done everything else.
I mean, I've got answers on the relationship.
I've got answers on working together.
I've got all the answers he was digging for.
Has Ben ever given you a direction on a set and you went,
honey, I got this.
Have you ever said that?
No. Okay. No, I got this. Have you ever said that? No.
Okay.
No, I don't think, cause he's smart and.
Nope.
No.
Maybe I might have yelled nope, just to kind of egg on more, you know, like,
Oh no, Oh God, you know, or whatever.
And they, cause I sort of want them doing it.
It's so horrible.
It's, it's sweet.
The thing I'm going to take away from this podcast that I literally got chills
from is when Ben said to you, go in there and burn it down because that's
what he would have done.
That gives, I get, I tear up easily, but that kind of got me.
I don't know why it's just like, it was such a great thing to say to you. And it also represents Chris. I don't know why. It's just like, it was such a great thing to say to you
and it also represents Chris, I don't know,
something, good advice.
Yeah.
That's what for, actually when we did Tammy,
our start gift, he had this really beautiful,
I thought it was a black and white photo,
but someone, it's the thinnest pencil drawing
that it looks like a black and white photo of him.
Oh, that's right.
Yeah.
It's in my office, but that was to be like, you know, really go for it.
And like, I don't know.
So I still have it and it's really special to me.
Yeah.
That is awesome.
So anyway, this has been really interesting and really fun.
Thanks guys.
This was nice. awesome. So anyway, this has been really interesting and really fun. Well, thanks guys. I'm glad to get to know you as a couple and keep going, making movies and all
all all good wishes for the fans.
You guys too.
Yeah. Yeah. Good to see you.
It's great to see you guys.
All right. Have a good day.
Bye bye.
This has been a presentation of Odyssey.
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Fly on the Wall is executive produced by Dana Carvey and David Spade,
Jenna Weiss Berman of Odyssey, and Heather Santoro.
The show's lead producer is Greg Holtzman.