1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 1: This is Alec Baldwin and you're listening to Here's the thing, 2 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:08,720 Speaker 1: ladies and gentlemen. The President of the United States on 3 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:11,000 Speaker 1: my first day in office, I said I'd closed Wanton 4 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:17,800 Speaker 1: and mobit is it closed yet? No, that's Fred Armisson 5 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,600 Speaker 1: on Saturday Night Live, adding to the show's distinguished line 6 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 1: of oddly perfect presidential impressions that started with Chevy Chase. 7 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: Now there was Fred, who also plays other important icons 8 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: such as Larry King, Mak mood Am, A Dinajade, Rupert Murdoch, 9 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: and Prince Attention, sexy passengers. This grew jets about to 10 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: take off, so please direct your attention to my co host, 11 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 1: Miss Beyonce. No. Fred Armison grew up in Valley Stream, 12 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:53,160 Speaker 1: Long Island with a Venezuelan mother and a German Japanese father. 13 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: My mom really loved Saturday Night Line. She loved it. 14 00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: She I remember her talking about Chevy Chase and she 15 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 1: would say, like, Oh, Chevy Chase, he's so funny. You 16 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 1: just look at his face and you want to laugh. 17 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:10,479 Speaker 1: And then made a huge impression on me. And even 18 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 1: as a kid, I thought, yeah, what is that like 19 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: a guy who just from looking at him right away? 20 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 1: You know it doesn't absolutely. Armiston is also co creator 21 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:25,399 Speaker 1: of Portlandia, a playfully subversive sketch comedy show on i 22 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: f C in which he co stars with the musician 23 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: Carrie Brownstein. And I have to get up early for work, 24 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: so let's get in her pgs and we'll watch one 25 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: more Okay, one more, so good? So good? What time 26 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: is it? It's like daylight? Any How did that even happen? 27 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: We just stayed up on late Do you want to 28 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: watch more Landia, which he produces while SNL is on hiatus, 29 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: recently won a Peabody Award. Thank you so much for 30 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: your guidance and for believing in the show and for 31 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: allowing us a freedom not to be reckless but to 32 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: be bold. Fred missing as part of the American comedy landscape, 33 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: but he took an unusual path to get there. For 34 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: ten years, he was a punk rock drummer in a 35 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: band called trench Mouth. I worked so hard on that band. 36 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 1: It was like an obsession for me. But it was 37 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 1: like I just worked every day. We were in the van. 38 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: We toward toward towards booking places, booking, booking, booking, booking, 39 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: and just trying to get slots and clubs over what 40 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 1: area the States, in Canada, and you were all floating 41 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: and reloading your own equipment. They were your own roadies. 42 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:36,359 Speaker 1: Absolutely didn't bring any extra people to save money up 43 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 1: and downstairs the middle of the night, lifting lifting, lifting drums, symbols, amps. 44 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 1: Then if it was a local show, flyers records, getting 45 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: them out to people, getting them out to radio stations. 46 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 1: It was non stop and the same band, same band 47 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: for ten years too. I'd say maybe nine years. Was 48 00:02:57,480 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 1: it successful? It depends how you look at That's what 49 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: I'm saying. I want to know you were definition definition. 50 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 1: I had success in getting becoming closer with my friends. 51 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: I had success in playing the drums. I played a 52 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: lot of drums for a long enjoyed myself, travel the 53 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: country and I'm not much of a drinker. Played in Europe, 54 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 1: played in the States. So absolutely that all that stuff 55 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: was like, that's a success? Was it what I wanted? 56 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 1: I wanted much more? Did much more? Why? Why? Why? 57 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 1: Because I want I wanted to be as big I 58 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 1: remember this is going to sound I'll just be honest 59 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: about what I wanted. But I was wanted to be 60 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 1: as big as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I was like, God, 61 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: they're huge, they're huge. What we can do it? So 62 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: because we never attained that, and I would see bands 63 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: from Chicago kind of swooped right by us. I saw 64 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: it as not a success, and that's what kind of 65 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: got me into doing comedy. In fact, I remember one 66 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 1: band in particular. I remember seeing the drummer and saying 67 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: to myself that I don't want to be that. And 68 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: he was older than me, so he must have been 69 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: who knows what, thirty forty or something like that. He 70 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: was a drummer in a very knew more how old 71 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: I must have been ten years older and said ten 72 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: years from I don't want I saw he had some 73 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: gray hair, and which is nothing wrong with that I'm saying, 74 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:10,400 Speaker 1: but this is what I did not like was that 75 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: he was still lugging his equipment and I just I 76 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: was just like, I don't want to be that guy. 77 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,720 Speaker 1: I don't want to arrive in some town and find 78 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 1: a place to stay. It just doesn't look nice. Yeah, 79 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: do you know what I mean? Like you've done that. Yeah, 80 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 1: it's fine for when you're in your twenties, it's great. 81 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 1: We slept on floors, shared tell rooms shared really like 82 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 1: the worst kinds of places you could imagine. You get 83 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:37,840 Speaker 1: stuck together, stuck together. Describe trench Mouth's music. Who wrote 84 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: the songs we all did together? You all did. Yeah. 85 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 1: When we did the songwriting appen, you just like get 86 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,919 Speaker 1: together and say today's rehearsal songwriting day. It's kind of 87 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 1: like we had band practice every whatever, three times a 88 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 1: week or something twice a week, and you just sit 89 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:52,040 Speaker 1: in a room and you're like, I have this one 90 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 1: part and I have this other part, and we just 91 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 1: put them all together. But it was very frenetic and 92 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:01,359 Speaker 1: loud and percussive, and it was a cacophony, just like noise. 93 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: I was a little bit of a ham so, like, 94 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:15,480 Speaker 1: I really want to play a lot of drums, like 95 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: Heath Moon style noise, noise, noise all the way through. 96 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: And that was kind of like what a lot of 97 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: bands were like that. So it was kind of just 98 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: the way it was. It was pretty noisy. But I 99 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 1: don't know, I love the drums, so and you still 100 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:35,159 Speaker 1: play I do. I do. I love get invited to 101 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:37,600 Speaker 1: come play with somebody who was famous. It depends what 102 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 1: you consider famous. For me, it was the Bengals asked 103 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 1: me to play with them recently. Yeah, I loved it. 104 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: I loved it. I'm paid to go see the Bengals 105 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: and then at a show recently they'll come up and 106 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 1: play a song absolutely, and then I loved it. I 107 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: loved it. So you're really two people. There's you, the 108 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: musical you, and you don't want to let that die 109 00:05:57,720 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: and you still play every now and then. Yeah, you 110 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: still have just a drum set. Yeah, but I don't 111 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 1: do anything like I don't fancy myself like, hey, I'm 112 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:08,280 Speaker 1: still making music. I won't like put out like you know, 113 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: original songs and like that no one needs to hear. 114 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:16,039 Speaker 1: You know. I'm grateful to be a comedian. I'm not 115 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 1: like a struggling anything. But for fun, I will go 116 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: and play music. Armison went with his band to Austin, 117 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,359 Speaker 1: Texas for the south By Southwest Music Festival. Along with 118 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: his drums, he brought a video camera. And there were 119 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:32,839 Speaker 1: always seminars and stuff how to make it in the 120 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 1: music biz, And somehow I got it in my head 121 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: to interview people do different characters, and uh, it just 122 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 1: became this, this video and you've never done anything like 123 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 1: that before. You're down there, and the and the whole, 124 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 1: the whole experience down there was a musical one, but 125 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 1: you start doing funny stuff and I don't even know 126 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 1: why I did it, you know, I was just like 127 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 1: I just thought it would be a fun thing to do. 128 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 1: And a friend of mine edited it together, and that 129 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: tape This is nineteen sort of made the rounds. They 130 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: wrote about it in this local Chicago paper. And then 131 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: I showed it at a club there that I used 132 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: to play in Trench Mouth. At this club as many 133 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: people turn out for that as with the band, So 134 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 1: right away I knew like, oh, I could do this 135 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: and not have to load in my equipment back and forth, 136 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 1: do you know what I mean? Like the reaction was 137 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: greater than when I was in a band. On that night, 138 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: I thought, oh, this might be a way to go. 139 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 1: I'm here with the aluminum grove. I just wanted to 140 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: know from you guys who thought up the name of 141 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 1: the band. And I don't mean like originally, I mean 142 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: like who was the person who decided that that was 143 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 1: going to be the name? And what record label are 144 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 1: you on? Is it the same record label that you're 145 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: on a couple of years ago, or is the one 146 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 1: that's going to be different, and is it the one 147 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: that's gonna be on in Europe? Did everybody in Trench 148 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: Mouth get really sad than did they know you were 149 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 1: going to go? Um? Maybe? But they're my friends, so 150 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 1: I think based you know, they had they kept on 151 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 1: going with another band called All of Them, and they 152 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 1: said they hate you, damn it. But hatred equals love. Yeah, 153 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: it's a it's still an Emotional're not ignoring me. I 154 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: think we were already broken up or breaking up, so 155 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 1: it was a very natural progression. At the time, I 156 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: was playing drums for Blue Man Group in chicoge So, Um, 157 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 1: that's doing the same thing every night, isn't it. That's 158 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: a show? Yeah, that grab you. I learned a lot, 159 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: you did. I learned a lot from that show, because 160 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: do you have you very familiar with this playing down 161 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 1: for years pure entertainment. You know, I'm up there in 162 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,199 Speaker 1: this sort of the drums are above this stage and 163 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:43,840 Speaker 1: you can kind of look down at the audience. And 164 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: I learned that lawns want to just be entertained. You 165 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: don't have to overthink anything if you're if you if 166 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: you're entertaining enough, they're there they want something to do 167 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: at night. You're predisposed. How long did you do that? 168 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,440 Speaker 1: Two years? Two years? It's the first time I got 169 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 1: a paycheck for playing the drums, and to me, it 170 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: was a million of the last and the last. Yes, 171 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 1: absolutely after that comedy, so you're yeah, that's the last 172 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 1: thing that man. Um simplicity to not overthink ideas speed. 173 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 1: They changed from one bit, as it were, to the 174 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: next very quickly. Um. I think, uh reinvention a little bit. 175 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:27,839 Speaker 1: They would keep sort of renewing the show a little 176 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: bit just to keep it lively. That that is what 177 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: I came away with the most of that. Audiences want 178 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:36,719 Speaker 1: to want to be entertained. And then what happens after that, 179 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 1: That's when I started doing comedy. And then doing comedy 180 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 1: where from those videos that I was telling you about, 181 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 1: I started traveling the country showing it in l A, 182 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 1: San Francisco, New York. You took made it into a 183 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: stand upack kind of I would just you know, they'd 184 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 1: write something in the paper, and people came out in 185 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 1: all these cities. And then I went to l A clubs, 186 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 1: comedy clubs, rock clubs, rock clubs. There was no music, 187 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: no music, just showed this video and talked a little bit, 188 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:05,320 Speaker 1: and that's it. How long we're on stage? I mean 189 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,319 Speaker 1: total of like half an hour forty something really short, 190 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 1: just a little people dug it. Absolutely, It's pretty internet. 191 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 1: So showing a video was more of an event. Yeah, 192 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: there was no such thing as like sort of why 193 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 1: don't you just watch it online? Um? And then someone 194 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 1: from HBO was at one of the shows, and then 195 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 1: I started doing these videos for HBO. They had like 196 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 1: this these other channels like HBO Zone Latina, So there's 197 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 1: something called HBO Zone which is this sort of like 198 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: alternative channel. And then I did these little interstitial pieces 199 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:43,319 Speaker 1: for them. Who hired you to do this, woman Elaine Brown? 200 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: It was through someone else who worked for a show 201 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 1: called Reverb, which is a rock show on HBO, So 202 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 1: it sort of indirect. I did so many reviews for them, 203 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: and then I started making enough money that I didn't 204 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 1: have to live in Chicago anymore. I was like, I can. 205 00:10:56,559 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 1: I always wanted to live in l A. I moved 206 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 1: to l A and then I started doing stand up 207 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: like characters and stuff on stage where this is one 208 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:07,959 Speaker 1: club that I loved called Largo, and people like David 209 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: Cross and Bob oden Kirk and Marylyn Rice Cup would 210 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 1: perform there, and I just wanted to do the same thing. 211 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:16,719 Speaker 1: So I just started doing some stand up there as 212 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 1: different characters. And so now are you in the full 213 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,079 Speaker 1: world of sitting down and writing for those shows? You're 214 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:26,319 Speaker 1: sitting down doing a lot of writing. Then it's like, yes, no, 215 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 1: I did all that for sure. I moved to l 216 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: A and I I just wanted to fit in, you know, 217 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:31,960 Speaker 1: I was on my own and I just wanted to 218 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 1: perform there and I would just do characters. Yeah. Did 219 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 1: you make old new friends right away to fall into 220 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 1: the comedy world, Yeah, I did. I just wanted to 221 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 1: be part of it, you know what I mean? So 222 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 1: I think it was and you were open to it, Yeah, 223 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,439 Speaker 1: and then I just and who became your pals there 224 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:50,440 Speaker 1: in l A Um Paul F. Tompkins Bob oden Kirk 225 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,200 Speaker 1: really helped me out a lot from doing stand up there. 226 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:55,960 Speaker 1: He had a pilot for a show called Next, which 227 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:58,079 Speaker 1: had different characters and it was a sort of variety 228 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 1: show and he got me onto the past for that. 229 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 1: And from that is where I have like all um 230 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:10,360 Speaker 1: tape to submit to SNL. Hello, welcome to focus on talent. 231 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:13,319 Speaker 1: I am go hard lip shifts and today my very 232 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 1: special guest is the wonderfully simple Way Romano. Thank you 233 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 1: so much for coming. This is really great. Do you 234 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,560 Speaker 1: begin instead up comedy and so and I think that 235 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 1: your act was not so good? Yes, well it seems 236 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 1: to make people smile. I guess yes, yes, but perhaps 237 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 1: it is a yawn and you are paid by the 238 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: yawn and that's why you're so rich. Yes, I had 239 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 1: enough tape to submit to SNL. My agents and manager 240 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 1: sent it to them, and then I was on the 241 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: cast and two thousand two, so you show up to 242 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 1: New York to do the show. I flew into do 243 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: the auditions. You know, I was flipping out that I 244 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 1: even got to do the auditions. All yeah, I mean 245 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 1: I met Tina Favor the first time Lauren, and Tina 246 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: was the head writer of them. I b leave, so 247 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: I think her and Dennis McNicholas. I couldn't even believe 248 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 1: I was in that studio. Yeah it was. I'm still 249 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 1: blown away by it. And then when you started, you 250 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 1: were a featured player. And then how many years you 251 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 1: did you do that? Before you drive? Two years? It 252 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,679 Speaker 1: was Will Forte and I and was it frustrating to 253 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: be a future player, because again, no, no, I wasn't. 254 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 1: I'm fresh from carrying drums. I'm fresh from just doing 255 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: stand up at large. I can't. There's a part of 256 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: me that still is like, I can't believe it. A 257 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 1: lot of people on the show don't since that they 258 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:36,959 Speaker 1: leave and they don't realize how good they've had it. 259 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 1: But people who have left the show have told me 260 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,319 Speaker 1: and I listened to them, and they say, it's the 261 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:45,439 Speaker 1: best job I've ever had. Yeah, it's going to be 262 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: one of them. You know, you're not gonna have that 263 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: much freedom and that much variety. I always tell people, 264 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 1: don't leave the show and become the thing you made 265 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:54,200 Speaker 1: fun of on the show, right, And that's a real trip, 266 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: because you're gonna go out there and do with the jobs. 267 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 1: And one of the greatest risks in my mind is 268 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:02,080 Speaker 1: that people will characterized you. Oh yeah, I mean I 269 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,839 Speaker 1: can see you doing a movie where you're when a 270 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: really smart cast and a smart director and you like 271 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 1: lock everybody in the gymnasium and burn the gymnasium down 272 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:12,680 Speaker 1: to the ground. You could go either way, don't you think. 273 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 1: I hope. So I wanted to straight acting. Mm, that's tricky. Um, 274 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 1: but if there's a way to do it, it's tricky 275 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: because I don't want to look like I'm unhappy with comedy. 276 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 1: I don't want to go out there and say, for 277 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 1: lack of a better word, an audience like, hey, this 278 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: is what I really do. However, I think these days 279 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 1: there are roles that are both comedic and dramatic. I 280 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: like that that line is becoming blurry. So my answer 281 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 1: is kind of like, I think there's a way that 282 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: Peter Sellers did. It was comedy comedy somewhere, and he 283 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 1: occupies a very very distinct place. You have comic actors 284 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 1: who made their reputation in comedic roles who have tried 285 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: to go over into dramatic films and it's worked to 286 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 1: some degree or hasn't worked, Billy Crystall and Robin Williams 287 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 1: and so forth. And I think you have a real opportunity, 288 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: and it's never more vivid than it is in Portlandia 289 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: that you could go both ways and do the comic 290 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:20,160 Speaker 1: and the dramatic. Do you feel that way, yes, because 291 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 1: when we do the show, when we write the show, 292 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 1: we don't always think about, like what's the funniest thing, right, 293 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 1: Like what what seems interesting to us? What what's going 294 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: to look? If they comes, it comes great. If it's 295 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 1: not quite comedy, that's okay, Like that's it's something else 296 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: in between. Did I did read that? Do you The 297 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 1: thing of mc sweeney's was comparing CD tracks and album 298 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: tracks and if you read that, Yeah? Do you read 299 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: that thing? And mother Jones about eco chairs and eco 300 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 1: waste to sit? I did? Yeah, I did that thing. 301 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: It's been about all the festivals. Did you read that 302 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: thing in Peace? It was about the National thinks well 303 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: about all that mid century houses? Yeah? Did read the 304 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: New York Times? Yes? New York observe, Yes, Washington hosts 305 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 1: Journal of course, ready to read that steampunk art. Did 306 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 1: not like the end of it. Did you read that 307 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: skywriting over the Plammett River? Yes? Read thetune? Yes? Last night? Ye? 308 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: Do you read it? Yes? There were Yes. Did you 309 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: read that thing that I wrote in the sand on 310 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 1: the beach? Did you read the Portland to read the 311 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: Wilmah to read the Seattle Stranger? I loved it. I 312 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,440 Speaker 1: think everybody who would listen to this podcast knows. Carrie 313 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 1: Brown's team from from the show. But did you know 314 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 1: Carrie when? When did you meet her? I met her 315 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: two thousand and three, I think, but I know I 316 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 1: had We had mutual friends, going back to you just 317 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 1: started the feature playing bit of the contract. Yeah, but 318 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: I knew the drummer in her band, Janet in seven 319 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: or Carrie lives in Portland, Portland and her band was 320 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 1: like my favorite bands bands leader Kenny. I became friendly 321 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 1: with them. We just had a lot of mutual friends. 322 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: They came to New York to play. I just invited 323 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 1: them to come to the show. They had a show 324 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: that night, so they came to the after party and 325 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: I met Carrie there and it was the strangest thing. 326 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: Carrie and I just became instant friends. That happens, and 327 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 1: she knew who you were from the TV show. Fully, 328 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 1: it just worked cooked. Yeah, ever since then? And then 329 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: how soon after that? I mean, what was the relationship 330 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:09,159 Speaker 1: like between that and when you started Portland? Which is 331 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 1: only how many years old? Plane is we're going to 332 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: a third season. You started hatching it four years ago. 333 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:18,120 Speaker 1: Let's further back in that. We had a website where 334 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,159 Speaker 1: we would make little videos. This was the birth of 335 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 1: that was this video as well. Yeah, so it was 336 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 1: just we just made these videos. Well it was going 337 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 1: to be thunder egg which is the Oregon State rock 338 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: and then there was a band called thunder Eggs that 339 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 1: were like out of respect, like, let's think of something else, 340 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:37,160 Speaker 1: and we just came up with thunder An and uh, 341 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: we just made these videos. I'd go to Portland. It 342 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 1: was like the equivalent of jamming, you know. And so 343 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: instead of doing that, which is just like so what 344 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 1: you know, like, hey, we have this band, we just 345 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: thought let's make these videos. There was no pressure on it. 346 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 1: It's just like, let's just didn't like it, Yeah, for 347 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,239 Speaker 1: no reason, let's just come up with characters, let's make 348 00:17:57,240 --> 00:17:58,920 Speaker 1: these tapes. And then we did. And then we had 349 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: all these videos on this website. I remember reading that 350 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:04,640 Speaker 1: you did about a dozen of them, correct, Yeah, that's 351 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 1: about right. And then then we just had enough to 352 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: pitch a TV show and then how does Portland become 353 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 1: a show? Who buys the show? Um? It was kind 354 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: of a thing where I was just talking to my manager, 355 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 1: what do you want to do next? What's something about okar? 356 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 1: And I thought thunder and let's just turn it see 357 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 1: if we can turn it into something. And then Carrie 358 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 1: and I just thought, yeah, let's let's pitch it. We 359 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:24,159 Speaker 1: are ready for that. Does she want that? Yeah? She 360 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 1: seems like somebody who lived in Portland and lived on 361 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 1: the fringe and was very very talented deliberately that she 362 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 1: didn't want to be mainstream successful. Um. I think she 363 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:35,680 Speaker 1: just likes doing it, so she does what she wants. 364 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 1: She's a perfect mix of like she just enjoys, you know, 365 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:42,560 Speaker 1: performing and isn't like so crazy ambitious that she's like, Okay, 366 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 1: what's the next thing? What's the next thing. She's very like, 367 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 1: let's work on some projects and a lot of it's 368 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:48,960 Speaker 1: our friendship. We just like working together. And then we 369 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:52,400 Speaker 1: pitched it to Broadway Video and your singer and then 370 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: uh so you know Lauren and as a group, we 371 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:00,080 Speaker 1: pitched it to i f C. They said, go and 372 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 1: do a pilot, which we did and then the next 373 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:04,399 Speaker 1: thing we knew we're doing the show and you shoot 374 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:07,239 Speaker 1: the show in Portland obviously, And what was it like 375 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:09,440 Speaker 1: to crew up a show there is there a lot 376 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 1: of production up there. Yeah, I mean it was it 377 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: was incredible. I mean we had I didn't have time 378 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:17,159 Speaker 1: to stop and think about, Wow, isn't this cool. We 379 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: just had to get you know, a director with John Chrystal. 380 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 1: We had to get you know, producers, line producers on board. 381 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 1: So there's a lot to do. And then we had 382 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 1: to come up with the sketches too. And where's the 383 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 1: production facility? We just shoot on location. Where's the production 384 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 1: offices and some defunct building. Yeah, it wasn't like a 385 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:37,120 Speaker 1: missile factory. It was like it was like this old sneaker. 386 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 1: It was like an abandoned sports store or sports something, 387 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 1: action sports something, some like is the production office for 388 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 1: the show? It was it just channing. It changed the 389 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:49,400 Speaker 1: second year. We just you know, it's which I kind 390 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 1: of like. At first I didn't like, but it's something 391 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: I've grown to like. Is it it just changes to 392 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 1: whatever is the cheapest place to rent space. I think 393 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:59,159 Speaker 1: when things are permanent, that's a that's kind of a 394 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: scary thing. Is then you just assume too much. Is 395 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:03,919 Speaker 1: there a lot of other production in Portland? Me, there 396 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 1: a lot of the there's a few other things. Um, 397 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: the leverage is shot there, grim is shot there, but 398 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 1: I think that's it maybe, so not a lot of 399 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 1: shot there, not a lot, not a lot. I think 400 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:18,159 Speaker 1: it's nice that that everyone's employed. You know, anything that 401 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 1: brings employment to a city, it's got to be great. 402 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:22,920 Speaker 1: Now when you go there, I'm assuming to start the show, 403 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:25,199 Speaker 1: you've never lived there before, No, but I've gone there 404 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 1: soul you had because you've spent so much time, so 405 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 1: you knew what this Portland's head was. That's what also 406 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:34,119 Speaker 1: got us to doing this show there. I mean, like 407 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:37,360 Speaker 1: I would visit carry all the time, thunder for years. 408 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: I've been going there, and she'd lived there for how long? 409 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 1: Um forever? For what I think she's she's originally from 410 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 1: Washington State and then she moved to Portland whatever, you know, 411 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 1: ten years ago or something. So what is your experience 412 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:51,040 Speaker 1: being in Portland? Do people say stuff to you? All 413 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:55,159 Speaker 1: the love it, They're so nice about it. And I 414 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 1: really like it there. You know, I'm I'm a city guy. 415 00:20:57,560 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 1: I'm from New York and and I still love it there. 416 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:03,159 Speaker 1: It's smaller, but it's still it's still a city and 417 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 1: clean and nice and good food somewhere really civil, really 418 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 1: just physically pretty and and kind of overcast, which I 419 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:13,400 Speaker 1: really like. Do you think when SNL is over you'll 420 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 1: stay in New York. You think Los Angeles is where 421 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:18,440 Speaker 1: you don't think I'm gonna try. Yeah, I'm sure spend 422 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 1: I'm sure I'll spend some time in l A and 423 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 1: sometime in Portland, But I mean, I love it here. 424 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 1: Do you develop films now? Do you write films at 425 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:30,359 Speaker 1: all for yourself? I've started to Yeah, I started to. Yeah. Yeah. 426 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 1: I feel like when I when I try to write 427 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,120 Speaker 1: something for myself and it ends up in TV form. 428 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 1: But still I want to try to expand that. You 429 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:39,920 Speaker 1: would never do a TV series? Um? Do I would 430 00:21:39,960 --> 00:21:42,160 Speaker 1: do anything? Anything it seems interesting. I would. I would 431 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:46,199 Speaker 1: do anything it seems like something you know good to 432 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:49,800 Speaker 1: be part of. So when you sign a contract like 433 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:52,159 Speaker 1: with Broadway Video for those people who don't know this, 434 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 1: that's Lawrence Company, Rice Production Arm and you have to 435 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:59,160 Speaker 1: deliver how many episodes? Ten? You just do ten. First 436 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 1: one was six, the second was ten. This one's gonna 437 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:05,639 Speaker 1: be tanned. I was gonna say, because because eventually you 438 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:08,880 Speaker 1: start again when as soon as I'm done with SNL. Yeah, 439 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 1: you're gonna go right out to Portlood with carry and 440 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:12,760 Speaker 1: start again and do ten and that ten will take 441 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:15,360 Speaker 1: you through through the summer, So you spend your whole 442 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 1: summer working with Kerry, then you come back to SNL. Yeah, 443 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 1: you have a little bit of a break. No, in fact, 444 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 1: it overlaps a little bit. In fact, I might have 445 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:25,120 Speaker 1: to miss some maybe a little bit of rehearsing when 446 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 1: we come right back next year, because I think it's 447 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:30,919 Speaker 1: going to bleed into October a little bit. What do 448 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: you do for fun? I just work all that time. 449 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: Will you do his work because that's what you wanted. Yeah, 450 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 1: today I'm going to go into work and we're gonna 451 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 1: start writing. And it's work, but it's still you know, 452 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 1: trying to think of things for for the show. What 453 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 1: do you watch on tv UM lately? Game of Thrones. 454 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 1: I'm just I'm very addicted to every story that's going 455 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,479 Speaker 1: on in that show. It's so well done. It's so 456 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 1: well done, and and it's a weird mix of like 457 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 1: it's kind of historical not historical fan I mean, I 458 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 1: guess at this point it's just fantasy, but like it's 459 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 1: just it's just so well done. I really really love it. 460 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 1: Downton Abbey's really watch I have to watch that. I 461 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:16,840 Speaker 1: haven't watched that Girls is really great. That shows a 462 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:20,280 Speaker 1: good so many great things. I always remember Favreau had 463 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: that show Dinner for five. Remember that I used to 464 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:25,680 Speaker 1: watch that show. I love that show, and Favreau had 465 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 1: these people on it. Favreau's talking to these people and 466 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 1: he says, well, you know, win the movie business. There's 467 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:34,480 Speaker 1: three things. There's the director, there's the script, and there's 468 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 1: the cast. And he said, you can afford to take 469 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:39,440 Speaker 1: a chance on one of the three. He said, but 470 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,719 Speaker 1: if two of the three, let alone three. But if 471 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:46,440 Speaker 1: two are in doubt or you have questions about, he said, 472 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 1: don't do the movie. I remember sitting there in my 473 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 1: bed and I'd already been in the movie business for 474 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 1: like you know, I was, I was forty years old 475 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: or forty years I remember sitting there going, damn now. 476 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:59,440 Speaker 1: He tells me, damn you, John, that was that's really good. 477 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 1: He taught me big list. Did you ever meet someone 478 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 1: who was an idol of yours and you really had 479 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 1: an amazing experience chatting with the absolute for example, Steve Martin, Right, 480 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 1: I mean, oh him, uh, he's you know, it's it's 481 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 1: even weird talking about it because I feel like I 482 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: know him somewhat. But in the comedy world or in 483 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:27,639 Speaker 1: the entertainment world. He's just like the experiences greater than 484 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:31,359 Speaker 1: I ever thought it would be because I idolize him. 485 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 1: And then on top of it, the way he's just 486 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:35,680 Speaker 1: the way he is, you know, that's part of the thing, 487 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: that seeing how people are as people. That's another nice surprise. 488 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:42,119 Speaker 1: He's a very sweet, gry He's just yeah, and he 489 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 1: loves art, and that's like, Yeah, you seem very goal oriented. 490 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:49,240 Speaker 1: You've had goals. You wanted to be in the band, 491 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 1: You did the band, You did that until you were done, 492 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:53,919 Speaker 1: you put it down, you went to this, You've moved along. 493 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 1: What else do you want to do? Um? Someday one 494 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:04,399 Speaker 1: you invent a type of entertainment that isn't is really 495 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:08,760 Speaker 1: blurry between comedy and something else that doesn't have a 496 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:10,400 Speaker 1: name yet. But I do want to see if there's 497 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:14,879 Speaker 1: another way to another level of um fooling people as 498 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:17,720 Speaker 1: opposed to just doing a character something a little bigger 499 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: than that. And I don't know quite how to do 500 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:24,720 Speaker 1: it yet, but I do think being famous has killed 501 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 1: that opportunity for you personally, and sometimes so that someone 502 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 1: you have to get someone else to do it and 503 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 1: produce that yeah, because you couldn't do that, because you 504 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 1: meant you show up, they know something's going on. But, uh, 505 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 1: do you find that do you find that when you 506 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,800 Speaker 1: walk up to people automatically like someone said something to me, 507 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:45,040 Speaker 1: They said to me, you're you're at a wonderful place 508 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,560 Speaker 1: which is also a terrible place, that place where people 509 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:50,680 Speaker 1: are going to laugh at you, whether you're funny or not. 510 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:53,440 Speaker 1: I meant it as a dig. Do you find that's 511 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:56,480 Speaker 1: true with you, that wherever you go, people are predisposed 512 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 1: to you saying something yeah. Or if I do like 513 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:02,680 Speaker 1: a stand up show, where I find that I want 514 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 1: to put more effort into it, but sometimes I don't 515 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: really have to, so that might not be a good thing. 516 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:10,919 Speaker 1: So what about it in your personal life? How is 517 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:14,959 Speaker 1: your personal life changed as a result of being famous? Um, 518 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:20,120 Speaker 1: it's everything I ever wanted. But there are some things 519 00:26:20,119 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 1: about it that are just very new and just very interesting, 520 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 1: you know, Like I love New York. I love writing 521 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:27,720 Speaker 1: on the subway. My subway rights an't as private as 522 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:30,159 Speaker 1: they used to be. That's when I start trying to 523 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:33,879 Speaker 1: think of ideas. I listen to music, and that's just different. 524 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:37,960 Speaker 1: Now people say things to you, yeah, perfectly nice, perfectly nice. 525 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:40,280 Speaker 1: I would have done the same had I met whoever. 526 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: But that's that's changed, like a different kind of subway. Right. 527 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 1: What about your relationship with your family, your friends? I mean, 528 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:50,000 Speaker 1: do you still have the same friends, Yeah, kind of, 529 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:53,200 Speaker 1: but I've got, you know, got new friends, new circles 530 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 1: of friends. Yes, but I've maintained my friendships with the 531 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:03,440 Speaker 1: guys in the old band then Kirk, Yeah, absolutely, he's 532 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 1: in l a though, right, Yeah, let's text each other. 533 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:09,040 Speaker 1: And yeah, so I do maintain relationship with this even 534 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:13,400 Speaker 1: if I'm if we're both busy, Paul F. Tompkins, whoever, 535 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 1: I still try to keep those alive. This is the 536 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 1: last thing I want to say to you, which you 537 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 1: could say a million things too well, but I'm saying that, uh, 538 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:25,200 Speaker 1: without getting too personal. You know you've been married twice. Yeah, 539 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:27,879 Speaker 1: and you find you were married twice, correct, that's correct. 540 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 1: And and the first one was in Chicago before I 541 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:33,359 Speaker 1: was doing comedy, and that's someone who I'm still friends with, Sally. 542 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,000 Speaker 1: That was during the music days, yes, the Keith Moon days. 543 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 1: And then you were married the second time, yes, But 544 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 1: would you say that like from things I've read, you 545 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:44,440 Speaker 1: find that because of what you crave, what you love. 546 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:47,480 Speaker 1: You speak very lovingly about Carrie and how you and 547 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:50,639 Speaker 1: she you're just friends, but she's like you're you know, 548 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 1: she's your last text of the day. Do you think 549 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:56,359 Speaker 1: that she's kind of your soul mate? Without a doubt. 550 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:59,639 Speaker 1: It's all the things that I've ever wanted, you know, 551 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 1: as from like the physical stuff, but the intimacy that 552 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 1: I have with her is like no other, Like it's 553 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:10,200 Speaker 1: something that and it's only it's taking me a while 554 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:12,879 Speaker 1: to realize, Like, wait a minute, I am super super 555 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:15,479 Speaker 1: close with her. I mean we work all day together 556 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:18,080 Speaker 1: on portlanda and then we hang out afterwards. I mean, 557 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:21,119 Speaker 1: what is that? Because people don't understand in this business 558 00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:23,600 Speaker 1: how important it is, Like do you have to be 559 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:26,600 Speaker 1: It depends on who the person is. Yeah, I also 560 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:30,200 Speaker 1: feel like you want someone who you can be not 561 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:33,359 Speaker 1: great around, meaning you know, like I want I want 562 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:35,600 Speaker 1: to be able to be kind of boring sometimes or 563 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:38,920 Speaker 1: say something dumb, and it's okay. That pressure is I 564 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:40,560 Speaker 1: like that pressure not to be there to have to 565 00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:43,160 Speaker 1: be super funny and intelligent all the time. It's nice 566 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 1: when I like I'm competitive, Yeah, where I'm just like 567 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:49,280 Speaker 1: the comedy world is very competitive, isn't it. I guess 568 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 1: I haven't walked into that too much. I wasn't part 569 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 1: of a comedy troop or anything. And so and the 570 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:59,240 Speaker 1: stand ups I've become friends with, I've all been very 571 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 1: you know, supportive. Definitely, depending on the outcome of the election. 572 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 1: You can expect to see more of Fred Armison on 573 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:11,720 Speaker 1: SNL next season as Barack Obama, but definitely more of 574 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:16,040 Speaker 1: Prince Portland Ia is entering its third season on I 575 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:19,239 Speaker 1: f C. Can I play a customer in Portland? Can 576 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 1: I come to a restaurant any time I come in 577 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:25,920 Speaker 1: to do something? Who would I play? What would I order? Um? 578 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 1: I think you would uh come from southern California and 579 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 1: you'd order all kinds of meats a meat a fiction. 580 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 1: People think of it as a veggie place, but it's 581 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 1: actually a very meaty place. Yeah, it's very like cured 582 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:44,160 Speaker 1: meats and sausages that but we haven't explored that much. 583 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:46,720 Speaker 1: Maybe it could be a meat salesman. Yeah, even better, 584 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:49,160 Speaker 1: maybe it could be a meat salesman comes and charts 585 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:52,760 Speaker 1: and graphs of the loins and actually the sections of 586 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:56,640 Speaker 1: the pig and the cow and the organs and yeah, 587 00:29:56,880 --> 00:30:00,440 Speaker 1: I love it, and the answers yes right, I means time. Well, 588 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:05,280 Speaker 1: come see you important. This is Alec Baldwin and you're 589 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:08,040 Speaker 1: listening to here's the thing, m