Steve Carell

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Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. We have a comedy legend on today, a hilarious leading man box office giant and sketch comedian who I first saw on the stage at Second City and wanted to be like ever since. Steve Carell joining us. Steve and I are going to talk about a lot of things.

We're going to talk about Second City. We're going to talk about Anchor Man. We're going to talk about the office. We're going to talk about the smooth tones of the baritone horn. And we are going to talk about his new HBO show, Rooster, out now.

So we get into a lot of fun stuff. And before we talk to Steve, we talk to someone who knows Steve so we can speak well behind his back and get a question for me. And we are joined by his old Second City buddy, his old roommate, a person who was there from the beginning and who was also another hilarious and famous Steve. And that's Steve, is Stephen Colbert. Hello Stephen Colbert, bonjour.

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I just want to start by saying, you were the senior. So my freshman when I arrived at Second City in Chicago. And it was you and Amy Sedaris and Corel and Paul Nello. And you were all getting ready to go do Exit 57, which was at the time just the thought that you could go and be like the captain on stage and then go have your own sketch show, which just felt like such a dream. We had no idea what we were doing.

We thought that the answer was, what if we just worked 24 hours a day, wouldn't that make things funnier? And it made things weirder because it would fall into a chemo psychosis and not have any sense. And I go back and I watch those sketches. Now I go pick up the pace. Oh yeah.

Oh god. Yeah. I look at our old sketches and I'm like, you want to go six minutes on this? You really got to here to stay up all night fighting for cuts? I think I'd play a little better if it was half the time.

Was Second City where you and Steve first met? Yeah. I was there. I got, I worked there in the box office because I didn't have any job. I'd gone.

I'd done a gig overseas. And then I came back with no money. I was sleeping on a friend's floor. I didn't have a dime. I, I, and my friend Ann Libera said she was a box office manager.

And she said, you can answer phones here like two days a week if you need basic cash. So I started answering phones. And then I found out that you could take classes for free if you worked there, even if you're like part of time like I was. And so I said, well, I mean, I never imagined that I would be at Second City because I was, I was real improv. I was, I was, I had done, you know, IO, I remember in the probably Olympic and those people talked a lot of shit about Second City.

Yeah. There was a fun East Coast Coast thing happening 100% was like Lincoln Avenue, North Wells situation going on. And I was very much cross-currents. That's where we would. I did a cross-currents on the Bell and L.

And, and I was like, no man, I do. And then I went there and I saw the show and went, oh, everybody hears cares just as much as anybody else. They just happen to be sold out every night. And it's like, I kind of like this. And then I took classes and I didn't know Steve.

Steve had gotten there a year, year and a half ahead of me. Something like that. He was a little bit ahead of me in that you might call process or like kind of rep system there. And, and I didn't know him at all a year later, a year after I started working there, I was invited to audition. And I auditioned and I got into the National Touring Company, which was like a red letter day in my career.

I got into the tourco and I think I got hired like on Thursday. And then like on Saturday, they said, can you go in at Northwest? Because there used to be the theater on the Midwest. And I went, oh, yeah, sure. I, I learned whatever I need to learn as quickly as I could.

I went up there and I met Steve kind of like from backstage watching him on stage. I met him rehearsal. He's so gifted. You know how gifted musically he is. I did not, I did not know that.

If it's made of brass, he can play it. I did not know that. He can pick up a tin whistle or a recorder. He can play. He can play.

He plays the, I understudied for Steve when I was at, when I was in tourco, I finally said like, I either going to put me, you know, let me understudy or I'm going to leave. And Joyce said down threat. I don't respond to threats. I'm like, it's not a threat. I've been here for four years or almost four years at this point.

And I love doing it. But I got to go figure out what else I could do. I hope this isn't a threat. And so literally the next day they said, I understudied like ETC or something. And then they said, uh, Crel's got to go.

He's got like a brown chicken commercial. Yeah, big deal. You could live off that for years. Oh, shit, man. We were all jealous.

Oh, yeah. Wait, you got a bacon bit spot. And so he's selling insurance to children. Jesus, that sounds like a great kid. And I so anyway, they said, could you go in for Corelle?

And I said, he plays the euphonium. He played the baritone horn, which is like a little tuba. And he goes, he plays the baritone horn in that. Do I have to play the baritone horn? And they said, yeah, yeah, I don't know how to play the baritone horn.

And they said, OK, well, that adds it to do it. And it's got ads. And I said, no, no, no, no, I'll learn it. I'll learn it. When do I, when do I go in?

And they said, six days. Wow. And so I went and they wouldn't rent me a horn. I got the horn. It took about $250, which is like what you get paid in a month at Second City.

But I had to go in at the main stage. And so I went to Corelle and I said, would you, I don't can't read sheet music. Can you please write out the fingering for the horn and teach me an embouchure? What's an embouchure? Oh.

That's the thing that makes the sound in the horn. And you can get like three different objects. I knew I was going to learn a new word from this interview. I knew you were going to teach me a word. Ombouchure is a great word, especially if someone cuts a fart in front of you.

A nice thing to say is you guys say, oh, nice embouchure. Really tight on an armature. And it's much more. And so anyway, I was dating this girl, now with my wife, Evie McGee in New York, and also with Sierra that weekend. What did we do all weekend?

We sat in her apartment and I learned anchors away, pretty woman, and taps. Are you hearing those drums? Wait, no, who is listeners? I don't know if you can hear, but there's some drums happening in your house. Is someone playing?

That's my son. Oh, that's so cute. What you're talking about music and your son is starting to play drums down in the basement? My son is practicing because he's going into his brother's band. They got a gig next weekend in Brooklyn.

And so he's going down there to practice because they had their drummers out for the week. He's up again for his brother, yeah. That's kind of like what you want. That is all you want. That is exactly what I was going to say.

The sound of your son practicing the sub in for your other son, that's like a dream. Yeah, I met Corel at Northwest back in 1988. And so when you guys were on the Daily Show together, it was like, check that. That's where we're at, by the way, that viral clip, I'm sure you've seen on your phone, of you guys reacting to the incredible ad for the Dana Carvey-Rupier variety special ad. Yeah, it's a gift.

I don't want to die. For people that don't know, that show that you wrote on was incredible and so ahead of its time. But there's a really funny moment where both you and Steve are shown an ad from that time where you are following a very special episode of Home Improvement. And in it, Jonathan Taylor-Thomas' character, I believe thinks he is going to die. He thinks he's ill or sick.

And he says, it's very sweet. And him and Tim Allen are having a moment. And he says, I don't want to die, dad. And then the next voiceover is. And the Muck Rupier Dana Carvey show tonight on ABC.

It's so funny. And watching you and Steve laugh is so funny. And to me, that's like, I don't know how to explain it other than the joy of that. To me, sums up what it feels like to have funny friends and get to make things with them. The joy of failure was something that I said early on at Second City that I realized, well, I think I should do this for the rest of my life, meaning comedy, because I was kind of biting whether I was going to do drama or comedy because I was doing straight theater in Chicago at the same time.

But we'd laugh so hard when we or someone else on stage would fail. But the other person on stage who was failing would also laugh. And I went, if it could be this joyful in failure, and there's also another joy in success, then I'd be dumb not to pursue this for the rest of my life. But that's so beautifully said that it is joyful in failure. That is beautifully said.

That's exactly it. That's like, because there's so much empathy for what's happened to the person who's eating it. But just to extrapolate on that even more, there has to be a belief that you'll be OK. I know you asked for me to think of what I would want to ask. Yeah, what would you want to ask Steve?

Thank you. The amazing thing about Steve is his ability to do anything. I know a lot of talented people, but I don't know many people who can do almost anything. And first of all, I mean, I remember my early impressions of Steve as well. He can make anything funny.

He can make any moment very full, not funny, but also very full. Very full of presence and energy and what we would call tensiveness, like the Essenic tension. And I see that same ability, I marveled at that ability. And also how he would never fuck around. He was always very professional.

And I remember looking at him backstage and second sitting going, why is he so good? And I came up with this conclusion. And I wrote it down on a piece of paper with a calligraphic pen. And I taped it on the back of my little locker area to remind myself. And it just said work.

Because what I saw at Steve was that he worked really hard. And he never phoned it in. And I'm curious what his process is like when he does drama or what people would perceive as drama and a versus comedy or what people would perceive as comedy. And the reason I say perceive is, is it all the same to him? Yeah.

But with a different character intention or with a different energy intention. Or is he really just approaching it totally different ways? Like, well, that's sketch or that's something incredibly broad, like Anchorman or dinner for Schmucks. Or now I'm doing Foxcatcher. Yeah.

Because he do it in a different way. Because I admire him so much in both directions. Same. And as far as I know, he's never talked about his process. So I've never seen him do it.

So I've worked with him since 1988. I mean, we've roomed together practically for 10 years. I don't know what it is. That's a great question. And I mean, you're really good at this.

You should try to make this your job asking questions. Are there any of these jobs left? No. Well, thank you so much for this time. What a pleasure.

Thanks so much. And do we know what Song Your Son is playing down in the basement before we go? Is it an original? He's either playing Bottenova or he's playing Deep Space Nine, which has one of my favorite lyrics in any of his songs, which is your head's in Deep Space Nine. I'm not taking you to family Thanksgiving.

Vape clouds destroyed your mind. I'm not taking you to family Thanksgiving, which is really tells a story. It's like you're a Swiftie with your own children. Like you're just trying to break down all the lyrics. I got a bracelet.

Yeah. I mean, I think Steve's going to be so happy that we talked because we could talk about your relationship a lot today. And I hope you do because it's very special. Back time associated with him. The people still come up to me and say, Steve Carell, they'll still get the name wrong.

Yeah, sure. I just love it. I feel that way about it. I feel like you and Steve have a little bit of what Tina and I have, which is where people put us together all the time and I couldn't be happier about it. Sure.

Yeah. I still, someday I'll do something. Someday I'll do something with him again. Ask him what he's doing because not my need to gig. OK, great.

Yeah. We'll let Carell pick your next gig. OK, perfect. All right. Thank you so much.

Bye. Have a great conversation. Thanks. So nice talking to you. OK, take care.

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Steve Carell is here. And Steve, I feel like you always feel the way you feel about somebody, like based on the first time you see them. Like, you know, you just get imprinted when you first meet them. I first met you when you were on stage. I never really knew you in Chicago.

I just watched you perform. And you were the senior when I arrived with my bags. Like being like, am I going to try to do this business? Like, what is this? And you guys were like the cool seniors.

Well, we also you hear about the people who they've just hired to. And you're one of those people that stuck out immediately. You know, people were talking about you super early on. And you always kind of keep tabs like, well, who's next? Who are the who are the other members?

Yeah. Yeah. And you were definitely one of those people. You were in the very like you were in that class of people that number one were crushing it on stage and then also went on to do things like you had jobs. You got hired.

You got commercials. That was always so exciting to to meet you. Remember Ken Campbell? Yeah, sure. So Ken Campbell was the first one of like our group to kind of step out and got he got a show called Herman's Head where they were all some say inside a precursor to inside out.

That's right. Yeah. Exactly. He was the first person to have a job and it was astounding. Yeah.

Oh my, he's really doing it. Yeah, he's really going to get paid to do it. He's getting paid and he's in Hollywood. And he's a big shot. He's going to have insurance, everything.

I remember coming out and visiting him and we were doing a little, I don't know, some weird little theater show like one night. And he and his wife were there. Just watch. And I remember he ordered steak and I thought, oh man, that guy. He's got it made.

He's rolling in the restaurant or he's watching the show. Well, speaking of steak and speaking of restaurants before I go any further, I need to point out you're the first guest. The technically my father booked for me. Bill Poehler. They are.

OK, let's tell the story. What happened? The nicest people. So back in back in Massachusetts. We'll see how this story goes.

We. You were in my mom's. I don't want to open a can of worms. Well, I know is I got a phone call saying good news. We saw Steve Correll at a restaurant and we told him that he should be on your on your show.

So we think we've booked him is what my parents said. And I was like, my dad. And I was like, what did you say? That's exactly. No, he's, you know, Amy does a podcast.

Like I know let's have a senior in Massachusetts at a nice restaurant, a nice restaurant out in the burbs. Like, do something like that. Give it hill farms out in Groton, Mass. Yeah, like it was nowhere near where we live. No, we just I was meeting my brother out there.

Yeah, I know my parents were out there. I know. They're friends, Tom and Sue. Lovely, lovely for some. They introduced themselves and and we got to they were very charming, lovely.

OK. And I know that surprises you. And and you're, you know, your dad brought up your podcast and your mom said, you should be on. And I was like, I've never been asked to be on. You're like, I think I have to be asked.

I'm not going to just throw my hat in. Like, hey, I want to be on the drill. Do they get awkward and they were like, oh, they're must. They got quiet. They're thinking it must be a real lie.

They retreated. They're like, forget it. Oh, no, no, maybe she doesn't have a park. I don't remember what she did. Maybe no, no, that's not right.

There's somebody else who are thinking they got a flag. They were so nice. Yeah. So I think maybe that planted the seed. I mean, I forget that you're a Boston boy.

Yeah, I grew up in acting. I know. And why do I mean, you don't seem very Boston to me. How so? Well, well, you're polite.

And thoughtful. I know there's a different, I will say, politeness registers differently in Massachusetts. That's true. And when you go back and people recognize you, you have a different experience than you do here or in New York. I mean, I love Boston.

I love where I'm from. I love the directness. I love the like the real loyal, like, like just really, really good, honest people. But there is a definite. How do you say it?

There is a brusmus. And honestly, I'm going to say it. There's just like you're not better than equality about Boston. That's exactly it. That I love.

But it's sometimes tough to be on the receiving end. If you know if you can anticipate that, it's actually very charming. Very true. And you just kind of take it at face value. Because I remember going back and, you know, shop around us in the supermarket.

One guy came up to me and said, hey, Steve, I know you. That thing you did was good. Don't get cocky. Don't get cocky. It's all that love you.

Don't get cocky. Don't. You're one of us. Don't embarrass us. Don't you dare grow or change.

Mostly change. Yeah. Where did you go college? Denison, University. Oh, yeah.

And then how did you go Ohio? And then how did you find out about Second City? Touring Company came through Ohio State University. And we bought tickets. And right then and there, I thought, that's funny.

Nancy and I were just talking about this exact thing. That the touring company seemed like, and she saw a touring company too. It seemed like the most fun job to have of any job I could even imagine. And you know, you roll into a college town. You do all of these great sketches that are bulletproof, because they've been tried and true and have been in Second City for years and years.

And they always work. So you feel like just you're on top of the world. You're not even your material. You're just going out and performing someone else's stuff. And it's making people laugh.

And it just, I thought that's it. That's what I want to do. When you were in college, you were thinking about being an actor? I was a history major. Oh, that makes sense.

So I was not allowing myself to kind of consider that seriously. Because you probably didn't know a lot of people who were actors growing up and had that job. Yeah. No, it didn't seem. I mean, in Massachusetts, you're neck of the woods too.

It just doesn't seem like it's a real, it didn't seem like a real job. Exactly. It's like I'll either be that or an astronaut. It didn't seem like a plausible final destination in terms of a career. So I always, I thought maybe history, maybe law school, something, something that sounded good to my parents.

Yeah. I really wanted to, after all they invested in me and my education, my brothers, I just felt like I owe them something. So they could like when you're older, they could go up to someone in a restaurant and say you should join my son's law school. They could bother someone in a restaurant. They never got a chance to say that.

And so then you're in Denison. You see the touring company. You think I'm going to go to Chicago. It's two friends of mine from Denison. After we graduated, they gave me a call randomly and said, we're moving, we're going to Chicago.

Wow. And I don't think I would have had the guts to do it myself, just by myself. But we're going to play, we're going to start an educational theater company, which will help pay some of the bills and we'll get jobs and we will pursue careers as actors. And that's, and I was in. What year was that?

Then you were 85. And you just were living in a cheap, do you remember the rent to first department? $600 split three ways. All utilities included. Fantastic.

What was your job then? What were you doing? I waited tables at cool hands. Oh yeah. That was a hot spot.

Don't ask. Cool hands on division. Yeah. That's, I mean, it was so fun back then to be in that city. That city felt like it was, I don't know, maybe just because I was young when I was there, but it felt like it was something was crackling and happening.

I mean, when you think back about those Chicago times, what comes up for you? I mean, it's such a youthful, exuberant, enthusiastic times about what feelings and thoughts come up for you. I think, well, like all the things we learned in class at Second City, having that freedom to fail. And there were very few constraints in terms of what you could try. And at Second City itself, it was the same thing.

Like being on stage every night and working it out and figuring that audience is such a great barometer. And if you're not doing it well or right, they'll tell you you'll feel it. And it was so much fun. So much fun. And also, I think about it now, as you're talking about it, is I think sometimes when I think back at Sketch and Improv, I kind of like, I don't know, I think like, oh, I wasn't working material like a stand up or something.

But that's not true. We really had to, we had different audiences every night, rowdy audiences expecting stuff from us. And like, you had to learn how to kind of be hung out to dry a little bit on stage and be OK with it. Did you embrace that? We used to challenge each other, embracing the awfulness of the scene and challenging each other not to leave.

Because it's so easy. If something's failing, you just want to bail during an improv scene. But it was sort of a badge of honor. We're going to drive this into the ground. It's an exquisite feeling to look at your partner and be like, we're bombing.

And let's hold hands. And let's do this together. And sometimes you'd be able to pull it out of a nose dive. And a lot of times it's just the light just slowly. But what do you like about it?

I know what you mean. What is the thing about it? I think it's just throwing everything off of you. Throwing all of the worry, all of the concern of this isn't working and getting into your head about why isn't it working? We have to make it work.

Everybody gets sweaty. Everybody starts trying too hard. But sometimes when you can just allow it to kind of wash over you, the things that you might find are really interesting. And it's like a little death. Isn't it the closest?

It feels like you are. I mean, I'm trying to think, because when you're explaining it, I'm getting this feeling of what it felt like when it was when you're, I mean, one thing is we weren't usually alone. No, we weren't bombing alone. And that's, I can't imagine. Did you ever do stand up?

Occasionally, when I would be asked to do small shows, and I didn't mind it, I kind of liked it. But I never really honed a set. I bet you were great at it. I found it easier. I liked doing it as I was older.

When I was younger, I just didn't think I understood. I had a lot of respect for the art form. And I wanted to be with people. I wanted to perform with people. So I think that's what I mean as the bombing with people was like a special joy.

Completely. Well, the many things in the Second City, I know it created lifelong friendships. And like, you know, you got your, we all figured out how to like get our 10,000 hours on stage and all that stuff. But you met your wife. Yeah.

How did you meet Nancy? Well, it was great. This is going to sound super creepy. But I was teaching class at Second City. OK.

And she was in my improv character class. Dang. And she was hilarious and super smart, beautiful. Like, I. I have to remember, she was a real catch back then, because Nancy is so funny and also beautiful.

And I remember everyone being like, this is not quite fair. It's not quite fair. How tall and pretty and funny she is. Like, you usually get, you don't get even go by one. She's so nice.

And they're so nice. And cool. It's cool and nice and sweet to everybody. You really snagged the bait. Tell me about it.

And we, so what I thought she hated my guts, because I'd be teaching and talking. And I look over at her nothing. Like dead eyes, no affect in her face at all. And I was like, boy, she is not buying any of this. She hates me, hates his class, snows on the phony.

And it turns out she was just nervous. And when she gets nervous, she gets like stone face. Yeah, she just doesn't want to show anything. That's a powerful move to do, because it really makes the other person work for it. Yeah.

Yeah. And she worked across the street. She was a waitress across the street at Barcalfa last act. Oh, yeah. So after shows or after class, I used to go over.

And I used to sit at the bar. And I'd order a Diet Coke. And we'd talk. But it took so long, because we both kind of talked around the whole thing forever. And never like, finally one day, the conversation went something like, you know, if we're talking about people that we like or like, what would you go out with?

Oh my god. That's such a funny con. Oh, yeah. And it was all just this circuitous. You know someone down the bars just saying, get to it.

Like, come on. Yeah. Annoying everybody. And I think I finally said, you know, if I were going to ask somebody on a date, it'd be somebody like you. Like, you'd be like that template of somebody that I'd love to go out with.

And she's like, you know, somebody like you ask me out. I would love it. It would be fantastic. And there was a pause. And I said, do you want to go?

So it was so super uncool. Like, yeah. So it went two doors out of the other bar. You know, like, then that was the beginning of it. And then you could win when you left Chicago where you weren't married yet.

No, we were engaged. We got engaged a week before she got SNL. Wow. So yeah, we went on our honeymoon and came back and moved right to New York for her star rehearsals. This episode is brought to you by Marshall's.

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All bunch of people, yeah. Incredible cast of writers. And you were also in the rep company. Like did you did stuff with it? Yeah.

And I mean, I was... As Dana called us the sketch of tears. Can we talk about Dana Carvey for a second? Because Dana Carvey was so it was really important to me. Like he was, you know, you always kind of fall in love with that cast that when you're like 13, that you see in us now and it was Dana and Phil Hartman and Jan Hook's like, Dana is so funny.

He is so funny. He is so funny. I don't know if there's anyone funnier alive too. To be in a room with him is incredible. He's just a super funny, incredibly nice guy.

Like I owe him and Smigel, everything for that opportunity on that show. Because I was at a point in Chicago, my agent had told me if something doesn't happen for you soon, it's not gonna happen. My agent. Way to build it up. I was feeling very good about myself.

Dang it. It's hard. So I moved to New York and was able to... The next thing I got was Dana Carvey. Yeah.

And that really changed everything. That was my first step into something other than Second City. Yeah. I mean, that show, I remember it being this, it felt like an experiment. Yeah.

And it felt like it was like, you guys got an opportunity to make whatever you wanted with other people's money. And then they noticed that you were doing it and they said stop. They said stop doing that. Well, you heard about the first episode. Did you hear this story?

Tell us again. The first scene of the first Dana Carvey show was Dana playing Bill Clinton. And he was sitting at a desk in the Oval Office talking about how he is the nurturing president. And at a certain point, he opens his shirt to reveal a prosthetic breast plate, like teats, if you will. Yes, teats.

And I think he had eight nipples. Yes. And they brought, which was... Which had real milk. For rigged to rat lactate.

And so they brought a bunch of puppies and stood them on the desk. And the puppies started suckling because he was the nurturing president. And so we started, we were following home improvement. And they said the ratings went from home improvement. And they could chart it.

Like, at the beginning of this sketch, it just... You could hear the drop off it. You could be so quiet. It was done. It was the show was over.

And that was the first episode, first scene. Oh, God, that's funny. ABC was not happy. No. But somebody had to approve of that.

That was the first sketch. Somebody had to... I mean, it was not a surprise. Credit. ABC allowed it to happen.

Yeah, they took some huge swings. And it was fun because, like Colbert and I shared an office and we could, and we worked together a lot at Second City. We were in a bunch of caps together. And we come up with an idea and go down to Smiles office, Robert Smigall, and just pitch something. And he'd say, let's go.

And we'll do it on the show that night. I mean, it was as close to live as you could get without being S&L. Yeah, you really did work on a bunch of like, really specific, interesting places. Like the Daily Show is its own system. They kept changing with different kind of versions of the same thing.

But what was that feeling like when you were all there, young working on that and it being so well received? It was similar to Second City. And I guess it was the kind of environments that I am drawn to. That everyone is just in it together. And there's a spontaneity to it.

And we don't know if it's going to work, but when we give it our best shot. It was a lot of improvising on the show. You know, in the field pieces, yes. Because you just had, especially early on, they didn't know that we were a comedy show. So you were kind of undercover.

Did you ever feel bad when you were trippy people? I did not like it, especially at first, because I was new and I was kind of following the template. And I never felt good about mocking someone who doesn't deserve it. And so I try and I know Colbert, Stephen gave me great advice, which was come up with a character. And that will make it much more palatable.

And my character was someone who didn't quite understand, who quite get it, but was super serious about everything he was asking. But the onus was on me to be, I was the idiot. Yes, yes, yes. And to take that off of the people, I never joined one field piece, which was a Klingon speaker's convention. And you go, and obviously the idea is, let's make fun of people who meet and learn how to speak Klingon.

And they were the nicest, gentlest. And I really like these people a lot. They were very kind. And I thought, well, who are they harming? No one.

I mean, it's just harmless fun. It's just people enjoy each other's company and have a shared hobby. I mean, how is it any different than a woodworking club or a photography club? It's what they did. It's what they did is where they're interested in.

And they made them happy. And I thought, no, it has to be about what an idiot I am. Well, you're really good at that, Steve. You're so good at playing someone who's frustrated by their own lack of understanding. Comitically.

Such an interesting way to put it. Just like, go, get this right. It's so... Why is the world so wrong? It's so...

And that energy of that is so funny. And it's so funny. But Stephen was right. And Stephen, that took a lot of that strain away. Because then it wasn't making fun of people.

And there, you know, I just... There's no, I don't like playing pranks in terms of being unkind or trying to make someone look stupid, unless they deserve to look stupid. But more often than not, these people didn't. Some of them were just eccentric. But who cares?

That's the spice of life. And so do you think that Adam McKay, who wrote and directed Anchorman, wrote Brick with you in mind? I think so, no. Not at all. Because, I mean, we've all seen the audition itself.

That character is Chef's Kiss. That might have been the most fun I've ever had professionally. Definitely can tell. Well, one of the things we do every day when we were shooting, and it was really like my first big. It's one of the first things I ever did.

And I just, I couldn't believe my good fortune. I thought this might be it. You know, this might be the one that I just, this might be one and done. And I'm going to enjoy it. Yeah.

What we used to do, they used to do dailies every day. And watch that? Everyone would watch them. They have a dailies trailer on set. And it was all on film still.

So you'd watch them a few days before. They developed the film and you'd just see selections from a few days earlier. And so we'd have lunch. This was every day. We'd have lunch.

And then the four of us and other cast members too, and the producers would go into this trailer. And we'd all get Hot Fudge Sundays. Catering before we came in. So beautiful. Eating Hot Fudge Sundays and watching the dailies.

Oh my god. And I'm just so hard. I know. I mean, I thought this is this one. Is this it?

I can't, I'm a little kid. This is what you would dream that acting would be. Yes. It's what you would dream. And it was just pure joy.

Oh, and you would just laugh at what you had done a couple of days before. And most, you know, I'm sure you're the same way. Watching yourself. No, yeah. But get to somebody else's stuff.

Totally. And it's just to watch what everybody else is doing. Because you can't really watch while you're in it, while you're doing it. But to kind of watch objectively. Oh, yeah.

I know what you mean. Like sometimes I've known like, I don't know if I nailed it, but I'm going to be in a funny movie. I don't know if I'm going to be the funny one in the funny movie, but I'm going to be in one. If I can not detract from everyone else being funny, that's usually what I feel my job is. Because I feel like when people, you can tell when people want to be the funniest thing and are trying when it gets sweaty.

And they're trying super hard. And I don't know how you feel about improv as used in film. I have a strong feeling about it, actually. Well, because I feel like, especially during that time, so I was in Anchorman. I got cut.

You were in the battle scene. I was in the original one. In the original Anchorman, there was a whole other, if you remember, that giant. The alarm clock. The alarm clock.

That's right. So I wasn't in the alarm clock, but there are people who have the DVD extras. No, there was like a whole other world of bad guys that got cut out of that movie. I think it's hours worth of material. My Rudolph, Chuck D from Public Enemy, because of course.

Kevin Corrigan, they were like the weather underground. They were at this like, you know, feisty group of rebels, you know, trying to upset the city. I don't know how it had to do with you guys. But it was pages and pages and months and months. I did a scene with them where I was like a bank teller, you know, like a bullet-drink bank teller or something.

But I went and worked for a day. And so I have a picture of me and Chuck D and me at my end of the great outfit. And we're like, we're going to be an anchorman. And then McKay was like, we are not going to be doing it. There's a whole other movie out there.

Well, there was another like a flashback scene that I don't know if we shot or whether it's kind of a blur. But the idea was there's it's a bit of a brick backstory, origin. So that he was their platoon leader in Vietnam. And he was like the biggest badass. Oh, wow.

And then like, follow me. We're getting this shit done. That kind of thing. And then you cut to now he's he's there for trusty mascot. Yeah.

But you don't know what happened to me. It's really funny. That's really funny. But in terms of there was a lot of improv. Yeah.

So during that time, there was a lot of like an Adam loves improvise. And like, and I used to love it because I felt like I could do it well. But it also it did wear me down a little bit as the years went on. Yeah. No, I know I do feel this way about improv.

I do, which is sometimes people are like, it's great. You can improvise. And I'm like, oh, it's here. Here's my take. I think it's I think it's a great tool.

But I don't think it is the I think it's a means to an end. I don't think it's let's just do a big improv thing. Yeah. Because and I think this was true on the office. The scripts were great on that show.

Like really strong every every episode. And can I ask you a question about Parks and Rec? Yeah. So you you know, you led that show for so many years. Did you ever how did you maintain the the dignity of that character?

And like how did how did you how are you able to center that character all the way through? Because I think it's very easy for you know, when writers turn over, when staff turn over, sometimes new writers are more fans of the show and are kind of writing to the most obvious elements of a character as opposed to, you know, people who were like the creators of the actual writers who created the character. So how did did you feel like you protected your character going through? That's a good question. I feel like the short answer is Mike.

Sure. Who really was the best captain and just kept everyone's characters very sacred and safe and really paid attention to what we would and wouldn't say. I think we started off like a little wacky and we had to adjust on the fly. So we did some like early adjusting on that show and then locked in after that. But I know what you mean.

Like there would be times where I would have to say like, I don't know if I don't know if this is too far. I don't know. But not a lot. I feel like everyone was in flow there. Everyone really got it.

But it's funny that you bring up that exact thing because Parks and Recreation came after the office and there's really only two people that I've been told. I am a poor man's version of and one of them is you, which. I take I take that as high confident. But like we came. I would take that as a huge insult.

We were all you know, Parks and Recreation had the worst launch ever. Everyone was like, this is not the office. We don't like this. I just remember being like, you're not Steve and you're not. We don't like it.

And I remember being like, Oh, I think I just dissociated. It was just like, well, our pilot, you heard about our pilot. I know and I was the lowest testing pilot in the history. I think of NBC. People people really hated it.

Like not just just kind of actively hated it. They actively hated this show. And I don't quite know how it got legs after that. Well, I remember the moment. So Mike Sure, who was writing was running update in.

I wasn't doing update them, but I was just a cast member on SNL. And we were watching the British office, like everyone else in loving it. And I remember they were going to make the American version. And everyone was like, this is a terrible idea. It was terrible.

No one no one can be as good as Ricky Gervais. No one can do that show. And then we heard it was you and we were like, Oh, Oh, whoever's making the show wants it to be funny. You know, like it was this thing of like, Oh, that's a very, very good choice. Well, Greg Daniels is was a is a great producer.

And he's also kind of he's very adept at putting together cast. Yeah, the alchemy and the chemistry between those people. Yeah. And we all got along so well. Yeah, we all bonded instantly.

And we all felt like we were a part of a team. There was no there were no hierarchy at all in that cast. So I attribute that to him. Yeah. But you know, I'm a poor man, Ricky Gervais, but you never watched the I didn't and never have watched the UK.

No, even now. No, I've watched all of his other shows. You never watched. I know what you mean. I don't know if I would have wanted to watch either.

I just would have felt too stressed about. I watched like a minute. Yeah, of one of the show of him. And he was so good. Yeah.

And so specific and so funny. I thought if I watch a second more, I'm just going to go on an audition with that. I won't be able to even imagine it a different way. And I mean, are you like me? I mean, I don't enjoy comedy.

No, especially with me. And comedy that's done well. No, no, pass. Yeah. So you went in not knowing you're not watching the year.

No. Yeah. And well, it's funny that you guys all heard, Oh, oh, the, you know, they're doing an American version and everyone had the same reaction. And I remember read what told me inside is like, don't do it, man. Don't don't audition.

It is like there is no, there's no way. Yeah, everyone was like, don't even touch this. Don't touch the tent with Paul. And did you have like a major premise or theme about Michael's arc? Like if you would just sum it up, would you say what was like, what was his?

What was kind of his simple mission statement as a character? Early on, this, this was like a dream come true for him to be in a documentary. Yeah. And be able to not only be in charge of all of these people, but to have the ability to perform and right and be watched and be loved. Right.

So I think so much of who he who he is was about being loved. Just being wanting. So good. I wouldn't even say respect. I think I think he just wanted to be loved.

Um, and the last like a year before I knew I was going to leave, I talked to Greg about like what potentially the last arc for him would be. And I did want there to be a sense of growth for him. Yeah. That I said, one thing I'm going to pitch is that the last date is not the last day. Like everyone thinks that they're going to have a party for him.

Um, but he leaves the day before because he doesn't, he doesn't need it. He doesn't, he wants to say goodbye on his own terms and he's sort of beyond being celebrated that way. And he's that's, that's that I thought would be an interesting way for him to go out. The office is a show that people watch when they're stressed, when they're sad. I'm sure you had this happen to you.

Like during the pandemic, everybody rewatched those shows. They went back to it. Like you have provided and everyone in that show has provided this like feeling of safety and security in a time when people are very, very anxious and they return over and over event. What does that feel like? I've provided a public service.

Really? And in that way, I think I'm more than an actor. Uh oh, you got cocky. You got cocky. Cocky.

Don't get cocky. Don't get cocky. No, but it's true. But it's true. I mean, it's nice.

Like we fell in love with the journey. I'm like, oh, we really, really, we do. We love him. And I will say like what your, what your, what the office did for me and watching it with my kids is like exactly the way in which they enjoyed and learned this feeling of what the kids would call like cringe, but the sparkly, weird feeling of like, oh, no, like tension and a little bit of stress about what is Michael going to do and say and how is he going to do it? And then watching him swing and miss over and over again while still being loved is like, they just love, they didn't know how to put that in words, but they loved that.

They love that about him. It's such a, I mean, congrats on a great show. I don't know what else to say. I have no question here. You know, what did you say to Pam at the airport?

Tell us what you said to Pam. I leaned in. Just to make it look like I was saying something. You did. You didn't know.

No, you did. No, we had a very, a very emotional moment. I love that moment. Such a good moment. Okay.

So we do something on the show where we talk to people who know our guests and who are friends of our guests to get a question asked them when we talk well behind their back. And so we talked to Stephen Colbert today. Oh my gosh. I know he was in his living room. It looked like a, or study.

I was so psyched to talk to him because like you, Stephen, you both were, you know, I kind of only got to know you later. I didn't know you in Chicago and you were both these examples of like, you know, aspirational performers who I want to know. And it'd be in any way like, and Stephen talked a lot about those early times, two of you and and what it was like to watch you on stage. And and he talks about like how you can do almost anything, you know, like that you have this ability to be really, really big and really small and you can have these characters that are really shallow and really deep. He told us that you can play any instrument, which I did not know that you're like very good at brass instruments.

Is that a lie? It's pretty amazing, isn't it? Did you learn? Did you take lessons? I took lessons.

Like what was your instrument of church? Chose. Better tone horn. Oh, day. I know, right?

You were like ladies. I don't. Like, you're like ladies? I got a baritone. I play the baritone horn.

Why do you pick the baritone horn? I love the tone. I want to know what it sounds like. It's sometimes it's also called a euphonium. It's basically a small tuba.

I know sexy. Baritone. I play the small tuba. And yeah. Would you like to go in a second?

Do you like that? The Fife? Sorry. I got to get commercials off of my YouTube YouTube. If you can find a way to.

OK, here we go. Yeah. Somewhere between a trombone tuba and a French horn. Oh, Tony is a trombone teacher. I'm telling you.

Very nice. This podcast is going to elevate baritone horn play like never before. I love Tony. Here you go. Right.

You phonium or baritone horn. Well, I it's a quite a large instrument. Yeah, you hold it like this. Yeah. And I had the bell that went out like this and.

Did you play in the band? So I played in the band. I played in the jazz band. I played. Yeah.

I played it. I played it at Second City. Stephen Colbert had to learn how to play the baritone horn because he was my understudy. Yes, he mentioned that he had to understudy and he had to learn the baritone horn in like six days. Unbelievable.

And he did talk about somebody who can do anything like. I mean, I played the baritone horn since I was in fourth grade. He learned it in six days. So yeah. And he told me that he also taught me a word.

I've completely forgotten it. It's a word that describes when you make the sound of the. Do you remember the name of the word? On the shore. Yes.

On the shore. You taught him an embouchure. What was it like working with Stephen? And what do you remember about meeting him for the first time? And wow, I just think, you know, I think about him a lot to be honest.

I just I have. I'm in awe of him. He's so smart. He's so funny. He is someone who can literally do anything.

He's he can sing. He's a great writer. One of the funniest people I know and a wonderful father and husband like just like one of these straight arrow. Yeah, I would trust him with my life kind of guys. And we got working with him.

You know, when you work, well, you know, when you know someone can finish your sentence. I mentioned that to him that like there's a feeling as we get older, when people knew us when that feels really like beyond special and valuable. It's like you just have been through a lot with someone. Yeah. And when you've met them at the beginning of what eventually will be like the best thing about your life, other than your family.

Yeah. And your partners is is like, you know, they knew you when you were struggling, like in that you just they have a part of your life in them and you and theirs. Yes. And that's what it feels like with the two of you. Well, it for me to to to to to learn at the same time and to be going through.

And I'm sure, you know, you certainly you and Tina experience that and others to have that as you were saying, like those sort of formative years when you don't really know what you're doing, but you're having fun and you're having fun together and you're trusting each other. And I think that's one of the great things about Second City was just learning how to trust other people and and I just I just trust him and I as a person as a performer, he's just fun. He's a I can't wait to see what his next thing is because we were talking about it and we think you should decide what his next thing is. Yes. Well, I'm always pitching the two of us doing a play.

I love that. That's a great idea. I love to do a play with him. I think it would be or anything. I would.

It's a great idea to do anything with him. His question for you, because of course it was, was very thoughtful and interesting, which was, you know, he was saying, like, I've known Steve for so long, but I don't really know his process. We've never really talked about it in terms of like, is there a difference between when you're doing something dramatic and doing something comedic? Do you think about it differently? Do you approach it differently?

I'll preface this by saying, whenever I hear an actor start to talk about their process, you know, we're going to cut the answer. A character doesn't know if they're in a comedy or drama. They're just living their life. Right. And so if funny things happen around this character, then the movie or the show is a comedy.

But if it's tragic or scary or whatever, it's it leans towards drama. Sometimes it's a mixture of both. But but I think if you can tell a character knows they're in a comedy, it's intrinsically less funny. Yes. Like I look, I look like somebody like Alan Arkin or Peter Sellers and they always seem very true to their characters.

They were never like, you couldn't tell whether Alan Arkin was doing something intentionally dramatic or something crazily funny. Yes. It was the same like, not the same kind of, not the same acting. He played different characters, but he was equally committed to both of them and never letting on. He was never winking.

Like, I'm in a comedy. Yeah. Here we go. Yeah. Watch this joke.

Yeah. You're going to laugh. She always says actor sometimes waiting for the waiting for the laugh in a movie. They're like, like, like, like, like, like, like a punchline. Like, wait a second.

They also, the other thing that makes me so stressed out and like sweaty is in real life when people say like, I'm funny. And I'm like, oof. I don't know. I don't know. If you got to say it out loud, I don't know.

Have you ever had an executive? I had an executive one say, listen, I know comedy. Okay. Like, I know it. I know it.

I know it. I've studied it. Okay. It's such a subjective thing. And reverse it, right?

Like if you, if I went up to like, you know, like, if I went up to Meryl and I was like, I'm pretty dramatic. I'm pretty good at being pretty sad. Deep. I'm pretty, I can get pretty sad. And people will buy it.

I think when I cry, I'm going to make other people cry. So I've cried. So a lot of my friends have seen me cry. I mean, I'm going to glaze you for a second. Beautiful boy, Fox catcher.

The patient. You're so good at that series was so incredible. I loved you in four seasons. I loved that series and I look forward for season two and you're ghost, obviously. Hunting the set.

I don't know. I just think I should be in background. I think I should just wear a ball. Just like, but like almost. It's like, it's like, it's like, yeah.

Yeah. You can't tell if it's me or not. Yeah. But I love what she said about the two of you working together. Because I do think that you both have similar qualities.

You work really hard. You're very professional and you're shyer than people would think. Both of you. Yeah. Well, we talked about that.

We worked together before and it took us 15 years after that to become friends. Because it is true. I'm very, I think, close off is what you little word you're looking at. I'm not shy. I'm just a bit inedible.

I mean, but, but are you? I'm pretty shy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

I guess I bet people think like you're going to be the life of the party. Oh, no. Yeah. Do you remember coming to my house for the? I loved your house, but tell that story.

So this, you know, I had a dinner party for the Oscars one year. That was so fun. And had a few calls over. And it was really fun. It was fun to have everybody over.

But that's very unlike us. Like we don't, I don't know. We're not, I think we're more social now that we're getting older, I guess. Time's running out. I just lit up my some of these friendships.

But so the Oscars and we had very nice dinner and we taped it. We put it, you know, we were taping the Oscars and. Yeah, we ate first, like civilized. And then we were going to be like, let's go. We're going to go and we're watching.

We can fast forward through the awards that we like. And we looked at the tape and we hadn't added the extension. And Oscars always go long. So like the big awards. We missed.

We completely missed. Yeah. And we were frantic. Like, I think somebody got online. We just started announcing like, when they were acting it out.

My memory of that time and feeling was that it was really fun. Like, so I can only imagine the stress of like, oh shit, we didn't record the Oscars. But also, I mean, it was just fun. That was so fun. But yeah, I think that people probably assume that you're going to be kind of crazy.

Yeah, I'm pretty. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm not out there.

No, no, I really envy, envy, I admire is Will. Yeah. Like he just owns it. Will Ferrell. Like he'll show.

Yeah, Will Ferrell. He he'll show up at a King's game. He was wearing a refs uniform the other day, just sitting in his seat. He came as his character from Elf year before last. He was just smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer.

But he just kind of owns it. I know. And he loves it. And I love it. And I'm way too introverted to do that.

Yeah. I won one time and I would never do this. But I thought I'm just going to do it. I was in Beverly Hills. I was driving around and a tour bus went by.

And I thought I'm going to do it. I'm going to wave. And I went, hey, everybody, not a person. They were like, acknowledge they were like, what? Who's that?

And I, I, I, they shrugged it in a little ball like last time I'm ever doing anything. They were like, what have you been in? And you're like, oh, what? You just start listing your resume. Oh, yeah.

I was like, why did I even do that? Yeah. It was certainly no gift to anybody. Oh, God. It was like, no.

Oh, God. Oh, God. I mean, I mean, that is what I love about you, Steve. It's like, I feel like, for many things, one is that I feel like you're just such an incredible actor performer and and collaborative person to work with. And I do look forward to being in the play that you and Stephen do together.

Yes. How about who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? Want to do it? Yes. Two things though.

I like to go to bed early. And I don't want to do as many performances as they make you do. I think about our time. So when the hardest part of our day was at the end of our day, when we would do our shows, and it was like in jeans shuffling out there, I'd be like, can we get a word to get started? Like, I'm a bunch of lazy motherfuckers.

Shout to things out. Shout out to shout out. Where do we work? Where did the two of us work? What's our relationship?

What's my first line? What's my last line? And what are some of the lines in between? But you have been killed off on a couple of shows morning show. You were killed off morning show.

The patient. The last three shows. The last three shows. The last three shows. What's going on?

People love to see me kill them. It's a thing. Yeah. Now your new show, you're not. Okay.

Let's talk about Rooster. Yeah. Season one. So far so good. Okay.

It just came out on HBO. Yeah. What is it about? It's about my character, Greg, is a writer, not unlike Carl Hyerson, whose daughter is a professor at a prestigious East Coast University. I go to that university to just do a reading.

And in order, my daughter kind of gets into some trouble. And the president of the university, this is a long-winded version. President of the university asks if I'll stay on as a resident, you know, a writer and residence. And so I become the writer and residence at this college at my daughter. And so it really changes the dynamic between me and my daughter.

And it's like you stepping into this like academic world. I like to see you as a professor. I like that a lot. Yeah. It's fun.

Yeah. I think it's really, the cast is such a good, good group. What's it like doing another show with like, how's it feel? It was great. Yeah.

It was, it had that sense of freedom. Yeah. And that sense of anything can happen at any time. We can try stuff. Everybody's a great improviser.

People, you know, talking before about improvising in character on point. Everybody's so good at that. So great. It's very well written and funny. Yeah.

I love it. I really love it. Congrats on that. It's great. It's going to be my parents' favorite show.

I hope to run into them at that restaurant. Well, I was hoping actually. Would you mind if we just FaceTime them, Greg? Oh my gosh. Do you mind?

No. Because I told them that we were interviewing you. And my mom texted back, okay, it was the Gibbit Hill Grill. Yeah. In Grotton Mass.

Now, when I called my dad before, when I texted my dad and said, where did you see Steve Currell? He didn't answer me back. And mom said he was at the gym. Let's see if we can get ahold of him. Hi, mama.

I've got Steve Currell here. Oh my God. How are you? How are you? How was your meal?

It was very nice. I believe I had the stuff scrawled. Scrud. Scrud is a boss. Okay, what are you?

We were talking about how Steve doesn't seem like he's from us. He doesn't have any kind of accent. But neither do you, mom. Oh, don't even make fun of me. I'm going to ask you to sit here.

That's okay. How mad is dad going to be that he didn't answer the phone? He's at the gym. Oh, Bill's right here. Steve, do you mind?

Of course. Steve Currell is on the phone here. Sit up. Steve Currell. Hey.

Are you just lounging on the couch? Lounging on the recliner. He's in his recliner. What time is it there? Hi, pop.

Look who you secured for me. Yes. Do I get any, uh, benefits from that? No, I don't get calls. Fights.

Fights. Yes. Fights. This week. Boston.

You know what? Are you, when you go out to restaurants now, are you just going to be like scoping for people for the show? You'd be interested to know what I said after you left. I said, his wife is beautiful. Weird.

Weird. Thanks, dad. Yeah. What's that about? Hey, Mrs. Polar, that's not right.

That's weird. Don't let your husband talk. That's gross. I'm finally for divorce now that I think. Well, thanks, you guys, for the assist.

We had a great interview and dad, I owe you a couple bucks. Bye. So, Steve, thank you for being with my parents. And before I finish, I got to ask you my most important question, which I almost forgot to ask you, which is, what is making you laugh these days? What are you watching, reading?

Who's making you laugh? What do you like? I, Nancy and I just started, we're late to it, but just started watching the righteous gemstone. Oh. And that first season was such a joy.

Loved it. Danny. Incredible. Incredible. But can we talk about Edie for a second?

Mm-hmm. Edie Patterson on that show. I never seen her before. Oh my god. She's so funny.

So, see, that's when you start, when you see someone that just comes out of blue. Yeah. And unexpected and like a completely different approach to a character. So unique and specific. Yeah.

I know. And to talk about like improvising in character, she, like everything she's saying is tumbling out of her mouth. It seems like. I don't know how much is written or improvised, but it looks like a lot is improvised, but I don't know. But everything is kind of tumbling out of her mouth, but it's never ever a false note.

She's just staying in that. All those characters are nuts. Yeah. I really like it. That is an amazing cast, John Goodman.

I love John Goodman. I do too. Adam Devine. Yeah. It's really good.

I, and it's one of those, I, just, it just kind of flip by. Like it didn't, was under, under a radar. And on a whim, we just said, you know, I've heard good things. I started watching it. Let me call my parents and see what they think.

Okay. Let's see. Thank you, Steve. Thank you for doing this. Thank you, Steve Carell.

Thank you for talking to my parents. You know, for this polar plunge, I just want to reiterate how grateful and lucky I am to be a Boston girl. You know, me and Steve are Boston kids who made it big. And it is really nice always to feel like you were part of a community. And that's what being from Boston feels like.

So don't come at me, Boston. If I said one thing that made you mad, all right, let it roll off your shoulders, all right? Because you're still the best. Number one, don't forget. Boston forever.

Go socks. Okay. Thanks for listening. And we'll catch you next time on Good night, guys.