The Three Questions with Andy Richter - Nat Faxon

Episode Date: December 23, 2025

Actor and Academy Award–winning writer Nat Faxon joins Andy Richter to discuss their respective Christmas tree policies, how a rejection from a puppetry school in Bali led Nat to the Groundlings, writing with a partner, the new season of “Loot” with Maya Rudolph, and much more.Do you want to talk to Andy live on SiriusXM’s Conan O’Brien Radio? Tell us your favorite dinner party story (about anything!) or ask a question - leave a voicemail at 855-266-2604 or fill out our Google Form at BIT.LY/CALLANDYRICHTER. Listen to "The Andy Richter Call-In Show" every Wednesday at 1pm Pacific on SiriusXM's Conan O'Brien Channel. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hey, everybody. Welcome back to The Three Questions. I'm your host, Andy Richter, and today I'm talking to Nat Faxon. He's an actor, writer, and comedian. He won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Co-Wriding The Descendants. He started the Fox sitcom Ben and Kate and the FX Comedy series Married. He also co-wrote and co-directed the way, way back, and downhill with his writing partner, Jim Rash. You can see him now on the third season of Lute on Apple TV. Here's my really great conversation with Nat. vaccine. And I'm still like, yeah, but I mean, it's just a podcast. Like, I was just at the dentist. And as we were talking, there gave me a fluoride treatment. And I'm like, well, I do have an interview in about an hour. And they're like, oh, someone in here. And it's like, no, it's my podcast. I always feel slightly. You have to go down on it? My podcast.

Yeah, yeah. Which is so unfair. How long have you been doing it? How long have you been doing it? I've been doing this one for about six years now. Okay. And, yeah, no, I mean, it's, it's a, and I mean, I hear like really, I mean, I was at a Christmas party.

This blew my fucking mind. Albert Brooks. Yeah. Says, I listen to your podcast all the time. I really love it. That's really good. Yeah. I was just like, I kept telling my wife, Albert Brooks listens to my podcast.

Albert Brooks listens to my podcast. So now when people ask, you're going to be like, I do a podcast. Yeah, I do a podcast. Strictly for Albert Brooks. He's a fan of yours. So that's why I had you in today. I feel like people always say, like, we should start a podcast. Yeah, yeah.

I'm always like, yeah, that sounds amazing. Yes. It feels like, I don't know, I don't have this fancy room. I know. Well, and you don't need to do this fancy, but it's like there are the two choices of you do it, you hook up with somebody fancy. Yeah. And they do all the work or you do it yourself. Right.

Which is just like, wait, I mean, I have actually edited, you know, audio. Yeah. And it's such fucking drag. Yeah. I'm just like, that's his job. He has to do that because he's young. I also feel like you need something to talk about. Or you need to be smart enough to talk about something for a long time.

Well, like, I feel like my thing would just be like, let's talk about the cheeseburger I had last night, you know, and then I'd be like, nobody wants to hear about that. Yeah, but no, you'd figure it out. I mean, I didn't, I hadn't interviewed anybody. It'd be like over just doing this. I've learned how to interview people for an hour. Yeah.

Which if that, you know, like in another time, it would have been like, man maybe I can get a show on TV where I interview people like no you can't that doesn't exist anymore everybody fucking interviews people and like I was talking to a friend of mine that's an actor like similar to me you know like comedy guy about my age sort of similar improvy kind of background yeah and you know done stuff forever and he's telling me that like other actors of our ilk of our sort of category have been calling him and going like oh about this podcasting uh how would i start a pot you know just because nobody's doing anything you know so yeah no podcasting is really yeah yeah it's either podcasting or maybe you like go back

to teaching or something or you get that real estate license yeah yeah no i don't know what the fuck i would do i know and i have no idea it's terrifying it's terrifying what the hell what i do with myself if I wasn't doing this. Well, Well, Nat, thank you for coming in. Thank you for having me. I'm thrilled to be here. Happy holidays.

We're in the thick of the Christmas season here. I know. We're both sort of wearing some festive colors, ish. I have a business lunch, so I can express nice. Yeah. It looks more pressed than mine. And you're used to like a Christmas Christmas, because you're from the East Coast.

I am. I am. Yeah. Yeah, we got into it there. Yeah. Although I was, my mother is Jewish, but we celebrated Christmas more because she liked the decorations more. It was really more about like the decorations and putting up the garland and the lights. Right. And, you know, we would put an ornament on the tree and then she would take that ornament and then put it on the back of the tree and then put a fancier thing in the front where everybody could see it.

The thing I made in kindergarten did not make it on the tree. So she didn't, she didn't, because, you know, in Judaism, the mother is the one that passes down. Yes. Right. So, which makes me Jewish. Yeah. But I was born very like, you know, uh, nothing with, with nothing, zero beliefs, just into

presents and all the good stuff. I honestly, my religion growing up as a child was whatever church was closest. Truly. It was just, we're convenient Christians. Yeah. That's all, you know. Yeah. And now I'm nothing.

Yeah. Now I don't believe in nothing. Nothing. Yeah. And I don't want to. I don't want my kids. Oh, money. Sweet money.

What a great lesson for our children. No, I, I do, I do love the, because of my mother. I love the decorations of the holiday season. Oh, it's, yeah. I, I, I, I, I, I do love the. will be a sucker for it for the rest of my life yeah yeah but i'm a hardcore and i get a lot of grief about this in my own family i am hardcore christmas starts after thanksgiving okay because the christmas before thanksgiving really pisses me yeah yeah it really gets under my skin because i

love thanksgiving equally if maybe not even a little bit more because i feel like it's just i mean what's not to love you sit around and you eat yeah yeah and you burp and fart thanks yeah you watch football and you're thankful for what you're having your life and like you're like this is a great holiday and if you like turkey dinner which you know like yeah it's a pretty good yeah you know i mean i'll have that at the diner sometime thanksgiving dinner just yeah yeah yeah but when people want to celebrate christmas prior yeah in like early november i get real yeah full of rage our our christmas tree went up this year and this was a this is a this is a i'm really going through a transformation here because my wife, I'm fairly newly married. You're going to be married three

years. And I was a stalwart natural tree person my whole life. Oh. From when we were kids, you know, like to went like, you know, you go to the Christmas tree yard and you pick out a Christmas tree and you bring it home and that's a nice one. Like, oh, good job on the tree. And then you have the smell and the needles and all the stuff. Yes. And the day after, last Christmas, my wife was like, the day after Christmas, we're buying an artificial tree because they're about half price. I mean, she's mainly motivated by just like, she's a, she is very frugal. And thank God someone in our family is. So I'm like, all right, and we find a nice one and bought like a fake tree. And I always was kind of like, yeah and the weekend after thanksgiving we like we had gone to storage our like our storage

thing yeah and gotten all the christmas stuff out and we were just like well why don't we just put up the tree i mean we have this fake tree and i was kind of like oh okay yeah we put it up it's fantastic yeah yeah it's fantastic yeah it's really it looks good like i because i was always the ones like you get in grade school with a dowel rod and then basically bottle brushes that you stick into it. I know. But this one I'm like, oh my God. Yeah. Yeah.

And there's no fucking needles. No, I know. You have to water it. I know. They make really good fake shit nowadays. It's unbelievably nice. It's really crazy. Yeah, it's the kind of where people, where you have to look like, is that fake or is that just like a really nice real tree?

Yes. I went to like a garden center once in, there's one in Culver City that. has, like, a massive, basically warehouse, and it's all just fake plants. Yeah, yeah. And they look incredible. Yeah, yeah. Like, I thought I was walking into, like, just a different section of the garden area. Right, right, right.

And I was totally like, wow, I would, you know, I would take that plan, not that plan. And they're all, and then somebody was like, those are all, you're in, like, the fake room. And I was like, no, I'm not. How dare you? How dare you tell me? What do you think is this, Hollywood? I would have known. I know fake.

But I felt the same way I put in artificial grass in my backyard and I had the same issue in terms of like, you know, growing up in New England, you know, lawn and you can mow it and, you know, it's sort of like ingrained and the leaves fall and then it dies and watch it come back. And then we put in fake grass. And it was like a game. Yes. It's so clean.

Yeah, yeah. There's no issue. You know, it was so nice. Yeah, yeah. Never have to deal with it. Yeah. And I, so I get it. I think.

I'm not quite there yet with the tree, but I probably could get there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I probably could, because they are really nice now. I told, I was in Chicago, in Illinois, and I told my sister this, and she's like, don't say that around my husband. I know. She's like, I want a real tree. He keeps pushing for a fake tree.

Yeah. I was like, I know. It's really nice. I know. It's really nice. My parents are like hardcore East Coast, you know, born and bread. And I think they went fake tree like two years ago. Yeah.

And they're like, we just pack it up, we put it in a box. It's great. We pull it out. It looks terrific. Yeah. And who knows? Santa knows. Santa knows.

Yeah. You're not getting anything. You're getting no money this year. I am a stickler, though, Christmas-wise, now that we're on the topic of strings of lights with incandescent bulbs. Yes. You know, like everything else, like those, like throwing a net over a bush. I know. I'm like, that's an offense.

I know. The baby Jesus, you're making the baby Jesus cry with that net of tiny fairy lights that that you threw all over your bushes. That does not count. It's got to be a pain in the ass for it to really count. You have to risk falling off a ladder for it to really count as celebrating the baby Jesus. Why is that technology not gotten better? I don't know.

Why is that like one dumb thing, the one bulb doesn't working on the whole thing goes out? I know, I know. It's got to be. And you can't plug in more than two. Right. You know, like if you go more than three, then you blow out the breaker every time. And then I like did it this year where I tested them all because before I got them on the tree because I'm like, I'm not doing that. I'm not falling for that trick again.

Yeah, yeah. And then they all worked. And then of course I put it on the thing and then like half the thing doesn't work. And you're like, we just went through this. Yeah, yeah. I test drove this. Right, right. And then now I'm like, you know, jingling it.

I'm like shaking it. And then it pops on and they're like, no, it's the tree. Get away from the drain Keep the cat away The dog The dog comes like brushing up against it And I'm like yelling at the dog Yeah

I don't know why They need to figure that out So you should just be Jewish You have the option I know I do have the option I know Is it too late No

No I can start over It'll take you whenever You know Deathbed conversion Do you ever hear that You can be right at the finish line And be like You know what I'm sorry for everything

ah hello heaven you know that's a good out be a fucking asshole forever I'm saving that oh you know what I really feel bad last breath hi St. Peter I don't feel right about this but come on in I'm fully saving that saving that card saving that card all right just give me a tip of the hat

Can't you tell my love's a crow? What brought you out here? Well, I was always interested in entertainment. I added three extra consonants in that. Right, right. Well, that's very special entertainment. I mean, in what way? Like, as a kid, you just like TV or?

Yeah. Well, as a kid, I enjoyed comedy, and it was sort of less about watching things. on TV, it was more about making people laugh. I remember being in a musical in, because all, you know, I liked theater, but all we did as when I was in grade school were musicals. Like, you never did play. It was like the big thing was a musical. And I can't, I fucking suck at singing.

You know, I wish I could sing, but I can't. And so I would always get the crappy, like, part if, you know, that either there was a small party that doesn't really sing or doesn't have a solo or like it was in a chorus so it can be drowned out by everyone else yeah yeah and uh i remember we did the macado and i was uh the macado in grade school in grade school wow yeah i was pish-tush this a fancy school no it wasn't even that fancy wow and i you know was like into being on stage and but didn't really have the great part and so i just sort of went, you know, towards the front of stage and just made faces and had my parents and all her, all their friends laughing. Yeah. And I was like, oh, they're, they're laughing at me.

Right, right. And then just completely upstaged everybody, the entire, you know, two-hour production. Yeah, yeah. Really. And I really learned what it takes to be an act. Yeah, yeah. To what comedy is all about. Did somebody say like, hey, don't do, that's not cool or do they not? Not really. I don't think they gave a shit because it was just like, whatever. But it was, I think, the attention. And I don't know, maybe I was, I don't think I was, I never grew up like lacking attention. But I just, I think I enjoyed the attention that I got from, like, goofing around. And then I would do, you know, impressions of my parents of the dinner table or friends or whatever. And then I was sort of like, oh, I like, I enjoy making people laugh in some sort of capacity. Yeah. You know. Do you have siblings? I do. I have an older sister. Oh, okay.

And so then. So you're kind of, you know, I mean, when there's just two, it's kind of the birth order kind of thing. Yeah, exactly. You are the baby. Yes. Yes. Yes. And so maybe the attention sort of seeking is.

You get the indulgence. Yes. Exactly. So, but also the, also the neglect. Yes. Because the second kid is like, oh, you know what, this. They're fine. As I like to say, those things are hard to kill, you know, you can ignore them for a

a long, and they've just bounced right back. So, you know, the second one's like, he'll be fine. No. He's eating dirt. Yeah, no, that's good, I hear. That's like, we, I have three kids myself, and I feel like my poor third is just sort of like, there's no pictures of them. There's nothing, you know, like, we did all that.

I don't, you're fine. Right, right, right, you'll get it, you know, you'll figure out how to get to the store. My older, my older kids, uh, my son is 25 and, and my daughter. And my older daughter's 20. And it's this, it is like that because I, I just, like I say, it was just home and at my mom's house, there are stacks of VHs tapes of him just, like just put set on a camera and watch him with blocks and then send to my mom because we didn't get home enough.

And it was, he was her, he was their first grandchild. So, so we're like, here, mom, here's a bunch of VHS tapes. And then my daughter, I don't. feel like there's like by that time it's like well what are we going to do with all that footage just send it to grandma now forget it you know I know it's like if there was a VCR still like that would be taped yeah I would be I would be putting the Patriots game on over my third child it's like first walking sorry sorry it's a big game it's a divisional rival so listen you're you're walking now I can see it all the time you know I see you walking every day

Yeah. So that was sort of the I got into it. And then in high school, I kind of knew, it was like, it was very assuring because I sort of knew that was kind of from an early age I wanted to be in some acting capacity, comedy, you know, whatever it was. And you had your heart set on that. Yeah. Wow. That's great. And your folks were okay. They didn't. They were okay. They were a little, uh, I mean, I think my dad was, is always been very goal oriented. So I think he was just as long as, you sort of have something you're trying to get to or reach, you know.

I've never done that. Are you having fun? I know. I'm cool. Whatever. Same way. None of those values or morals. Yeah.

You got to get good grades. I don't care. Look, I got to get to this wordle. But look, you have a great time studying. My ex-wife one time told me she goes like, I feel like you don't even really care about their grades. And I was like, got me. I don't.

I know. Like, you know, I feel, you know, I know, I know a lot of successful C students. I know, you know, it's sort of like, it'll all come out in the wash. I know. My oldest daughter is in high school and she was this morning said, yeah, I have a half day today. And I was like, oh, that's so, you know, she was like, so I don't need, you know, to bring lunch. And I was like, oh, great. What's the, is it like, finals or midterms or whatever?

And she's like, no, it's parent teacher conferences. Oh, God. Right, we're right. Yeah, yeah, of course. I know about that. And that's, yeah, so that, oh, got it. Okay, yeah. Do you want me to?

I mean, did they schedule it or does your wife do it instead? Well, we sort of talked about it because she's a senior in high school. Yeah, yeah. And so we were like, we've done this for, you know. Yeah, yeah. Whatever. 17 years of these. Yeah, we're familiar with her.

Now you're basically a senior. You're going to go to college. Like, do you need, do we need to talk to your teacher? I think that's. about like how the your year is going like it's over at this point right right right I feel like I'm checked out right right can I tap out yeah exactly yeah you're done but it was definitely

it's too late to change the plan you know exactly but I think she was sort of like yeah I mean it's fine I guess you know and then you're like I know but come on it's there's in person and then there was Zoom Yeah. And it's, we, I did, we asked about like a month ago. Yeah. Because we got the email and we were like, do you want us to go in or do you want us to talk to any of your teachers? Yeah.

And she was like, I guess it's okay. You know, maybe my English teacher because he's cool and you've never sat down with him. Yeah. And I was like, got it. Yeah. I never did. And then I never did anything about. And then I just lit up a big cigar with a $100 bill.

Blew the smoke in her face. Oh, yeah, sure, maybe. I've got to get to a podcast. I can't talk to him. See, I feel like the different, I don't know how your parents were, but nobody gave a shit about what I, you know, like, there was, there was, yes, there was like a parent teacher sort of meeting maybe once a semester, you know? Yeah. Yeah. And I know that that, they would come for that, but it's very, but there was none of this. No.

There's so much stuff you'd have to do now. There's so much more. And your children are conditioned to think, like, if you don't do a lot of it, then it's some, you know, it's recollect. Yes. No. I'm just going with, I'm going with what I know. Yeah, exactly. I know you're going to be fine.

Yeah, yeah. I know. So I felt bad about that one today. But, yeah, I think my parents were sort of the same way. Yeah. And then I went to college and I majored in theater, but I went to a very small, little. Arts College in upstate New York called Hamilton College

and they were five theater majors but I didn't want to I knew I wanted to go into acting I did not want to go to like I wanted to have the college experience so I didn't want to go to like a conservatory also not a lot of competition

I got all the leads I scored you know you're going to be in the top five the odds were really my favorite So it was good I got to, you know, take three other random classes

and then I would take a theater class and major in theater and then when I graduated I came straight out here and just started kind of figuring it out. Oh, really? But it was really, I mean, I didn't know a soul out here

and I also didn't, I felt like it was like a huge, you know, board game that nobody teaches you how to play. Sure. I had no idea what I was doing. What did you do, though? I mean, that's amazing me.

I know. How do you know where to move to, you know, because it's a big city with lots of different neighborhoods. I know. I know. I got pair. I basically a girl that I went to college with, I was like, I'm moving to L.A. and she was like, oh, my friend from high school is moving. You guys should connect. Yeah. And so we talked over the summer after we had graduated school and we were like, hi, my name's Nat. I'm moving to Los Angeles. We get it. Want to get a place together. Yeah. And then he was like, okay. And so we found a place in like, like, West L.A. Because that seemed, I don't know, like safe. Yeah.

That great, like, Wilshire-Barrington area. Yeah. And we got an apartment, and then, I don't know, I didn't really, I got into the groundlings early, started taking classes there, which was helpful in terms of, like, meeting people and kind of figuring it out. Were you aware of them before you came out here? I was. I was.

I, because I had gotten, like, a tiny little bit of a head start. I should back up. I, in, while I was at Hamilton, you know, everybody goes away for your junior year, you know, in school because it's like, you know, you're so tired of old, gray, like, upstate New York. And it weighs on your mental state, you know, heavily. And so everybody is like getting out of their junior year. And I, you know, they all, there was all these programs in like Florence and, you know, Madrid and Barcelona. And I was like, as a theater major, I was like, I don't know. I don't want to go to London and do Shakespeare. It's not really, like, my path. Yeah. And I was desperate in searching, and I even went so far as to try to get into this, like,

puppetry school in Bali. Wow. And they applied, and they were like, do you have any puppetry experience? And I was like, I do not. And they were like, we will not accept you. Right, right. So the only thing I... We're serious about this.

How dare you? This is the center of puppetry in Bali. So I ended up finding out, I don't even know how, I looked into Second City, like if they had any kind of internship and they did, but it was taken. And so then I found out somehow about the groundlings and, but I knew I couldn't like necessarily just take a semester off and go to the groundlings. Yeah. I was like my junior year. So I found out that Pomona College, one of the Claremont colleges, did a like visiting student program. So my semester abroad was basically like coming to California.

Oh, wow. And I convinced them, I was like, can I drive to Hollywood twice a week, take classes at the groundlings, and then like write a big paper about it at the end and get a credit for it. And they were like, sure. Yeah, why not? Why not? So I basically spent my spring semester there and I went through a few groundlings classes. So by the time I basically came back out after going back to school for my senior year, I had already. sort of made a little bit of inroads there.

Yeah, and people there knew you and they're... Kind of, yeah. I mean... But you were, at least on paper, you're a former student. Yes, exactly. So it was already sort of, you know, by the time I came back, I was already kind of midway through the process of going through that, like, school. Yeah. And then I met people through that and, you know, met a lot of really great people who

have gone on to do great things. Yeah. And, but at the time, you know, you have no idea with... I don't know. I didn't know anything. Yeah, I didn't know. I didn't know. I was, like, calling people that went to Hamilton that were, like, entertainment lawyers being

like, can you help me get a part in the next Batman movie? They're like, sir, I'm an entertainment lawyer. Yeah, yeah. So you just, it took a while of kind of grinding it out, and I did a lot of commercials for a long time. Yeah. And then, you know, that's a good way to. It was great.

Keep it going. It was great. I got hooked in with, remember Tony Kaye, he directed American. History X and he's a sort of like, you know. He's English. English. Brilliant and crazy. Yeah.

I actually was on a flight with him. Were you really? Yeah. And I was eavesdropping on him and then I like Googled him and my wife lived in London for a while and works with director. She reps directors. So I was like, do you know a Tony Kay? And she was like, yes, he's brilliant and crazy. Yes.

I was like, 100%. Yeah. I mean, he was out of his mind. But incredibly loyal to actors. And my first commercial was with him, and it was like some pack bell, you know, regional phone thing. Yeah. And I booked the job and I showed up. And I was like the first time ever being in front of the camera.

And I get, you know, there's like craft service. And I'm like, oh, my God, there's free food. Right. And then I started talking to this guy next to me. And I was like, what are you doing? you know what's your job here and he was like i'm an actor and i was like oh cool for what and then it turned out that we had he had booked two people for the same part tony had booked two guys and was we were basically in like the final like you know act off essentially and i was like is just how

this works you know and he was just as confused they called him in and he you know went for like four hours and I'm just sitting on like the fold-up chair like I don't know what is happening like when do I am I ever going to do this who's whose mistake was it I don't think it was a mistake like he purposely brought two people in just like two people in and was like that's what they do with children I know children and animals you we better have a backup just in case exactly yeah I was the backup I think I was like this sucks you know like I was so yeah it was not a fuck up it was like an on purpose thing. Wow. And so he worked like all morning and then they finally like brought me in and they were like, Tony operates the camera and he was like, oh, you know, you just go and I'll

I'll tell you when. Talk about the phone. Yeah. I'll tell you when to stop. You just, you know, just go big and just go. And so I was like, all right, I'm now I'm like in an audition still. So I went like crazy out of like improv. Are there lines? There were lines. It was like the whole bit was somebody like leaving a message for somebody who wasn't picking up so it was like i know you're there pick up that kind of bit yeah yeah yeah and i just like went crazy and was pouring with sweat for like and tony loved it yeah and was you know through the through like he was just over the moon about it and i was exhausted and pouring a sweat and then based on that he just kept calling me back for other gigs and it was so awesome and he had sort of

of this small repertoire of actors that were kind of his group, and he would bring them in for everything. But they, like, things that weren't appropriate. You know, like, I would show up to a McDonald's commercial, and I was, like, 25, and it was, like, father of two twin, you know, 15-year-olds. And I'm like, all right, I guess I'm the dad on this one, you know, and the ad execs are like, who are you playing? And I'm like, I think I'm the dad. You know, I'm like, can we have a quick meeting, Tony? Can we just quickly see you over here? But he was so volatile, you know, that he would be like, I'm fucking, this is who my guy is, you know, screaming at them.

Wow. And then they would just literally cower in the corner. Yeah, yeah. Go and shoot the commercial and then move on. Yeah, that is one way to get what you want, but it takes a lot of energy. Like, no. Because I'm just thinking, you know, I've directed not a lot of commercials, but a couple of commercials.

Yeah. And they are so fucking granular about how they pick air. everything. So I'm amazed that he must have really had him trained to be like, I'm doing casting and you don't get any say in it. Yes, a hundred percent. And like you would go in for those like fittings and he'd be like great.

You know, like normally other commercials, you know, it was that awkward thing where you book the job. Then you had to go into for fitting. Yeah. And then you would have to sort of stand there in front of everybody to present what you were wearing while they talk about you. It was so uncomfortable. You know, they put on another one.

Yeah. Yeah. Can you turn around a little bit? I don't think this. Do you think that's, like, his butt looks, okay. And it's also, I once, because I went to film school in Chicago and P-A'd in commercials. Yeah. And I one time saw a group of adults looking at four shirts on a table and they talked about it for 45 minutes. And they were, and I mean, it's like men's business shirt. So it was like white, blue, gray stripes.

I know. And they were there and at 45 fucking minutes. I know. And usually it's like while you're standing there, just like, awkwardly, just like modeling on the table. Yeah, you were like, yeah, yeah. Can't you tell my loves to grow? He would get his way. He was, yeah, he would yell a lot.

But it was very loyal to actors. He never yelled at the actors. Was just very, you know, considerate and kind. Yeah. But to other, you know. the everybody else he you know is like steer clear right that's and those are the days too where you though you make some decent you can make a good living yeah yeah yeah yeah i get it you booked like three yeah like nationals and you're set totally that's your waiter job a long time yeah like that was

my way to make a living yeah uh for for for many years and it was great yeah and uh and then it just started i sort was able to get some other gigs that led to other gigs yeah you know just kind of you slowly start to figure it out and And you move from Barrington and Wiltshire and try to go somewhere a little more happening. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it was great. Did you always have, because, I mean, because you are an Oscar winning screenwriter. I know.

Are you, are you, unbelievable. At what point do you start to be like, I'm going to, you know, like, because I'm always, to me, like, one of my sort of struggles throughout my career was always, I was not, I didn't have the, like, I'm. I'm going to get shit done for myself. Oh, yeah. That thing. And I know so many people that do and they just seem to have it. But I was always kind of like, I'm just going to hang around a group of people until something happens. I know.

I know. I know. And that's why I wonder, like, at what point do you start to go like, I got to do something. I got to make my own shit happen rather than just, you know. Yes. I think it was, I was in the groundlings. And I was, you know, consistently going out for the same type. of gigs, you know, as an actor, you know, and it was always like the fourth best friend who was

like goofy or, I'm right there with you, like the stonery guy. I was like the dumb guy or the nice guy. Yeah, exactly. But always it had to have something in the description about him being overweight. Like I couldn't, if it didn't say overweight, it couldn't be me. Right. Right. Yeah. Yeah. My mind was always like dumb, uh, nice or like, like, stoner, kind of like, loser, roommate who didn't amount to anything. I don't know where they got any of that. I don't know where that came from. Clearly, I'm not that.

Yeah. You really seem to type A. Really? Yeah. So it was, and so, you know, in the groundlings, you end up writing, you know, all your own sketches. Yeah. And you meet a lot of people.

And, you know, at any given time, there's like 30 people in the main. If you get all the way to the main company, there's 30 people in it and say maybe half or less do a show, which runs for three months and then a new cast comes in. And so of those people, you know, you set up writing sessions with different people. And certain people you, you know, gel with and mesh with. And you can, it's very fun.

And even if it's a terrible sketch, it was like very easy to write. And then there are certain people that just don't have the same sensibilities. Right. You're, you know, you're basically spending an hour and a half, like just staring at each other. Like, what about two firemen who hate each other now?

What about, you know, it's boring. So, Jim Rash was someone who was in the ground at the time who I met. And we had that same sort of energy and we got along very well and, you know, wrote a ton of stuff together. And we had talked about both having this experience of kind of, you know, he was always like the sort of nerd, you know, Or like the, yeah, because if Google Jim Rash, because he's, he's bald and wears glasses. And it's kind of a, you know, thin, smaller. How is he a shorter person? Yeah, he's not like, but like, yeah.

Like five, six maybe. Yeah, but he, but you look at him and it's like, oh, yeah. Well, number one, you're like, oh, yeah, I've seen him. Yes. A hundred times. Yes. Playing the guy that's like, yeah. Yes.

Be quiet over there. Yes. Which I just, I was talking to Sean or my. producer earlier and it's like it's like this show business is amazing yeah and you encounter such creativity but casting is the dumbest it's thing in the world and it's just like you just like there's actors that i think of like that were just like they just had the unlockiness of having like teenage acne yes and so they're villains right you know their entire life they're a villain And, you know, and it's just, it's so fucking weird.

And you're just sort of like, all right, I guess if it works, I'll be a villain. And honestly, being a villain's fucking great. Great. Yeah, yeah. So funny. Yes. He would tell stories about, like, because we would go into commercial auditions. And he went to one where it was like a radio shack.

You know, like he was always going in for radio shack, you know. And then he got like, it was something like football dude. in, like, lab coats, you know? And God forbid, you didn't have a lab coat in your car at all times, you know. And so he went in, I remember, and he walked out and told me, because we were there together. And he was like, yeah, the casting person, you know, had seen all these big guys. And then he went in and they were like, well, we could go funny, you know. But that was always hilarious.

Yeah. So we were fed up with being, you know, type. cast and so we wrote a pilot for ourselves to star in and then went through speaking of casting went through that process and it was it was sort of before um it was before you could write and act in something before they sort of were okay with that right right i remember like when i first got out here that was very you were either a writer or you were an actor but you couldn't really do both like they weren't into you you know crossing streams like that i i wrote on late night with connor o'brien for seven years yeah came out here did a sitcom and was

like i want to write on it too yeah and they let me be a producer which is you know which is like just right because there's like these military titles yes yes and they acted like they were doing me such a huge fucking favor yes by letting me yes right on this show yeah and it's it's so like frustrating because it's like, I mean, my, my transition from New York to L.A. There was so much like, you unfun funny motherfuckers. How dare you? If you want to have a funny off, I'll fucking crush you with my funny, you motherfuckers. But anyway, yes, yes.

We went into, so we wrote a script and we, and there's no possibility you can be in it. Well, no, that was the whole plan. So we were like, but you're taking it to people and you're saying we want to be in it and they're being like, maybe. Right. But our managers were like, well, let's not mention you want to be in it. Let's just, you know, we'll cross that bridge when we get to. Sure, sure. Yeah.

Okay. So we sold the script to ABC and we were like, this is, you know, so green, but we were so excited. And then we went in to have like a big casting session, you know, and it was a pilot. and we went in to have a pilot casting session before we started. And again, we were sort of like, why don't we're going to talk about us being in the roles, you know, but they were like, well, just wait, just wait. Now is not the time. We don't want to derail the project, you know, and you're like, okay.

And everyone that auditions are like, he sucks. So we go into this big casting room at ABC, and it's like on the Disney lot. And it's huge room with like, and it's a big circle of executives. Yeah, yeah. there was one executive there at the time and he you know was from texas he wore big cowboy boots you know tight jeans big belt buckle and he was like all right let's talk about um the role of uh you know the role of lloyd which was the role jim was going to play yeah and let's you know talk about ideas what do you guys think you know and so people are throwing out names you know and jim and i are like

looking at each other and somebody says you know what about tom cats You know, the guy that was on Ed and, you know, that actor. Yeah. And we were, you know, Jim and I were like, oh, I think he's just like a little too attractive, to be honest, you know, like this guy is supposed to be, you know, it was a story about one guy who finds out he's adopted at like a late age. And I played the brother who was, you know, who the mother had birthed and was younger, like the miracle baby.

And then he was the older brother that was adopted. And he finds out that he was adopted when he's like 40. Because his biological mother comes into his life. And so his adopted mother has to tell him, like, you actually are adopted. Yeah. And so we were like, no, Tom Kavanaugh is just kind of too handsome. It just sort of doesn't. Right.

It just doesn't work with, you know, the script. And so it's the ugly duckling. Right, exactly. And it's like the ugly duckling can't be handsome. A leading man. Yeah, yeah. And so that. was our defense and it was as if we took like a giant shit in the middle of the room they all were

like angry and looking at each other and finally the guy you know the cowboy boot guy was like i'm i'm fine to be the bad guy here basically and stepped up and was like you know tom cavanaugh is not attractive tom cavana is tv ugly okay david swimmer tom cavanaugh tv ugly tv ugly okay david shimmer tom cavanaugh TV ugly And we were like Holy shit Like wow We have just like

Seen behind the curtain And I don't want to be here anymore And I'm fucking running out this room And Jim and I are looking at each other And then Jim trying to like diffuse How awkward it was And do a bit was like God if you know Tom Kavanaugh is TV ugly

Like I would hate to see where I am I'm like TV misshaping TV like TV like Only if you need me or like TV circus freak. Exactly. And so he's doing the bed. And then this Texas, you know, the cowboy boot guy interrupts him and goes, Jim, you're not playing this part. We're not going that nebish.

Next. We both again, like punched in the face verbally. And we're just like, uh, so I guess we're not playing these parts. So then of course. Nebish, it's a Texas word. Nerd. I beat pieces and shit you like you up. Oh, my God.

And eat you for breakfast. But it was a good, you know, first experience with how stupid that California process is. And just, I mean, it was probably more so back then, but maybe even still now. It's so gross. It's so gross. There's so much of it that's so gross. You're not even dealing, you guys are men. Like for women, it's a thousand fucking times worse.

I can't even imagine. I did a show. It was one of the three shows that I was the star of, and the two female leads sat in a trailer at Paramount before, in pre-production, getting their hair done different ways, and then Polaroids being taken and hand delivered to some Paramount executives who would look at them and go, yes or no, all fucking day. just it was so weird and fetishy and like like they would get fully made up yeah no just their hair it was just the hair just their hairstyles like we got to see what we can do with their hairstyles and what hairstyles will make this show funnier wow you know wow really weird and they were totally creeped out and it was literally all day hours of sitting there just like now we're going to do an updo yeah now we're going to you know yeah do a facsimile of bangs now we're going to you know you know Yeah. It's terrifying. It's just creepy. I know. It's so creepy. And some of it, some of it does make zero sense. It makes no sense at all. It really like. Beyond the fact that there's two, like you said, how many people are sitting around in that circle? Ten? Yeah. There's only maybe needs to be three of them. Yes. Exactly. So there's seven that just have to justify their

existence. I know. By saying stuff. I know. I know. I know. That's, I feel like that's all development is. I would, I would, when I started to really develop stuff and pitched up, I, it hit me that like, you could go to any network building and just go office to office like the Avengers, uh, end game, like firing one, you know, just alternate offices. You're fired. I know. You're fired. You stay. It would not interrupt any productivity at all. I know. I know. Everything would be the same. I know. Because I don't know what the criteria is for that job necessarily. You know, I think they're excellent taste in television. And by turn on the TV, everything's good.

Everything's so good, you know. I mean, nothing against any of those people that are in those positions. And who are going to give you jobs. Who are going to give me jobs because I'm still looking. I'm very available. I'm very available. If you're a TV executive and you're hearing this, we're not talking about you. We're talking about those other assholes.

because you're cool, and we like you. You're one of the good ones. And I will sit in a chair and have my hair done for as long as it takes. You can do all the hair on my body if you want.

Now it's phone pictures, so not Polaroids. Yeah. It's been a while. Yeah. Yeah, no. So does that show get picked up? So the show, no.

Of course, we cast two guys to play our parts, and they, you know, were very sweet. It didn't move forward. forward. I think, you know, we had Bernadette Peters and Christine Baranski played the two moms. Oh, that's great. They were great. And it was. Yeah, they're both amazing. Christine Baranski is unbelievable. I mean,

Bernard Peters is fantastic, but Christine Branski is just incredible. They were phenomenal. They were phenomenal. So it didn't, it didn't move forward, but it did open the door to sort of this whole other, you know, something that I hadn't really entertained, which was the idea of writing in, you know, this, in Hollywood. Yeah, yeah. That wasn't really something that I had set out to do. Yeah. But I think you quickly realize when you get here is like the more, obviously, the more you can do,

the better just because the odds are, you know, higher. Absolutely. So I. Yeah, you've got to be able to diversify in some way, you know, whether it be writing or directing or producing or whatever it may be. Yeah, no. Well, and I mean, for me now, like, it's, I feel, I mean, even as, much as the business is in the shitter, it's like, I do feel like, well, I can write, I can produce,

yeah, I can host game shows. Yeah, yeah. You know, I can be myself in things, you know, which is like, there's a lot of people that don't have that option. Yeah, completely. And, you know, but I do, because like, you know, I was on dancing with the stars and it went very well. Yeah. Yeah. I'm having all these meetings with people. Yeah. And they're like, so what do you want to do and I'm like well I would like to act could I could we just remember that like I would like to learn lines and say them could we please remember that that's one of the things I enjoy doing and it's like oh yeah well that's not really our thing yeah we'll tell the people oh okay we're doing a figure skating show that we'd love to have you on for oh my god that would be

I couldn't do that so it's you know yeah no it's good to be diversified. Yeah, it is. And how does that turn into screenplays, into features? It was sort of the same thing. We, you know, we wrote the, we wrote this pilot, again, was sort of born out of, you know, lack of acting jobs. And then, uh, we sort of felt like, okay, we did a TV show. Should we try to do a bigger thing and go into a, and write a screenplay?

Yeah. And so, uh, same, you know, it's, it's funny because I feel like a, sketch of the groundlings or a pilot or a screenplay or they all have to kind of have the same elements you're just sort of like expanding it into a larger or different formats and so we kind of just took that very basic you know those tenants and put them into place in writing a screenplay and we had never done that before and so we wrote this movie uh that we eventually got to direct called the way way back and it kind of started as two separate ideas one was um we had a We wanted to do like a big, dumb comedy set at a water park.

And then we also had this story, again, of Jim, his sort of, we pulled a lot of Jim's life because he was more dysfunctional and painful. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he was on vacation once when he was a kid and with his mother and his step, mother and stepfather. And his stepfather asked him what he thought he was on a scale of one to 10. And Jim said he thought he was a six. and the stepdad said, I think you're a three. And that was like on the car ride for their like two-week vacation to Michigan. And so we had this like great story of being called a three.

And then we had this huge water park, you know. And then we eventually just kind of fused them. And it became less big comedy. It's such a good movie. Oh, thank you. Yeah, yeah. So it became sort of a more indie kind of family dysfunction, you know, dromedy, I guess, in the process. It is really good.

what's so great about it is that it does have that kind of like summer teen feel and a lot of kind of the big broad strokes of that yes but then there's also like real heavy shit yeah yeah i know i know and again it was all from jim's poor life yeah yeah fucker i my stuff was just the water park stuff fun cool cool guy yeah um how important is it that you had somebody to go along on this ride with you. Crucial. I mean, to you, what you were saying was I think that's sort of how we got on a little bit of this was I don't

have that, I have, I sort of lack that same kind of self-motivation thing that the engine that makes me just want to crank things out on a daily basis. And be in front of people and look at me and, you know. I just don't have that. I really enjoy it

and, but I really enjoy the collaboration sort of more than anything. Yeah. And as you were saying just sort of sitting around funny people and being like, let's do stuff, you know, that was always sort of more interesting to me. And so I, you know, I love writing with Jim. I have such a hard time writing alone just because I find it so much more, it takes so much more like willpower and strength and, you know, I have to lock my phone in a drawer and I have to like really like, you know, buckle down. And it just is like more laborious process than if I'm

sitting around with somebody who I really enjoy being around and we're doing bits and then we write them down and I'm like, oh, that was a fun day of work, you know? Yeah. So I, it is crucial to me because I think I feed off of other people's energy in a way that when I'm alone is just, it's, I'm left with myself. Yeah. And that's terrifying and suffocating. I understand.

I totally relate to that because like I just, I like, I like making thing. I mean, like, I do like writing things, and when I've written something, I do have this, like, you know, read it three times, you know, just because like, I wrote this and there it is. And I, and oh, I did a good job. And then, you know, also, you know, like, oh, I got it. I should change that actually kind of thing. Yeah. But, but, but yeah, it's not like writing with people. No. In a writer's room. Which is just like one of the best fucking, if the, if you're with a good group of writers, yeah, a writer's room. Yeah. As of. funny person that's you know been trying to do this your whole life yeah it's like oh yes this is the place yeah you know i think it also like you're like we were talking about earlier is just it's the validation in some sort of way for me at least you know if somebody thinking it's funny yeah and you're like oh okay then that's good you know whereas i'm sitting there and i'm writing it and i'm like i don't know it's is this good or is this and you need that with fun yeah you know like you need even every funny the funniest people i know

capable of thinking of something that's really, they think it's really funny. Right. And it's not that funny. Right. Everybody does that. That's why I don't, I honestly don't do social media because of that. Because I get so in my head. Like it's, I'm like having a panic attack about some dumb tweet that I thought was funny that was like, well, maybe nobody else thinks that's funny, you know? And I don't know if it's just a lack of confidence or just being scared if it's going to, you know, fall on its face. But it's just like, it probably came a long after the stakes were already there of like you're you know you're known

as a funny person or whatever right I always I always love because it was I would just and I mean I just I don't give a shit yes I don't I have I have right I think because of doing you know

like long form improv yeah I didn't like I didn't know how to write sketches we just always did long form improv we made shit up right so it was always like it was always you know yeah there's there's no preciousness yeah exactly because you're just doing it all the time and then getting on a late night talk show yeah where again yeah you can't be too precious about anything right it's like we got to fill up this fucking show right there's one tomorrow

and the day after right exactly and so when i like with twitter and i would talk to stana early on in twitter because i loved early twitter yeah weird twitter yeah started yeah because it was like joke gym yeah you know you go to the totally go to the joke gym totally and and and i I met tons of funny people who have become, like, actual real-life friends, you know? Yeah. Yeah. And it was just really fun. And I, and I would meet, like, stand-ups who would be like, why do you, or are you giving stuff away like that? And I'm like, because I can make more. Right. Like, and because it's fun. Yeah. And because why does everything, you know. And I, and I, you know, I think I was just so precious about, I got to, you know, I got to, you know, I got to filled with. anxiety and and I was like

there's better people that are you know like there's people that are better at this than I am one thing you have to remember is that pretty soon we'll all be rotting in the ground so nothing really matters that much I know you gotta think about it that way too

I know I know I think if I did like a character or a sketch kind of thing on social media I think I would be more comfortable I'd be more comfortable yeah yeah I think Improv, I sort of have a love, hate with it in the sense that I was such a huge part, it continues to be such a huge part of my life, but I don't always feel like I'm on solid footing when I'm doing it.

Yes. And that's sort of the point, is that you're uncomfortable and you're just coming up with stuff, you know, on the spot. But I, you know, at the groundlings, we would do, you know, improv throughout the shows. And I was always like, oh, God, I hope I don't have to do an improv. You know, but I would put on a dumb mustache and a terrible wig and write a screen. sketch any day. Yeah, yeah.

But the improv was always, like, and still continues to be scary to me, even though I've done it my whole life. Well, there's also, too, like, as you get older and you start actually producing things and writing things, there is, like, improv is exciting to watch when you're there. Yes. But as, as, like, an ongoing, repeatable thing, like, you might as well rewrite it. I know. Like, it's like, yeah, that was funny, but maybe it could be.

a little better, you know. I know. I feel like I'm that, like, asshole that goes to like a, you know, a comedy, like a film that's a comedy. Yeah. And I'm the guy that's like, man, that was all improv. You can tell. It's like, not even on story. It doesn't even, it's not even, it's just like, you know, it's just, you know, jacking themselves off. Right, right. Get a load to me. Look over here. Yeah, yeah. No, I know. And I'm, I'm, I'm, just shut up and enjoy the movies. I'm, I'm, I'm that same dick you know there's like some shows like i my wife is like you mad now when we because she if she'll watch old sex in the city she's like you have to be quiet because i just there's so much stuff that i know i'm just like i know you know like care care is a sex columnist and

she's weirded out by everything by everything like they talk about like anal and she's like oh anal like you're a sex columnist that should be like right next to vanilla you know Jesus Christ I feel the same way yeah yeah I have to like really dark you know like suspense now yeah because oh oh yeah like something that's so far from me so few comedies because I just am like I know and I'm such a prick yeah oh absolutely I'm such it like it really is like the old whore who can't get off from sex anymore. I need to burn cigarettes into my arm or something. I don't know. I'm the same way. I need like, I need thrillers, murders. I know. That's like what I'm going to watch on TV

once the kid goes to bed, you know. I'm going to put those cigarette buds out in my face, just so that I can now become a villain. Just change the trajectory of my career. Oh, this is as good a sent Parazeni to get the hell out of here. Let me talk about some things coming up. Okay. You and Jim Rash are set to co-directed movie based on the father, son, endurance, race, tandem Dick, and Rick Hoyt. Yeah. And Dick would push his son, Rick, a nonverbal strategic while running marathons.

Yeah. So who is who? I'm playing. Well, who do you think Jim's playing and who you think I'm playing? I think Jim might be the quadriplegic. You're correct. Okay. No, no.

Just because he's lighter. He's lighter. Yeah. And he's, yes, yes. No, we will be casting those bars. I don't think we'll be playing those parts. And is this, because it doesn't sound like a comet, you know, like it seems. Oh, no, it's hilarious.

No, I'm just kidding. I mean, is it kind of, is it meant to be sort of like more of an emotional? Yes. I mean, I think with all the things that we write, we try to sort of toe the line with, you know, adding as much humor to sort of a heavier subject as we can, you know, without, without a feeling like it's two different movies entirely, you know, melded together into one. But I think we're always sort of interested in that kind of gray area where you could be crying or laughing. Yeah, no, and that tension is makes, that's, that's hard. And that's why people don't do it is because it's

difficult. Yes. And so like to try and aim for that is like, I think really admirable. and really where some of the most interesting things happen. Yeah, that's the hope. So we, you know, we just finished a rewrite on a script and now we'll see what happens. But, you know, it could happen and maybe it doesn't, but that's the hope is that we are shooting it next year. Good to do it. Awesome. Yeah.

And third season of Lute is on. Out now. You and Maya. Yeah. Will they, won't they? Oh, God. Yeah. It's like a real cliff hang.

Actually, blue balls. Three seasons of blue balls. Now, that's a promo. If you like three seasons of blue balls. If you like dry humping, you'll love loot. And also Super Troopers 3, which is coming out. Wait. Oh, it's coming out next year.

August, yeah. Nice. And you work with those broken lizard guys before. They're great guys. Old friends. I adore them and it was really fun it was fun to just do

a big dumb comedy I miss that I don't know I feel like it's harder those are harder to come by yeah yeah I don't know no everyone was so excited

about the last naked gun yes 100% I just everybody I knew was like there's a funny goofy comedy and it's doing well

I know yeah it's so like I would love to be more a part of that in some like whether I be making it or directing it. But it just feels like it's so hard to get those movies up now. Yeah. But that was like our child. It was like all of those films. There was one thing after another. After another.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Just big dumb comedies. Yeah. So it was very liberating to work on that movie. And those guys are great. So it was a very fun experience. Awesome. Yeah. Well, Nat, thank you so much. Thank you for coming in here. Very fun. Yeah. We had it. It was a good time. Yeah. And happy holidays. Yeah, you too. Happy holidays. Yeah. You get, yeah, you get. You get. Merry Christmas and happy on it. I know. It's not fair. Double down. Double dipping. Double dipping.

All right. And thank all of you for listening. I'll be back next week with more of the three questions, God willing. The Three Questions with Andy Richter is a team cocoa production. It is produced by Sean Doherty and engineered by Rich Garcia. Additional engineering support by Eduardo Perez and Joanna Samuel. Executive produced by Nick Leow, Adam Sacks, and Jeff Ross. talent booking by Paula Davis, Gina Batista, with assistance from Maddie Ogden. Research by Alyssa Graal.

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