Tosh Show - Hallmark Presents My Xmas Special With Luke Macfarlane

Episode Date: December 19, 2023

Daniel wraps up 2023 and celebrates the holidays in Lake Tahoe with Hallmark Christmas movie star Luke Macfarlane!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in to the new podcast, Stories from the Village of Nothing Much, like Easy Listening, but for fiction. If you've overdosed on bad news, we invite you into a world where the glimmers of goodness in everyday life are all around you. I'm Catherine Nicolai, and I'm an architect of COSI. Come spend some time where everyone is welcome and the default is kindness. Listen, relax, enjoy. Listen to stories from the Village of Nothing Much, on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Walter Isaacson set out to write about a world-changing genius in Elon Musk and found a man addicted to chaos and conspiracy. I'm thinking it's idiotic to buy Twitter because he doesn't have a fingertip feel for social, emotional, networks. The book launched a thousand hot takes, so I sat down with Isaacson to try to get past the noise. I like the fact that people who say I'm not as tough on musk as I should be are always using anecdotes from my book to show why we should be tough on musk. Join me, Evan Ratliffe, for On Musk with Walter Isaacson. Listen on the iHeart Radio app Apple Podcasts

or wherever you get your podcasts. memories tying into the holiday spirit. Don't miss this special event starting Thursday December 7th as 7 p.m. Eastern as State Farm Park and I Heartland in Fortnite available all weekend long. Afterwards, stick around and check out all the exciting things State Farm has to offer. Say hi to Jake from State Farm on the big screen and try to be Jake Score at the parkour minigame. Visit iHeartRadio.com slash I Heartland to start playing today. In the industry, is there a stigma about doing home art Christmas movies? I don't know. When I watch one that I like, it's got log cabin. It has to have the small town.

I don't want anything magical. I don't want a prince of a fake country. I fucking hate that. Immediately in my mad at this. I'll watch it still. [♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it still. [♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it still. [♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it still. [♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it still.

[♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it still. [♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it still. [♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it still. [♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it still. [♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it still.

[♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it still. [♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it still. [♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it still. [♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it still. [♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it still. [♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it still. [♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it still. [♪ music playing in background, I'm mad at this, I'll watch it anything for Christmas this year. You've been very kind to me. You've been very generous. I have everything I could ever want. The only thing I'm curious about is who's on your list. Daniel, that information is top secret. Or Aston

Kutcher and Milacunis on your naughty list for writing a letter to have a judge go easy on their Scientologist rapist friend. What about Elon Musk? Do people with Asperger's get a pass? Oh, oh, oh. Is Jim Harbarr on your naughty list for sign stealing? And would he be able to get off the list if he were to beat Nick Sabin in the who's a bigger liar and asshole bull sponsored by couldn't cut it in the NFL? Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,s, where you at on that? Also, you look like Andy Reid.

Wait a minute. Is expelled congressman George Santos on your naughty list for using campaign funds on only fans or for wearing too many layers? Always got a button up, a sweater, a blazer. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Clarence Thomas. He must be a really good guy since he's always accepting so many gifts. What's Hunter Biden's deal? Naked selfies, a handgun, cocaine in the White House? Does being fun put you on the naughty list?

I know neither actually celebrate Christmas, but Israel, Palestine. Who's naughty? Who's nice? Be careful how you respond. Remember you're being recorded. What's on Ukraine's wish list more aid from the US? When you're flying your sleigh over North America, if you happen to see a Chinese spy balloon, what's the move? You seem like a second amendment guy. Could you take care of this for us? Can I trade every gift you would ever give my two kids for the Miami Dolphins one in the

Super Bowl this year? Do you believe in ghosts? No. I knew it. All right, Santa. You'll appreciate that my guest today has spent years spreading Christmas cheer to every household in America with Basic Cable. And since starring in a home art Christmas movie automatically makes you not a celebrity,

I am not breaking this show's rich, long-standing tradition. Enjoy. When Walter Isaacson set out to write his biography of Elon Musk, he believed he was taking on a world-changing figure. That night he was deciding whether or not to allow Starlink to be enabled to allow a sneak attack on Crimea. What he got was a subject who also sowed chaos and conspiracy. I'm thinking it's idiotic to buy Twitter

because he doesn't have a fingertip feel for social, emotional networks. And when I sat down with Isaacson five weeks ago, he told me how he captured it all. They had Kansas spray paint, and they're just putting big axes on machines and it's almost like kids playing on the playground. Just choose them up left, right, and center. And then like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, he doesn't even remember it, getting the bars, done excuse

being a total f***. But I want the reader to see it in action. My name is Evan Ratliffe and this is On Musk with Walter Isaacson. Join us in this four-part series as Isaacson breaks down how he captured a vivid portrait of a polarizing genius. Listen to On Musk on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Tune in to the new podcast, Stories from the Village of Nothing Much. Like easy listening, but perfection. If you've overdosed on bad news, we invite you into a world where the glimmers of goodness

in everyday life are all around you. I'm Catherine Nicolai, and you might know me from the bedtime story podcast, nothing much happens. I'm an architect of cozy, and I invite you to come spend some time where everyone is welcome and kindness is the default. When you tune in, you'll hear stories about baker welcome and kindness is the default. When you tune in, you'll hear stories about bakeries and walks in the woods. A favorite booth at the diner and a blustery autumn day. Cats and dogs and rescued goats and donkeys, old houses, bookshops,

beaches were kites flying and pretty stones are found. I have so many stories to tell you and they are all designed to help you feel good and feel connected to what is good in the world. Listen, relax, enjoy. Listen to stories from the village of nothing much on the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Get ready because Aaron and Karissa from Calm Down have got something special coming up

at State Farm Park in I Heartland, a reading of Twisted Night Before Christmas. Bell infuse it with stories and memories tying into the holiday spirit. Don't miss this special event, starting Thursday to 7 p.m. Eastern at State Farm Park in I Heartland in Fortnite, available all weekend long. Afterwards, stick around and check out all the exciting things State Farm has to offer. Say hi to Jake from State Farm on the Big Screen, and try to be Jake Skour at the parkour minigame. Visit ihardradio.com slash ihardland to start playing today. Now, I said I wouldn't have celebrities on my show, but I'm making an exception for today's

guest because he starred in 16 of my favorite Hallmark Christmas flicks. Please welcome Luke McFarlane. Luke, thank you so much for having me. When I was asked to do this, I was like, is he really a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies? And I got, you know, word that you are in fact, a watcher of Hallmark Christmas movies. If I was honest about how much I love them,

everyone would assume I'm doing a bit. I would freak them out, yeah. Well, I don doing a bit. I would freak them out, yeah. Well, I don't even care if I'd freak them out, but they wouldn't take me seriously. And I almost need you to know that I'm being honest or it's kind of meaningless. But yes, I've loved homework movies way, way before it was ever fun to watch them

and laugh at some of the silliness of it. And for some reason, my mom, she also loves them and that's more on brand for what they were doing. But my mom and I, we watched them separately and then we both found out that we loved them. And now it's a thing. And my wife, when she watches them now with me and she's a hip, cool comedy writer.

So at first, she was just kind of mocking but then you get past that part of it. Yeah. It's not a unfamiliar story, the one you've described. And I kind of, I've been doing it for so long that I kind of saw that change too when they kind of came into this, I guess, you know, with the drinking games and the right thing. But when I first started doing them, it wasn't really on people's radar. So it's been interesting to watch evolution and also hallmark kind of change as well.

Like they are also trying to redefine themselves in the space and they don't wanna be a joke and they also wanna be popular and they wanna be accepting and they wanna be inclusive. So they're kinda going on, so it's strange in this town to do anything as long as I've done hallmark films, and just watch of going on it. So it's strange in this town to do anything as long as I've done a hallmark, films, and just watch everything change around it,

just the people that watch them, and the way they make them, and how to make a movie in 14 days, that makes sense. That's how long it takes them to make them. Generally speaking, I've done some that are a little longer, a snow budget, this is a big part of the hallmark, which is how much money they're gonna spend on snow. So if there's a bigger budget, you might get 16.

Here's what I like about them. Here's what, when I watch one that I like, it's got log cabin, it has to have the small town. I don't want anything magical. I don't want a prince of a fake country. I fucking hate that. Immediately, I'm a mad at this. I'll watch it still.

I also think it's great that the woman always will choose the small town over her great career. At the end I always like her like, oh I can have it both ways and it's like, no you can't, just once I wanted to fucking stay. But anyway. It's either me or Christmas, I don't like faith-based, that gets me angry.

They do those sometimes and whatever. That one group that they have, when calls the heart, I get... Parties. Fuck, I get mad at those. Yeah, it's it. First of all, who comes up with the title, when calls the heart?

Those are just words put together. It's a complicated title. They're famous for complicated titles. I did sense and sensibility and snowmen. No, well, that's at least cute. No, it doesn't make any sense. No, I don't care. It has the word snowmen and I'm happy.

But there wasn't like snowmen wasn't even really a part of it. Are you guys competitive with each other? We kind of like the more I do it, like it's like what time's long to do you get. What do you mean time is the only premiere on Sunday, just two of them back to back. Yeah, but it's leading up to Christmas.

It's sort of distant. Oh, you're just saying. Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying,

Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying,

Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just saying, Oh, you're just anymore. Right, so the prime spot is Thanksgiving. Uh huh, yeah. It's families together. They gotta find something everybody can watch.

So they shoot them all in the summer. They shoot most of them in Canada. A lot of them. I have done one in Utah, which was lovely. Actually, it was lovely to shoot. Sure, Utah's pretty, but very, very, very, very, very, but you have to wrap your head around the people. Well, no, they were actually wonderful.

Yeah. No, we had great, I love Mormons, but I'm fascinated by them because it's insanity. How many Netflix short documentaries do you have to watch? It's where you like, you're like, no. Or scripted series. Do you know what was really impressive was the background is always a big part of these movies. And people were like, oh, I'm in a movie.

I'm in a movie. They were like silent and so obedient. Yeah. That's a big part of these movies and people were like, oh, I'm in a movie, I'm in a movie. They were like silent and so obedient. Yeah. That's a big answer. Right. I did what the word obedient. What's the thing? What's the term from that one movie?

Keepsweet. Keepsweet, that's what they always said. But anyway, are you from, was you're not Mormon? Are you Mormon? No, no, no. No. But I mean, I did grow up Christian,

like really strong. I got a dad that was a pastor. Really? I was born in Germany because. Army. No, missionaries. Oh. Because they hadn't heard of the Bible over there.

In Germany? Right. Like, I don't understand why my parents who didn't speak German felt the need to go over to Germany. Savings holes. Ah, right. Yeah. Have you ever experienced a Christmas miracle?

Nope. This is the first question I ask all my guests. Okay. Do you believe in ghosts? No. All right. Your parents were they supportive of your career wanting to do this?

Yeah, I mean, we don't come from an acting family at all. My dad was a doctor and my mom was a nurse and music was a big part of our lives. I the cello still do play the cello so like lessons and understood Performance and the discipline around the arts my older sister was a wonderful violinist and she wanted to study violin at Juilliard Mm-hmm, and I remember when she you know got the perspectives book they mailed it to our house And I saw that they also had acting and I I was like, I think I could do that. You were an over, you're an overachieving family.

Uh, yeah. I don't, like you're good looking and you're overachieving, you play instruments. Multiple instruments, probably. I assume. Yeah, badly, but shallow is the primary instrument. But my family also just kind of let us do whatever we want, too. They really, like that wasn't the focus.

It was like, be good, be kind, take care of people. That's all I want for my kids. They were good. I just wanted to be nice. I'm like, I don't care if you ever achieve anything in life. I don't want to pay for my daughter. You don't want to what? Pay for like when she's old, though.

Why? I wanted to have a life, because she can really try to all the way through it till death to my dad you're just gonna pay for everything everything as long as you're just you're rich in my life okay maybe I don't want to do that okay yeah and by the answer you're quite yes okay rich how much does julie art cost I was lucky enough to get a scholarship most people there get a scholarship do you want your daughter to go to Juilliard too? I want her to do whatever she wants to do.

You wanted to play the cello? I would be into that. I'm just going to try it. You put the piano to? A little bit. Of course you do. Yeah, a little bit. You've got to learn to play the piano.

Do you have a piano in the house? No. Do you have a kid's room? Mm-hmm. Just put it in the kid's room. And I guarantee you, please, got a little tiny piano in there. But like a shitty plastic one, right?

No, no, this is like a baby grand tiny one. Looks like a little miniature John Legend, but we can't have him do that. Are you serious? Okay, so like whatever, fuck off your rich. But that sounds very fancy. Okay. I was a gift.

I didn't buy it. I guarantee some unlegigint. Ha ha ha. No, it was not from John Legend. By the way, speaking of Joulerd, what was your audition? I did two monologues, one from a King Lear. I did Edmund the Bastard son from King Lear and I did a Canadian playwright.

Is it anything like Save the Last Dance? I haven't seen that before. Wait, are you serious? It's about getting into Jouler Julia and it doesn't hold up. Oh, really? It's so racist. Oh, no, no, no. The way that she ends up, she's like, I think she's a ballerina.

I forget now, and now I'm gonna try to go for memory. But then she meets a black guy and he teaches her how to do hip hop. Hip hop. And it's Julia Styles, who is just as like the epitome of she's not hip hop. And she's doing this audition for jeweler with a chair and she's like sitting in it like they're like oh wow in their blown way this is the greatest dancing we've ever seen anyway the you know the the sort of precursor to save the last dances is fame okay when she's

the welder and she auditions for julie art and and they have all the professors there at the julie art thing, and I love it because the one of them's wearing her, like, his glasses. And then, like, when she does something a little too sexy, because it's, they've got it wrong, because Juilliard actually doesn't have a ballet program, but she's kind of auditioning for a ballet. And then when she does something not ballet,

the one guy takes his glasses off, and he goes, like, hmm, okay, let's do it. It's like very, like, he's sexualizing her. It's like, he's gonna be a bad teacher, for sure. Ha-ha-ha. Did you ever have a crush on Luke Perry? It's like very like he's sexualizing her. Yeah, he's gonna be a bad teacher for sure. Did you ever have a crush on Luke Perry? Never did. The scar on the eyebrow?

No, he wasn't for me. Okay. I was, you know, Mark Wahlberg. Ugh, I don't know. A racist? I was wrong with you. I hit a hate crime on under his belt, so no. I don't ever let people forget that

Always think about them. Yeah, you know, you know who didn't do that when they run to college me a lot of people a lot of people When did you come out to your parents my second year of college came back for Christmas and told them oh? Bring it us to Christmas where they totally were they receptive to it Yes, and you know again, again, to my father's credit. And I didn't learn this for some time, but it's hard when your kid is gay, I think. He felt like, did I know you and did you feel safe and all those things, but he never made my problem. By the way, were your parents supportive of your cello playing, because that to me is

way worse as a father. To be cello. Because I can't imagine having to lug that thing around to all the practices and or concerts. Yeah, my dad played the cello too. Yeah. So you had two cellos in the truck? We had two. In the truck.

In the pickup truck. What could you fit that thing in? Tell who isn't as big as the double base. So, you know, grateful we didn't have a double base family. Family that plays plays. Is there a family of double base players? And they're probably on Instagram. You grew up outside of Toronto.

I grew up actually in town called London, Ontario. Oh yeah, and it's... No, I've performed there. Oh huh. Yeah, it's sort of like the Michigan State of Canada. Okay. I hate Toronto. I do do.

I've never liked it. One of my least favorite Canadians that is, I don't know why people get into it. I'm like, this is shittier than Detroit. But I will say, I filmed there in the winter for like five years and it's just like, it's like sad and like dirty. Like sidewalks with like cigarette butts in there.

That's what I think of when I think of trance. I just don't like this city doesn't have any soul. That's my thing. I think it does in the summer. I don't know when you're in whatever. Let them cheer for their stupid basketball team. In the industry, is there a stigma about doing Hallmark Christmas movies?

I don't know. I will say that, you know, when I get these offers, I ask my representation. I'm like, guys, is this? And I get like assurances from them. They're like, no, no, not all. It doesn't hurt. They're not on people's radars.

And I'm like, they kind of are. Now, there's a small group of you that make these a lot of them. The theater company. Do you know these people? Are you have relationships with them? Are you friends with them? I don't think I've worked with the same female lead

more than once. What about that? It can't just camera and breathe. Is she, is she sticker nose up at everybody? I, I will admit that I was like nervous to work with her, but she could not have been more lovely. She probably doesn't approve of your lifestyle. We never talked about it.

We never talked about it. I wouldn't talk about it immediately. She has a lot of gay friends. Does she? Yes. I hope so. Do you actually like Christmas has a lot of gay friends. Does she? Yes. I hope so. Do you actually like Christmas? And before you answer no,

that this is my absolute favorite holiday. So please answer this correctly, Luke. Woof. Yes, I do. I do like Christmas. I like Christmas very much. And I remember getting very sad after Christmas as a kid. Like when all the decorations came down

and the house felt empty. And I don't know what there's about. Here's what bothers me about Taylor Swift. I love everything about her, her business savvy, all of that. I think she's a genius. The billion. But yeah, you know how she used to write songs about her X's? If this one, this Travis Kelsey fucks her over,

she can buy the Kansas City Chiefs and like fucking move them to London Canada if she wanted to. Like she could do anything. That's beside the point. Where she's thinking about it. Yeah, I didn't know. But now it's great. But what I wanted to say was her song, that one song where she goes, we can leave the

Christmas lights up till January. I'm like, that's only fucking five days after Christmas. Yeah. That's not days after Christmas. Yeah. That's not a big deal. Yeah. That line blows my mind up, five days after Christmas is not worthy of a lyric. Yeah.

Can you believe it? They left their Christmas lights up till January 2nd. You've done some other besides homework. Christmas movies. Yes. Homework does other holidays. Yes. And those are garbage.

But it's part of when you're in the stable. You got to pay your dues. You got to do Valentine's. You got to do Valentine's. You got to do Valentine's. You got to do, you know, the seasonality of Hallmark is really. I think I've hit all the other seasons. The ones I didn't like, I'll be honest with you,

shoe addict Christmas, time travel, fucking stupid. It was like the rest. She puts on new shoes and she time travels, guys. If you don't, she time travels. Because it's a shoe addict's Christmas. I didn't know that one, that one made me angry. But Jean Smart, I mean, Jean Smart was in that. I don't care.

She was so good in that. She really was. Attic is a tough word to use in a hall of the Markville. You're out of things. Shatto Christmas loved it. You know, setting Tahoe, I live in Tahoe. So I always get excited even. I also randomly George Lopez was in that one.

Was he? I think he was like a Belman or a daughter. He definitely wasn't. George Lopez is in one of these as a hotel person. He's just like, why is he in this hallmark movie? And it's such a small role. That is the fascinating thing. Like they get some like, I've worked,

I've worked with some really interesting things. One of those wins from the home builders. Oh, yes. It wasn't one of them didn't want that. Yeah, he was acting. Yeah, he was like a big city rep or something in one of them. It wasn't playing like a home builder. But it was going back to Chateau.

You play the cello in that one. I do. And that's exciting. It was exciting. I tell you when I first got the script, I played the violin and I was like, change it to the cello please. And they did. Okay, so you do have pole.

Oh, huge. All right, well good. Then here's what I want done. Here's my two, I have two notes that if you could do this. Because I don't care if you fucking study that jewelry art or anyway, no actor can pull this off. Plain in a fake instrument, a string instrument. No, that's not what I'm gonna say.

Holding a cup of hot cocoa or coffee that's empty and me believing that there's something in it, your arms don't move the right way. It's too fucking light, put water in it every time. It's something in it. Your arms don't move the right way. It's too fucking light. Put water in it every time. It's infuriating. Daniel, we are learning. We are learning and this feedback has been given a lot.

Just put something in every, I can tell that there's nothing in it. Second note. Put some fucking bricks in the luggage. I can tell when they're hitting the curb that it's empty. It's like just put bricks in there and be done with it, you idiots. Can I tell you, my first Christmas movie,

I was, you know, a Christmas tree farmer and I picked up truck. Yeah. And was it red? I don't remember. It's red. I don't remember. And this is when we filmed a new time.

And it was like, again, it was my first Christmas movie. I wasn't like, it was like, there's a, you don't remember. It's red. I don't remember. And this is when we filmed in Utah. And it was like, again, it was my first Christmas movie. I wasn't like, it was like, there's a lot. And I remember I was coming from the hardware store, of course. And I just kind of loaded loosely my shit into the back of the pickup truck. And I'm a pickup truck owner. You can't just put a can of paint in the back of a pickup truck. It's just gonna bounce.

Oh, that's the same. And I was really embarrassed when I saw that, and then of course someone sent me a tweet where they're like, of course, Luke just loads things loosely in the back of his pickup truck. I was really embarrassed, and now I do. Because people do watch them with a kind of, yes, I for that sort of detail.

They're just great movies. They're just fun to watch. I just love them. And did you watch it before your white like you just- Oh, way before my wife. I wasn't even- my wife was barely born when I was started watching these. She's young.

Oh my god, she's the child. I don't know how long she's 13 years younger than me. Oh, okay. I'm 48. she's 30. No, I don't know how old she is. Is she 36? Huh, interesting. He's younger than me too.

That's why he can do things like that. Are you better looking? He's very good looking guy. But are you better looking? No, I'm not saying. He does say to our, he does say to our daughters, is your handsome dad. I'm like, no. No handsome father.

That's not true. Your partner is an American Alpine skier. Yes he is. He's named Hig. Hig Rupert. Which seems perfect for my hallmark Christmas movie idea. Bring me some Higgy pudding. No.

Do you ski? Do you snow ski? I can now because of my partnership with Hig. He's obviously an incredible skier. And we, why do you say partnership? I don't know, because we're not married. You know, I'm a boyfriend. I guess I could say boyfriend.

And it feels different now, because we're raising a kid together. Uh-huh. You know, we'll get married one day. I don't care if you get married. I don't care if you want to get to heaven. You just, you'll get to the right thing. You better do that right before you die.

I'm sure we will at some point, but he's an amazing skier. And it's been crazy. Like for a guy that like I did not, we had like a garbage hill in my town, like an old garbage hill that became the ski hills. Like I skied there and with Hick, like I've skied in like Zermott and Shemini. Have you ever seen him take a battle spill?

I mean, I've seen like, film or something like that. Yeah, he was like, it was famous on, you know, like, how sports center plays, like, the biggest, like, moments. And there's this one of him at a World Cup coming down, getting so pissed off and breaking his poles over his life. That's kind of cool, though. That was kind of cool. It's so crazy because anybody can stand on the top of a hill

and just lean forward and go down. Like, it's absurd. How ever, when they say, like, oh, the amount of people that die here lean forward and go down. Like it's absurd how ever when they say like, oh, the amount of people that die rear, I'm like, it should be a thousand times. Absolutely. It's also the ice that you know, you and I are used to skiing on and like, you know, Tahoe, this is, it's ice.

They like, hose it down, it's ice. Like you can hit it with a hammer. It's crazy. When did you come, you came out in 2008 to the Hollywood. I had my first job in television. It was like, right after I graduated from college and I was working on this military show. Did you straighten it up?

Did you straighten up for no reason? I do remember very clearly like when I booked this show is like talking to one of the representatives that I worked with at the time. And they were like, this is a really good part for you. And the implication was, because I was playing with that implication. they were like, this is a really good part for you. And the implication was, because I was playing with that implication. Oh, shit, I know what that implication was.

That's right. That's right. That's right. Military dude, you know, so, you know, it didn't feel so good. Do you feel that coming out affected your career? I don't know. I truly, I don't know.

You think had you not, you would have been Wolverine? Was it no? I mean, I mean, it's, I'm not saying anything about anything. Oh, I know. Anything. Oh, I know. I'm just saying, I have no idea. I have no idea.

But like, I can't imagine who I would be if I hadn't. Here's what I think, though, back to the point when we were talking about if coming out, you have to get from some, because I'm sure whether it's happened to you, it certainly happened to others. I would be fine with as kind of a retribution of sort that only gay people were allowed to be in anything. Like I would be fine with that. I would be like, okay, let's do this for 30 years.

And then, or maybe we're allowed to have keep five straights now, we get to vote on it. Like I'll take Christian bail. I don't know, my list ends there. Prince of walkin'. No, fuck, he's too old, who cares. But anyway, that's my list, I just, Christian bail.

It's the only straight act right, we're like, all right, keep him. Also, when I get annoyed when somebody comes out and you hear people, they're like, oh, nobody cares anymore. It's like, hold on, everybody cares. It's so, it's interesting. We care, we wanna talk about it. I mean, the big thing now is like,

if Luke's allowed to play straight, he should not be allowed to play straight. You know, if only gay people are allowed to play gay characters. But I have the easiest answer for this. Yeah. It's just like, no, he can do it. He can play straight. Anybody that's ever been marginalized gets to do everything.

Yeah. There's my stance. Well, I appreciate that. I don't know if I was ever limited. I don't know if things were ever helped for me, but like, you know, I mean, network testing for television shows, like a big deal. You got all these people there. They're curious, they're afraid, they're, you know,

they're just afraid. They're afraid. They're spending all this money on us, not gonna make money. And there's like famous stories of things that tested really badly and did really well. You know, bros, the movie I just did. It tested really, really, really well. Like, I remember going to one of the screens with Judd,

Appetite, him saying like, this is tested better than any movie I've ever done. I saw the movie, I paid to see the movie. Thank you very much. I felt like it's sometimes it was trying to be Ronchie funny sometimes it was trying to be heartfelt and there was a balance there that wasn't perfect. And that's coming from an idiot.

Yeah, no, I mean, Billy is a really big fan of like the sort of, you know, the movies from the 90s that you got mail, the Notting Hill, and I think, you know, his sensibility is much more of the sort of like big, open-hearted, rom-com. And, you know, and Judd and Nick are like jokes. Jokes are really important.

So I thought it was a really successful hybrid of those two things. And I think that I think he did what he wanted to do. Are you in the spinning on the hand scene? Uh, yes. I don't know. Oh, there was a whole scene in Rose where they had made a great expense. I remember the director calling me and was like, look, just want to know if we spend $30,000

making a fake butt of Billy, and would you be comfortable like eating that fake butt? Way more comfortable than eating real ass on camera. And I said sure, and they made this fake butt and I did that and it never ended up in the movie. But do you have the butt? I think Billy doesn't actually. $30,000 to make that.

Yeah, yeah. That's another thing I always think is bizarre. As you know, I had a show where we would do little comedy bits. Yes. And giving notes to real actors is impossible. So, like, I would only just use my writers as actors. Oh, okay. And I would never...

So you just tell them what you want them to do. I'd be like, hey, be gay or be it, right? Right. And like, let's end that dumb conversation. You can't do that. No, I understand. Yeah. I am a drug. I am a drug.

That would get it. Right, I get it. That's not my thing. Yeah. But sure, cut through some conversations. Yeah. So stupid. It's also hard to receive a note.

Like, no actor is like, hmm, because they just want to think what they just do is like great. You know, so it's about like massaging that like you're like, that was really good. Why don't we try this? I'm always like, do you want to louder or faster? Yeah. Those are my two. The more confident I get as an actor,

that's generally what I want, you know. Just direct. Do you need a faster? I'll give you one faster. To be like angry and like go up at the end, I can do that for you. Okay, yeah. You were in a Netflix Christmas movie.

I was, yes. Was the paycheck bigger? Smaller. Did homework say, hey, knock it off? So I've had like sort of overall deals with them. And in the, you know, I'm going to commit to five episodes or five Christmas movies or five movies, but I can't work for any other network

and they name all the other networks and they can't be holiday-related movies. So I was able to do that because I was outside of my deal with them. Do home art movies pay? They pay, well, and your rate goes up, I assume, every time. That's a nice thing. It is a nice thing.

I don't know if I knew that they paid. They do. Are hallmark Christmas scripts written by the same people that write the cards? No, not at all. They're actually two separate companies. Crown media is what does it. And I'm not quite sure what the licensing deal

is with the whole card. What about residuals? You doing okay on residuals with hallmark movies? They have to err a certain amount of time before you start getting, because as you know, they err a lot. So if you end up doing one of the ones that kind of hits and is popular,

it gets aired more and more, so you eventually get residuals. How about that shoe one? Is that one airing a lot? I don't know, I've got residuals for shoe addicts Christmas. I, one time I had my wife, I went, I wanted to write a harm art Christmas movie. Okay.

And she's like, all right, done. She went in, took the meeting and they're like, oh, we're gonna, well, really? Who'd you pitch to? A older Jewish woman. It was really nice. I, here's the, they gave us the dos and the don'ts. Yeah, I'm so curious about this.

Okay, yeah. We always like, we always, always written caps. We like a strong female lead early to mid-30s and she needs to have a romance. This is always our A story. Our audience is women, 25 to 54 and we don't like to stray from what we do. It's kind of if it ain't broke, don't fix it mentality. We are family friendly, PGG in nature.

A rule of thumb when watching our movies is you want to be able to watch them with your 80-year-old grandmother and your eight-year-old niece. H.C. hallmarked hair. By the way, I don't give a fuck about movies and mystery. Don't tell me about your resume there. You really do. Those are so stupid. I don't want any extra drama.

It's just a warm feeling when it's on in the background. It's hard when there's a mystery and there's a body with no There's never blood on the body. Typically light romantic comedies with a heartwarming Any. Alright, let's get to the do's. Okay. Want establishers at the top of the movie to set up the city or town. We want lots of coverage when shooting and Any inserts when necessary. Please stay away from killing off family members. There tends to be a lot of dead father, mother, wife, husbands in our movies, and we're trying to get away from that. How about this? No bowling.

Oh, I didn't fucking note. No bowling. Our content is not sexual in nature at all. A kiss is enough to show the romance in our movies. And we usually save this moment for the end when our leads get her fairy tale ending. By the way, you guys have broken that now. They're doing kisses and act like five or six all the way through. Oh my goodness. Make out sessions. Does your partner, does he prefer that you kiss women over, over men?

I mean, he's in an acting role. I don't think he's really bothered by over men. I mean, he's in a acting role. I don't think he's really bothered by either way. I mean, he's seen me both kiss men and women in various projects. Do you, do you have a preference? I don't know, it's acting. It's like it's not that weird. You know, I don't find it that uncomfortable.

The most uncomfortable I ever got was right before the kissing scene when my female lead asked me. She's like, do you get the feeling in your tummy when you kiss a woman? What? And I was like, yeah. What the fuck does that mean? I think, I had no feeling when it's coming. I think she was feeling anxious because I think she gets the feeling and she wanted to know that I got the feeling to.

Oh, you just tell her to shut up. It was a little ercie. It was a little pungentful. So I always the feeling that I was just a little shut up. It was a little erky. It was a little uncomfortable. So I always give anybody that comes on my show gifts, but I don't buy them anything. I just take stuff from my house and give them to me because I can't stand things in my house. I don't like it.

So I get rid of stuff always. I am the exact same one. So, anyway, so here's how I'm gonna give you your gift. I hope it's like a baby associated. It's all baby associated And baby so's it and Christmas So did you because you just you have a little girl now? Yes, I have a just I have a nine-month-old girl now Oh, wow have a four-year-old boy, but I'm nine month old so so I'm just and your Canadian so I had a so anything that was Canadian related

Oh, it's a reindeer. Oh, they got little uggs for the Christmas. Oh, come on It's all hand-me-downs Oh, it's a reindeer. Like little uggs for the Christmas. Oh, come on. It's all hand-me-downs. That's, this is quality. I know it. No, that's really good. You know, we're going to New York next week, too. And if you ever want her to look like Handmaid's Tale, or like if they did a Christmas movie,

I don't know what, somebody gave us this. This is fucking horrible. Oh, my gosh. But it's adorable. It's not, that's not adorable. Butaunya little jacket. You know, Canadian pen- Oh, this is good.

Yeah, this is great. Oh, come on. This is good, generous. No, we're talking about this. Wow. There's more in here. Oh, wow. Just put that over there.

That's so good. You know, I was gonna ask you. Just throw it all in there. You're a citizen now of America of America. I became a citizen and I'd actually don't on the date Maybe I won't say 2018 was that test hard Not really but it'd be actually fun to do it with like well, can I ask you a couple questions? No really? No No, I'm big on not letting people know how dumb I am. I don't, I think you would know. Who is the president during the First World War? The First World War?

Yeah, it's the same. Jefferson. Donald Jefferson? So, who was the president of the First World War? Woodrow Wilson. Woodrow, I would have never had a million years got that. Why? You have to know that?

They give you all the questions, so you basically just have to memorize them. Were you ever a model? No. Never. Never. ever a model? No. Never. Never. No. Uh-huh. Was that one of your questions?

No. Okay. No, no, never, never. I actually find it really hard to take pictures. It's a totally different. It's the worst. It's very different. I despise it still.

Yep. And I won't hold a prop. They always try to get you for press photos to hold something, and I'm like, I'm not fucking putting anything in my hands because one time I did a promo photo like this and it's used on every review of anything that like says like I have a new special or something and it's like, oh yeah.

We do a lot of promo for, you know, the hallmark makes like the classic movies and they're usually holding an associated prop. So like for shoe addicts Christmas, I think Candace was holding a show. I bet she can as had her her cross front and center. I think she do wear a cross in that movie. Oh, I'm sure she did. What's your favorite Christmas movie? Doesn't have to be homework.

You know, everyone was saying for a long time, die hard, man. What? Die hard, Chris. The fuck says that. People are saying that. You're hanging out, douchebag. Yeah, but it's not. My favorite Christmas in the US is Miracle, 34th Street. Oh, yeah.

I don't like that either. No, I don't know. What are your favorite Christmas movies? I'm not an elf person, but I love, I think, elf is genuine, least good. And I had like, National Lampoon's Christmas vacation. It's great. He throws some crazy faces in that movie.

He is like the king of like, he does weird faces in that movie. Yeah. All right. All right. Thank you, Luke, for being on the show. I appreciate it very much. Pleasure to have you all the best. Thank you for being a fan and thank you for the gifts.

Merry Christmas. Thank you. All right. When Walter Isaacson set out to write his biography of Elon Musk, he believed he was taking on a world-changing figure. That night he was deciding whether or not to allow Starlink to be enabled to allow a sneak attack on Crimea. What he got was a subject who also sowed chaos in conspiracy. I'm thinking it's idiotic to buy Twitter because he doesn't have a fingertip feel for social-emotional networks. And when I sat down with Isaacs in five weeks ago he told me how he

captured it all. They had Kansas spray paint and they're just putting big axes on machines and it's almost like kids playing on the playground just choose them up left right in center and then like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde he doesn't even remember it getting getting the bars, done an excuse, being a total f***. But I want the reader to see it in action. My name is Evan Ratliffe, and this is On Musk with Walter Isaacson. Join us in this four-part series

as Isaacson breaks down how he captured a vivid portrait of a polarizing genius. Listen to On Musk on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Tune in to the new podcast, stories from the village of nothing much. Like easy listening, but perfection. If you've overdosed on bad news, we invite you into a world where the glimmers of goodness in everyday life are all around you.

I'm Catherine Nicolai, and you might know me from the bedtime story podcast, nothing much happens. I'm an architect of Cozy, and I invite you to come spend some time where everyone is welcome and kindness is the default. When you tune in you'll hear stories about bakeries and walks in the woods. A favorite booth at the diner and a blustery autumn day. Cats and dogs and rescued goats and donkeys, old houses, bookshops, beaches were kite flying, and pretty stones are found. I have so many stories to tell you,

and they are all designed to help you feel good and feel connected to what is good in the world. Listen, relax, enjoy. Listen to stories from the village of nothing much on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Get ready because Aaron and Karissa from Calm Down have got something special coming up at State Farm Park in I Heartland, a reading of Twist and Night Before Christmas.

They'll infuse it with stories and memories tying into the holiday spirit. Don't miss this special event starting Thursday to 7th as 7 p.m. Eastern at State Farm Park in I Heartland in Fortnite, available all weekend long. Afterwards, stick around and check out all the exciting things State Farm has to offer. Say hi to Jake from State Farm on the big screen and try to be Jake's core at the parkour minigame. Visit iHeartRadio.com slash I Heartland to start playing today. Pa-cha! Hey, Carl. Carl. Hey. This is exactly why we can't interview actors because I have to pretend like I liked their project and I'm going to be honest with you, I love Luke, I've

made that very clear, but catch me if you cause was a disaster. This is not my kind of a hallmark Christmas movie. I told him that, I told him what I don't like. And he'd let me blindly into this. First of all, it had magic. He, a spoiler alert. He's Santa Claus's son. And he gets caught in a house where this woman

who's trying to become a reporter, but she, her mom's a famous reporter, but she can't do it or can't hack it. And she's just not getting the opportunity. So they say, well, don't you try to dress sludder here and show your boobs and then maybe you'll get on camera. So I think that's kind of part of the plot. But then she's like, oh my goodness, I caught this burglar

in my house, but it Santa Claus is son and he knows everything about everybody. They end up going to some cool gay bar while the cops are chasing them. And there's kidnapping because there is a real Santa burglar on the loose. It's just nonsense. It's not a cute town. Towns garbage, if you ask me. I want a quaint town. I want a cute story. The end. This story

was complicated. I had no idea what was going on and my mom hated it. But that being said, I loved Luke. I loved Luke. Great job, Luke. And thank you for being on the show. All right, what else is going on? Oh, it's time for the coveted comment of the year. Eddie, who we got? All right, Prime Logic 5562 says, generally love the border, but please get rid of the show. Loves the border says, get rid of the show.

I mean, come on. What do I have to plug? The goat, it's a reality show that I'm hosting, comes out next year. Boy's wear pink, the charitable clothing line that I started for my son. Make sure you place your order before the holiday, and I'll probably get that to you early first quarter.

Tickets on sale for my show in Los Angeles, for the Netflix is a joke, it will be May 4th at the Dolby Theater. That's where they shoot the Oscars. Where the violence takes place on stage. I might do a reenactment. Will Smith, I'll comp you two tickets at the door for you and your unfaithful wife. Oh, before we go, I have one final gift, a bedtime story from my three year old son. So on behalf of Carl and I, happy holidays, which means Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. That's it.

You're great two Muslims. All right, we'll be back with new episodes January 9th, taking two weeks off. Happy New Year. Okay, it's Christmas. Go ahead and tell me sorry. On the contrary, you're too late to explain. All I wanted to do was explain what they told you. little plane all the ones that do it one explain ways but they

twadding so it build it to the plane fat the little boy build it to the plane fat and then the planes the two little planes rolled on it and then one of them rolled and then they and then they twins and sits at the bar again. That's a deal. I did it.