Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum - FRED ARMISEN: SNL Reflections, Becoming Uncle Fester & Hilarious Prince Stories

Episode Date: July 14, 2026

Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live, Portlandia, Wednesday) joins us this week for a wide ranging and surprisingly personal conversation about horror movies, drumming, Prince, and the unlikely turn that brought him to comedy. Fred opens up about the moment in his early thirties when his band fell apart and he had no idea what was next, the SNL audition call he still saves in his phone as Best Call Ever, and what it really felt like to step into Uncle Fester for Tim Burton on Wednesday. We also get into his Beatles fandom, learning to love acting later in life, and why introvert Fred still cannot resist a great horror movie or a good Ringo party. Thank you to our sponsors: 🔹 Blue Chew: bluechew.com + “inside” ❤️ This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/inside and get on your way to being your best self __________________________________________________ 💖 Patreon: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/insideofyou⁠⁠ 👕 Inside Of You Merch: ⁠⁠https://store.insideofyoupodcast.com/⁠⁠ __________________________________________________ Watch or listen to more episodes! 📺 ⁠⁠https://www.insideofyoupodcast.com/show⁠⁠ __________________________________________________ Follow us online! 📸 Instagram: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/insideofyoupodcast/⁠⁠ 🤣 TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@insideofyou_podcast⁠⁠ 📘 Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/insideofyoupodcast/⁠⁠ 🐦 Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/insideofyoupod⁠⁠ 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠https://www.insideofyoupodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum. Thank you for making this podcast yours. I know you cheat. I know you go to other podcasts. That's totally cool, man. As long as you're listening and subscribing to this podcast and if you like it. And Fred Armisen is here. And if you've never heard of me and you're here for Fred, all I ask is, hey, listen to the podcast.

If you like it, go, I'll give this jerk a chance. As long as you show up for the kids, too. Just don't leave the kids. Come on, man. Look, you can see other podcasts just. Yeah. No. We have a family.

We have a family here. And it's a tight family. And if you really like the podcast, I want to get back if you fall in love with it like some people do, join our Patreon family. Our patrons are amazing. Patreon, p-at-R-E-O-N dot com slash inside of you. And it's a wonderful community. There's different perks. You get your name, shout it out on the podcast.

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It helps us and pays for this little podcast. And we really appreciate it. I appreciate it. And I love my team. I love Ryan here, my engineer. I love, he's also the producer of Talkville. I love Timmy, the editor. He's wonderful.

And, you know, I was worried because Jason was such a great editor. And I was like, ah, okay, Timmy. And then I then I'll send him like, God, Timmy's great. He's great to work with. He's smart. He's quick. He's like he makes adjustments. Love him. He's communicative. I talk to him all the time. Yeah. And yeah. What happens when you, uh, you have a good person, they recommend good people. They do. And the cycle continues. And you can't forget Bryce. Bryce puts it all together, man. He's a genius. Oh, fuck, Bryce. He came to visit me. Yeah. We had a wonderful time. We watched a soccer game. Yeah. And it was really nice. So thanks Bryce for coming. Uh, if you want to follow me on Instagram at the Michael Rose. Rosenbaum. You could probably find podcasts or sorry, cons that I'm going to. I'm on Cameo. And the talented farter is on Amazon if you want. Or you can go to the inside of you online store and get an autographed copy of the talented farder now.

Wasn't available before. Now it's available autographed and much more. Smallville stuff at the inside of you online store. What else can I say? That's about all I can say. I love this guy, Fred Armisen. He is so warm and sweet and kind, not to mention, uber talented. I mean, just, I understand what people want to work with him all the time. My people love him. He's just, I fell in love with him. I was like, he was like, yeah, yeah, this is great. I had a great time.

He's just, just a, Fred, I love you, man. I don't even know you and I love you. Thank you. Let's get inside of Fred Armisen. Where you get nervous for a role. Oh my God. I get panicked. Do you get anxiety?

Yeah, I live with anxiety. What are you doing? I was just taking a live picture. I always get nervous, but that's fun. I look forward to it. Let's get everything out of today we can. And how much time do you have left? And how are you going to use it well?

So come on now. We would have to do another inside of you. But actually, but that's kind of what you're doing, Michael. I mean, you're on this road, this journey of what's inside of you. Inside of you with Michael Rosenbaum was not recorded in front of a live studio audience. Now, you were kind of amazed by the room. Yes, I was asking about if you had, because there's a ladder in here, going up to the sort of heaven, yeah, the upstairs part of this.

But would I, is it, would it be correct to say that you lean towards horror movies? Yes. More than science fiction. Yes, I love horror movies and I love documentaries. That's my thing. Do you like horror movies, recent ones? Yes, sometimes they surprise me. I'm trying to think of the ones that I, like, talk to her.

Did you see that? Yeah, yeah, it's incredible. Incredible. You know, there's the movie Speak No Evil, but there's an original version of that that was on Shudder. That's unbelievable. The new one was good, too. Yeah. That's crazy.

There was a movie called The Table. I don't know the table. I think it was called the table. Oh, my God. You got to watch it because it's genius. Something happens and you're on edge of the entire movie. Something happens right off the get-go and you're just like, what is this guy going to do? What's our protagonist going to do?

The coffee table. That kind of feeling really sets you off balance. Yeah. And it's such a smart thing to do. I saw a stage production of paranormal activity. I heard about that. How was it honestly? Fantastic. Scary?

Truly scary. What? Truly scary. And I'm like yourself, I went into it going, there's no way this is going to be scary. I love the original movie and I'm happy to go to this. But of course, how could something on stage really bring fear? And I promise you, I mean, I don't mind giving some of it away. I will just say that it's one of, in a very, to your point, very early on in the play,

the house alarm goes off. So the stage is, it's the house. You're looking at two floors. You could see the kitchen and the living room. And the alarm goes off, weep, weep, weep, weep, weep, weep, and it's really loud. And it's that same feeling of like, what's going on? What's going on? This is, the volume of it, it does something to you, that alarm.

It actually just makes you like, oh, is there an intruder? Right. You're with them. You're with them. And also in the theater as a patron, it's very, it just, you know, sets you off balance. Where do you see this? It was in L.A. downtown. Not anymore.

Is it still playing? No, no. It was like a six-week run or something. I didn't miss that. But it'll pop up somewhere, I'm sure. I hope so. But it was truly scary. But you like horror movies.

Oh, I love horror movies. What's your favorite? It's hard. Top five. No, that's so easy. Oh, good. The strangers is my favorite. So good.

Same kind of thing. Terrific. Because it could happen to any of us. And that was, you know, as I read interviews and stuff, it was very much about the sort of, you know, that it could happen to any of us. Yeah. Because you were home. You're a home. Texas chainsaw mask for the original.

Oh. Probably the most visceral, scary, raw movie I've ever seen. Yeah, that was like a new. that felt like a new beginning of something yeah well it started all of that right yeah that sort of what else i mean there's so many good movies i mean the shining of everybody goes back to but that's that's classic but it is truly scary exorcist three ah i don't know exorcist three let me tell you something did you love the first one of course watch the first one and the third one okay the second one william peter bladdy and william freakin had nothing to do with it right the first one freaking

and directed William Blattie wrote it. The third one, based on Blattie's book Legion, he wrote and directed, and it's with George C. Scott, I believe in infidelity, and I believe in you. I believe. There's two moments,

three moments in that movie that will scare the absolute shit of you. What year is it? I believe it's like 1990. Nobody saw it because part two was so terrible, but they had nothing to do with it. But if you watch, I promise. you if you don't like it have you had the opportunity to tell those filmmakers because i'm sure that i

feel like they'd appreciate it they'd be like i always talk about it i always talk about it i love that movie that's one of my favorites and i love fun horror movies like return of the living dead that's fun that's fun the dawn of the dead from romero 2008 or something later like in the 2000s yeah oh yeah that was good oh it's great gun wrote it that's the one and schneider directed it Yeah. That has an opening, not quite opening, but it has a sequence in it. The neighborhood. Yep. The neighborhood. And it filled me with like, I was so excited for how great that was because it just goes out and. It was a scope, right? It was like the overhead shots of the neighborhood and people eating people and cars crashing in the things. And I can't get enough

of that kind of thing. That was epic. I love that you love horror. I have a horror movie group. every Tuesday night and we watch we try to watch everything hereditary i'll always love i mean that that whole you know that whole i guess that's almost it's a new category of horror movie but i i love the stabbing yeah just i i i love it yeah i love it too i you know what it is people say why do you like horror and i'm like for me it's adrenaline it's when you're really scared it's like a roller coaster ride there's nothing like it and it makes me feel like If I'm paying money for something, it really delivers. Like, I like the act of, I want something in my life.

Here's money. Will you create this for me? I don't know how to create horror. So the fact that someone can make something like that, at the end of Hereditary, there is a satanic ritual. They're upstairs. And that's what I want to see in a movie. I want to see a satanic ritual. Make something for me to be excited about.

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Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com slash inside. That's BetterHelp, H-E-L-P. BetterH-E-L-P dot com slash inside. I love that you love horror. Yeah, I've always loved that my mother introduced me to it when I was eight years old. She rented, make them die slowly in motel hell. And I watched them and I was like, what the hell's going on? And my mother and I would watch, that was our thing.

We would watch horror movies together. So what was her angle for you? Was she like, I want to bring you into this world that I love? Or was she trying to connect with you? What was it? I think maybe she was trying to connect, kind of a weird way to connect with your eight-year-old son. Let's watch really terrifying movies together. She must have known that you would be into it, though.

She knew. Because it might be less that she introduced you to it and more also that she could tell, oh, he's going to get into this. Maybe, yeah. I was kind of about that. I was, I guess, more like her than I was my dad. I was a bit eccentric. And, I mean, what did your mom introduce you to?

The Beatles. The Beatles. I was just in Liverpool. And let me tell you something, as much as I love the Beatles, I love them even more now after being in Liverpool. Doesn't it give you a whole other way into them? Yes. And the documentary.

Which one? The eight-hour one. I watched every second of it. I didn't want it to end. Didn't want it to end. Give me more. Felt like I was with the Beatles. Yep.

I was just hanging out with the Beatles. When George Harrison says, I think I'm going to quit the band now. And that's real. You're like, holy shit. And Ringo, how cool was Ringo Starr? How cool is Ringo that he's like, I'm the drummer?

That's my job. You got to respect that. Oh, man. Coming from a drummer. Yeah. You're a drummer. I'm a drummer because of Ringo. Really?

Oh, absolutely. When my mom introduced me to the Beatles, I was a kid and I heard I am the walrus. And that's when I, that opening fill, I knew I wanted to be a drummer. I'm still in that moment, meaning that first hearing those drums, I am still in the trajectory of whatever that was. That inspiring. That inspiring. It was like a, that was like, you know, a launching pad. Did you ever meet a beetle?

Oh, yeah. You've met them from S&L. Yep. I met Paul and Matt Ringo. What was that like? Were you starstruck? Starstruck? And then in the way that you saw Liverpool, I became more of a fan because as people, it turns out they're really fun and engaging and present and British.

Yeah. And musicians and still into music. Yeah. Like to talk with them about music is the best. And they're funny and they're into comedy. It's the, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, you're you know, give me a call. It was like, there's always a kind of, uh, telepathic, like, let's not go in, you know, like, let's let this be. Let's have our moment. Let's have our moment. And, uh, because their whole lives must be,

everyone being like, can I be in your life. And I don't want to be, you know, I don't want to add to it. And that said, it just turns out I've gotten to see them at other events at Ringo's birthday every year. He invites you? Yeah. You play? I played. I did an impression of him for him at the last one. Was that nerve-wracking?

No, it was fun. It's a very joke. It's like the atmosphere is. It's an impression of Ringo's star. Well, there's a style that he has on the drums. Oh, yeah. There's like a feel that he has. It's like a signature.

It's like you can really hear him. And so it was great. It was, you know, it was a party. So the feeling is already light. Yeah. Do you like parties? Do you like going to these big events with lots of people? Do you, because you're not, would you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert or kind of combination?

I don't see an introvert. Yeah. But if I'm doing a show, if I get to do stand up, I love it. But when it comes to, it's not that I'm, I don't want to be around people. It's that I love going home. I love just like, hey, it's 10 o'clock. I'm good. 9.30 for me.

Yeah, I love it. I love going home. But oddly, if there's like a music thing, if there's like a Ringo event, that's a different story. Or an S&L event. If there's something celebrating, whatever, 50 years of S&L, I'm not leaving. By the way, that 50 year, you were supposed to drum just be the drummer for Devo. And didn't you end up drumming for everybody? For also for the B-52s.

Was that hard to learn all that stuff? No, because I've been playing Devo drums and B-52's drums since I was like, what, 14 or something? So you weren't nervous at all? I know how to do this. Not nervous about not knowing the parts, but I guess like there's a thing of like I want to deliver. I want to be good at this Devo song. I want to be good at this B-52 song and that the cues are all right. that I'm not enjoying it too much.

I try not to think, oh, this is fun. I try to think this band has existed for all these decades. All I could do is do it right. And you take it seriously. I take it seriously. Like, you don't go in there and go, I'm going to have some fun. No, no. It's like, I'm going in there and I'm not missing a beat.

Yeah. Also, because it's televised, so I don't want to be the, you know. And also because, like, I have nothing to do with how they came together as bands. So for me to add my little, you know, version of it is like it's not the drum solo. Yeah, it's not in the job description. Did they ask you if you wanted a drum solo? Nope, did not come up, which is like why I love those bands because they're not about that. What's your favorite band besides the Beatles?

Slater Kinney, the Clash, the Damned, craftwork. Did you ever get into Moracy or The Cure or Psychedelic First? I love all of them. Yeah, I've seen the psychedelic first. They're great. Fantastic and the Smiths and Morrissey and the Cure. Yeah, all of those bands. I love very much.

Were you cool in high school? I was into punk and in my book, I thought I was cool. Like when I look back at pictures of myself as a punk, I think, yeah, that's pretty cool. See, I don't look at myself as cool. I go, wow, you didn't know who you were. You didn't know where you fit in. I bet you did. No, no, I was not popular.

I was one of the least popular kids in my school. I'm not saying that I was popular. But you fit in. You found a place to fit. I found my friends. See, I didn't find that. Where did you grow up? Oh, really?

Evansville, Indiana. And what was the city you gravitated towards? You know, it was always nice to go to Nashville or Cincinnati or St. Louis. But I was born in New York. So I was always a Mets fan. Okay. Die hard. Didn't you grow up in Flushing or Valley Stream?

Yeah, Long Island. I was born in Oceanside. Oh, so you're a Long Island guy. Right. So I, but I only live there for eight years, but I'm a diehard Mets fan. Did you like sports? No. I didn't. Well, be frank. But, you know, I liked, I liked the sort of the color scheme of the Yankees.

But I was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Then moved to New York. Yeah. But I liked being in Long Island. You know, I had a nice time there. Yeah, do you remember Island Park? Island Park. Island Park had all the bars there and sprats on the water.

Sprats, I know that name. Yeah, and the, in Oceanside, the Nathan's. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Is Nathan still going? I don't know. I hope so. I love Nathan's.

I think it's a chain that's like a local chain. It's there in and out burger. Yeah, it is. Do you like Nathan's hot dogs? Yeah. Yeah, I do too. Yeah. They're easy.

They're easy. Sourcrow and mustard? Sourcrow and mustard and that's it. That's what I do. Simple. Simple and that's like those are the right ones. I was talking to Al, our good friend Al, golf. And obviously you're great on Wednesday.

Oh, thanks. You really are. It's such a great role. Do you shave your head? Yep. So you shave your head too. I was just asking you about this before we turned on the microphone. Right.

because I was looking at your statues reaction thing. This guy made those, yeah. And it seems to me like you shaved it. And it's just, it seems like it's, I had no choice. They said you're selling. For seven years to wear, I already have a big head. So if you're going to put that bald cap on, it's going to make it bigger.

It's irritate your skin. Just shave it. It's the worst having a bald cap on. Yeah, it's uncomfortable. It's uncomfortable. And, you know, they have to upkeep it throughout. the day and they're sort of poking and painting it and it's just not worth it. It's just not worth all that time. And then this other thing happens where if you wear a bald cap all day long,

people go, that's, that looks great. That looks great. And it's almost like everyone's trying to convince themselves that it looks real. Whoa. And then I also find when I've worn bald caps that I have posture that protects the bald cap. So I try not to rip it. So I'm very stiff. Yeah. But if you just shave your head, your day is you're ready. Then you're all right.

So you didn't mind the first time. That wasn't the first time you shaved your head, was it? As a punk, I shaved the sides of my head. I had a mohawk. Do you have a picture of that? Oh, yeah. I've got a bunch. And when I was in a band in Chicago,

there were some times where, you know, the four of us would make a decision, like, we're all going to dye our hair, we're going to bleach our hair. And then I think we went through one period where we shaved our heads, yeah. I always wanted a Mohawk. I had a foahawk once, but I always wanted a Mohawk. I think I'm too old for a Mohawk now. Oh, I don't know. I think he's never too late. Fifty-four years old with a mohawk. Go crazy. Yeah, because if you see an old person as a hippie, right like it's always fine i'm like yeah they're they're from another time why not right and so i think to wear the punk rock flag why not inside of you is brought to you by blue chew you see this little package right here with my blue chew in it i've tried it you're not just talking about someone who's

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the podcast so al was saying that you have so many great stories you'll have dinners and you will just start telling these stories and everybody's just captivated by your stories and one in particular is when you introduced yourself to prince i i guess i would say there's a couple of meetings that i had with him right and there was one time where he had his own party after SNL, and I went to his party, and he was sitting alone at a table, not in a sad way, and in a way of like he just wanted to eat a little something, he was eating macaroni and cheese, and I sat with them nervously saying, I think you're the greatest. And in the way that, like, I wanted something back, you know, as we all do, you want a little...

You're funny. Yeah, yeah. Something. And I said, I think you're the greatest. And he said, you know what I think the greatest is? This macaroni and cheese. That was it? That was it. And sometimes... You know what I think the greatest is? And sometimes I, you know, in my ego back then, I thought, oh, he said something weird. But now that I'm older, I think maybe he was just trying to do a bit. You know, I feel like, I feel like, like, I've tried to make jokes like that with people. And it's a sort of way of like deflecting the compliment and just like, let's talk about something else. So I wish I had, you know, met him again. I had a chance to meet him again so that I could, I don't know. Hey, that macaroni joke you told me a couple years ago. That was pretty funny. And he'd be like, I don't even, I don't even know what you're talking about. I remember it. But then there was another time at the show, at SNL, when I said, hey, Prince. It was like before a rehearsal. And he turned

around. And I don't know why I put it this way. I said, sorry about my impression of you. And he's like, you're sorry. And then he smiled and gave me like a little rub on my arm. How sweet. Really sweet. That was kind of saying, it's good. Yeah. I appreciate it. Yeah. Or like, you know, yes. Have you ever offended someone? I don't think so. I try to do, you know, if I did an impression, I try to do it in a complimentary way. Yeah. And I remember two people who, it was like written, you know, in a very SNL way, were Tony Danza, who was really nice about it, and Gene Simmons, who was really nice about it.

He was over here yesterday. What? Gene Simmons, yeah. He is really good at, and I mean this for real, because I bumped into him once in a deli. And I think he's good at advice about showbiz advice. Without you ask it. I was talking to him about interviews. He was just like he is really good at like reality checks.

And it was really fun. And we've emailed each other and stuff. Gene Simmons. I mean, he's a legend. He's a legend. And I remember when Ace really died. Yeah. I think it's underestimated the amount.

don't, like, we all acknowledge that all the great bands, Led Zeppelin, and, you know, for me to go through all the list of everyone, the people that are in your head for, like, who influenced people to start bands, I think not enough is said about how much Gene Simmons and Ace Freely and Paul Stanley and Peter Chris really did get little kids to pick up instruments. Well, a lot of people thought that, you know, one of the questions, he got a little emotional when I talked about Ace. Like, how do you feel about him now? What would you say to Ace?

Because, you know, there was a lot of problems because of the drugs. And Gene didn't do drugs. And so he was upset about him. And he gave him this sort of brutal honesty about it. It's like, you're a father. You're this. You're this. You're fucking it all up.

You're doing this. And a lot of people would think, you know, you're being an asshole. You're doing this. And it was kind of this tough love. But you could tell he loved him. Of course he did. You know? Just from having been in bands.

It's hard like that, you know, It's hard. It's hard. Not that I was in a band as big as kiss, but like, I'm sure it was, you know, it's complicated. And I mean, so many years. I mean, even after a few years, you just start getting annoyed at how somebody chooses a restaurant. Yes. Or if someone's always late.

Someone's late. If someone, whatever it is, it's like, I understand. Or someone's always high. Or someone's boring. Yeah. I'm sure that gets on people like, oh, my God, I cannot be on a bus. with this person. God, so boring. Was there a moment growing up where you thought, you know, I might actually be funny. There's something there. Or did that come later? No, no, early on,

my dad was very entertained. I would do impressions of people on the street, on the block, people are neighbors. And he was amused in a way that I could tell I was really making him laugh. Is he still with us? Yep. He's proud of you. He is? Always has been. Always supported you? Always. Even when you said, I want to be an actor. I want to be a comedian. I think he just trusted that, you know, I'm sure that, like, he didn't think, or my parents didn't think it was the smartest choice. And they certainly weren't like, express yourself and do the arts. They weren't like that.

And I'm glad they weren't do the arts. God, who says that? Do the arts. They didn't get in the way of it, though. My dad was, I feel like he was like, you know, if that's what makes you happy, you know, knock yourself out. Unconditional love, would you say? Oh, yeah. How important is that?

For a sense of self-worth and yeah, it's just also just makes life easier. I think it's so important. And I'm also glad that they weren't sort of really pushing me to get into it even more. I like that they were a little reserved about it, just the right amount. I was with my girlfriend in Vegas a week ago. I were having dinner and I just kept looking at this family and their dynamic. I just was sort of enamored. The young daughter was like hitting her dad on the shoulder.

I was like, and they're just talking like their best friends. And we were leaving. I just had to say something. I just say, sorry to interrupt. I just think you're a family, obviously, right? Father, mother, you know, she's like, yeah. I go, I just love your dynamic.

I think it's beautiful. And I just want, and they were like, oh, they were so nice about it. But it just like, it touched me. Yeah. How important it is to listen to your kids or just treat them like a human being. Yeah. There was like a vibe going.

There was a vibe going that. Maybe for me I didn't feel it necessarily all the time growing up. And I just was like sort of, I just thought it was a sweet moment. And then afterwards I was like, was that a creepy thing to do? No, no, no, no, no. That was nice. I'm sure they appreciated it. You know, you started in music before comedy, right?

Yeah. What did being a drummer teach you about, did it teach you anything about timing, performance, or maybe even silence or anything like that? Everything. Everything. thing. Drumming is like the humility of drumming is that, first of all, you have to play with other musicians, otherwise it just sounds like drums.

So there is a sort of group, you want the group to sound good. And there's something about the drummer is usually in the back because of the size of the kit. So there's a sort of like you're in the back, but you're still being supportive that I think has everything to do with comedy. and I think just looking at audiences, like as whenever I went on tour or if I played with the Blue Main group, if I look at the audience and there is something to like

learning what, like, this is what people look like. This is what they want. This is, you know, this is what entertains them. So, so yeah, absolutely. Yeah.

It really did. Timing is an obvious thing too. And I think also just like the labor of loading in drums and setting them up and everything. People don't realize what a pain in the ass that is. It could take an hour or two hours, right? It's the biggest bummer because everything is heavy, hardware. Everybody else is set up. They plug in.

They're ready to go. Ready to go. Drums? No. Screwing shit in, making sure it sounds right. Yep. And there's like the sort of real estate of the stage. Oh, I don't really quite fit.

Can you guys move over? And so that stuff, it also, I think, was part of it. Yeah. Do you remember when you audition for S&L? Do you remember? Oh, yeah. Do you remember like it's yesterday? Oh, yeah.

It was like, at the time, it was like what they asked of you was, can you do three impressions and three characters in five minutes? Jesus. I practiced it over and over. I ended up doing two and two. two impressions and two characters. I don't know why. I didn't, I might have asked for permission. It was more that it felt right.

It felt the amount of time. It fit into that five minutes. And I went into, there's a couple auditions. First, ones at a comedy club at the UCB. And so that's one thing. And then they ask you to like, all right, can you come back to the studio to NBC? and I auditioned at the stage, you know, where they have the host does the monologue. And I remember I just was waiting with a bunch of people and they put me up on stage.

I had drums with me, my act, as it were, I had timbales. And the stage manager said something to the tune of Slate Your Name. But I couldn't tell if he said, don't slate your name. name or slate your name is in your head i was i couldn't hear it quite so i just slated my name just to for safety um and then i auditioned as a character auditioning so i could sneak in i never had to be on stage as myself like hey you know i i did this character fredicito and i did him auditioning did you think you nailed it i good laughs good laughs yep um The cheat I have is now, there was a documentary about the audition process.

And so I've rewatched my audition and I heard Tina Faye and Paula Powell laughing. So I wrote to them. I was like, thank you for doing that. Because they didn't know me. But I thought it went well. Well, for me was just like, did I say all my words right? Was I done in five minutes? And then, yeah, later on that night.

They called me. Who called you? Marcy Klein. Were you floored? I saved it in my phone as best call ever. Still there. Still there as best call ever. You haven't your phone?

If I pull it up right now. Wow. It was just the main... Pull it up. It was just the main NBC line. But so what? This is... Best call ever.

Still there. Oh, my God. He's got it. Best call it. What about the message? Where you picked up. I picked up. Oh, yeah.

You picked a good. This is... pre-texting time. Right. This is, this is 2002. So this was like phone call time. And I had the little as Nokia. Yeah, yeah, I would do.

Yep, picked up the phone and they said, all right, something like, you know, we're going to make this work or we'll see you soon. Yeah. Couldn't believe. And I didn't tell that many people because I didn't want to be, you know, I always like, let me do the show first and then I'll tell people. Right.

I didn't want to be like, check me out, you know. Yeah, you didn't know how much you'd be in, if you'd be in. No way. I had no idea. And every year I thought the same thing. Let me just see how this year goes. Let's little by little. Wow.

Yeah. And, you know, you've heard from so many people that S&L is such a pressure cooker, you know, and, you know, you hear about the stories and was it fun? No, it wasn't fun. It wasn't. But when I watch you singing with Kristen Wigg and working with Bill Hader. Yeah. I go, how could that not be fun?

Oh, it's the best. I can't believe it. I still can't believe it. As fun as can be. Really? Sandy Sandberg. I mean, now I'm just going to name the entire cast. But I mean, everyone, everyone there, it was the best.

And they were funny. And when they would do a sketch, like watching them at a table, it was like front row to the best. The best. So funny. I really, really loved it. I loved it. I had the best time. I mean, it wasn't easy.

It was not, I like that it wasn't easy. I like that, like, every week was a test. Yeah. And that's, it brings out the best in you. And it takes away any sort of patting yourself on the back. It takes away that, like, hey, you did it. It's more like, keep delivering. Keep delivering.

Yeah. Who made you, if you had all these people in a room, who's, has the best chance of breaking you. Bill Hader, for sure, in that, like, he actively, we tried to break each other. That's what your goal was? In a way, without acknowledging it. But I got to say,

Jason Siddakas always said something, and this is more like sort of just backstage or whatever, he always said something that made me laugh. There's something about him. There's just, I don't know, he always has, like, the right thing to say. And Tina Faye. to this day just always anything she says is like succinct and exactly right man what about you know

with christin wig on the news when you did this with what's a couple a garth and cat yes when you have when you start singing yeah was it always something you're making up oh we made it up as we went along and christian christin of course makes me laugh as evidence then in those pieces so you had no idea what you were going to sing no no purposefully no idea did they know at least it was going to be you that started it. Yes. So you knew that. We just knew what the theme was. Okay, this is about Thanksgiving. Okay, so we got to keep it Thanksgiving theme. I love Thanksgiving. Yeah, yeah. And she's just going along. Yeah. The shock on her face and yours with your eyes open is just, it's comedy gold. It really is. We loved it. I loved it. How many years you do it? 11. Do you miss it?

I'm not like I wish I could go back. You know, it's more like I loved it. And it was like, it's very much like going to college or something. Like something you love. And then I always get to go back anyway. So every year I get to do a couple sketches or something. And so, and I see everyone all the time. I see Lauren.

I saw Kristen recently and Bill and Maya. I get, you call them a lot, you talk to them? We just text each other. And then once in a while, we'll organize a dinner. Who usually organizes it? Oh. Who's the organizers? That's a good question.

I think Bill is kind of an organizer. John Mullaney's kind of an organizer. I'd say Amy is kind of, yeah. How come I'm never, I got to figure out a way that I want to. You're not the organizer. You're just like, sure. Yep. I'll go.

Yeah. But I should do a better job at organizing. You just go with the flow. And I think what, do you think a lot of why your comedy works is because the characters that you create are, essentially, they're a part of you. But they're like, you're so different than all these characters you play that you're just a regular guy. You seem like you could be any guy. And then when you do it, it's like, holy shit. I wish I knew.

I have no idea. You know, I try these characters out and just see what happens. Do you ever bomb? Oh, yeah. What's the biggest bomb you've ever done? I remember I used to open up for Jeff Tweedy from Woco. And this is before I was in SNL. And it wasn't even bombing.

People were so indifferent and confused that it was just dead silent. And people had a look of confusion on their face of why is this guy doing this? But I kind of like never cared about that. You never cared about like bombing or failing? or anything. No, no. That's the biggest thing to get over. Who cares?

You know, and it's like, it's just a night. What if I'm up there for five minutes and it's not great? Then there's another comedian on after. And also, nothing, when I was doing stand-up, nothing I ever did was, like, really funny. It wasn't, I wasn't like, I don't have jokes. I don't have, like, you know, there's none. It's like these weird little things that it's okay if there's silence.

It's almost like laziness. I've designed it so that even now when I do stand-up, it's not like it's the most hilarious, like, you know, people are freaking out. It's just kind of, it's a specific type of entertainment. I don't even know what to call it. But you don't get bothered by the silence. No.

You know, nothing rattles you at this point. No, I don't care. Because it is a little bit like everyone also wants to go home. So the night... Then, you know, I'm like, this night could be whatever you want it to be. And you can enjoy this or not, but 10.30, let's all start heading home. When you bomb, if you're just, I'm getting out of here. I'm not sticking around.

Yeah. But bombing is like... It's part of it. It's part of it. And it's still weirdly fun. And I still like, I get to like do those jokes or whatever they are. And then someone will get something out of it. But...

They've ever been surprised by like, That was really funny. Why are they not laughing? I don't understand this. No, it never really surprises me. Because I don't think it's, I'm not, I'm not being self-deprecating. I'm just saying that I don't walk around thinking like, I've got the, you know, I'm the guy. You've never thought that.

You know, like, these are brilliant, hilarious. Watch this guy. Yeah, yeah. Like, I'm not physical enough to, you know, command that, like, this is going to, these, I don't know what the category. is it's like i'm funny enough and they're they're like you know some people would say you're incredibly most people would say you're incredibly funny that's very nice and that's you love to hear that it's better than you suck it's great inside of you is brought to you by patreon that yeah you know ryan i'm talking about patreon this is uh this is a place where people can congregate online and talk about episodes

talk about life people have made friends uh there's so many perks and most of you're so many perks and Most importantly, you've certainly helped this podcast. And I know a lot of people have come up to me about, you know, their health, their mental health and how I open up about that stuff and talk to guests. And it really blows me away. But it's such a wonderful community. And you guys have really helped me. And if you're out there and you're listening and you like the podcast and you want to support

us, patreon.com slash inside of you. There's so many perks. And I always look at it like, you know, people pay streamers for a lot of entertainment. Well, you got our regular YouTube channel for the episode. You got our clips channel. You got the Patreon. You got so much fun. You can be on the show.

You can get boxes for me every couple of months. You can ask questions to guests and much, much more. And I really appreciate your help and support of the podcast. So patreon.com slash inside of you. If you want to support and give back to patron, we really appreciate you. Thanks. Portlandia. Where did that idea come from?

I used to visit Portland and my best friend is there. Barry Brownstein. Yeah, your creative partner, right? Yep. And who was it or is in my favorite band. And we just started working together in Portland and started making videos in lieu of making music. So instead of being like, hey, let's form a band. We thought let's make videos. And it worked out. We just kept going. We still make stuff all the time. And we still get to hang out. But yeah, It just came from partly from being in Portland, but also just like in general,

just observations of the things, you know, the idea that people are like, I want to do my best. You know, when it comes to like recycling. Yeah. Yeah.

I'm going to be the, you know, I want to help. So it's that, that's about that. Do you always have this feeling like it can't, you can't go too long without getting back on stage or like,

like oh yeah you love it i love it i love going on tour and i hate not being on tour and you know for good reason because i've been working i haven't been able to tour in the last couple months but man i love it you have to love it oh yeah it's great you get to go to all these cities and and to cities that i'd never been to before you know or cities that like you know multiple times for a place that i'm like wow now i've been to knoxville a couple times and now And now I know it. Now I know it. You know, now I know it a little better.

It's a great city. Yeah. But I like that. I like knowing what the theater is there and what, you know, what the museums or the main streets or whatever. Like, I like that. Who is your favorite comedian growing up or comedians or whoever? I always liked everyone on SNL, everyone on SCTV. Mm-hmm.

You know, I really loved Rick Moranis. I loved Mike Myers. I mean, he. He was a real, and I was already in my 20s, but Mike Myers was like, definitely, like, he was someone who I thought is trying to communicate with me directly. Wow. It was like that. Like, when I saw Sprockets, actually, before I even saw Sprockets, when I heard, someone was

describing it to me, I was like, you know, in a crazy way, like, I think this person is trying to, you know, communicate with me. You know what? I've got that. Growing up, there was certain people, I'm like, that's, that's my lane. That's, yes, that's for me. Yeah. Who was that for you?

I remember just Jim Carrey seeing that because I was so outlandish and did physical comedy and impressions and things like that my whole life. And I was just like, this guy, that's who I want to be. I didn't become that, but that's who, in a way that inspired me. Yeah, it's like a beacon of some kind. Yeah. It just was like, oh, my God. And so I would do impressions of him.

And I remember people giving me money at like a, on Halloween at a party. I dressed like Fire Marshal Bill. And I would do just perfect Fire Marshal Bill. And I made like $35. Yeah. And that was a lot of money for me then. Just doing an impression of somebody.

And so he helped me in a way. Yeah. You know? Did you do impressions? No, just people on, you know, neighbors and stuff. So neighbors. So the things, the characters that you came up with, is that through observation, insecurity, curiosity?

No, it's more like, it's like something occurs to me. So, you know, it's like over time, I'll think, oh, that's a type of person, you know, this, whatever that person is. And then, oh, I wonder if I have like an impression, kind of. And then it just sort of starts happening. You're Venezuelan, right? Yeah, my mom's Venezuelan. So when did you learn the language? Spanish, yeah.

I mean, from early age. Oh, yeah. Your mom insisted. Yeah. And a lot of your comedy comes from that sort of. culture. Yeah, or more that a foreign language, like other sounds, like sounds of other countries, sounds of other languages. Is there a vast difference from one country in South America to another? I mean, vast differences. Oh, yeah. Like a Venezuelan to a Colombian. It would be like saying

New York to Los Angeles. Like when you have that discussion. Oh, yeah. And all of the countries completely different. Because everybody thinks South America, oh, they all probably speak to say then no no culturally food i mean everything everything and then accents it's really different and also that continent is gigantic gigantic so and uh not as densely populated so there's a real separation yeah um but yeah huge differences did you ever go through anxiety or depression or anything like that the only sort of uh uh down time that i had was when my when I was in a band in the 90s, and the realization that we weren't as big as I wanted us to be.

And I really had invested a lot of time into it and touring. And in my head, in my map in my head, I was like, we're going to be as big as the red hot chili peppers. You thought that. Yep. That's what you have to think. Yeah. I'm like, we're going to do it.

And we're going to like, you know, we're going to keep touring and it's going to work. And, you know, I had a great time and that part of it. And I got to drum a lot. But there was a sort of moment of like I was 32 or something already, a 31 or something where I felt like, uh-oh, what now? I've put all the time into it. The band was breaking up. Now what?

I'm not even well-known enough as a drummer to be like, hey, I'm available for drumming. Like I, so there was a, it was, uh, sad or more scary. Yeah. Like, what am I going to do next? There's no sign of like, well, you know, there's an alternative, there's an, you know, another option. It was very like, what do I do? Uncertainty.

Uncertainty at an age where I felt like this is not the time to be uncertain. Right. So that would be the time where I, you know, luckily shifted. careers. I didn't even think of it that way. But where I shifted into comedy that saved me. Did the band think you were funny? Oh, yeah. But they were all funny. They were all funny. You still keep in touch?

Yep. And they're all funny. You know, it was just the four of us in the van. And we, oh, man, they made us each other laugh. We all made each other laugh. I mean, for hours and hours. Stupid humor, sophomoric. Sometimes. Conceptual, weird, nonsensical. Existential. There's one joke that we did in the van that the singer Damon did that I ended up using on Portlandia.

And out of nowhere, Damon the singer said, you know, I'm just a little guy. He's not. He's, you know, my height and everything. But he didn't mean, like, really short. He meant like some people are just like a little smaller. And he's like, I'm a little guy. He goes, you know, I have like little features. My hands are kind of small.

I'm like one of those little guys. And we used it in Portlandia where I just walk around going, hey, I'm a little guy. Did you ask him about it? Oh, I told him, you know, like he loved it. He loved it. Using your idea. Oh, yeah. Yeah.

A little guy. I'm going to start saying that around. You know, I'm just a little guy. Yeah. I'm a little guy. I thought you were meaning like inside. No, no. It's like, I'm a little guy.

Little hands, you know, one of those guys. And that's fine. Yeah. That's just who I am. Yeah. It's nothing to be sad about. No. Uncle Fester, how do you like your time on that show?

Is it something completely different than you've ever done? Completely different. It feels like all the things I wished for. Because like, first of all, when they cast me, I thought, and this is a rare thing, I really tried to go through life without ego. And I thought they got the right guy. I was like, they picked the right person to be Uncle Fester. It made perfect sense to me.

And I don't know how to put this. I guess, but I'll just, I just remember watching Game of Thrones. And I really, I thought like, what's it like to be on like, you know, a big thing? Like an actual, like, hit. Real, you know, substantial, no question about it, that this is a big show. Not that that's what I value in the show Wednesday, but it's something that was a curiosity to me. Like, what is that?

What must that be like? And then to get to do that. But I love it. Tim Burton and Alan Miles are the best. They are. We go to dinner sometimes, and it could be because I think we're the same age. We're around the same age.

But we have this real, we just start talking a lot. It's easy. It's easy and I think we come from some of the same experiences. Yeah. So it's great. The whole thing is the best. Jenna Ortega's amazing. Most of my scenes are with her.

A lot of them are just me and her. And Tim Burton is the whole thing is like... One camera. That's all he uses. Yeah, that's it. He shoots it like a movie. Yep. And it moves along pretty quickly.

And every shot is beautiful. Always. And every set looks like Tim Burton. Look up there. He signed that for me. Al got it for me. He did? Edward Cisorhands. Yeah. Can you believe that guy's work? I mean... I can't believe it. Have you ever thought of that? You don't ask for autographs, do you? No, I guess I don't. I mean, it's Tim Burton. You're working with Tim Burton. Why don't you bring in your...

I know, I know. Why not? What does it mean? You think he's going to care? I'll be like, cool. Yeah, but isn't the autograph that we've, you know, that he said action and then I did something? It just feels like... It is, but it's a memory. Look, you know, yeah, that's true. I don't have any, I don't have any pictures. Didn't you meet your wife on Wednesday? No, we've known each other for 10 years. You knew each other before.

You met in Romania? We met like 10 years ago. We were in the comedy circles in Los Angeles, but it was in Romania that we became romantically involved. Was it just sort of like just happened? And you were like, wow. Yeah, it made sense, but it didn't just happen. And like she sent me this message that was really pretty great.

And this was early like we hadn't done anything. Right. But she was like, you know, I can't tell if, you know, like we have something going or if this is my boyfriend, meaning me. And it was really great. I was like, oh, that really works. Like, just the idea of it of being so blunt. That's so cool. Really, really cool.

Did you respond? How about boyfriend? It felt that way. and then she was about to have a baby via surrogate. So she was like, you know, she had been telling me that, you know, I have this surrogate about to have a baby and I'm going to be a mom. So she was going to be a single mom. And then I thought great.

Sure. No fear in the world. Just feels right. It felt right. When something feels right, you just don't think about fear. You don't feel about anything when it just feels right. It's something you want to do. Nothing else matters.

I think it's also an age thing where in my 50s, I kind of don't have time to be like, be like cautious and like I don't know if now. It's like what may as well? Sometimes I wish I was more like that. Just like, you know what? I think I am. I think the older you get, the more you realize you don't have time for bullshit. Yeah.

And overthinking things. Who makes you happy? Yeah. Who do you want to be around? or this seems interesting so great yeah uh you're leading a brand new cnn docu series diving into the massive archives of universally music group yeah how did that happen you know explore music history and recordings yeah and and archives and tapes oh and they um they uh pitched it to me they just asked me to host it and i was like absolutely when does that air i shoot tomorrow um

And then it's one of these things that like I'm so into and I'm so nerdy about it that I'm like, how are my hope is that I'm like, are people, this is a for a very specific group of people. But every time I tell people about it, like music fans, they're into it. So maybe something's going to, something will work. It's an education on all this stuff on music and rare recordings and things, right? It's the best. And I, I knew. I'd love it, but I didn't realize how much.

Like, one of the things we did was we listened to wax. So there's, you know, records from like the 40s. There's tape from the 50s. Then, you know, records go, you know, with gramophones and stuff. It starts going to the 20s. I listened to a wax cylinder. This was before records. We used to be these wax cylinders that they'd record from the late 1800s.

So to hear musicians from the late 1800s is mind-blowing. Mind-blowing. I have no idea what it sounds like. I mean, I'm sure I've heard something. It was like New Orleans kind of horns because it's the only thing that will cut through. Because they record onto these like, you know, the gramophone, like those horns, they record into those. And it just makes an impression on the wax cylinder.

How cool is that? What's the best? And then they figured out they can make more of these things if they flatten it and they can ship them. So that's where we got records. So you're loving this whole journey. I'm loving it. And that will air sometime this year. You know, something.

Yeah. Something. I don't know how that all that. What have you done or you've not done yet that you really want to do? Is there a role? Is there someone you want to work with? Is there a project? You're probably coming up with many projects on your own that you're thinking of producing

and being in. I wish I could do something in a foreign movie that isn't like a gimmick that I'm in it. Right. Something where I'm embedded in a movie from Finland or Chile or something where if you look really close, you're like,

I think that's Fred. You could totally do that. You transform. Do you disappear in the stuff? You could easily do it. let's make it happen I'm like like really buried as like a pharmacist in a foreign language how many languages do you speak

I mean pretty much Spanish a little German Spechensse if as Dutch can you listen and write A bit bit I'm like you Dine Fasa or your mother is No I did a movie I don't know a lot but I know

I know I lived on Prince Regenstrasse and Troguesstrasse Oh man How lucky. Our driver for the movie, I just would ask him, how do I say this? How do I say that? I like you.

I'm like you. Yeah, yeah. Yibed dish. You know, Kopf, Mahz, Mahz, chatt your mouth, algin, nase. I know, I know some things, but like I don't know what. You probably know a lot. I know how to say I shit my pants in German. What is it?

I'm having de chosen gammach. But I could see you playing a good character. Like, you should try to do that because they probably never think of, like, you know, having this foreign movie and we'll cast some Americans as... It's probably not that cheap for them either, you know, they just have the, you know, the local actors. But you'll win an Oscar. You'll do something and you'll win an Oscar for it. What is your connection to acting? Do you take it seriously?

Do you work at it? or does it all come naturally? I studied in college and I did a lot of plays and I did off Broadway and then I, so I was doing a lot of plays. I think instincts are huge. I think I always had good instincts. Like I always something innately in me wanted things to come out real, to say things real. If you're going to memorize them, say them, know them a million ways. And when you're having a conversation, you just wanted to sound as real as possible.

So I always fought for that. I always tried to, even if it was a bad project, I wanted to be believable. So, and I work at it. I definitely, if there's a part, I pour my heart into it. You know, I like to play a character like Lex, Luther. You know, the writing was there. But I was a complete goofball. Nobody could believe I was wearing these suits.

And I was playing this articulate genius. I didn't even believe it. I had to really, really keep doing it and work at it. So I bought it because I was still, there was a lot of fear in that first season or two of just like, are they buying it? Do they like me? Am I good? And I just said, I'm just going to be real. I'm just going to know my lines inside out.

I'm going to listen. I'm going to be present. I'm going to do my job. And it paid off. And I got a lot, I think, from your life is the more you've lived, I think, the better. actor you are experiences so i feel like the relationship with my father on that show was was difficult and i think the relationship with my father has been sometimes difficult and when my father got really angry i didn't want to be around his he had a powerful voice and and you know he would come sometimes

and i would channel that so when i had to lose my shit it was easy for me it is easy for me to lose my shit. Not in real life. No, no, I hear you saying. But I can tap into that. I don't, I, that, I'm fearless when it comes to that. If I have to be, lose my shit. Wow. If I have to be out of control, that's not that hard for me.

You know, I might have to get into it after. Do you raise your voice when that happens? Sure. Sure. It just depends. I like to. And it's not like, oh, can we go again? It's like, no, keep the camera here. Let me say that again. Just stand in that, yeah, just give me that line again. And I can just, and I'm in it.

I'm fucking in it until they say cut and then I'm, then I can just laugh and fart and do whatever. That's just me. I don't stay in it. I can't stay in it. Yeah, yeah. How do you do it? I think in the last 10 years is when I've like worked also worked hard at it.

And now I work really hard at it. Because I dated someone. one and maybe 10 years ago, 15, 10 years ago or something, we went to a movie. It was like an indie movie and she was like, is anyone going to do any acting in this movie? Meaning everyone was playing it cool. Right. And it really affected me. I was like, I don't ever want to be, I don't want it to be just charm or like, hey, I'm here. So ever since then, I, everything I do, I'm like, I'm really going to work at this and think about it. And like, like you said, I try to be convincing.

I remember one time on Portlandia, Jeff Goldblum, he was a guest a lot. And one day he said, I love acting. And that also made an impression on me of like, oh yeah,

I forgot about thinking positively and embracing acting. Instead of being like, I don't know, we'll see how this turns out. Like to say, I love acting. Like, that got me.

Like, you know, him being honest about it. Yeah. But to your point about when you were talking about anger, there's this scene in the mosquito coast with Harrison Ford. Oh, I love that movie. It's been a while, but I love the mosquito coast. Yeah. And Harrison Ford, I think everyone's talking about leaving. They're all going to leave this, whatever, his farm or whatever. And he goes, I don't know the exact words. He goes, you want to leave? Fine. But don't come back. Ever. And he yells the word ever in such a like angry it's like yelling but also contained i know what you're talking about ever nuance but just in that moment it meant everything meant everything and you he's like he's like mad he's mad but it isn't

screaming out into the trees he's still like it's almost like yelling at someone's face like shooting for like your nose like i'm just going to yell right ever and it was you never forgot it. Never forgot it. I haven't seen it since then. There's a scene in, believe it or not, The Exorcist 3, George C. Scott. He lost his friend recently in a couple of scenes before, and he's talking about this one guy is going, well, it's not in the files that the Gemini Killer had this. It's not in the files. What are you talking about? And he's just like, he's annoying. He's being annoying and he's being a little aggressive. And George C. Scott is kind of keeping his composure. You know, and he goes, it's, you know, why is this fight? He just

not in the files. Excuse me. Excuse me. And then he gets his shit back together. That moment, he gets angry and emotional in like that. Completely believable. And he apologizes. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. Yeah. People don't write that in movies enough because people always go, I'm sorry. Yeah. You got to put some. Put some chutzpahs. And some apologies after. Jesus.

That was excellent. You're going to watch it now, aren't you? I'm going to remind you to watch that. All right. This is shit talking with Fred Armisen. This is from my patrons on patreon.com slash inside you. Thank you for supporting the show. Rapid Fire.

Gen T. What inspires you? A new artist. So they're like the comedian Chris Fleming inspires me because I'm like, ah, people are making new things and have a new way of doing things. That's inspiring. Makes me want to keep going. And there's a French-Canadian band called Angine de Portrine.

Do you know this? No. When you see it, you think music, you think you know it all, like we've seen it all in music and, oh, well, this is. And then a band will come along and go, how we'll have a new way of doing it. that would just change your perception. I never would have thought of it. And they did. And I'm so happy.

All right. I'm going to check it out. It's inspiring. It's inspiring that like music can continue. Bands can continue to be innovative. Jessica B. Would your younger self be surprised by who you are now? Yeah, but I think my younger self would go, oh, good.

I'm glad it worked out this way. This is what we were hoping for. We mean like younger me and me, me. always had this sort of in my views of like, oh, maybe some time. Elizabeth R. Was it intimidating to play Fester? Did you ask any pointers when you met Christopher Lloyd about the role of Fester? Oh, was it intimidating?

No, it wasn't intimidating because it's somewhat comedic. And he sort of giggles. And there's a, because of the jokes, there's like jokes written into it. It becomes not intimidating. It becomes like... Playful. Playful. There's comedy in it.

So it wasn't intimidating. Linda M. What always tends to make you smile? Sometimes my friends will text me something that is like not necessarily like hilarious. It's a big kind of funny because I could hear them in my mind. It makes me smile. You know, I try to do this with a couple of things. of friends where I just would text them something I was grateful for in the morning.

Oh, I like that. First thing, just say, hey, you know, I'm really grateful for, you called me after my dog passed. Thank you. Yeah. You know, things like that. That's like a smile. Yeah. It's a nice smile.

All right, so you got the CNN docu-series that you don't know when it's coming out, but look for that on music. You know what else makes me smile? What? Do I make you smile? You do. Oh, good. Thank you.

Whenever there's like a new room. at a sort of either like an airport lounge or like a new restaurant or like a new hotel there'll be some room where you could tell there's a backstage at the Egyptian theater. I know that, yeah, I was just there. So if there's a new room where you're like,

ooh, they put a new bathroom in here and like there's a new, and you could tell the wood hasn't barely, it has barely been touched. Right. And everything's kind of, that kind of makes me, like, oh, this is a nice place. Yeah. Like, it's, it's just brand new.

It's different. I'm going to experience something new. And they designed it for comfort. Like, ooh, couch? Yeah. You've really done it. And like the drinks they have, they're like, they're in tune with what people are having now. So they'll be like, whatever.

Have you ever been a drinker? No, no. I really was thinking of like a Tokochiko or something. What about marijuana? No. Never. So you don't do anything. No, no drugs.

No. Good for you. I never got into it. all. You could have. It's not a moral thing. It's more like... Just never did. It didn't appeal to me. Yeah. Anything you want to promote that's coming up? I know you got a new season of Fester you're filming. Yeah. It's all... Not Fester, but Wednesday. You know, it would be great. A spin-off. Hey. A spin-off of Fester. That would be dope.

That would be dope. Yeah. You would do it probably, wouldn't you? Hell yeah. This has been great. Yeah. Maybe you'll come back someday. Anytime. Oh, I love you too. All right. Keep doing your thing. Thank you. All right. Look at I saying. Guy's a genius. Guy's a genius. Fred, will you come back? Will you?

I hope so. You're amazing. He came back and I want to thank Al Goff. Because Al and Miles, they asked him if you wanted to do the podcast. He said, sure. And he did it the next week. Yeah. Within a few days.

So Al Goff, I love you. Thank you. It was very quick. It was a treat. Now, if you can get the rest of the cast of Wednesday. Yeah. That was awesome. Well, patron.

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I'll see you guys later.