Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist - Melissa McCarthy (May 2023)

Episode Date: November 19, 2023

On this week's episode, Willie sat down with the hilarious Melissa McCarthy. They took a ride around Central Park, talked about how she landed her dream role as Ursula in the new, highly anticipated, live-action version of "The Little Mermaid", and much, much more. (Original broadcast date May 28, 2023.) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hey guys, Willie Geist here with another episode of the Sunday Sit Down podcast. My thanks as always for clicking and listening along. I am so very excited to bring my conversation this week with the hilarious Melissa McCarthy. Melissa and I got together at Tavern on the Green on Central Park in New York City. I'm not going to give you a long wind up on Melissa McCarthy. You know her. You love her. She is funny in movies, but so naturally funny in a conversation, too, as you're about to be reminded.

We did go on a little petty cab ride. That is to say, the two of us around Central Park in the back, while a nice gentleman peddled us around, let's call it two miles, maybe 30 minutes of chat. You'll hear that coming up in just a bit. But first, our conversation about this movie, about her career, about what she's been up to, and about a lot of random stuff, because that's what happens when you sit down with Melissa McCarthy right now on the Sunday Sit Down podcast. It's so good to see you. Likewise.

Yeah. It's been amazing. It's been a minute. We seem younger and fresher. Speak for yourself. No, I was just waiting to hear it back. No, you look great. I was hitting you up. Thank you. You look great. I don't know what brought that up. Pandemic has had different impacts on the rest of us.

Yes. I'm just so excited that you're in The Little Mermaid. It's a little, it feels a bit of a fever dream, I have to say. It's just so, I don't know, it's the one, it is, it's the one movie. I was a nanny when I lived in New York, and it's the movie that, like, almost every single night for, like, it may be probably over a year and a half, we watched that before, like, I watched that with the kids.

So I'm like, it's the only movie maybe in the world that I've seen that many times. And I kind of claimed Ursula just as like, that's the gal. I always was like, I would like to have a drink with Ursula quite a bit. And now, to be able to play her, it seems kind of like, you know, maybe I'm just sleeping and I'll wake up and be,

Oh, that was a good dream. Well, I can tell you, when that trailer first came out, they're going through, and then Melissa McCarthy pops up as Ursula. I was like, oh, my God, that is brilliant. And it turns out it's a role you really, really wanted. Tell me about the process for you when you heard they were making the movie. Well, I thought, okay, first of all, I was like, I probably can't do that. I'm not a singer.

But I thought I love her so much. And just to even take it. I thought I would be so mad at myself that I would, it would be the talk in the car that you do when you're like, oh, you have to do this at least call. You could take the note, but if you don't ask, you never. And I was like, I will be doing that for the next 25 years of my life. If I said, I can get rejected. I get plenty of that. But I was like, I'm going to make a crazy swing for something that I've probably got no business doing. And then to work with Rob Marshall also was like, this is all going to be nuts.

But I think we just, when we met, we kind of, we really hit it off. And for some crazy reason, he was like, you know, we can make this happen. And then every part of the process was dreamy. Like living in the Rob Marshall world is literally just like, like, suddenly you're like on some little cloud where like everything's going to be fine. Everything's been beautifully. It's like you're really supported. You're just like, you get a little too comfortable because it's like when this ends, nothing else will kind of be like that. but for those months, you're just like, oh, this is lovely.

So for people who know the name Rob Marshall, but maybe you don't know what that, what does that mean exactly to have him running the show? Rob Marshall is like, it would be the silverback gorilla, but like in cashmere. Okay. It's like instead of like fur, it's just beautiful, beautiful cashmere, impeccable taste. Also, he started out as a. dancer so you have a performer. Also dancers lovingly are all crazy and their work ethic is like

nobody beats themselves up like dancers and they like so to have that mentality of someone who is a performer and and has that great eye and know what it is to be in front of, in front of a camera and for an audience and then to have that as your director and kind of your, you know, the captain of the ship and he's just his works like strangely impeccable. Only because he does such huge things. It's like, you know, you look at Chicago and you're taking on things that are known. But to be able also to be able to put a fresh new spin on something that we all think we know is really risky. And it's really hard to do.

It's really weird because that's like everybody kind of has ownership of that movie. Like, everyone knows it. And you're like, you can't change it. And then it's like, apparently you can. Well, that's what I was going to ask you. From the time you watch the movie every night for a year and a half, an entire generation has that movie in their head. And their kids have it, too, because they've watched it with their kids.

Oh, my gosh, yes. So what challenge does that present, or how did you come at it as Ursula, trying not to copy the one that was already there for people and create something new while being true to the story? Well, I knew it's like, I can't touch Pat Carroll. I mean, she's perfection, so it's like you just admire and, you know, bow to, and you're like, but if I'm thinking for now, I just kind of went in and I was like, if I didn't know the story, what would I think about Ursula?

And I was like, there's so much damage there and so much, especially through COVID, I was like, that's a gal who's isolated a lot. And I was like, well, that's his method as I ever want to be because I had a lot of, as we were all isolated. I was like, okay, we'll pretend that's good research for Ursula. But I kind of came at it from that way of like the humor is still there because it's so in the part of it. but also it was just like ostracized by her family. And I kept trying to just say, if I didn't know the original, how would I think of her? And it just made me love her in a different way. But I still was, I've always been crazy about her.

And I'm sure you found something sympathetic about her, right? She's kind of sinister in her way, but you understand to some extent why. I think totally. I think she was driven truly mad just because she was probably, you know, too wild, did wrong things in her youth. and then was just shunned. And now she lives with two eels. A couple of years of that, I think we'd all would go a little baddie. So I also thought she's always like just floating around her layer, like talking to herself.

Like I talked to Rob and John about it where I'm like, you know that she's just around the house of like, who said that? Oh, hi. Like looking in a reflection, but thinking it's her friend. Yes. So I kind of went down that wormhole with her. In your mind, maybe there was a friend. Yeah. And it was her.

my best old friend myself. Is it true that you were so excited about this that you offer, Rob, I'll work the catering truck. Yes, I often, by the way, I offer that quite a bit. Is that your move? That's usually my move. Don't tell anyone. I was truly like, I'm pretty good with organization.

I make a good hummus. I offered you to do craft service. I was like, I have limited sewing abilities, but I can hem pants. which is pretty, it's handy. I mean, a lot of people can't, and I can. And he was just like, please stop offering to do weird, weird things for me. I'm like, I'm not going to stop offering. And you make a mean chicken salad, which is probably...

I mean, I think meatloaf's really where I... Is that the go-to? If I'm going to be showy, it would be my meatloaf. I'm from Illinois. It's kind of a prerecredit. I couldn't leave the state until I made a really good one. Do you say I have Illinois roots, too, and that's the staple. That's it.

That's where you start at the meatloaf. from there. And it just circles back and then you end. It's the bookends of life. They're both shape like A. Blinken, but it's meatloafs in the form of the great state. So let's talk about the singing part of all this. You have sung, but it's not what you're known for, I think, fair to say. Was that nerve-wracking for you? Oh, my God, it was, I don't think nerve-wracking. I was like, what if I did? And then when I got it and I knew I was doing it, then it was like, what have you done? Like, what have you possibly done?

Because it just seemed so completely overwhelming. And I was like, uh, everyone's going to be like, yeah, I was waiting just every day. I was waiting for like, we gave our best shot, right? We tried. But I went and I did like my singing lessons every day. And Eric Petro is this unbelievable vocal coach. And he just, and I was so nervous that I also couldn't relax. enough to sing. And half of it was, I was like trying to sing, I don't know, I guess you went in thinking,

I have to sing, try to sing perfectly. And then it was really once, he's like, you can't, you're not going to do that. Right. And I was like, well, thanks. First of all, thanks, Eric. But he was right, and he's like, you have, and I was like, I don't know how to do things if it's not in character. And he's like, singing is the same thing. And then it made sense to me. I was like, I don't know how to do something in any area perfectly. But if I can do it in character. character. And then it became so fun and just the whole process of it. And then singing with an orchestra was insane. And again, Rob, I was back. We were in London. And I was back, like, down these little hallways in this little tiny, it looked like maybe a tiny supply closet with just

egg crates everywhere. And I was like, this is the glamorous world of recording. But, uh, and he's like, you have to come and sing in the room with the orchestra. And I thought, absolutely not. It's 200 incredible musicians. And he's like, you have to feel what it feels like to be in that room. And it really was, like, my whole body was just, like, vibrating with the instruments. And it was so, it was so incredibly fun. And I rehearsed for so long for just months to try to do the best I could. And then he's like, that's it.

We've recorded. You're done. And I literally, you're like, first out crying. And I was like, I want to keep going to singing class. And he's like, oh, no one calls it that. No one that knows calls it singing class. And I was like, well, fair enough. It's the beginner's class.

It's the beginner's class. But you got pretty good. I mean, Lynn Manuel Miranda, who composed and wrote some of the music, said, like, without giving too much away, the people who love the songs of this movie from 89 are going to be very happy with your performance. That's got to feel good. That feels nuts that he even, him and Alan Mankin, so they popped in very early. on in the rehearsal process and just seeing those two, it seems like already you're just getting

clammy in weird places. And they were like, so nice. By the way, they're both lovely. But they're like, do you want us to just pop in and like sit through a rehearsal? And before I could kind of form like a nice, like, oh, you're probably busy. I was like, no. No. I was like, my God.

I was like, that's the, I can't think of a worse thing. I was like, thank you. But I said no so fast because can you imagine the pressure of like those two? And they were just there to be like supportive and helpful. But I was like, get out. I was like, no, my God. I was like, I'm like flushed red. I have a little anxiety for you, just hearing you tell the story.

Yeah, you should. You should get a little tight in the chest. You should get very, you should go down. Oh, God. No, but they were so, yeah, it was kind of just working with like all these dreamy people and watching everybody kind of do what they do so incredibly well. And then to also have all these people do it and be so nice and supportive and never making any, you know, certainly never making me feel like, you know,

you can't really do this, but we're, it was really like we're building it together. And, you know, and then it's like I kept having weird crying fits because something's wrong with me. But like the first time Hallie even, like, I think Rob was like, can you just hum your part so we'll know what the fill is here. I think this was our first day. And she just kind of half sung, half hummed her, you know, the melody of her opening song. And literally like four of us just like burst out crying because I was like, I don't know. Like she has such a beautiful voice that you are just like, what is that about?

Like you can't believe how it like it sounds in person. and she just, I don't know, I think she's a remarkable young woman. Yeah, I was going to ask you about her. She seems like a revelation in this movie where people are going to go, whoa. Who is that? And where is she headed from here? Because it is not just like, well, she has a beautiful voice so she can do this part. She's doing something so, I think, incredibly difficult to do that she's playing this part that everyone knows.

Again, everyone seems to have ownership of. And she's completely made it her own. But even when she's completely vulnerable and, like, in distress, she's somehow doing it with all the strength of, like, kind of a modern young woman. And I think to make that switch at it, as opposed to, like, I need help. I'm delicate. It's like, I will carve my own way. And she's not doing it with the lines. It's just really, like, what is kind of inside of her as the lovely human that she is.

And you feel that. And I just thought, what an amazing thing. thing for everyone to see, but for, I mean, I think, you know, to have young kids, young girls, young boys, anybody see that and to be like, you can carve your own path in this world and you have to kind of listen to your own, what your own, you know, with those red flags or what that battle cry is telling you to do. And it's done in such a kind of loving but strong way that I don't think people are going to, they will not be anticipating that. And to step like you're doing, step into a known role where people are going to go, hmm, what are they doing with this movie to go, wow, you both deliver.

I mean, I certainly, I loved every minute of it. I have to say, it was just, it's just one that I'll, I think you always, I love all the things I get to do. It's like, I've been really fortunate that way, but this just kind of floated above so many things for so many reasons that because of the past I have with it, the size of, the size of, of it, the epicness, the singing that, you know, a 60-foot clam shell has never come my way before. And it probably, if it comes again, that'll be weird. But I'm ready for, yeah. I only play a, it's octopus or nothing. That's your future. It might be.

It might be. Well, this will be played later to be like, oh, they even talked about it. Yeah, that's what the turn has. That's too bad. That's difficult to see. They laughed, but they knew. He definitely knew. Will he knew? We had to cut away from him.

Hey, guys, thanks for listening to the Sunday Sit Down podcast. Stick around to hear more from Melissa McCarthy right after the break. Welcome back now more of my conversation with Melissa McCarthy. I also love how you brought some of your past comedic life to this through your Niswai drag character. and that you were inspired by drag queens like Divine and bringing some of that energy to Ursula. I think everything, I mean, I am a huge fan of drag. I always have been.

It's, I mean, there's been drag since forever. It's such fantastic entertainment, and there's a bravado to it and a self-deprecation to it that I think you can't have comedy without those things, and you just like to go see a great drag show was just watching people so masterfully be entertaining, be self. Like, they can make fun of you, make fun of themselves, and it's all okay because it's

really just all there to be entertaining. And like, my God, who doesn't, like, I always said about Ursula. I was like, that's the drag queen at the bar I want to have a drink with, with my whole heart. Like, there's just, she's such a great broad and like those flawed characters, like, and flawed people. I mean, that's the, it's like, you know, you can. can put all these seemingly perfect people together. And if Ursula was there and if a drag queen, a great character drag queen is there, it's like, who are you going to watch? Like the 14, like,

perfectly done people are like those two bookends. I would be like, I'll see you for one drink, I'll see you for another drink. Like, that's a good time. And so Ursula in that way is a big, confident character, but also with some vulnerabilities that we get to see. It's the perfect mix. It's the perfect mix of having full and utter confidence and also being, there's some damage there and that's a cover. I think so many people that are, you know, so outspoken and so kind of quick to be, you know, maybe play the fool. It's like, yes, it's funny. You're good at it. And also, you know, what are you kind of trying to quick step before somebody else can say it? And I think in all of the characters I kind of fall in love with. That quality of what's done because of real confidence

or what's done to cover is that's exactly the gray area that makes me usually take apart. That's so interesting. Now, as you're saying that, I'm thinking back through some of your most famous characters. It's kind of always there, isn't it? It's always there, because I think it's always there in people. I think everybody does it, even if it's the opposite of, if it's somebody gets really quiet or somebody gets too chatty or we all have our covers and our kind of suits of armor. And they're not real, but they are a part of us. So we kind of, we kind of adapt them. But I do love to watch and kind of figure out what someone's tell. It's just a weird. I'm a super creepy people watcher. No, you're right, though. You're absolutely

right. It's like once you kind of see it, you kind of, I look for it kind of in everyone. And I always, I'm always kind of delighted by it. Because when you see it, you're like, oh, yeah, that's so good. That's like the perfect, that's the perfect suit of armor or mask for that person. Like, it's, I don't know. It's why I kind of really, I can just watch people all day long. I just think they're fascinating. Well, it kind of makes sense now that I'm thinking about it. When you came to New York at 20 years old and you didn't quite know what you were doing, I don't think I'm insulting you. I think it's true. It's fairly, my parents would be like, at all, at all. But that you would get up on the stage, I think the first night you got to town.

Was it a second night? But the first full day, my friend was like, the first 24 hours. He's like, you should do stand-up tonight. And I was like, that's probably accurate. I should do that. And then I thought, and what better way to do it? I put on a huge wig, a silver lame jacket, silver sprach girl tights, and went up. And in my head, I truly was, I was like, oh, I think at that point, I didn't know I wanted to be an actress.

I didn't even think, even doing stand-up. I was like, I don't think I'm going to be a comedian. I was like, I literally am trying to be the first female, trying to be a male, trying to be a female drag queen, was kind of was my intention. I was like, that seems like a great career. And so just, it was like me and a bunch of dudes, and then me and my huge wig came out. And I was like, I miss why? They were like, what? But to me, it made so much sense because I was like, I can't, I can't be me.

I wouldn't know, I wouldn't know where to put my hands. I wouldn't know what to talk about, but I was like, I love that you could become this other person if you're fully behind, you know, it's like you're behind this curtain of another person that suddenly you're utterly confident. And I was like, oh, I can do that. I mean, I'm sure it was terrible. I can't imagine the jokes I was telling. We need to find some footage. Thank God it was pre-cell phone. Right.

We didn't record every moment of our lives. Yeah, we were lucky to have grown up in that. Sarah, got away with a lot. Now, and people are like, people have to see me in line at Starbucks. This is incredible. I'm like, it's not incredible. It's just standing in light. Don't record it.

It's bad content, guys. So you kind of got out from behind the Miss Why, and then you started to find your way as a comedian and an actor. And I remember you telling me last time we talked, you kind of gave yourself to the age of 30. Yeah. And if this isn't going, then I'm out. Yeah, I thought, you know, I've been trying. for a while. I knew I loved it, but I was like, I can't keep, you know, calling my parents and my sister to be like, I'm $17 short on this one. I'm $14 short. I just was like, I have to, I have to do

something where I'm able to, you know, pay my phone bill on a regular basis. But I was starting to do production work. So I was like, it was a bit of a heartbreak, but I'm like, I also like that side of it. So I'm like, if I go into the production side solely, but I had really made this, I don't know if I would have done it, but I think I really was planning to be like, I'm going to take just a straight production job and stop trying to to perform at 30. Because at the time, I was like, well, 30's it. Then you're ancient and I've got to get it together. Meanwhile, it's like, I was like, oh, 30. What a child. Yeah. Oh, same. The perspective you get at our age now, you're like, oh, 70s pretty young. I remember I was a waitress on the Upper East Side of New York.

And I remember actually, what a monster, but I remember being like, oh, my God, do you know he asked me out? And somebody who's perfectly nice, but the reason I was freaked out, I was like, he's like 30. But I think I was 21. And I was like 30. I remember just being like, like crazy. Right. Yeah. And now I'm 52.

And I'm like, oh, wow, what would I say about myself now? Right. I'd be like, Granny. Oh, yeah. Granny's crazy. Yeah, out to pasture with us 50-something. Probably for sure. I was like, oh, God. But that's the point, right, right around, I think, when Gilmore Girls came along?

It was two weeks before my 30th birthday. Two weeks before. It was true. I was like, okay. And I had kind of a job that someone had offered me because I was, I think I was maybe a production coordinator at that point. And I was like, okay, I'm going to take it because I don't think two weeks, I'm not going to suddenly get something. And then I got that. And I was like, that's wild. And it was the first regular job I had ever had as an actor for sure.

And I thought, oh, my God, I'm so grateful for that. I mean, it could have been great either way, but I'm pretty excited I didn't get on the other side of 30 without that job. Have you thought about that? If you'd cross 30, there's no Gilmore girls. Would you've gone home? Would you? I wasn't going to go home. I think I really would have dug into producing. and I do find that's still so creative and hands-on.

I don't know how long I would have lasted trying to not do it. I think I still would have stayed at the groundlings. I still would be performing and stuff just not making it my living. I don't think I could stop it. I really do love it. But, yeah, I don't know. Or I would just be the worst producer. I'd be like, can I give you a line reading?

He's like, no. One, why are you? What? Like, I probably would have. Maybe I would be terrible. I don't know. No, I think you've got good instinct. I think it would have been good.

I'm glad it turned out the way it did, though. You know, what's crazy, too, is Gilmore Girls. I can speak from experience my wife during the pandemic. It was on Netflix, and she watched it with my daughter. And they got through every season. Oh, my God. And it feels like, I don't know if you felt that, too, that it's had this second wave or third wave or whatever way it is. It has had this generational, like, young people that watched it, now that they have kids,

and then they watch it with their kids, and now their kids are watching it with, like, their own friends. It's had a, it's had legs on it that I didn't expect. It was a really comforting little world that, you know, Amy created. And it was really fun to do. I mean, it was working with such nice people and just to have a regular job. Yeah. I mean, no one was more shocked than me.

Or maybe my parents. I mean, they're like, is this actually working out? I'm like, yeah, I'm not checking my, you know, I'm like, I've paid my phone bill. I didn't call you for it. So it was kind of amazing. But I talked to a lot of parents that watch it with their kids. And I remember even when it was on, which always meant a lot to me that I had quite, I wasn't a parent at the time, but now hearing that they're like, you know,

we're in a stage where we're not really connecting. And it's hard to communicate with my, you know, my son or my daughter. And they're like, it's the one time of week that we can kind of sit down and we're cohesive. And I was like, oh my gosh, like that's quite a thing to get to be connected with. Do your girls watch it now? Have they caught up? No. We watched it. I watched it with Vivian once, my oldest, and we watched the pilot. And I just, she was like, and I was watching her watch it. I'm also always afraid somehow I'm, something's going to happen and I'm going to be found in a room watching my own thing.

So I have a super paranoia, but I can't watch my own stuff in the house. For some reason, I'm always like, what if I pass out and paramedics come in? And the takeaway is like, she was watching her own stuff. Pretty weird. Like, all I ever think of when we turn on, it's me, I'm like, oh, God, do I feel lightheaded? Like, I don't want to pass out in a room where myself's playing. I know that's, I shouldn't talk about that. It makes me so nuts.

When bridesmaids comes on, you quickly get off of it, just in case. I run out of the room. There's a medical emergency. But when we were watching. watching the pilot for Gilmore, my daughter goes, what are you doing with your voice? She said, what are you doing? And I was like, it's youth.

It's youth. That's what I sounded like before I had children. It's like, because I do have much deeper voice now. But she was like, did you make, she was like, were you doing that voice the whole time? I'm like, no, I just sounded like that. And that was the kind of, it was like, how did you like the show? That's all you got. And she said, your voice is really different.

I'm like, okay. Wow. Just the one note. Yeah, just one note. Wow. And it was what happened. What happened to the old, the tubes? Nope.

Tubes are a different area. Pipes. That's a completely different story. Did they watch any? Do they watch Brides or any of it? It's just like weird to watch mom. For a while, they were just too young with some of my things. We were like, you know, let's wait.

But, I mean, now they can watch whatever. They're cagey about what they've seen. I know, you know, Chris, Kristen Wagan, Annie Mammle wrote Bridesmaids, and Annie has a daughter, the same age is mine and their friends. And it was only like last year that I think Annie said that her daughter was like,

Bridesmaids is pretty funny. I was like, your mom wrote that. Did you just find that out? She's like, yeah, we just watched it. That's pretty funny. I was like, did you tell your mom that? Because she wrote it? She's like, I didn't tell her that yet.

I was like, okay. I think also during the pandemics of walls fell down where we couldn't mott. We just, sure, go watch Brides. I know you're 11, but just enjoy it. Pandemic rules, yeah, we started a game of, this sounds terrible, but we started a whole thing. Can you surprise someone by being in a distance from them and flipping them off? And my parents were like, what's happening?

What's happening? I was like, we like to go out, if I can go out in the front yard and then just wait it out. It's like a waiting game. And if somebody walks by, maybe it's a 15-minute wait, somebody walks by a window, and you're just all the way out in the front yard just waiting for it, like a garden gnome. And basically after that, I'm like, there's no real rules anymore. Never did I think I'd be doing that to my kids. But like, yeah, the pandemic was just like, what do you want to watch?

It's fine. Yeah. That's when we've been locked up too long is when you're playing the middle finger game with your family. And then my dad also started doing it, which I've never seen my dad flip anyone off, respectfully, Mike, wonderful man. He thought it was so funny. And so he'll be like, what is this here? And one of my kids will look down and he's just sitting there.

And he'll like move the napkin. Oh. And he'll do it. And it's so funny. And then my mom won't do it because she's too sweet. But she goes, and I said, will you ever give anyone the finger? And she will not do, but she goes, I'll give you lots of fingers. And she does that.

See, she's keeping her dignity. Yes, which I was like. What's that? You know, now that we're talking about it, I'm going to sell out my kids. They do a thing now. We'll take a nice family photo and the beautiful smiles on their faces and the sunset or whatever it is. And then you get back later in the phone and they've got a finger tucked away. Down on the pants.

Maybe it's around the shoulder. Oh. They blow up every family photo with that. Oh, that's very good. It's a game that's a wonderful game. I can't see. Yeah, this looks great. And then you look at it.

That's great. Are you all in Matching Chambray? Shirts on the beach, barefoot. That's just how we live. That is so enjoyable to be like, you start looking at it through the years and you're like, oh, yeah, that was a good one. Yes. Just close-ups of the finger.

Yeah, we should make a collage. Set to music. Yes. It comes up on your phone. Yeah, the iPhone just makes it. Oh, it's so much better, though, because never did. I think that's, but I'm like, you know what? Yeah.

If that makes you giggle, that's fine. I feel. It's fine. Can we just take one for you, one for me? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. If you're going to make it reasonable, sure. Stick around for more of my conversation with Melissa McCarthy right after a quick break.

Welcome back now to the rest of my conversation with Melissa McCarthy. Another thing, since I saw you last, was you were nominated for another Oscar for Best Actress, which is unbelievable and well-deserved. What was that whole experience like for you to be in that? echelon of serious heavyweight actors. It's always a little strange. I mean, I, I mean, I start, well, I started to stand up and then did all dramatic work. So I really love it. I gravitate towards it. I think the joy of doing both is kind of heaven. But doing something so small that was such a special film. I thought Lee Israel's life was so remarkable in a very kind of plain way.

I thought she was such a kind of a huge figure that I felt bad I didn't know who she was. I just thought like, especially I was in New York during that time. I was at Julius's. I was like I was in, you know, I was in her haunts. Like how did I not

know her story? And to get to work with Richard E. Curtis, who's just a dear friend for life, he will never get rid of me even if he may want to. And with Mari, and then to to do something that feels so special

and near and dear to the heart and then to have other people connect with it is just, I mean, it's almost hard to even describe the feeling of it. You just feel really lucky. Really lucky.

Do you feel like it's changed the direction of your career at all, which is to say now Hollywood or the public can see you that way too and do anything? I think it's helpful. I mean, to me, in my brain I've always been like well

there's really no difference between a comedy and a drama in my head because it still starts with the character and it still starts with kind of what makes them tick like we were talking about before doesn't matter if it's funny or very dramatic and still like what's their armor what's their what's their defense mechanisms what are they afraid of

and then it's a different energy push and pull but I mean, I even think parts of late, I mean, she was very witty. She was very funny and certainly didn't suffer fools. But I think it does help to have people, it's very easy. And I think we all do it to put people in categories and not kind of see what they maybe could do,

but even if you haven't seen it. So I do think that opened up a lot for me just in terms of maybe I can get a shot at more things like that. I'm just always after the character. The device of the genre doesn't kind of influence what I do at all. It's really just like who she is. You can do anything. That's clear.

You're so talented and people love you. And you can do that and be nominated for an Academy Award. You can do physical comedy. I wonder if you are at this exalted place. In Hollywood, if when you come back to New York, do you ever stop and go, I was 20 years old? 100%. How would I end up where I am? right now from that little apartment on 46th Street.

Oh my gosh. Sleeping on the floor with my friend Brian Allen. Because he kept his sewing machine. Well, it was a one bedroom, but the one bedroom was truly a very small closet. And we just slept on a, it was very glamorous. We slept on a futon together. Not a couple. Not a couple.

Just slept on a futon in the middle of the living room floor. He's very glamorous now. He can take it. But yeah, I think about that all the time. I mean, Ben and I don't start any project. were the first day and sometimes many days, as we're pulling into work, we're just like, how is this happening? How do we get to do, because we do love it so much, and it's, you know, we work really hard

at trying to just give people some relief. I mean, I really do think I can't, I can't clean up the water. I can't come up with, you know, fantastic new medicine. I'm not great with science, but I'm like, maybe the people that do all the really important things. When they come home, I can give them like an hour and a half to just forget that all. I'd maybe laugh or get lost in some different kind of story. I'm like, I kind of take that as my main, like, that's my purpose. I can't, you know, I'm not going to be great after the apocalypse. I don't have really the skill set. I think I could do an eye lift, but again, that's not.

I sew, and I've watched a lot of, there was a time in the early aughts where I I feel like everything was a surgery show. Right. And I've watched a lot of those. So I'm like, it's kind of like doing a dart. I don't know if we'll really need that during the apocalypse, during or after the apocalypse. I think there'll be a time for bits during the apocalypse, right? People will be pretty low, is my guess.

Maybe I can kind of, I'll just wander from village to village being like, what's up with these airline peanuts, guys? What are airlines? Great question. Anyway. I would watch. I would watch. You know what?

One of the, to your point about making people happy, and I think it's picked up steam because of Instagram reels or TikTok or something, is your outtake scene in the principal's office from This is 40? Is that, I mean, that's always been there. But I feel like I see it everywhere now and people talk about it. It's just a happy place to go. When I need two minutes, I just go there. I just remember Judd calling me saying that he was going to,

he was going to put this at the end of the movie. And I was like, what part? And then he sent it to me. And I was like, which sounds so ding-baddy now. But I remember saying, like, I didn't say that. And I kept saying, I don't think I said that. So I was so confused by the awful things coming out of my mouth toward that wonderful actress. And I just kept repeating, I don't think I said that.

And Judge was like, what are you talking? Like, you're watching you say. Of course you said it. And I was like, oh, my God, I always want to, like, send her. When I see it, I always want to, I should really send her flowers. I'm going to do that today and be like, sorry about some of those comments. There's no part of it we can repeat here. But it just...

No, not a word. It just escalates and escalates. And poor Paul and Leslie, they can't, there's no chance they're going to keep it together. Oh, my God. Just awful. But you do. That's the genius of it. I mean, it just gets worse and worse.

It may not be the right word. Just turning up the temperature as you go. Maybe it's why I'm not, like, murdering people in my real life. I just get it out, like, oh, just tar and old dirty rocks. Everything just comes out of it. And then I'm like, oh, okay, I'm all right for, like, another couple months. I'm cleansed. Yeah.

Thank you for that, too. Final question. Are you good in carousel contract law? Because we have a bit of a scrape. Oh, it's a speciality. I wish that somehow it really came out now that I'm like I do have my law degree and it is only pertaining to carousals. My parents wondered what I was doing at the time.

Now look at me. Paying off. Oh, should we break into a carousel? Should we say that on camera? Is that a great idea? We're going to look into it here. There's like five people back there like, don't say that out loud. That's not funny.

We don't want that. They do not have a sense of humor about the carous. That one really doesn't want me to say it. Thank you, Melissa. You're the best. Well, tell it to the mirror. So after we got finished talking inside Tavern on the Green, we hopped up from the table and jumped into a petty cab. A nice gentleman took on the assignment of peddling the two of us around Central Park for about, I don't know what it is, 30 minutes or so.

And we just kind of looked at things, made some observations. She was curious about some things around New York City. So bear with me, but just picture us sitting in the back of a petty cab being peddled around. Central Park and just shooting the breeze together like only Melissa McCarthy can do. Guys, we're really making stuff happen. We are. This feels right. Sometimes it just feels right. Anybody like, let me know. Thank you so much. Thank you. What's your name, sir? Ali. Ali, hi, nice to meet you. Yeah, we're notky, you got you.

We're subtle, aren't we? Yes. We like to. We just blend in. Where does the city start and where do we end? We don't know. Just another day in the park. If we did, I'm just saying, I'm not, I don't believe in jinxing, if we were hit by a car,

kind of spectacular. Just saying, look at that. Also, wouldn't this be kind of an amazing, it's like, this is how you went to work every day? Yeah. It would be very soothing, I think. It is kind of nice, isn't it? I did this with a friend the first time she was in New York, and I did all the things with her, and she's like,

it really is like we're on our honeymoon. And we just wrote around, and I was like, this is very, like, soothing to me. Yeah, and then the next step, of course, is the horse and paris. Yes, bum-bub. I prefer this. What? Yeah.

It's really, like, just a wood chipper. I mean... It's a good day, you know? It's a good day. It's a little chill in the air. Is it a nip in the air? Yeah. It's actually, I mean, it's spring is sprung.

It is. The park is green. It's the beginning of it anyway. I mean, how often do you go to the park? I go a good bit. You do? Really? Yeah, I'll run in here.

It's a good, I like to, I love to walk in New York. Yeah. I think I find driving completely stressful and awful. No, I would never want a car here. I couldn't do it. No, it's walk or subway. I would do this. Like, if.

If I lived here full time, I do have to say I would be like, I'm going to get a three-wheeler. Yes. This may be my premier mode of transportation. I'm really like, this seems to really fit with me. I'm having a bit of an epiphany here. I wish I was kidding, but I don't think I have. I'm like, yeah. It's sort of smooth.

It's smooth. It's fresh. Yeah. I feel like I'm outside and I'm not doing any work. Right? What? Did you see that? What? That's so low.

Yeah, there's a lot of weird modes of transpos. I don't... What happens when that tips? That's a quick, that's a quick end. That's a quick end. Yeah. Also, he was like four inches off the ground, which seems... It seems tricky.

I did the marathon a year and a half ago, and this was the finish right here. This is the last one minute. Going up that way. Oh, so you run, run. Well, that was my first ever. That was a COVID movie. and I needed something. I need some purpose.

And then it canceled it that year. And then so I kept going and trained for the next year. But this was the, this is it. This is the end right here. Going up that way. And you finish right in front of tavern. I'm just wondering. So when you're finishing a marathon,

are you, is that, are you out of body? Like, truly? Because you think. Look at the backdrop. It's beautiful. Isn't it? So let's say, when you're doing, this is your finish for the marathon,

are you completely out of body? You are at this point? for sure because on the other side of the park three or four miles earlier up Fifth Avenue you say there's no way I can finish this because it's a little uphill what mile are you then that's like 22 or three something like that and you go I just don't think this is gonna happen it's a shame I made it this far but and were you like I think I'll just lay down a little bit or just stop and I did well enough and I'll try again next year it's just it's all psychological but then

when you get in the park the energy and then you sort of He's running in a sandal. Oh, my God. He's running in a flat, like beach sandal. Is that a Tiva? What is that? I think he's, that can't be good for you. That can't be good for you.

Will you do another one? I think I will. Holy cat. That is so impressive. I raised a bunch of money for charity, which helped me keep going as well. And it's, if you run again, I will, I will go along beside you for charity, but in this. I mean, I don't want to, I want to be honest. That would be great.

With a megaphone. A megaphone, I'll be like, you can do this. You've got it, Geist. You've got it. And I'll be eating like a sandwich, but I'll throw water on you occasionally. That would be amazing. Like you're the trainer. And I can collect more money.

I'll have like buckets. Yeah, that's great. Like what is like the Lions Club? Uh-huh. Yes. And they'd love that. I think we could drum up some stuff. I'd be like, come on.

That's a great idea. It's a long ride in the Rikshaw, the 26. It's okay. I'll probably nap through a good chunk of it. Popped into a diner. Catch up to me later. It is a good day out here. It's gorgeous. I mean, it's so look gorgeous. Were you a Central Park person when you lived in New York? You know what? I just always have like 19 jobs.

Right. But if I could walk through, I would walk. But I think about like when I lived here, I'm like, I just did not take advantage of the great things. I would always, like, for sure, walk through, but would I, like, go on a weekend? No, we were more, like, just concerned about getting to, like, the palladium at night. Right, right. I was more nocturnal in my 20s. Well, you're in your 20s, yeah.

That's what you do. But I'm like, oh, I would have thoroughly enjoyed this. You also realize that all the culture and everything was kind of wasted on us in our place. Oh, absolutely. I mean, the high culture, that is. Yeah. Not the culture we enjoyed. The culture we enjoyed.

which is really just like, just different clubs. It was like, yeah. It was like me at Nels just being like, this is it. I met my zenith. Palladium, that's impressive. That's a hot spot. Look at you. Palladium, yeah.

Yeah. But all of Suzanne, like Suzanne Barshas parties. Do you remember those? Were you here then? No. Oh, I was not. Amazing. Yeah.

Just huge. Those are legendary. Yeah, drag queens and roller skates. I was like, wow. Yes. I want for nothing. Yes. Oh, it's you?

Oh, look at that. Yeah, they're bicycle built for two. I mean. I'm generally against those. Are you? I don't know. Are we really working together? I don't think.

And I'm always the one where I'm like, like, how long can I just kind of coast? Exactly. Right. Yeah, see, neither one. They're both coasting. No, that's, they're in trouble. They're in a lot of trouble. I also feel like I, like, who get the back, it's like you're the back of the horse.

Right. Exactly. Like, you're just staring into. somebody's shoulder blades, really. Who's that fun for? Now, this is not spring. Spring break in the U.S. is over. Yes.

So you're getting mostly foreign tourists here. Oh, really? Yeah. You can hear it in the languages, which is cool. Which is so fun. It's a different energy, you know? Especially that coming from, like, I mean, we're coming from such a small little town. I just remember when I lived here, I couldn't believe how,

like how incredible it was that like hearing other, I mean, you did not hear anything unusual. So it's like to hear somebody's beautiful accent or hear somebody actually speaking of foreign language. I was like, like, I just thought it. Truly, I felt like I was, it was some kind of like fantasy sequence. Right, right. I was like, this is like a movie. Yeah, exactly. Like I just, I didn't know that was what it was really going to be like.

Right. The movie is real. My dad going to high school in Champaign always joked that their exchange students from Hawaii. It was as far as they could. as exotic as they could think of. And that was like, you live there? We went back. I didn't go for my reunion, but I went with my friend Brian,

who is who I live here. And we went to a reunion because he was in the same class of my sister. And the DJ in Juliet, Illinois, was like, okay, who's come the farthest? And Brian at the time was living in Milan. And so he didn't even say it, but somebody was like, Milan, Italy.

The DJ goes, yeah, right. Like it's not. Not conceivable. I was like, and like somebody got it. They were in like, I don't know. Oh, that's so funny. You know, Iowa somewhere. And we just stood there and we're like, well, okay.

It was better than, it was like, it's better how it played out. Yeah. He's like, you mean Mylan, Illinois, right? How is Mylan doing in Cairo? There is a Mylan, Indiana. There is? The town from the movie Hoosiers, the real town, is myelin, Indiana. And it's Vermont. I am, L-A-N.

Oh, here's the case. Okay. Okay. Is it happening? Oh, it's happening. Look at like, it's like, it's like, it's a play. Like, if you're a kid in, like, Central Park is where you have recess. Yeah. That's pretty amazing.

It is. My kids grew up here, and I think they are just realizing how cool it was, that their field trip was to the Met or, you know, like. We're like, that's not what's happening all across the country. Exactly. Like, we were like, we'll go see where the nuns live. Which is, like, next door to the school. I'm like, it smells, you know, it smells like it. Like the medicinal, meaning medicinally, not anything negative.

Yeah, no, no, of course. I got you. There's certain people that, do you see that guy running? He was like, first of all, it looked like there was, like he was floating. And he was just singing along. I'm like, I don't think I've ever had that. I was never a runner. Like, he did gymnastics.

I played tennis. I was that really athletic. Yeah. Like, there's people that have a great, like, do you have a good gait when you're It's okay. I'm not really a runner. I did the marathon, and now I run just, it helps get through the day. It's a long day, you know? It's a long day, guys. But no, I don't think so. I wish that was my go-to. I'm like, oh, I'm stressed. Hang on. Let me just run it out.

Yeah. Instead, I'm like, let me go on Etsy. Oh, my God, look at the pink, what are this, the cherry blossoms? Cherry blossom, yep. Now we've moved to the east side, Melissa. Oh. We're fancy people. We're very fancy people. We don't let us over here. And we'll be stopped soon.

No, and it's just for the quick, no, thank you. Just no thank you. Oh, okay. Well, turn and go. This is like, it's kind of like a perfect day. It is. Once we're out in the sun like this, it's perfection. I'm pretty happy.

I do have to admit, I have a, I'll preface it, I'm not a great bike rider. I grew up on a farm, gravel roads. Also, no neighbors. So I was not the kid that was like, yeah, we all got on our bikes and met up. I'm like, I had no neighbors. I was just pretending to do, like, I have friends, friends in my barn that there was no one in there. So I was, I'm not steady on a, I can't ride a bike, of course, but I'm not great at it. Okay.

So I got a three-wheeler. Oh, you did. And then my daughter wanted one. So, like, we ride around our neighborhoods. And Ben's like, just, you two old babies. Just, I'm like, with like, a bad. basket in the back and I'm like, I just, I love it. That's great. Just to tour around, you pop in, get a cup of coffee and your three-wheeler.

That's fantastic. But I'm like, yeah, that's, it's like, once you see, like, once you're on a three-wheeler, you're like, you've crossed a road. Yeah, yeah. There's a crossroads that you've passed that you'll never get back. I'm not like, give me on my BMX. I'm like, I have a three-wheeler with a basket and I still wear a helmet. It's a visual And somebody got a picture of me

And I had like fire crocks on And a helmet And I was just like That's it Yeah the helmet says Most people couldn't fall off of this But there's a shot on light I don't know if I could tip it if I tried

But I was like Ben's like Wear your helmet I'm like you got it honey Most people wait for the retirement community For the three wheeler No I'm like I'm like bring it to me Yep

it's going to be, I think when I hit 60, it's, I don't know if I'm going to make it. It's a 50, not meaning living. Oh, come on. I don't plan of dying before 60. But I, I've always said 60. I'm going all-caftan turban. And I'm not turning back. And now I think I've brought it down to like 55. Because I'm like, I've been, I've been dipping a toe in. And every time I'm in, I'm like, this feels so right. This feels like where I want to be. The rise of the cast pan has been a nice development. My wife likes a caftan. Yeah. Summer, you pop it on and airy.

It's airy. It's airy. Yeah. I literally have bought four beautiful, like, kneaded turbines in the last month. Really? Yeah. Oh, that's so cool. I'm digging in, and I'm like, uh, I love them.

I love that. That's a good look. It's a good look. Yeah. I think I found my, like, like, Jack La Lane had his jumpsuit. And I'm going to have, I'm going to have my turbines. and my calf dance and just live my best life. Yeah, I think you need to enter like a...

On my three-wheeler. Yes, I was going to say, like an eccentric Hollywood star phase. For sure. The outfits and the three-wheeler. All of it. Just going to Trader Joe's. That's where the illusion is shattered. I'm like, I've got to get ham.

Which is really, usually where I'm going. I'm like, oh, I've got to get more interesting. Oh, that's so good. That is so good. I wish that was a joke. And it's not, oh. Yeah, I think my kids have no idea that, like, I don't think they get, we live in L.A. I don't think, like, which is good.

But they've always been there, right? They've always been there. Yeah. We live in such a, like, kind of quiet little, you know, we live in the valley. It's really, like, a little quiet neighborhood. Yeah. So I think they really, which is delightful, we've kind of kept them. Good for you.

Yeah. You've kept the Hollywood at all, they live yet. You've kept the Hollywood in all, a day. Yes. Good. I love the Jeff Daniels once told me the story of living in L.A. He moved to his hometowns, like, right at the rise of his, he was in Purple Rose of Cairo, and he was on the coverage, and it was like, it was all happening, and he just moved.

And everyone's like, your career is, what are going to end, blah, blah, blah. And so I said, why did you do it? He goes, you know, my kids got invited into the Easter egg roll at Sly Stallone's house. And I said, yeah. And just out came a car. bird box. I thought, yeah,

there's something. This shouldn't happen. If you can't relate in any way to what life your kids are having, that's maybe a warning. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. When it's like, wait, like you,

the birthday party is like, I make a cake. Yeah. And you have friends over. Yeah. It's not like we're not booking people. Right. Right. Right.

I still make them. I like, I make their cakes. There was a two-year period where they were like, can we just buy a cake? I'm like, oh, look at how pretty. Oh, my God. There you go. I mean, that's pretty, guys. It's beautiful.

Can you imagine if they hadn't, like, kept Central Park? It's a gift. It really is a gift. Thank goodness because it'd be all steel and concrete. None of it. I feel like it would hit a level of harshness. Like, even if you're not in it, just knowing it's there and seeing it. I think we're breathing better for it.

Yeah. No, this is the break in this layout. I'm just amazed somebody wasn't like, you know, it would be great right here, a bunch of buildings. You know it's been said. Oh, for sure, for sure. But I think we're safe. Dakota. Yeah.

Blade of grass by plate of grass. I'm going to get rid of all of this. Smell a new character. So what's crazy is someone is saying that somewhere? without question. Someone's like, oh, these trees. I do just to say when I moved into my house in L.A., my dad, who's so wonderful, we had a lot of, like, big old trees in the back, and he came out,

and this is something he started doing, like, past 70. And he was like, Missy, this is really wonderful. First thing you got to do, you have to get rid of all these trees. Like, take them all out, they're a nightmare, the squirrels will drive you nuts. I'm like, I'm not going to get rid of, the trees are like the prettiest part. Yeah, they look fine. They're going to drive crazy. You've got to get rid of all these trees.

I was like, what are you? See, you wouldn't have said that at 50 or 60. I was like, what are you talking about? Now he, like, tries to catch squirrels and take him to parks because he wants them on his yard. Oh, wow. And I was like, you're never going to get rid of the squirrels. And I always say, like, did you do that at 40? Did you even think about squirrels?

It's like, it's not not an issue. I'm like, no, no, no. It's, you're catching squirrels. Yeah. That's, we're in a difference. You're that guy. You are definitely that guy. You're baiting certain areas.

You've got a whole elaborate system set up. And first I was nervous, what are you doing with him? He's like, take him to the park. So you're in a car with a squirrel. That's the main visual. I was like, you are in a car at a certain point with a squirrel. And he's like, well, yeah, the transport. Oh my God, we've gone by this.

This is the guy that was just singing. Is that him? Yeah. Yeah. God, that's a joyful jogger. That's a joyful jogger. I don't feel like I look like that. Oh, I know I don't look like this.

I'm just trying to survive, you know? It's a shuffle. It's a shuffle. Especially if I catch an uphill. I'm just chopping into that hill. I don't want to know what I've, I've hit a point where I don't want to know what that looks like. It's probably better.

I think at our age we just accept the thing, so we're not cut out for it. I tried to do in a picture. Yeah, I just embrace it now. Like, it's fine. I can really organize a drawer. Great. Know your strengths. We have to know our strengths.

I tried to get, like, when we were doing Thunderforce, we tried to jump up and we're like, let's get like crazy air and then someone was down on the ground. And we did it. We took the picture. And then the person that took the picture could not speak. They were laughing so hard. And I was like, what? And I was like, that seemed pretty cool.

And then she showed me the picture. And I don't know if you could slide a piece of paper. under my feet. And meanwhile, I was like, what's my vertical? Catching air. I'm catching air. And she was like, I don't know. I don't know that what occurred and what you thought occurred if there's ever a point where those intersect. And in your mind, you were doing like Tom Cruise stunt. I was like, I should have, yes, I was like, this is like a volleyball. Like, this is like center, center front, but volleyball moves. So good. Back to the wood chipper.

Yep. Here we are. know we're home. Very pleasant, guys. This is great. My big thanks again to Melissa McCarthy for spending a big chunk of her day with me as we sat down and had a conversation and then just kind of rode aimlessly around the park. My thanks to all of you for listening again this week. If you want to hear more of these conversations with my guests every week, be sure to click follow so you never miss an episode. And don't forget to tune in to Sunday today every weekend on NBC. I'm Willie Geist. We'll see you right back here next week. Sunday Sit Down podcast.