Happy Sad Confused - Nick Jonas & Paul Rudd & John Carney

Episode Date: May 21, 2026

Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas are pushing themselves with their new film, POWER BALLAD. For Rudd, it's his first serious singing role in a film. For Jonas, it's a role that on the surface would seem familiar (a former boy band star) but pushes him to new dramatic heights. Here the two join Josh alongside their director John Carney (ONCE) to talk about collaboration, inspiration, motivation, and more. POWER BALLAD opens in select theaters 5/29 and nationwide 6/5. Tickets are now on sale. Watch on Spotify. If you’re subscribed to Spotify Premium, you don’t get any Spotify ads on my video. SUPPORT THE SHOW BY SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS! Rula -- Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rula.com/happy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #rulapod Quince -- Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince.com/HAPPYSAD ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for free shipping and 365-day returns. Limited Time Offer–Get Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with my code happy15 at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://huel.com/happy15.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New Customers Only. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show! UPCOMING EVENTS! 6/16 -- Matt Smith in NY -- Tickets here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last actor, either of you were mistaken for? He's not going to get, neither of them are going to get, they're massively famous guys. What idiot is going to say, you know, you look a little bit like Paul Newman. Joe Jonas. Kevin Jonas. Yes. No, I see it. Yeah.

Yeah. Prepare your ears, humans. Happy, sad, confused begins. Hey, guys, it's Josh. Welcome to another edition of Happy Say it Confused. Today on the show, we've got a good one for you. Nick Jonas, Paul Rudd, filmmaker John Carney, talking all things, power ballad, and more.

Hey guys, how are you doing? Welcome to another edition of Happy, Say I Confused. I'm very excited to share this one. This is a great movie to talk about power ballad. It's coming out soon. And to have Rudd in the house, Nick Jonas on the show for the first time, a filmmaker I love John Carney for the first time, fantastic. Before we get to that, though, some reminders.

Remember, check us out on Spotify. If you haven't checked us out on Spotify, now is a great time. And with Spotify Premium, you get no ads, no Spotify ads on our videos. So check us out on Spotify or Spotify Premium. This is really a special episode because this was a live event taped at 9 Second Street Y. You guys know I love to do my live events over there. And as you might imagine, an electric atmosphere.

Nick Jonas brings out some passionate fans. Not a surprise, but also Paul Rudd fans. I mean, I'm, if you had to start of Paul Rudd fan club, I might be the charter member. And not to mention John Carney. And I'm sure folks that listen or watch the podcast know and love John Carney's work, but let me just remind you quickly. He is the filmmaker behind once, begin again, Sing Street, Flora and Son. As I say in this conversation, he's really carved out this very unique path.

He doesn't make musicals per se, but he makes these beautiful music-driven dromedies, I guess you would call them. They pull at your heartstrings. true to life, I'm a sucker for them. And this new one, Power Ballad, is coming out May 29th in Select Theaters around the country and then June 5th wide. I really love this movie. I've seen it a couple times. In a nutshell, this is kind of a two-hander. Nick Jonas plays a former boy band member, kind of at a crossroads in his career, trying to figure out what to do with his career, et cetera, his personal life, his professional life, maybe rings true or not to his own experiences. And then we have Paul Rudd playing this wedding singer, fronting a band in Ireland.

He's made his life in Ireland, kind of never had the career he wanted as a singer-songwriter. And this chance encounter at this wedding leads to some bonding, some friction, some questions of ownership over art, and it is everything that you love in a John Carney movie. Really enjoyed this one. So for context, we take this actually before a screening of the movie at the 92nd Street-wise. So you might hear me reference. You guys here in New York are about to see the movie. That's why I'm saying that. They were about to see the movie. But I purposely made this conversation work for folks that haven't seen the movie, of course. So I think you guys are going to enjoy this. And I mean, Paul, of course, is one of the funniest people on the planet. I always

love talking to him. I've known him for a thousand years. And to get Nick on the stage was really exciting. The fans really came out and were enthusiastic, as you might imagine, see Nick Jonas live. And then John Carney, who, like, I'm kind of a fanboy for, as you can tell from me gushing about his movies. I mean, for me, once is one of the all-time great movies. So that's the main event today. Remember, Patreon, this is a good time to check out our Patreon.com slash happy, say I confused. We have a lot of bonus materials there right now because the Patreon crowd includes a lot of Outlander fans. And we shot this great Outlander sketch with Sam Hewinn and Katrina involved, and we made sure to do a lot of extra goodies for you guys that we're putting on the

Patreon. So if you like Outlander at all, now is a great time to check out our Patreon. Not only that, but you get early access and discount codes to all our live events. We have an event in June with Matt Smith. I believe it's June 16th, but check the show notes. It'll have the exact date, but tickets are now on sale for that. So excited to have Matt back on the podcast. We've never done a solo live event, so he'll be in New York a 9 Second Street-Wye talking all things, House of the Dragon, the new season and more. And yeah, there's some really, like, major people that are about to be on the podcast in June and July. I mean, not that we always get major people, but there are a couple people that I will not

announce yet that are just all-time guests. One in particular, I can't believe, is happening. I like goosebumps just even hinting at it. But you'll see it when you see it. Okay, that's about it. That's the preamble. remember put power ballad on your list of movies to see may 29 select theaters June 5th around the country and without any further ado I think you guys are going to love this one this is me live at

the 9 2nd Street Y with the director and stars of power ballad enjoy hi everybody hello how's everybody doing welcome to the 90 second Street Y my name's Josh Horowitz I host a podcast called happy sag infuse and guess what you're inside of it right now Thank you for coming out tonight, guys. You're in for a really special treat tonight. I'm sure, like many of you, I'm an obsessive fan of John Carney's work. How great a filmmaker is he?

Once, begin again, sing street. No one uses music the way he does that tell stories about winners and yes, losers. He is the best. And this new film, I'm so thrilled to report, power ballad, is a really, really special piece of work. It opens in limited theaters, May 29th. It opens June 5th around the country.

And you guys here in New York are very lucky because you're going to get a chance to see the movie tonight. So you're in the right place. You also don't just get a movie tonight. You get to see a few folks fill up these chairs. You ready for a conversation? I'll just say before they come on out, not only does John do amazing work in this one,

this is Nick Jonas' best acting work yet. He's awesome in this film. You're going to love him in this. We know Paul Rubble. always delivers, but this is a Paul Rudd like you've never seen before. He's amazing. You're going to absolutely love this movie. Without any further ado, please give a warm 92nd Street Y welcome to John Carney, to Nick Jonas, and to Paul Rudd. Come on out, guys. That's a nice way to start. Yeah, thanks for that. I'm too dressed up.

No, you're perfect. Just the way you are. Thanks, Josh. Good to see you all. Good to see you. Congratulations on this film. These guys, as I said, they're in for a treat tonight. This movie, I've seen it a couple times. You made me cry. Thanks for that. Yeah, John does that though with all those movies. I like grown-ups crying is good.

Yeah. What's your problem, man? Okay, before we get into teasing up what this movie is, since music is so important to the movie, what's, here's my icebreaker question. What performer band have you seen the most in concert in your lives? Who have you gone to see the most? And you can't say the Jonas Brothers, Nick.

That doesn't count. Damn it. The Jonas Brothers. Yeah. And maybe Elvis Costello. Right. I thought you'd go with Rush. No?

Rush must be up there. I've seen Rush, yeah, a few times. But Elvis Costello is, I've probably seen more than... I've probably seen him more than anybody else, I think. Have you ever been pulled up on stage by Elvis to... No. That's the danger of being a celebrity. My seats were never that good.

Oh, sorry. Nick, what about you? Very long arms. It's kind of a tie for me between Paul McCartney, we're just talking about, and Bruce Springsteen. He just played MSG the other night. I was privileged enough to be there. Oh, how well is that?

The best. Yeah, the best. I love it, Bruce. John, what about you? I'm going to, I'm allowed mention the band. that I was in because I'm no longer in them like Nick, so I'm going to mention the frames in Ireland probably. That works.

So to set up this film a little bit, I alluded to John's amazing filmography. We were gushing backstage. We're all, including John, hopefully, a fan of John's work. But you have found such a distinct, interesting lane, and I don't know if it was haphazard or, like, directed, like, how you came to this, but no one uses music the way you do

to tell these kinds of stories. How did we arrive at the filmography we did for John Carney? That's a good question. I mean, I'd like to say that it was a childhood dream that I might, you know, by sure grit and determination I've made come true all on my own, which is kind of I would like to say that. But like all careers, you know,

it's a bit of this and a bit of that, and then a bit of luck, and then a break, and then not a break. What's the opposite of a break? A stumbling, block that makes you strong or whatever. You know, it is all of those things that led me to realize that I was going to use the word talent.

It's not a talent. It's an openness to like exploring the things that are going on in my head through film and music together and realize that's not a bad thing and there's a niche for that. And it's the perfect size for me. I don't really want to get it any bigger than this. This is beautiful. so don't recommend the film to anybody after you see it. You know, and that there's enough people to make me go,

oh, that's a nice idea, and I could have a song here and a musical, you know. So it's a series of kind of weird, and certainly music. I was in a band, I liked music, so all that helped. But I remember before doing once, I was doing a TV show, and people were saying, you put too many needle drops. You know, you rely too much on music, moving. It's a TV show. And then I thought I should lean back from that.

And then I just didn't. I leaned into it and made once, which has more songs than, you know, any movie I've made. And this film, as these folks will see, is really about the complexity. It's about a lot of things. But in part it's about the complexity of artistic inspiration and where that comes from and collaboration. So it feels appropriate to ask you what the inspiration was for Power Ballad. What's the initial idea and how did it grow into what they're about? about to see. It was, well, the really origins of it were simply sitting at a cafe and looking

at this guy, leave his house, and go to work. Basically, I, I'm a real believer in, I think I mentioned this to you before, there's a great Irish writer whose name will occur to me in a second. William Trevor, he lives in England, but he had a great line about, you know, as a short story writer, you go down to the park, sit in a bench, and you see some or you hear a conversation on the bench next to you, and all you're looking for is just enough to go back into your writing room. And it really rang true to me,

and it was nice to hear it put by somebody as great as this writer. So he was like, okay, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop. That's all I need. I just need that one line of dialogue that that man gave that woman. That's enough for me to go off and write my story. So I'm very, I sit very open in the world listening and watching people

and realizing actually, you know, it's like that great line from the naked jungle. There's eight million stories in the naked jungle. This has been one of them. Everybody's got an amazing story. And anyway, so I'm sitting at a cafe, and this guy comes out of his house in Dublin, tired, kind of good-looking, wraparound sunglasses,

a bit of a rock star swagger, and he's got two things. One is a guitar over his shoulder, and I'm like, okay, and one is a little eight-year-old girl on his arm. And he's like putting her into the back at the hatchback, and he's got the little pink school back over his back, over the other shoulder. And it was just something so great about the way he had moved like Jagger. He had the walk.

He had the vibe, but he was in a little hatchback, which is fine, coming out of a small house. And I was like, who is that guy? What's the conversation now that happens with his daughter when they're driving into school? And that was the kind of origin of like, okay, that's a story I really kind of want to tell. And Paul plays the little girl in the film. That's right. Which... It was honestly the biggest acting stretch I think I've ever undertaken.

It's weird. I thought it would be mocap, but no, you just decided just to be the little girl. Yeah. Yeah. It's a choice. I spent six months with little girls. No, let me take that away. Let me take that away.

Should I give it back to him? Yeah, okay. So, anyway, moving on. You could say that now, right? No. Let's talk. I love how worthy my answer seemed a minute ago was like, really.

I'll tell you now, the real inspiration is girls and, what? It's my fault, I'm sorry. We'll be right back with more, Happy, Say, Confused. parents behind law and order comes a mystery the whole family can enjoy. Patrick Picklebottom everyday mysteries. Step into the whimsical world of Patrick Picklebottom, a precocious 11-year-old, with a love for reading and an uncanny ability to solve mysteries. Inspired by the beloved children's

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See what everybody's talking about and join us in the dark. Let's talk a little bit more about the casting of these two gentlemen. I mean, for you, Nick, is it scary to play a role that, look, people are going to make connections, as they probably should. You are playing Danny, who is, in fact, a former boy band member. There are some surface connections there. There are a few. Is it, I mean, is it scary to play a character that has some more surface connections

or less for you? Was that a red flag? It just depends. This script was so good that it sort of, it spoke to me beyond my personal connection to, you know, the character and ways in which were similar. I had heard initially that John was working on something and heard a basic kind of logline about it and was like, well, when the time's right,

I'd love to set a meeting and talk about it. In our first meeting, he kind of outlined for me the story, and then we got into the script. And, you know, I think more than even just the thing you'll see here in a second movie plays, which are the central themes around songwriting and creativity, the thing that spoke to me was about family and the balance of ambition and family, and how far would you go to get everything you ever wanted, at what cost? And it was just so exciting to dive in. And, yes, I will say that some of my experiences did help make it a little easier to understand

this character, and you'll see... in a second. Hey, John, it's very smart. You get like a free tech advisor right on set. Yeah. It's exact. Nick brought so much more than I could have dreamed of to the role. It's hard to express what it was.

It was like a mixture of, I guess it's just some weird, intangible thing of experience. When you have experience as much as he has for so long, it's like you don't have to say much. So you're like, I really directed you very little. It was like, you know the way, and he was like, got it. And I guess has a resource of very interesting experiences. For you, Paul, look, you've done a lot of different kinds of things in your career. And yes, you have sung on camera, afternoon delight. You were amazing, obviously.

40-year-old version. But this is new territory. I mean, this is not joke singing. This is real singing. You're playing a wedding singer fronting a band. and I mean, did you know you had it in you? I mean, I... No, I mean, it's true.

I have, like you said, with Anchorman sung in films, but yeah, it's funny, and it's a little safer. It feels a little safer. So it was new territory. Be serious, earnest, vulnerable, and do it next to somebody who's really good at it and does it for a living. So it was exciting and it was a challenge that I was really

enthusiastic to undertake, but I was, yeah, nervous about it for sure. Is it more intimidating singing alongside Nick Jonas or Merrill Streep? Because you did do that in only murders as well. Yeah, that's a pretty, boy, I'm really batting a thousand, aren't I? You're saying the bar very high. Really? I know, I know. God, poor you and Merrill. The answer's obvious there, that's fine.

What were the first days like in terms of capturing what you had to capture on camera? Like, is there a rehearsal period? Like, how do you kind of establish the connection both musically and just as actor to actor? What do you remember the first day was the scene where we kind of meet? Yeah, it's true.

You haven't seen the movie. Well, it's really good, so. I can act it out now if you want, just. Yeah, a live reenactment. But you'll see, it's a scene where we, We connect on music and creativity and life and have a couple drinks. There might be a joint in there and then things kind of go nuts from there. And we start, you know, the beginnings of a song that then take us on the journey of this movie.

And that was our first day working together. I'd heard so many good things about Paul from mutual friends and been a fan forever. So I was thrilled to just be on set, obviously an intimidating first day and intimidating to be on screen with Paul. But I think everyone was so chill and the environment was such that, you know, John allowed us to play. Obviously, we had the parameters of, you know, what's needed to tell the story based on the page, but to just get in there and have some fun and kind of be goofy and just do whatever felt really, really freeing up front. And he blew me away with his singing, which is going to blow you away as well, I promise you.

It's really incredible to see someone who's been such a – I mean this. Thank you. No. Wet him finish, Paul. He has more to say. Such a force throughout his entire career and continues to throw himself into situations that are different and new.

And this was, you know, he's got an acoustic guitar on there. He's singing his heart out. And it was really impressive. And hats off to you, sir. Well done. Thank you, Nick. I must say that it was made certainly easier by meeting Nick.

He's such a great actor, great musician. But boy, he made me feel comfortable right away. and yeah, I think we clicked day one. I mean, we really got on well. And so thank you. Was singing part of your repertoire back in your Bar Mitzvah party starter days when you were a DJ? No, no, I was too busy organizing the limbo. This is a truth.

A lot of you probably know this. That was an early sidegick. I was in school. I could work on the weekends at bar mitzvahs and well. weddings and birthdays, and I did that for about a year. What was your secret to getting folks on the dance floor, getting folks riled up? Well, it really depends on the age. If I wanted the kids to get out there, I knew that, like, can't touch this.

Or monie, mooney. Oh, sure. That was a big one. But if I wanted the grandparents to dance, Glenn Miller. Square to God. Pipe in the Glenn Miller right now. Let's see what happens. What are all your philosophies at weddings?

Are you the first on the dance? I did it a while ago. Well, your references kind of revealed that. Yeah, exactly. If I wanted the kids out there, I put on a little Jolson and they went crazy. Are you guys first on the dance for or last on the dance for at weddings? What's your philosophy? I don't go to weddings.

I hate fucking weddings. Wow. I hate them. That's your hot take. Okay. I love you. You love me in front of thousands of people. Okay.

Oh. Yeah. I got married to myself and my wife got married like 22 years after we met. For tax purposes. Sorry. We thought he was a romantic until now. Well, I was going to say weddings are really nice. I give him so.

fun. But to that, I don't know, probably right in the middle of the night, I'll get in the dance floor. Okay. That'll be the right song, too. Can't touch this. Could probably get me out of the dance floor. Don't forget about Glenn Miller.

Come on. Of course, and Glenn Miller. Nick. At the center of this film is this earworm of a song that's beautiful. And it really is, I mean, I can't imagine hanging a film on something this is. important that has to work in so many different ways in a film. I mean, when you get the script, does it come with like an MP3 of this song? Cassette.

An A track. Right. Does it come with the song? No. It didn't. That's a lot. Which was interesting because, you know, so much hinges on it and to read it and not know exactly what that song was going to sound like.

It was an interesting experience. And then when we heard it for the first time, you know, it was great. And obviously, it needs to work, right? It works, luckily, yeah. Yeah. And not so luckily. Well, John and Gary Clark,

who also writes a lot of the music, are great musicians. Yeah. And, I mean, as you know, from John's other films, so talented, and they put so much into the songs themselves. So I think I never sweat it. I kind of figured, oh, yeah, those two guys can crack it.

Yeah. I mean, not to reveal too much, but for the once fans out there, there's something to look out for. There is. Spot the once reference. Is this in the once cinematic universe? Is there a John Carney's cinematic universe?

Couldn't afford any other song than that was. By the time I paid these guys, it's fucked. I was like, I was like, Glenn, you know that fucking song? Can you just give it to me free really quickly? No, it was a self-glorifying moment. The first thing is right. It was a reference to another piece of art

through one piece of art. It works. I was saying before, this film did make me cry. Both times I saw it, As most of... I'm sorry about that. No, I love it.

I love the way your films really break me down. But does your own work ever have that effect on you? Can it? John's work has that effect on me. I mean, I really love his films. I was so excited to do it because I really wanted to work with John. I think he has a way of tapping into just kind of what's beautiful about life, how music makes our lives better,

and they're just such emotional kind of powerful films to me and when I saw this for the first time it I think it might have been the first time maybe and I was like oh my God that's so effective

but it's because of him for you Nick what kind of songs or films tend to bring that kind of emotion to you is there a well I'll say there's a scene or there's two scenes in this movie that that I'm not in and

they hit me super hard as a father. I think there's a real theme which you'll see. I don't want to give anything away but it's powerful stuff and family that whole aspect. And then outside of that when I cry in a movie it's the Lion King probably.

You know things that I'm getting to watch with my daughter these days and kind of relive some of those experiences and the stories that shaped who I became and now I'm sharing that with her. It's a totally, you know, special thing to experience. And then always on planes. I'm just going to cry on a plane watching a movie. I don't know what it is. Yeah. More happy, say, confused coming up.

Oh, please, not that music. That music gives me nightmares from my childhood. Could we get something a little bit lighter? Some lighter music here. Are you a fan of true crime TV shows? And what about Unsolved Mysteries? The show that jumps up. started all of our love of true crime. I'm Ellen Marsh. And I'm Joey Taranto. And we host I Think Not, a true crime comedy podcast covering some of the wildest stories from your favorite true crime campy TV shows all the way to Unsolved Mysteries.

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And the internet. Completely unhinged. Welcome to Roxanne and Chantelle. The podcast where cousins Roxanne and Chantel break down reality TV, celebrity drama, and the stories everyone's texting about. We recap the shows. spill the headlines and sit down with the stars themselves. No filter, no boring takes, just the tea. New episodes every week.

If it's trending, we're talking about it. This is Roxanne and Chantelle. Let's get into it. One of the other themes that really resonated with me, I mean, is there's a real sense of, that thirst for that we all have, sadly, I think, this external validation. And sometimes that's money. sometimes that's attention and even when if you're an artist. No idea what you mean.

I know, exactly. We're all perfectly well-adjusted human beings. But I mean, I guess the question I have for you guys is, do you think you'd be artists if you didn't have the successes that you've had in your career? Would you have stuck with, you have this other job, this other life, do you think art still would have played an important part in your life just for its own sake? Yeah. I do.

I would have been doing this or trying, like, on a dinner theater stage, wherever I lived, wherever I try and get a play going with people that are interested in doing it. I just think it's just kind of who, it's just ingrained, I guess, and who we are, who we all are. Yeah. It's a great question, by the way. Thank you. Excellent question. The simple answer is I think so because I'm not really good at anything else. And there are a lot of times I don't think I'm good at this, you know, things that I'm doing. And I think part of that need to

to keep getting better and growing and working with different people that challenge you is what drives me in addition to my love for it. It's rare of it as just a joyful experience. Sometimes it's combined with those feelings of self-doubt or questioning oneself. But when you work with people like these guys and others who I've been fortunate enough to work with who make you better make you stronger It is absolutely worth the pursuit of it even when it feels like You know if I if I wasn't doing this I don't know where I'd be so I'm glad I'm glad that I still get to and that people still to whatever degree are allowing me to so thanks That's it's it's it's hard to follow that that that I would just go back to male modeling Yeah, well when you've got this

when you have this you don't need to worry I didn't really hear what Nick said because all the time I was just thinking I think I just offended everyone that does dinner theater is not my intention I've done it

yeah my life on goal of canceling Paul Rudd has come to fruition we started off strong with a little girl joke there's no way there that was you oh my God where are we at

This is random. Where are we out of music biopics? You make musicals that are not musicals. Where am I on? Yeah, I want to hear from any of these guys. It's very interesting. Well, I'll answer it first because I change my mind every few weeks, and I have to be careful

because I am tentatively I've got an email in my inbox saying, I believe you like this artist shall remain anonymous right now. You know, is there a way in for you because I say no to those things quite a lot. Just because I can't find a way to get personally into something. And some weekends I'm like, oh, I'd love to know more about that

singer, songwriter, or that person, or, you know, I'd love to know more about Aretha Franklin or people that I can't find books on or whatever, you know. And then I watch them and I'm so frequently like, they so frequently are the, what is it, cradle to grave, straight. straightforward, you know, that Aretha Franklin will never amount to anything type movies. You know, which like, what amazes me is you see something like Walk Hard. This guy. There's like, you see Walk Hard, there should never be another musical biopic after that. Because it's so, it's like, it's like as somebody came along to you and said,

do you want to make a film about like glam rock English rockers who like talking like that? You'd be like Spinal Tap. You can't make. that's done. And to me, every brilliant pitfall of the biopic, all of the minds that you could step on are hilariously done in that movie, but they're still making biopics of people.

I do think... I mean, I should be careful now. The snapshot ones I enjoy the most. You were in, you played the great John Lennon. Your John Lennon is the ultimate depiction of John Lennon in cinema, I would say, yes? Well, we haven't seen the new ones about to come out. Have you given Harris Dickinson any advice for playing John?

You know, it's funny, he hasn't called. Weird. What was the research process for that? Was that a long one? The research for playing John London? Yeah, and walk hard. The night before we had to film that scene, Justin Long and I, Justin Long played George Harrison,

and we watched... Hard days night and we were watching, we were trying to just watch as much stuff on the Beatles to see if we get the voices down. There was no chance in hell I was going to be able to do it. And Justin is incredible. But we were panicked. But thankfully, they really were not hinging the film on an accurate portrayal. Are you playing Paul Stanley though in a Kiss film? Is that something that's potentially happening?

potentially being the operative word there. I'm hopeful that it comes together, but there's a lot of factors and things that are kind of still up in the air, but it would be amazing to do that and to get to tell that story. It is a biopic. I'm sorry. It'll be one of the good ones, though. Don't worry. It's a good one, yeah. Plus, they make billions of dollars and people really enjoy them.

I'm in hassle. I don't like weddings. I'm just a curmudgeonly old Irish Larry David or something. It's okay. I'm actually not like this, am I? Not at all. Nick's the only one that hasn't said anything controversial tonight. It's been you and Paul are out. It's not too late.

I'll be like going back to my wife, we get married and go and see a biopic together. Speaking of your wife, do I have this right? She's in the film and it's very significant role. Yeah, Marcella Plunkard is my wife, and she plays Paul Rudd's wife in the film, and she has to kiss him, which was... Not weird at all.

shocked my children, no end. And it was very hard to... And then he would say things to her. And Paul would have a scene with Marcel and you'd say things to her and people would be like, that's so profound what he's saying. And I'd be like, I said that, I shouted that to you a week ago.

And they're like, yeah, but you're not Paul Rudd. It just sounds really horrible coming from you. If... And the music in this film is fantastic. This is not an inconceivable idea. if you get nominated for this earworm, amazing song you guys are going to hear, you could perform at the Oscars.

Are you game? Paul, Nick? Ooh. Paul? Boy, talk about putting the cart before the horse. I'm putting it out into the universe. I want to be first. Do you accept?

When the film wins an Oscar for a song. At the 25-year retrospective. So that was a maybe? You're still, I thought the laugh, applause was just going right into the next. I'll find something. Okay, let's see. Some questions from the audience. Maureen has better questions than I do.

Don't worry. What music do you listen to gravitate to when preparing for your roles on set? Do you often have playlists for different characters? Is that something that you find useful? Either of you. Sometimes. I mean, it depends. On something like this, I was kind of,

reflecting on my own, you know, sort of chapter of trying to find myself musically and and so I went back to a couple of playlists that I made back in 2014-15 in the things that were really inspiring to me at that time. And it was nice. It kind of put me back in that place. But, you know, for something like Jumanji, I don't really have a whole lot of, I just sort of, oh, there's a tiger. And then we, that's great. There are some big musical sequences in Avengers Doomsday, as I understand it. There's a lot of... I'm joking. I'm joking. I'm sorry. I'm excited there.

You're like, what? Never mind, never mind. This is a question for Nick. How does your relationship with performing change when you're acting as a musician versus being yourself on stage? Well, I think that being on stage is... I'm singing my songs and kind of sharing my stories for the most part. And with this, it was really exciting to take the music that John and Gary had written and sort of think of who that guy is going to be with that music and what that looks like.

Even vocally, there are things that I approach differently. Subtalties that, you know, maybe no one will notice, but for me it was important to kind of take that on. But it's just a matter of, yeah, telling my own stories and then telling someone else's and using their words. And you'll see, once you see it, it runs deeper than just the songs, but those bigger themes and how the music music connects to that. I think John did an excellent job, as he always does, of making sure all the thoughts are clear and concise and heartfelt, but that there's music at the center of all of it, and that it's being used in a way to propel the story and make it more engaging and not just, oh, here's a great music sequence. How do you accomplish the concert scenes? I mean, is it movie magic, or are there some big crowds there? Or like, what's... All the wedding... Well, again, you haven't seen the movie. But, so I don't want to be careful how I give my answer.

But it was a mix. Yeah, there's a mix of like old school, silly, like, the crew running around behind the camera to try and meet us at this angle with a bit of green screen next to some actual CGI, which we threw in and stuff like that. So it was kind of like a nice mix. There's nothing too trick-trixy or anything like that. Well, the fact that I'm asking the question is good.

It was a good sign because I couldn't tell what was. Oh yeah, exactly. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Catherine would like to know what surprised each of you about working with each other. What's the biggest surprise? I mean, I assume you tried not to go with preconceived notions, but...

Yeah, you know, I'd seen Nick act before, and I was really good, and so I can't say this was a surprise. But I'm really just amazed at how. good he is. And that, there you go, you know, Nick is such a thoughtful person. And when, it's a, you know, he's a very deft performance and I feel like I can, I know what's going on in his head in almost every moment by what's going on in his eyes. And there are moments when I finally saw the film that just, I felt it in my chest.

And so it wasn't that I was surprised, but just kind of continually impressed by him. And we all know what a great musician he is, but he's a hell of an actor. Thank you. You don't have to reciprocate. You don't have to. I will gladly. I mean, I've said it before, but the music part of this, part of this. It's a huge task

for anyone. If that's been your only thing you've been doing for your career, but Paul is, you know, obviously Paul Rudd. The Paul Rudd. And that first day on set, it was just wild

to see, you know, he grabbed his guitar, started singing and just let it ring, and it was kind of just a magical thing to get to experience. Also, side note, while we were doing that scene outside, we saw the Northern Lights. Yeah. It was a kind of...

That's the first time I ever. It was a magical thing, yeah. The other thing that was surprising was that he knows everything there is to know about Ireland and is so beloved by the Irish people. He's basically Irish. Wow.

And it was fun. I had no idea that you loved it as much as you do. But that's beautiful. And then with John, in a lot of ways, he directs like a musician because he is a musician. And so there's a fluidity to it that's so helpful.

It makes you feel free to try things and know that it may not be right, but it'll get you to a better place. You know, often in songwriting, you'll throw out a line that you know is bad that gets you to the better line. And I appreciated the fact that it was just a really loose and free environment. And I think because when I've watched his films and you can see how technical they are, I thought maybe it would be more rigid, but it was so surprising just how free and fun it was. Nice. So we end the happy, sad, confused podcast with the profoundly random questionnaire. John and Nick have never been on the podcast. You're going to have to come on at some point solo. You're coming back soon, too, I hope. But here we go. For all of you guys, you can all jump in however you like.

Dogs or cats? Dogs. Dogs. Dogs. Cats. Tracks. Maine Coon cats. Okay. What do any of you collect? Are you collectors of anything specific? Yeah, I'm starting to collect First Edition or first prints of like children's books So that my daughter can have a little collection of her own one day So that's yeah

Nice Sorry, come on, how can we fucking follow that? Well, I'll tell you what I'm doing for my daughter Yeah, sorry Your collection of anti-wedding books that you're... Anything, Paul? Yeah, I tend to...

I like historical memorabilia. Okay. What's the prize possession? Give me an example. I have an invitation to the grand opening of the Brooklyn Bridge. Whoa. But it was actually F.A.O. Schwartz's invitation.

That's pretty cool. What a reaction. I just, I think it's... Did he go? Is it still valid? If he did, he held on to the invitation. I don't think he turned it in. I don't know.

But, you know, I think that's... I am fascinated by history. And in particular, like, that bridge and the construction of that bridge is a really fascinating story. And when I found that, I was very excited. I love it. Anyone have a favorite video game of all times?

very important question. What do you got? Max Payne. Okay. Super Smash Brothers. Thank you. The crowd goes wild. Top that, Paul. Dig-Dug.

Oh my God. All right. Okay, quickly, the last few, I want to let you guys go and let them see this movie. This is an important one. Dakota Johnson asks us. me this, I ask everybody, would you rather have a mouthful of bees or one bee in your butt? I actually, I'm not sure. I think you said a mouthful of bee or a bee, one being. It sounds like something my nine-year-old boy would ask me. And then we talk about it for ages. Exactly. Well, it is true. You have to get like wear exactly in the butt. Right? I mean.

Right. I mean, pretty far up it, I would say. I think that would be nice for some people. Yeah. Not so much for the bee. Wow. Okay. What did you do today at school? What did you do today, John? Well, I was on stage with Polward, and we were talking about bees in your arsehole.

Last three, quickly. What's the wallpaper on your phone? Anybody. What do you got? I have a beautiful garden. Right, right, right, right. Last one, I got the one where it switches out, so it's like a bunch of different photos.

It's a good setting. If you don't have it on there, just do it. My kids. Oh, sorry, your kids, yes. See, he's a good person after. Not my kids, just not my kids, just kids. It's not my fault, just for the record. Last actor, either of you were mistaken for?

Neither of them are going to get, they're massively famous guys. You'd be surprised. One idiot is going to say, you know, you look a little bit like Paul Newman. Kevin Jonas. Yes. No, I see it. Yeah, yeah. I actually got, I have a good short story about that. When we made that movie once, we were in America for the first time ever.

I'd never been here, and we were sitting, we were in a cafe, and I don't know if any of you are going to get this, but I'll try it anyway. And we were inside, and there was a fortune teller on the pavement outside that her, I think her husband just sort of dropped her there. And she was like outside with a little thing over like that, and she was telling fortunes during the night. And we came out of the place, and I had a cigarette outside, and like this. And she says, you know, cross my palm. And I was like, I don't have the money, blah, blah, blah. It goes on like that. And she makes me sit down eventually on like $20 and give it to her.

And she looks at my hand and she goes through and tells me everything about my life and all this stuff and children and blah, blah. And then at the end of it, and she says, and I'm a big fan. And I had just arrived in New York. once was tiny. Nobody knew it. A few odd arty people knew it. And she wasn't one of them. And I was like, no, it's not, it couldn't, you couldn't. And Marcel and my wife was like, maybe she's seeing, maybe she's just a huge movie buff and she happens to have seen like an obscure Sundance movie. And I was like, are you sure? And she said, yes, I love what you do. And I was

like, what, and she said, and then she said, you know, uh, uh, um, Harry Potter. Very good. No, no, not in her. And then she mentions some other movie, like an English movie. And I start to realize she thinks that I look like David Thuleas. The English actor. Great actor. Who, then 20 years ago, I met and I told him that story. And he was like, oh, that's really fucking funny.

And I said, yeah. So, like, I know how long you live for her. I got your fortune. Yeah, exactly. That's amazing. Amazing. And last, worst noted director has ever given you, what jumps to mind? I'll close my ears.

Yeah. Can't be John. Or something that's generally unhelpful if you can't think of a specific thing. I had a director tell me, just, yeah, one more time, but this time, a lot better. Okay. Got it. Wasn't it, I'm from it. Nothing really comes to mind.

And I, yeah, I'll take any note anybody wants to give me. There's a New Yorker, there's a really funny New Yorker cartoon that the director is saying, okay, good, now go again, but this time you're good at acting. Perfection. All right. As I said, you guys are in for a real treat. Not only did you get this wonderful conversation, but you're about to see PowerBowd, which is fantastic.

I know you're going to want to spread the good word. This film is out in theaters, May 29th in Select Theater's, and then June 5th, around the country, please, like I said, spread the good word and give it up one more time for John Carney. Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd, everybody. Thanks, everyone. And so ends another edition of Happy, Sad, Confused. Remember to review, rate, and subscribe to this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a big podcast person.

I'm Daisy Ridley, and I definitely wasn't pushed to do this by Josh. Are you tired of hearing people with horrible summer house takes go on long rants about stuff they barely have any clue about. Oh, you're not? Great. Well, then why not listen to Turtle Time? That's right. My name is Riley Hamilton. And I'm Amy Scarletta. And we host the podcast Turtle Time, which is fully dedicated to discussing every aspect of the current Summer House news. And we will hopefully leave you thinking as well as laughing. Isn't that right, Amy? That's right. Our Summer House coverage is available on Wednesday, and you can listen to it on any podcast platform that you love.