Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade - Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone

Episode Date: November 13, 2024

Bridesmaids, 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

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 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
Starting point is 00:00:21 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
Starting point is 00:00:46 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. Perfect accommodation, traveling with friends or family or on your own. Listen, for your next adventure, it might be something to try out at least, you know? You won't regret making the switch from traditional hotels.
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Starting point is 00:02:28 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.
Starting point is 00:03:08 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
Starting point is 00:03:46 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.
Starting point is 00:04:14 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,
Starting point is 00:04:34 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,
Starting point is 00:04:49 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.
Starting point is 00:05:06 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.
Starting point is 00:05:25 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.
Starting point is 00:05:42 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.
Starting point is 00:06:00 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.
Starting point is 00:06:20 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.
Starting point is 00:06:41 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,
Starting point is 00:07:05 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.
Starting point is 00:07:20 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.
Starting point is 00:07:37 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.
Starting point is 00:07:55 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,
Starting point is 00:08:08 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
Starting point is 00:08:33 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.
Starting point is 00:09:06 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
Starting point is 00:09:22 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.
Starting point is 00:09:41 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.
Starting point is 00:10:02 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.
Starting point is 00:10:15 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?
Starting point is 00:10:30 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.
Starting point is 00:10:49 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,
Starting point is 00:11:10 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.
Starting point is 00:11:21 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.
Starting point is 00:11:40 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?
Starting point is 00:11:59 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.
Starting point is 00:12:20 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?
Starting point is 00:12:36 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.
Starting point is 00:12:55 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?
Starting point is 00:13:11 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
Starting point is 00:13:23 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.
Starting point is 00:13:46 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?
Starting point is 00:14:00 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.
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Starting point is 00:14:48 spend more time locating the perfect gift, less time trying promo codes that don't work, hard to use. And did I mention Rakuten is super easy to use? Just start your shopping at rakuten.ca or the Rakuten app. Do your shopping like you normally would and you'll get the cash back by PayPal or check. I'm going to say it. It's truly a no brainer. I said it truly. Oh yeah. Listen, join for free at Rakuten.ca or download the Rakuten app. That's R-A-K-U-T-E-N, rakuten.ca. 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
Starting point is 00:15:37 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.
Starting point is 00:15:49 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?
Starting point is 00:16:04 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.
Starting point is 00:16:15 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.
Starting point is 00:16:32 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.
Starting point is 00:16:52 Okay. Okay. Vincent Minnelli and Judy Garland. True, again. Okay. Judd Apatow and Leslie Apatow. Noam? Yes.
Starting point is 00:17:04 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.
Starting point is 00:17:17 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.
Starting point is 00:17:41 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.
Starting point is 00:17:58 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,
Starting point is 00:18:28 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
Starting point is 00:18:53 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.
Starting point is 00:19:07 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.
Starting point is 00:19:21 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.
Starting point is 00:19:31 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
Starting point is 00:20:00 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.
Starting point is 00:20:25 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,
Starting point is 00:20:47 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.
Starting point is 00:21:08 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,
Starting point is 00:21:54 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.
Starting point is 00:22:18 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?
Starting point is 00:22:37 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.
Starting point is 00:23:00 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.
Starting point is 00:23:17 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?
Starting point is 00:23:38 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.
Starting point is 00:23:55 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,
Starting point is 00:24:25 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.
Starting point is 00:24:41 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.
Starting point is 00:25:00 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
Starting point is 00:25:16 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,
Starting point is 00:25:34 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.
Starting point is 00:25:49 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.
Starting point is 00:26:05 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.
Starting point is 00:26:17 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?
Starting point is 00:26:28 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?
Starting point is 00:26:42 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
Starting point is 00:27:03 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
Starting point is 00:27:21 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
Starting point is 00:27:53 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
Starting point is 00:28:12 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,
Starting point is 00:28:32 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.
Starting point is 00:28:46 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,
Starting point is 00:29:04 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.
Starting point is 00:29:27 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.
Starting point is 00:29:44 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.
Starting point is 00:30:12 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
Starting point is 00:30:39 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.
Starting point is 00:30:55 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.
Starting point is 00:31:11 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,
Starting point is 00:31:36 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.
Starting point is 00:32:04 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.
Starting point is 00:32:31 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.
Starting point is 00:32:45 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
Starting point is 00:33:14 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.
Starting point is 00:33:33 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.
Starting point is 00:33:58 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,
Starting point is 00:34:14 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.
Starting point is 00:34:33 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
Starting point is 00:34:50 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.
Starting point is 00:35:03 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.
Starting point is 00:35:31 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.
Starting point is 00:36:01 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
Starting point is 00:36:20 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
Starting point is 00:36:50 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
Starting point is 00:37:08 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,
Starting point is 00:37:37 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-
Starting point is 00:38:03 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?
Starting point is 00:38:29 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?
Starting point is 00:38:45 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.
Starting point is 00:38:59 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.
Starting point is 00:39:23 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?
Starting point is 00:39:42 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.
Starting point is 00:40:00 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.
Starting point is 00:40:19 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.
Starting point is 00:40:37 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.
Starting point is 00:40:51 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.
Starting point is 00:41:07 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.
Starting point is 00:41:21 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
Starting point is 00:41:38 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.
Starting point is 00:42:02 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.
Starting point is 00:42:20 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.
Starting point is 00:42:51 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.
Starting point is 00:43:09 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.
Starting point is 00:43:27 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-
Starting point is 00:43:43 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
Starting point is 00:44:14 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.
Starting point is 00:44:36 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.
Starting point is 00:44:56 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,
Starting point is 00:45:15 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.
Starting point is 00:45:32 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.
Starting point is 00:45:53 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?
Starting point is 00:46:14 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.
Starting point is 00:46:29 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.
Starting point is 00:46:45 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
Starting point is 00:47:11 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.
Starting point is 00:47:53 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.
Starting point is 00:48:07 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.
Starting point is 00:48:19 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.
Starting point is 00:48:34 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.
Starting point is 00:48:55 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.
Starting point is 00:49:10 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.
Starting point is 00:49:27 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.
Starting point is 00:49:41 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.
Starting point is 00:49:55 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?
Starting point is 00:50:11 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
Starting point is 00:50:39 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.
Starting point is 00:50:47 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?
Starting point is 00:51:06 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.
Starting point is 00:51:22 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.
Starting point is 00:51:45 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,
Starting point is 00:52:00 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
Starting point is 00:52:36 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.
Starting point is 00:53:05 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.
Starting point is 00:53:27 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.
Starting point is 00:53:52 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.
Starting point is 00:54:09 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?
Starting point is 00:54:24 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.
Starting point is 00:54:56 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.
Starting point is 00:55:08 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.
Starting point is 00:55:33 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.
Starting point is 00:55:56 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.
Starting point is 00:56:26 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.
Starting point is 00:56:50 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,
Starting point is 00:57:02 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
Starting point is 00:57:35 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,
Starting point is 00:58:03 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.
Starting point is 00:58:32 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.
Starting point is 00:58:54 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.
Starting point is 00:59:10 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.
Starting point is 00:59:24 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.
Starting point is 01:00:05 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?
Starting point is 01:00:21 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.
Starting point is 01:00:39 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.
Starting point is 01:01:02 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.
Starting point is 01:01:20 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?
Starting point is 01:01:35 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,
Starting point is 01:02:06 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,
Starting point is 01:02:24 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.
Starting point is 01:02:49 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,
Starting point is 01:03:14 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.
Starting point is 01:03:29 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,
Starting point is 01:03:42 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.
Starting point is 01:03:59 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.
Starting point is 01:04:20 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.
Starting point is 01:04:30 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.
Starting point is 01:04:44 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.
Starting point is 01:04:58 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.
Starting point is 01:05:16 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.
Starting point is 01:05:37 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,
Starting point is 01:05:58 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.
Starting point is 01:06:18 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.
Starting point is 01:06:37 All right. Have a good day. Bye bye. This has been a presentation of Odyssey. Please follow, subscribe, leave a like, a review, all this stuff, smash that button, whatever it is, wherever you get your podcasts. Fly on the Wall is executive produced by Dana Carvey and David Spade, Jenna Weiss Berman of Odyssey, and Heather Santoro.
Starting point is 01:06:56 The show's lead producer is Greg Holtzman.

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