Robert De Niro

0:00College football is back. So, Hilton called to me the superstition concierge to make your fan rituals a reality. Need a room to match your lucky number? We got you. Want to make sure our team doesn't wash your lucky jersey? Ooh, that smells lucky. Hilton's unmatched hospitality can keep up with any superstition. Even a marching bandwick up call it 555 and 55 seconds. Hit it! When you need a team that will do whatever it takes on game day, it matters where you stay. Hilton, for this day. Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. This is a very, very special one. We have Robert De Niro with us today. Robert De Niro, the king of New York. If New York was a person, it would be Robert De Niro. And you know what, Frank Sinatra sang. If you can make an interview with Robert De Niro work here, you can make an interview, work with anybody anywhere. We are very, very excited. The first thing I want to say is that I'm not going to wear. We are very, very excited that we have him.

1:00We're going to talk about so many things. We're going to talk about Good Phyllis. We're going to talk about him hosting S&L and what that felt like. We're going to talk about how much he paid for his first New York apartment in rent. And we get into it. What a pleasure and a privilege to have Robert here. And because it is so special and he is so special, I'm doing something a little bit different. I'm going to ask a few people to talk well behind his back and to talk to me about him. Because I just want to get prepared. You know, like he's such a good actor, he prepares so well. I want to do the same. So we're going to talk to Rachel Dratch, my good buddy, Rachel Dratch, who starred with him in the world famous Debbie Downer at the S&L 50th. We're going to talk to Seth Meyers, who is always an incredible friend and support and who interviewed Robert Bob DeNiro a couple of times. And we're going to talk to Jane Rosenthal, his longtime producing partner who started the Tribeca Film Festival with him,

2:02knows him so well and is going to give us a question to ask Robert DeNiro. So let's get started and see if we can get Dratchie on the Zoom. Drew, this episode is brought to you by Uber. You know those little choices you make that give you more comfort throughout the day. Like planning your outfit the night before, sharing your location with a friend when heading home late, taking the actual lunch break away from your desk. Uber has one too. It's called Women Preferences. And it lets women riders request a woman driver directly in the app. Because sometimes having a little more choice can make a big difference. It's a simple option that can help women feel more comfortable during their ride. Learn more on the Uber app. Get up, buddy. Say it. All I ever want is really good. Hey. Rachel?

3:04Hi. Hi, bud. Hold on. Let me plug in my headphones. Oh my god, headphones. I can't ride the headphones any longer than they've already cared me. Look at that. Growth. OK, well, that's there. But you know what? Other than others. Oh, no, there's another not. Overall good. Overall, counting Mrs. Progress. Wait, I'm just trying to think if I need a better life. Lister's Rachel is just adjusting. I mean, at this point in our lives, why are we not surrounded by ring lights? I know. You know? Yes. That looks good. Also, nice lip. Oh, thank you. I put it in an effort for you, Polar. With a lip, and that's about it. I you get a lip. You get a lip, babe. Drew Chi and I had dinner last night. So nice. We did. Yes. Yay. And I told you that I was interviewing Robert De Niro.

4:05And I needed some help. I'm shy about big name celebrities. And I don't know. I'm just going to say this. You can use this for now. But I always thought you were very good when we were in our cell. You were very good at talking with celebrities when we were standing around like the host, you know, waiting for the scene or whatever. And I would be quiet as a mouth in the background. And so it's good that you're doing this podcast because you're good at it. Thanks, dude. I'm glad it's not me interviewing, Drew Chi. That's what I'm saying. Because I just clam up. But you're one of my close, one of my few close friends that has worked with him. You've actually worked with Deneiro. You've shared the screen with Bobby. Bobby and I have shared the screen. Yes, that's true. You have. You've shared the screen. And tell Bobby, I say hi by the way. He's going to be like, who? No. Bobby, I'm now committed to calling Bobby for this.

5:09Well, I'm going to call him Bob because that's what. And you know, there's nothing worse than anybody calling somebody by their first and last name. So Robert Deneiro, what do you think? Right. I am nervous because he doesn't seem to really love to talk that much about himself. And also he feels like our generations actor. He really has been in everything we grew up watching. And that was, and his stuff was always a little too adult growing up. It was like his stuff was like the scary movie or the violent. Yes, his stuff was like you felt like an adult when you got to kind of watch his stuff. Yes. You got to do some comedy with Bobby. Yeah. Well, you know, I was thinking about this because not only did I get too comedy, but he also hosted back when we were on the show way before. And I was remembering about that is, I don't remember if I got you seen in them, but I remember I submitted a scene where I was doing an impression of him. Like in front of him at the table.

6:09And basically all my pride, well, you can't see this if you're listening, but my impression was just going like this. I was just like a face and there's probably not much for listeners to describe. It's kind of like listeners, listeners, Rachel is doing an impeccable impression. Well, it's a great one because you kind of back up, you close your eyes and you kind of get your mouth open like. Hey, you know, that's all that's all was. Anyways, it didn't make it to air. Surprise. Wow. Okay, so yeah, so I think we, you know, Paul and I were going to write a Debbie Johnner for the anniversary show. And then like you get the list of like who's available out of all the stars. And then I think Paul, it was like, we got Denero. Like Denero with Debbie Donner was just like such a appealing, you know, prospect for us to imagine him. To explain, what do you mean by lists? Like just so people don't know. The SNL 50 is, what do you mean there was a list? Like there's a list of like who would be willing to be in a scene, you know, for an anniversary scene. So there's a list of the stars that we're going to be there

7:12that would be willing to play in a scene. So the combo of Robert Denero having to deal with Debbie Donner was making us laugh a lot. So then when we find out we had him, we're really excited. And then we got to have him say like, he was just trying to get a drink at the bar and she's bombing him out. And I think our favorite line was about like her saying, you don't want to use a plastic straw because my microplastics are probably taking up residents in your testes. And then when he had his like flip out at me, he's like, I don't want to hear about the plastic in my balls. And then he went to throttle me. And we wrote in that he like goes to strangle her. But then I was in the rehearsal. I was like, you know, if you want it actually, strangle me, you can't. So then he actually strangled me in the scene. I was like, I'm getting strangled by Robert Denero. This is like no comedy person. Everything's going to happen to them. So that was a fun thing to experience.

8:13I've told you in Paul of this, but my favorite part is when he calls you Deborah. Oh, Deborah Donner. Excuse me, Deborah. Yeah. But I've kind of go like out of body when I'm dealing with someone that's like a huge icon. And I was definitely nervous about being in a scene with Denero, like even though he was perfectly nice. And he was like giggling and he was willing to be there and play in this comedy land, of course. But I still get nervous knowing that it's Denero, you know. I would say one thing that you two have in common, Rachel. What? Look at this face. Is that you're both in an extroverted business, but you're quite shy. Yes, that's true. I think he's shy. Luckily, Jimmy was there to smooth out all the social edges. Yeah, Jimmy Fallon also in the scene. He's very good at that. He's really good at that. Well, I'm going to bring up Debbie Downer to him and talk to him about SNL. Because I do think that like there is this comedic side

9:15that we've gotten to see over the years. But my experience similar to yours is like a very kind of like fun and nice and quiet giggly person. Yeah. Okay, Drage, I'm going to go talk to another person about Bob and try to get some more info and get ready for our interview. So thanks, Georgie. All right. Thank you. Woohoo. This episode is brought to you by Allstate. Checking Allstate first could save you hundreds on car insurance. Not checking whether you sat in alarm before having an afternoon power nap. Only to wake up two hours later. Drowsy, confused. So many missed calls. 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 subject to terms, conditions, and availability. Allstate North American insurance company and affiliates. North Brook Illinois. Woohoo. Hello. Seth? Are you wearing new glasses? I'm wearing my cheaters. Oh, that's right.

10:16You have cheaters now. I think Paula Pell is the first person I ever heard say cheaters. Seth, you look great. Oh my god. Thank you, polar. Did you get a facelift over? What are you doing? What are you doing? You always said you wanted me to announce on the pod. It's because you used to say my face had a few parts that had a bad hang. You would point to different areas and say that's a little bit of a bad hang. Mm-hmm. Yeah, that's right. Guess from talking to you from. Moth has been it. My childhood bedroom and bed for New Hampshire. Wow. What other desk would there be a bobblehead of me at the update desk? I bet your childhood bedroom is similar to mine, which is my parents have now put things about me in my childhood bedroom as if that was if I would like that. It's a living museum. It's a living museum. Yeah. Like old press, like an old timeout article from 1997 framed.

11:16People don't know that at the White House, if you sleep in Lincoln's bedroom, it's a lot of the clippings that Lincoln's mom saved. It's got the old shovel that he did his homework on. That's basically all it is. Who made that bobblehead? When was that made? After you left, we got a lot of our own merch. I mean, you know what's after you left. The fact that there's a literally, it would be great if it had been a two person bobblehead and my mom had just saw you out. That was the one time my mom learned how to solder. What are you doing in your childhood home? I'm doing a charity event in Manchester, New Hampshire, and I'm sure by the time this airs, it will be too late for anyone to buy tickets. But if you came, God bless. Seth, and you asked me to ask you this, you do a lot of charity, yes? I asked you to leave out the sort of tip. The top of that? I am. I'm constantly doing charity. It's a little tiring, but it's worth it. You know, I always say it's worth it. My good deeds are the wind beneath my wings.

12:20Yeah, it's what you get out of it. It's not the people you help. Anytime I'm feeling low, I just think of all the good things I do. Yeah, I know. And not the people because you refuse to meet them. Oh, I, you know, most of the charities are for pets. Most of the animal based. I feel like people can take care of themselves. People can take care of themselves. You get in a gym as a person gives up out of the gym. Exactly. You're an animal. You don't know what you're doing. Much of what's gone wrong for you is an animal is the fault of people. I'm just doing my best to clean up. Well, you are doing an active charity today, actually, because you are getting on and helping me because I'm going to speak to Robert De Niro. I'm quite nervous and you've already done it. And I always nervous. I will say, I wish I could tell you not to be nervous. I've been nervous every time I've talked to him. Okay. How many times have you spoken to him? I think I'm at 20 times in my life because it is time on SNL. Okay. Sure. I've never been able to pull the trigger and call him Bob. No, no, I can't bring myself to do it.

13:20It just feels, it just feels too familiar for a legend. So should I just call him Robert De Niro? Mr. De Niro. Mr. De Niro, that seems too much. I did do this once and it was not, I did once call him Danny De Vito. And that I cannot recommend enough. You don't do that. Robert De Niro is like everybody knows that name. He's so famous. He's so famous, I again, because I'm aware of how little you guys do. I did a little research before Dan Begon. And I looked back because he's our second season is the first time he hosts. And so he's about 25 episodes into our round on SNL. I think he's the first true legend who hosts the show over there. Yeah. And it's very surreal to work with legends. And the wonderful thing about when he showed up and you never, I never reached the point where I was like, oh, he's just like us, but he, he laughed so hard at that table read.

14:23Yes. And he laughs just like Robert De Niro. Yes. Yes. Yes. It's so much fun how much he laughs like Robert De Niro. And he laughs, he's an incredibly generous laugh for to the point where if you, early, if your sketch was early and he laughed at it, you might think you'd written a perfect sketch and then like 25 sketches and you're realizing like, oh, he's laughing at everything. I want to try to get that energy today. I don't know. I, I, I, this is for anybody. For anybody about to listen to you, if Bob's not laughing, what said? I think he's laughing. Look, okay, it's maybe it's because he's so moved by the conversation. Oh, well, I mean, it's got to be, hey, a lot of people think I'm, uh, I might even say my best quality is my sense of humor, but when I did good hang, I was just choked up crying most of the time. People still ask me if I'm okay. Maybe I'll get to Niro to cry. You think? Maybe you never know.

15:24I didn't get to run a client. We'll see. Tell him you thought, Groden carried midnight run. Looking back, do you agree that Groden's name should have been first done? It's just a mean really personate dearest. Seth, get serious. I'm about to interview Robert Deereau and I need okay? You've done it. Here's something you should know before you interview Bob. And this is a genuine. And you did just call him Bob. I'm going to call him Bob to you. Okay, okay. Bob gives great answers. There's a lot of important information in his answers. I think he answers with authenticity. What he does not give are long answers. Oh no. Just tell you, like, and I think it's one of the great things about Bob Deereau. When Bob has made his point, he has no need, like a lot of us do. He and I, I think, overtalk. Yeah. You know what I mean? Oh yeah. An interviewer with us often is wondering when it's their turn to get a word. Often when we're being interviewed, we both see this, which is just someone going like,

16:27that's enough. Or like this, sometimes when they point at the watch. Yeah. I'm going to guess. I'm going to look into your future and think there's not going to be a moment where you're going to be like, oh my god, buddy, wrap it up. Right. Like, maybe there'll be some moments where I go and what else? But again, what a thing. I mean, I feel like the fully realized Robert Deereau is not, he is not, he does not need to hear his voice more than he feels is necessary. No, I mean, I think it's something interesting to talk to him about is the idea of like, he seems quite introverted for such an extroverted job. I mean, he is like, he, it feels like his characters and his work is where he's able to like, you know, he's spoken about it. He's quite a shy person. Yeah. It's very, and part of that, you know, shyness is, I think what allows you and I to be intimidated. But the reality is he's not, you know, he's not bored or put off by people.

17:28I think he is just genuinely shy. I know I've told this story and I apologize if I've told it to you, but I remember the first taberian to do with him. I like ran to get in the elevator to go home on a Wednesday night. And I ran and not realizing he was the only other person in the elevator. And so then the door to close and again, it's only, it's only said, you know, 17 floors, but it felt like the longest, because it was just me and Robert D'Anero. And he was very, he was complimentary too about how the day had gone, but like in very, and the fewest amount of words that you could be. I mean, it's going to be hard not to turn into Chris Farley and just be like, dear hunter, like, like, that's so good. That's the problem with interviewing legends. I, in fact, the first time D'Anero was on my show, he directed a movie called The Good Shepherd with Julien and Jolie and Matt Damon. I think he's only directed one or two things. And I really liked it. It's right up Seth Sally. It's a CIA movie. And I remember the first time he was on my show as a guest.

18:28I told him, I, hey, I really liked that movie. And he was like, no, thank you. He was amazing. And then the next time he was on my show, I think again, from that moment of not feeling awkward. What I got, I was like, hey, by the way, I really liked it. And he's like, no, I remember. And it had been like four years. I'm like, go right. Like just because he's quiet doesn't mean he's not hearing you. But I like that he's like, you know, what he gets to tell me every time I'm here about a movie I did in 2006. And I'm like, I got nervous. Well, he, yeah, I'm genuinely nervous. I don't get, you know, I think you're similar. I don't, I'm not, don't get that nervous. I mean, I'm sure with you're like, you've interviewed so many people, you probably, it's very rare that you probably hit nervous, right? Well, it's always that. It's always somebody who was, you know, iconic when you were young. Yes. That idea that not only are you talking to him, but you're talking to them because they like, they got in a car and came to where you worked. And yeah, and you look, you turn and look at them and you're like, you're talking to me.

19:31Oh, very nice. And now you've blown it. And I can't use it when he's there. I can't believe you blew. You have one, by the way, every interview with Dinera, you get one, you're talking to me. I used to do it. I used to do it. You. Oh my god. What a way. I already blew it. Before we finished, Drachi talked about how fun it was to do Debbie Downer with, with Robert Dinero. And, and I do want to talk to him about comedy because he's done a lot of it. And he's in a new one. Meet the parent, another meet the parents, which is going to be a big hit. Um, I'm sure, but what did you write when you were when he was hosting? Do you remember stuff you wrote for him? You know what I wrote? And I, it's, I, I did it twice. And this is a wonderful callback. If we were doing a Harold right now, this would be the last beat. I did a sketch called pranksters where I played a kid on Nickelodeon, hosted a prank show. And the first time I did it with Wankin and the second time I did it with Dinero. And the game was that older gentlemen had recorded their pranks and their pranks were

20:36vicious in nature. And so it would be like a kid would come on first and his prank would be like, I've got a rubber, you know, Katan would be like, I put a rubber spider in my teacher's drawer. And then Dinero would come out and his neighbor borrowed his lawnmower. So he hid in his garage and then cut him up with a chainsaw. And the thing I'll remember about it, or the thing I do remember about it, is, uh, Jim Seenrelli, uh, commercial parody director, as an old legend, you know, again, we filmed the first take and Robert Tinero got covered in, you know, whatever putting type substance was supposed to be blood. It's just like they just sprayed him with it. And I remember Jim was like, all right, let's clean him up and take him from the top. And I was like, and Dinero just looked at me and said, uh, can we get it? We get it? And I was like, yeah, yeah, we got it. He goes, okay, goodbye. Again, like it was a perfect take. But I had this moment of like, I don't want to have written a thing that makes Robert Tinero take a full shower to shoot a second take.

21:38And again, we just did a, uh, uh, lowly island podcast about the, uh, party Mr. Bernard's, which was, that's right. That's right. What is it? We get a Bernie's where he basically like, I was just happy to play the corpse. And then the last thing I'll say is we couldn't get Martin Scorsese to do this. But those glasses do look a little bit Scorsese-like. Will you just, and I know this might feel weird, but we're going to do something to the, to the zoom where we're going to pretend that your Martin Scorsese first. So time. Hey, he's the best. I love working on them. Oh my god, ask him about this. Ask him about that. He's the best. Thank you. That's perfect. We're going to put that on a loop. And then I, uh, is this weird? Could you just cut that up and send it to Lauren? If I can email them. Like why are you letting them do more impression? Totally. Yes. And you know what? I also said it to Martin Scorsese and be like,

22:42sadly, I miss you before I know this is weird, but show us all the inside the drawers of your childhood bedroom. I'll show you what I said. Just show us one thing. Oh, what do we got? And this is from 82 champs? That's you? Yeah, like football. 82 champs. Good one for getting 82 people or jeans. You're the big time. You're, you're playing football. Rier ending injury at 82. Was nine years old and, uh, I think they said it was, uh, lady risks. All right, Seth, I miss you. I could talk to you forever. Thank you for zooming from your childhood bedroom. And thank you for for helping me out with this because it is a big deal. It's a big interview and I appreciate your help. I would love you to start by saying, Seth says, hi, and if you don't,

23:43they're very offended. They're very mad. And I'll tell him that you loved his movie. I'll tell him again. And I'll say he thinks you forgot. I say Seth would love to tell you if he likes something else you've done, but it's really that's just it. Thanks so much for doing this. And I'll let you know how it goes. Hi. Jane? Hi. Thank you for doing this. Great to see you. I mean, I feel like, uh, you do so much great work for the city. So much great work for the industry. And so much great work with Bob. You and Bob have worked together for what? 30 years? They're longer? It's seven. Almost 38, but who's counting? I mean, it was a period he was. We were doing so many things together. I remember him calling me one day and saying, what do you think about exposed brick? And I said, um, is that a script I'm supposed to read, actress I'm supposed to meet?

24:45He said, no, when you're office, I thought we should stand last walls. Exposed brick, a new thriller. Yeah, exactly. So we do this thing here where we're we we always try to speak to somebody who knows our guests to get a little bit of insight before we talk to them. And I imagine more than most people, Bob has a lot projected on him. And what do people get wrong about him? What is one of the best things about him that people don't know? He's funny. He's got lifelong friends. He can tell who somebody is by how long they keep their friends. And he's had the same group of friends going like way back. And he's funny and he loves the Good Conspiracy Theory. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, we should get into some of those. You know, and he loves, um, he loves good food.

25:47And it was during Irishmen and we were premiered at the London Film Festival. And then we were supposed to stay over. He was, no, let's go to Paris. A group of us, you know, let's go to Paris and we got on a plane. It was probably like 11 o'clock at night. And there was some restaurant that he insisted we go to. Of course, the place was closed, but they said that they were closing and whatever. And it was like, oh, but yeah, Bob is on his way. Bob De Niro. And yeah, we're going to keep it open. We're going to keep it open. And okay, the siphon we would jet lagged. You had like the London Film Festival. There we were sitting in this restaurant because he had to try, you know, whatever. And it's like one, two in the morning. And you're knee deep in snails at this point. Yes, exactly. But, um, but, you know, he loves it. He loves trying new things.

26:47I mean, I, that's a, you know, ever since the origin of his art, like artist parents, like I do feel like he enjoys, he's like an a seat. Like he enjoys beautiful things and things done well. And people who are good at their jobs and like in a lot of different mediums. And I know you're the same way too. I mean, that's where tribe, the Tribeca Film Festival now celebrating his 25th year is exactly that. It's like a, a compendium of talented people who have all different kinds of points of view. And you're, you know, using your currency to support their visions, basically. It's, it's really, it's really something. Thanks for trying. Is there a question? Um, you have for him today, something you'd want to know. Big or small, something that you think he wants to talk about. Also, what does he not like to talk about? He probably doesn't like to talk about like, Hodge Gainway, lose weight.

27:47I love it. I love this. Fantastic. You just saved me 25 minutes of, yeah. Yeah. I mean, I, I feel like Bob doesn't even really like to talk about acting. Yeah. He's been famous for still long. And like so, yeah, you know, how do his kids look at him? Yeah. He shows his daughter Helen a lot of movies. They haven't, and he goes to movies with Helen all the time. How old is Helen? Uh, 14. So that would be a nice question. What, what, what of you and Helen watch lately that you've liked together? Yes. As opposed to he and Gia, who's three, and he goes about Miss Rachel. Amazing. Maybe we can get Bob to talk about his favorite Miss Rachel moment. Um, that's a great question. Like, because I, because I, I would like to know what he's watching and, and responding to. And, um, because, you know, if you're a New Yorker, you know, it's about the present moment.

28:52Like this city moves fast and it keeps moving and things change and you have to stay present and current always. The one thing about Bob that I find so like, amazing. If you say, if you said to him, okay, well, on taxi driver, on a Bronx ticket, on silver linings, I mean, just, almost on any movie. Like where, um, you shot the movie on six Avenue. No, no, we really shot it on eighth Avenue when it was the northeast corner and it was a little deli that's still there. It used to be a Smilers and now it's like this, we were on the second floor and you could go, I mean, he goes into such, I mean, he is a photographic memory. There's, I think he doesn't remember, but he is like why he calls me sometimes. He'll like call me and then say, do you have anything you needed to tell me? And I'm like, no, you called me. Oh, I remember.

29:54I'll call you back. I mean, but he's, you know, he can pretty much tell you where things were shot up to. The, the exact corner and what was on it and what's on it now. Oh, that's fantastic to know. That's really helpful. These are great questions and, and, and thank you for helping me prep for this interview. I'm a huge fan of yours and huge respects. I thank you. Thanks so much, Jane. Great talking to you and I hope I see you soon. Thanks, bye. Bye. Woohoo. I have to say, I know you don't love interviews. Thank you for doing this. I'm already worried that nobody told you that you were doing this today. Well, I looked at my schedule. I said, oh, God. So, but I'm fine. You're like, how can we get out of this? No, no, because we're going to talk. But I know like you're, you know, you've described yourself as kind of a shy person at times. And I don't think you like to talk very much.

30:57It's sometimes I don't. Yeah. Well, I know what's the, what's the point? Okay. Well, I'm going to, I'm going to ask you a favor. Oh, to talk a little more. Just a little bit more. I get paid by the word. If I don't get, if I don't meet my word count by the end of this interview, I'm screwed. I think it's really interesting that you've described yourself as a shy person and a shy kid. Because I think there's a lot of introverted people in this business. And I don't think people always assume that about people that are actors. Would you consider yourself an introverted person? In some ways, I am, yeah, some ways I am. Depending on the situation. Depending on the time. Okay, let me have to know I have to come up with something. At least 10 more words. Yeah, I have to fill the quote. Okay, were you a shy kid? I was quiet in some time, but I would have to speak up I would.

32:00And I think being an actor allows you, I always say this and still say, allows you to be other characters that you would normally not know at all. This way it gives you a little taste of what they would be like in that experience. Would be like. And so without having really to pay a price, though you were aware of the price, whatever that character is prices. You know, when I'm around people who are quiet, because there is a difference between quiet and shy. When I'm around people that are quiet, I mean, I notice that a lot is projected on them. And then also I feel like a responsibility to keep talking. Right. Does that happen to you a lot? You mean with me? Yeah, I don't mind that. I bet you talk and I can just sit and listen. I have friends who like to talk a lot and we get along real well. Well, we're going to get along because there's going to be a point in this interview before we're going to be listening to it being like, Amy, please be quiet. But as preparing for today and you know, we're talking about we're in New York City,

33:02you know, you're celebrating 25 years of Tribeca Film Festival. I feel like there's no other person that personifies the city more than you. It's like if the city was a person, it would be you. And I'm sure you've been told that, but it really is true. There is a directness and a sense of the present moment in you. There's a, you know, New Yorkers are not necessarily overtly friendly, but they're secretly kind. Yeah. I'd say yeah. Yeah. And there's a like a ambition and drive that's you've had throughout your entire career. And your history of being in New York, like, you know, I'm always fascinated by kids who grew up in New York. It just seems like a fairy tale. What was it like? Was your neighborhood like, what was it like when you were a young person? Could you describe it to me? Well, I grew up in the village and, you know, it was, that I had hung out in the little years, and that's how I know Marty.

34:08Of course, St. Stephen Marty was hung out with his other friends on another street, and I hung up with my friends. What street were you on? What street was he on? He was on a, around Prince and Mart. I remember, I was on Elizabeth, and we lived, and I was on Ken Mayer and Mo'Berry, or Brum, sometimes a Mo'Berry. Well, I mean, it's really amazing. You grew up with two artists' parents. Like, you know, you had both your parents were artists. Your mom was a poet and a painter. Your dad was a painter. Like, you were around. And a poet too. And a poet too. You were around art all the time. Yeah. And I know art's still really important to you. When you were growing up in New York, do you remember that art scene? Like, did you ever meet Warhol? No. You never went to the factory? No. You ever see like a, again, I mean, New York, you always see somebody walk and pass. You, did you ever meet a famous artist during that time, like the 50s and 60s? No, I wasn't too much really into art. It was because my father and mother, you know, he'd take me to a gallery that he had, that he was old money by, um, from.

35:13And, um, and that was it. I mean, it wasn't, uh, yeah. I mean, I know when I moved to New York, I saw Lou Reed walk down the street. And I remember thinking, okay, I'm in the city. Was there somebody that you used to see in the city and be like, that's a, that's like a quintessential New Yorker? No, when I was a kid, I saw Alan Arkin. Yeah. Once I think Alan was from, he was from New York. I'm sure I'm not sure where, but maybe he was long Alan about a season in New Yorker spirit. He has my favorite line in Glen Gary Glen Ross in the film when he says, uh, shoes boots. Yes. You know that one? No, I mean, maybe. Yeah, well, I guess I know man, but barely. Yeah, I mean, I saw the original production with Bobby DeBowell and, um, John Savage and getting the wells. Oh, John Savage. Incredible. Um, you and I do have one thing in common, which is I think our first pre-semmai professional productions of something was, uh, was from a similar show.

36:19You were the lion, the cowardly lion in Wizard of Oz in fourth grade. When I was 10, yeah, maybe. Yeah. Okay. And I was Dorothy around that time. Oh, and I'd like to know what you brought to the role of the lion. I don't know. I liked it. I, uh, said my lines. Um, and that was the part I was given. Okay. Okay. It's a funny part. Yeah. It was good. It's a good song. Yeah. Did you sing too? I don't know. I didn't know that part I didn't do. Yeah. I, it was, it's been so long. I was 10. So. The last question in that, in that time frame that I wanted to ask you is, it felt like you knew from a very early age what you wanted to do. Yeah. And all in all I did. I was sort of drifting in that direction or gravitating in that direction. And then do you find as you get older, I know I do that like, that's one of the things you wish, wish for anybody, especially your children. It's just do whatever you want to do. Just know what you want to do.

37:19And know what you want to do and do it and do it as well as you can. Yeah. Totally. You know, and if you really like it, you'll, you'll, you'll try to do it as well as you can. You started out doing in a very early, in your early films, like a lot of comedy. Uh, a couple like, well, I did greetings, hi mom with the Palmer. And then another comedy we did was the untouchables years later. You know, a little thing about the untouchables. Yeah. Do you know what I'm going to say? No, maybe not. I don't think he worked with you actually, but there's a gentleman in the untouchables. His guy named Del Close, who says the titular line in the movie. He says you think you're untouchable, don't you? Tell close, yeah. I think he's seen as with Elliot Ness with, um, with the customer. And, um, and, uh, he was a Chicago actor. Yes. And he, he formed an improv theater, um, that I studied at in Chicago. I grew up in Boston and then I moved to Chicago after I graduated college and studied at second city. Yeah. Oh, yeah. And he had this like kind of new theater call at the time it was called improv Olympic.

38:22Improvisational theater. And Del is kind of one of his like, brush with greatness, claim to fame and season the untouchables. Okay. Great movie. Yeah, I enjoy doing it. I am. So there's Viola Spolen and Paul Silver. But that's ahead of you. That's ahead of you. Yeah, that is ahead. That's a little ahead of me. Yeah. Um, you know, Del Close used to talk about Nichols and May. Yeah. And that, and that like second city being formed. And back then there was a, I don't know if you ever were involved. Like there was a big kind of controversy about whether or not improvisation was its own art form or a tool. I'm sure. Did you ever do improv when you were probably movies and with the parma, you know, and greetings and high mom, you kind of, um, and other movies here and there or you have the, the script, but you can go off it and as you make the points and don't get off on a tangent and stay in the right direction. Yeah. It's okay.

39:23Do you like to like get it as scripted first and then improvise? I know directors like to. Well, I mean some directors will tell you to improvise, give you the situation and tell you to improvise. I worked with a director who would, um, we'd sit down and go over what was written. And then he'd say, well, what do you think about this? And it was kind of loose. He opened it up and it worked out. Yeah. I feel that way about improv sometimes is exciting to be allowed to do it and other times it feels like, this is a little too loose. Yeah. You got, you know, the one thing I don't like seeing is a movie that goes off in the direction and the, the, maybe the director likes what they're doing and but they let it go too far, too long it goes off on another tangent and you forget why your, what the situation is. And that's important. Or like everybody's speaking the same way. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I, I, we used to make a joke when we were, when we were doing this TV show that I was in

40:28Parks and Recreation, we used to make a joke like, do you want us to do a take that's longer and less fun? That's right. We'll give you that. Yeah. This episode is brought to you by eBay Live. Here's how it goes. First, you're watching the eBay Live stream telling yourself, I'm just looking. And then boom, you see a vintage Rolex go for an absolute steel. Suddenly a rare beanie baby pops up adrenaline hits and you're bidding. You might lose that first one, but you bid again and win and that winning rush. Incredible. Because you beat everyone to it. Meanwhile on eBay Live, you don't just watch the action. You're in it. Download the eBay app to stream and shop live. eBay Live, things people love. This episode is brought to you by all free, clear detergent. Are you trying to be a bit more mindful of the things you buy for you and your family? You know, reading the labels, checking the ingredients, trying to understand what all those letters, numbers, and long words mean? I get it. Sometimes we don't really know what's in the things we buy and we want to feel good about our choices.

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42:48Speaking of your work, Mean Streets, Dear Hunter, Goodfellas, The Godfather 2, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, Cape Fear, Weg the Dog, King of Comedy, Analyze this. Silver Lining's Playbook, Meet the Falkers. No questions, just great job. Thanks. I just want to ask you. You're very nice. Well, I have a hot take. You're the best actor of our generation. But I think there's just so much to talk about in all those films and I know they're like, you know, so many of them are different parts of your life. Do you watch your old films ever? No, but I've always been wanting to watch all the movies I did from the latest one all the way down or the other way. Yes. So the earliest ones just go through them all but it takes, it's more easy, it's easier said than done.

43:50That would be like your own festival. Yeah, I just, you know, I make comments and somebody said, well, you know, I'll write a friend said, you know, I'll write it. That's a great idea. I wasn't sure, but there's no downside to doing that. So just knowing, I wanted to get a sense of what I've done where I, you know, and where I could go, what's missing in that that I can make a choice of something different. That's interesting to look at your body of work and also to like visit old friends. I imagine what it must be like. Yeah, yeah. Can I ask you about, so I won't get deep about because again, we don't have the time. But and we want to talk about what the present stuff that you're doing. But can I ask about one specific scene in one specific movie? Yeah. Okay. So good, fellas. You know, a lot of people's, you know, top five favorite movies. It is stood the test of time. Incredible, incredible cast, credible performance by you and so many people in that film. There's this wonderful scene with you and Lorraine Braco where Lorraine is playing the wife

44:52of Ray Leota and she's kind of worried that he's fallen out of favor with the rest of the organization. Right. And you, Jimmy, you kind of play like his patriarchal. What would you say? Like, is he a faint noise? Of course he is. Like his mentor? Yeah, kind of his mentor. Yeah. And there's a scene where she comes to try to get some help from you and you ask her to walk down an alley to go get some Dior clothes. Yeah. And there's a, it's just, it's a perfect example of real tension. Yeah. Can you tell me what you remember about shooting the scene that day? I think it's a perfect scene. Well, the thing that I was concerned about is just that as Marty was, I remember, it's just that you don't know what he really is doing. Is he setting her up or not? And so it's just make it, which happens in life too in that way. You know, the same thing. God, man, it's okay. It's, you know, just be very casual and God knows what'll happen to you.

45:55Could be nothing. It could be something. Did you make a decision as an actor to know what you thought was going to happen? I think I thought more that something would happen. Yeah. And that, but my main thing is to make the act as if everything is good, you know, just going, you know. It's such an incredible lesson in how to create suspense, intention, and also to remind people that people don't often telegraph what they're going to do. Right. No, no. I mean, you never telegraph, Bob. Can I call you Bob? Yes. You just started it. But you never, there's never, we never, ever see you ever doing that. Even you've never indicating. It's just, and it's one of the millions of examples of that, I think, in that scene. Well, it's important to not, you know, indicating and acting is indicating. And so you say to an actor who's, you just watch a scene or something, not in a negative, critical way, but you can't, you don't indicate or you are indicating.

47:00So it's better not to, you know, in life, people don't do that. They just do, they're very good actors, people in life. And it's life and it's, it's real. And the way you behave, it could be life dependent. For me, it was a great example of a woman's intuition. She has an intuition there that's very strong. Yeah. That she listens to that saves her life. Yeah, yeah. And then she comes home and says, I don't know. And she's, she's starting to kind of gaslight herself a little bit. Like, I don't know. I just got scared, you know, it's, and it's, I think, a beautiful journey for that, for her character of like, what's real? Yeah. When you do a scene like that, what is, what is Martin Scorsese's, like, how do you know you got it? What does he say? I can't remember. It's been a while, but I think Marty, you know, basically said, you know, you're going to go, she wants to go in the, you want to go in there,

48:00you're going to, and I forget what's set up. But the whole thing is to show the ambiguity. We don't know. We don't know. We see it very possibly something could happen, but at the same time, it couldn't. So that's part of the whole, uh, reason the scene is done, a one piece of it. Do you like when a director says we got it? I don't, I don't, I don't hear it too much. We got it. That's really? Well, it's, it's okay. It's good on this. You just like when they go, it's okay. We got it. Well, you could say we got, I guess, but, yeah, it's on the scene and one of it is. You like when they're going to say like, it's good. It's good. We're good. We're good. It's good. Yeah. Yeah. But the low key. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, just, and you know, you know, the say Marty, uh, Marty says he got, we, we's happy. We have we talked. So if we got this piece, we got that or that, I don't know. He'll say, yep, yep. We're good. Yeah. Yeah. It's okay. Yeah. Yeah. And that happens in a second. And like, you just mumble that to each other.

49:02Yeah. Are you suspicious of people that are like, I guess I'm projecting, but I'm a little suspicious. Sometime when people are too, like, I don't know, when they're flattering me. Sure. Well, you know, it's funny. I don't mind the, um, when a director or somebody tries to tell you very good or certain types of drugs. Good. And, um, because it's like, I, when I was, I did the last tycoon with Andrew Kazan and we came out of a looping stage and he said, you know, that was great because he was like, you know, that was really, you know, just kind of, I said, well, thanks. I feel good even though I'm not sure you really meant it, but I'm happy. You say, he got, he got a little offended. I, he thought I didn't believe him. I said, no, no, I said, the effort is the most important thing. You know, it's like telling your child when they do something they show you something. Isn't that nice?

50:02That's great. You know, oh, boy, it's a proud of you. You know, it's real. You believe it. Yeah. It's, it is. That's right. It's true. I know what you mean. And it's a fine line though. And it's a fine line in that moment. But as a director, you must also feel the urge sometimes to take over if somebody's not a strong captain. Well, I don't like to be in that situation. Right. You don't, I don't put myself in. If I'm in, I'm in with the director. Maybe certain things, but I, but I trust them and I trust me and I'm not going to mess with them and play games, you know. We have an objective to achieve and we're there working together. We don't want to waste time, you know, then nonsense. And the other thing in the many years of the incredible work that you've done again, which we could talk about forever, what are some skills that you had to learn for parts that you still like that you still maintain or retain? Well, I practiced a lot with the saxophone

51:05in New York, New York. And but I never kept it up and I regretted that because I did work very hard on it. I did everything phonetically. But it's the skill that you can't take away. I mean, that's real. So I just wish I made something that I would practice even a half an hour every day to keep some. I feel that way about like instruments. I can't, it's so embarrassing. I can't play any other instruments. No, I wanted to play the piano, but one thing you want to play it, it's another thing to do it. I know the piano feels like an instrument when you sit down at it, you think, I'll be able to play this. Yeah. And then you can't. No, I wish, and my mother tried to make me take piano lessons when I was five and I had no interest in it. It was drudgery. Yeah. You know, I wish I wasn't smart about it. Yeah, I do regret not being able to play an instrument. Well, there's still time, Bob. There is. There is.

52:05Right. Sure. Okay. And then do you ever use TikTok because I want to show you something? Do you know what a thirst trap is? No. Okay. So it's basically like hot pictures of people. But TikTok loves you. And they make videos of you of of of you in different movies. Uh-huh. And can I show you? Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's going to make you feel great. Oh, good. I mean, I feel like these are these are to make people feel good. And this one is specifically for you. But look at this. It's usually sexy music. Look. These are young pictures of you. And young kids make it. Kids doing it. Yeah. Look, look at you. Oh, yeah.

53:05Listeners, Bob is staring at this as it. Look. Yeah. I don't know. I guess just good job at being so handsome. Oh, well, thanks. Let's talk about some comedy stuff because we met, I think, uh, for the first time or at least in my mind for the first time. Although I'm sure in various early times when I moved to New York, I probably you know, followed you down the street without you knowing. But at SNL, 2002, um, you've hosted three times. Yes. You obviously have done it more than once because you liked it. What do you like about doing it? What I like about it is that it's so fast you can't, it doesn't give you time to think. And you've got a change, getting to different costumes and that. Boom, boom, boom, boom. They've got the cards for you. It's so fast. Yeah. If you, you know, you, you, you can not worry about failing if you will, whatever that means. And just have fun with it. Yeah. Um, I have a real, uh, uh, image stuck in my mind of Donna, the woman who, um, pulls you around

54:08and changes you through. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Is she still there? Yeah. Oh, wow. She's incredible. Yeah. Yeah. She's kind of the one that should write the book. She knows. No, it's not exactly. Exactly. And she, um, I remember, uh, stewing was, I was, it was my second year. I started in 2000 that, that, that show after 9-11 was my first, uh, and out. And, um, you hosted anything first in 2002. Um, you were being pulled by Donna, um, while you're dressed as, um, SIG freed, I think from SIG freed and Roy. Oh, okay. I'm glad. Do you remember that? No, but, uh, you should look at those. Better not to look at. Yeah, probably. Maybe when you go back over the, over your canon of work, just keep that up. Um, and one thing I'll say is like, well, you know, you are a person that people like to do impressions of. Is that weird? No, I mean, it's kind of flattering. Alec Baldwin does really good impressions. And I, and I, and I know one that he, he did, he did, he was on, uh,

55:13I can't wait to talk so he was on and he was saying, commenting on the Godfather reunion with me and Al and Bobby DeValle and Francis and Talia Shire and, and Jimmy Conn and everybody. And, and he said, did you see that? And he said, you know, they're talking to the engineer or now they told they talk. And he's just making the way he makes fun of, of you. It's just hysterical. You know, how we're all mumbling. You don't know what the hell we, he can't understand what we're saying. Well, you have what, what I love about, what I love about you, Bob, is, when you're laughing and when you're upset, it looks like the same face. It's kind of, you, you're, you're quiet, laffer. No. Right? Would you say? Yeah. Yeah, I mean, sometimes if it's, I, I would have a more, a more, uh, boisterous laugh, depends. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, okay. We're almost done. We, we're at 45.

56:16I like you. I like to know how long things are going to take. So we're almost done. Okay. So here we go. I feel like a lot of, a lot of your career has been defined by lasting partnerships. People that you've met and continue to work with. And I think it's, it is a sign often of, um, like, somebody's character that they maintain friendships and partnerships throughout their life. You talked a little bit about Martin Scorsese and the ways that you guys have, you know, it's really something that you grew up around the corner from each other. Mean streets was based on people that you knew. Yeah. What, um, what is it like to have a friend in this business for this long? I think it's, it's great. And, and I, it's always say it's kind of amazing that Marty and I were aware of each other. We had a mutual friend who passed away, but he was, uh, may rest in peace. He was a, uh, I did a movie called Alto Nights. And I, he, Marty and I did this, uh, well, he, there's a documentary about him.

57:20It was really good. When they wrote the script, Nick Bellegi, he wrote this. I said, how do you know about this place called the Alto Nights? Uh, he said, well, I, I, you know, I was a crime reporter down there and a reporter. And I knew this, that social club was, I said, that's a place I used to hang out in. Yeah. And I was a kid. And so my friend, one of my friends, but he, he remembered things that I had forgotten. What went on there and stuff like that. So it was interesting. And they were terrific in the movie. So that was a nice thing. Nick, uh, I would love to meet Nick, uh, and, and I would have left to a Met Nora. Yeah. Yeah. Merrill Street. Merrill, yes. You know, she claims that you're not very good at charades. Yes, I know. I heard that. Yeah. I can probably not. So, you know, I think we did it somewhere. I, I was not inspired. And that's, that's my fault. Well, you can try harder next week. I will. I will. Um, where did you meet her for the first time? You saw her on stage? Merrill, I went with Mike Chimino to, um, it's funny because I went to the Devil

58:25Ware's product thing. And we had, at Lincoln Center and they had the 10th right across from where I, I saw her do, uh, the cherry orchard. I think it was in Raul, Julia. And uh, Mike Chimino, I went because for that part, thinking for her, for the, for the dinner. So that's the first time. I don't even know if we went backstage. I'm not sure, but she, you know, she had it. You have worked together a lot in many different ways. What, what, what's so wonderful about working with her? Merrill's a, a, a, a great actress and so skilled and, small and just terrific and very funny. Yeah. Great, uh, sense of humor and, uh, she's just a wonderful person. Yeah. Yeah. Um, Ben Stiller, you're back with Ben again. You've done quite a few features with him. Yeah. Um, does he still run all the time? Does he run every day? He's a good shape. I, I guess he does.

59:25I don't know. Yeah. I see him run to him from the set. No, I'm kidding. Yeah. But I, I, he does something. You guys are very, very funny together. What, what's been, what's been your experience? Well, Ben, he has a way of when you, when he reacts to what you say, which is kind of a funny line, say, my character, Jack, he'll go, uh-huh. Oh, yeah. He has a way of commenting on what you just said, saying that it's not too smart, low-stupid, but, uh-huh. I'm giving you the respect. But he has a way of commenting on it. So there's three different things, four different things going on at once in his reaction. And he's very funny. Yeah. The status between the two, you was just such funny comedic fodder. And you, um, you join him again in, um, in your new film, Falker and Law with Ariana Grande, who was in here, who was a delight. What did you think of working with her? Ariana was terrific. Yeah. Good, nice, nice young lady terrific. Yeah.

1:00:26A real pro. Perfect for it. And, um, Jane Rosenthal. Jane. Well, Jane and I worked together for 37, 38 years. And, uh, we had a thing last night at, um, uh, the Chanel party, and I did it like, I tribute to her for all of the things that I'm on that 25 year. Yeah. I'm going to try back a film festival. Amazing, like, way to amplify new voices and use your currency. I mean, it's, you know, um, it's, it's really, I mean, I was speaking to Jane earlier. And, um, we were saying it's wild how everything is now 25 years ago. Yeah. I mean, it's like, I know. It's been a really, it's been a really, really, I mean, it always is an intense period in New York, but the past 25 years have been something else. Yeah. Yeah. Um, so before we get into that and, and Jane had a question for you, I, I got very quick, um, this is, this is speed around hot takes. Okay.

1:01:26Okay. It can be slow around. Okay. But, um, NYC hot takes. Do you remember the cost of rent of your first apartment? I think it was, uh, 75 dollars. Where was it? An arming place. Was it a studio? One bedroom. I'll walk up one bedroom. One bedroom, 75 bucks. It might have not even been a one bedroom. I've been since one room that you put a bed in there. Favorite New York museum? Uh, the metropolitan and the museum modern art. Do you have any art that you, any paintings that you go back to? Like that? Like are your, like, you know, no, I don't, but my, my mother or father might have something in the museum modern art. I think I'm not 100% sure. Really? But you don't know. I know when Jane would be, I, I, I, I, we'll stop, but I think, yeah. Mama, if you're listening. Yeah. And, uh, well, sushi order. What do you order? What's your favorite? Well, I always say black card, but black card is good and noble. And, uh, pizza order. What do you get when you get a slice?

1:02:27As long as it's a good piece of pizza place, I'm happy. What kind of pizza do you like? Pepperoni, I said. Pepperoni, yeah. Okay. New York restaurant, best New York restaurant that you don't own, because you own a few. And one that I'd send, I want to say, because I, I, I want to give it away. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You don't want to blow up the spot as a kid say. Yeah. Which you would know if you were in Tupac. Yeah. When you get into taxis to people, I'm here in there very little, but I don't get in caps. But maybe once in a while or two or somewhere. Yeah, yeah. But you don't get in caps. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. In the street too. Yeah. And when you walk down the street, you like to walk in the city. Everybody does. Yeah. You've, you've spoken about how like there's, you know, what the best thing about the city is you can just be blending in and part of it. Nobody bothers you. Nobody cares. The people have peripheral vision. And if they see somebody physically like me, I'm older and stuff. I look like an older guy, you know. So not on TikTok. Not on TikTok. But they're not going to look at you. The peripheral vision that doesn't make them interested

1:03:29in looking at you anyway. So I just walk in there, but I get not not recognized much. When do you listen to any music when you walk to? Are you a podcast person? I like to listen to music in the car. Right around a lot of the car. Except to go here and there and then I read the paper and listen to music. So all these are all these certain all these from the 70s. Yeah, but Sarah for music. Yeah, I mean, that's, there's a stage time. Listen to a serious that 70s and 80s like. Yeah, it's got music that I used to always hear and listen all the time. It was, it was almost unconscious. You know, you just so much. Broke back so many memories. And as it does now is channel 16, the blend it's called. I know exactly what that channel is. It's great. Yeah. Yeah, it's the music that we like our lives to. Yeah. And then last question is we spoke to, we always try to talk to somebody who knows our guests. We get like, you know, we kind of talk well behind their back.

1:04:30And Jane and I were talking earlier today. And we were talking about the festival and talking about you too and your long history together. And you know, she just. I thank her as I would like to thank you for, you know, the film festival. It started at a time when the city was was really hurting. And that coincided with. For myself personally starting SNL, it was like, okay, being on a live sketch variety show during a time when New York was really. Had, you know, had just suffered through 9-11 and it was like the city really needed. And, you know, you and Jane and so many other New Yorkers stepped up for the city during that time. And I know a lot of people were grateful for it. And I asked Jane to ask you a question. And she had a sweet one which was what, what, what have you and Helen, your 14-year-old

1:05:31seen recently that is, is she, you know, I trying to tell her that we should look at movies. She looks at things like stranger things, who's got me into it. She into. I saw a movie called House Made. Yeah. It was good. Yeah. Yeah. I saw another movie that she, you know, I'm walking by her while she's watching. And I can't say that's not bad. That's not the movie. And there's something in just walking by I get a sense of the film that I see. But I don't like to look at those who I wind up looking at because she wants to look at them. And rather find classics that she could look at on movies. Did you show her anything that she liked? Because I have teenagers. It's hard to get them to like what you like. No, it's hard. It's hard. Yeah. And she does very little on the, you know, on her iPhone at this point, keeping that pairing on the wraps as much as I can. And so, but, yeah, that's the.

1:06:35But Helen is juicy to stranger things. Yeah. Yeah. And you like that. Oh, yeah. It was good. That's good, right? We went to see the play too. Another musical. Yeah. It's good. Okay. And so, is there anything for your last, my last question with you? And by the way, congratulations on Faulkner and Law coming out. Big new comedy movie that we need right now. And I just want to say, as we wrap, you know, I just personally want to thank you for like doing what you do. It's speaking out in the way that you do about where we are in the world. There's a lot of people that are asked to speak truth to power. And they're usually, you know, members of the, like the margins. There are people that are young don't really have as much currency or a footing as other people. It's often people of color. It's often women and to see a person like yourself, the age that you are and the status that you are, it reminds me of the best way I can describe it is when

1:07:40it's like if someone's giving a terrible speech at a wedding and they're ruining the wedding. Yeah. And the wedding is America. Yeah. And there's another adult who says like, we don't talk like that. That's not how you're supposed to treat people. This is insane. Yeah. It makes everybody feel very safe. And so I've seen you do it over and over again and I really appreciate it. Thank you. Yeah, it means a lot to a lot of people because you're standing up for a lot of people who don't have the power to do that. So thank you, Bob. And thanks for doing it over and over again. And this is going to be a real switch of rule because I can't believe I just made you cry. I feel incredible right now. Hold on. We got to get you your tissues. Thanks. We got good hang tissues for you, Bob. But it's true. It's true. It is, you know, there's not a lot of men who in your position who do that and white men of a certain age like who, who frankly, you know, have a ton of power and don't use that

1:08:42responsibility in a way that they could. So thank you. Yeah. Of course. It's so upsetting to see what's happened in this country. And it's so crazy. Yeah. It's not like I mean, in the way that's better that it's so blatant because this will happen again. And people and this guy will have influenced people and they'll come up and they'll say, well, I can do it this way or that way. And we have to always be on guard with what's happening now. What do you say to people who feel very hopeless? Because that hope, hopelessness sometimes paralyzes people. I understand that, but you have to fight. You have to fight because if you don't fight, you're not going to get anything. Yeah. You're not going to. And you have to fight. You have to join people. I just say, use this example Jason Crow saying that courage is contagious.

1:09:45And you know, the other thing in the negative feelings can be contagious too, but why not have courage and be contagious? Stand up and you might find out it's not so difficult. And people will stop the nonsense that they're doing. It's just out of control. Well, it is. When people like you do that, it makes it easier for other people to do it. So thank you. I hope. And then I know like to use the word hope. I know, but we keep using it. I mean, whenever, you know, I, and what are you watching these days to make you laugh when you're feeling really? Well, another one is my own family I watch. My daughter put me on to it. It's very funny. Yeah. And just a good one to watch. Yeah. There's a million of them. It's great. And you can just crank through. Yeah. Yeah. They're very funny, likeable people. Yeah. It's well cast. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think the comedy right now, and I know you've talked about it, but like,

1:10:46when things get particularly stressful in the world, people want to watch that. Sure. rupture and repair and that way that people are getting along and they just need some kind of self-sue thing. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I texted the SNL ladies, Maya and Paul and Rachel and Tina to act because I knew we were talking today. And I was like, do you have any questions for Bob? And they were all saying they have a really fun memory of when we were doing the read through, you just laughing a lot. Me? Oh, yeah. I know I- Giggling a lot. I love SNL. I think it's so, I always, when I see movies, I say that that's a great skit from this or some political situation. Yeah. This is a great one that SNL will do. Yeah. When you were growing up, what was comedy like? What kind of comedy were you watching in your house? What did you like? Who'd you like? Well, in the, in the, when I was kid, it was Abbott Castello, the three studes, Laurel and Hardy. And there was a theater called the laugh movie on 42nd Street.

1:11:48And not only comedies and, and I would go or maybe like they'd have a Frankenstein movie or something like that or Frankenstein meets Abbott Castello or something. But I'd go there every weekend and we sat and I'd take the subway. It's, there's nothing like watching a comedy in a theater. Yeah. Yeah. Do you remember when SNL premiered? Yes. It was, I think it was a show with Rob Reiner. Was it a Rob? George Carlin, I think was the first. It was one of the few. One of the early ones was Rob, yeah. He did, he did a thing where he was playing like a, a way newton type character or something. And he kept singing and singing and singing and singing and was going on and on and on. I'm saying this is, this is good because he's not, you know, he's not stopping when you'd expect him to. He's just going on and on. I thought that was great. Well, I like this. It's a, did you feel like at the time you were like sensing this was like a show for you?

1:12:49I mean, it really was your generations like anti-establishment. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um, I, I curious you and Lauren are both like examples of long time New Yorkers who've been working for a very long time and been successful and famous for a very, very long time. What do you, uh, what do you, uh, what do you take from like working with him and and and I think he's great. Lauren, I think, uh, and I use him as an example of someone who had this show going all these decades and is able to do it. Yeah. Compared to what goes on with the cloud show with the Trump and all that, you know, he doesn't know what he's doing. Right. And it's, uh, it's just a, a good example of leadership. Yeah. You know, I agree. And it was kind of on display on the SNL 50th. Yeah. Which was very special evening that you got to be a part of. Yeah. And for people that didn't see what did you get to do on the SNL 50th show? What did I do? Yeah. I did the thing with Debbie Downer.

1:13:50You, which was fun. Was it fun? Yeah. So what can you explain to people? What do you remember doing in the sketch? What was your, what was your motivation? What was your character? Well, the most, the most important thing to me was not, not to, you know, even though I can laugh and rehearsal and enjoy, you know, kick out of it when you do it, you got to do it straight. Yeah. You have to really, uh, commit to it. Yeah. So I don't do any indicating. They're just straight on what you're supposed to do with that person as if it was a real situation. And that's how I looked at it. I spoke to the writer, Paula Pell. And she said it was like her dream for you to get upset at that character. And to call her Deborah, Deborah Downer, you say, look, Deborah. And I think you stragg, I think you should fake strangled her. Yes. Rachel Dretch. Yeah. She was great.

1:14:51Maybe she'd rest in peace. Yeah, I mean, that was, so that was, that was, I mean, that character really makes me laugh because to your point, people like that make me really angry. And to be like, hey, cut the shit. Yeah. Yeah, it was a good, good, good skit. Should we end by just quickly watching you and Debbie Downer? Okay. Bob, thanks for doing this. We got through it. Did you hear it, folks? We got through it. And that's what I want my guests to feel. Okay, it wasn't bad. Wait a minute, that's a great review. It wasn't bad. Yes. Good. I'm surprised you want a straw. Microplastic. It feels like we're all walking landfills.

1:15:52Also, they've already taken a residence in your testes. Deborah. I've been a talk now and you're going to show it. I do not appreciate this conversation. I don't want to talk about plastic in my balls. I have to feel joy. I forgot the amount of my life. Joy. Came here tonight to get my little friggin' break from all over right now. Which is like living under a, in a full diaper. James, there's our leading culprit in the microplastic saga. Here comes the strangling. Come on, go! Go, go, go. You think he's helping, okay? I can't stop him. You very much enjoy that.

1:16:55Bob, thanks for your time today. Thank you. I really, really appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you, Bob, for coming on. What an interesting conversation. It's really something else. I just wanted to take this moment for our polar plunge. Should just basically, uh, I don't know, just speak to the past version of me. Because moving to New York City in 1996, being an actor, if you had told me 30 years later that I would have a podcast, I would say, what's a podcast? And then if you told me you're going to interview Robert Taniro and you're going to be talking to him about acting and you're going to be talking about SNL, a show that you will, you will have been on. It's just nuts. And, you know, New York City remains my favorite city in the world. I've lived here for 30 years. Sometimes in L.A., but let's not talk about it. And I just have to say, um, I, the fact that I get to be here that I feel like I know the city and that I get to talk

1:18:01to people who represent how much the city needs to me is really something else. So my plunge today is plunging back into the time machine and telling my younger self to hang on because good things are ahead. So hope you can all do that too. Thank you so much for joining us and see you soon. Bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weissberman and me, Amy Polar. The show is produced by the Ringer and PaperKite. For the Ringer production by Jack Wilson, Cat Spalane, Kaya McMullen, Malaya Zeneres, Bridget Kierlings, Paige Garberini, Bell Roman and Drew Van Steeenbergen. For PaperKite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell and Jenna Weissberman, Original Music by Amy Miles. All I ever wanted was a pretty good hang. And we're back. Streaming on peacock. May I present to you the award-winning staff of the Toledo Truth Teller. Slammy, it's Joss something loose. I like that. Deciertified fresh series returns.

1:19:01Your boss, you always like that. So what is this just a night? Oh no, this is mad. Oyster is everybody. There's a certain satisfaction on your work with someone. Maybe we could be a family. You're a sadistic pig. The paper. New season streaming September 9th, only on peacock. This show gives me a reason to laugh. This episode is brought to you by Chat GPT. Hey, it's Bill Simmons from the Bill Simmons podcast. Have you guys heard about Chat GPT work? It's the new way to use Chat GPT for bigger multi-step projects. And when you need more than just answers, you have Chat GPT work access to your apps and files and it can create real work documents like spreadsheets, slides, and structured reports. Get started at chatgpt.com by selecting work mode, available on plus and pro plants.