Happy Sad Confused - Kathryn Hahn

Episode Date: March 25, 2014

  Kathryn Hahn visits Josh to chat about the new dark Jason Bateman comedy she co-stars in, “Bad Words.” Plus Kathryn dishes stories from the set of “Step-Brothers” and working with Jack Nicholson! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During the Volvo Fall Experience event, discover exceptional offers and thoughtful design that leaves plenty of room for autumn adventures. And see for yourself how Volvo's legendary safety brings peace of mind to every crisp morning commute. This September, lease a 2026 XE90 plug-in hybrid from $599 bi-weekly at 3.99% during the Volvo Fall Experience event. Conditions apply, visit your local Volvo retailer or go to explorevolvo.com. This episode is brought to you by Square. You're not just running a restaurant, you're building something big, and Square's there for all of it,

giving your customers more ways to order, whether that's in-person with Square kiosk or online. Instant access to your sales, plus the funding you need to go even bigger. And real-time insights so you know what's working, what's not, and what's next. Because when you're doing big things, your tools should to. Visit square.ca to get started. Hey guys, what's up. It's Josh Horowitz. I think I just said was up. That's weird. People don't say that anymore. What is up? Welcome to another edition of Happy Sad Confused. I am excited to bring you a great episode today with someone I adore Catherine Hahn. You love her too, don't you? If you're listening to this podcast, you have good taste. So you, of course, love Catherine Hahn. Best known perhaps for her roles in uh, stepbrothers, um, afternoon delight last year. She's popped up in a ton of great comedies

in recent years, including a new one that's about to come out. It's actually out right now, limited release and about to go into wide release called Bad Words, directed by none other than Jason Bateman. She is a delight, and I so enjoyed catching up with her. I've spoken to her a lot over the years, but never for this kind of lengthy sit-down. She's, um, super funny, super interesting. Uh, We ran into each other at South by Southwest a week ago and talked about doing the podcast, and here we are. She came by the office in New York, and without any further ado, let's dive right in. Here is the new edition of Happy Say I Confused with Catherine Hahn. Hit me up on Twitter.

Joshua Horowitz, tell me what you think, and enjoy the conversation. I'm hitting record, Catherine. Hi. How's it going? I didn't see you there. You're sitting around. I literally have been sitting here for a long time. That's kind of creepy.

I know. I've not paid any... It's very strange. I've, like, been in your office. Huh. Yeah. I was like, Josh. Thank you for being here.

Oh, my gosh. I'm so happy to be here in your office. In my office, in my homestead. You've been analyzing my weird psyche based on what's hanging in my office. I'm amazing. I'm really into everything that's happening. Thank you. Back to the future.

You can take E.T. with you if you want. No, that E.T. is serious business. I'm not going to take that E. Sometimes we have the E. Sometimes we have the E. with the middle finger extended, which is hard to determine the middle finger on E.T. Because he only has four.

Right. What would that be? Middle two. Middle two fingers, I guess. Press me. Don't press them. Please don't press them. Why? Does he know? Okay, I want. Probably. The battery's probably dead. We've got to look at what's her name. Which one?

Leopard ears from that hot Halloween costume. She was the hottest mother ever in that. I don't even know my own self. You know what I mean? In E.T. when there's the Halloween scene and the mom, Dee Wallace. De Wallace. It's amazing. How hot was Dee Wallace.

She was, you hit me in the right age. Oh, forget. I was like in that cat suit. I was like, all right, that's a mom rule for the ages. So we were saying that we were fulfilling a promise. I saw you at South by. And I said I wanted to chat with you for a while longer because we didn't have a chance to sit down there.

And you're always so much fun. You're delightful. I'm a man of my word. Here we are. In this case, at least. We said we were going to get together. I was very excited that it actually happened. For once we're following through.

So how we South by, first of all. I mean, it was an awesome blur. We were there for, like, I was there for, like, 30 hours, and it was, I wanted to see so many documentaries and films that were on the, the. Yeah, it's not going to happen. It doesn't, no, I didn't. Oh, no, I was like, I was shaking my head, like, as she interpreted it as, no, they're all crap, don't see it. You're like, dead, it's not worth it.

No, it's, they all, but there's no time. They all looked so good. Yeah. So much good stuff. Yeah, we were there for a hot minute, but it was a fall, really fun audience. And it was like a 10 p.m. show, and, yeah, which was late for Mommy, but it was. a ball. So is when you get to do press and this stuff, like now that you are a mom

twice over, I believe, yes. 19 kids and counting. What if I was like that? You're the optomomom. My uterus is hanging out. No. Yes, yes. But is it more like, so is it kind of a weird vacation in a way when you're doing press? Or is it feel like... Yeah, I mean it is I'm still pretty new to like this,

the this part of it, like the press part of it. So it is like It is an intense schedule, but it is fun. I mean, you're kind of like, you all of a sudden, you kind of like shuttled around. Like, you don't have to really think. You kind of feel like there's something to wear that's sitting there. There's like someone to do your hair and makeup. Like you just order food.

Like, it's really, it is a total vacation. Yeah, it is. And then you go home and the kids are like, it's pretty amazing. You kind of turn into a pumpkin at midnight. That's what you feel like. But it's a ball. South by Austin was awesome.

Salt Lake City. That's what we were joking, because I could, I had so much barbecue in the show at most of the time, so much meat. We passed by, like after having like a big meal, every meal in Southwise big, we passed by a donut truck. And how do you say no to a donut truck? You cannot. A truck that is based around the formation of,

to order donuts. They deep fried the individual donut for you and then put the toppings on. Are you kidding me? Like voodoo donuts? Have you been there in Portland? Yes, in Portland. Oh, that's amazing too. So good. I was like, well, you put a snickers,

bar on a glazed donut. Like, what are you going to do? At 10 in the morning. And then I feel like a five-year-old. I have like a sugar crack. Yeah, the food in Austin was amazing. We actually got a lot of, it's the really good airport there, too, food-wise. Yeah, because they have, like, a salt lake in the airport, too. We had solick, and then we had Amy's ice cream. It was so stupid.

And then just got on a plane and sat there. Just bonded with the seats. A dietary disaster. But it was worth it. Yeah, it was so fun. And then I also was in New Orleans, like, went from there to New Orleans, work on something. So I'd like that. I left Austin on Saturday night and got to, you know, spent the week in New Orleans of decadence. Oh my God. Yeah, just pickle, just like nothing

but salt for the last two weeks. Such good food. What's good in your top tier list of places to shoot is Newark. Have you shown New Orleans? No, I'd never even been there before and I was like, this is the group. I know. I want to go back. We were there from Mardi Gras too, but we were doing night shoots. So our schedule kind of like aligned with everybody's, which was great because we could sleep in, which was awesome, but, oh, it's the best. Haunted. Like, they literally, in the French Quarter

have signs, like, pre-made signs that say, for rent, haunted. Like, it's a selling point. Right. In other cities that would not. Yeah, you would not. And it's just, like, a delightful addition to whatever.

It's the best. The best. So, okay, so, well, let's talk a little bad words. Yeah, fine, fine, fine. You've got your talking points. You know what to say. No, Jason Bateman's a delight.

How did you do this first time? I'm like, God. He was bored. He's been acting his whole life, so he knows what he's doing. Oh my gosh, yeah. Is that all my talking points? But they're all true. But they aren't true.

He's delightful. I love him. He's the best. I know. The driest man ever, but so funny. The driest. Um, so you, I know you knew each other casually before this. Yeah.

Casually socially. Casually, socially. We would bump into each other at various showbiz events. In a casual way. And we'd be like, oops, sorry. You brush an arm by him. Yes, yes. Just a casual spill of a beverage.

So does he come to you directly with this? Yeah, I mean, yeah, we had, I was working on We're the Millers, actually. I was like in North Carolina, and I got my, all my peeps was like, Jason Bateman's directing a feature. And I was like, yes. Like, not even having read it, I was like, I won in because I knew that whatever it was was going to be, I just trust his taste. I just think he's such an incredible taste.

And I love his comedy. Love his comedy. And I tend to get, like, a little sweaty in my comedy. What is that? Big. Like, a little bit, like, oh, like, that, that, that. Like, sometimes, like, that's my, that's the thing I'm working on. It's just, like, how do you, like, work less?

What's funny you say that? When I was writing some notes, one thing that came up on IMDB, I don't know if you know this. What does it say? Oh, known for her. Yes. Yes. My friend sent me that, which was hilarious.

I'm so excited I get to be, you know. That's what I think the name of my autobiography should be, like, Making Faces with Catherine High. Basically, I can't find it now. Of course, basically, yeah, you're, one trademark on IMDB is like known for her expressive faces. Which like you hope as an actor.

Yeah. Yeah. You don't want the actor known for his blank stare. For stone for shark eyes. And just dead vacant face. Right. He's dead eyes. Dead shark eyes. We, uh, yeah, so I thought it was going to

just, I knew it was going to be a learning experience. Like I knew whatever we, whatever getting and playing with him was going to, I was going to learn a ton from, from watching. him and then I read it and I was like oh anybody can pull this off it's Jason Bateman in the role of Guy Trilby because it's such a it is a difficult difficult role and he just can't help but want to be as an audience member in his lens like his POV is like what you trust so I feel like whenever he's in a movie I'm always kind

of like shifting to I want to see the world through that through his eyes with that human's eyes and so I knew that that kind of empathy that he just he just he just elicits, I think that's the verb. Thank you. Thank you. I was an English major? Oh my God. You were an English major?

It was. That's fantastic. Well, I wasn't a good student. I mean, I barely graduated. Like creative writing or just like, like? I had, well, I was, I went to a small little Roart school. Yes. Hobart and it was, there was no, like, Hobart in upstate New York.

Yeah, okay, fine, yes. And I, uh, I was, I want to do film and journalism, and so, like, there was no actual concentration, so I'd have like English with a concentration in film and it was just like film studies but it was just it was English but enough about me I want to hear so much about you I feel like this the first time we've got to really talk

it's not over like loud music it's true it's true it's okay we were talking like Bateman yeah oh it's a director yeah yeah yeah he was yeah he was amazing it was ridiculous that this was his first teacher it's really crazy really really

remarkable he was so calm you never saw a doubt on his face. He was so prepared walking in. I think he knew that he wanted to arm himself with as much walking into that first day. It was a really tight shoot. So he wanted

to make sure that walking into that first day he was armed with his much. Yeah, this wasn't like a blind fan, so he could really been thinking about this for a while. And he wasn't going to put his name. He's smart. He's a smart man and he's not going to put his name on anything that he's like that's half-baked.

especially for his first trip out, especially because he really, really wants to do this. And I think he should. I mean, he's amazing. I'm so excited for his next one. He's about to jump to do another one. Yeah, with Nicole Kidman. And it's an incredible script.

It's called The Family Fang. Like, yeah, he, uh, he's amazing. Like, I'm telling you, I wanted to, like, yell to, I wanted to, like, just do mass emails and be like, everybody has to work with Jason. It was so fun. I learned, um, a ton. And it's a really tricky,

tricky tone to pull off and then children he just added so much to the equation that could have been just could have been really difficult but he was amazing so are you surprised that because like in reading up on you

I feel like it wasn't like comedy was like necessarily when you were growing up like the thing you want to do but that for whatever reason you ended up in some awesome comedies and always excel in them and that's kind of like if there's a niche that you filled while balancing other stuff, it's comedy is the main thing, at least at this moment right now it feels like. Yeah. I mean, it's weird. I mean, I was always, you know, I have two

younger brothers. My parents are wicked funny. I grew up in Ohio. So it was always like I really had to, you had to keep up to survive in my family. Like it was not easy. Like there was a, you know, it was tough, tough comedy, like tough room. Like they, so I feel like that builds it up, certainly I never went into school like I never went to improv classes I never like thought about a sketch career but I was certainly always I don't know if I was more so than anyone else like you know when you're in theater there's a lot I mean so so much that happens off stage is as important it's so important and just keeping that that vibe loose and uninhibited and free no matter what the genre is and so

Yeah, I mean, I think that I'd be hard-pressed to find, like, a real, real, real serious theater actor. Like, I just don't think you can, like, because you need everybody on that stage. I mean, I don't know. I mean, I guess you can. Well, did you go through a stage, like, when you were in, as a kid, I know you were acting and in college, like, where you kind of took it, like, so seriously to the detriment of, like, I don't want to do comedy or I don't want to, like, have fun I'm here to, like. No. No. I just was never that, that precious about it, I guess.

And I would think also once you start to do a few and you realize you're good at it. Yeah. I mean, Adam McKay certainly was the one that that I just put myself on tape for this little tiny part in Inker Man and that would crack it open for me just like watching those guys.

I was like, what? It was the best. The best. I'd never seen anything like that. It was like the rules were torn out the window. I couldn't believe because he'd written such a brilliant, like the script itself was so brilliant. So funny, so anarchic.

So like story was like least important. Like it was just like, hacked jokes so tight and then to have the freedom to I guess and the finances behind it let's be free to throw it completely away and just go from nothing was like

so liberating and yeah that was an amazing school to be a part of and then obviously going to stepbrothers which was a much more significant part and I talked to Adam about this Adam Scott I remember he told me beauty I mean

forget it I know he could punch him right in the gun he said before to me and others that like he was petrified at the beginning of that. Did he, did that, did you know he was kind of like, thought he was in over his head those first few days? I mean, it took a second for him to get, like, you know, I think because everyone kind of had to be like, yeah, we're here because we're here. Like everyone, it was a couple days in that he was like, oh, my God.

I mean, it's terrified. That was a huge part. And especially if you don't, like, like, the two of us. Like, we'd never, I think we both would go home and just like write alts for our Because as soon as we knew the rules, we were like, oh, shit, I'm not an improviser. They may pop into Will Ferrell's brain, but am I better to work that way? Yes, I could just not work that way. So, like, I think we would, like, run.

And then, of course, like, nothing, you know, because Adam would sniff it out and then push it into places that would, you know, he wouldn't let that happen. But, yeah, I think we would, like, literally go home and just, like, write alts for ourselves. But then, I mean, how brilliant is Adam Scott in that movie? It's ridiculous. Yeah. Ridiculous. What do you remember about your scenes with Riley in that, John?

Riley. Oh, I mean, I remember the scene in the bathroom where we are very tender lovemaking scene in the men's room was the sum of the takes were like 20 minutes long. And it went to some dark, dark places, like really dark, like me trying, basically like Lady Emingham, like trying to get him to murder Adam, my, my husband, just like detailed. of how to go about the murder while we were doing it. Like, well, I had, like, basically that I was, like, whole... Like, it was really graphic and very, very, very dark. Yeah.

Role playing. He's the smartest man. He's the legendary at SNL as, like, he was a genius there, and it's a genius on set and throws out lines. Yeah. And that takes getting used to, because there aren't many directors that do that. Or they certainly do it as... As well.

As inspired. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, he's, like, he is touched. I mean, I don't know what is going on in there. He does it. He has a podcast with Owen Burke that I was wanted, we never got a chance to do it in Comedy Fest,

but he performs in it. He's an incredible performer. Yeah. Another film that I think one of the first times I actually interviewed you was for the James L. Brooks movie. How do you know? And I'm most fascinated by that. I'm fascinated by James L. Brooks because he's just a genius.

I know. I know. One of your many collaborations with Paul. And most importantly, I want to talk about Nicholson. because he is just, he's an icon, and you know, you throw that word around, but he is. No, I know. And just, I don't know, give me a sense of what it was like.

I'm still pushing himself. Like, he's like, I feel like he, it was amazing to, that was, I was really pregnant during that movie. That was in Philadelphia. And my, Jack Nicholson literally on his day off, one, I came, I came to the set one morning and there was a bag from like, pee in the pod or some maternity store with, like,

a couple of camisoles and like a skirt and like a blouse real real cute real random could not read the handwriting in the card Jack Nicholson on his day off went because apparently there was like a maternity store and like got me I was like what this is amazing I was like I wish I had been a fly on the wall when you walked into like destination maternity and he was like I think he said something to do like it wasn't the first time but it was and then he totally got my daughter like an awesome engraved bracelet when she was born, because she was born early while we were doing

that. Oh, wow. Another thing, which was very, very exciting. Is that the words? And very relaxing. Yeah, I was supposed to leave on a Saturday, and my water broke on a Friday night, or I was supposed to, my last day was a Saturday, I had one day left of shooting.

Oh, my God. Those James uprooks just, like, hold it in. You're ruining this film, basically. Then the best was I had to, like, I had to finish that day, and so I had to, like, wait around in Philly for two months, basically, because I didn't want to travel with my sweet girl and

you know they wanted to do a camera test before I came back because I were very afraid that I had lost all the maternity weight and that I wouldn't be the same because they were going to have a fake cheeks or what you know they were going to do and I show up and they're like oh no no no you look exactly the same I was like oh good I'm going to kill myself like nothing had shifted freaking Philly

cuisine Paul Rudd called me while I was in labor though like I would get these texts while I was in labor being like who wants a cheese steak so my husband and I were like doing the rocky steps it was an adventure that was a a real, real adventure in that movie. And James Del Brooks, forget it. Just just crossed that off the list. That was a fucking list experience. Was that, I mean, I personally enjoyed that movie, and obviously

it didn't click in whatever, for whatever reason. It's a real vague title. It was the track of title. He's always had trouble with titles. Trouble with titles. I know. I know. I know. I know. I think that was the thing that...

Well, not always trouble with titles. Well, broadcast news is great. Terms of endearment. That's true. Spanglish. Spanglish? Tricky. But, I mean, says it. That's kind of clearer to me. Yeah.

Yeah. But, I mean, forget it. That material, there's some lines in even, how do you know, when he, when Paul Red makes the toast, and he goes, to people who make toasts. She's like, oh, kind of Brian thinks of that. Yeah. I still think of the amazing, like, my girlfriends, I still talk about, like, the Holly Hunter when she has that awesome cry. Oh, my God. At the beginning of movie, and she clears her emotional throat.

Like, I feel like we do that on, like, regular basis. I just had a Holly Hunter cry. I like, we're like, fine. But you just need to, like, get it out. And then you're, okay. So I'm curious, like, okay, so where you're at right now, it feels like you're at a really good spot. You're in all these awesome movies. You had afternoon delight last year.

I'm in your damn office. You're in my office. Doing your hot podcast. Yo MTV. It's a solid in here. It is hot in here, honey. I'm not going to lie to you. My Tom's of May, it's not working, and I apologize.

It's going to be rough and Huff Post Live next because I'm going to be sticks. Oh, I'm so sorry. No, you know what it's good, though? I feel like I'm in a beak room class. I feel like I'm good. I'm sweating it all out. All of my, like, awesome. salty toxins.

This is my first yoga session. I didn't even know it. Well, first, for you, I'm glad you have a sweater. This proves to you that it's not normally just hot. Yes, exactly. It's good, but no, it's good. Then we're making it hot. What we're talking about.

Okay. Oh, so the wonderful spot you're in your career, Catherine. This is a good thing. So, I mean, yeah, coming off of afternoon delight, which I know you were very proud of, and it was a nice, like, departure and more dramatic material. Yes, yeah. But I'm curious, like, at the same time,

you're busier than ever, I mean, you have two kids, and like, do you feel like it's like it's happening now at the right time, or it's kind of like, oh, why weren't these opportunities happening when I was 22? Yeah. I mean, you had opportunities then, but these are, I feel like, better and more exciting, probably more rewarding for you than ever. I mean, I don't know. You know, it's interesting. I don't think I was ready. I mean, I really don't in a weird way. I think you have, at least for me, like I always felt like I was a guest at the party, like someone else's, like party. Like, I never saw myself out doing film or television.

I just never, like, I wanted to do theater, like a theater. And so I never felt quite prepared in that world or, like, owned it. And I think like you have kids, and I just got a big case of that, okay, it's pardon my French, but I really like, I don't know if I can say that, but okay, I just, as a part of it, it's like,

oh, I don't know, it's such a short, you know, ride and I so I think it's a cumulative like I've it's such a small community actually and the good ones are like

there's some I've been the comedy community in particular is such a good group of eggs like really good peeps the ones I've had the pleasure of working with at least and so yeah I don't know I think I certainly wasn't

maybe I just wasn't maybe I wasn't ready like maybe this is like a perfect I certainly didn't see this unfolding the way it did. But it's kind of awesome. It's kind of really exciting. I just can't believe I'm able to still work.

I mean, that I'm working. It's really nice. Well, it's funny because also, I guess one of your early jobs out of school, right, was like what a lot of actors would kill for, which was a nice part on a long-running television series. Yes, a procedural drama. Right? That was hard.

It was an awesome experience. Crossing Jordan, yes, Crossing Jordan. Yes, Crossing Jordan. Crow Joe Crojo It was awesome Because I never Again like I've never been on a television set

Like that was except for I did a little show when I was a kid Yeah well we have to mention that Because you know that it's obligated to come up What was it called again? Hickory Hideout Hickory Hideout Is that how you have to say it?

Hickory Hideout But What's your video? I can't find video of you on Hickory Hideau I mean it's pretty awesome I have like It's not it's like it's kind of amazing who is that skater who had the like bob cut in the 80s

it looked like that it's not great Dorothy Hamill oh okay um and what was that exactly was a children's show with squirrels that talk to you not so in Shirley Squirley sure and then we lived there was local in Cleveland yeah we shared the set with the local news station of course so there was like a dark news station stage and then they had to then do the news with a tree house set right next to it it was very surreal

Yeah, Crowjo That was, I learned a ton But it was certainly on It was an awesome lesson Of like, okay, this is a huge investment And it kept going and going And it was hard That was like

There's certain parameters that you have That was difficult to But I love everyone in it So is there a connection there Between, wasn't Damon Limeloff one of the Yeah And Damon obviously erode

Tomorrowland, right, exactly Was there some kind of connection there Yeah, he was like he was he was the best I mean it was so clear that was like season I think he was only on crossing during like a couple seasons

but it was very clear that he was extraordinarily gifted like that any episode that had his name on was like what like it really was like shot out of the

he's he that mind is is crazy gifted and then he went on to do lost of course and then

maybe you've heard of it I was saying like that. And then, yeah, and then tomorrow. And then Tomorrowland, yeah, he is, yeah, so I'm sure it happened. But we've stayed in contact like since then. I adore him. He's one of the, I don't know if you've met him, but he's a great, honest, humble, beautiful brain. Now, he's the best.

My brother actually was an executive producer and writer and lost. So I've gotten to know a lot of years. Isn't he awesome? And Heidi's awesome. But yeah, he's the good, he's the good stuff, he's the real deal. And a good, for a nerd like myself, like, the nerd that made it and, like, still, like, wears it proudly on his sleeve. I know, he's so, and he's so delighted by it. Like, he's so still, like, in the candy store.

Yeah. Yeah. So, okay, so would, and I don't want to bring it, I mean, this will bring us down a little bit, and if you don't want to talk about it, please let me know, and I'll cut it out. But you worked on this pilot with Philson-Mohama, which I know you had high hopes for it, and everybody did. and just give me a sense of I mean everybody has nothing but amazing stuff to say about him I'm just curious of like what it was like to see him work in that capacity up close and just because he it's it's I know we're all kind of like

is still in shock about it yeah we um yeah it was this is pretty weak I mean you saw this like a year ago or something I assume or something it was last yeah fall yeah and then yeah it was picked up in January and yeah it's this it's just awful he was I mean I think we all walked out of that experience changed performers I certainly did

I mean yeah I think I had said this somewhere else too but it was like so I apologize but it's like yeah this it's so important you really want to like articulate and take your time because yeah he just he loved actors so much

And he really did not care where you were in your career at all. Like, he met you as an equal, which I will. Because he knew that the most important thing was that connection and having that truth between. So it was, I, he, it was, yeah, it's devastating. No, I got you. So it's hard to process. But it was obviously like we, hopefully,

we all, I mean, yeah, he was an inspiring performer and just in terms of, like, the, just, like, raising the bar. Like, I just feel like, oh, man, yeah. So going, going out of this, out of this hot sauna office and finishing your press store on bad words, what are you doing next? Do you finish tomorrow around that came? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've been, based on that for six years. Yeah, we won't see it for another 12. I'm so excited to see that.

Did you ever let you read the entire script? Do you even know what you're in? I know a little bit of context, barely. Like, I really don't know, yeah, I've no idea. It's so awesome and surreal and it's going to be. I'm very, very excited to see that film. And Brad Bird is like Willie Wonka. He's incredible.

And then I'm just going, I just did this movie called Detrain. That was what I was doing in New Orleans, with Jack Black, which was awesome that I'd never worked with him before, Mike White. And then an M. Night Chomelan movie I'm going off to do right. in Philly on Wednesday, yeah, yeah, which is a completely different genre. And, but, yeah, he's also like a Willy Wonka,

though, like, he's his own amazing world set up in Philly. Actually, I don't know how much you've talked to him yet, but like he, he actually did a comedic bit with me a few years ago. Oh, really? Playing off of his image, like, he has a sense of humor and knows, and knows, like, what good or bad people have said about him. He's very aware and is just a smart guy, and I'm rooting for him to all right.

I am too. I think he's an incredible writer, an incredible mind and writer. And, like, just the art of storytelling. Like, I'm, yeah, I'm very, very excited to work with him in this capacity. So is this back, because I know he has a couple things going. Is this back in, like, the Spence Thriller genre, or is there another one that's an older script that he's, I know, working on, too. That's more like a romantic kind of story.

Oh, gosh, no, this is not that romantic. Okay. No, yeah, this is like a little bit of a thriller. This is his micro-budget one. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. exactly yeah I think it's like seven people yeah really fun very cool you saw my weird creepy hat over here you want to put your hand in the creepy hat yeah I feel like maybe we should I feel like I've been asked this before I'm having a weird post-traumatic it's when you

were in that sorority party and so dirty and so right I apologize I've been traveling with this now what are in here okay so I've been traveling with this back and forth and I don't know why What do you mean back and forth? Back and forth to L.A. When I did a couple podcasts out there, just because I figured it should stay the same hat. But, of course, it gets crushed in my suitcase. What are these questions?

From just peeps? Random questions. They're kind of like, you know. Chocolate cake or starboard shirt cake. I don't know. We're both married. It's a literal hat. Okay, there we go.

Random questions. Did you have kids, by that? Not yet. Oh, it's real fun. Thank you. Okay. Scurry because there's an earthquake yesterday. What do you like on your hot dog?

Oh. You know what? Speaking of euphemisms. You know what? I like a spicy mustard. Good. Okay, that's good. We can get along because I don't like...

That's all. I don't like people that put ketchup and mustard. I don't either. I don't like all the other stuff on it. Although there's a place in New Orleans called butcher that is the same people that own Kossohn? Koshen. Oh, Koschon.

Koschon. Cosson. Cousin. Cawkin? We, that makes known hot dogs in that place is real good. For some people it was only there a few days. You really made the house.

Oh, I ate my way through it. I'm telling you, there is not a restaurant stone undurned. Did you have any bignets? No, because you know what? I went by that place, and I was like, uh-uh. The line's too long. They move quick, though.

They do? But is it really worth it? It's pretty good. Shoot. Though now, honestly, I don't bring it down again. I always think a couple years ago, one of the guys that created the wire literally had a benignet

and just, like, dropped out of a heart pack there. Oh, God, are you serious? That's an awful story. I know. At Cafe Dumont? Yeah. That's a horrible story. I know.

I don't know why. I'm really in a weird mood today. I love it. It's the heat. It's the heat. So, yeah, we had a, you know, we had a little earthquake yesterday, which is, I know.

That was like, right as what I was getting ready to go. Yeah, it was literally my, that was going to be picked up in, like, 20 minutes. It's so weird. It's hard to leave my little peanuts. Do you have the fear of the big one coming? Earthquick, I mean. I mean.

I do. I think it's real. Yeah, I do. Of course, why not? Yes. I mean, yes. It was scary to leave them. And my daughter was like, can you please tell me when that's going to happen again? I was like, I know, I wish I could. Are you surprised? You're obviously happy in L.A. Have you ever lived here? I did. I lived here for a long time. I miss it. Well, yeah, I lived here, and then I would go back and forth when I was at Yale on the weekends. My then boyfriend now has been lived here, and so I would go back and forth. but yeah I miss it desperately I really do I love the city so much and I love a You don't believe it, it's okay

Just because I'm in Yorker That really takes the hoof No I do I really I really really love the city I don't know like I mean you know we're now fully ensconced in L.A. and I love our We live in Silverland I love our pals and our

That's awesome I mean this is kind of great to go back before Should I do one more question? Let's do a couple more Yeah finish strong Okay let's finish strong This is worst injury I've ever had I was in a Toys R Us parking lot on a Sunday morning I had nothing but work lined up the next week

It was like every scene every day for the show I was doing called Free Agent, so it's not, I feel like a minute Four episodes And I was buying my kids I got them each like a little something Because I knew it's going to be a hard week And there would be a lot of seeing mommy And my daughter wanted a plastic toilet

for her doll that sang. It was called like the Royalet, whatever. There was like a song that came out. I was like to teach a kid. And as she made, she wanted me to open it up in the parking lot. It was like the hottest day. And as I was going to open it up, I stabbed myself in the eye with like a piece of the packaging. Like I literally was like momentarily blinded in the parking lot.

Screaming. I can't see my children. From a talking toilet that you would purchase. And my daughter was like, can it happen? I was like, may. I can't even. Like I couldn't even. It was awful.

It was like a paper cut in my corner. had to put, like, a plastic, like, pretend contact lens over it so that when I blinked, I didn't keep opening it. It was worse than childbirth. And yet, I can't even tell that it's a glass eye right now. It's great. It's totally a glass eye. Every so often it just starts to wander and then you just see the whites of it.

I was going to say it's turned around completely. I was going to tell you the publicist afterwards. Oh, that it's just a totally white. It's chilling. It is chilling. Give that to M. Night Shyamalan. I mean, seriously. And just all, should I keep reading them?

Sure. If I were a president, my first act would be... That's an easy one. I know, exactly. Yeah. What's on your platform? What's your thoughts on health care of the crisis in Crimea? I know.

Yeah, health care. Healthcare, okay. Or, you know, also just... I don't know. Keep in the garden going. Do you have a nickname. Messy Kathy. That's good.

Messy Kathy. You can stop any time you want. Oh, really? Yeah, I don't know. I mean, we can do this all day. I just don't want you to feel obligated to empty the hat. If you were burning down, what would I retrieve first? What if I did not say my chill down?

We can choose one of them. Just choose one. We won't name names here. They know. You know who you are. Oh, thank you for coming into my horrible song. Oh, it's a pleasure. It's chilly outside, so this is fantastic.

If you want to look up Catherine on the Huffington Post and see her all sweaty. Just blame me. And see that bad words. It's awesome. See everything she's in. She's really awesome. You're so awesome.

Thank you. You're the best. Thank you for having it. I'm too much. Hey, Michael. Hey, Tom. You want to tell him? Or you want me to tell him?

No, no, no. I got this. People out there. Yeah. People, lean in, get close, get close. Listen, here's the deal. We have big news. We got monumental news. We got snack-tacular news. Yeah, after a brief hiatus, my good friend, Michael Ian Black, and I are coming back. My good friend, Tom Kavanaugh and I are coming back to do what we do best. What we were put on this earth to do. To pick a snack. To eat a snack. And to rate a snack. Mentifically? Emotionally, spiritually. Mates is back.

Mike and Tom eat snacks. is back. A podcast for anyone with a mouth. With a mouth. Available wherever you get your podcasts.