Joy, a Podcast: Craig Ferguson with Jason Biggs

Episode Date: November 18, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode of the Joy podcast, Craig Ferguson sits down with actor and first-time movie director Jason Biggs for a freewheeling, candid, and frequently hilarious conversation. The two industry veterans swap stories about Hollywood, fame, child acting, creative failure and success, relocating from LA to New York, and what it really takes to find joy—and keep perspective—in a notoriously up-and-down business. With banter and self-deprecation, Ferguson and Biggs pull back the curtain on the realities of show business while also reflecting on personal journeys and growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Burden (and Blessing) of “Iconic” Roles

• Opening banter: Ferguson jokes about old projects, bad movies, and the random encounters with fans who reference "American Pie" as a “shameful” favorite.
• Biggs reflects on becoming synonymous with a mega-hit:

  “I went through that... am I going to be this guy? Is this what's happened?” (05:18 – Jason Biggs)

• Both agree: As time goes on, you appreciate what success those projects brought.

2. Life as a Kid Actor & Parenting

• Biggs shares the realities and ups/downs of being a child actor in New Jersey—not Hollywood:

  "I could...in my ruts as a kid actor, I could just be a kid. Right. You know, I actually welcomed them to an extent." (07:05 – Jason Biggs)

• Ferguson and Biggs muse on whether they’d let their own kids act; both are wary of exposing children to the industry too soon (08:21).

3. Industry Rejection and Resilience

• Both discuss the constant rejection baked into show business:

  "You have one ball and you have one pitch in 10, and you're a Hall of Famer...you’re going to look like a dick." (09:37 – Craig)

• The myth that top creators have no failures is debunked—failures just disappear quietly (10:11–10:19).

4. Behind the Curtain: Hollywood Stars as Real People

• Anecdotes about actors like Oscar Isaac, Harry Connick Jr., and Pierce Brosnan abound, highlighting their professionalism and humanity.
• Ferguson tells a memorable Brosnan story (17:12) and delves into how Hollywood can be demystified when you realize stars lead regular lives:

  "It was so normal. And then you would, like, read, you know, it was like, oh, the Hollywood cocktail party set. I'm like, I don't think I ever went to a cocktail party..." (34:19 – Craig)

5. On Fame: Then and Now

• The concept of fame has shifted—more fragmented, accessible, and not always lucrative in modern social media era (25:03–25:19).
• Kardashians get a nod for professionalism and hustle despite being easy targets for derision (25:44–25:59).

6. Set Etiquette & Working in the Industry

• Ferguson and Biggs lament actors behaving badly—being late, egotistical, or disrespectful—and the importance of respecting the craft and everyone involved (26:42–27:51).

  "I've been on sets where people are late or won’t come out of their trailer...it’s a combination...those are the kinds of things that really bother me, you know." (27:07–27:51 – Jason Biggs)

7. Living in LA vs. New York

• Both recount their long stints in LA, why they left, and the unexpected ways the city affects you:

  "I went for two weeks and I was there 23 years... I woke up, I had two kids, I had been divorced and remarried and I was a fucking vegan with a cat." (42:15–42:25 – Craig)

• Biggs describes his move for family and sobriety, as well as how NYC's energy aids his well-being (40:06–41:05).

8. Sobriety and Geographical “Cures”

• Ferguson shares his own story of sobriety and moving to Scotland before returning to the States, musing on how relocations can help but aren’t a cure-all for inner struggles (41:05–42:16).

9. Directing for the First Time

• Biggs reveals the fear and thrill of directing his first film, “Untitled Home Invasion Romance,” and balancing acting in it as well:

  "I've always wanted to direct. I've always thought I could do it. ...But I was afraid." (44:08 – Jason Biggs)

• Insights on taking creative risks, new responsibilities, and learning to trust the process.
• Both discuss the challenge of being in your own film and the editing process as a new creative joy (45:44–56:20).

  “I directed a movie that I was in...the biggest mistake I made...dealing with #1 on the call sheet, who was also me.” (45:47–46:04 – Craig)

10. Balancing Pride and Self-Criticism After a Project

• Ferguson admits he was once a “dick” about his first movie, hard on himself and others, but eventually learned to step back and value what was accomplished (49:55–50:53).

  "Once you make it, I think you have to shut up about it, which is weird because you have to promote it." (50:40 – Craig)

• Biggs expresses resonant anxieties—dwelling on what could have been, wondering when or if you can really like your own work (51:09–54:03).

  “Do I like it? You’re right, I don’t know. And it'd be interesting to see in 10 years what I feel about it.” (53:53 – Jason Biggs)

11. Future Directing Aspirations

• Biggs hopes to direct again—next time, with a smaller role or none at all:

  “The headline being I would do this again. I think I might try to give myself a smaller part, if any.” (54:48 – Jason Biggs)

12. Theater vs. Film Directing

• Brief discussion on how theater directing differs, and might be more actor-focused and pure, but also competitive—“a whole line around the block waiting to take the part.” (56:20–56:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Relentless Forward Motion in Hollywood:

  “You can be standing on a red carpet with an Oscar in your hand… and they'll say…what do you do next? What's next?”
  (11:47 – Craig paraphrasing Macaulay Culkin)

• On Set Behavior:

  “I've been on sets where people are late or won’t come out of their trailer… Is it control? Is it…infantile?...Those are the kinds of things that really bother me…”
  (27:07–27:51 – Jason Biggs)

• On LA vs. New York:

  "I went for two weeks and I was there 23 years...I woke up...I was a fucking vegan with a cat."
  (42:15–42:25 – Craig Ferguson)

• On Editing and Directing:

  "I loved editing. Editing was amazing... But working with the actors, the other actors..."
  (56:01 – Jason Biggs)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:05] – American Pie and fan encounters
• [04:19] – Kid actors and becoming a heartthrob
• [05:18] – On being “that guy” and the burden/blessing of a signature role
• [07:07] – Biggs on being a child actor in Jersey
• [09:37] – Rejection in show business (“baseball” analogy)
• [17:12] – Pierce Brosnan story and the reality of seeing stars as people
• [25:03] – Changes in fame and social media
• [26:42] – Set etiquette and disrespectful actors
• [40:06] – Leaving LA, drinking, isolation, and finding new energy in New York
• [44:08] – Fear and excitement of directing for the first time
• [49:55] – Ferguson on being critical of his own work
• [53:53] – Biggs: “Do I like it? …I don’t know.”
• [54:48] – Would Biggs direct again? (“Headline being I would do this again…smaller part, if any”)
• [56:20] – The appeal of directing theater

Tone & Style

The conversation maintains Ferguson’s wry, self-deprecating, and whip-smart humor throughout, with Biggs matching his candor and openness. The tone is warm, unguarded, and often playfully irreverent, displaying deep mutual respect and a shared willingness to poke fun at themselves and the industry.

For New Listeners

This episode offers a rich, honest, and funny look inside the realities of fame, creativity, and growing up both in and out of the industry. You’ll leave with both industry insight and a sense of the joy—and absurdity—that comes from surviving, evolving, and sometimes failing publicly, while still loving the work and the people around you.

Memorable close:

"Obviously now I'm gonna quit doing a podcast. Cause this was it." *(57:16 – Craig)
"It doesn't get better." (57:22 – Jason)

Listen for laughs, honesty, and a much-needed dose of humility about Hollywood, life, and where we find our joy.