Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone
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And that's when you hit a Zycam. Boom, boom. Yeah, nail it. And it's kind of fun too. They have rapid melts, medicated food drops, a lot of flavors, you know. Nasal swabs. Nasal swabs. Those are fun. Sprays. Yeah. So you can get it in a lot of different ways.

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I've been trying to get her on here for a while, but she, her and Ben Falcone, her husband came in and lots of good hard laughs along with some info and interesting stuff. Right. We get, we get into basically a classic as of now bridesmaids and how she got that part, what she did in the part and how that came through. We talk about Ghostbusters, uh,

the all-female cast that she was a part of. And we talk about when she went on SNL for a few episodes doing Sean Spicer and driving the podium around New York. And Ben Falcone, her husband, who directs a lot of her movies, super smart, nice guy. And just their marital relationship as also being work-related.

Work-life partners. And you'll see him in a lot of these movies because he's, if you don't know him by the name, you'll know him because- He's a funny performer as well. He sat next to her in Bridesmaids. I'll say that. I think everyone's seen the movie already, but every time I get on a flight, there's someone watching Bridesmaids. Yeah. Still. It's just a great movie. And I'd not, Melissa had worked, but then that one just like,

blew her up, exploded because she was so good in that movie and just had this long career. They're very humble, nice people, easy to talk to. So I would press play if that's what you do or just don't press stop.

Did they meet in the Groundlings? Is that how it happened? Yes, they met in the Groundlings. And we do talk about their love relationship and when they knew and when they first saw each other. And it really happened in one class, one time when Ben gets on stage. You'll hear that story. It's really fun. So here they are. Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone. Ah, they're crammed in. Hey, all right. Oh, this is cute. We've never had...

A loving duo. We've had little wide shots, but nobody kind of cozied up like that. We're getting divorced later this afternoon. Don't worry about it.

That is my theory and it didn't work. My theory is that when couples come out, celebrity couples, and say it's just never been better. It's just so much love and they're on Instagram and stuff. Divorced six weeks later. That was my theory, but I fucked up with Ben Affleck. I thought they were going to stay together because it seemed so obvious that they were having trouble. So fucking real. Yeah. You can swear on this podcast, but we won't swear very much.

Dana and I are separating later today also. Oh, no. What hotel are you guys staying in? I mean, you don't have to say the name, but that's a very nice... That's not your house, is it? This is... Yeah, we have a little place here.

Oh, here being wherever that is. We don't want to cause anything. Wait, but are you shooting something right now presently? She is. Me? Well, or she did. Only murders in the building is everywhere. I did that a while ago. But it's out now. It's on Hulu.

That is a being. Oh my God. Being there with Marty and Steve and like that whole group that was there, it was like a fever dream. Like I literally was like, so when I wake up and they're just like,

That didn't happen, but you've been really ill. I was like, okay, just enjoy it now because it seemed crazy. Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis, Ava Longoria playing themselves, Molly Shannon, and then you play Steve Martin's sister. Yeah, it must have been a fun set. Everybody just goofing around, right? Must have been a fun set. Does it ever get serious? You like that guy? I like him. He digs deep.

No, it was so fun. It was like, well, you know, but like Marty just, he never stops making fun of Steve. And it was like the greatest sporting event I've ever got to watch. Oh, fun. And Steve just like wouldn't acknowledge. And I was like, I could watch this like all day, every day. Plus, doesn't Steve help write? Because to have someone like those two guys even throwing jokes in or just being in the vicinity of,

How fun. It's just too perfect. Yeah. They're dream boats. I'll say it. I'll say it too. Those are my two Mount Rushmores because I'm in college in the late 70s. One's on SCTV and one is touring the world in stadiums and wild and crazy guys. So those are my two from my age group. Yes, which is my age group. Yeah. Those were like two of the guys you were just like,

You're never going to meet them. That'd be crazy. That guy's doing what I want to do better than I'll ever do it right now on television. But I can dream, you know. So you are not currently promoting anything, you two, for this podcast. Or are you? We are. We are. Well, that's okay. But we would have done it anyway.

Let's get it out of the way. And then I've got some pretty deep divey questions. Yeah. Well, if it's on a post-it, it's pretty intense. Those look like one word. You just showed us something where I just see one word. Spread. Raccoon. No. Don't give it away, Dan. Not giving it away. They don't see it. No. I have others. Three, six hours ahead. Okay. What are you currently... What is...

I was going for the name of your production company only for us or one at a time on the day productions. What is on the day productions up to? Well, Ben and our good friend, Steve Mallory, who we've written movies with, we met him at Groundlings, super funny guy. They have written this bizarre medieval comedy that so we're doing a podcast that's like a radio play.

You always explain it best. Yeah, so we just did the hardest version of doing a podcast that you could ever do, right? Because I sort of thought, oh, it would be fun to do a podcast. But then it's everything that you have to do with a live action production except...

We don't have the visual part. But I mean, it's literally, it's a fully produced show called Hildy the Barback and the Lake of Fire. And it's a comedy, medieval, you know, radio play. It's like basically like a book on tape. Yeah. But with a ton of different voices and funny people. Super funny, super funny people. And then they were like, oh, we should make it harder. There's an original song in each one. And I'm like, we're doing this really poorly. Yeah. Because this is taking so much work. But it's really good.

be fun it's been really i did it uh during the pandemic one call it's called the weird place went through everything you just mentioned just making a film but just audially and all the different rules and games of like drawing them in and effects and music and mixing and voices yeah so i i have a

Empathy for you too, what you've just been through. Yeah. And just being like, and when, when I first read it also like part of the joke of the, like the first thing is everything is with the G. So it's like, you know, Gellendorf and Galendria and, and I literally was like, I, I don't know if I could read it. It was like breaking my brain. And then I was like, Oh, I think at 54, I figured out I might be dyslexic. Yeah. And because of, I don't do G as well either. I was like, wow.

Fun facts. Fun facts. He said, these are the things we're learning. I might be dyslexic. E-car-ca-me. Sorry. I'm trying to McCarthy backwards. Pretty good attempt. Let me ask you this. How many episodes and how long are they? There are eight episodes in season one. They're about 30 minutes long a piece. And they're writing season two now. And we are writing season two. And is it out now?

October 25th, the first episode drops and then every Friday after that. Okay. Perfect. Perfect. Now it's basically, it sounds like it's like writing a movie or TV show that hard and then, but it's for this. So it's a lot to get for an audience for a podcast. That's good. It's good for the audience. It's a lot. And there's so, it is like so many weird tricks because when you're like, well, wait, we're talking about like,

You know, there's centaur, like all of these things. And I'm like, how do you, how do you describe this crazy, like middle earth world? That's also a comedy without just,

pure exposition. Yeah, so that was the biggest thing was to try to... And so Octavia Spencer is our narrator, so that was step one. So we just got a great narrator, so she can say kind of anything and it works. Yeah, that seems definitely... And you're like, oh, that sounds wonderful. Jeez, we're smart. Smokey voice. Yes. And she can fill in gaps and stuff to explain. Ma Lupio was sad as he galloped through the forest on his brave stallion.

He drew a scepter at an oncoming stranger. You're hired. You're hired. I was going to say. You're absolutely. Here's the deal, which you guys are ready for it. But maybe this will become a feature film because it is like sort of a, you know, or a series. But, you know, I learned with that one because we had eight and everyone loved it. And they came out. Yada, yada, doo. Now where's nine?

what? That was so much work. You're like, never. It's like Bridgerton. You got to go in 2028. We will have the next one. Yeah. So you just be ready for that. You'll have super fans. That'll be obsessed by it. And when's the next episode? 2028 bitches. Yeah.

You don't have to say bitches. I just threw that out. I think I like it. And I'll steal a Spade's Bridgerton thing. I'll be like, yeah, I just thought of that. Take anything. Is it PG-13 or do you have actual audio sex scenes in this thing? Let's get to it. There's lots of swearsies in it.

So that's the Swerzies. And then there's centaurs that are super sexually fluid that want to hit everything in front of it, except me. And actually the elves, kingdom of elves. It sounds funny. And the elves have sex with everybody except for Hildy, who's Melissa's character. Why is Hildy not getting any action? And then as a parting gift,

they give gifts to everybody and their various things. And then my, I'm like, oh, what is this? Is it a magic potion? And they're like, it's conditioner for your hair. For your really dry hair. My hair is so dry. Okay, so I get where it's coming from. Does your character ever pound? It really comes from love. Do you ever pound on the chest of a prince and say, you impossible beast?

Does that ever happen? Again, we're hiring that character. Season two. Yes. No, but I do. I do climb. Do I have to climb inside the giants? She does. She stabs in his urethra.

So this, okay, so it's fantastic voyage in a different way. You're going inside the bodies through the urethra. So it's sort of an adult show. Just the once. It's adult. It's adult, for sure. It's adult. Okay. And the title is Prancing in the Enchanted Forest. Now, what is it? It went out of my brain. I'm sorry. Gildy and the Gildy Monsters. Gildy the barback in the lake of fire.

She's a bar back. Okay. Bar back. Well, I love bar back lake of fire. That's funny. There we go. Things that don't go together. They absolutely don't. David.

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Melissa, I was on the road this weekend and I realized when people talk about the weather, it's just a nice thing to talk about and people think it's very trite. But if you're in an elevator, you go, it's kind of hot today. And they go, oh yeah, everyone sort of agrees. It's a good starter. And you say, what's going on with Lebanon right before they get off? So you just kind of switch it up because you say we've laid the groundwork. We all agree on something. And then now let's fight.

You put a base coat and then you just really get in there. You understand. When can you not say, isn't the political environment crazy? When is that shelf life? Can you still kind of announce that in an elevator? What's going on, man? It's crazy out there. It actually makes it start talking about it. So you can't do that. You can't even say, let's not talk about this. And they go, well...

And then you go, uh-oh. We're going to make sure that you two don't talk. Where do you want to go? Because I'm kind of, my first blink instinct besides promoting this is the husband-wife dynamic creatively. And so I wrote a list, a list of,

Husbands who've directed their wives. There's the list. And I think it's kind of interesting, this dynamic, what it does to your relationship or how it can, you know, all that stuff and how you communicate. Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman. Sure. Okay. Vincent Minelli and Judy Garland.

True. Again. Okay. Judd Apatow and Leslie Apatow. Know him. Yes. Seen in action. John Krasinski, Emily Blunt. Sure. Ben Stiller, Christine. That worked out well. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I thought the Quiet Place. What did he director in? The Quiet Place. Twice. Yeah. And those are great movies. Sam Mendes and Kate Winslet.

Right? Okay. And Ben, is it Falcone or Falcon? Falcone. Falcone. Yep. Falcone. That's pretty cool. I wish it was Falcon. I mean, if it was Falcon, it would become Falcon. He's Falcon. When the kids go to bed, he becomes the Falcon. I mean, it's so funny. Yes, it's very aviator-like.

He flies. I'm on Daily Mail most of the time, so I know what is happening in the world. It's cocaine for an immature brain. But anyway, just so you guys really started working together and it was sort of like, this is my blink on that. It's like you're doing a movie, Ben's writing or producing. What's your blink? And then it's like a small leap to like, because I always tell kids, I tell the kids, people under 50,

you know, directing is blink. Cause they think, well, I know this lens and I know a 45 L's, you know, it's all about blink. Right. And so if your husband's there and his blink is the best on the set, well, what, who it was organically happened, right? Let you direct it, you know, and then what's blink blink is like blink is Spielberg looking at Robert Shaw doing, and there's a take and he goes, yes, that's, that's it.

Who has a gut instinct to kind of know when it's working and then what to do with the pieces. And that can, I mean, I was on a movie once and the makeup artist was the smartest guy on the film.

He just was talking casually and he just had this blink instinct of when it was working, why it was working. Is that the kid saying blink? I like blink. I just made it up. It's like fetch. Dana's starting it today.

I'm going to go. And next time I leave an elevator, I'm going to go. You guys, I just saying this, you all have really good blink in here and walk out. Get it going. Get it going. Get it. Trending. No, we met, we met at Groundlings. Okay. You met at Groundlings. That was the first problem. We met at the Groundlings. That's a problem. And first blank, we just would write together all the time and like, and, and perform together. And then when,

We first got a chance to actually do a movie. We were meeting people, nothing was working out. And it really was like, I think it was...

It was Toby, but somebody was like, why doesn't Ben direct it? And I was like, because we kept going back to nobody knew the story as well as he did. And then since we wrote it, they said we could direct it. And then she was filming a movie. So basically then she couldn't co-direct it. So then I ended up directing it and she ended up producing it. So it was like that kind of vibe. Which is pretty weird when you never think you're going to get to do anything and then you get to do your own thing. I just remember us driving on the lot and literally being like,

Thinking we're going to get kicked off. I mean, I was like, wait, they're all look, people are looking at us like we're supposed to know something. And we're just like, Oh my God. It's like, that wasn't Tammy. What was it? Yeah. Tammy was the first one. And that was, that was great. Can I go back for a second, just into romance for a second? Cause we have a lot of fans because of David just so you meet.

And the arc or the evolution of when was the thought that first came into either head like, I think I want to...

I might want to marry this person. Was it, was it week one a year later or you're not sure, don't remember. I'll let you know. No, I'm kidding. Hey, no, I knew, I knew kind of immediately we were in a class. You're also like, everyone's just trying to be the bigger, like,

idiot to make people laugh and everyone's we were doing monologues and including myself it was like stupid and loud and somebody was really loud before you were going to be really louder yeah yeah and then ben got up to do his and he was he was someone's new

um prison roommate and he was putting a gentle spin on it but he was really really quiet and he just did and it was like he wasn't competing with anybody and everyone was like kind of leaning forward because it was super creepy but super funny and i immediately was like oh he's doing like

He's not trying too hard. He's doing his own thing. And I literally, I think like that was the first day. And I think I already knew I was like, oh, I kind of like him. Like it was immediately like I was fascinated and I thought, oh, I like that he's not having to like,

be the loudest, craziest. And he's, what he's doing is funnier than everybody else. So I was like, okay, Ben's Ben's same story. She had a blink first day, same story for you choosing in that moment to go quiet, getting kind of looking at her out of the side of your eye, wait till she sees this or no. Was it a flirting bit or was it just a regular comedy bit where you're trying to work the room? Yeah. Okay. So,

When when I was doing that monologue, I knew I liked Melissa a lot because she it she felt like a friend that I wanted to hang out with immediately. And then the love bloomed shortly thereafter. The that particular monologue, I just was I think it was the first one that we'd all done. So I was just panicked and I thought I was doing terrible. And I was saying I remember one of my lines was, you know,

I know I'm not the prettiest owl in the barn, but I'm still fun to work with or something like that. Like shit where I'm like, what am I, what am I saying? Why am I talking like this? And then she, and she says, everyone was laughing. They were not, there was one person laughing. This lady was laughing. I felt like I was tanking, but I was like, so when I started tanking, I think what she liked is that I went softer instead of louder. Cause I was like, well, I'm clearly bombing. So I'm just going to go, I'm going to do this. Well,

Was it smooth sailing after that or were there any other, you know, in acting classes or like sex labs, were there any other suitors for either of you? Oh yeah, did you guys stay together? I got so emotional when you come to the backseat of my car. So, but you two- She's class was so deep. You know, acting classes, I mean, come on. It's a Petri dish for, you know. It really is. They tend to make out with someone in a scene. Yeah.

Do you have to kiss ever in scenes or no? It's not really acting. It's, I mean, it's acting, but it's more improv or. Yeah, it was written scenes and they were written scenes and improv scenes, both. Okay. But no, we never like, we never did any, like there was no like, oh, well, right. Like a smooch into a scene so I can kiss him.

It's more like afterwards at like a really dive bar. I was like, well, I mean, if you're going to hang out, I'll have, if you're going to have another beer, I'll have, if we want to hang out. So we kept on hanging out and just having way too much because we're like, we wanted to hang out, but we, we should have no one would make a move. Yeah. Oh, that's so sweet. There was like, no one revealed their call, their cards initially. Sooner laying on a pack machine. We became such good friends. And also like, it's that weird thing of when you're like, I'd like,

I'd like to change the dynamic. I don't know how, I think both of us didn't know how to weirdly bring that up, but if we were both, I'd like to. I've been wondering about changing the dynamic. That's a funny line. I'd like to change this in a different direction. Is this character the change the dynamic guy in a movie? Because that's pretty funny. I'd like to change the dynamic. Something Garth would say. He starts talking about owls when he gets nervous.

Well, what about you also, if you say that and then the other person isn't into it, then it ruins everything. I know. The dynamic changes no matter what. Not only would a relationship not work out, but then you're going to lose someone who's become one of your closest friends. So you just did it. And then, so it was like a weird start, but then-

But that was, what, 25 years ago? So it's... Good Lord. And then you start working together. Start doing stuff. And the first one together was Tammy. But you were doing a movie before that. Or you were on Gilmore Girls at some point around... We used to Gilmore. We had done Bridesmaids together. We were married. Yeah, we were already married. Yeah, we were married on that. Okay. We married 19 years, just a couple of days ago. Yeah.

So I went to junior college. I'm going to call it 2005 then. Yeah. 19 around. Yes, actually. And so Bridesmaids, when was that? When was that?

Era that would have been 2000, 2011, 11. Yeah. So you've been married six years when that happens. And when does Tammy happen? Is that that's first time been directed? Yeah, that was not so long after bridesmaids. I think it came out 2014. Yeah.

Okay. So how did Bridesmaids do? I was out of the country during the time. Was it a hit? Flop? It did pretty well. You know, I'm kidding, right? Ben was a hilarious in Bridesmaids because...

uh i didn't know you guys were connected in any way in real life and uh and when he comes it's just it's just such a great score part and funny and uh of course melissa was um did you know after that melissa was that sort of a bumping up move the move the needle sort of situation career yeah for everybody my god that's because i we were all in groundlings together and

We couldn't believe when Annie and Kristen were writing a movie for Judd. I just remember all of us being like, is that possible? We were truly just like, we were so happy for them, but it was also literally saying something that you're like, what? We couldn't process it, but it was so exciting. And then they had been casting it for a while, and then they called me to come in, and I almost didn't because...

I got so nervous. I knew this was such a big moment for them. And I got a little nervous. I was like, oh, my God, if I'm too weird and I don't want to make them if I'm going in, I'm weird. And then I don't want it to reflect poorly on them. So the whole way there, I was like, I shouldn't go. And I don't do I never had done that for other auditions. But this is also the first time our good friends were there.

You're auditioning for your good friends. Yeah. Like Paul Feig and John are in there. And you don't even know if it's like a favor or if it's like, do I ruin it for them? Yeah. I was like, I don't want to screw up. And then they're somehow damaged. So I went in and I was reading with Kristen and because we knew each other so well. So we kind of went off the rails and we were like, we did the audition, but also we were improvising and I got back in the car and I'm like,

Oh, my God. I think I said something about hand play with a dolphin. Because I was just kind of working with her and then I forgot. And I was like, I was too weird. I was like, I was too weird. She came home and she was like, I talked about sex with a dolphin. And I'm like, I've got to call them and apologize. And then when I got it, I was like, wait, what? So it was so fun. What do you say to her, Ben, when she comes in and says, I don't know, I might have blown it? I mean, how do you...

Hey, honey, you're great. You know what I mean? What do you say? Well, you know, honestly, because she said, I think I might have gone too far because I said something about hand play with a dolphin. And of course, I was like, that sounds pretty funny to me. That's a funny hand play with a dolphin is funny. If they know what they're doing, they'll hear that and go, at least on the set, you can turn her up or down, but she will come up with shit to say. And then you can use it or not. That's probably what happened.

I'd never. Funny as fuck. Yeah. It was that whole movie caught everybody off guard. There was the hangover, the first one and a tropic thunder, some Will Ferrell movies. Yeah. And then this movie to this day, my sister sends me YouTube clips of scenes from that movie. And I wasn't, I didn't really watch the Gilmore girls. I guess I knew of you or something, but when I saw you in the movie, it was just all new to me.

uh, the character you were playing, how confident you were and everything. And some of that, that's just like one of those movies that just is a great comedy, you know, for all when everyone's scoring, scoring and everybody. Yeah. And it was so like on set, you were at how Paul and Kristen and Annie were, they're just like, yeah, do it. Like, go, go, go. Like, try it, try it. We do whatever. Like we have it, we have it the way it's written. Now do whatever, whatever.

You want, and when you have people like that, just like they're rooting for you actively to be like a total jackass. It's like you, it just felt like we were back at the theater and, you know, we're like, I don't know. It's funny for us because I had never done everything that I did at the Groundlings was kind of more bombastic. And the only thing I'd ever really done was,

was kind of more mild and had Gilmore Girls. So it was so fun. But I don't know that we thought people were going to... We didn't know how it was going to be received. Sure. And even that weekend, people were like, "Really manage expectations. We don't think it's going well." And I was like, "But I think it's really funny." And they were like, "We know the metrics on these things. It's not going to go well." And I was like, "I think you're wrong." Metrically, it might not be funny. And they're like, "We're not wrong." I know. And I was like, "What a terrible call to get." That's what they say.

It seems like all the movies that work is like, there's gotta be some improv involved because when you're in a scene, you can, you can write it, you can read it, you can table read it. And then when you get out there, there's always just something alive about right that second of like, here we are, that's funny over there. I'm going to mention this. And then whatever it is, somehow, as long as you get maybe an extra take in,

In my experience, those are the ones that people, they remember the throwaways and the weirdest shit over time. In the test screening, it might not be the biggest laugh, but then later they go, that means something. I just think that's the magic, yeah. Yeah, Gary Shandling and Larry David. And to have Kristen back there, who knows what it's like to be out with the Bullets, both of you, have you been in really shitty experiences where the script supervisor looks up and says,

Your hand was on the table when you said that line, you know, that kind of constriction and a director that's never been in front of the camera. So a little undercutty or awkward. I mean, maybe you guys took control of your career so early, but did you have any experience like that? Because that sounds like heaven to me to be out there and look up and seeing Kristen Wiig and Paul Fisher.

And they're feeding you lines too. Like you can run in a line to Kristen. She can run in one to you. And you're like, oh my God, everybody's doing it on that movie. You'd hear something. You'd shout out to somebody else. Yeah. Don't think, don't, don't think. Just go, go do it. Yeah.

Yeah. Cause I've definitely had that. Cause that was like the first time I didn't know sets could be like that at all. Cause I'd had, you know, guest stars and stuff where you're literally just expected to come in, hit your marks, say your line in a, in a way that if you're on a multi-cam, the audience laughs a little bit. If you're not, you make the director smile a little bit and you go home and you're like, I don't know if I'm going to be in the movie or not, you know? And this was the first, this was the first time that I didn't think about any of that stuff. In fact, to your point,

point earlier, I used to choose props that didn't help me at all because I didn't want to ruin stuff. Because, you know, scripting might come in and go, you have that in your left hand when you said the first part of your three-part line. So then I would just like put stuff down and I'd just be standing there with my hands just like, you know, so. Well, you always think you're not going to not use a script

a great take because the editing might be a hair off. Who gives a shit? We're not winning an editing award. It's like people get it. They go, this was the funniest one, even though you had a different shirt on and want to cut.

And the matching department all doing their job, makeup, hair. Yeah, they just do their own job. And coming in, really? I think it's good. No? Could we do a little? And the hair. No, I think. But the more thrown away it was. But whatever happened in that movie, it just bounces. And it's got such a following. Rose was an unsung hero, too. Rose did such a great job with her. Rose is amazing in that movie. Supposedly straight part.

I know. I only knew her from Damages, which I was like, she was so good in that. That show was so incredible, but it was so heavy and dark. And then she came in and I was like, oh, you're also really, really fucking funny. I was like, that seems like you've got two scoops. Yeah, that's a rip off. Two scoops. Too pretty, too funny. She is the greatest, worst person to break.

She breaks. There's a scene on the airplane. If you look close, you can see her magazine shaking. Because she just laughs fully out loud. And it's like so endearing. And she was like, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. But then finally, she could not stop laughing. And she was in the background of us. And there's a part in the movie where you just see Rosie's little arms go up. And she's like, and she has a magazine up. But they're shaking. And it makes me laugh. Oh, my God. I'm going to look for that.

It's great. That's the one magic of film is that you're not supposed to laugh. So it creates this tension like being at the dinner table at Thanksgiving and the uncle falls over. Was it Spy? You were with her at Spy? Oh my God. Yes, with her and her 42 pounds of hair. Spy was another hysterical one. I've seen so many you've been in. Always such a fucking, they're so great. You do such a good job.

Hey, David, why do you want to learn a new language and where would you use it or how would it come in handy? Well, if I tour the road, I would go to mostly English places, but sometimes I want to go to these other countries and I do feel a little insecure about going without knowing a language.

And it's never too late, but it's also never too early. I mean, I should have done more when I was younger. This is Rosetta Stone we're talking about. And you should try to get in on this quickly because you probably learn quicker when you're younger. Oh, definitely. Right?

You learn about cultural appreciation. You appreciate cultures when you start to learn the language and go to the culture. And also it's good for your brain, David. It does wake up your brain. Like I, I do like to study stuff about comedy and when I'm on the road and trying to memorize stuff, but yeah,

Definitely don't use the brain like that anymore. And I think it wakes it up and it's very good for you. You know, like you travel more. If I even go to Mexico, which is very close, I don't know if you know where it is, Dana. It's straight down from here. Straight down. I thought that was Hungary on our border. You thought it was Canada or Chechnya. Yeah, Canada is up and then Chechnya is down. Anyway, I'll look it up.

Yeah. Listen, this is a trusted expert, Rosetta Stone. 30 years, millions of users, 25 languages off. Let's just say a few. Spanish, French, Italian, German, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Arabic, Polish. I mean, good Lord. It immerses you in the way to think in that language. That's what you need. You get all the hits, how they speak.

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Today, David, for lunch today. It's almost lunchtime, yeah. Do you have any... What are you going to do? What do you do? You know, sometimes I really just want to have fun. I would get like...

A really good turkey sandwich with avocado. Or if I really want a guilty- I was going to say the same thing. Really? I just had it yesterday. And maybe a few baked chips and then you'd want an ice cold Pepsi, which I don't. What I like to do with Pepsi is I fill the whole glass to the brim with ice and then I slowly pour the Pepsi in and I make what I call a super Pepsi. Okay.

Yeah. Because the cold is great. That's a super Pepsi? It's not that super, but yeah. Well, I think if I say it's super, then it's kind of, it's closer to super. Well, in your head it's super. Because it's great. It's a super Pepsi. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, Pepsi's been around our whole lives. It's not a regular situation. Yeah. Yeah. You know, I was flying this week and Pepsi on the plane, all Pepsi products.

A casino I just played, every restaurant and everything. You throw one in with lunch, dinner, and get a little caffeine going. You get the fizzy bubbles, and it's fun. And, you know, you share it with people. An Austrian friend of mine once said to me, quote, and you know what enhances those flavors and really makes them pop? It's an ice cold Pepsi.

I said, thank you, Oscar. So he gives it a pop. Yeah, he gives you a pop with the Pepsi pop. It's better than a regular pop.

Get a fizzy Pepsi in you and a pepperoni piece of pizza. You know, I've done that so many times. Well, yeah, I would say pizza and a Pepsi. They sound alike. They go together. You will lose your mind with pizza and Pepsi every time. Grab a Pepsi zero sugar for your next meal as food deserves Pepsi. The Heat, St. Vincent's, anyone you want.

Spy, can you ever forgive me? Oscar nomination. Oscar nomination. The heat with Sandy. Yes. I mean, that was like the best. Sandy was great too. Sandy Bullock. Sandy Bullock. I feel like I got Bateman and Sandy really early on. And I think it's like, I just felt like it was like, oh, I got really lucky to work really early with two people that are like,

delightful humans, but also like really pros, like great set etiquette, super nice people. And I was like, oh, like this is, you can just be like a normal human. Know what they're doing. Yeah. You were like the crazy person with both of them. And that's great. And if they can hold up their end and get their laughs, because sometimes it's a thankless part. Sometimes if you're the straight man, but straight man is so important to make it all work.

And they're so good. It's like, yeah, there's, I guess it's the straight man parts, but like they were both so funny that you're like, well, I don't know. It's not very straight, but I get the, I get the roles, but I don't know. I think it's kind of magic when you can do that, but you're still getting laughs. I'm like, that's a tightrope. Right. I mean, but it's such a, those both were great. I remember, is that ID theft you're talking about? And identity theft, what was it called?

I've never said it right. I think it wound up identity thief. I think every time I did press for it, they're like, Hey, great job. That's not the name of the movie. You keep, because at some point while we were filming, it was just a weird constant barrage of like ID thief, ID, ID thieves. It was so much constantly looking at different names. And by the time I got to press, I was just like, yeah, yeah.

But I said it wrong, I think, on every single thing. And they were like, we'd love for you to get the name right. I'm like, well. There's certain titles. David just did a special. And his special he did two years ago. Remember, it was really hard even for you to remember the title. I don't remember it. Even now. Which title? Nothing personal. A comedy special. A stand-up special on Netflix. But the name. I think it was called, the first one was My Fake Problems. And then the second one was. Okay. Not.

Nothing personal because I made fun of people. And so I called nothing personal, but no one. And plus who remembers the name? You just go. Personal nobodies. What is it? And then I did another one Friday.

And this will air in six years. And then the special will be three years over. And then I'll be, what's the name of it? We don't know. So I didn't even have one at that point. I didn't know what I was wearing until the show shot at seven. And I had three things backstage at seven. They're like, pick one. We got to get you out there. And I'm like, this one's sort of slimming. But, and they were like, what do you, wouldn't you, why wouldn't you do this a week and a half ago? Cause I'm lazy and I'm a guy and I'm like, this doesn't even fit me at all. I put on something I just bought and I go, not my size. And they're like,

Can't you just throw it on once before we start? This isn't your problem, Melissa. Yeah. Let's get back to it. I'm making your problem. That's what we call a detour. I'll do your fittings. She would love to be part of those fittings. Can you just mark them for me and I'll take them in?

I'm just going to do fittings for you for hours. Okay. Every standup who shows up to a special has not totally decided on what they're going to wear. According to this producer, I talk, well, they all do that last second. Should I just nerves? It's a, it's the least important part. That's the problem is that I'm like, I'm worried about my stupid jokes. And then they're like, well, those are all falling flat. So let's try to get them with the outfit. But if you're out there and you're like, God, the shirt feels so weird. Yeah. That's distracting. Yeah.

Well, Eddie Murphy did that, right? With that one. Didn't he do the one where he wore a little red leather or something? And I don't remember because it was so long ago, but I was like, yeah, he had a cool outfit on. That's for sure. A red leather jumpsuit with a little phallic chain on it. He's also cool. Yeah. So if it's me, I can't try too hard. Anything too far from J. Crew and they start to go...

I don't know. I would line up to see you in a red leather jumpsuit or two-piece. Just consider it. A romper. You've seen people that go, here's my special. Look at my special outfit. And everyone's like, I can't even think of the jokes. We're wondering why did you, who okayed this look? Yeah.

Because it's so not what you are, you know? So I just go, I got to be able to move my arms because I do a lot of this. Well, that would be a good start. Hi, folks. You're just in a Swiss training jacket. Yeah, you're just like, hey, now, do I lift my arms ever? Because if I don't, this is perfect. I want to see the show in a tank jacket. I'll send you a copy. I'll send you a copy. You're going to get it ahead of everyone. I know, I get it.

Thank you. Okay. This is like a game show. Pick a topic. Okay. Ghostbusters hosting SNL five times. The four Sean Spicers. Oh God. You have five seconds. Spicer. Ghostbusters. Okay. Ghostbusters.

So what was the deal with Ghostbusters? There you go. It became controversial because it was women doing Ghostbusters. What is that? I mean, it's just too stupid where people were like, you're ruining my childhood. I'm like, I, from the sound of you, I think you had a pretty shitty childhood without us doing anything. Like if you're saying that like 30 years later, because women are going to,

In the world of redos and all that, I was just like, I found it funny and really stupid. I was just like, then don't go see it, but ruining your childhood. You seem pretty banged up already. Right. Maybe just be quiet and then skip it. Listen, I love Ghostbusters, the regular one, but when I see four or five funny people, you go...

There's something funny here. There's no way Melissa, Chris, whoever was in it. I'm like, they're all funny. Something's funny. There's no way you can't, there's nothing. There's no way you can put them all in a room. I think, you know, it's a totally funny, weird group. And Paul Feig's like such a funny guy and such a good director. Yeah.

I do think there was just like so many for some reason, because it was like, oh, this is a thing. So instead of us just running off and like doing what we do, there were a lot of cooks in that kitchen. And that just never is good for comedy. It's just like everybody wanted a different thing. So you're like, why don't you just let funny people and Paul Feig kind of

do their thing and it's been working okay. You're like, the less cooks, the better. Always works better when they're not trying to please every quadrant. It's so uncomfortable. Especially when somebody who's super not funny is like, here's what's a better idea. And you're like, I'm telling you from the bottom of my heart, it's not a better idea. But yeah. Yeah.

I agree. There you go. That's why you guys taking control and doing your own things. You don't answer to anyone, right? With your movies, pretty much. Or you do, you have good notes. We answer all the time. We get, we sure, we get notes, you know. Oh, okay. Tammy did pretty well. And so then we, you know.

Got to make more, basically. Yeah, I mean, but everybody always, you know, they want you to do even better. And then, you know, as we were doing more, like streaming was coming around and, you know, comedies started being less in the movie theater at all. And, you know, so we were trying to just...

you know, basically navigate the more or less landscape. Yeah. I just wanted to make a funny movie. Bigger problems, bigger opinions. Yes. Agreed. Totally. And I think that, yeah, I think it's like, and we like getting notes because if somebody is confused or they're like, Hey, this seems, it's a, it's a good bell to ring to be like, Oh, then how do we make it even better? If we like this,

But it's confusing to somebody. I love to get that note because I'm like, let's clear it up now and not have to try to reverse engineer it in post. And I love a test screening. You know, I know you guys have been through tons of them, I'm sure. But I like them just because I like to make sure because sometimes you could have, you know,

Maya Rudolph and Melissa McCarthy on screen. And I'm like, well, they're the funniest. And that was the joke that all made us laugh. But then for some reason it doesn't make an audience laugh. So I love the idea that then we can switch it out and make something that is going to make everybody laugh. Cause that's obviously the goal. It comes down to clarity. You don't want to belabor the clarity, but if the audience isn't quite sure what you're going for, then they go quiet. And so that's where a test screening would go. Okay. Either we have to swap it out or do some, something expositional, right?

for it or you know so it's still complicated because they're all there's always a test screening where a joke no one saw coming it's like or it's just a pause or it's just a cutaway and you're like holy shit that was the biggest laugh i don't know why and then your favorite jokes do okay and you're like this is why no one has it perfectly because you just don't know in the way the edit or the cut or that you just said oh my god that's why comedy free laughs of something we never totally yeah i know so there's some there's some laughs that we get where i'm like

what? I can't, I can't, I couldn't have told you on the day. I still don't understand it. And then there's jokes that like, I still am like, it's one of my top five and we cut it because it just didn't land. But I was like, I stand by the joke. I'll take it out because I stand by my performance. It's funny how a whole audience will laugh at something you don't see coming. And you're like, they all saw. So I didn't even see it on the monitor.

They all saw something just now and they all agreed. We're laughing at this one. And you go, am I in the business? I don't even know. Totally. It's so weird, but it's, it's the, it's the fun of it, but yeah. Yeah. And when it works, it's, it's so satisfying and you get a good cut and it's really flowing and working and getting laughs. I mean, it's such a high because filmmaking is really freaking hard. Yeah.

Getting all the trucks and the crew. And how are you with the coffee at five? Yeah, it was going to be fun today. To do the dumbest joke you're wasting all this time. Does anyone have a rubber chicken? And you're like waiting. And they're like, drop it in the scene. They go.

And you see the teamster guy goes, this is what we're fucking wasting time with. It might be one lap and they're so hard to get. You could get a breakfast burrito if you go now. You could get a breakfast burrito at the truck if you go now. They're going to shut down breakfast in a second. The main quest for the day. I got to get my hands on a burrito. I can't tell you how many times I've been waiting for something and then we do it and the crew just looks at you so pissed because they're like, we waited for that. Which is like such pressure because you're still like,

And then you can tell they're just like, Jesus, I don't know who put these assholes in charge. I did a thing with Paul Feig in spy where I don't know why I found it. The funniest thing that she, I would, I would weirdly take my foot out of my shoe and I would just hold, cause I had like nylon pads on, you know, there's a little like half no show socks. And I just kept weirdly like putting it in camera for Paul and,

And then we just got on a weird laughing jag. And then underneath, this is so stupid. By the way, did not make the movie.

We could not stop laughing because I was like, I think her feet are cramping. And so we shot for like eight minutes, my feet just in these weird little stockings, like kind of seizing up and having having arches. And I was like rubbing them. And literally finally one of the cameramen that I really loved, he goes, for fuck's sake, how long are we going to shoot this? And Paul and I were like,

and I were laughing so hard we were crying and then everybody else was just like yeah and it didn't it did not make the movie can we stop with the foot acting please so I was like we're out of film and you go okay and then everyone goes we can't run out of film there's no film but that's what they used to say in the old movies running out of film and I go oh they hurry up your ad-libbing basically yeah

Fly in the gate. Remember fly in the gate? Oh yeah. Hair in the gate. Oh my God. Hair in the gate. Best take of my life. My first movie, we didn't have a playback. I mean, it sounds stupid. It's not stupid. Obviously no movies did, but when was your first movie? Jerry Lewis invented the playback. Where are we going here? It was Abbott and Costello and Spade. Go to Mars. Go to Mars. Or go to Nordstrom's.

they travel to a bad script and so anyway I told Dana I had a crew guy go he's just sitting next to me I'm waiting for my mark to go and he goes I don't know who read this script but some of these jokes are clanking and I'm like

First of all, I read, I wrote it with somebody and I was like, do you know I'm in it? I'm about to walk in. I've been here for six weeks. That's kind of rude. For me to you, two professionals, I think I can throw in my opinion. I'm like, you cannot. You can't do it before they say action. Yeah.

I also love the use of the word clanking. Clankers. Like very specifically. He knows comedy so well. He goes, I'll give you the lingo version. Clank. I told you not to hire my cousin. They like, they go, I'm not one of those ass kissers and yes men. I'm like, no, you are. You're a crew guy. I don't, I don't know you. You can be a yes man. Just for, just for this set.

You have so much going on. This is him about to walk in. Jesus. Yeah, and the wrap party, you can tell me. Some stinkers in that one, huh? Even then, don't say it, actually. I know. Hey, you had fun, didn't you? It was fun, baby. Looks like you're having fun. Oh, don't take a dagger. Looks like you're having fun out there. How do you think it's going? Do you think it's going okay? What do you think? That's also a loaded question. Think they're going to pull the plug on this one?

Do I think they're going to pull the plug while we're shooting? I don't think so. Oh, my God. Oh, I can't even tell my story. Those studios got money to burn. Save it for the book. As a Ford owner, there are lots of choices of where you get your vehicle serviced. You can choose to go to their place, the local dealership, your place, home, apartment, condo, your workplace, even your happy place, like your cottage on the lake.

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So then, should we do an SNL thing? I mean, I thought, I mean, the five hosts and also the Sean Spicer thing was such a poppy. You talked to that because it was one of those things that lined up and it just sort of went, I don't know. So you get a call from Lorne.

I did. Yes. And who I love. Of course. Hello. But he called in Kent Sublett, who we also was a good friend from Groundlings. I was in New York shooting. Can you ever forgive me? So I did that during the week and then I would do SNL on the weekends. But when he first called, I was like,

wait, what? You want me to do Spicer? I was like, I don't do impressions. I don't, I was like, how am I going to, you know, how am I going to look like Spicer? And what, I don't understand. And he goes, oh, no, the special effects, it's not going to be very hard for you. And I was like,

Okay. First of all, just a real kick in the dick. But it really was like we tried it out. And he's also like amazing. He's been there forever, as you guys know, and he's so fast. But then when I got into it, I just was freaked out that it was like the closest I'd ever looked to my dad.

And I was like, oh my God, it turned into Mike McCarthy. It was a funny look. He was like, no, thank you. No, thank you. Yeah. Yeah. This is not a turn on. I got to be honest with you. Wasn't that early on when they were using, like they're using Dana now, like they use someone that was, you know, that's a friend of the show to come on when you weren't hosting, right? Yeah. No, I wasn't hosting. I just, but it was just supposed to be one and done.

And then he just, it was constantly saying crazy stuff. And I remember I had been working and I hadn't really read the paper or paid attention to it that week. And they sent the one where he was hiding in the bushes.

And like all the reporters were just looking at him, but he was like, you know, I'm invisible like a child. And I remember calling him and I was like, I just think it's funnier when we use his exact words and don't make anything up. Like I can act differently, but it's better when we use like actually use factual things. And Kent was like, yeah, that happened.

It all happened. And I hadn't watched the news that week. Oh, he was doing that. I thought even for him, they had made up something crazy. And he's like, no, still 100% true. I was like, holy shit. Well, you, so people who are going, what are they talking about? Sean Spicer was a press secretary under Trump and he was very animated and aggressive with the press. And then they brought you in to do it. I remember loving it. I don't remember. When did you start speaking?

steering the podium. At some point, didn't you move the podium? Was that the fourth? I did. I really was like, oh God, if we could put this on a... What are those things called? I was like, if we could ever make... Or whatever that little mall cops are on. I was like, can you ever put a podium on that? And it's such a crazy crew that you could say anything and they're like, yeah, I can have it in 14 minutes. And then the next week when I came in...

It was there and literally they were waiting for me and they're like, we have something to show you. And I was like, I was like, and then when I got, when we got to go out and drive around New York, I literally was like, if I stopped tomorrow, I'd be okay with it. That was just a laugh. Just stepping up and starting it. Everyone's like, oh my God. It just one of those things that is just funny.

I don't know. It's so stupid. It's so funny. Yeah. And he's taking it kind of seriously or the character, you know, and yeah, it's just so funny. So that was good to poke fun at that. I was like to poke that bear was, was really fun. Yes. And you got so aggressive and loud with it.

You know, you had to kind of top him, but he was really aggressive, but it was just a fun thing to play. Right. That energy of, you know, so fun because like, it's normally like, you just can't, it's too, it's going to be too much, but he was too much. So you're like, I guess there's no limit really. Cause you, and you weren't trying to sound like him or anything. No, I was just trying to be super angry and really like knee jerk and, and,

Yeah. And just kind of do it, just attack people for distraction. Yeah. That's just a fun character to play. I think maybe a movie, maybe kind of live streaming called Spicer returns. No, I don't want him to return. Okay. So we went over to the 40th. We saw you at the 40th. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Do you remember how you were dressed when I met you?

I do. Because I got super... I think when I first met both of you, I had Chris's jacket on. Yeah, I think we were wondering, like, is that the real jacket? I was dressed as his, like, down by the river guy that I got on the news. Yeah, you smashed into the mask. Because they, like, took it in for me. And I remember, because that was really his jacket. And I got pretty...

choked up because that was like someone i yeah of course i waited on him when i worked at starbucks once and i was like so shaky that i was like just don't spill it on him he seemed so nice and uh and to do that it was the most nervous i've i think i've ever been in any performance and right before i went in my and i've never had this happen my legs were actually like

doing this and I was like rocking back and forth in the suite stage manager. Cause I, I'd been there a bunch of times. He's like, honey, are you okay? And I was like, I don't know what's I'm going to be fine. And then Ben had said, don't pull back. Cause he wouldn't have. So get in there and fucking burn, like burn it down. Cause that's what he would have done. And that's like the last thing I thought of. And I was like, I just was so nervous to do someone that I literally, I,

I have like a drawing of him. It's like I just, I adored his humor and how vulnerable he was. For sure, yeah. We know now he's a singularity. And the vulnerability and then the power together and the sweetness, it's just a magic human. I wanted to date his very close friends. I know. And you two were just, you guys were magic together. Tommy Boy is just a perfect film. Yeah, that is psych.

A perfect movie. It's a perfect movie. And you two together, you could see how much you loved each other. And then it was still so funny. It's like, it's just, did you two have a lot of creative freedom on that one? Did that, was that like you just sort of went away somewhere or were there a lot of people telling you? What made you, what made me think of it was when you're talking about going from bridesmaids to something else, that was one where it was low expectations, lower budget.

throw farley and spade out there and let's see what happens and no one really was visiting the set and no one was and then so you go can we try this like okay and pete siegel was director and he was like let's try it and and then the next one black sheep they go oh we got something here even though it wasn't like a huge hundred million dollar movie but then they all come in and a director comes in and like we know how to do this and then millions of notes and

And cutting scenes. And then it just got harder. And then the bigger the budget, same thing. You don't get that. Bridesmaids is almost your freebie. And then after that, everyone's like, wait, she's really good. Here's what we should do with her. And then you go, oh, no, no, no. This isn't... If you could just pick...

Live or die with how you do it is the goal. And if you two get to make stuff, it's great. And then when you get so many, you see movies that get, you know, all the edges cut off because they're getting bigger budgets and you can see the big comedies.

No one's really laughing. They're like, that'll work. That'll work. And then you go, well, but, but after the take, no one laughs. It's like, you know what I mean? You can just tell that like someone says, oh, that'll, they throw in lines and you go, I don't know, but you can tell during it. Sometimes you go, I don't know if this is, but I'm not in those big, big budgets, but you can see the big comedies. They just were a four quadrant worldwide movie. And you go, so we got to make sure no one really laughs. Yeah.

We need everyone to smile and no one to laugh. Yeah. Lots of smiles. Or like think it's clever. And I'm like, I would rather...

I'd rather take harder swings and get real laughs than be like, they're clever. Well, if you're on stage, you two have been on stage a ton. And like, if you're, if the whole audience is smiling, you're bombing. Or I feel like they have to be laughing. You know, like the laugh is the thing. You gotta hear something. Yeah. That's the hard part about comedy. Drama, you don't have to hear anything. You know, you can do a whole movie and go, oh, it was good. Okay. But comedy, if you don't hear something the first minute, you're like, uh-oh.

When you made that dramatic turn, you know, that was, you know, can you forgive me? I'm completely different. Melissa, was that like just exciting just to not have to be funny for a change, you know, and be real? I mean, it's like you, I don't know. I prepared the same way because I still thought there was like funny stuff about her. But yeah, it is like if you're supposed to walk across the room and I'd walk across the room, I was like,

Yeah, I guess, I mean, I'm not going to do alts. I'm not going to be like, let me do this limp. Yeah, somebody comes up, hey, you can do that. Could you do it just right at the end? Can you kind of spike the lens a tiny bit and wink? You know, you just walk. Yeah, but I love doing it because I also love that character. I was just like, man, she was...

It was just such a crazy story. And I didn't know why I didn't know who she was. I felt like I should have, but it was really, really fun to do. It just gets to kind of go in a different direction. As you went along, did you kind of get a vibe from everybody that you could get nominated, I guess, for best actress, right? It was best actress in a motion picture.

Yeah. You got an Oscar nomination for Bridesmaids, but did you have a sense of that? I'm really in the pocket. Something's happening here. Cause that's really hard to get. I mean, especially for a little, you know, it's like, I love that movie. I love Murray Heller that directed it, but I don't, I mean, I, I don't think you ever, I mean, I don't ever, I'm like, no, I think this will get, I don't, I just don't think that way. I was just glad. I mean, I was really happy with it.

Do you remember who won the Oscar that night? I do. Okay. Ben? No. Oh, yeah. The first time you lost. The first time you lost.

She brings this up daily. It was hard because for Bridesmaids, Octavia Spencer, who is one of our best friends, won. So if you have these incredible mixed emotions, like you so want her to win, but I'm disappointed Melissa doesn't win. Right. And then the second one, Olivia Colman. Oh, that's right. That's her favorite. And she was amazing. And you're like, she seems like the best lady. And so. Yeah, she's awesome. So you're like, just getting, you know, getting there was already like a fever dream. So I was like, I'm cool. What was she in, the Kevin Hart movie or something? What happened? Was she in a comedy? Yeah.

The Favorite is a very quirky film. Oh, The Favorite, The Favorite, right, right. She does some off-label stuff. I mean, she's like, you know. But it's just, you know, it's a promotion for the entertainment industry. That's all. But to get an Oscar nomination for Bridesmaids when comedies, you know, obviously get overlooked a lot and then to pop out with that, that's a huge deal.

It was like, I mean, I remember we were, cause our kids were pretty little and you were up watching it, which is also rare because that's not something you usually watch. I think so. And I walked in and I was like, what are you watching? Like, cause he's usually not doing that. And we're watching the nominations and then it, I don't know where, where my brain went, but I think they said my name. And then they went on and said Octavia, Octavia Spencer. And I was like, Oh God,

I was like, oh my God, Octavia just got nominated for an Oscar. And I couldn't believe it. And he's like, did you hear what was right before that? And I was like, Octavia just got nominated for an Oscar. And he's like, did you hear your name? And I was like, what? Like it didn't process.

I mean, when we're like in pajamas and like tired because our kids are little, but it is not usual for a comedy like that to get an Oscar nomination. You might get types of awards that have comedy categories, but yeah, that's pretty cool. And it kind of always breaks my heart. Not because of what, but like, I just think, man, I think comedies are, I mean, I'm sure you guys feel even though standups doing really well now, but yeah,

It's like everybody that says something to me, they're like, we need you to keep making comedies. But then there's some kind of narrative that like comedies don't work anymore. I'm like, that's just not true. Right. If they're funny, they work. That is out there, right? When you pitch movies to streamers, they're like, we'll get back to you. I mean, there's just also a recession in the industry as well. But comedy is going to be chief.

R-rated comedies and they're like, ah, I just, I think right now is not the time for this one. And you go, so there's no time. I mean, it's not getting better. Like we're not getting less. Hopefully it swings back where you go, just do whatever, say whatever you want. I think it has to, because I think people miss it. And I think, I think there's just such a stronghold on it. And I do think it's going to swing back the other way. Cause like you just, everybody always needs comedy. So it's like, not just cause we do it. I think it's what people want. Yeah, totally. Yeah.

That's what I learned. Absolutely. David was in one of the, two years ago, The Wrong Missy, which was a big, broad, funny comedy for Happy Madison.

So there's still a huge audience. People want to laugh. And also you were in the Seinfeld serial. You were very funny in that. That was funny. Frosted. Yeah. Crazy. Yeah. Crazy movie. That was, what was it like being directed? Yeah. That many cameos. I just haven't seen that many cameos and that many like comedy people in one room. You're like, you can't do this anymore. This is like an anomaly. So that was kind of amazing.

It's good because it was like everywhere you looked. It's like it's a mad, mad, mad world or something. Yeah. There's another, you know. Dane, anything else for these two lovely people? We've done everything else. I mean, I've got answers on the relationship. I've got answers on working together. All the answers he was digging for. Has Ben ever given you a direction on a set and you went, honey, I got this. Have you ever said that?

No. Okay. No, I don't think he's smart. Nope. Oh, God. Maybe I might have yelled nope just to kind of egg on more, you know, like, oh no, oh God, you know, or whatever. And they, cause I sort of want them to go in. It's so horrible. It's sweet. The thing I'm going to take away from this podcast that I literally got chills from is

is when Ben said to you, go in there and burn it down because that's what he would have done. That gives, I tear up easily, but that kind of got me. I don't know why. It's just like, it was such a great thing to say to you. And it also represents Chris. I don't know, something good advice. Yeah.

That's what for actually when we did Tammy, our start gift, he had this really beautiful, I thought it was a black and white photo, but someone, it's the thinnest pencil drawing that it looks like a black and white photo of him. Oh, that's right. Yeah. It's in my office, but that was to be like, you know, really go for it and, and like,

I don't know. So I still, I still have it and it's really special to me. So yeah, that is, that is awesome. So anyway, this has been really interesting and really fun. I'm glad to get to know you as a couple and keep going, making movies and all, all, all good wishes for the future. You guys too. Yeah. Yeah. Good to see you. It's great to see you guys. All right. Have a good day. Bye-bye. Bye-bye.

This has been a presentation of Odyssey. Please follow, subscribe, leave a like, a review, all this stuff, smash that button, whatever it is, wherever you get your podcasts. Fly on the Wall is executive produced by Dana Carvey and David Spade, Jenna Weiss-Berman of Odyssey, and Heather Santoro. The show's lead producer is Greg Holtzman.