Paul Feig (IN STUDIO) Suits Up & Ditches Stand Up For Directing

Summary

Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

Episode: Paul Feig (IN STUDIO) Suits Up & Ditches Stand Up For Directing
Release Date: December 18, 2025
Guest: Paul Feig – Writer, Director, Producer (Freaks & Geeks, Bridesmaids, Spy, Ghostbusters, The Housemaid)

---

Overview

In this lively in-studio episode, comedy legends Dana Carvey and David Spade welcome the impeccably dressed Paul Feig for a deep dive into his remarkable journey from stand-up and acting to creating some of the most beloved comedy films and TV series of recent years. They explore Feig’s comedy philosophy, his origins in stand-up, shifting to directing, and thoughts on modern film and comedy, with plenty of industry anecdotes, banter, and insights about his new thriller “The Housemaid.”

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Paul Feig’s Comedy Origins and Stand-up Days

• Early Influences: Feig recalls being blown away by Woody Allen films, sparking his passion for comedy and filmmaking.
• Michigan Scene: He started stand-up at 15 in Detroit, performing in the Johnny Carson style, inspired by the comedy boom fostered by shows like “Make Me Laugh.”
• Stand-up Highlights:
  • "My best bit? Willard Schmidt, the wood shop teacher… completely flat, all his jokes are about accidents in his class. Just killed." (28:08)
  • “My closer was the Thurston Howell blues — from Gilligan’s Island... The killer line: ‘He can make a coconut lie detector, but he can’t build a goddamn raft!’” (28:57)
  • Feig and Spade riff on the classic “comedy condo” and the odd characters they encountered on the road.
• Transition from Stand-Up:
  • “The minute I became a headliner, I didn’t like it… Being a headliner is lonely.” (34:07)
  • Feig admits he left stand-up due to the isolating grind and “comedy condo” living.

2. Acting Years and Shift to Directing

• TV Roles: Feig was a regular on several TV shows, often as quirky side characters (“Norman the bellhop” on “Dirty Dancing: The TV Series”).
• Dreams of SNL: Managed briefly by Howie Mandel’s team, he tried (unsuccessfully) to get on SNL in the mid-80s.
  • “They said, ‘What do you want?’ I said, 'My dream in life is to be a regular in SNL.' They’re like, ‘Done.’ ...It never happened.” (33:19)

3. Behind the Camera: Directing Philosophy

• Discovering the Magic:
  • Feig emphasizes improvisation and cross-shooting: “My joy place is cross-shooting, so you’re getting real reactions. Audiences pick up on that.” (12:55)
  • “Bridesmaids was on film still; we were stuck with 12-minute loads. Sometimes something would just start to happen and you’d have to stop to change film!” (13:32)
• On Capturing Comedy:
  • “If you’re good, you make it look effortless. It looks easy. Nothing worse than sweaty comedy, when someone’s trying too hard.” (23:53)
  • Often tempers big performances: “All I’m ever doing is saying, ‘Take it down, take it down.’” (24:11)

4. Making Freaks and Geeks and Creating Stars

• Concept and Casting:
  • Feig created “Freaks and Geeks” after a long stretch as a TV actor, with Judd Apatow pivotal in its production.
  • “Seth Rogen, Linda Cardellini, Jason Segel, James Franco… all succeeded. We discovered Seth Rogen in Vancouver at 16.” (42:22)
• Enduring Impact:
  • “It’s kind of stood the test of time, which you always hope for.” (42:12)

5. Transition to Feature Films and Signature Movies

• First Films and Lessons:
  • His first film post-TV was “I Am David,” a drama, after which he learned: “Don’t ever make movies just to win an Oscar.” (43:21)
• Comedy Directing Process:
  • References directing TV (“Arrested Development,” “The Office”) and the challenges of three-camera sitcoms versus single-camera ('single camera is closer to movies'). (44:12)
  • “When you get it right in a comedy, it's so hard... nobody can really agree on what’s funny.” (44:50)
• Bridesmaids Backlash and Triumph:
  • “People were enraged at the Bridesmaids trailer, either saying all the best jokes are in it, or thinking we were making fun of Melissa McCarthy's character. People come in hostile because they've been burned by a lot of comedies.” (45:00–45:37)

6. On the State of Modern Comedy & Film

• Why Are There Fewer Comedies?
  • “Straight comedy feels too frivolous for audiences in the last 10 years… People want higher stakes.” (45:55)
  • “Comedy is now hidden in the form of horror movies. Like ‘Megan’—it’s hilarious and a horror.” (46:53)
• Sequels and Audience Demands:
  • “The big question audiences are asking now: Why? Why do I need to see this? Am I just going to see the same thing again?” (48:54)
  • “Everybody thinks they want Bridesmaids 2… But the reason Bridesmaids works is you watch someone at rock-bottom build herself back up. You can’t just reset.” (49:20)
• Directing Women-Led Comedies:
  • On working with Melissa McCarthy: “If you’re in sync with somebody comedically, that’s gold… My job is to create a safe environment so everyone can try anything.” (51:09–51:26)

7. Ghostbusters, Controversy, and Fan Backlash

• Proud but Challenged:
  • “I’m glad I made it. I’m very proud… Older guys who saw the [original] as kids got really mad.” (57:41, 57:56)
  • “Donald Trump came out against us. There’s a video — ‘And now the Ghostbusters are women, what’s going on?’” (58:49–59:02)

8. Latest Project: “The Housemaid”

• About the Film:
  • “It’s a straight-up thriller, but still in my own inimitable way, it's funny at times. Based on the bestseller by Frieda McFadden. Sydney Sweeney stars, Amanda Seyfried. Think you know where it’s going? You don’t.” (59:30–60:18)
  • "It’s a sexy thriller. I love thrillers. That’s all I watch these days." (61:50–61:57)
• Industry Thoughts:
  • Feig and the hosts discuss theatrical vs streaming releases. Dana notes, “It’s either church or a movie theater. Turn it off for two hours… The world just quiets down.” (63:24)

9. Feig’s All-Time Favorite Movies & Taste in Film

• **He rarely watches modern comedies—prefers thrillers and crime.
• Favorites:**
  • “It’s a Wonderful Life” (“Not the greatest movie ever made, but accomplishes everything a movie’s supposed to: makes you laugh, cry, uplifted at the end.”) (65:46)
  • “Dr. Strangelove,” “Bringing Up Baby,” “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
  • “The reason 2001 is great is because there’s no sound in space scenes. It’s so creepy.” (67:51)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cross-Shooting Comedy:
  “My joy place is cross-shooting, so you’re getting real reactions. Audiences pick up on that.” — Paul Feig (12:55)

• On Overplaying Comedy:
  “There’s nothing worse than sweaty comedy, you know, when you see it all the time. Somebody just like working so hard.” — Paul Feig (24:03)

• On Stand-up Loneliness:
  “Being a headliner is lonely. Like, when you’re the middle or opener, guys are in the back… when you’re the headliner, everybody's gone to dinner.” — Paul Feig (34:07)

• On Sequels:
  “The big question audiences are asking now... is why? Why do I need to see this? Am I just going to see the same thing again?” — Paul Feig (48:54)
  “Everybody thinks they want Bridesmaids 2… But the reason Bridesmaids works… you can’t just reset.” — Paul Feig (49:20)

• On Comedy’s Current State:
  “Straight comedy feels too frivolous for audiences in the last 10 years…People want higher stakes.” — Paul Feig (45:55)

• On Making ‘Ghostbusters’ (2016):
  “I’m glad I made it. I’m very proud of it. The people that had a problem with it, I’m sorry. Younger people really like it…” — Paul Feig (57:41)

• On His Role as a Director:
  “My biggest job is to create a safe environment where everybody feels they can try anything.” — Paul Feig (51:26)

---

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• Stand-up beginnings and bits (28:03–30:00)
• Transition to directing & SNL ambitions (31:42–33:40)
• ‘Freaks & Geeks’ casting and legacy (42:06–42:46)
• Improvisation and cross-shooting philosophy (12:48–13:21)
• Trailers and comedy audience skepticism ('Bridesmaids' reception) (45:00–45:43)
• Gender-swapped ‘Ghostbusters’ backlash (57:41–58:49)
• Discussion of 'The Housemaid' (59:30–61:57)
• On movie theaters vs streaming: why the big screen matters (63:24–63:53)
• Feig’s favorite films and why he loves “It’s a Wonderful Life” (65:46–66:57)
• On the composure and challenges of modern directing (51:26–52:45)

---

Episode Tone & Style

The episode is conversational, funny, and comfortable, with Paul Feig’s gracious, dapper style meshing naturally with the hosts’ playfulness and industry-insider wit. Feig’s humility and measured outlook on comedy, directing, and the ever-changing world of entertainment keeps the discussion grounded and insightful.

---

Bottom Line

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolution of comedy in TV and film, and for fans of Paul Feig’s work. It features rare insights into the creative process, the grind of stand-up, the neuroses of Hollywood, and the future of laughter on the big screen—plus a preview of Feig’s promising new thriller, “The Housemaid,” opening December 19th, 2025.

Transcript

[Dana]

Hey, David, when it comes to gifting, you know, I've learned there are two types of presents. Okay. The ones that get returned and the ones that instantly become a favorite. Do you agree?

[David Spade]

Yeah. That's Jenny Bird jewelry definitely falls in the second category. These designs, as you know, are very modern. They're timeless, always feel special.

[Dana]

Oh, well, isn't that special special?

[David Spade]

That makes it my secret weapon when I want to give a gift that really, you know, lands. That's why Jenny Bird makes it easy. The packaging is beautiful. It's very thoughtful. The pieces are comfy enough to wear every day.

[Dana]

Y.

[David Spade]

And they ship fast.

[Dana]

That's right.

[David Spade]

Perfect. If you're last minute shopper like me.

[Dana]

That's right. I mean, I just want to do this when I hear that. Way to go.

[David Spade]

Way to go.

[Dana]

And because the styles are so versatile, they. They always make an outfit feel pulled together. David. Without trying too hard. David. Not talking about you. Some of my wife's go tos are the bestselling. Florence earrings, which always get compliments. And the Remy Bengal lightweight, water resistant and just as good stacked as it is on its own. These are the gifts you'll actually want to keep.

[David Spade]

And you can get 20% off your first order with Jennybird by visiting jenny-bird.com and using code F OTWECKOUT. You know, some mornings feel impossible, Dana. Like today, freezing cold holiday to do's piling up. And you just want something from your wardrobe. You just want it to make your life easy and just perform.

[Dana]

Yeah. You want your.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Dana]

Something to perform. You want a wardrobe to perform.

[David Spade]

Yeah. You want a wardrobe to bring something to the table. That's why I'm turning to Quince. They're Mongolian cashmere sweaters.

[Dana]

Mongolian cashmere sweaters. Awesome.

[David Spade]

Insanely soft. 50 bucks for a cashmere sweater and looks way more expensive than they are. Italian wool coats. Structured, polished, perfect fit for these chilly months. Honestly, the down jacket, I gotta get that from Quince because that's a go to. It keeps you warm, looks sharp, holds up through the whole season.

[Dana]

Yes, Quince really nails the essentials. They got denim and chinos that actually fit. David. Outerwear that lasts. From leather jackets to wool top coats, all made from premium materials by trusted factories. And because they cut out the middleman, you get luxury quality without the crazy price tag.

[David Spade]

You were in a high school band called Denim and Chinos if I recall.

[Dana]

Yes. And BBQ was the lead singer.

[David Spade]

Actually, she was starting grabbing a few gifts for home, bath and kitchen. I don't stop at home I go bath, kitchen.

[Dana]

Nice.

[David Spade]

They make perfect presents that make it feel thoughtful but don't break the bank. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait. Go to quince.com fly for free shipping on your order and and a 365 day return. That's all year now. Available in Canada too. What is it, Dana?

[Dana]

That's Q u I n c.com fly free shipping and 365 day returns. Quints.com fly.

[David Spade]

You know this last year, Dana, after my big dinner, slipped into the old food company.

[Dana]

Oh my goodness.

[David Spade]

Basically fused in with the couch. I'm talking stuffing, pie, all the fixer bread, house I tore into. I don't remember reading it. I said just the roof.

[Dana]

Oh, one of those. Yeah, I did a lot of pumpkin pie. Yeah.

[David Spade]

Anyway, now what do you do? Now Chava is my holiday reset. I keep a couple servings in my carry on stash, some at home. My friends and family show up. The snacking gets a little too nutty. Kachava has a new limited edition chocolate mint flavor. Right. That's basically the holiday in the glass.

[Dana]

Yeah, yeah.

[David Spade]

Rich chocolate, cool mint, none of the sugar.

[Dana]

Crush might be my new favorite though. I still rotate in their chai and coconut acai. I blend mine with nut milk and frozen fruit or iced coffee.

[David Spade]

A little extra.

[Dana]

Yeah, right.

[David Spade]

Coming back. Steady energy, easier digestion, muscles that actually recover. Metabolism support and a little help for my mind and immune system. Plus it's delicious. 25 grams of plant based protein. No artificial flavors, no soy, no gluten, none of the junk. Just real. All in one nutrition.

[Dana]

Yeah, yeah, that's right. Food coma recovery made easy. Go to kachava.com and use Ko Fly for 15 off your next order. That's good job. Kachava. K a c h a v a dot com code fly for 15% off.

[Paul Feig]

David, I have not seen you. I think the last time I officially saw you, we were both auditioning for Tales from the Crypto.

[David Spade]

Shut the up.

[Paul Feig]

And I walked out of the audition. And David goes, well, Feig's here. Everybody else might as well go home. It was Hulk Hogan and Mr. T doing an ad for something.

[Dana]

Who knew they could.

[Paul Feig]

The real guys, they were doing the comedy of you guys. Like saying over and over again. Yeah, exactly. You want to do this? I mean, I tell you one. You think it's going to be good? It's like, oh, dudes, just please. Oh, I did with the magician who had. Who had dubs.

[Dana]

Oh, you did.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah. Oh yeah. And they would just hear.

[David Spade]

Can they stay in your room? Okay. Dana, Big show. We've got Paul Feig now. Paul Feig, I don't know if it hits the ears, a household name. But you will know a lot of his movies he's written. Great director, Freaks and Geeks he created. Right. That old show that got from Judd Apatow was involved in that to Seth Rogen to Linda Cardellini. There was a lot of big stars popped out of that. And also one of my all time favorites, Bridesmaids, he directed that.

[Dana]

We talk all about these things with.

[David Spade]

Him, with Paul and he did the Housemaid. That's when we talk about. That's coming out the 19th of December right now.

[Dana]

So December 19th coming up.

[David Spade]

I'm gonna check that one out. That's Sydney Sweeney. And I think that's more in the drama tip. I think it's more of a. I don't think it's a full blown comedy, but I like the idea we talk.

[Dana]

About that movie and the sensibility of it. But yeah, he was a real gentleman. He dressed up, you know, I wore a tank top.

[David Spade]

Spade was shirtless or a half shirt and a dolphin shorts and a sailor hat.

[Dana]

And he had a nice suit on. He's a real gentleman and it was really fun talking to him.

[David Spade]

Yeah. Also a simple favor he did that was with Blake.

[Dana]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

All over the place. These movies that pretty much everyone has seen. So I think you'll like the chat from his pov. So here's writer, director, producer, Paul Feig.

[Dana]

Paul Feig. You know, I was watching Vertigo last week, you know, and seeing San Francisco in the 50s and Jimmy Stewart is just always in a suit and a lot of hats, but just suits. And then here I am at age and I'm. This is me dressed up. It took 10 seconds to put it on.

[Paul Feig]

It's a different time, it's a different.

[Dana]

T shirts are primarily what a grown men wear. It's just T shirts and tennis shoes. That is true.

[Paul Feig]

Especially in la. It's a very LA thing.

[Dana]

Yeah, yeah.

[Paul Feig]

But I always heard you're judged by how expensive your watch is and how good your shoes are and everything else can just be tattooed.

[David Spade]

Well, wait a minute.

[Dana]

Why?

[Paul Feig]

I'm not judging that.

[David Spade]

No, we got this.

[Dana]

We can cut this part. But how much is on that left wrist? Like what is the price? Is that something that would attract somebody nefarious?

[Paul Feig]

Murdered? Exactly. No, I. I have a. This watch dealer in Italy, believe it or not, who just sells it at cost because he's a Rolex dealer. So if you get in with one person, they'll. They have to sell at cost. They can't jack it up.

[Dana]

I have to say, you are the best dressed person we've had on the podcast.

[Paul Feig]

Oh, my gosh, thank you.

[Dana]

We've done 1700.

[Paul Feig]

The least talented, but the best dress.

[Dana]

Least talented. I saw your Wikipedia page. What are you talking about?

[David Spade]

I just saw the beginnings of it.

[Paul Feig]

That's right. David, I have not seen you. I think the last time I officially saw you, we were both auditioning for Tales from the Crypt.

[David Spade]

Shut the fuck up.

[Paul Feig]

And I walked out of the audition. And David goes, well, Feig's here. Everybody else might as well go home. And then you got the part.

[David Spade]

Oh, my God.

[Dana]

Really? So if you held a torch for this moment.

[Paul Feig]

Oh, yeah. I've been waiting for this moment. I don't like to resist the get back.

[Dana]

Okay, now we know what. What's going on for the podcast. We're not talking about the movies.

[David Spade]

Well, yeah. You know, I did also a show called Monsters back in the day.

[Dana]

Is that a cartoon?

[David Spade]

It was. That was a movie. But I did a show, a scary show. And they had a doll killing me. No, I was the killer.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, well, the Tales from the Crypt.

[David Spade]

You killed the.

[Paul Feig]

The. The Scotty dog. I remember because it was Julie Brown.

[David Spade]

Yes, that. I think I'm thinking the same thing.

[Paul Feig]

Yes, exactly. That was probably the name of the episode.

[David Spade]

Yeah, yeah. Anyway, that didn't propel me as far as I thought it would at the time.

[Paul Feig]

What do you do?

[David Spade]

But how funny. That long ago.

[Paul Feig]

I know. I think we've probably said hi at various events, but you're always so nice to me back.

[David Spade]

Oh, good.

[Paul Feig]

When I was a stand up.

[David Spade]

When I see Paul out, first of all, he looks dapper. And I warn Danny, you better bring your.

[Dana]

Dapper is a cool word. It's a David Niveny. You know what? The canon of dapper should have a martini.

[David Spade]

It's down to you and JB Smooth at this point. Jb as if he's got a hat on.

[Paul Feig]

Oh, I know. Look at his shit. JB with a hat. He's hilarious.

[David Spade]

He says I had at the Emmys, which I'm sure everyone loves. Behind him.

[Dana]

I did.

[Paul Feig]

When we did Ghostbusters. I had JB come in because I wanted to do these kind of man on the street things that we were going to put in the movie. JB comes in, I turn on the camera on the street. He talks for 45 minutes. It never stops.

[David Spade]

I'm so unshocked when it was hilarious.

[Paul Feig]

But I'm just like, wow, JB me.

[David Spade]

You are just seen as a cutaway jb. And yeah, it's a montage. I know he doesn't shy away from that.

[Dana]

It's brilliant of Larry David to have him on.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah. I mean, just.

[Dana]

That was just magic.

[Paul Feig]

Brilliant character.

[Dana]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

The editing should have won an award because they got to really tighten it up. Even on.

[Dana]

Well, they don't edit on that much right now.

[David Spade]

When you wear this coat, I think.

[Dana]

I mean, depending who's on, there's a lot of held shots. You don't even know if they're.

[David Spade]

Well, it's probably because when I did it. Oh, a couple people remember when I did it. We did it. I've told this before, but we just were told different things. We walked into scene and then we argued. And then we went back to one and they came up to me and said, now be a little offended by what he says. And then they go up to him and I go, what's he doing? They go, you'll find out. Oh, so it actually was kind of fun. Come back now it's a kind of a different scene. And the editing was in. Do you use one whole scene and tighten it or do you sort of use pieces? But each one I had a for sure stance.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

And he didn't know it. He's fig. We're both figuring out as we go. Or arguing. But that was sort of very clever.

[Paul Feig]

I think it's a brilliant way to do.

[Dana]

It's very TV comedy. Gary Shanling was the first experience with that. And I thought it was like magic.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, totally.

[Dana]

Three cameras at once. You'll say something like this or you'll say something like that. And I'll do this and you'll do say something like that. It was like, mean. I don't have to repeat these words all day long and finally get to the money shot.

[Paul Feig]

Well, that's only what I was doing. I did a bunch of the offices and it was kind of the same vibe on there. They were very. They were tightly scripted. But then once you got to set, Greg Daniels was cool if you just kind of played. And so like we did a Halloween episode once and we had. Greg allowed us to cut out a whole storyline because we got on this whole tear with Dwight talking to. Talking to Michael. And Dwight was wearing the like the hood from the Star wars the Emperor. And he just got in this thing where just. We got an angle. It looked funny. If he over enunciated the way that the guy in the movie does. And it was just this back and forth. It was so funny that Greg was like, okay, we'll lose that other storyline because I just want to hang in.

[David Spade]

The scene for a while.

[Paul Feig]

That's really smart because I've worked in other shows where they just, you know, they're locked in. They don't keep any of that stuff.

[Dana]

As a director, I do want to hear about your past because it's interesting how long you went before you really got into with stand up and acting and stuff. When someone is discovering it while the camera's rolling and you. It's a.

[David Spade]

It's.

[Dana]

It pops. Even if they just change something or they literally add a new line. Yeah, it's sort of a little bit of magic if it works, right.

[Paul Feig]

Oh, I'm so. That's my joy place basically because I always try to cross shoot, you know, so that we're shooting both characters the same time. So I mean, Bridesmaids that. That opening scene with them in the coffee shop, just like five hours of it was scripted. But then it's like, try this, try that. Imitate a penis. Do you know all this? And out of that. Yeah. These moments happen and be cross shooting that you're on the other person. So they're reacting in real time. Audiences pick up on that.

[Dana]

That's the magic of digital. Because I never did a movie when digital came in and so it was always cutting, you know, always.

[Paul Feig]

Well, my Bridesmaids was on film still. So we were stuck with those 12 minute loads.

[Dana]

Okay.

[Paul Feig]

Something would just start to happen like, oh no.

[David Spade]

So that's why I gotta change the film on film.

[Dana]

And it was 2011.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah.

[Dana]

Was that a concerted. Yeah, it was, it was.

[Paul Feig]

The studios were still a little weird about Digital HD. Yeah. I. In 2006 I did a movie called Undercompany Minders that no one ever saw. And. But my DP at the time was kind of. He was one of the forerunners of doing HD stuff. So we were going to do it and the studio was really against it because they had just had a really bad experience on one of the current. The Superman movie they were making back then where they shot on the Genesis system and there was some like line that went through. They had to digitally fix the whole thing. So they. But my guy was so adamant about doing it that they ended up firing him. They made me fire the DP because they said you have to shoot this on film. And it was terrible. That guy was halfway to Utah where we're going to shoot the movie and he had to turn his car.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

It was awful. And now industry standards.

[David Spade]

Yeah. Sometimes if people watching don't know when you do movie, like you'll do coverage on someone and then they have to recreate something and it's not the same reaction. It's just a real conversation.

[Dana]

You can suck the air out of it. Is it easy?

[Paul Feig]

That's my nightmare is like sometimes you just can't cross shoot and somebody does something off camera. You're like, oh, it's never going to be as good.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

You know, could you do that thing again? It's never.

[David Spade]

You almost want to use just the off camera voice. It was so perfect.

[Paul Feig]

Oh, totally.

[David Spade]

You're not even on them. You're like, that was just. I did a movie once where they. Dana's probably run into this where when you're with comics, you probably run into it where you see this sneaky move. I didn't pick up on where I did my coverage and they did theirs and I stuck to the script and when they flipped around, they ad libbed for 20 minutes and I, I couldn't react because I wasn't on camera yet.

[Paul Feig]

Oh, totally. Oh, no.

[David Spade]

And so I look dumb. They're just scoring, scoring. And I'm just like this.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, I know. I've had that happen a couple times. And I've actually taken the time to turn the camera back around and say it was more. It's more. Because we discovered a bit when we were on the other side. I was like, you know, then the crew gets all mad at you in the dvd.

[David Spade]

If it's fair, it's fair. And you go, oh, that's great. That's worth it. We just did something and we said, it's worth going back.

[Paul Feig]

That's exactly it. And they got all mad, but it's like, I'm mad.

[David Spade]

They get paid either way.

[Dana]

Well, you'd be surprising how many directors do not at least intrinsically have your philosophy of trying to capture some kind of magic. And they torture you and. And they do a thousand takes and they're thinking of the edit and they're not trying to cut. So I was thinking one scene. There's so many in Bridesmaids, obviously. But when Kristen Wiig is kind of sneaking up in the front of the airplane, I mean, just the spontaneity of that and how it felt and of course her brilliance. But that must have been a thrill.

[Paul Feig]

That was. I mean that was literally. That was the most fun day on that set. Because it was just like, we do. And I go, let's go again. And, like, just here comes Kristen. Like, I don't know what she's going to do.

[David Spade]

Right? She doesn't know either. Yeah. No.

[Paul Feig]

And it was hilarious. And, I mean, I just. I didn't want to wear her out. I think we did six or seven takes of that full scene just to get it. And then. And then we're in the coverage, and.

[David Spade]

We were playing around and there's funny coverage. And then everybody, luckily, everyone in it is good. Flight attendants are good. Everyone's playing off it, and everybody's a good. Maya. Playing it so flat is good because that's a choice, too. She doesn't try to jump in and get some big laughs. She's like, you're getting laughs off her, just staring.

[Dana]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

But, I mean, huge shout out to Mitch Silpa, who plays the, you know, stove Steve, the flight attendant, because he just played that like, you know, like an I Love Lucy, you know, or like a Jerry Lewis movie where all this stuff's happening. The guy just stares and acts completely.

[David Spade]

Straight, man, in that part. And also Rose, which I sort of discovered mostly on that because she's such a knockout. And then she was just really holding up and being funny, and just everywhere you went was funny.

[Dana]

Obviously, that was her coming out. I mean, she'd been on things, but.

[Paul Feig]

That was like, yeah, big comedy coming out because she had. Because she had just done get him to the Greek and. And we were trying to figure out who to. Who to cast in that role. We saw a lot of funny women for, but it's just like, I think we need, like, you know, like a dramatic actress for that. And Judd was like, go down the editing room and take a look at her scenes from. From get him to the Greek. And I was like, wow, She's. She's. She's. There's something there, you know, even though she's playing a completely different character. But, I mean, Rose is so talented. She's one of the most versatile comedy people I know because she plays it so straight and she just becomes the character and doesn't look for jokes. She just is naturally kind of. Her reactions are funny and play well against her.

[David Spade]

I'm going to tell you, Dana, something you do know, but you don't think about a lot that the human body is fascinating. But did you know that. That scientists now openly say that your gut is the cornerstone of your health. The gut is the foundation of overall health and vitality. It's not just about Digestion. That gut affects everything from energy to mood to weight management. I knew this. I knew this. And even longevity. But here's the problem. Most gut supplements only contain probiotics or probiotics and prebiotics at best. And that's why Bioma is different. Go ahead.

[Dana]

That's right. Bioma contains all three. David. Essential ingredients. The gut needs prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics. Each ingredient is science backed, third party tested, designed to work together to support better health from the inside out. Just two capsules before breakfast make it simple to take the guesswork out of feeling your best.

[David Spade]

Go to bioma.com fly and use code fly to get Bioma with an extra 15 discount. This is a limited time offer, so don't miss out. Claim your extra 15% savings today. Okay, listen, so for Thanksgiving.

[Dana]

Thanksgiving, yeah.

[David Spade]

I'm going to add into the mix some Omaha Steaks because it's like I want to, you know, have them around because they have steaks, they have hamburgers, they have.

[Dana]

Yeah, they're fun. They're fun to have around.

[David Spade]

Yeah. And then you take that and then I'm going to tell people that's a good gift idea for Christmas. You know, send them out, take the pain out of going and shopping. Suddenly you got all this at your fingertips.

[Dana]

Yeah, they come and get. They come gift wrapped, USDA certified tender.

[David Spade]

I like that.

[Dana]

Steaks, juicy burgers, cozy and convenient comfort meals. And a lot more than that, David.

[David Spade]

Oh yeah, there's way more than that, Dana. During their Sizzle all the way sale, they tied that into Christmas. See that? Sizzle all the way.

[Dana]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

You can get 50% off site wide at Omaha steaks.com plus our precious listeners get an extra $35 off with promo code FLY.

[Dana]

I'm gonna say that's a good thing. You've had some Omaha Steaks, haven't you?

[David Spade]

Yeah. You're gonna see me in the kitchen. Maybe I'll take them out on the bbq depending on weather, weather permitting.

[Dana]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

And watch me. Hey, you know, I'm over there. Like, how do you like them? You know, yelling I once dated a.

[Dana]

Woman named bbq but good night.

[David Spade]

Oh yeah, I actually met her with you.

[Dana]

Omaha Steaks. Actually, David, you may not believe this, but they're unrivaled and quality and variety and everybody's backed by their 100 guarantee.

[David Spade]

Yeah, it doesn't shock me. Right now is a perfect time to save on delicious gifts and holiday hosting favorites. Every steak is perfectly aged to maximize tenderness and hand cut by master butchers master in America's heartland.

[Dana]

Omaha Steaks has been America's original butcher.

[David Spade]

Since 1917, if I had to guess.

[Dana]

Yes. And they also carry mouthwatering burgers, chicken, pork, seafood and actually delectable desserts.

[David Spade]

Well, save on big gourmet gifts and more holiday favorites with Omaha Steaks. Save on big gourmet gifts and more holiday favorites with omaha steaks. Visit omaha steaks.com for 50 off site wide during their Sizzle all the way sale. And for an extra 35 off, use promo code fly at checkout terms apply. See site for details.

[Dana]

That's omahastakes.com code fly.

[David Spade]

You know when your day starts moving faster than you planned?

[Dana]

Yes.

[David Spade]

That's when I reach for something small that delivers big on flavor. Me.

[Dana]

Me too. Me too. I think it's a great idea. Caffeine David just got a serious Upgrade with our 5 hour energy shots. They come in 17 bold flavors and each tiny 2 ounce bottle brings tasty caffeine with as much caffeine as a 12 ounce premium cup of coffee without the sugar. Or the sugar cracks.

[David Spade]

Portable, they're convenient. They pack the flavors of the season. If you're in full holiday hustle mode, this is where it gets fun. Tis the season for tasty caffeine and five Hour Energy is introducing a festive new flavor. Gingerbread Snap.

[Dana]

Are you kidding me? Stop the, stop the, stop the bombing. As you'd say, think cookie vibes, but in a zero sugar portable shot that fits right into your day. Whether you're powering through the errands or getting into the holiday spirit. Gingerbirds Snap five Hour Energy Shots bring a little extra magic wherever you.

[David Spade]

Yep, give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5 hour energy shots. Get yours in store and online at www.5hourenergy.com or Amazon. Today, kickstart the holiday magic with gingerbread snap five hour energy shots available online at five hour energy.com or where Amazon yeah, yeah.

[Dana]

7/2 equals five hour more than you need. Larry David was here. I've quoted this before, but he had said that the thing that he looks for is when people are trying to be funny. And he goes, no, no, no, no.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

Oh no, totally.

[Dana]

We don't do that. That's this other line that's crossed. And why do you, you look at comedies, other movies of your peers or whatever, you don't have to bury anybody. But can you kind of intuit what's going wrong? Because great comedies are rare.

[Paul Feig]

Well, it's the reason why comedy doesn't win awards. It's the reason why Steve Carell never won an Emmy for the Office.

[Dana]

That's crazy.

[Paul Feig]

Because if you're good, you make it look effortless. It looks easy.

[David Spade]

He's not trying.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, yeah. We all know there's nothing worse than sweaty comedy, you know, when you see it all the time. Somebody just like working so hard.

[Dana]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

So, yeah, I mean, that's. I'm especially bless them, like day players who come in, you know, and you hire and oh, they're so funny in the audition.

[Dana]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

All I'm ever doing is like, take it down, take it down. And I get it. It's your one moment to shine and here you come.

[David Spade]

You know, even SNL hosts, their publicists warn us at a time, they're so funny and they can't wait to show you the funniness. We're like, God, just stand there. We'll just steer you around.

[Paul Feig]

There's been more. No better place I've seen people eat it than on snl. Like the guest hosts. When you just see. Oh, my God. I remember there was. Oh, the sweatiest one I ever saw in there was from way back. It was Hulk Hogan and Mr. T doing an ad for something who knew they could. And they were doing the comedy of that thing. Like saying over and over again. Yeah, exactly. You want to do this? I mean, I tell you one. You think it was going to be good? It's like, oh, dudes, just please.

[David Spade]

It would be so much funnier if Mr. T was like, I actually pity.

[Paul Feig]

The fool that doesn't, you know, see right there.

[Dana]

Do so pity these fools. So can we just for a second, I mean, because for our audience and stuff, just a little bit of your biography.

[Paul Feig]

Sure.

[Dana]

Because there's an interesting thing, I guess, and I don't know, seeing a Woody Allen movie kind of blew your mind. I mean, for me it was the party with Peter Sellers or other ones. So. So you had this as a young. And then you went into performing mostly. Right. You were dream was to be on SNL maybe or. Okay.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah. And I actually signed with who. An interesting thing happened where. Because I was a stand. Yeah. I started in Michigan and I was a kid in doing theater. And there you go.

[David Spade]

Field Hills.

[Paul Feig]

Oh, wait, are you from Michigan?

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

How did I never know this?

[David Spade]

I just found it because it says royal oak and I think that might be in the vicinity of Bloomfield.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, it is. It is, totally.

[David Spade]

And I was like this.

[Paul Feig]

Never ever go lions.

[David Spade]

I want to look up when I'm in the. When I make the top 100 people from Michigan. I should have scanned a larger. And then I claim from Arizona too. So I really get.

[Paul Feig]

Oh, there.

[David Spade]

I try to get in that contest.

[Paul Feig]

You're a man of the world.

[David Spade]

Is basically me and Hugh.

[Dana]

Definitely.

[Paul Feig]

There you go. Nice.

[Dana]

The big hitters.

[David Spade]

So you're.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah. So I, I, I was wanted to be, you know, an actor. That was my goal. I wanted to be Steve Martin. I wanted to be as a little kid. As a little kid. Oh, yeah. Like five years old. I got laughs in front of a school play and was like addicted.

[Dana]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

And so I started doing stand up when I was 15 years old in Detroit. It was terrible, obviously.

[Dana]

Was there a big scene or why was it terrible?

[Paul Feig]

Because I was terrible.

[Dana]

We were all terrible.

[Paul Feig]

I know it was. I was doing like Johnny Carson jokes and stuff like that.

[Dana]

I did not know that. There we go.

[Paul Feig]

Thank you.

[Dana]

Gave me an opening. I apologize. People are pressing the podcast.

[Paul Feig]

No, he was big. Because the show take Make Me Laugh was. Was big.

[Dana]

Howie Mandel.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, yeah. Bruce Baum.

[Dana]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Paul Feig]

Mike Binder. And Mike Binder was a Detroit guy. And so all these comedy clubs sprung up because of make me Laugh where all these open mic nights, you know.

[David Spade]

Was that baby man bomb.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Dana]

He picked the thing up and then he's in the club and then he takes off.

[Paul Feig]

Gary Mule Deer remembering.

[Dana]

I love the assortment Pack of the week. Weird, eccentric. You know how comedians were so different in the, in those days, not everybody had his elbow on the mic saying he masturbated in front of his cat.

[David Spade]

I'm a Jazz Kane or Denny Johnson. Like every time I got an opening or mc different watching these guys. And we always say they would rarely change their act. That was a new. That was the old way.

[Dana]

Oh, no.

[Paul Feig]

It was like vaudeville.

[David Spade]

You travel with that thing.

[Dana]

I think Denny Johnson got it fun Folklore says he got this great 20 minutes that killed every time in like one night. Almost a fever dream.

[David Spade]

I've heard that.

[Dana]

And then just kept it for 40 years.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, but that was that whole vaudeville thing. Remember the movies killed vaudeville because a guy had an act for, you know, 20 years and they put it on film. Okay, what else you got?

[Dana]

So what was in stand up your best.

[Paul Feig]

My best bit.

[Dana]

You must have had a bit that worked.

[Paul Feig]

I did. I had two killer bits.

[Dana]

Okay.

[Paul Feig]

Killer bits. One was Willard Schmidt, the wood shop teacher. So I had these glasses and I would go, he's. And he's a stand up comedian.

[David Spade]

Okay.

[Dana]

But funny.

[Paul Feig]

So I was kind of like A very energetic comedian. But then I would do that. He's just completely flat. You know, all his jokes are about like. You know, I. I had a kid in class and I told him to stop fooling around. He continued to fool around, and they got his arm cut off. Then I go and tell a joke about something, and then I go back to another horrible story about very flat. So it would kill. It would just kill.

[Dana]

So the teacher actually cut the arm off. Was that.

[Paul Feig]

No, no. Because the kid was fooling around. He didn't listen to the teacher.

[Dana]

Oh, I see. So he got the teacher.

[Paul Feig]

Exactly.

[Dana]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

And then my other bit was my close. The closer was the Thurston Howell Blues, which had my harmonica. And I would do this. Oh, yes. I can't even recall.

[Dana]

From Gilligan's Island.

[Paul Feig]

From Gilligan's Island. Yes, exactly. And then the killer line. I don't know if I can get it right. Was like, no pressure. Now, that professor, he's really quite daft. He can make a coconut lie detector, but he can't build a goddamn raft. Yeah, that would kill. So there you go.

[David Spade]

It's very true, though.

[Paul Feig]

Thank you. But this was back in the 80s.

[Dana]

I can't believe it.

[David Spade]

Let me tell you my closer. Yeah.

[Dana]

Okay. This killed. This killed every time. This Dana Destruction.

[David Spade]

It's sort of like as my extra.

[Dana]

Beat, one of my.

[David Spade]

This has a boom at the end. Watch this. Watch this, Paul.

[Dana]

Okay, here we go.

[David Spade]

So I talk about Skinemax and I talk about all these shows I watch late at night, all these R rated shows. Then I said, hbo has a new show called New back then, Autopsy. We go into a coroner's office and film a live autopsy. Let me tell you something, hbo. I can't whack off to Autopsy. Or can I?

[Paul Feig]

Bam.

[David Spade]

Yep.

[Dana]

So slack off.

[David Spade]

Gets a laugh. Whack off music up. Good night. People fly out of their chairs.

[Dana]

That was a tough one. I had them cut. I had them cut the. Give him a red light. I have a Gilligan's island joke that I did on snl. So we're doing Jerry Seinfeld. And my line was. Okay, you know, it was like a game show, right? And it was like, if the professor can make a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix the boat?

[Paul Feig]

There you go. See?

[Dana]

I can't believe it.

[David Spade]

I like when someone goes, I saw Gilligan's Island. It was the one where Mrs. Howell didn't know what to wear to the rescue.

[Paul Feig]

Oh, yes.

[David Spade]

Which was every episode. Oh, what should I wear to the rescue.

[Paul Feig]

Love it. I got lauded. Funny. I got lauded back then because this was 85 when I was doing this.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

And everybody was still doing hilariously. This sounds so old jokes about the 60s. And so all these communities come up and go like, you're the. You're the first guy who's made fun of the seventies. So I was. There you go. Oh, I was my peak in 1985.

[Dana]

I know. I used to do Cary Grand Grant. I do Jimmy Stewart. You know, all those good.

[Paul Feig]

Jack.

[David Spade]

Oh, yeah.

[Dana]

No, I didn't do the hair back, but I did Jack, Leave a message. You know, whatever. You know, it kills. But yeah, now I'm. I don't do Cary Grant anymore.

[Paul Feig]

I'd love to when we work the.

[Dana]

Retirement home, but I have a new bit now that I'm doing that. I'm. When I'm talking to Comcast and there's someone who doesn't know, I just use Cary. I use Cary Grant's voice. I turned it on and off, but I still have no reception. And they don't respond or say, are you like, who are you? I can't believe it. I got the Watch a big game. So anyway, so back to you. You are a stand up. You're killing and then you're directing hit movies. What's the timeline and what happened?

[Paul Feig]

I was full time stand up from 85 to 90. I got on a thing called the Paramount Comedy Theater, which was the first home video videotape, like comedians special.

[David Spade]

I don't know if I remember it.

[Paul Feig]

Huh.

[Dana]

I don't.

[Paul Feig]

Nobody. It was only in video.

[David Spade]

Was it kind of like the hbo.

[Paul Feig]

Howie was the host and. And we shot it down at the Hermosa Beach. You know the comedy.

[David Spade]

Yeah, the greatest. Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

And when Jimmy Miller used to manage it.

[Dana]

Jimmy Miller, the Jimmy? Christ sakes, no one makes popcorn like my little brother Dennis's brother, everybody.

[David Spade]

And it's.

[Dana]

He's a.

[David Spade]

Exactly the same accent.

[Paul Feig]

But so I did it. And then. So the guy that produced it, I went. Did my act. It killed. Went great. And it was really successful. My first success is the standup. I had lunch with the producer a few weeks afterwards and he said, you know, they did not want you on this show. Like, Howie's managers hated your act from your tape so much, they threatened to pull Howie off of the special. What the fuck if you did it. And this guy was kind of a fighter, so he just fought to get me on there. And the hilarious thing was after my set killed, his managers wanted to sign me. They Signed me. And this all comes back to when you said snl because I said, they said, what do you want? I said, my dream in life is to be a regular in snl. They're like, we can make that happen.

[David Spade]

Done.

[Paul Feig]

First of all, you should always run for the hills.

[David Spade]

Of course.

[Paul Feig]

And. Yeah, then of course. And never happened. They sent my tape to Lauren. He's like, what year?

[Dana]

What year?

[Paul Feig]

This is 86.

[Dana]

That's when I got the show.

[Paul Feig]

Oh, I knew it.

[Dana]

And I remember. Would you, would you take a look at Paul Figs tape, Dana? See if you think anything's there.

[Paul Feig]

I don't see it.

[David Spade]

Any glimmers?

[Dana]

I didn't see it. I didn't see your take. I probably would have said, that man's gonna make a hit movie.

[Paul Feig]

I don't know. Keep behind the camera.

[Dana]

Very interesting. How many people were stand ups and ended up movie actors or.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Dana]

Or impressionists. Anthony Hopkins, just.

[Paul Feig]

Well, a lot of guys when I was coming up all became writers. Like, you know.

[David Spade]

Yeah, yeah. That's the most, that's the smoothest transition.

[Paul Feig]

Well, because they would have like killer jokes, but they didn't necessarily have like the greatest stage press or you get.

[David Spade]

Tired of the grind of traveling.

[Paul Feig]

That's why, that's what drove me out. Because I, you know, I. My whole, those five years was like working towards becoming a headliner. Minute I became a headliner, I didn't like.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

Because it was lonely. Being a headliner is lonely. Like when you're the middle or the, or the opener, you know, the guys are back, you come off stage, everybody's like, yeah, that was so great. When you're the headliner, you come off. Everybody's gone to dinner.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

And you're like, nobody's here.

[Dana]

I know a guy, Larry Bubbles Brown from San Francisco, got to a level in San Francisco. He's headlining. Yeah, he's great. Said nope after about a couple times. Said, no, it's the pressure. The end just stayed a middle.

[Paul Feig]

I get it. And the road was. I hated the road.

[Dana]

I hated the road too. Did you play Spellbinders in Houston?

[Paul Feig]

What are the places all up and down the west?

[Dana]

Yeah, yeah, the Bay Area. I could stay in the Bay Area pretty much, you know, and not have. Just drive to Santa Cruz. Cobs, punchline. God, it's funny. We must almost cross paths.

[Paul Feig]

I know, it's crazy. No, it was the comedy condo that drove me out of the business.

[David Spade]

Oh, staying with the.

[Dana]

Okay, give us a comedy condo for people who don't know.

[Paul Feig]

No, they Would they would buy this condo and have three bedrooms.

[Dana]

Three bedrooms.

[Paul Feig]

One was the shitty one for the opener. One was the slightly less shitty one.

[Dana]

Yes.

[Paul Feig]

And then the beautiful one for the headline.

[Dana]

The master bedroom or. Yeah, the primary bedroom.

[David Spade]

You live with three people.

[Dana]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

And in like one week, it's the greatest thing ever. Everybody's great. The next week you're stuck with some guy who is the worst. And they're all like trying to bring cocktail waitresses home. And I'm just like, I want out of this scene. I don't want anything.

[Dana]

You're saying sex happened in the comedians condo?

[Paul Feig]

Not for certain guy. There were certain guys that were just totally.

[Dana]

Did you ever have share a condo with a Venturloquist? I wish I did.

[Paul Feig]

Oh, I did. With a magician who had. Who had doves.

[Dana]

Oh, you did?

[Paul Feig]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. And they would just hear.

[David Spade]

Can they stay in your room? No, I don't.

[Dana]

This was a Twilight Zone. He really believed that Chuck. Chuck Wood was. Was real. And he said, don't look at Chuck. Don't bother Chuck. Don't touch Chuck.

[Paul Feig]

Wow. And that writer in his contract, you can eye contact with Chuck.

[David Spade]

You remember Emo? I stayed with Emo.

[Paul Feig]

Emo.

[David Spade]

San Diego improv. And he was like, you know, I was going to breakfast early. I go, oh, we're doing this off camera.

[Paul Feig]

I was gonna say, this is like, like in real life. He's like, yeah. So anyway, dude.

[David Spade]

But he was very nice. He would put. But he put all his joke cards out on fire. I think Dennis does this, writes them all out. And I was like, am I supposed to do this? Like, it was so organized. And then he like, Dennis, they memorize him. And I'm like, no fucking chance.

[Dana]

Even back in the early days with Dennis, he'd do that.

[David Spade]

I know he has fought. You've seen him with the crazy cards, right?

[Dana]

I don't know. The other day we were talking about Lucy K. And I just. Just about great stand ups. And I just thought, Dennis gets Dennis's best special.

[David Spade]

That's.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, he's put it up there.

[Dana]

He's very there. But so you're. So how do you. So what happens next? Your stand up is not you. You tire the road.

[Paul Feig]

Tire the road. So I go into acting and. And did that for like 15 years. Was like a regular on five different TV series. Always be like the fifth or sixth lead, you know, on which Dirty Dancing, the TV series was my first one. I was a character that was added on who was not in the movie. Norman the bellhop. Who wanted to be a stand up comedian. So there you go. Yeah. Like, you remember when they used to do the cartoons of like, you know, the Brady Bunch or the Partridge Family and they'd add like a magical bird. Like I was the magical bird on the show, basically. Or the dancing pandas.

[Dana]

You kind of do have a timeless look. Like I could see you on the Beverly Hillbillies as the banker or. You know what I mean? You play a lot of parts.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, I would. I mean, that's all the parts I used to get, but. Yeah, yeah, but you know. Yeah, I was on the, the, the Tom Arnold.

[David Spade]

You know what Tom Arnold did you get?

[Paul Feig]

I got good. Tom Arnold.

[David Spade]

Was he good to. Yeah, I'm friends with Tom and I know he had some rough times there.

[Paul Feig]

No, Tom was great. But they were, you know, still he.

[Dana]

And, and it lasted two or three seasons.

[Paul Feig]

No, only one season that they. It's the first show, I think in history to get canceled in the top 20.

[David Spade]

Oh, wow.

[Paul Feig]

Because they kind of pulled the plug because they, they wanted to go over to do this. Thomason. I forget those producers, but they were CBS and so they pulled them over there and I think we were abc. Oh, yeah, we were.

[David Spade]

Thomas, maybe.

[Paul Feig]

No, it was Tomlinson. They. They worked with the Clintons a lot. I remember. Anyway, look it up.

[Dana]

Everybody did not know that. Impression number two.

[Paul Feig]

Well done.

[Dana]

There he goes.

[David Spade]

Farley on Did Chucky. Tom.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, we did. He did that one episode.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

And. And we finished the episode. I don't know if I should say there's. Now we finished the episode and the minute we were done, Tom and Roseanne had him taken away to rehab. Oh, yeah.

[David Spade]

Got that episode out of him, though. Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

But he. Oh, he was the loveliest guy I love.

[Dana]

Brilliant, Sweet, sweetest guy.

[Paul Feig]

Last time I saw him, one of a kind. Joel Madison and I went to the, the Rose bowl and he was there with his mom and he's like, hey, Paul, just the sweetest guy.

[Dana]

Very Midwestern.

[Paul Feig]

I mean, salt of the earth and probably the funniest person.

[Dana]

Well, we haven't seen another.

[Paul Feig]

No, I mean, not like that.

[Dana]

It's been a while now. Where's Chris Farley? The new Chris Farley?

[Paul Feig]

I'll just look for, you know, clips online.

[David Spade]

By the way, anybody over 180 is in danger of being. Are you the next Chris Farley?

[Dana]

Yeah. You're a little heavy. You have manic energy.

[David Spade]

We were just saying this morning, it's. He's not, he wasn't that big during some earlier movies. It was really toward the end, like, I was so skinny and I was probably 135 in the movie, so he looked big. But I'll show you something on the way out, but where it's like, oh, he wasn't. I think he gained almost 100 pounds.

[Dana]

Right at the very end at some point. But, you know, Jackie Gleason was sort of heavy. He'd go away, we go and he would move gracefully. But Chris was still an athlete as a. As a big guy.

[Paul Feig]

But all those guys, they're like sumo wrestlers. Like, you know, Belushi, who was not his hero.

[David Spade]

Belushi was even, I think, skinnier. And he was known as a fat guy.

[Dana]

He was just a little roly poly.

[Paul Feig]

Well, it's like, like, you know, Zach's. Old Zach's on his show. He's. I'm not fat. He's like, Zach's like just like a.

[Dana]

Normal looking guy, either fat or not fat or.

[Paul Feig]

So he's. He always has them make fat jokes about him. Then he's like, I'm not that.

[David Spade]

Yeah. He's like, you have a beard. It's not that. Yeah, I like when he's. He's on his show and everyone shits on him.

[Dana]

Did you all this time. Because I. We know where your story's going. Were you a big, big movie fan? A lot of comedians. I would, whenever I could just watch him go watch a matinee in a theater on the day of his show. So you were. Had this lane of being a huge.

[Paul Feig]

Oh, yeah, that's all I wanted to do was do movies.

[Dana]

Oh, the whole time.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, yeah. I just, I just, you know, I will. My goal was to be, back then, Woody Allen. I was going to write, direct and star in all my movies. That was the goal. I did it once. The very first movie ever made, which has never been released, called Life sold separately. And I wrote, directed and starred in it. And it was myself and Penn Jillette was in it, actually. And then some friends of mine, Steve Bannis and Dave Gruber, Allen, you know, who are all actors now. And Carrie.

[Dana]

Was it the sensibility of Woody? Obviously you're not doing a Woody impression, but it was just his whole.

[Paul Feig]

It was. No, it was. It was about. I had. I only had like $30,000 to make it, so I had to like make it all in one field during the day, on one day. So it was about four people who get some. Yeah, totally. Oh, yeah.

[Dana]

Okay, that's good.

[Paul Feig]

You save on wardrobe, you save on lighting. Exactly.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

It was four people who all get a message in their head that a UFO is going to come to this one place and pick them up and take them away from their lives because they're all unhappy with their lives. Yeah, it's kind of cool. And so everybody shows up and they don't know why each other's there and they find out they have this of kind common thing and then it all kind of turns.

[David Spade]

Then you go into writing. How do you get writing jobs?

[Paul Feig]

I never actually got a writing job.

[David Spade]

Oh, you on Freaks and Geeks.

[Paul Feig]

I. I created it. Yeah. I created the show and then I.

[David Spade]

Cos Jud swore to me that you had nothing working.

[Paul Feig]

I knew it. Oh, man.

[David Spade]

Joe hit me up this morning. I haven't heard.

[Dana]

Well, just make sure you go. Yeah, I don't have a jet apto, but it's a substitute of pressure.

[Paul Feig]

That's good.

[Dana]

Hey, I think Friction Geeks was mine. That sounds like Judd Aptel.

[Paul Feig]

That sounds just like him. Exactly. I thought he was sitting here. It's a book.

[Dana]

A bookmark. Hi, Judd. If you're watching. But yeah, you. That was your creation.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah.

[Dana]

And you shepherded it. And it's kind of has a cult following now or it's become a thing, which is nice.

[Paul Feig]

I mean it's kind of stood the test of time, which you always hope that sort of.

[Dana]

But.

[David Spade]

So you were in on casting a lot of people that blew up.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, yeah. That was all.

[David Spade]

Who else? Who was on there? Just so. Just for the people.

[Paul Feig]

Just for the people. Seth Rogen, who we discovered at 16 years old in Vancouver.

[Dana]

God, that guy struggled for a long time.

[Paul Feig]

I know. Poor guy. He's Linda Cardellini, Jason Siegel, James Franco, Busy Phillips. Wow. Sam Levine and of course John Francis Daly, who is now a big time director. Writer. Director.

[Dana]

I know.

[Paul Feig]

So they all. They all have succeeded.

[David Spade]

All blew up.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Dana]

So. So when. So since we. This isn't a two parter.

[David Spade]

I wanted.

[Dana]

Like when did you start? We first moved. You directed and for a studio or when you.

[Paul Feig]

For a studio. It was the thing called Unaccompanied Minors I think I referenced earlier. Yes. They fired my DP for wanting to shoot hd.

[Dana]

Okay.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, I got that. Well, no, no, no. I'm actually. No, it was a movie called I Am David that I did right after Freaks and Geeks. It was like a drama. And that was the moment where I'm like, oh, I'm. This will be my Oscar movie. And I learned a valuable lesson like don't ever try to make movies for to win An Oscar?

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

Because you.

[Dana]

Well, what are you learning at this point? What are the basic things you do? Freaks and Geeks and you're directing there and then you're going, here we know where you go, where you become this great comedy director. So you're learning stuff all along. Right.

[Paul Feig]

Well, I start, then I go heavily into TV directing because I directed. I wanted to direct on Freaks and Geeks and they wouldn't let me because I. I didn't have enough, you know, experience or whatever. Finally they let me do the very last episode that I wrote and directed and it came out really well.

[David Spade]

So then they go, oh, he knows how to.

[Paul Feig]

Actually knows what he's doing. And believe it or not, but then our line producer from Freaks and Geeks went on to do Arrested Development and so he called me up and said, hey, they'd like you to do Unrest Development. So I ended up doing like Six Arrested Developments, which is probably.

[David Spade]

No, it's not harder. That's still. It's not a sitcom.

[Paul Feig]

No.

[David Spade]

Did you ever do a sitcom?

[Paul Feig]

No. No. Not. Not three camera. No.

[David Spade]

Yeah. It's way harder what you're doing.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah. Well, I don't.

[David Spade]

That's closer to movies.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah. But the three camera seems hard to me, you know, like three camera.

[David Spade]

Yeah. Just a different muscle, probably.

[Dana]

You're definitely relying. Yeah. You got that audience right there.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah. I like. I like having something happen, like getting it right once and never doing it again. That's why I love movies and single camera stuff, you know, because you just get magic ones.

[Dana]

Yeah, yeah.

[David Spade]

When you get it right in a comedy, it's so hard.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

From the idea and the pitch to the script doesn't get right. And you've got to get that right. Then you get the editing and the casting and finishing it and the product, you know, then the marketing and the poster.

[Paul Feig]

And then the biggest problem is it all works. Everybody's got. Everyone can agree what's dramatic, what's sad, what's scary. Yeah. What's thrilling. Nobody can really agree on what's funny.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

So comedies are so divisive because some people love them and some people hate them. And trailers are really, you know, like lightning rods. I mean, we put the trailer out for Bridesmaids. People are enraged and angry and like, either, like, oh, clearly all the best jokes are in the trailer. And then they were mad that they thought they knew that we were going to be making fun of Melissa McCarthy, McCarthy's character. And it's like, no, she's actually the coolest character. But people There's a hostility, I find, because I think maybe it's. Was that people had gotten burned by a lot of comedies over the years, you know, and so they came in.

[David Spade]

Afraid to go to the theater.

[Dana]

Not.

[Paul Feig]

Not by yours, my friend. Been some of the greatest comedies of all time.

[David Spade]

Thank you.

[Paul Feig]

It's true. Tell me, boy. But, you know, but there's. It's just. Yeah. There's a weird thing, and that's. Right now. There's not a lot of comedies. Straight up comedies.

[Dana]

Yeah. What. What. What do you. What's your thoughts on that? Where are they?

[Paul Feig]

I think. I think comedy, Straight comedy feels too frivolous for audiences in the last 10 years. You know what I mean? They want higher stakes. And I think it's the difference between a movie that's about spies or cops, but the villain is bumbling, and so it's like, oh, so it's all comedy. So there's no stakes there. Versus. I always go back to that movie, 48 Hours, which. Oh, Eddie Murphy. This is going to be hilarious. First thing, there's like, a guy gets, like, executed in a hallway.

[Dana]

You're like, oh, Walter Hill.

[Paul Feig]

But then it. Yeah, but then you're like, oh, cool. So now when Eddie Murphy goes into that cowboy bar, I'm kind of worried he's gonna get shot or something bad's gonna happen.

[David Spade]

It's not goofy comedy.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah. People need stakes. So that's why now so much comedy is in the form of horror movies. I mean, all. Do you see weapons?

[Dana]

I saw it twice.

[Paul Feig]

It's hilarious.

[Dana]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

I mean, it becomes hilarious.

[Dana]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

And Megan and those things, you know, so is. It's interesting.

[David Spade]

Weapons. Too scary for me.

[Paul Feig]

No, no, no, it's not.

[David Spade]

Megan. Too scary for me.

[Paul Feig]

No, no, I will be.

[David Spade]

I will take this awesome blurb on you that I would love. When I watched Megan, I watched it like Mystery Science. I just talked the whole time and was making myself laugh, and I'm like, why can't Dana and I just do this? Where you just watch something and there's so many funny things to say.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

And Megan was funny in that way. But I see why it worked also. Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

Well, because you're still, you know, you're invested. I used to get really mad at this film, like studio execs when they use the word stakes, because I always felt like, did they know what that means or not? But now do they even know what it means? Sometimes people just repeat words. I know, exactly. But you realize, like, it just. Audiences have to feel that there's Be invested and, you know, like, worried.

[Dana]

Naked Gun, the new one that came out when I watched it.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Dana]

But it was that there was no stakes.

[Paul Feig]

It's old school. Yeah, it's old school.

[Dana]

So you really have to. It's very tricky.

[Paul Feig]

Well, I was really rooting for that, too. And I think it did pretty well.

[Dana]

Yeah, it did pretty well, but.

[Paul Feig]

Cause that kind of breaks the mold of what I'm saying. But look, comedy, we say, this is how it is, then something comes out and it changes everything. So the biggest thing in comedy, and we all know this, is if you're inflexible in comedy, you're dead. If you're like, I know what's funny and don't tell me what's funny. If you don't evolve along with the scene. You know, keep your voice, but just, you know, don't be making dad jokes.

[Dana]

The ones that stick out to me are Tropic, Thunder, Hangover.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah.

[Dana]

Some of Will Ferrell movies.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah.

[Dana]

You just hold up and then they sort of. It sort of changed or it stopped or. I don't know if it's political recklessness or whatever the studios want or the audience wants, but I just think it's.

[Paul Feig]

What the audience want. Audiences are very fickle. Yeah, exactly. But they audience. Because we've done a lot of research in my company, this, you know, about, like, why. Why do sequels a lot of times not work anymore?

[David Spade]

Right.

[Paul Feig]

You know, because used to be like.

[Dana]

A sequel question to ask.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, exactly. Because you think, oh, yeah, just show up. But the big question audiences are asking now, because they got so much stuff available to them, is why? Why? Why do I need to see this? I really like the first one. Why do I need to see what's going to be different about this? Am I just going to see the same thing again? And. And it's a valid question. You know, everything's expensive.

[David Spade]

And there's something about discovering a movie, too, and you just don't discover it in the sequel. You found all your answers, kind of.

[Dana]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

And that's why sequels are so hard to do, because you've established you're not discovering. Yeah. The discovery isn't. Everybody thinks they want Bridesmaids too. And I'm like, yeah, it could be funny. But the reason Bridesmaids works is because Kristen Wiig, you meet this person who just a complete disaster, and she has to build herself back up. And by the end, she does, and she's so happy.

[David Spade]

So you don't want to see a disaster again. Yeah, it's like, where do you start?

[Paul Feig]

You're right. Oh, she's messed up again. Well, I don't want to watch this.

[David Spade]

We talked about that with. There's one we did called the Wrong Missy on Netflix, and we wind up getting married, and the girl's crazy, and she's very funny. She's the whole movie. Like, she goes bananas. But how do you do it where she kind of got her together and then there's different pitches, but you go, God, that's a tough one, because you almost want to leave alone. But there's such a feel for, like, well, maybe do one.

[Paul Feig]

People think they want it? Yeah.

[Dana]

Pay you more, it makes less.

[David Spade]

So I know that's the answer.

[Dana]

You know, you've worked with. This sounds like some social statement. You've presented a lot of women into comic films. You know, Bridesmaids, obviously. And then you love Melissa McCarthy, as we all do. So when you directed her in Bridesmaids and then you guys connected again, I would just speak to that. I mean, did you just sort of. We know her. I mean, she's so charming and whatever, but did you see lightning in her biology? Because there's more here.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, well, we just hit it off. I mean, after. Because, yeah, we did Bridesmaids and we did the Heat, then Spy and then Ghostbusters.

[Dana]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

So no controversy in Ghostbusters, by the way?

[Dana]

Well, yeah, I was out of town. Did people talk about it?

[Paul Feig]

I loved the first one. No. Well, you. You know, like, with Farley and, you know, and people you've worked with, like, if you're in sync with somebody comedically, that's like gold. Because it's so hard to find that, you know, where it's across the board. You agree?

[Dana]

Well, I think for the performer from that side of the fence, if you have a director like you, Zappable, who gets them, who's smart and wants to capture them, is not resentful of them or competitive with them. I mean, there's. There's a lot of types of directors out there, and so that obviously just. But you capture her.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, Well, I mean, that's my. I always say my biggest job on the set is create a safe environment where everybody feels they can try anything.

[David Spade]

Right.

[Paul Feig]

Because I used to, when I was an actor, I'd get yelled at by certain directors. What are you doing? Stop that.

[David Spade]

And then.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, you clench up.

[Dana]

Humiliated. Can I try something?

[Paul Feig]

Yeah.

[Dana]

And then I try something and it goes. That's what you wanted. Those are quotes. That happens. That's what you wanted.

[David Spade]

That's why?

[Dana]

This is in front of the whole.

[Paul Feig]

True.

[Dana]

So why would you sabotage the person in the movie?

[Paul Feig]

So awful. I mean, I, I love my fellow gga and yet sometimes I, I just go, you guys, come on.

[David Spade]

Well, sometimes they're, they're speeding it up. They want to keep moving. And also if you just go at the end. Can I try one? But if it's someone like you and you're like excited to see it, like, hey, if we can make it better. And then like you said, you stumble into something else that works, that's the fun. I think she can do that. I think she trusts you. Because I saw the Heat and I was with Sandra Bullock.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah. Yeah.

[David Spade]

Great. And. And then after that was Spy. Spy. Yeah, Spy. And Rose again.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Dana]

Comedy. Always a verbal, non verbal comedy with Melissa is always great. She does that. She does.

[Paul Feig]

I mean, well, she'll surprise you with jokes and.

[Dana]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

You know, sometimes she'll be in the middle of a, of like a really mean thing and she's like, I can't say that. I'm like, melissa, finish it. It's going to be the funniest thing you say all day.

[David Spade]

Yeah. At least for the outtakes. Give us something.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, totally.

[David Spade]

Some of those movies she goes off and then she can be very. You. You feel for.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, well, that's the thing. And that's, you know, I, you know when. Because when we did the Heat, there was a lot of not backlash, but I heard like certain, like entertainment reporters, like, well, she only does one thing. She's always just mean all the time. So that's why I did Spy. Because I was like, no, I want to show that she's actually really sweet.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

You know, in real life. But then she gets to become a tiger. She has to be a tiger. But then she is affected by it.

[David Spade]

I've always felt like a security system should do more than just react after something happens. If you could stop someone from breaking in before they even got inside, why wouldn't you? Most old school systems only alert you once. Obviously it's already too late. That's why they're simply safe. You should do it. It's proactive, AI powered cameras. Watch for potential threats outside. And if something seems a little off, a little suspicious, live agents can step in immediately, talking to the person through the camera, warning them they're on video, calling police if they need to. They can even trigger a siren or a spotlight. It's all designed to stop a crime before it happens.

[Dana]

I do like this product. I'm telling you the setup, simple. The monitoring is dependable. It gives me real peace of mind when I'm away. No long term contracts, no hidden fees. You can cancel anytime. U.S. news and World Report has named SimpliSafe one of the best home security systems for five years running with a 60 day money back guarantee. You can try it risk free this month.

[David Spade]

Only take 50% off on any new system. This is one of the best prices you'll ever see for SimpliSafe. Don't miss it. Hit simplisafe.com FOTW Again, that's SimpliSafe F OTW and lock in your discount. There's no safe like SimpliSafe.

[Dana]

Life can't be safe or simple. But it's simply safe for you and simple. You know, David, last year I gifted Masterclass to my sister for her birthday and she couldn't stop talking about it. See? See how that works? She integrated it into her mornings as a little personal growth ritual. Inspired me to do the same.

[David Spade]

Okay.

[Dana]

Now it's part of my routine too. Just a few minutes a day and I feel sharper, calmer, more creative.

[David Spade]

We needed to get you like honed down into that zone.

[Dana]

I'm so glad you, you just heard that. Like you've. You heard me. You felt, you felt my.

[David Spade]

I hear what you're saying.

[Dana]

Yeah, exactly. You listen.

[David Spade]

That's my crime. I'm a listener. You hear, but you don't listen. You look, but you don't see What? One of the favorite classes that I've heard about is Amy Poehler. You know what I mean? Amy Poehler does a improv class. And those are, those are things you can actually use in your everyday life. People have. When you're writing emails and your presentations, when you're in conversations, it sort of makes you think a little differently. But there's so many with Masterclass. I mean there's how many 200 world class classes with genius people teaching you. And the plan started just $10 a month, billed annually. So you can watch or listen anywhere on your phone, laptop, where else, or.

[Dana]

Even online if you're traveling. And David, every membership comes with bonus guides and a 30 day money back guarantee. Thousands of bite sized lessons fit right into your schedule. Make it easy to learn from the best on your own time.

[David Spade]

That's right. Masterclass always has great offers during the holidays, sometimes up to as much as 50% off. Head over to masterclass.com fly for the current offer. That's up to 50% [e-mail] fly.

[Paul Feig]

Hey Ryan.

[David Spade]

Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. You know, one of the perks about having four kids that you know about.

[Paul Feig]

Is actually getting a direct line to.

[Dana]

The big man up north.

[David Spade]

And this year he wants you to know the best gift that you can.

[Paul Feig]

Give someone is the gift of Mint.

[David Spade]

Mobile's unlimited wireless for $15 a month.

[Paul Feig]

Now you don't even need to wrap it.

[David Spade]

Give it a try. @mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of $45 for.

[Paul Feig]

Three month plan equivalent to $15 per month. Required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes if network's busy. Taxes and fees extra.

[Dana]

See mintmobile.com so you actually read reviews that are actionable on them. Oh, I see that now. I'm going to make a whole giant $30 million movie to prove you motherfucking.

[Paul Feig]

Pretty much. I, I, I, I do everything out of revenge. Basically.

[Dana]

Just wait a minute. You'll see her range.

[David Spade]

And then she was in a simple favor. Or was that Blake Lively?

[Paul Feig]

No, that's Blake.

[David Spade]

Yeah, yeah, I know. They're all these.

[Dana]

What's going on with Blake Lively right now?

[David Spade]

Yeah, she's a great actor. Are you going to.

[Paul Feig]

Fantastic.

[David Spade]

Are you going to jail?

[Dana]

There's.

[Paul Feig]

I know exactly.

[David Spade]

I don't know.

[Dana]

I don't.

[Paul Feig]

I have no idea what's going on.

[David Spade]

I know. I don't either.

[Paul Feig]

Oh, I, I'm team Blake. I'm definitely.

[Dana]

Do you have any final. Because we'll put it to rest here. Do you have any final thing to say about Ghostbusters?

[Paul Feig]

I'm glad I made it. I'm very proud of it.

[Dana]

Okay.

[Paul Feig]

The people that had a problem with it. I'm sorry, Younger people really like it. It was a lot of.

[Dana]

Mostly, hey, it's supposed to be Bill Murray.

[Paul Feig]

Older guys who saw when they were kids and they got really mad that I would.

[David Spade]

No, it is. It was with me going that I'm exactly your demo old cranky. I should be an expert cranky.

[Dana]

I judge everything. I don't like anything to change.

[David Spade]

That's not him.

[Paul Feig]

Wait a minute.

[David Spade]

I don't even like Dan Aykroyd being older now. I'm like, I want him the way I saw him. And so when I see that, I go, I literally go in. I go, I gotta be fair about this. Yeah, I love Ghostbusters, but I think these girls are funny. So what do we do? So I go in and I go, it is funny. Now that's just one opinion. But I paid. I went and saw it and I saw it too.

[Dana]

I thought it was great. You go, well, those four people are.

[David Spade]

Just, it's different, there's different jokes. It's not, it's not exact frame by frame recreation.

[Paul Feig]

No, because you didn't want to do that. But it was just, you know, it was, I, I thought it would be fun. What? I didn't realize it wasn't going to be fun. Yeah, I know, it was, it was one of the worst experiences. Not making it was, was fantastic. But the, all this around it. I mean, Donald Trump came out against us.

[David Spade]

Oh, he did.

[Paul Feig]

Well, there's a video, there was a video going.

[Dana]

We don't like it. We wanted that. We gotta have the other guys. The ladies can do their movies. The men do their movies.

[Paul Feig]

Well, here's the exact, here's the exact quote. You can find it online. It's on.

[Dana]

Oh, really?

[Paul Feig]

It's on video. He goes, and now the Ghostbusters are women. What's going on?

[David Spade]

What is going on?

[Dana]

It's the end of the world as we know it. It's not good. And let me tell you, I've seen it many times and they're busting them. I know what they do. And they need Dan Aykroyd. They've got to have Ackroyd. So let's talk about your current movie, which I like these kind of movies. I saw the teaser trailer I thought was kind of brilliant because it's just a, you know, and so it's called Housemaid.

[Paul Feig]

The Housemaid, yeah.

[Dana]

With someone who I, I think is sort of out there now a lot.

[Paul Feig]

I think she's got a future. Yeah. Sydney Sweeney, you've heard of her.

[Dana]

And Amanda Seyfried. Seyfried. And so tell us about this movie that's coming out in December.

[Paul Feig]

Yes. Yeah, I'm very excited about it. It's, it's more of a straight up thriller, but it's still in my own inimitable way, it's going to be funny at times. Gets nutty. Yeah, it gets, you know, in the weapons. Yeah, it gets. But it's, it's, it's based on a best selling book that's been on the bestseller list for a year and a half called the Housemaid by Frida McFadden and Brandon Sklenar is also in it, who's fantastic. And Michaela Moroney, who was in my Another Simple Favor movie that I did last. And it's, it's just, it's a really fun, twisty thriller. You think you know where it's going and you completely don't know where it's going. And then it twists.

[David Spade]

I love it.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah. I love thrillers. That's kind of all I watch.

[David Spade]

It's good for City Sweeney.

[Dana]

You know what?

[Paul Feig]

Yeah.

[Dana]

You know what? I do, too.

[David Spade]

Huge star.

[Dana]

I really like thrillers. Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

You know, it is.

[Dana]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

I find I don't watch much comedy because.

[Dana]

Oh, I don't watch it at all. I know how the rabbit gets out of the hat.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah.

[Dana]

It has to be something really different.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, no, totally. I did just watch Friendship the other night, and that really made me laugh.

[David Spade]

How is that Friendship?

[Paul Feig]

Yeah. You know, Tim is just so. It's.

[Dana]

If you like those two guys. Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

You love Tim. You'll love this movie.

[David Spade]

Sure.

[Paul Feig]

There's some of the funniest. There's a couple of sequences that are so funny. Funny.

[David Spade]

He's got some of the best clips.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

You know, like, everything is clips now, but, yeah, it's a way to introduce you. It's like a little nugget. And then if I see it enough, it starts showing up and I'm like, obviously I'm watching because it keeps telling me, oh, you like this?

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, no, totally.

[David Spade]

You're gonna look at it again and then keep surprising me. It's very hard.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah. No, it's true. So I don't watch, like. But I. Yeah. Thrillers and crime shows and all that. I love all that stuff.

[Dana]

Yeah. That's. I watch them with my wife and, you know, and they're. They're just fun. I do like true crime, too.

[David Spade]

Did you say it? The housemaid is what it's called?

[Paul Feig]

The housemaid, yeah.

[David Spade]

And did you say a little bit of what it was about, or you don't want to say?

[Paul Feig]

Oh, you know, I just say. Yeah, I guess I should do a plug. Yeah. It's about this young woman who's kind of living out of her car, a little down on her luck, who goes and gets an interview to be a housemaid in this rich. This rich family's house and gets the job. And the woman who hires her seems like the greatest boss ever. And then things start to turn, get weird.

[David Spade]

I'm in.

[Paul Feig]

Thanks.

[David Spade]

That's all I needed. Excellent living in car.

[Paul Feig]

You're gonna love it. Exactly. And it. And it's. It's a sexy thriller, too. I'll say that.

[Dana]

It's kind of nice. I mean, I just.

[David Spade]

Everything for Eden was like, these two girls are gonna hook up. Like, Eden was just like. I thought it was literally two girls hooking up. That was the pitch. It Was like, yeah, I thought it.

[Dana]

Was really kind of a softcore porn.

[Paul Feig]

This is taking you back to your skin days.

[David Spade]

It was. And I was like, oh, there's other people.

[Paul Feig]

Wait, there's sand.

[David Spade]

Actually, how do you. That sounded like an interesting movie. Because it was weird.

[Paul Feig]

Like, I go, well, it was a true story.

[Dana]

You know, how do you fight this idea that we all know I was in and out. Oh, Eden was a true story.

[David Spade]

No, I did like it. And Jude Law, everyone good was in it.

[Paul Feig]

Jude. I love Jude.

[Dana]

So when will it be on my machine? Eden?

[Paul Feig]

Well, it's going to be in theaters, believe it or not.

[Dana]

Still hasn't been released.

[Paul Feig]

I'm sorry.

[Dana]

Oh, yeah, I switched over here. We know about Housemate. Let's go back about.

[Paul Feig]

Because the housemate opens December 19th.

[Dana]

But I mean, sort of the thing. It's in theaters. And then you have to want compel people to the theater thinking that, well, it'll be on Amazon prime in a month. So is there a strategy?

[Paul Feig]

It'll be on the machine soon, I bet. Always.

[Dana]

Always.

[David Spade]

I guess it's always on something else later.

[Dana]

It used to be DVD, used to.

[David Spade]

Be VHS, but now, like F1 I saw. Then it goes. It's gonna be on Apple.

[Paul Feig]

I'm like, oh, yeah.

[David Spade]

I didn't want to wait. But you know, it's like, oh, okay. But there's a window. It's shorter, it's long.

[Paul Feig]

I love the big screen is good.

[Dana]

I'll tell you this, what I've discovered. This is because of this connectivity.

[Paul Feig]

Yes.

[Dana]

It's either church or a movie theater. Turn it off for two hours, it goes pitch dark. The sounds really great. You're in a stadium. There's almost no one there. It's fantastic.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Dana]

I mean, the world just quiets down. It's way bigger deal than it was to me in the 90s.

[Paul Feig]

Oh, no.

[Dana]

Now it's like, I'm going to turn it off.

[David Spade]

Well, at home when I watch movies, I look at my phone and I got. When I go to the theater, you're also disturbing people. So it's one more reason to go just fucking for a little bit.

[Paul Feig]

Even though you get itchy, you go, oh, no, totally. Or like when you hear it, like, buzz, you know, you're like, wonder what it was? It's that.

[Dana]

Let me ask you a question about the summer blockbusters and which one that you might have enjoyed the most? I was in my own head because I did see all three in the theater. Because Jurassic park, right?

[David Spade]

Are they super?

[Dana]

Mission Impossible, Superman Those three.

[David Spade]

Yes.

[Dana]

All did really well and got a lot of people in the theater, which is great for the movie industry.

[Paul Feig]

Yes.

[Dana]

Do you have a favorite?

[Paul Feig]

You're gonna love this.

[Dana]

You don't have to.

[Paul Feig]

I didn't see it.

[David Spade]

What?

[Dana]

I didn't see Fantastic Four.

[Paul Feig]

No. I hate to say I'm not a superhero guy.

[Dana]

Okay, what's your favorite favorite movie in the last few years? What's the movie that's really float floated your boat, besides Dunkirk. I'm just throwing stuff out.

[Paul Feig]

There you go. Exactly.

[Dana]

Once upon a time in Hollywood, that was.

[Paul Feig]

I enjoyed that very much. I really like that. I mean, I have to say, I think, well, there's a movie called Abigail that I loved. It was this vampire movie, but that's a straight up comedy because it's so bananas, you gotta watch it.

[Dana]

That's on the machine.

[Paul Feig]

No, exactly. Yeah, that's on the machine. You can definitely get on the machine.

[Dana]

I've heard of that.

[Paul Feig]

Megan. I thought Megan was great. The first Megan. I didn't see the second one yet.

[Dana]

Yeah, I mean, I got you.

[David Spade]

Is Allison Williams and Megan.

[Paul Feig]

Yes.

[David Spade]

She's the mom.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, she's the.

[David Spade]

It starts like a tragic beginning, right?

[Paul Feig]

Oh, no, totally. Well, it's actually got really funny beginning because it starts with the ad for the dolls for this other dolls they're trying to sell. That's. I go like, okay. I. They. It's so smart. You got to set the tone right at the beginning of a movie.

[David Spade]

Yeah. You said open with. Did you say that? Open.

[Paul Feig]

It's.

[David Spade]

You got to get something right away. It's almost like a tik tok.

[Paul Feig]

We just got to let people know how to watch the movie.

[David Spade]

Right. Okay.

[Dana]

Horror films are the, the highest money makers at the moment.

[Paul Feig]

At the moment.

[Dana]

At the moment.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah.

[Dana]

I was just curious just before we let you go. It's just like, what, what movies that you love? Just off the top of your head, you have to say your favorite just.

[Paul Feig]

Of all way back. I mean, my favorite movie of all time, it's It's a Wonderful Life. And not that I think it's the greatest movie ever made, but I think it accomplishes everything a movie is supposed to accomplish. Accomplish. It makes you cry, it makes you happy, it makes you sad, it takes you through dramatic things and it's uplifting at the end. So I always love that one.

[Dana]

I, I concur. I, I literally, it's a thing. My wife just laughs because if I talk about that movie with people and I just. And I don't Know if it'll get me now. But it's like a trigger. You get emotional when the people come to the end and they say, we heard. No, it's. I'm already feeling it. We heard, George. But.

[David Spade]

Sorry.

[Dana]

Yeah. Bailey was in trouble. I don't know why. That gets me every time.

[Paul Feig]

It's fantastic. And, you know, the. The backstory on that movie is it. It literally bankrupted the studio that really created it. Yeah. It was Capra and. And some other guys started the studio, Liberty Studios, I think it was called to. And. And it was so poorly received and so destroyed by the critics.

[Dana]

Crap. Capricorn.

[Paul Feig]

Yes, Capricorn. Exactly.

[Dana]

Cornball.

[Paul Feig]

But it was only because when, you know, TV came around and they. It was something that they could put on for free or for, like, no money, so they just started playing it over and over again at Christmas time. That's how it became this big.

[David Spade]

Oh, boy. I kind of like those stories.

[Paul Feig]

I like those stories, too. Because when the critics all over your movies, you go, maybe there's a second chance.

[Dana]

So what else is on your list? Off top of your head.

[Paul Feig]

Dr. Strangelove, one of my favorites of all time. Bringing Up Baby. One of my favorite movies of all time.

[Dana]

That was Z. Hepburn.

[Paul Feig]

Jimmy Stewart. And. And. No. And you're. You're the guy that nobody knows the. That you do anymore.

[Dana]

Cary Grant.

[Paul Feig]

Cary Grant, yeah.

[David Spade]

Carrie Grant. Right.

[Paul Feig]

In one of his funniest roles ever, he plays a nerd, and it's hilarious.

[Dana]

But I like to bring up babies. Something about the babies that I just love. It's a fun voice to do. It's the weirdest voice in film.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, totally. It's. It's fantastic.

[Dana]

Do you like 2001 A Space Odyssey?

[Paul Feig]

I do. I love it.

[Dana]

You like that?

[Paul Feig]

Love that movie.

[Dana]

Okay.

[Paul Feig]

Funny. When I was in film school, I had a friend and he was like, oh, man, if they made that movie today, the sound would be so much better. And I go, no, the reason that movie's great is because there's no sound like, where they're in space. It's just silent.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Paul Feig]

And it's so creepy, you know when that guy's trying to get back in and they're trying to grab him? I'm like, oh, it's so harrowing. And then he goes, drift. I never got that. For years it took me. I kept thinking about that guy who drifted off and.

[Dana]

The greatest death scene in a movie.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah.

[Dana]

I can feel it, Dave. I can feel it.

[Paul Feig]

Daisy. And now here we are in the.

[Dana]

World of AI well, Paul, scary part. And. And we all. I can. In three years, I can make a movie with my computer like Apocalypse Now. Right? Three years.

[Paul Feig]

I refuse to believe that's going to happen.

[David Spade]

Garbage.

[Dana]

Your movie Apocalypse now is garbage.

[David Spade]

No, I mean if you're going to go make it on your computer with AI.

[Paul Feig]

I know. Exactly. You still see where human experience. Exactly.

[Dana]

So.

[David Spade]

Well, you've been on the David Spade. I want to know if. If you would think I could handle the Conjuring.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah. Oh, yeah, Yeah. I mean, I love the Conjuring movies.

[Dana]

But would you enjoy it?

[David Spade]

No, I won't. I mean, that's based on. If it's as any real. If there's any devil. I can't take it.

[Paul Feig]

Go to see Weapons.

[David Spade]

Weapons is a good. Okay. You and Dana both like it.

[Paul Feig]

You will enjoy it.

[Dana]

It's mostly funny and. And it's filmed. I thought the beginning, the first act is so interestingly.

[Paul Feig]

Yeah, the first act, you'll go like, oh, this is gonna be really scary. And then it. Cause it jumps around different POVs of the different characters. And then. Let's just say Amy Madigan is brilliant in the movie.

[Dana]

I didn't know it until I was.

[Paul Feig]

I didn't know until the end credits.

[Dana]

Yeah, you're gonna get pop outs, you know, and you know when they're coming. When the camera's in tight. What I do is I sort of squint.

[Paul Feig]

There's not too many of those. Cause I don't. I don't.

[Dana]

There's only like three of those. Kind of like, you know, just squint during those.

[David Spade]

I'm in my late standing line.

[Paul Feig]

Take a beta blocker and I'll take.

[David Spade]

A beta blocker and go. All right, thank you, Paul and I will.

[Dana]

Thanks, Paul.

[David Spade]

Movie housemate. We will go December 19th.

[Paul Feig]

December 19th. And theaters only.

[Dana]

Theaters only.

[David Spade]

I'm gonna see it and then I'm gonna hit you up after.

[Paul Feig]

You bet. I can't wait.

[Dana]

Perfect.

[David Spade]

All right, bye, guys. I'm gonna go.

[Dana]

Bye, everybody.

[Paul Feig]

Thanks, everybody.

[Dana]

Goodbye, everybody.

[Paul Feig]

See ya.

[David Spade]

Hey, guys. If you're loving this podcast, which you are, be sure to click, follow follow on your favorite podcast app, give us a review, five star rating, and maybe even share an episode that you've loved with a friend.

[Dana]

If you're watching this episode on YouTube, please subscribe. We're on video now.

[David Spade]

Fly on the Wall is presented by Odyssey, an executive produced by Danny Carvey and David Spade, Heather Santoro and Greg Holtzman, Maddie Sprung Kaiser and Leah Reese Dennis of Odyssey, our senior producer is.

[Dana]

Greg Holtzman and the show is produced. Produced and edited by Phil Sweet Tech.

[David Spade]

Booking by Cultivated Entertainment.

[Dana]

Special thanks to Patrick Fogarty, Evan Cox, Maura Curran, Melissa Wester, Hillary Schuff, Eric Donnelly, Colin Gaynor, Sean Cherry, Kirk Courtney and Lauren Vieira.

[David Spade]

Reach out with us Any questions to be asked and answered on the show? You can email us at Fly on the [e-mail] that's a U D a C-Y dot com.