The Adam Friedland Show

Episode: JOHN C. REILLY Talks Step Brothers, Empathy, New Album

Date: January 9, 2026
Guest: John C. Reilly

Episode Overview

Adam Friedland sits down with acclaimed actor and musician John C. Reilly for a thoughtful, candid, and often hilarious conversation. They delve into Reilly’s storied film career, his new music project ("Mr. Romantic"), and explore topics such as comedy vs. drama, empathy in a cynical cultural moment, and the enduring impact of family—chosen and otherwise. The pair riff on influences from Paul Thomas Anderson to Bob Dylan and discuss the power of live performance and authentic connection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Banter and Laying the Groundwork

• The episode opens with playful height jokes between Adam and John, lightheartedly mocking Hollywood conventions and resume embellishments.
  • "You're six foot eleven. How's it fit? That's nice, dude. For Hollywood. That's a Hollywood six, eight." (A, 00:54)
• Adam acknowledges this is his last show of the year, thanking supporters and introducing Reilly as "Mr. Romantic."

2. On Boogie Nights, Taxi Driver, and the Power of Cinema

(6:00 – 16:00)

• Adam expresses lifelong appreciation for Boogie Nights and its transformative effect on him alongside Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon.
  • “Historically, I'd say probably since I was 15, my favorite movie has probably been Boogie Nights.” (A, 06:00)
• Reilly shares insights from watching the film in 70mm, expressing awe at the “another movie” feeling thanks to improved sound and picture.
  • “Paul just made a new 70mm print of Boogie Nights... It was a revelation.” (B, 07:51)
• Discussion of how films play differently on big screens; Taxi Driver plays as comedy in theaters due to audience familiarity with iconic lines.
• Reilly recounts working with Jodie Foster and her precociousness as an actor, revealing her isolation during Bugsy Malone due to being a professional amongst amateurs.

3. Child Acting, Directing Kids, and Theatre’s Transformative Power

(11:30 – 16:00)

• Both discuss experiences directing/acting with children and the challenge of fostering emotional intelligence.
• Reilly shares his philosophy directing children’s theatre—casting roles to help children grow, not just show off talent.
  • “We would pick the kid who needed to be Thor... Suddenly, you know, anyway, it was really..." (B, 12:25)

4. Maturing as an Actor, Personal Loss, and Empathy

(16:00 – 18:28)

• Adam opens up about the death of his mother affecting his reading of Magnolia, relating to its theme of love.
  • "I watched Magnolia recently, and after losing a parent, it hits completely different." (A, 16:22)
• Reilly describes how Magnolia’s famous frog scene was inspired by real events and serves as a metaphor for inexplicable tragedy—loss and chaos.
  • “Frogs falling out of the sky makes about as much sense to a person as getting hit by lightning or your father or mother getting cancer.” (B, 17:39)

5. Comedy vs. Drama; Reilly’s Approach

(18:28 – 21:20)

• Reilly distances himself from viewing himself as a “comedian.”
  • “I don’t think of myself as a comedian or like a comedic actor, per se. I think I’m just an actor..." (B, 18:52)
• He highlights the importance of absolute commitment to a scene's “truth,” even in comedy (Step Brothers anecdotes, life stories inspiring bits).
  • “If you commit fully … it’s a serious thing. You’re in a comedy. That’s how I know how to do it.” (B, 19:43)
• Shares that much of Step Brothers came from real memories, like sibling fights over musical instruments.

6. South Side Chicago, Neighborhoods, and Social Divides

(21:20 – 22:15)

• Reilly discusses growing up in Marquette Park, Chicago; references its history as a site of racial tension and the origins of 1970s neo-Nazis.
  • “Marquette park has a very bad reputation among Jewish people in Chicago because the Neo Nazis of the 1970s started in Marquette Park." (B, 21:38)

7. Transition to Music & Mr. Romantic

(43:11 – 44:15)

• Reilly introduces Mr. Romantic, his new music/theater project:
  • “Mr. Romantic is this mythical character... lives in a steamer trunk that’s been traveling the world for thousands of years...” (B, 43:12)
  • The premise: “He doesn’t have to go back... if he can find one person in the audience who will love him.”
• Show explores universal longing and connection regardless of gender.
  • “I'm not gay or straight. I'm desperate.” (B, 44:11)

8. The Cultural Moment: Empathy vs. Misanthropy

(55:01 – 58:06)

• Reilly passionately critiques the current cultural celebration of cynicism, especially in TV and film.
  • “We're in this weird ... moment where empathy has become uncool. Like, even Elon Musk said empathy is weakness ... and he's completely wrong.” (B, 55:23)
  • “Empathy, to me, is the foundation of civilization ... The only way that civilization actually works.” (B, 55:52)
• He rails against misanthropic art/media, calling it “adolescent thought,” and argues for showing the full nuance of life: “Sometimes, even shitty people do something good.”

9. Music, Influence, and Meeting Heroes

(23:35 – 34:11, 64:00 – 65:04)

• Discussion of favorite songwriters (Beatles, Bob Dylan).
• Reilly shares stories about being on Bob Dylan's radio show, intentionally avoiding meeting Dylan in person to preserve artistic mystique.
  • "I actually don't want to meet the human being. I don't want to meet the human being... I want him to live in the place where he already lives." (B, 26:05)
• On meeting celebrity heroes—some live up to expectations (Jack Nicholson), others not.

10. Film & Music: Intertwined Histories

(34:37 – 44:41)

• They discuss Let It Be and Get Back documentaries (Peter Jackson), The Beatles’ dynamics, and the human stories at the heart of legendary creative output.
  • “It was like a gentle rain washing away the misogyny that people treated Yoko with …” (B, 38:24)
• Reilly expresses deep admiration for Paul McCartney as the “workhorse” of the band, and the group’s creative interplay.

11. Acting, the MCU, and New Projects

(65:46 – 68:26)

• Reilly on his MCU experience: “I did do one MCU thing and I was like, that's enough. … I found it hard. … I couldn't get it into my head or into my heart or something." (B, 65:54)
• Talks new upcoming films (Heads or Tails, A Prayer for the Dying, How to Rob a Bank), and confirms a desire to direct someday.
• Insights on being an elder statesman on set, mentorship, and the legacy of his late friend Philip Seymour Hoffman.
  • "A lion among men. ... He had gravitas as a young man that was a mystery." (B, 69:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Comedy and Truth (19:43):
  “If you commit fully ... it's a serious thing. You're in a comedy. Like that's how I know how to do it.” – John C. Reilly

• On Empathy (55:23):
  “Empathy, to me, is the foundation of civilization ... The only way that civilization actually works is if I care about you. Even though I don't know you, I care about you.” – John C. Reilly

• On Chosen Family (58:35):
  "Boogie Nights is about choosing your family and finding your family, so he finds another mother. ... He chooses his family and at the end he's happy. He's found a family that loves him." – John C. Reilly

• On Meeting Heroes (26:05):
  “I actually don't want to meet the human being. I don't want to meet the human being. ... I want him to live in the place where he already lives. For me, it's already perfect.” – John C. Reilly

• On Working with Philip Seymour Hoffman (69:44):
  “A lion among men ... He had gravitas as a young man that I was a mystery. I was like, how do you have this gravitas? We're both the same age. How? ... I had a lot of respect for Phil.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [06:00] – Adam’s formative films, Boogie Nights and Barry Lyndon
• [07:51] – 70mm Boogie Nights, the revival experience
• [11:30] – Directing children, casting to foster growth
• [16:22] – Magnolia, grief, and the transformative nature of love
• [18:52] – Reilly on acting style: not a comedian, but an actor who believes in the circumstances of the scene
• [19:43] – Truth and commitment in comedy
• [21:38] – Marquette Park, neo-Nazi history in Chicago
• [43:12] – Mr. Romantic: show concept and the pursuit of love
• [55:23] – Empathy’s role in civilization; pushback against cynicism
• [58:35] – Boogie Nights is about chosen family
• [65:54] – Reilly’s experience filming Guardians of the Galaxy
• [69:44] – Remembering Philip Seymour Hoffman

Tone & Language

The conversation is candid, reflective, and often playful—balancing humorous banter with sincere explorations of art and life. Adam’s tone is enthusiastic and occasionally irreverent, while Reilly brings a mixture of humility, earnestness, and sharp insight, often punctuated with dry wit and deep empathy.

Summary Takeaway

This wide-ranging and often poignant episode showcases John C. Reilly as more than a gifted comic actor—he’s a thoughtful artist and a fierce advocate for empathy in both art and life. The discussion moves fluidly between the personal and the cosmic, finding common ground in the value of connection, chosen family, and the simple pursuit of love—in film, in song, and on the live stage.