Good Hang with Amy Poehler - Paul Rudd

Episode Date: May 6, 2025

Paul Rudd is a yeller. Amy hangs with the star of 'Friendship' and talks about what songs get a Bar Mitzvah moving, working on 'Wet Hot American Summer' and 'Parks' together, and going too big. Host: Amy PoehlerGuests: John Hamm and Paul RuddExecutive Producers: Bill Simmons, Amy Poehler, and Jenna Weiss-BermanFor Paper Kite Productions: Executive producer Jenna Weiss-Berman, coordinator Sam Green, and supervising producer Joel LovellFor The Ringer: Supervising producers Juliet Litman, Sean Fennessey, and Mallory Rubin; video producers Jack Wilson, Belle Roman, Francis X Bernal Jr., Justin Nardecchia, and Aleya Zenieris; audio producer Kaya McMullen; video editor Drew van Steenbergen; and booker Kat SpillaneOriginal Music: Amy Miles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On July 18th, get excited. This is big! For the summer's biggest adventure. I think I just smirp my pants. That's a little too excited. Sorry. Smurfs. Only the date is July 18th.

Hi, everyone. This is Amy Poehler. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. We're going to talk to the great Paul Rudd today. I've known Paul for a million years. And I love him, you love him. America loves him. The world loves him.

We're going to talk about some cool stuff today. We're going to talk about how he almost lost the part in Cluel. because he had a bad haircut. We're going to talk about how dumb comedy is our favorite kind of comedy, and maybe it's not as dumb as you think. And we're going to get into the absurdity of existence because that's what we do here.

We go deep, and then we get really shallow. And we're also going to talk about his film Friendship with the great Tim Robinson, which is coming out soon. So check it out. And we're going to start this episode the way we always like to, which is a fan or a friend or someone who knows our guest, so they can tell me what they think I should ask. We have a very special guest.

another member of the handsome man club, and that is John Hamm, who has known Paul Rudd forever, and I believe is calling in from the set of a film right now where he is about to get on a hot air balloon. This episode is presented by the Toyota Grand Highlander. Life is going to throw grand challenges your way, and the Toyota Grand Highlander is ready for them. You can choose from three different power trains, gas hybrid and the available 362 horsepower hybrid max, all with available all-wheel drive and towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. But what you really want to know is how good will it look? Well, the Toyota Grand Highlander is now available in a hybrid nightshade special edition

with gloss black accents and 20-inch black alloy wheels. So it'll look pretty sweet in your driveway. From daily routines to life-changing adventures, it's up for every. Grand Challenge. Learn more at Toyota.com slash Grand Highlander. Toyota, let's go places. air balloon in the background. I just got off that hot air balloon. So you're telling me you got off a hot air balloon and you got on the phone so you could talk to us on Good Hang. And a tuxedo. Well, I assume you're always wearing a tuxedo. I mean, it kind of feels that way, right? How many tuxedos do you own? You know, when I moved into the house that I live in now, I think

I sold or got rid of or donated or something, probably 15 tuxedos, and I probably still have a double-digit amount of tuxedos. None of them fit. Yeah. None of them fit. I was shocked that this one fit. This is one of mine. They said, do you have a tuxedo? The costume designer came over last night. I was like, yeah, I got, come on, just come over to the house and take a look and see whatever tuxedo you want to have. You're like, let's go to my white tuxedo closet. I did not too. So you're wearing your own personal tuxedo. Yes, personal tux. Well, thank you, because I would expect nothing less. How much time do you have? Five minutes? I have some time. We're turning around. So, yeah, we have. We have, we have.

have time. For those that don't know, turning around is a movie term. That means shooting the other way from what you just shot. So you have to move all the equipment and everything and everything has to move. That's where all the trucks are moving and all the there's a hot air balloon. There's a hot air balloon. There's a hot air balloon. Listeners, if you're listening, let me just describe that John Hamm is in a beautiful. I really hope there's a video component to this because. Beautiful. There is. There is a video component. And there He's in a beautiful white tuxedo, and behind him is a hot air balloon that he just got off of. Doesn't this frame look like I'm thinking about a hot air balloon?

Okay, we're talking to Paul Rudd today. Yes. We do this thing where we kind of talk behind their back before we talk about them. We talk to people that know them. Can you tell me where you first met Paul? I first met Paul in St. Louis, Missouri. Paul was roommates and friends with. with my high school girlfriend's older brother.

So this family was dear friends of mine too and still remain. They were all at my wedding. It's a whole thing, Clark family. So Paul came back with Preston, the older brother for Thanksgiving or something one weekend. And he looked like Michael Hutchins. He had like long curly hair.

he had it was it was probably 1990 89 maybe and uh he couldn't have looked any cooler he had a denim jacket that he had painted or had had painted

someone painted on the back the cover of Duran Duran's Rio the uh the Donald Nagle paint painting that very 80s thing so he was operating at a much higher level than anybody we had really ever run into at that point in our lives.

Was he older than you at that? He's two years older than me. So he was a freshman in college when I was a junior in high school. And yeah, that's when I first met Paul. And it was like he was funny and cool and interesting and, you know, a college kid. And did you become friends instantly? Like you really connected fast? We definitely connected.

I would say that, you know, Paul, that was when Paul and Preston were going to KU, Kansas University and then when I ended up going to the University of Missouri I went to visit Paul who had by this point gone transferred out of KU and

moved to L.A. and was going to the Academy of Dramatic Arts and he lived in North Hollywood with Preston and our friend Boe and I came out for spring break to hang out with them. That's when I really became friends with them because we were hanging out in in L.A.

Thanks. In LA, uh, really just making a scene in 1991, 92. So we would go down to like the third street promenonic band. Just in jean jackets and like a bunch of cool guys. Yeah, it was, there was a place called Yankee Doodles that was like a bar that had pool tables. That was where we went. And you were all like auditioning at that point? I was still in college. They, Paul had just booked a big Nintendo ad so he was just riding high and then by the next time

I came out when I came out when I moved out here after college in 95 he had done clueless and he was on the way to go do Romeo and Juliet and he was on the way to the stars so it was crazy that's that's I watched it all happen you know he was

he was he was he was the first one of us that really got famous it was very very cool that what was that like to have a Like, I know, I remember my first friend who was famous. Like, when I moved to New York, Janine Garofalo was my first famous friend. It's a trip. It's a trip. What was it like?

They're operating, again, they're just operating in different circles. And you're like, oh, right, those are the people that I read about. Because you read about them back then. It was like, Premier Magazine had, you know, a feature on Paul or Entertainment Weekly or something. He was like a big brother. Big brother, for sure, for sure, even though he stands about a foot shorter than me. Let's be honest. nobody's taller than you ham look at you you literally look like you own this town

john is now walking through the fake town in his tuxedo getting ready to get back on the hot air balloon yes yes here it would wow you look like a billionaire who's just having like a day out this is literally if i was a billionaire i would take my hot air balloon to work okay so what question do you think i should ask paul we're asking people what i should ask him you know I was, because I would listen to your guys thing with the one you guys did with Tina, which I thought was so good, and you guys had such a great rapport.

I texted you guys. John's getting in the hot air balloon right now. And we, I loved, I loved you and Seth and Dratchy and everybody coming at it. I think the question I think you should ask, Paul, is at what point, or I was asking this to Billy Crudip on the set the other day,

is he? What point? or has it happened yet in his career or in his life has he lost the freaking out of freaking out about being good all the time from an active standpoint you know what I mean I don't have that I don't have that stress anymore yes what do you think that is I love what I do and I love doing it and I know if I don't do a great job I'll do it again and it'll be good on the second take or whatever

Oh, my God, this is so exciting. Guys, listeners, John is about, he's rolling, I think. Are you rolling? Going up. Yeah, we're about to roll. Okay. So that's what I would ask him. Okay, when did he stop freaking out about doing a good job? Like, is he settled in?

Maybe he still hasn't. Maybe he still hasn't. And I want to know, when did that nickel drop? When you come on, I want to ask you that question, can you keep your phone on while you go up in the balloon. I can't because I'm on camera. Oh, damn it. Oh, I hate Hollywood.

I hate acting. It's so dumb. Okay. I love you so much. Thank you so much for this. Love you, Fuller. Can't wait to see you, buddy. All right, bud.

Okay, talk to you soon. Bye. I don't even know where to start. Paul Rudd is here so exciting. Rud, you and I have known each other a very long time. I would say over 25 years now, maybe, right? Oh, yeah, yeah. Do you remember the first time we met?

Was it maybe at I don't know Is this a test? Not only is it not a test But I can't remember anything Good, good Perfect We're right there's

I want to say Was it maybe It might have been At a UCB show Early on Or there was another time I think I was at 10th Street Lounge With Janine Garofalo maybe

My first famous friend Yeah it was around that Because we kind of both moved to New York somewhat around the same time. When did you move? Like 95. Yeah. Right from Kansas, you moved? No, I was in California.

Right. I've gone to an acting school for a couple of years. What kind of school? The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. It sounds like... What do they call it? What's the shortened version of? Ada.

Ada. Ada. I don't know. There's Ada, Lambda, Lambda. I went to Baada, too. I went to Ata and Bada. Yeah, I couldn't get into Kada. That was the next one.

And what did you do there? Did you do like constant plays? So much theater, Amy. Oh, so much talking about theater. Let's have our tea before we talk about it. Let's just enjoy it's thip. You know, the thing about theater is... The thing is, you know, Pinter said once...

You know, I remember... Goodell. Oh, I remember we were doing Malfi. at the Round Wharf Bobby and I and we were in between Guillaume we were in between matinee and evening

performance and when I was understudying for Danny in the Deep Blue Sea I remember thinking if we could have done crimes this way of the heart yes yes no absolutely it's funny you should say that because

when Renee Abergen-Wan I were doing mattress once upon once upon a we had the exact same conversation about, you know, doing, Tis Pity, she's a whore. I was in Once Upon America.

By the way, I just buried Tis Pity, she's a whore. Which is a real play. What was your high school musical or play? High school musical at South Pacific. And you played? Buzz. Buzz was just created. Is Buzz in the show?

I think he's in the show. He's a pilot. I think he maybe had a couple of lines. But I loved dramatic. films and dramatic actors and I thought oh and this is what this is what you're supposed to do and so then I got to college and it was like oh I'm studying Shakespeare which I never done before and found that I really liked it yeah and what were you doing to make a living during that time what was your jobs so many jobs yeah I was going to school I was a I would DJ and MC bar mitzvahs

and bat mitzahs that's right I did for that I did that for a while because I could work on weekends right what was your goat what was the party pumping song what was the song that would get people on the floor um well there was c and c music factory yeah oh sure i mean big that was big yeah there was also the just the real fun of uh just a straight up mony mooney that billy idol would do uh because uh come on that part yeah it was hey here she comes now same Money, money, hey, hey, now get laid, get fucked. And that was like, that was like, I forgot about that. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And you would always find, like, 13-year-olds going. They were like, finally. Are you going to say this? And then I'd look around and see kind of like the grandparents. I'm like, look, let's see. So then you go to school, you come in New York. I went to this acting school in California. which is where I met Adam, by the way.

That's how we became friends. Tell us how you met Adam. So Adam, so it was, I was probably... Adam Scott. Adam Scott. I was probably 21 and Adam was maybe 17 or 18 years old. Maybe that was 22 and he was 18.

And there was like a party. The school was only like two couple years. It wasn't big. But this, I do remember the first time I met Adam. And it was somebody was having a party. And we hit it off right away. We talked, and I want to say we talked about REM. And we became pretty good friends not that long after that.

He went there after I did. And then we did a play together because I graduated from that school, and I stayed in California for a few years. And then tried to get a play going that one of the teachers, a woman named Diana Stevenson at that school, She had said, let's do this play about Byron and Shelley called Bloody Poetry. And so it was a small little cast and Adam and I did it together. You did?

Do you have any recording of that or anything? I have a recording of the play. And it's the two of you playing Byron and Shelley? He played Polly Dory. He played Buzz. He played Buzz. He was the buzz in bloody poetry. Did you audition for any John Hughes stuff?

No, that was the little before my time. I loved it. I did too. But I auditioned for different things and I didn't really get them. And then I did audition for Clueless, which was like the John Hughes things. And I went in, I didn't really get it. I was reading that script. I'm like, oh, this is like a bunch of kids, huh?

This reminds me a little bit of those movies I used to, I grew up watching. And then I got this audition to go in. and I remember there were other characters. I'm like, oh, that's a cool character. I hadn't seen the character like Christian before like this. I liked it. There was a gay character that was not being made fun of, but it was like kind of the coolest character.

The bar was so low then. It was like, hey, he's gay and nice. Yeah, and it was just like, oh, wow, this is like, I haven't seen this movie really before. And anyway, so I went in and I asked to audition for all the different parts. And then they said, well, what about read for the part that I, wind up playing, which is the Josh character. And so I did it. I didn't really hear anything afterwards.

And I remember I had long hair. And then a couple weeks later, I wasn't even thinking about it. I just went to a, I was walking past a barber shop and just went in. I said, just buzz my head. I mean, the hair was down about there. Wow. And they went and they just went with the clippers, everything. It's just like, I just want to cut it all off. And then a week later, I went into a restaurant and Amy Heckerling, who directed the movie, was eating there, and she looked at me

and her... She was like, wait a minute. She froze, and she goes, what did you do? What, what did you do to your hair? I was like, ah, I feel like shape, back in... She was getting too long. She was, you were in, you audition for this part,

we were gonna, you were gonna, maybe gonna get this part, but you can't cut I was like, and I was so, I'm like, well, if it's my, meant to be. It's meant to be. Like I was so stupidly kind of cavalier about it. But then I had to do a screen test for Lewis and they

put me in a wig to try and match what my hair and there is nothing that feels more manly than when you're trying to get, when you're trying to get chemistry to get like sweetheart, don't pull my hair too much. Eventually

like enough time had gone by that anyway they're like yeah, this is not going to work. Just grow your hair out. And so they skip the wig. And by the time it got to filming, my hair had grown enough that it worked okay. That's an amazing story because what it says to me too, though, and I find this about you as a person, is like you do not have a grasping energy when it comes to work. Like you care about it very much.

It's really important. You choose things wisely. You work really hard when you're there. But I don't get a sense from you that you. are, I don't know, there's a way, there's a vibe with you and work that feels like a healthy attachment. It doesn't feel like you're, what the kids would say, very thirsty and therefore I think people really lean into that and like that. Would you think that, would you say that's true? In some regard, yeah. I don't think, like I don't feel competitive with other actors. I'm a real

big fan of a lot of other actors. I get really excited by people who like are talented. Yeah. And I don't think this should be torturous. I know this is something you and I both really

share. Yes. This should be fun. It's a really fun job. You respond to comedy in the same way I do and that it should be a fun experience. Like, have you had the experience where you're working on something and it's like, it might be funny?

People say, oh, if you find it funny, it's not going to be funny. And it's supposed to be torturous. Otherwise, it won't work. It looks like you're having, if you think it's a blast, it's not going to translate. And I think I couldn't disagree with that more. Agree. What do you do when you're on a project?

And you are, and you, someone's either missed, like, what's your conflict style? Because, like, do you get quiet when you're mad? Do you yell? I certainly have yelled, my God. Oh, stop. Okay, you yelled. And don't you dare say anything like that to me ever again. Okay.

Ever. Okay. Okay. Are we done with this? So my conflict style is probably different Depending on who I have a conflict with Yeah Right

And more often than not I'll check out That's what I was gonna say I was gonna say go to sleep maybe I'm just like This is gonna be over soon If I just get in this bed and just go to sleep I'm just gonna

I mean I'm just gonna try and I gotta ride this out I can't go anywhere. I've got to do this. I can't. One of those pods and just deep freeze myself until this gets fixed. Exactly right. Deprivation. Sensory deprivation tank.

Okay. I do want to ask you about our working together because we did it quite a bit. We've worked together quite a bit. We've been so lucky to work together on so many things. And we worked on the most, one of the most fun movies, Wet Hot American Summer. And I think it was fun for a million reasons. It was fun because we were all in our 30s and we were at a summer camp. It was fun because.

A lot of us were, myself included, were like in the beginnings of things. Yeah, we were all kind of starting off. We were. And we had great leaders in Michael Showalter and David Wayne who were kind of like goofing around and setting the tone, but also serious writers and filmmakers. We also met a bunch of lifelong friends on that movie. And it felt very, you know, pre-9-11, frankly. It was like before those times. It just felt like of another era.

Yeah, and it's like pre, like, I don't even remember having cell phones. There were no cell phones. There was a, remember there was a pay phone? Yes. And everybody would call home to their, you know, significant others and be like, yeah, I guess I'm up here for another three weeks. I know, they changed the schedule. Yeah.

Do you remember we had to leave for a week in the middle of shooting? Because there was an actual camp? No, because somebody rented it out for a bar mitzvah. And we all left for a week and then had to come back. That's right. I forgot about that. Yeah. Now, it's kind of legendary.

People know that it rained the whole time. 25 of the 28 days or whatever the shoot was. And we had to pretend it was sunny. Yeah. And it was freezing cold. Freezing. What do you remember about staying warm or the weather when we were shooting wet hot? I remember in those brief moments when it was sunny, we all were like, oh my God.

It was like, what can we film? What can we do? Yeah. But, you know, I remember the opening scene that we did when we were all around the campfire when they're playing Jane. Yeah. That it had been pouring and it was like we're sitting in. I was soaking wet everywhere. And freezing.

And freezing. It was all freezing. It was freezing all the time. Mm-hmm. I remember the kind of the clothes we were wearing at the time. I remember being really grateful, and this isn't the first time that I'm grateful, that, like, I didn't have to wear, you know, like Liz Banks was kind of playing, like, the girl who was a little bit more free, let's put it that way. And she had to wear, like, bikini tops and stuff. And I remember many times in my life I had this feeling where I'd be like, I'm so happy that I get to wear, like, a member's only jacket.

I'm so cold. Whereas now I run very hot. But back then, I was so cold. I mean, and I remember being really grateful that she, I remember her having to dance and it being really cold. Yeah. Yeah. And I remember going to Salvation Army. Do you remember that?

We would all head out to Salvation Army. Yep. Because the thing that people didn't know is we worked very little. Yeah. They're really, and whoever wasn't filming. Right. Because we were, there was a 30 minute drive to Target in the main part of town. I don't even think it was Target.

I think it was just like Walmart. It was Walmart. It might have been pre-target. And whoever wasn't filming had to go buy the beer. Yes, for the night. And we were all wearing like kind of, you know, Wellington's and then we would all just hang out and drink beer. And Craig Gwarden played guitar.

They have guitars and play music really loud, really late. Do you remember David Hyde Pierce? Yes. coming out to tell us to Can you be a little quiet? Yeah, it was his first thing. He showed up No one, we were all like dumb kids

Just wanted to have a blast But a reminder, we were not kids We were in our 30s. You were late 20s, I think I was 30. Yeah, you were late 20s, I was 30. And then David Hypeer showed up, he was coming in later But he was also the, except for Janine,

the only one that anyone would really know. Totally. He was famous. And we didn't. We were like, what is this guy going to think? And we are, we all slept in those kinds of like in the infirmary. Everyone had these little kind of their own little rooms and cots or whatever it is. And then the main infirmary where we would hang out as a group every night till like one or two in the morning playing music really loud was the main part. And I remember it was his first night. None of us knew him. And it was. It was. It was. It was. It was. It was. It was. It was like one in the morning, and it's so loud. He's filming the next morning, and he's been in his room. And he probably is rehearsing. He's doing his lines. He's a professional. And I remember he came out and then stopped in the doorway.

And we all, it was like, er, the needle on the record, stop. Everyone got quiet. And we all looked. And Ken Marino just goes, oh, great, it's Frazier. Do you mind that? Yes. And, and, and David Hyde Pierce is like, what are you guys doing? Like, he was, he was so fun.

So fun and cool. And it was just like, oh, thank God. Yeah, he was the nicest, most loveliest guy. He was the best. But he definitely was like, what's happening here? Yeah. What's going on? And we were like, oh, none of us are working.

None of us are. We don't have anything to shoot tomorrow. Nope. We're here. There's no telephones. And then whoever Wad did have to shoot, we'd all just go watch their scenes. go watch it. We just go watch it. It was like, it was being a camp. Yeah, it was. It really was. I'm having a Ken Marino memory. He was watching the, he was, he was watching ER on a little, like, there used to be these TVs you could hang around your neck. Do you remember these? It was almost like a portable TV, but it almost looked like a monitor, like what like Flava Flav would wear, like a big giant clock, but it's a TV and you have the strap around your neck. That is my memory. And again, I don't remember things

well. But he was watching on a small TV and he came running through the hallway saying, she went back to Clooney. It was the big moment where, do you remember this? Where Julianne Margolees, Nurse Hathaway, Carol Hathaway, went back to Clooney, like, you know,

met him at his boat. Spoiler alert. Met him at his boat in Seattle. And he came running with like tears streaming down his face saying she went back to Clooney. And we were all like, I mean, we really did live together for many weeks. It probably was only, like, three weeks.

I think it might have been more like five or six. I mean, it's ridiculous for how little we worked. I mean, with the week that we had off for the bar, that's included. I think that's, yeah. Yeah. And that was Bradley Cooper's first movie. Mm-hmm. I think, was it Banks?

Might have been bangs. Maybe. Yeah. And that was just so, there were so many great people. But I don't remember, like, filming scenes. And everyone's, like, kind of watching. You were the one that I would go to. And I'm like, is that funny?

Was that kind of, you know, I really valued your opinion on everything. And I would go, I'd say, go back out there, do it again. Do it again. I'd say, I didn't feel it. Ask for another one. I'd say, yeah. Paul, you want to ask for another one. You want to ask for one.

You want to ask for one. You want to ask. Okay. Then we made a movie called They Came Together. Such a fun movie. So fun. People that have been seen it, which is probably a lot of people because it was kind of a small movie. Yeah.

It was like a fake rom-com. Yeah. And it was taking all the tropes, a David Wayne special, taking all the tropes of, like, what is funny about those movies. And I would say we just screened it again. We just had like an anniversary. It was so fun. And watching it again, it was like, you are perfectly cast. I would probably not cast.

I would not be cast in a rom-com in that part. I would be the friend in the rom-com. I don't think I would be able to pull off the rom-com. I don't have the symmetry for it. But what is so... I disagree, but go ahead. Okay, thank you. But I'm a little slow on that, but...

Well, I didn't want to interrupt you. Okay, thanks. But what is so fun about it is it is so stupid. This most stupidest movie ever. And don't forget, in the middle of... of that movie, there's a, it stops to have a music video with Nora Jones, who sang the song from that movie that Adam Scott and John Stamos show up and do cameos in, because they come to the studio.

Yeah. The video for the song that's the song, on the soundtrack of the movie, is in the middle of the movie. And then Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler, the actors show up to be like, what's happening in there? and we're wearing sunglasses. Yeah, and a soul patch. You had a sole patch? Yeah, but it's like, yeah, us and our street clothes.

In our street clothes. And then our buddies also come to, like, play with some of the buttons. Yeah, they're in this mixing boards, and we're just like hanging out, goofing around with Nora Jones. Professional, incredible musician. And then after the video ends, it just goes right back to the movie. Yeah. How did this movie get made? It's so stupid.

It's so dumb. so fun to watch again. It is so dumb. I mean, and I know we share that like that feeling of dumb, it's like I can't, it's hard to explain that feeling of, I mean, well, I guess everyone understands it, that feeling that you have with your friends when something is so stupid and so funny. I think it is truly like the opposite of your own mortality. Like it feels like you'll live forever when you're laughing at dumb. Does that make sense? sense it makes total sense it's the greatest it's it and that endorphin yes everything it just kicks in and you're like oh oh oh this entire life is absurd yes all of this that's right everything

the absurdity of existence yeah what are you listening to watching what do what makes you laugh right now all kinds of different things i suppose um when people talk I have, like, comedy specials and stuff. I always say, oh, have you seen Patrice O'Neill elephant in the room? That's one of my favorites. So funny. It's like the fact that Patrice O'Neill, that we lost Patrice O'Neill when we did, where I feel like he was on the verge of just being the guy is just heartbreaking.

I think he was just so funny. I feel that way about Bernie Mac, too. Yeah. Really, really, really funny. Gone too soon. And that's one of my favorites. One of the things I just kind of, I always seem to watch. I mean, I like little memes and things that get passed around,

like the guy jumping into the pool that it's frozen over and he doesn't know it. He just, like, wipes out. And it's like that kind of stuff is people falling. Forget it. I love it. But I love, I always go back to news bloopers. Oh, God. Let's just watch.

Hold on. Let's just watch a few. Great. Do you have any that you remember that, like, I can Google? Well, you know, there are these, there's just something so beautiful and great about people that they, they're, it's the news, it's serious. And when something goes wrong, you know, the gay blind one? That one is, that is, that is, that is, that is the, that is the, that is the, that is the, I've watched that so many times. It's what, four seconds.

Okay. The blind, it is. It is. It is. Right after the break, we're going to interview Eric Wyhan Mayer, who climbed the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest, but he's gay. I mean, he's gay, excuse me, he's blind. So we'll hear about that coming out. Okay. As we headed the break, I'll look. Okay. Okay. And as we headed the break, and you know, wait a minute, because you know in her, like,

oh boy, I just messed up. And he is like, I'm just going to pretend that didn't happen. Okay. Okay. So, all right. Oh, my God. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Blind. He's blind. I love bloopers. Bloopers? I feel like we grew up with bloopers. Nothing. When I see people really laughing and really like there's in those news bloopers, there's one, there's one, it's these two guys,

they're speaking a language I don't understand. It's like I don't know what, by the way, some of the ones in that like news in other countries. Oh, I don't even think to look for that. I'm going to, I'll go like best news bloopers of, 20, 23 or 22, I've seen them all. Like global news bloopers. That's what I'm finding right now.

I will watch those over and over again. But there's like one where these two guys and somebody says something and I don't know what he's saying, but the other guy says it and he starts laughing and they both start laughing and they are crying and they're on the ground crying and I don't know what the hell they were talking about. And I'm tears because there's, there's. God, I do love it. God, I love that.

Why do we love? I mean, I think... Because there's something, it's the opposite of pretension. It's pure joy. It's defenseless. It's like it's the purest. It's celebratory. My wife has said before, this is such a good idea.

She goes, they should have like in hospitals when people are getting, going for like chemotherapy or whatever. And they're sitting in the chair for hours. they should have on screens all around just bloopers from people laughing. That is a great idea, Julie Rudd. It's a great idea. And I agree. Like, if I see people laughing really, really hard, I'm done. I love it so much.

I love it so much. That's the greatest. Speaking of laughing really hard and speaking, I think, of a show that did help a lot of people during hard times. You were on Parks and Rec. you only did five episodes you know that I know but you played a character

that stood the test of time I mean I mean if only if only we had Bobby Newport just a guy who wants to be liked and who I know if only right I mean Bobby at the time

it means well just doesn't quite grasp any of it he wants to go to the after party yeah Bobby Newport played by you was the like the rich son of the Sweden's family, the

Newport's that owned the big factory in the fictional town of Pawnee that Parks and Rec took place and Bobby Newport ran against Leslie and it was like what Bobby had that Leslie could never get was that gee whiz like

I can't believe I fell into this like I just want to have a good time you guys. Yeah I think that's even a line that's how Bobby feels about abortion isn't it? Right. What did he say about abortion? Yeah. I guess my thoughts on abortion or just like, want everybody to have a good time?

I just want everybody to have a good time. I mean, come on, guys. What? And Bobby kept getting flustered by Leslie wanting it because he wants it. Like, there's that great scene where he's like, can you just drop out of the race because I want it? Yeah. Yeah. So I want it.

I want it. Come on. Please, you can do it. Just do it. Come on. And people are like, I don't know, I love the guy. He's great. And he doesn't seem to want it.

Yeah, and he doesn't know anything, but neither do I. That's, you know. Leslie, no, is capable and great for that job. Bobby Newport is not. No, and Bobby was, I think, was thinking, like, maybe I'll just get it. And then, Leslie, you can do it. Yeah. How about that?

That's a good compromise. What are your memories of doing that character? It was such a funny character. You were so great. Thank you, Amy. My memories of that were I can't believe I get to work with my favorite people. in the world. You and Adam

and Catherine and Rashida and like it was like this is the dream I mean this is the you know I remember when you were talking to Tina

on the very first episode you did where you were saying you feel like the how the great thing that can happen if you are able to sustain enough of a career

that you can get to a point where you work with your friends or you get to work with people you really like Because it's not work It's just It's just the best And I mean

It was such a fun character Obviously And the show is so great And you're so great in it It was it was It was just It was a dream It was a dream

And you know And I was I loved it I loved every second of it I loved hanging out With all you guys It was so fun It was

And it was Those scenes were so funny Like he got You got to do the stupidest talk about fun stupid it's the stupidest stuff yeah well there's nothing um there's nothing funnier than unearned confidence yeah like just just somebody feels like they you know it's like i've got it figured out and it's like no you don't yeah but but if it's and if it's if it's like nice under like if it's fun it's really funny if it's not nice unearned confidence

but that was the thing of like he had a lot of kind of unearned confidence but he had he was just dumb yeah he wanted to have a good time but he's a nice he was sweet he was sweet and that and that was and that was and that was a fun that was kind of that's a fun thing to get to play yeah kind of character to get to play would you would we describe him as like guyless is that the word yeah I think that's a good way to do it yeah there's yeah I know that word that's a really good by the way Of course you do Fucking great word

He was a fucking great word Fucking great word God damn You know It also was really cool To watch you and Adam In scenes together Because have you been in a lot of stuff together

Not a ton of stuff I know It's weird He's like my Kind of like my closest oldest friend And And we have

But we haven't done a ton of stuff together Like would you ever do a movie together I'd love it He's such a good actor He is He's a really I mean clearly Everyone's obviously

He's such a good actor. I mean, I used to say that to him in real time when he was acting. I'd be like, you're acting so good. And you'd be like, shut up. We're in the middle of the scene. But I'd be like, you're acting so good. Well, he's like, he's one of, you know, he's so good. And he really can play very complex emotional scenes.

Yeah. And you really kind of know what that character is thinking. And then, but then he also has a way of being able to kind of remove this, have this kind of emotionless removal of whatever he's doing that's really interesting which plays in a severance I think very well and you can do that too to be a movie star

you have to be able to make your face still you have to be able to just like get the machine on like neutral like for everyone to project and he's very good it's like a Greek mask kind of thing and so Adam is great at that

and the one thing that I always thought with Anna like when I met him is he's the funniest he's got the driest kind of most irreverent um sense of humor i mean it was that's how we became friends because of just yeah liked a lot of the same kind of jokes and things like that i i just watched the severance finale and i texted him i was like you are so good at acting and then he was like oh thanks i'm glad you watch it and i was like there was so much running like i haven't seen it i haven't seen i haven't seen the i haven't seen the finale no so uh it hasn't been

spoiled? No, I'm staying away from everything. I don't look on my phone. I don't do it, you know. That's why you can't be on TikTok. If you're in TikTok, you got about an hour. Yeah. And then it's like, there's, like, there's audios made of what you said at the end. And I know, I know. So, yeah, I've been able to avoid all that. And I've told him, I've like, I haven't, I haven't reached out to you yet. Because you have, you're saving. I haven't seen it yet. And you're just edging. You're not going to, you're not going to watch the finale. Oh, by the way, I'm not going to watch season two. You're like, well, we'll see. I'll tell him he was great in it.

But I mean. Anyway. But he is, he really is terrific. And you know that better than anybody. Well, this is a perfect segue way to male friendship. Okay. Because you have so. Almost chug.

Hold on. Let's chug her tea. Chug it. Oh. Oh. I mean, this was, that is such a good. I think I'm out. Let's get simple.

Let's get six more teas. I've got to cover this. So for a sponsorship, no one knows what I'm drinking. You can't see any labels. You can't know. The inside of my mug is filled with labels. I lose that cap in case when it figures it out. And then, by the way, this is some, I should say this is my, oh, my God, Paul's peeing

under the desk. Look, this is a long podcast, and I want to walk away and interrupt the flow, so to speak. Have you ever done that, like, on a trip, peed in a bottle? Never. I have, really? that's great to hear because you know you are I mean you're there's not a lot of straight men like they're the first there's a few I guess I guess there's a few but you are a straight white male I mean so I feel seen so how's that going for you because it's you know it's not easy up there I mean by the way straight white male in his 50s I mean it's now's our time But you guys get to pee in bottles on the road. That is true.

It is one of the good things these days. You get to pee in a bottle. You get to do a lot of, like, you know. Yeah, pee in a bottle. Straight white man gets to pee in bottles. Or like, and up until just five minutes ago, that was okay. And now people were like, maybe don't throw your pee bottles out on the street. And straight white males are like, fine.

Whatever. Whatever. Howard Hughes did it. But straight, you have a. movie about two men and the friendship between them with the great Tim Robinson and it's called friendship. Yeah. And it is, I got to watch it. You did? Yes, I watched a screener. I'm trying to do my homework as a podcast person. God, you're good. And it's so tiring. Oh, movies are so long. They're like two hours. Yeah. By the way, everything's long and having to do, it's even if it's like

something you're interested in with people you know, or like, it's all work. Yeah. But I did really want to watch the movie, I have to say, because I love you, I love Tim, I loved Tim is and Andy DeYoung is awesome. Isn't he great? He's great and the director and writer. And it is a movie, it is such

a good movie about the loneliness epidemic of men and the attempt at making a friend and then like what goes wrong. Right. Like how, I mean, it's about missing, I mean, it's Tim. Tim at his timist, which is like he's missing the clues and he's getting them wrong.

I know. And you play this really, really funny. Like, he's kind of a tender-hearted nerd. He's not as cool as you think he is as you learn to the movie. No, not at all. Okay. Friendship, though. You've done a couple movies about that.

Yeah. one thing that I feel like I've always had like I've been good at in my life is picking friends it's the one thing that even like when I was in grade school and I didn't I was not like the I'm friends with everybody like I was not that kid at all but I could I think I have I can recognize like nice people and so my whole life like all my friends were they were kind of funny and nerdy in all the ways you want your friends to be nerdy and and decent and and so I just want to like you know it's like you want to hold on to the people you care about and and and the other thing too is you know you and I were talking about this it's I think

in a way we live weird lives because they're public lives and it can be a little overwhelming and you know with the noise of the world and the noise of this job and everything else is you kind of want your world to be smaller

each year that goes by I just kind of want it smaller and I want the important stuff to count and to me the most important stuff that I've learned probably because I'm now 55 years old is that, oh, the pinnacle, the height of it, is just being with the people that I love and really laughing with, like, a bunch of friends. It's the greatest. It's the best thing there is.

I know. And so that is, I just always try and cultivate that. Well, we tried to cultivate it by talking to your friend John Hampt today. Oh. So we have a little. Another longtime friend. I know. I've known John longer than I've known Adam.

And it sounds like you were a big brother to both. Like you're a couple years older than both, right? So we do this thing where we kind of talk well behind somebody's back and try to figure out stuff that they think I should ask you. So we talked to Ham before you came in today. And John Hamm from Mad Men, and for those five people that don't know who I'm talking about. And let me just explain what he was doing when we spoke to him. he was wearing a white tuxedo his own yeah he was on the set of a movie which i think you might also have a part in at some point or maybe we'll see yep he was working on a film yeah and he was

getting off of a hot air balloon that he had just been on and he spoke to us in the 10 minutes before he had to go do another take and so he spoke to us as he got on the hot air balloon about you Oh, my God. That's incredible. And he was really sweetly talking about the first time you met. Long hair. You had your long hair. You had your jean jacket and you remember what was painted on it?

Yeah. That I had painted on the bag of it? Patrick Nagel. Yeah. You had painted it. I painted it. Okay. I'm like, I need this.

I want to get a good acid wash jean jacket, but it needs a Patrick Nagel print on the back. And I'm just going to have to paint it myself. Beautiful. He remembers that. He was like, he was the coolest guy ever. And he was talking about how you guys met. And it was very sweet because it made me think about both Adam and John and you have known each other a really long time. I've known John since he was, I want to say maybe about 16 years old. What was a 16 year old little ham? Although was he ever short, but. No, he was all, he might have been 70, 16, 70, around there. He was

We'll talk about the coolest guy in the room It was not me I recognized that in him right away He was really handsome He was smart He was Athletic He was all of these things

And I know all of this Because he was friends with the girl That I liked That he was And that was how Was he with the girl Yeah they were They used to go out

And then they He got the girl Yeah But they knew each other For years and years Way before me And But I was always

a little bit like okay this guy yeah oh how do i compete with that guy and you're like i'm gonna grow my hair yeah and i'm gonna get her away from that jock yeah i'm gonna yeah i'm gonna grow my hair like she's gonna look at my hair and go wait a minute do you know michael hutchins it's funny that you say that because ham described you as like michael hutchins well that's i mean that's high praise but you're i but i like what you're doing you're like i'm gonna go the other way i'm gonna go i'm gonna be the art art guy well i was you know i was certainly drawn to that i was i think that was probably because i didn't have the ability to be the other guy because ham was the sports guy ham was like ham was sports and he was just you know i remember we were we i have

such a vivid memory of all of us playing trivial pursuit and uh i'm just meeting john the girl that he was friends with that I was dating at the time we're all playing. We're playing in teams and he would roll and immediately go like oh sweet I'm going to go to history I'll go to yellow. Oh yeah that's a power move

And then it's not art Not pink I'm going to entertainment every time Of course And he's like This guy is going to yellow Yeah And then all of a sudden it's like you gets a question

What's the biggest lake in Africa He's like Victoria Yep that's a pie That's a pie piece and I'm sitting there going Then he goes over to green Like a real asshole He's like give me all the science and nature Are you? Are you going to be that guy?

And so I was so kind of Here's what I do remember Afterward after that game I'm like I should probably like Read some Atlases I read an Atlas To know about the world To know where countries are

Yeah Because this younger guy Yeah Who is clearly superior And was, I probably, did he, was he, you were dating? Yeah, but they were friends. So I was a little threatened. Wow, that's so, and, and I want to get this girl on.

Oh, my God. Well, we eventually became like, you know, obviously after a while, and it's a longer story, but we did become really, really tight. Yeah. And really good friends. Yeah. And it's great. We've been really great friends since.

I know. You all. One of the things that really makes me laugh, I go like, what makes me laugh? And I have told this story, and I have nothing to do with this story, but it's when you got the news about your doctor. I know.

And he was hosting S&L. The best. It's so smart. And do you tell it? Yes. I mean, I think he has also told it a lot, too. So I, you know, but John Ham was the host. And you hosted like two weeks after.

Right? Yeah, it was not that long afterward. Yeah, yeah. That was the first time. and eight. I was pregnant with my son Archie. Ham was the host. I was supposed to deliver the baby on Sunday. So I thought I was going to do the show on Saturday and then deliver the baby the next day. Like a true psycho. Like I just thought like, well, this makes sense and I'll have the baby on Sunday. And I learned my first of many lessons of like your kids are on their own schedule and they don't work with you. But we rehearsed all day on Friday. I was in nine sketches or something that week. Six days before I had done the Palin wrap, I was still feeling pretty good. John was the host for the first time. Friday, we're shooting like a madman pre-tape.

I get a call that my OBGYN has passed away. A wonderful doctor who was in his 80s, who was this incredible doctor. He passed away, and I burst out crying on the phone. And when you see a very, very pregnant person hysterically crying, it's very scary. And the whole crew gets really quiet And I go behind a partition to talk And I find out the news And I come out And everyone's like, are you okay?

And I said, oh my God, my OB-GYN just died He just died, passed away of a heart attack last night And it gets really quiet And Ham leans in and says to me This is a really big deal And I need you to get your shit together This is the first time I'm hosting And I need you to fucking

It's a big week for me It's a big week for me And if you can pull it together and I go from crying to laughing so hard that, you know, like, like, squirts, like, squirt tears come out, and I start laughing, like, clapping and laughing, and it was, and it was so fun and funny. And, again, a great example of, like, life is, like, life is what you say it is, right? Yeah, yeah. It's, it's, life is what you make it and what you say it is.

And he made me laugh so hard, and I wanted to labor that night. And I think a lot of it was that. It was because of the emotional role. The release of that, and I think it's also not just a testimony to him, to you, that he knew that it's like, you're going to find this funny. Yeah. And it's because that's because that's you. Yeah. I mean, he was so great in that episode.

And in fact, Seth Myers and Lonely Island have a great podcast about, you should check that out, about that Ham episode. It's really good. And they talk about all that stuff happening and how everyone had to fill in. and Seth had to do update alone and it was like this incredible night. I remember. And he did the... I know. Incredible night. Yeah.

And kind of a big day for me too. Because I delivered a baby. Wait, what? Yeah. Not to brag. Not to brag. But Ham wanted me to ask you this before we go. Do you still worry about doing a good job every time you're acting?

Like, you know, and I think the deeper question there was like when you get to a point where you can approach a job without that worry about whether or not it's going to go well or you're going to do well. Are you there? And if so, how and when did you get there? Yeah, no, no. I still worry. I sometimes think like, I think I'm getting worse at this. Mm-hmm. If you can get worse at this. Directors, listen up. Yeah. No, there are times when, You know, it's such a, it's a strange thing where it's like sometimes on one day or something, you think like, oh, this is, I got it. I know how to do this. I feel like I've really kind of figured some things out. I've got my, at this point, way more than 10,000 hours in. And then other times you're like, wow, I'm not, I don't, I can't do this. I don't know how to do this. And I don't, and it's the mystery.

of it is a little frustrating and bewildering. So I do feel, like I don't have a handle on it all the time, but I do feel also more relaxed about aspects of it. I know how some of this stuff kind of just the technical sides of things, how they work. I understand editing. I understand. how like I can like I can do a scene

it's like I'm picturing it as how the editor will see it or a director and where you would do a cut point and these kinds certain things you just learn over time but I don't ever feel 100% comfortable I don't I don't think

do you ever watch a scene and think I wish I did that differently oh yeah yeah certainly And you have that thing on there, like, if they drive home, you're like, oh, why didn't I, you know, say that or... I have a scene in Wet Hot that makes me think of that is when the scene where we're, like, out in the town. Mm-hmm.

I remember, like, we're all supposed to be like, you know, it's that joke that we go out in the town for one day. For the hour. That's right. We go out for the hour, and then we all turn into, you know, drug addicts, basically. Yeah. Yeah. You're sitting next to the crackhead. Yeah.

Yep. And we're smoking crack at the end of the hour. And I sometimes, especially early on, and maybe still, there's just times when I went pretty big. And, you know, I think, I think back and I just think like, I wish I just like dialed things down a little bit. I just, I made some choices. Sometimes they worked, but sometimes they just, it would have been maybe, that's one scene that I'm looking. I'm like, I wish I had just gone a little smaller and I think it would have been funnier. Is there anything that comes to mind that you...

Yes, here's why I'll say to that, though. I think you're wrong. What are you going to say, I'm right? What are you going to say? I think you're hilarious in that scene. Thank you. But it's a little big. It's a little big.

I sometimes think, you know, people say less is more. Sometimes more is more. And it's... It doesn't, you go big if it's like coming from a real place. I think that was, you were hilarious in that sequence. Please stop yelling at me. And don't you ever look at me. Okay.

Amy, look at me. I am. I don't want to. I'm looking at you. Okay. You're not looking at me. You're looking at the table. I'm looking at you.

You're not. This eye is kind of looking at me and that eye is looking at the. Well, sometimes I think I go too big. I'm worried. I'm worried about it. That is such a good. God, you still surprise me. I don't think I've seen you do that.

It's like that the just the weird. Or you just look right over. It's like doing that weird thing. It's like there's no real, there's no, there's nothing particularly like specific about it. It's like something's off, but you don't really know. I don't know where you're talking about. You know, it's like you clearly like you need corrective lenses. but you're not wearing them.

When I get tired, my eye gets a little. It gets a little wonky eye. And you look like... I just have a thing with my lips. You got a little surgery? You just got a little surgery? It's not that I got a little surgery. It's maybe that I need a little surgery.

I love you, Paul. Thank you for doing this so much. It means so much. Thank you for doing it. Oh, my God. I'm so happy to do it. You're great at it. Check out friendship coming out in theaters?

No. There's no theaters. A theaters. Yeah. Oh my God. They're shocked. They still exist. I don't know if people go.

No, they don't go. I'll tell you, though. No. They should go for... You look, you know me. Why do I want to go in my living room and my couch? I don't promote anything. It's the lamest thing ever.

I don't want to talk about it. We didn't even have to talk about this. But I will say, Tim Robinson is freaking hilarious. He's a genius. He really is, like, kind of the guy. He's hilarious. I got to see this movie in a theater with people and I was like, oh my God, I forgot what it's like to see something that like everyone is laughing at, like, and having that kind of shared experience. And it was really, it was, it made me so happy and also kind of and like nostalgic and like almost sad.

Yeah. It's like, oh yeah, this used to exist. Remember like, well, I still love this too when you watch. previews, and there's always some joker that's like, no thanks. Yeah. I was like, ha ha ha, you know, like, oh, God, I love that. You were just something going like, woo. I remember as a teenager seeing Footloose.

Oh, I saw that in the theater, seven or eight times. I saw it in the theater. It was so good. I went back and watched it the next night. I went twice, yeah, yeah. So many times that movie in the theater. I got to get Kevin Bacon on here. Oh, you got to.

Footloose is. Ren McCormick in the... Jump back. So, I remember this scene where John Lithgow hits his daughter. Oh, Lori Singer. And then hits her. And then it's shocking. And it cuts to the next scene and he feels terrible.

And he's saying to his wife, Diane Weist, I've never had anyone in my entire life. And somebody in the back row goes, liar! and the entire theater lost their shit and I was crying like that's the funniest. Liar. Liar. And to this day, I still think of it. Yeah.

And it's like I was 14 years old, whatever, however old I was, maybe old in it. But like, you don't get that at home on your couch. You don't get it at home. You don't get it on you. That's what... Paul and I want to encourage people to shout out at the movie theater. That's right.

That's what it's there for. You know what? You know, the fabric of society is fraying. Just say, do... Say whatever you want. And look, if you can't think... If you're in the movie theater with people and you can't think of something to say,

just get on your phone. Google some things. Totally. Look, scroll. Or shine up... Or put your flashlight on and try to find somebody else who's enjoying the movie. Yeah, go like, hey, what should we yell out?

Yes. Or, you know, if you're like, if you really like, like something, run up to the front. Yes. And stand in front of the screen and go, I really like this. Dude, how about this? What do you guys think?

Anything to get you there. Yeah. Oh, my God, okay. I can't wait to go to the movies. All right, love you, Paul. Love you, you're the best. Thank you for doing this. Woohoo.

You know, I realize with both John Hamm and Paul Rudd, I mentioned Janine Garoflo, who was one of my first friends in New York. And like I said, kind of the first person that I met who I had seen on TV first. And, you know, I just want to remind everybody to take a listen and a watch. Janine has done so much great comedy and remains such a sharp and funny, deeply interesting, curious person who's, you know, still performing and still, you know, she's just like a Gen X. legend, Janine. We used to care about selling out, and she never did. And Janine was always so kind and so helpful to a lot of young comedians and actors and people, myself included. She was instrumental for a lot of us in, you know, I don't know, feeling cool and feeling like we were

part of a club. So watch Truth About Cats and Dogs. Watch Romi and Michelle, you know, Reality Bites, watch the Larry Sanders show. Janine is just consistently good and such a good actor and so funny. And I'm just feeling nostalgic for our times together. And maybe hope she wants to come here and talk to me. So thank you for listening to another episode and we will see you soon. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons.

Jenna Weiss-Berman and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by The Ringer and Paper Kite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Katz-Belaine, Kaya McMullen, and Alea Zaneris. For Paper Kite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy Miles.