Will Ferrell

Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. It's so excited about our guest today. It is the one, the only Will Farrell, a comedic giant on the Mount Rushmore of Comedy. The captain, oh, captain, my captain, Will Farrell. And we are going to get into so many things today. We're going to talk about SNL and all the great movies he was in. We're going to talk about how important makeup is in building a character. We're going to talk about the mutual flop that we made together and how fun it was. We're going to talk about Swedish stereotypes and how some of them are true. We're going to talk about his new show, The Hawk, coming out this week on Netflix. Before we do that, we are going to talk to somebody who is also in the Hawk with him and also knows him from SNL and who is a comedy legend. And that is Chris Parnell. Chris, who you can also catch and stop that train, a movie that's out. We're going to check it with Chris. Chris is going to speak well behind Will's back. Give me a question, ask. You know how this works. Okay. Parnell, are you there? This episode is presented by Allstate. Checking Allstate first could save you hundreds on car insurance. Not checking how long that recipe takes before you start cooking. Well, that's how you learn that simmer for four hours is buried halfway down the page. Yeah, checking first is a good idea. So check Allstate first for an auto quote. It could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Potential savings vary. Subjects to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate North American insurance company and affiliates. Northbrook, Illinois. Hey, Amy. How are you? Hi. I haven't seen you in so long. I know. I was just trying to think about the last time and it must have been at the 50th. But even then, I feel like we didn't get some good enough hang time there. No, no. I saw Tina and Wavedatter, but that was kind of like the extent of it too. That was the case for a lot of people. Tina has that restraining order against you, so you're not allowed to get close to her. Yeah, I mean, I felt like she would have let me if I had made an effort. But yeah, let's not get into this again. I need to talk about it. Okay. Thanks for doing this. I'm talking to Will today and I feel like I don't think enough people know how long you and Will have been friends. We met at the groundlings. Gosh, 596. But it really, we really didn't connect until I started on SNL and we shared an office he and I and Jerry Collins had an office, the gentleman's quarters. That's right, that was the name of the office. So you did not perform together at the groundlings? Like you were in different time periods here? Yeah, he was ahead of me and I saw him perform and I think he actually saw me perform in one of my shows. But no, he was he was a couple of years ahead of me, I think. And then you know, got on to SNL, I think, three years before I got on, I think. What was it like to share an office together? What do you remember of those times in the late 90s being at the show? It was just so cool. It was so fun, you know, and after we read through it on Wednesday, we'd go back and we'd all have a little scotch. We kept a bottle in the office and that was a fun ritual. And sometimes we would kind of dress up a little bit and similar outfits. But it was a great such a great welcome to the show. And we'll, you know, obviously in so many ways, it's so impressive, but I remember feeling, you know, insecure about being on the show and trying to get material on. And I remember asking us, I was looking for comfort assurance. And I said to you, when you first started, you know, did it take you a while to get rolling and to get up to speed, he's like, no, I just started right away. And I was like, and I was like, okay, all right, well, that's that's cold comfort for me. But I knew it was I knew it was true because I'd seen his first show, you know, I mean, SNL was like the perfect job for Will, and he's really built for that show because he had the Constitution. So much of it is handling the big feelings that come along with trying to get stuff on and just kind of competing with your friends in a weird way, but then also collaborating with them and all that stuff. And he just seemed to not let that get in his head. It's true. I know. Also, he just, you know, has always come across as pretty fearless to me and just so confident, but, you know, never arrogant about it, you know, just like, this is so I am. I got it. I'm confident, you know, I can do this. Yeah. What film and television have you guys done outside of SNL together? Well, Anker Man was the main thing. Right. I think the hawk this this upcoming series. Who do you play in that show, Parns? I'm on the PGA tour board. I'm a PGA tour board member. And I'm kind of I don't care for Will's character. I don't care for the hawk. Excellent. I have quite a bit of animosity towards Will's character. Is your character the kind of guy that's that that's like upset at how hawk doesn't take the sport seriously? Well, that's part of it for sure. That is part of it, but it also has to do without giving anything away. It has to do with personal matter that happened between us the many years ago. Great. And it sort of comes back to the surface again. And yeah, so we've got a personal wedge against him. And I'm also just really an uptight asshole, you know, which has come so naturally to me, you know. Before we go, I just, you know, we do this to kind of talk well behind people's backs. And I think everybody knows that Will is a uniquely confident performer and obviously kind of like for many on the Mount Rushmore of comedy, frankly. But what is so great about him as a person? Because I find him to be a really wonderful person as well. What would you say? He's a good laugher. You know, I think that says a lot about a person too. And when you can make people laugh as well as he does, but also be willing and free to laugh at other people really openly. And yeah, I just think he's, he's a, he's a sweet guy. I just think he's a sweet guy by nature. Yeah. Is there a question you have for me today to ask him anything you're thinking of? Sure. Well, look at Barnes. He's so prepared. I, as well as up for four hours thinking about this last night. I wrote a list of 50 questions that I inherited down to 25 and then the 10 final five. I guess one question would be, who were your comedy idols, your heroes growing up? Who did you look up to? Comedy wise. That would be one. And then the other one might be, have you always been so confident? Yeah, I think it's a good one. It feels like if stuff is going down, you would kind of turn to will like, what are we going to do? Right. Right. Well, the last thing I'll say, Barnes is, I'll never forget. I've had so many moments with you, like where I've been next to you, where fun, weird things have happened. And a lot of people don't know that Barnes used to do a great sketch, probably not, probably a sketch that probably wouldn't be able to happen today. Many, like many. Well, it was a very gentle, nice guy called Merve the Perth. And he was, I loved him. But Merve would just kind of show up to parties. How would you describe Merve? Well, you know, the name came from Will, actually, because I was kind of doing a version of Merve at some party. And he's like, oh, Merve the Perth. I was like coming on to him as being something weird. And that's where the title came. That's where the name came from. And Merve would just come up to ladies and, you know, just gently ask them if they'd like to party in his pants. And they have ripaway, tearaway pants, like a nice Perth. Well, I know, Barnes, he that Will is going to be so happy that we talked. I'm so happy to get to contribute a little bit. So, you know, thanks for asking. Of course. It's great to see you. Congrats on the new show. And great to see you. And, um, and hope you're doing great. And, uh, and I hope I see you soon. Bye. Okay, take care. This episode is brought to you by visible folks. It's officially summer. Whether you're planning summer travels or staying home to watch all the action in the villa, you need a wireless network that keeps you connected. And you don't have to splurge with visible. You get unlimited 5G data and unlimited hotspot powered by Verizon for just $25 a month. So you can save and order some extra spritzes this summer. Visible is more than just a wireless plan. It's unlimited wireless designed to always keep you connected and there's no contract to tie you down. Switch today at visible.com. Plan start at $25 a month or get the premium visible plus pro plan and save $10 on your first month when you use promo code hang. Terms apply. See visible.com for plan features and network management details. Hi. I was very excited about you coming today. I was so excited to be here to come here. Are you? Are you? Is it like a today big press day for you? Like do you have to go do a bunch of things now? We rolled this into we're going up to Connecticut tomorrow. Nice ESPN. No. What's up there? Travelers insurance golf tournament? don't you know Amy come on well we are going to talk about your new show the Hawk and what you play up for and then we've been we've been grabbing stuff for Lonnie's Instagram in character so Lonnie Lonnie walks around a lot and talks to people well I was wondering if I was going to be no interviewing Lonnie today but we love to be in character but then sometimes as you as you know with our comedy lives you sometimes think of a really good idea and then you just makes you tired but I got to say of all the idea of all the people that have to do ideas you are probably in still remain one of the least tired I'm hanging in there you are the least tired because you love to work you will you have worked really hard since I've known you yes I have you have but some of it is smoking mirrors sure but like you're also out there plugging and you you get a kind of a pleasure we talked about this about doing kind of stupid stuff to promote like you don't mind that you kind of like it kind of relaxes you exactly you like way better than and I always remember what you see is like what we do is embarrassing yes but you don't see him ever seem embarrassed and we're saying that you know yeah I think I hopefully quoted Ted Danson because that was his quote okay I hopefully gave him that prompt I think you said I remember you said before I'm about to say something and this is my quote and my quote only and everything okay what's the deal but I want you know when you hear it remember I came up with it I was like fine tell me what it is comedy is embarrassing what we do is embarrassing yeah it's kind of interesting yeah but Ted he said it in terms of acting because we were him and I were in a we're doing a scene one time and somebody was acting and he in such a sweet way he's such a nice guy he said oh God acting is embarrassing I said it is but you you have a captain energy that I love and you know for me when I started SNL like you were the captain I watched and you still are in many ways I watch how you navigate your life and this work and everything and you have a captain energy I mean I think some of it might just be because you're tall I think a lot of it is just like tall sky in the room yeah and they're like what are you gonna do well yeah why is everyone looking at me don't look at me yeah and I also think that you know being a good captain like I feel like you have this thing where you know I've worked with you I've got to work with you a lot where I watch you kind of be the number one on the set and you you're always professional always working hard but you're not taking things too seriously or yourself too seriously ever no no I look back and that was not intentional yeah but I remember I just remember though what was intentional was reminding everyone and I'm referring to working on starting at live in that environment reminding everyone that this is supposed to be fun yeah so we've won the jackpot we won the jackpot it's a comedy show that's right let's have fun while we do it that's right and let's make each other laugh yes and let's have moments for like no one's ever gonna see right just for us yes it makes everybody feel so relaxed and that was the thing that I watched when I but you always seemed 100% relaxed I really did I really did I've told you this but I really did watch you know our our year overlaps we only had one year together on the show which is so weird it's so weird but and was it the was it it was 2001 one great year for comedy great year people were ready to laugh a great time to start a job in comedy that's right and it was like kind of coming in as kind of coming into a school and seeing the cool senior and being like oh that senior is cool not only because they're talented but they know how to like make people feel relaxed keep people like doing bits like reminding everybody that this is like life is a dream and like what are we doing like all that stuff like it was it was really important so okay I'm gonna go back in time okay get right so grab something just in case you paint a little fake hamburger you are you are you are you like you were like a popular kid per best personality you got I did congrats yes I got best personality I mean that can be a real close to it can be a curse did not lead to dating prowess okay got it or that's good girlfriend sorry like that okay girls were like will yeah but I like you they're like oh my I was so funny you're so funny I've talked to him all day about my boyfriend what a funny joke no okay that makes me feel better so you were God is fair so you were like crack crushing it on the personality not on the ladies what sports did you play in high school you name it I played it shit what was your best sport or were you best that was captain of the basketball team but I average 1.2 points a game once again not a joke okay so you don't have a good shot or you know I just I learned I had a pretty good shot but I learned I stayed in the game longer by playing defense rebounding yeah setting screen doing all the things that no one else wants to do the mental player very sexy very sexy the fundamentals yeah right captain you know I played baseball I was I was I was a kicker on the football team I played a lot of soccer yeah yeah yeah but I loved I loved team sports yeah and you you know your dad was working with the righteous brothers mm-hmm and I but the best thing about SNL is I get to know you get to know everybody's parents that met right right your parents so so many times they're so lovely yeah and but you like kind of I read somewhere that like you were like I don't really know about this this like idea of show business because it's just very very scary scary yeah what why did it seem scary at the time because I I just saw the there was no stability in the life of a musician yeah and I would watch how and I would sit and watch my dad play going this is the most talented he was like like my here like so funny and and great piano player and like who could be better than that and so I never understood when he would have a nightclub gig that would he he'd come home and be like well I'm not going to be playing there I'm like oh what is like nothing they just decided gonna make a change so I've got to go out and I've got to look for the next gig and it was very impressionable to me that that was oh that was rough so I I was I was I was committed to having what I thought in my little kid brain was a real job which do you remember what you thought it was but I knew but this is what I knew these are the elements you carry a briefcase absolutely carry briefcase of course you go into a building yes has to be inside a building you go into building and you have either a cubicle yeah or you have an office yeah and and you go yeah you go for a period of time yep you talk to people then you walk home with your briefcase I didn't have a car in in my little kid did you have do you remember there used to be like punch cards that was a bit like I used to play secretary when I was a kid in my clock and clock and and I used to go down to my dance I did I think I was still I think I was executive level in my little kid brain yeah opened up a leather binder so sort of signed something yeah so yeah so so that was that was the that was the game plan even though I don't know what that meant so how do you then jump from like I'm gonna have a safe job with the briefcase because you're you are your plan sports you're tall you're a white straight guy like those guys go into briefcase jobs right briefcase jobs then you're gonna then how do you get to the ground links how do you decide to take classes what do you think it was it was death by a thousand cuts I mean it was literally just a little bit here a little bit because I wasn't I didn't entertain any sort of performance uh no plays in high school no plays in high school and yet I remember remember our high school had a really good drama department yeah and I went with friends to go watch the show they were doing and I forget what it was but but I remember watching going this is good and these kids are good and that would be fun but any comedy sneak out at all because I think sometimes it just like squirted out and you can't help but like did you get up in front of the class were you funny I did I did um what the the kind of thing that kind of opened um began the crack in the door open the comedy briefcase open the comedy briefcase And you know what's inside of the comedy, one of those snakes that pops out of you, right? Yeah, hilarious. We're assemblies, school assemblies, and a good buddy of mine, Bart, and I would write basically, when I look back, they were sketches. And we wrote these performance pieces for the assemblies. Oh, yeah. And we would imitate the teachers, we would do, we performed as the Schmengi brothers from SCTV. Wow. No other kids knew who the Schmengis were, but thought, oh, I love when you guys do the Schmogodugles. How'd you make that up? I know we're copying it from SCTV. That was my first kind of, and we were also writing these morning announcements, uh, to sell senior class t-shirts. That was our big fundraiser. So these were like little radioskits. Yeah. And, um, and the defining moment for me when I look back was sitting at home. I knew we had, we do it like every other Tuesday or something. And one was due the next day, and I'm, I have a mountain of homework, and I'm sitting there. I spent three hours grafting this little dumb paragraph. Yeah. And I, it was 11 o'clock, and I'd started at eight, and it felt like, it felt like 10 minutes. Yeah. Yeah. And even then, as like a senior, nice guy thought, hold on, hold on to this memory. Remember what this feels like? This does not feel like work. Did you have like, job, like fun, dumb jobs that you were like, doing while you were trying to figure out you were at USC, right? Yeah. Were you? I was, uh, I parked cars. I worked one day at Disneyland. Did you have fired? No. Just quietly not asked back. No. No. I had, I was too afraid. I had my friend, John call and quit on my behalf, which was really funny. Pretend to be you or? Yeah. I was, I was, for some reason, I was so embarrassed to call. I went, so I got a job and you were paid for the orientation day. Oh, yeah. Sure. To work at Disneyland. And I thought that I was going to be assigned, you know, to be one of the really fun jobs like the Jungle Cruise operator. Or, okay. And I, I find out, oh, no, those guys will work there for eight years before they get. So they assigned me, one of the front kiosks for selling tickets. Yeah. At the same time I had a rival offer to work at a friend's surf shop. A friend who was managing a surf shop right down at Newport Beach, exactly same pay. Yeah. Five, 15 hour. Yeah. But I was too embarrassed to call up Disney Disneyland. So my friend, John, call on my behalf and said, I will, I will be quitting after one day. And that, and they asked, okay, a reason for leaving. And he said, I, he said, I have a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys. And they went, thank you very much. So somewhere there's a file at Disney corporate. It says, real feral, worked for one day, reason for leaving, try out with the Dallas Cowboys football team. And they probably were like, they probably thought for a second, they remembered you and they're like, huh, what position? And someone was like, he's a kicker. And I don't know if that makes sense. Maybe a kicker. You didn't make the Cowboys? You want to hear an interesting story? We just had someone call and cancel. They're not going to work. They're going to try out for the Dallas Cowboys. How good is that? Anyway, I wish them the best. Waiter ever? No. I knew. I knew. I knew. When you started Groundlings, what year was that? Do you remember what year was? That was right after I graduated from USC. What was your degree in sports information? So that was the trying to bridge the gap between real job and entertainment. So as I'm, as I'm coming kind of in college, like you said, it's, it's oozing out of me in places. I still wasn't like, I still didn't join a college improv team. I still tried audition for anything. It was more, it was more kind of what we're talking about. Getting out doing bits. Yeah. Trying to make my friends laugh pretending to be other people that I wasn't in order to make. So I would show up to a friend's class as I found like some overalls and I would interrupt this friend's class as a maintenance worker and pretend to fix things or just come up, come in with like a lit cigarette out of my mouth and like a puke bucket and the teacher would be like, can I help you? And I'd look at him and he's going, no one threw up in here. And he was saying, no, I'm sorry. They call me from physical plant and I said, this is, this is classroom B 302, right? Yeah. I'm sorry about that. But like blowing smoke in his classroom. But like, but my heart is pounding in my chest. But that's finding it's thrilling and I'm only making three people laugh. That to me is like free solo of comedy. It's like rock climbing where you're like doing it just kind of for yourself. No one's watching totally. It feels quite dangerous because everyone's like, what are you doing in here? And I would have I would have I worked my work study job was at the humanities audio visual department. So occasionally I may have to push an overhead projector across campus. And I would tell my buddy, like, hey, when are you guys all going to sit in the commons area? I may, I may be pushing an overhead projector at around 1230. He's like, okay, good. And he, my friend Emel became my shill. And I would time it. I'd do his circuitous route, nowhere near where I needed to go. And I would just pull my just enough to have my butt cracked show and just slowly push. And my friend Emel would be like, look at that guy. What an idiot. And people like the game are he would, he would get the crowd to go, yeah. And and people didn't know me would would laugh in a mean way. Yeah. Once again, I found it thrilling. It's thrilling. That these people had no idea that it was all, it was all actually jokes on that. It makes sense to me because jokes on that. Oh, I walked across campus with my pants down. No, I knew my pants were down. I knew it. I knew what I pulled them down myself. But it makes sense because people, when people, what people love about you will, is it does feel like you're trying to make your friends laugh. Like that's really what it feels like. It feels like, and they feel parasocial like your friends. Like they're like, will is my friend. And he makes me laugh. Like I've been with you when people come up to you and people, you invoke this like feeling at people where they're like, it's almost like, will I know I was going to see you. You're my friend. You know, they people are really connected. And it is. And then they're let down when I'm not doing the bits. Well, I mean, there's nothing but a let down. Oh, yeah. You've experienced me being like, oh, wow, you're quiet. You're so normal. Where am I going to do with that? Yeah. Like, oh, are you, are you sad today? It's like, no, I'm just, this is my normal. I'm not screaming. I'm sure it is on. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. When you got to groundlings, who were your peeps there? What was your class? Who were, who was studying when you were there? Who? Let's see. My direct peeps kind of coming up in the same, at the same time through the school were Catan. Yeah. And Sherry. And I believe a little overlap with Chris Cornell. Oh, Jennifer Coolidge was kind of, she, she was actually ahead of us, but and did some shows with us as well. And, and then so many of you started at SNL around the same time, or at the same time you, Sherry came in together. Yeah. And, and then I had known Molly from Molly, sweetly. I was just, I saw it. I was with Molly yesterday. I just saw her. She got a Hollywood walk of eight star. And of course, Molly gave the greatest speech of all time. Yeah. Of just stream of consciousness, you know, but told the story of how, and I met Will. I was working at the Melrose baking company. And Will, I met, I was with my, my friend Patricia and brought Will in and said, this is Will and you said, hi, and like, what can I get you? And you said, I will have a scone. Molly delivering that story, it like thunderous lap. Yes. Like that written down on a piece of paper is not funny, but Molly delivering it. I love what you said. said about her. But what did you say about her and how her character felt like it was the beginning of a new chapter. I just remember it was this moment when she first did Mary Catherine Gallagher. It was our fourth show that we'd ever done for that new cast of the '95, '96 season. Very much finding our sea legs very much. We're all pretty brand new. It was eight new cast members and entire new writing staff. And so the audience is very leery. And it was that first moment she starts doing the character. And I'm at the beginning of the sketch, but I have to run. This is during dress rehearsal. I have to run to go underneath the paint cans there, which is a section of the studio where you're underneath the bleachers there. And I'm doing a quick change for the next thing. And she starts doing Mary Catherine for the first time. And I can feel the stance shape. The audience is howling and screaming with laughter to the point where it almost it felt emotional. It felt like weight. The somatic thing was happening like there was a rumble in your stomach. One hundred percent. Yeah. And I literally, as I thought about things to talk about Molly in terms of knowing I thought, oh, she kind of saved the show in a way. It was that first thing for this new group of where people were like, oh my god, that character is very real and funny and an outsider and dark. Yeah. Yes. And super physical. And she throws herself into a stack of metal folding chairs with no visible padding on her at all. Right. It was like punk rock version of Lucille ball. Yeah. And for a woman. Yeah. You know, in comedy, like it was like a busting through the door, I think in a way. And I just remember thinking, okay, they like and it just created this momentum from that point on. You know, if anything, the show is like so cyclical. We've learned that like it's been said a million times like when somebody leaves the show will never be the same. It's been on for 50 years. It's like this cast is better than that cast, whatever. And I you guys got bad review. Like the show was like Saturday night dead. Yeah. And do you remember any of the bad reviews? I think she only got good. Share you got a good. Yeah. Do you remember it? Because share we had a great first show. Share it was, I mean, share it was an amazing performer as well. Yeah. I was my first show. I mean, I got, you know, it was it once again, I think it's part of another piece that informed the way I approached all of this because it was there was like good news and bad news. You're one of the only cast members mentioned by name. Well, that's right. It's gotta be good. Here's the bad news. Most annoying newcomer right out of the gate from the first show. You don't have to say their name, but do you remember the writer's name? No. Okay, that's where you and I are different. Because I would like. No, I don't remember that, but I remember it was one of those, I think one of those entertainment magazines that doesn't exist anymore. Yeah. It was like entertainment weekly, but not entertainment. Maybe it was entertainment magnet. I don't like premier or like something like that. And they were. They were coming for you. They were really not happy. And so as we all know, we've all been hit with these moments where you're you're thinking, what do I, okay, do I just sit in wall or when this? And I don't know what it is about my DNA, but I just started cracking up going, you asked for it, buddy. Yeah. Here. So then I just back to sports. I just made it, but I literally taped it to my wall. Yes. Most annoying newcomer. But this is what a captain does. And then I was, and then the only thing I know how to do is, I'm like, I'm just going to lean into it anymore, but even more, like if you think I'm annoying now, just wait. I'm going to push that overhead projector across your face, you know, right. And so it just kind of fired me up. Yes. But I, there was no part of me that was like, what am I doing wrong? Oh, I better change things up, but I don't have that move. People have very, very strong opinions about comedy. Yeah. Same with music. They're very similar, which is like, I love that song. I hate that song. I love that song. I hate their voice. Like everyone feels really, like they own their, their feelings about things. You know, I'm just visiting you. Really pouring over and circling someone's name. There is a couple of reviews. There, I got two reviews that I, like, I think like, I whispered their names into my pillow every night, like Arya Stark. Like I think about these two people. And I'm just like, someday we're going to see each other again. There used to be a writer for the, there used to be a writer for the LA Times. Um, Kay Farrell would remember her name. Okay. He's got him. Kay's got a written down. Will's mom. She had it. She had it so out for me that I, I saw, I opened up the LA Times to see a review of 40-year-old Virgin. Sure. And I remember on Heyker, man, Karel talking about that premise. And we're all going, buddy, that is hilarious. He's like, yeah, I mean, I mean, you know, try to see if I can get this going. Anyway, I see this. I'm like, oh, I want to see what they think of Steve. The first two paragraphs are how this woman hates me. Hey, there's no, yes, goes off on Will Farrell, two solid paragraphs. Oh, delicious. There's no one worse than him. He is. I'm funny. There's no, there's nothing redeemable about anything he does. That was, that's the top of the article. That's why when I watched Steve Karel and for you, I was so pleasantly surprised. It's like, what do I have to do with, you're not even, I guess because he was an anchor mate or, oh, sure. She was like, she was like, no, this is the kind of guy that I laugh at. Not this stupidity. It was like a hot, it was like opening, like, it was like being in Las Vegas in your air conditioning room and you open up to a blast furnace of 110 degrees. It's like, that's a view for going looking for going don't even read other people's movie reviews because they'll get you. I mean, I wanted me to get, I don't, I know what it feels to you. I wanted to wear a t-shirt of her name and just be photographed walking around town. Yeah, I love that. That is the, that is the, I think, thing that you would not share, which is just like, if there's a little bit of a tingle of like, it must be the challenger in us, but like some kind of like where it's like because it's kind of, it's this thrilling thing where you realize, like, I'm going to survive this. I can't explain it to them. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The worst is happening. Somebody doesn't like me and someone and it's like going to be like, I don't know. There's something. There's, I, there's a mischievous quality about it. That's fun. Yeah. And it's, it's, you don't, you just get, can't internalize it. Like, what are you going to do? It's, it's, it's like the, our most favorite review of Step Brothers was Roger Ebert, who said this is the end of Western civilization. And he went as far as to say, do not buy this on DVD when it comes to not support movies like this because it will make, other people think they should make movies similar to this. So please, it was a, it was like a call of action. Yeah. Yeah. Incredible. Oh, God. That is so delicious. So because we'd gotten enough filled up on the love side that we could handle. Yeah. The hate. Yeah. When you speak about Molly saving the show, I felt the same way about you in 2001. Like, I felt like we were, I, I was starting, you know, we joked about earlier, but I was starting in a time when it was like, New York was hurting. Yeah. Comedy was over. People were like, we can't joke anymore. We can't be ironic. We can't do, yeah. It was post your book. Like, you had done Bush. We couldn't do any jokes. No. No. You know, poor Forte had to play Bush during those years. And it was like, what do we do? No one could kid about anything other than maybe pop culture. And even that, everyone was like, not now. Right. We're too sad. Yeah. And so I remember when you came out in patriotic underwear, speedo, speedo underwear, dolphin shorts, dolphin running shorts. Okay. Tight shorts. Pulled way up. And you had four air, not for dress dress. I kept them well. Live show. Don't pick it dress. Tracing Morgan likes to say, don't pick it dress. So you, yeah, you hiked them for air. And I also remember that you had just run, because you're a runner, you would just run like a half marathon or the New York marathon. Oh, okay. So you have run the New York marathon. So you also were very shaped. Yes, you were really change forgot that part. Yeah, and you were like, I'm very changed. Super chafed and you did a patriotic is a guy who's trying to be patriotic at his office office. And same thing will I remember the audience laughing and being like, oh, we're going to be okay. Okay, comedy's going to be okay. The show's going to survive. I'm going to still have a job. I forgot about the chafing you were chafed from running. Okay, I want to talk about some stuff that you've done. I'm so bad at transitions. By the way, did you see that? That was rough. I was like, thank God. I said, okay, stop. Okay, stop. But you know what? I think that is a great transition. It's super clear. I said, okay, stop. Okay, stop. Okay, I want to talk about something else. Turn this page. I'm going to turn my page. I'm going to help model this transition to. Please, please. I was thinking about your time and how then you became such a star yourself. But I'm not trying to, I'm not trying to kiss but this is a scientific analysis. Okay. But then you and Tina go on to do update and to bring that like so far for an end. But I was in God. Amy had to run around and do sketches and then do update. Yeah, but you know what? It felt it was so. I say very loose because I was always, you know, like nothing worse than having one. Yeah, you do have to think about it because you're like, totally. I would just be. Oh, here comes this fun. This is fun break right here. Totally. Wow. Okay. And I wasn't as stressed about getting sketches on because I always knew I had update. And so I felt like very, very like getting eventually to the looseness that I wanted. My and I talk about it. Like we, we wanted like senioritis, that feeling of like half in half. Oh, like this is a dumb thing. This is a fun thing. But it's so hard to get there. And then you go, you leave us now and then we'll, you have the biggest string of comedy hits like hit after hit like suit. I don't know. Elf, old school, anger man, step brothers, how did I get it? It's like, like, first of all, I can't even, I should have done the research. Yeah. Like how, how many years did you, like, it seems like it, that was all done in like 10 or 15 years, a movie a year at least. Right. So many hits. It's some pauses in between. Sure. Yeah. But just you are, you are the for so many people, especially millennials, I would say. And maybe some gen X, you are the face of their like five favorite comedy movies. And you've been in some good comedy movies. And we know that's hard. Movies are hard. Good movies are hard. Good comedy. He's our hard way harder than a drama, which is easy. Yeah, let's, dramas are easy. What are you going to do? I'm like, look at all three, all five cameras. Like, drama, so easy. Like, you yell, they cry, like, whatever. But I, I want to ask you about the end. By the way, I don't know what your question is. And I don't know how to answer. I don't know. Yeah. It's such a run because such a run. I leave the show with no job. No job. The only thing Zoolander, maybe I'd already come out. Oh, right. It'd come out while you were there. That's right. And if you recall, that came out during, came out during 2001. Yep. Time for comedies. And didn't find its audience still much later. Yeah. Yeah. I had been in that last year or second. I filmed, you know, that last year I was leaving because I was filming old school. Old school. That's right. You were going back and forth. So old school, but old school had been held on to, which is not usually a positive endorsement from the studio. They're like, they're like, this is great. Hold on. This is so good. Let's keep it on the back burner. It's too good. No, it went from like a November release to like February of the next year. And the only thing that was full big time development was Elf. I mean, Elf is such a good movie. So we didn't even know we didn't even know. And then, yeah, well, let's talk about Elf for one second. Okay. It is them. I mean, it is a lot of people's comfort movie. It is definitely their favorite Christmas movie. It's so fucking fun. It holds up so well directed by John Ferrero, who was like a Chicago improv guy that, you know, I came up with. And it's so what do you think it was interesting? Because John really wanted to make sure it had a timeless feel to it. And John really wanted to and was 100% right, but I'm coming off of SNL. I'm known. Yes, there was like the cheerleaders and sketches like that. But I'm also known for a PG 13 pushing our brand of humor. And I'm sitting in my trailer in my Elf tights looking in the mirror, going, what have you done? I'm dressed as buddy. And I mean, this is early movie deals. I'm in the double. I'm in the picture. You're really crowding. I'm with the space eater that's still built into the wall. And it's we shoot the New York stuff first. So I don't even know if I know who this character is yet. I'm walking around the walk around in yellow tights. Oh, my God. This could be it. This could be it. This could be like what that guy was so funny. And then he made this movie. We played a giant Elf. Oh, poor. Oh, that's why that's why it's so embarrassing. It's like, it could be like he's a genius classic Christmas movie forever. Or so tights were the thing to kill. But I remember going, this is either going to be a homerun or it's going to be a complete strike out. Yeah. It's a very good example to what you do so well, which is like the big and little of it all. Like you play big, but you're little or you're like, you've got no power, but you're cockier than you should be. Like playing around with status, what you do in all your movies, like Anchorman is the perfect example of that. Like one of many things you made with McKay, which is just like this deeply stupid, hilarious person who is disconnected to the world. But yet in charge, and who is why really, really mentally, mentally challenged problems. Really has a hard time with life. And it just gets worse, not better, never changes. And all of you guys did was just go for all of the funny and have the funniest people. And like Steve was here. We were talking about him in that movie and how he was just blown away by watching you work and being around all you guys. And like, and every single character in that movie is Kekner and Rudd are so funny. Yeah. You love playing Ron. Like you, you, you love doing him, right? What's fun about him? I still will try to, well, we did a podcast with him, which was so fun. Just because Ron can say whatever he wants. Yeah. And he doesn't have to have the right facts. He doesn't have to. In fact, I just did Ron recently down in San Diego, because Bill Curtis, long time Chicago, narrates the movie. Yeah. It was retiring from wait, wait, don't tell me. Yeah. And I had gotten a email just asking what I sent a video. And to congratulate Bill and he's so proud of his connection to that movie. And he still has a standee in his house of Ron. And he's the sweetest guy. And I said, well, hold on, where, when are you, where are you doing the shows? Like we were doing it live down in San Diego. I'm like, what if I come and surprise him? And so they were like, would you actually, I'm like, yeah, that I, we owe him so much. And so we surprised the audience. Oh, that's huge. That's huge. It's also such a good name, Ron Burgundy, and also great that his suit was Burgundy. Yes. You know, costumes are so fun. You love them. I love a good costume. Yeah. Yeah, you do. But Ron had other costumes too. He did. He had other suits. He didn't just have the one. He didn't. It wasn't that crazy. No. But when you think about Ron, you think about him in his burgundy suit. But he had some delightful tans. I mean, he was, he was ahead like a fisherman turtle neck. He had a baby blue like a gorgeous blue suit, though, bring out his eyes. It was a very handsome man. It was very handsome. Ron was very handsome. And then you and I did a movie. We did two movies together. We did Blades of Glory, which was so fun. And you had to learn how to ice skate? I had to learn. Or did you know a little bit? I had to learn. But you didn't love it if I recall. I talked about it with Greta Lee on this part a few weeks ago. I loved it. I didn't love it. I wasn't, I, I, I, I. I think I saw, you know, like you stood out of the piano and you think you're gonna be able to play the piano. Like, I thought I'd be better at it and I was like, fuck, I know it. I remember us meeting the real, you know, performers and just being like, we're never ever gonna look like we can do this. - Exactly. - And you look of all your movies, you look the tallest in Blades of Glory. You look so tall. - Do you ice skate still? - No. - No. - I need to. - Yeah, I'm too nervous now. I let it, I let it. I have the skates packed away somewhere. They were custom-made skates. - Yeah. - You insisted on it. - I have my costume. - You do? - Framed. - You do? - Yeah. - But Viv-- - Will's wife. - Yeah, sorry. It's hanging in the garage. You won't let it come into the house. - She's like, I don't want that. - Yeah, I don't need it. - Yeah, I don't need anything else. - I don't not like it, but it's gonna hang in the garage. (laughing) And then we did the house together. - Yes. - Which was so fun to do with you. Was a dream come true to make a movie with you? Did not really resonate with you. - Did not resonate at all. - For yet, I was to argue that movie's funny. - My kids often tell me that that, like they're like, mom, that was 7% on Rotteneos. - Oh, I didn't realize it was that. - And I was like, no way, 7%. - That bass scene, it's-- - It's like gone up. I just want you to know. - Okay. - I just checked today. - 14, did it go away. - 20%. (laughing) - Triple. - You did it, we did it. But that was a really fun premise and a fun movie. How did that come on? - I don't know, but I'm sorry. (laughing) - No, I thought I flopped you. You spoke about Vivica. Vivica, your wife of now 25 years, probably? - 25, going on 26. - Yeah. - Yes. - Such a formidable, cool, smart, interesting person. So, such a perfect match for you, Will. And, Swedish. - Swedish. - And that's what we have in common, my brother lives in Sweden. What are the stereotypes of Swedish people that are correct? - I think the stereotype that Swedes aren't funny is not true. - Agreed. - They're very sly, dry, sense of humor. - Yes. - And as you know very well, and your brother knows, can also be though unintentionally direct. - Yeah. Very direct. I think intentionally. - Intentionally, yeah. - But they don't, but it's just a matter of fact. No, I'm just telling you. - No, you look, you've got fats. - Yeah, no, you were skinny and now you're fat. - Someone, someone is very tired. You look tired. - Well, she, well, I don't think he would be due well because he's ugly. (laughing) Well, he's ugly. - Or the polite version is like, it's, they are a little bit ugly. - They're a little, you're right. - That's the polite one. - He's a little bit ugly. - My best story, this was when we were first taking trips there. I didn't have, I didn't have a lot of Swedish under my belt, but I had some nouns, and we were on one of these little tour buses, or it was a boat, it was a boat out to the archipelago and they had one of these outside decks. And I saw this group of tourists and they were looking and pointing. And then they sent a scout. You could tell, they sent a scout to go check to see if it was really me, and so I say to Viv, and we were with her cousin, Eva. And I was like, let's start, we should start speaking Swedish, you wanna see. And so they started speaking and I just started going, y'all, y'all, oh, oh, chic-chickling, which is just chicken, y'all, oh, school, which is shoes, I'm just saying nouns. I'm just saying chic-chickling, chicken, yeah, shoes, yeah, hat. Oh, braw, which is good. And I just would say these words, and he did this lap, and it was kind of, it was really fantastic, bad movie acting. Did this lap or he did a slow look at me, and then he looked away, then he looked back at the group, and he just went, not him, not him. So I was like, so good. I mean, you could be Swedish. You could be Swedish, well. Which, the, the B side of that is Swedes listening to someone just go, chicken, shoe, shirt, good. And it'd be like, he's stupid, he's obviously stupid. They took him out for the boat ride. He's a little stupid. The other thing that's really annoying about the Swedes, yeah, and I'm sure Greg has encountered this. But the men all can either, are gourmet cooks, can build a table, can repair the tire on your car. Yeah, yeah. Oh, the dishwasher's broke, let us take a look. Well, the, the flamen valve is not working, and take it apart, put it, like, you can do it. You're on config, they can do everything. Yes, they can do everything. And they're so tall and buff and they're very, and also home a lot. Yeah, they're just like, they're, yeah, they're pretty, yeah. And like, I sewed the button back on my shirt. I'm like, I can't sew a button. I should, I should be able to, I'm 58. I should know how to sew a button. You would think, yeah, right? Yeah, but they're like, Matthias, we'll do it for you. (laughing) Let us do it. Let us do it. If you start to do it, they're also very precise. So if you start to, oh, I'll do it, like, let me do it. (laughing) I don't want you to wreck it. That's okay, I'll do it. Code for it, you're gonna break it. Let me do it. And then the last thing, but would last you things before I get to the hawk, I just also, I love, I, the film you made with Harper last year, it was such a beautiful, beautiful film. Well, like, congrats on its success on how it's received. Do you have people coming up, do you still talking to you about it? Still to the day. What do they say when they? Just the gift that keeps on giving. Yeah. Just, just, thank you. And what a, you know, I love it. What a beautiful, but we've gotten stories that have ranged from, we watched with our trans child. And it was the first time we talked about it as a family. We, it's just run the gamut. And it might have been the most, once again, like, surprising in the sense that we didn't know what we were gonna make or have, I mean, it's a documentary. Yeah. But to have this thing where we literally got to the beach at Santa Monica and Josh yelled to cut. And we were like, oh my God, that was so much fun, but I don't think there's a movie there. We both said that. And then the first time we watched it, and we're like, how did you do that? This is, how did you build a narrative structure of this whole thing to then from the festivals and the pre, it was everything was just like the most fun year. Yeah, and I love to hear that. That was awesome. The coolest thing ever. And, you know, Harper and I worked together at SNL and, you know, not only was it exact, like was it exactly about that about like somebody's journey and, but it's just the journey of friendship. Like how, how do we allow people to change? How do we allow them to get more themselves? What is so beautiful about the film is it like doesn't shy away from that middle space that allows not only Harper to talk about how she's feeling, but for you, like that middle space is kind of like treacherous. For sure. People get very afraid to stay there. They want to get on one side of the pool and they don't want to get it wrong. Right. Also, same with Harper, like Harper's, like figuring out like where is she in this world in this space? And the fact that you guys just kind of settled in there, it's such good storytelling. So because she gave permission. She was like, let's, you're gonna make, ask me whatever. I'm gonna make mistakes. You're gonna make, like, I'm like, okay, are you sure? Okay, what about this? You know, and what a kind of wonderful piece about just friendship and just being an advocate for, for anyone who's going through anything. Totally. And that was kind of the universal takeaway as well. And you team up with Harper again on the hawk. Which is the name of your character, Lonnie hawk. Lonnie hawkins, Lonnie the hawk hawk. Okay, okay, incredible. You have an incredible look in this. Yeah. Incredible. Always a little sunburned. Always. That a little golf, golf tan. Golf tan. The great Autumn Butler doing your makeup for that. Autumn Butler craft autumn pitch. Like what if Lonnie? What if Lonnie had a little tan line? Like, like, and we care it. - It's the whole series. - Perfect. - And I said, done and done. - And Parnsey is in the show, right? - Yes. - Well, we talked to Parnel. - Okay. - Yeah, we did, we talked to him before this. - Yeah. - Before we started because we always try to talk well behind someone's back and we try to get a question. And before we get to his question, let's talk about Parnel for a second. What a, like what a laser focused performer. - Yes. - So funny. What was fun about working with him and you guys have worked together on many things for a long time and shared an office at a salon. - Yeah, Chris Parnel, comedically, yeah, he's so precise. He nails every performance, every nuance, everything. You give him a note. And he executes everything in such a funny way. - And he's a really good actor. - Yes, really good actor. And he's so funny in this because he just plays wonderfully uptight. - Yeah. - And gets so mad throughout. We haven't screeching at times. Literally screeching. Jerry Collins is writing on the show too. - Oh nice, you're third roommate. - And we were reminiscing how we had, we shared, the three of us shared an office at SNL and for a good half of the season committed, I don't know if you remember this, committed to wearing short sleeve button down white shirts and dark tie, we dressed as NASA, mission control guys. Do you remember that? Every writing Tuesday we would wear. - I was ahead of my time, I think. - Oh, you weren't there yet. - I don't think I was there yet. - That's right. - Yeah, I missed the fun. - It was Jerry's idea. Should we, every Tuesday night on the writing night, should we wear short sleeve button down shirts with black ties like we work for NASA? Yes, let's do that. - Okay, but his question to you was who were your comedy idols growing up? - I loved staying up and watching the tonight show and I would, if there was a comedian on, I would stay and watch the, if there wasn't. So that's where I would see Jerry Seinfeld for the first time. That's where Richard Pryor, you name it, that was before cable, that was one of the few outlets to get to see comedy. So I just kind of, and then I loved, I loved those late '70s, early '80s sitcoms. Like, happy days, Laverne and Shirley, all of that stuff and watching these actors be so funny, but then it felt real and how are they doing that? Like Andy Kaufman and Taxi. So I didn't have that one person that I could put on a poster in my room, Bob Newhart. - Yeah, we worked with him now. Well, you bring up the fact that when we grew up TV, it was kind of the only place, like we didn't, I didn't go to the theater. It was the only place to kind of find out or some like comedy records. And now, I mean, you have been like, you've been on the front line of a lot of like new media, you know, you're like, funny or die and you're like, have, you know, big money players, which is a huge network of great podcasts, including Las Cultrices, Cultrices, which we love here. Like, you kind of like, in our lifetime, the way people watch things and find people is so different than waiting for the one TV show at 11.30 a night. It's, what do you get out of producing? I mean, you're always, you're always trying to encourage, like young fresh voices, new POVs, you're always doing that. What do you like? - Probably the same thing that you've probably gotten out of it, just being able to lend some currency to someone, you know, has a fresh voice or you're just like, yeah, give them a shot. - Yeah. - Why not? - You just 'cause I think you like, I mean, it's been said about you, but you love to laugh. Like, you really, you really want to laugh. And I remember that when Jerry Seinfeld came to host Desanelle, he laughed so hard at every sketch. I was like, Jerry, do you really? You're like the most generous host I've ever seen. He's like, he's like, I just love comedy. And I was like, that was slight Jerry Seinfeld. I don't wanna, it was a, it was a light dusting. - Yeah, if you want more, you gotta pay through the paywall. - Go to the Good Hang paywall and you'll see full Seinfeld. - Hair makeup, everything. - But not you can't, you don't get this. - It's gonna burn you away. - Yeah. - That was just a little dash. I do regret, I regret that little dash of Jerry Seinfeld. But keep it in, keep it in. - It was just a tiny. - A tiny dash. - A tiny dash. - It was so slight. It was so slight. Because you can't help it. Because how are you gonna tell someone when they're doing like this? - But. But I do remember going, yeah, why? We should all laugh at each other. I mean, if we think it's funny. - Yeah. - We should all laugh. - Or if it's not. Also, sometimes if it's not funny, it's the best thing in the world. And I'll finish with this, which is one of my favorite things ever was at SNL. We would look at sketches that bombed. And my most favorite sketch I've ever watched that bombed is your Gabe Kaplan sketch, which we've talked about. And for people under the age of 50, there was a gentleman named Gabe Kaplan on a show called Welcome Back Cotter. - Another 70 sitcom. - 70 sitcom. - And he was, he was huge. He would be like, who would he be like now? It would be like, mom. - It was almost like equivalent of like a Larry David. Maybe in a way, if he was the teacher in a classroom with all these, and a young John Travolta. - Yes, young John Travolta, incredible. Anyway, Will does a sketch where he plays a guy. And when he has a very distinct look. - Right, his look is like a very 70s. - Very 70s, big mustache, big curly hair, sideburns. - And Will did a sketch that went into the SNL archives that we used to pull up, not only because, and this is going right back to the beginning Will, because watching the Captain fail is, makes you feel a lot better about yourself. But also the way in which everyone dug in deeper, the worst the sketch was going. To me is like, that's true love. But Will plays a guy who, what's the premise? - Premises that I am a guy who works at an office. I think we made it an insurance company that Gabe Kaplan, the actor, is a client of. Okay, I look just like, I've cultivated, I'm such a fan of Gabe Kaplan. I've cultivated my look to look just like him. - Right. - And the sketch is, it's in the break room. And it's the day that Gabe Kaplan actually came into the office to sign some paperwork. And they're talking about how nice it's John Goodman, it's Molly, it's 10 minutes. - John Goodman, Tim Meadows, and Molly. - And they're talking about what a nice guy, he was so cool, he was so funny. I'm like, I'm like, are you guys talking about? - Oh, Gabe Kaplan was here. I was like, what? Yeah, why don't you guys come and get me? Like what do you mean? Like, you guys, that's the reason why I'm working at this company, and I lose it. And I'm like-- - And he starts to lose it, and there is not one laugh. I mean, there's not even a cough. - No, there's the smallest laugh in the world though, way up in the corner, you're at one point. - So the audience, number one, you're out, you're screwed. They don't know who Gabe Kaplan is. - They don't know who Gabe Kaplan is. - They don't appreciate that you're dressed just like him. And they don't understand why you're mad. - They don't understand why I'm mad. And the whole, the thrust of the sketch is built off my tirade of why, why didn't anyone, I was in the bathroom. Why didn't anyone check the bathroom? (laughing) Did you not, they're like, they're like, relax. We didn't think to check the bathroom. Like, why wouldn't you? Do you know how much he means? I wanted to meet him. - What happens is Molly and you, and Tim Edo's, play it like a drama. - You're in like-- - He's afraid of Virginia Woolf or something. - Yeah, he's afraid of Virginia Woolf or something else. - He's afraid of Virginia, and you're both, and Molly's going, I'm sorry, I didn't tell you when you're going, how could you do this to me? And it is the funniest and a lesson in commitment, but it's such a good example of how everyone is one thing away from bombing all the time. That's no matter who you are. Like the bombing is so delicious. As I finish, anything right now that you're like, do you watch comedy? Are you like, is there anything you're watching right now that you love? - No. >> I'm always looking. I'm always looking. I'm always looking. I'm really trying to come with something clever. I mean, right now I'm watching all the World Cup. I'm really into it's very excited. We went to one of the games out in LA. Okay, so fun. I also love one like the best players play great. Yeah, it's like Messi is just playing so great. Buffy. That's just fun to say. Yeah, Buffy. Buffy. The M is not silent. It's not. No, no, you lean into it. Buffy. Buffy. I'm exaggerating the M. Yeah, well, Farrell. I think we did it. We did it. I really do think we did. We talked for a long time. We really did. Yeah. And I just these real plants. These are fake plants, fake food. Gotcha. Fake plants, fake wood. I didn't want that like co-dependent. responsibility of keeping these. Yeah, that's fine. And I felt like, is it looked real out of the side of my eye? That's the compliment. And I was like, oh, that's not real. So that's a, that's a compliment. You just want to be able to decide it. Side eye, is there any food over there? So that's really hamburger with the sesame seed buns. OK, let's just, let's take a look at that before we go. Sesame seed drop through my eye. So this is a, this is your typical. Take a look at that if you want to feel it. Is that a dog toy? Oh, no, wait to it. And does it come apart? It's a, will is that, nope, it's all glued together. It's cheeseburger with like a rubber cheeseburger. But it looks good, right? It kind of looks appetite. Yeah. Now be careful. I'm going to fight into it. Be careful. Don't do it. Well, thank you for being here. It's a pleasure. I love, I love spending time with you. I love that you're a power player in this space now. I mean, look at me. Can't you tell? Like every power player. Yeah, yeah. That's what sets you apart right there. Thanks, buddy. That is so far. Thank you, Will Farrell, for coming. You're the best. You're the king and the goat and the captain, as far as I'm concerned. And it's so, so fun to have you here. And I could have talked about all of your comedic choices for a very long time. But I just want to end in this polar plunge by talking once again about Bobby and Marty Culpe, the very religious singers who sing popular songs in their own special way. Do yourself a favor and go down memory lane and watch on a gas tire and Will Farrell play those two weirdos. And pay attention, please, to Will's bald cap. His outfits and his gentleness. Because I think that people know Will as these characters that kind of yell and have these giant burst of energy. But Marty Culpe is just, he's just very self-contained. And it's such a funny, weird performance. And one of my favorite characters, among the many, that Will have given us. So thank you for joining us, Will. Thank you for listening, whoever's listening. And we'll see you soon on the next one. OK, bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weissberman, and me, Amy Poler. The show is produced by The Ringer and PaperKite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spalaine, Kaya McMullen, and Alia Zeneres. For PaperKite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weissberman. Original music by Amy Miles. All I ever wanted was a really good thing