"Steve Buscemi"

Okay, guys, we're gonna do it. We're gonna do one more episode. That's it. This is our last episode. Listeners, this is our final episode ever of Smart List. Right before we do the next one. That's right. This is it. This is the last one. This is it for this one. Goodbye until the next one. When does it start? It's gonna start right now. So hello. And goodbye. No, hello. Until the next one. It's an all-new Smart List. Until the next one. Smart List. Smart List. What time is it there, Sean? It's dinner. It's 5.30 p.m. 5.30. I just ate. I had a piece of cod and I had some potatoes and some asparagus. So cod, that's British. That's what they do the fish and chips with, right? That's right. I had cod. But before that, I had a cinnamon roll. Yeah, of course. That's British for American food. Hey, are you just moving dinner earlier and earlier into the day? What's happening? Well, yeah. Well, I do have... It's funny because my day kind of starts now because LA is just waking up. So I have a... Meanwhile, you've done a full day of rehearsal already. Yeah. Yeah. And some interviews in the morning and radio like... I mean, but aren't you... When you say your day starts, what are you doing? Yeah. So after this, then I go, I'm writing something for something. Wait, what do you mean? I don't want to say it. So are you trying your hand at screenwriting or writing a play or... No, I'm just... We're kind of talking it out and writing what the characters are, the development, like the outline and all that stuff. Okay. Will, does it taste good? God, is it sound? Fuck. Sorry. Sorry. I forgot. The gum. We're doing an audio show. I know. Who was the person who said... Somebody said to me once, hey, man, can you turn your gum down? That's a good one. That is so good. Sorry, I forgot. And Will, you're just getting started over there. Well, actually you're midday right now. I'm midday. I was up this morning at 5.45. Don't need to brag. Is that Wild LA, New York? London. London. All at the same time. Tell me what's wild about it. Different time zones? Talked about how wild... Let's talk about how wild it is, Sean. Wait, Sean, no, sorry. What is it? It's all it's Will. What did you do since 5.30? You're in seven hours into your day. I woke up this morning. I did my actural-wordal quartal that used to be a part of with our old buddies. You're still doing that? I'm still doing it every morning. And then I did a hot cold. I did a sauna. And then I did a cold plan for a few minutes. Then I went to my morning... Meeting? Gathering. Meeting. Very good. With all my peeps. Had a little coffee, came back, drove able to work, came back, worked out. And now I'm here. Had a little quickly something to eat. Now I'm here. When did you shower? I had a pretty full day. When did you shower? Oh, fuck, I knew there was something. Yeah. I knew. I'm going to do it after. Because it's just me in this sticky little booth. No, but you worked out. I didn't have time. I didn't have time. I literally just finished. I went upstairs. I had some leftover chicken salad. All I'm figuring out from this is that the workout was light. It was not light. I'll guarantee you that. Well, then why haven't you showered? You weren't a sweaty fucking mess. Of course I wasn't. I didn't have time. I didn't want to be late because we have a great guest. All right. Wait. Yes, go ahead. Oh, no, no, no. No, no, no. I do have a great guest. I do have a great guest. You guys are going to be really thrilled. And so I mean, our audience already knows because they looked at the thing when they logged on. Sardinos, what? Our audience already knows. Sardino, is your hearing going with your hair? What's happening? That's what happens. And the knees and the hips. Our guest today, he has built a career out of portraying some of the most unique and unforgettable characters in recent cinema. I mean, he's one of these guys who has. Al Pacino. Al Pacino. Bert Reynolds is still around. McConaughey's coming back. He literally just said one sentence already guessing. All better. All better. I think our guest is laughing at how absurd that is. Al Pacino out of the blue. Haven't even named him. He's been nominated for Golden Globes. He's been to Spirit Awards. Here's Frostman. You, oh my God. You know him. You know him. And he's done it all in television and film. Some of the great Boardwalk Empire. Steve Busciani. Get him out here. Steve Busciani. Get him out. Reservoir Don't Call me Steve Busciani. You guys wouldn't let me finish for fuck's sake. You've got a berry. You can't name his stuff because once you start naming everything he's done, you're like, oh yes. You could start with some of the voiceover stuff. You would have kept us in the dark. Well, if I'd started with the animated movies, you're right. One of the greatest voiceover artists next to Will Arnett. That's right. That's saying something. Thank you. That's saying very well. Monster's University. Yeah, there you go. I know. I know. What about Igor? Oh, Igor, right. Igor. Come on. We've worked together a lot and never really. Wait, what was Igor? No, I don't know if I knew Igor. It was an animated film from 17,000 years ago. Okay. John Cusack. Yeah. Igor. Jennifer Coolidge. Molly Shannon. Yeah. And Sean, you played. What a cast. Brian. You were the brain, but you spelled it wrong. No, so my name is Brian. Oh, boy. If he was the brain, you guys were in trouble. I always challenge myself on that. Yeah. Steve Wyshemi, welcome to SmartList. God, it's good to have you here. This is great. God, this is fantastic. I'm such a massive have been like everybody else of what you do because you do so much different stuff. You are such a, it's amazing. And so just to have you out here is, I got to say, kind of a thrill. Oh, not bigger than me. I'm really aghast right now. I know. I'm a little. But I'm not Al Pacino. How lucky are we? I'm sorry, Sean. Jesus. I was a shot in the dark. It was shot in the dark. Steve, where do we find you? Where's that beautiful orange room you're in? I'm in the Netflix building in New York. Okay. Oh, hence the red background. Yeah. Orange. Like a gesture. Sort of a soundproof room. Yeah. Either that or the set of Squid Game. I was going to get to this, but we can mention it early on. You're working on it. Your Netflix show is coming out soon, right? Wednesday. Wednesday. It's the name of the show. It's not coming out. That's the name of the, it's the second season of the Adams Family Show Wednesday. That's right. That's right. Which has been a huge success. Huge, huge, huge success. Yeah, I love the first season and I'm really excited that they cast me in the second season. I played the new principal of Nevermore. It's the boarding school that Wednesday attends. Ah, I see. Nice. Well, you'd make a great principal. I don't know. I think I do. Steve, so we always ask people like how they got started, whatever. I've always wanted to know, what was a young Steve Buscemi like? When you were a kid, were you like seven years old? You wanted to be an actor or? Kind of. Because I know that you had it. But you started with a different career professionally before you started acting. What was it? Can you walk us through that a little bit? Well, I mean, when I was a kid, you know, like all of us, I watched a lot of TV and it was everything. You know, it was like the three Stooges, which Sean, again, I have to say, man, you played. This was a big shot. I can't believe you got to play that. Talk about a Stooge. This guy was a perfect Stooge. Dive podcasting! Three Stooges were big in my house, in my apartment in East, not my apartment, in the apartment I lived in in East New York, Brooklyn. Yeah, the little Rascals, you know, shows like that. And then, but also, you know, like the afternoon movie that was on it, like four o'clock, you know, like that would show all these gangster films, you know. So I was a big fan of Cagney and Bogart and all those films, too. But did you see yourself doing this? Because like I alluded to, you kind of started in a different career, and Jason's not aware of this, but some people are. And so when was the moment that you allowed yourself to just walk us through what that career was briefly, if you don't mind? Well, I mean, I was a firefighter in the early 80s. Wow, really? But I had been trying to be an actor, and actually I tried my hand to stand up. So it's not like I, you know, was a firefighter who then decided to become an actor. I was already, you know, kind of a flailing stand up and one of the actor who, you know, who had taken the fire department test when I was 18. And they didn't get to my name. My name was on a list, and they called me when I was like, I was 22, I think, when I was called. And then I was like, I'm going nowhere with this showbiz stuff. So I joined the fire department. And you fought fires for four or five years? Yeah, I was at engine 55 in Manhattan. It's crazy. In New York. Yeah, in New York. Oh my goodness. And it should be noted that you also rejoined briefly after 9-11. Is that true? Well, I didn't rejoin. I just, I went down to my old firehouse on Broom Street because I knew that they were there, that they had been at the site, and I couldn't get any information. So I, on the 12th, I went there and I brought my turnout gear, my coat and helmet and boots and gloves. That's amazing. And I was brought into the site by another firefighter, and he told me about the guys that were missing in the company. And one was a good friend of mine. And anyway, I went down to the site and I was able to find my company there. Because they had lost members, they had access to the main pile that was still burning. Right. And I got to work with them for the rest of the week. This was on a... Wow, man. And were these guys you kept in touch with? Were they still in the same... No, I mean, there were some guys that I recognized who I used to work with. But by and large, it was all new guys and I didn't know them, but I got to know them during the week. And since then, I've stayed in touch. Wow. And now every year on 9-11, I attend the breakfast at the firehouse with the families and then there's a mass service. That's so cool. And then there's a lunch and there's also bar time in there. Sure, sure. Do a fair... They are firefighters. So there is a fair amount of drinking at Tony's bar. That's incredible. I mean, that's... And Sean, you've supported so you bought a calendar every year, right? Yeah, I bet. So... Steve, Steve had... We love that. I never miss the year. I do what I can. I do what I can. Steve, how did firefighting find you at a young age? Was your dad involved with any of that stuff? My dad was a sanitation worker. He worked in Brooklyn and he did that for 30 years. And so he just knew the civil service, like what that job meant, the benefits. The whole apparatus that keeps that city moving. Yeah. And the pay is good and you get good benefits. And he always... I mean, he knew I wanted to become an actor, but he would tell me, you know, just put in your 20 years and then you could do all the acting you want. It doesn't really work that way, but I tried it. Because meanwhile... Put in your 20. Yeah. Put in your 20. Just put in your 20, retire at half pay and then do all the acting you want. He was noticing that you were leaning towards acting. Is that because you were taking classes as a young kid? Were you doing it at school? I mean, I think he kind of knew it that I had it in me since I was a little kid. Because when I was really little, I used to just make up stories and tell jokes. If we were at a cousin's wedding, I would like stand up on a table and just do like a stand-up routine. That's funny. I'm sure it was like stupid, but I was like five or six. So they... Yeah. And then I talk about this. I've talked about this before. When I was in fourth grade, my teacher, Mr. Riccobono, he cast me in a production of The Wizard of Oz. I got to play the cowardly lion and I thought, this is it. If I never do anything else after this, I was so happy. Really? And when I was on stage, it was that feeling of, wow, people are enjoying this and they're laughing. And I'm, you know... They have a good role for you, JB. The cowardly lion. Yeah. I could do it. He's got the hair for it. Wait, so... He does have the name. Who was, was mom or dad, somebody who was outgoing and sort of a... Who was leading for you at that moment? Like, who was your North Star? Was it mom or dad? You know, in their own ways, both. I mean, my mom was the one when we were young who used to take us to the movies and see musicals and comedies. And then when I was a teenager, you know, a little bit, even younger, my dad would take us to the movies and we'd see things like, across 110th Street and Cotton comes to Harlem and movies. I just shouldn't have been seeing like that. You know, but it was great. Yeah. And my dad, he had a good friend growing up in East New York named Peter Miller who became an actor. And he went to the neighborhood play house and he was in movies with Cassavetes and he was in Robert Altman's first film, The Delinquents. And then he, you know, but he did it for a few years and then he left and he became an investment banker. So by the time I, you know, was old enough to talk to him, he had left acting. But I still, you know, it was like, oh, Uncle Pete and he lives in California. And I was like, someday I'm going to make it to California and Uncle Pete's going to show me the ropes. Right. And so there was that, you know, so there was that, but really, you know, in junior high and high school, I didn't do any theater. I kind of became a jock and did sports. What were you playing? I played soccer and I, a little bit of track, but wrestling was my, you know, big sport that I really loved. And then it wasn't until my senior year that I started to like do the plays in high school and I had another great teacher, Lynn Lappin. He was the English teacher, but he started the first acting class. And so I got to be in Fiddler on the Roof and, you know, and just, it was, it was really fun. That's cool. What was, what was that first trip out to LA like? Was there one? Yeah, I, my, Uncle Pete and Charlene, his wife, they lived in Van Nuys. Yeah. And so I stayed with them, but I didn't have a car. I didn't have a car and he would go off to work and, and I'd just be like, I want to, I want to like see LA. I didn't know, but I didn't have to do it. Oh, you like 115 degrees with no trees. So no car in Van Nuys. So you just started hooping it and enjoying, you know, the fruits of Woodman Avenue and Woodman Sherman Way. But I think it was on that, I think it was on that trip because I had done a film called Parting Glances in New York and I went out to LA to try and meet casting people and, and my friend, Kathy Kenny, who was in that, who was in that film, she was taking meetings and she would just bring me along. Like she would pick, pick me up and bring me along to these meetings and some people were okay. Like, oh, you brought a friend. Yeah. She was like, but he's really good hacker. You know, you should see him too. Yeah. But mostly I think they were like, well, who is this guy? How did you bring him? Yeah, that rarely goes down well. They're like, oh, of course, let's meet your friend. Yeah. Yeah. So those, those first few experiences, were they, were you kind of free styling or did, were you coming with a certain amount of training that you were leaning on or were you more of an instinctual kind of guy? Yeah. I had no idea what I was doing. Really. I just, I just did not know. I, I remember when I first got a manager and I was going out on meetings and the feedback that he was getting was, you know, he's kind of so deadpan and he's like, he doesn't seem like he wants to be here. He just like is so quiet and like, so then I went to the, I remember the first time I met Bonnie Timmerman, you know, big casting agent, I went in and I went in smiling. And the first thing she said to me was, what, what are you smiling for? Well, now I don't know what to do. Like, right. She thought I was like laughing at something. I was like, no, I was, I was told to smile. They're looking crazy. That's funny. And we will be right back. This is a paid ad by BetterHelp. 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I mean, you do sort of like eight, 10 movies maybe before Reservoir Dogs. Yeah. And you do, you do a bunch of varying degree, bigger roles and et cetera. What was, that must have been kind of a seminal moment if I'm guessing right. Absolutely. So talk a little bit about how that came into your world and what it was like first meeting Quentin Tarantino. So the script came to me from an aide from one of my early agents, Nancy Green, who has since passed away, but she was really great. And I have to back up the story because like a year before that, or maybe six months before that, she convinced me to go on an audition for, it was a Neil Simon comedy. I don't remember, I don't even remember what film it was for, but I really didn't want to go. And she said, no, just go. You can meet the casting director, Ronnie Eskall, and just, you know, I went, okay, I went and there were other actors there. And they put us in like a group scene. We were improvising. And it was fun. And then, but you know, I left and I didn't get the, you know, whatever part that I was auditioning for. And forgot about it. And then I got the script for Reservoir Dogs from Nancy and I loved it. And I, for the first time, you know, the first time I met Quentin was on the phone. And hearing his voice, I was just shocked because I thought I was going to be talking to like an ex-convict who was like in his 50s or something. And instead it was like, hey man, thanks for reading my script. Thanks a bunch. I'm really excited. And I was like, wait, is this, are you Quentin Tarantino? Yeah, yeah, man. You know, I was like, it just, it didn't match up. And, but he was so excited and so, and so enthused. And I auditioned for it twice. And then I did the workshop for it in Sundance. And it was Quentin and I. And this is, I guess, typical Quentin fashion. He tells me I got the part of Mr. Pink as we were in the bathroom. You know, we were in the bathroom together. And he's like, oh, by the way, I cast you as Mr. Pink. I went, oh, what, what? Oh, really? He says, yeah. Wow. And he, and he says, yeah. And it wasn't really based on your audition. You know, he said, but Ronnie Eskel showed me a tape of when you auditioned for that Neil Simon movie. But that was a comedy. Like, what did you see in me that you thought, he goes, well, because you had on like a vintage shirt and your hair was slicked back and you look like a criminal. That was just how I dressed. That was just me. Yeah. Just roll out of bed. Yeah. No way. And so thank God I went on that audition. Yeah. Yeah. Cool. Isn't that amazing how those things kind of worked? Like that you just never know. Yeah, it is. And was that, was that, would you, would you say that that film or any of the films around that started to solidify for you what, what you, what you were confident in doing? And I guess the question is, at what point did you start to really kind of just dig into your style quote unquote, or what your confidence was? What I have is going to work. What I have is going to take me into something that I can make a living and also can be creatively fulfilled. Like when did you get that feeling of, I've got what I, what I, what I think it takes. And I, and I, and I like that they're hiring me for this type of thing. I mean, that film, Reservoir Dogs had a lot to do with opening doors for sure. And it did a lot for my confidence just being, just being cast, being cast in a movie with Harvey Kytel and having scenes with Harvey was, you know, that was like a dream. I never thought that that would be possible. And then getting to meet, you know, and work with actors like Tim Roth and Michael Madsen, who we sadly lost. Yeah, yeah. And meeting Eddie Bunker, who was an ex-convict and, you know, wrote the movie Straight Time that was, that was based on his, on his book and Runaway Train. And so it was just, it was just exciting to be with these people and Chris Penn and the whole, the whole cast. So just having done the movie was a huge confidence boost. And then, you know, Quentin did us all a big favor by that credit sequence of having us, you know, walk in the parking lot and our names were underneath our faces, like, like as we're walking. Because before that it was like, who's this guy? Who's, you know, like if my name was mentioned, you know, you couldn't put a face to the name. Sure. And so at least people could. And I had something to show, you know, like if, if I was up for something and they wanted to see what I, what I did, that was the film. Yeah. And so that opened doors. But I, you know, as far as what my style is or anything, I'm, I never know, you know, I feel like I've done so many different kinds of things. And depending on like who I meet, you know, like on the street, if I get recognized, I never know what they, you know, is it from Akon brothers? Is it from Tarantino or is it from Adam Sandler? Right. You know, so some people only kind of know me in that comedic vein and other people know me from other things. Well, that's a tribute to your career. Like, I mean, you're able to do so many different things so well. It must be, you must have a great number of choices in front of you at times. And how do you, how do you decide which way you're going to go? Is it based on the people involved? Is it based on the kind of character that being maybe different than the last one you just played? How are you making your decisions? I guess it's different each time. Sometimes it's just such a wonderful script and if it's an independent film and it's a young filmmaker that's starting to come up and, you know, and I love doing that type of work. Oh, wow. And then other times it is, you know, it's the people who are involved, but it really is the material. I mean, I try and, you know, go for the material first. The script as a whole or your particular character? As a whole. Yeah. As a whole. I mean, it used to be when there was a time when I would read a script and they'd say what character and I would just flip the pages to see when the character would be killed. I swear. Oh, I made it to page 39. Okay. I think I'll do this one. Would it be like where the character was killed or would it also be like where the character can really score? Would you look at that and go like, oh, this is a good scene. This is, you know what I mean? Oh, well, yeah, if I, it was a, yeah, I mean, there's that stuff where like if it's a good dramatic part or there was like a, like a good scene. But, but yeah, mainly I would either get, I would either get beat up or I would be chasing somebody with a knife or and then eventually get, get killed and it went that way for a while. You and, and, and sir, we touched on it. Jason, you just said too, you did so many different, not just so many different characters, but so many different kinds of, you know, size of films. You've done these huge Hollywood films and you've done these really small. In fact, you made the seminal independent film, Living in Oblivion with our mutual friend, Tom DeChillo, which is about making an independent film, which is one of my favorites. And, and then you just said that you like working with young up and coming directors. Is it, is it that you like, you like the feeling of being part of that vibe of somebody who's just finding their way and exploring. Is that exciting to you? Is that what it is? It's, yeah, yeah, I really love that, you know, and I'm so like happy that I was, you know, part of Quentin's first film, you know, like he, you know, that was, I think, really exciting for all of us to see somebody who's, you know, to see somebody like him. And he had such confidence in what he was doing that that's what I think blew all of us away that he Yeah, it's such a clear point of view. So that, that kind of energy is, is contagious, you know, you just, just makes you feel good about being in this business. Yeah, you know, and not knowing you very well, Steve, is like, I get a sense from you that you're, and you correct me if I'm wrong, you're filled with gratitude and appreciation for working in where you are in life as an, as an actor, like I can't ever see you being a problem on any set ever, or having an issue, like there's certain, you know, there's many, many types of actors and a lot of them can't wait to share all of their ideas and their back and come to set with, you know, there's those types and then there's other types that are just like, yes, I've studied my role, I have a few ideas, but you're in charge, like, where do you fall? I think, yeah, I think I fall in to, I mean, I, I've worked with so many direct, different directors and I like to see what their style is and how I can be accommodating. And since I've been directing, I'm even more so because now I know what directors go through. A lot of the times they're just trying to make the day, right? Just like, and you don't want to be like. Yeah, we talk with Jason about it all the time because I always asked Jason about the difference between being on either side. So, and you have that too now. Yeah, I mean, you know, it's like, well, why would I come through this door? Like, don't you think I should, it's like, okay, where do you want me to come through? You want, okay, good. Like, I could figure out my own motivation, like if you want me to, or if you want me to do this. And it's only when something really doesn't feel right. Like if I can't find my way around, like organically, why I'm doing something or if the blocking feels off, yeah, then I'll say something, but generally, yeah, I just like to show up and kind of do it. Yeah. As a director, do you, as a director, have you had those moments where you've had to say, just come through the fucking door, man? Yeah. Just be, why the door? Because it's the only door that we have. Right. And you need to come into the scene. So we need you in here to do the scene. Right, right, right. Have you had those moments? I really can't think of anybody who was like that way with me. And, you know, I've, I mean, I've had moments, but I, I, and, you know, being an actor, I always like to see what the actor will come up with. You know, if I have time to like rehearse something properly, which you don't always, I like to see what the actors do naturally and then try and, you know, and then, and then block the scene. Sometimes you don't have that luxury, you know, you just want to get in there and say, yeah, the actors aren't here yet. Let's see if we can get them to be, you know, this one here, this one here, and then we can shoot it. Right. So you're like, we're already set up for this. So this is how it's going to go. But JB, have you ever had that, where you've had to kind of like just go fucking just do it? I mean, a thousand times because I, I, I, I, well, yeah, because I personally, I'm such a fan of what the camera can do to help the audience understand what the scene is about. So oftentimes I'll have a huge plan already worked out about what the coverage is going to be. And that's, that means that people have to be in certain spots. And so I'll try to encourage the actors to make a friend of that blocking. But if they, if they don't, if they aren't comfortable with it, I can pivot for sure. But Steve, with all the, the, the incredible set experience that you have and, and the number of fantastic directors that you've worked with, it's interesting to me to hear you say that you are, that you gravitate towards new directors at times, because it seems like you would, you'd often be in a situation where, you know, that director might be drowning in, in the, the, the, the unforeseen complications of any day. And you might get frustrated with like, oh my God, this is, you know, it's frustrating for you to have been on so many sets that work so well to then be sort of extending your patients and your experience to help out a young director. I find that just so generous of you. And, and is it taxing? But I don't really find the frustration that, that I do sometimes feel with the person who is directing. I sometimes, I've, I've just been on so many sets over the years, I get frustrated with maybe like, why did they bring me in this early? Or why are they shooting this first? It's the first AD you're yelling at. Why are they, you know, and so, and especially on, you know, Boardwalk Empire was the first time I was in the first year. Boardwalk Empire was the first time I had played a character like, you know, repeatedly and for however, however many seasons that we did five and towards the end, I think I did start to, you know, be the guy that wouldn't, you know, like they call me to set. And I would just go, all right, I'm just going to sit here for another 10 minutes until they really need me. But then that kind of like, then they're like, well, he's not coming out. So now they would call me even earlier, you know, like the next time it just, yeah, it just, yeah. But I love doing that show. Yeah. Well, that must, then you must really, you must love, well, you tell me, do you love directing? I'll bet you do. In theory, it makes me the most anxious, like when I direct, I get so anxious that it's, I'm beside myself. About what? I don't do it enough. I just feel like I'm, you know, I'm insecure. I'm not really, I don't really know what I'm doing. I don't know about camera stuff. See, that's my, my weaknesses. I'll come on set and I'll say, you know what, and I'll say the DP, I'm thinking, how about if we do this and that, and the DP will say, oh, well, you know, the light's coming in this way. And we're, and this is, and I would go, oh, yeah, right, right. Right. Okay. Yeah, yeah, you're right. Let's, and now I just look to the DP and go, what do we do? Like, what do we do? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I find eight out of 10 directors work like that. Don't, don't, don't you find that a lot of, a lot of directors would just sort of punt all the camera stuff to the DP and the operator and, and then they go and they work with the actors, which is a great way to do it as well. There's so many different ways to do it. Yeah, there are, but I get so jealous of directors when they say to the DP, so what do you think of 40? You think of 35? And I'm like, what are you talking about? Right. I don't, I don't. Whatever you're doing, you're doing it just right. Keep going. Of all the genres you've done, is there any genre, well, is, is there a genre that you haven't done that you want to do? Or is there a genre that you have done and that you will never do again? Yeah, yeah. I mean, I really haven't done horror. I've done like a little bit. There's some TV shows back in the day, like Tales from the Crypt and there was a show called Monsters and, but I've never done like a horror movie and, but I don't know if I could. I don't, I, I'm pretty squeamish and I don't like prosthetic makeup. Like I've done that in the past. Like, and, Like sitting in the chair for five hours? Yeah, sitting in the chair. Yeah. Yeah. But your, your, your ability to, to ground violence is, is, is awesome. That's great. I just love watching you deal with, with the, the unsettling unpredictability of violence coming on someone that is just normal. There's a bit eccentric, but like living in our world, like you, you just ground violence very well to a point where, Oh my God, that, that's really shocking because it seems like it's really happening to someone in our real world. I mean, I, you know, Fargo's top three films I've ever seen in my life. I've seen it more than any other film. So good. And just, just your way, just not only just the, the violence that you're, that you deal with in that film, but even just your, your line of work in that film too, you know, that, that there's a, there's a grounded sense of, here's a guy who's, you know, dealing with, you know, the underbelly of society, but he's not super comfortable with it. But, you know, he's just, he's got to make a living and here we go. And it's kind of a matter of fact. Oh, it's so exciting to, to have, to follow somebody like you through an eccentric storyline because you just ground it all. You know, you know who we are. I love that. Well, thank you. And that, and that film was, yeah, that was another seminal one for me because I had, you know, worked with the Coen brothers a few times before that. But then in that film, they, they, they really gave me a part that was throughout the film and I loved it. And I loved that character, you know, kind of, yeah, you know, thinking he's, you know, smarter than he really is. But, you know, but he had a certain kind of confidence, you know, that you got. Well, especially the way you, you get to relate with your, with your, your cohort there with Peter Strowmari. Peter Strowmari, yeah. Yeah. I just love that sort of alpha beta thing you guys had going where you're just, you're the smartest guy in the world when it's just the two of you guys. Yeah. Then you get thrown out amongst the other characters and you're in trouble. I just, yeah, you with a bloody face getting angry at everybody around you just taking me peeing my pants. How many, how many films did you do with the Coen brother? Because you, I mean, yeah, you mentioned it. You worked with them before you worked with them. You did Big Globowski was after that, right? It was after Fargo, yeah. Yeah, which is weird. I always think of it as being before, but it was after. No, that was their follow up to Fargo, which was kind of amazing because they had finally like broken into the mainstream because that, because Fargo was nominated, right? Right, right. Like everybody was seeing this film and we're starting to really, you know, get to know the Coen brothers in a mainstream way. And then they follow up with this film that I remember when it came out, people really didn't know what to make of it. It took a good five years for people to like catch on like, oh, this is brilliant. Could it have a bigger cult, I don't know if a film could have a bigger cult following than Big Globowski. Yeah. We'll be right back. Oh, I've been looking forward to this burger all day. Tell me about it. So tasty. Oh, where's Harry? Who's Harry? Our child. Oh, yeah. At Burger King, kids eat free between the 27th of March and 20th of April only on the BK app. So you can enjoy a moments piece this school holiday. Just don't forget them. Get one freaking junior meal with one selected adult burger meal only available on the BK app at selected restaurants. Can't be used with other promotions. Full TNCs at BurgerKing.co.uk forward slash kids dash offer. And now back to the show. And now actors are lucky enough if you're in one hit anything, one hit play TV show. And you've had all of these things that you've been a part of that are like hit after hit after hit, like just kind of extraordinary. Do you, are you able to allow yourself to appreciate that and be like, I'm kind of proud of like I'm proud of what I've done. I mean, of course you are. You don't have to say it out loud, but, but, or are you one of the people that kind of deflects it? Say it out loud. I mean, can you absorb that because it's very rare for somebody to be in that many hit hit things. Yeah. I mean, I'm very proud of it and I feel very grateful for it. And at the same time, I feel like I haven't been in, you know, like I've, I've never done like a Marvel movie. I've never done like I haven't done, you know, I popcorn things. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I did, you know, like I like Armageddon and Conair were my two like, like big movies that I did in the 90s. But I really haven't done stuff like that so much since. Yeah. But I'm, I don't care. I mean, I'm very happy with that. That's kind of what I'm saying. You know, you lend your money. You lend, you lend, you lend so much credibility and artistic rigor to those films. Like that was a, that was a very nice thing you did for those couple of films. And I'll bet you could do that a ton more if you wanted to. I bet Marvel would have you in a second. Yeah. Yeah. But you are, you're just such actor and director, you know, catnip. Yeah. I hope you're as proud as you deserve to be about. You know, the position that you hold in this community is so well earned, Steve. Well, thank you. Coming from you and all you guys, it just means so much to me because I really. You've got some pretty memorable deaths on screen. Yeah, that's true. Do you have a favorite? Is there a favorite Steve Busce? I do think my favorite was in the Big Lebowski just literally being scared to death. Yeah. It made no sense. Like when I read the script, I was like, I think I'm going to make it through this one. I think I know. And it's like, what? He's dead, you know. You also, that's so good. Have you also mentioned that you improvise in that, in that, in that audition that Quentin saw you in, and I'm sure you've improvised a lot of movies. And I know, you know, we, you've had the opportunity of working with so many great writers who've written and you've mentioned so many great pieces of material. But has there, has there ever been an improvised line? I've always wanted to know, like, is there something in a movie somewhere that you're like proud of that you, that you improvised and that made it in the movie? And you're like, oh yeah. Yeah. Well, actually in Armageddon, I mean, Michael Bay let us, you know, improvise a lot. You know, like, you know, I mean, we would, we would do the scene, but then the one thing I remember when I was sitting on the nuclear weapon and I just, and I said, I was like, no nukes, no nukes. That was just from me and it made it into the movie. God, that movie was so huge that it was such a massive hit. Yeah. Oh my God. So Steve, what it, with, again, with all of the stuff that you've done and all the directors that you've worked with and the parts that you've played, aside from Marvel, is there's something that you, that you hope to do sometime soon and that can be as an actor or as a director. You know, are you, are you looking to maybe direct one of those, one of those big sort of popcorn, big pieces of business things or, or, or, or act in one of those? You know, I've never really had a plan for, you know, and, and I've been, you know, I mean, we all get asked like, what's your dream role and, or, you know, what's your work with somebody, a director, or to work with somebody and I get superstitious about, well, I've never worked with so-and-so and I feel like if I say it out loud, you know. Sure, sure. Although sometimes you say it out loud and it happens. That's true. Because they hear it. What about theater? Have you, have you, I apologize for not knowing, but if you don't take Sean, and Paul does for taking Sean's question, but go ahead, Jason. Sean will have the follow-up about anything funny that happened on stage, but what, do you, do you enjoy doing that or does it take too much time off of your availability? Yeah, you know, I mean, I used to do in the 80s when I lived in these village, which was like an amazing place and time to live. I had a partner, Mark Boone Jr., who you guys may know. He was, he's, you know, he's done a lot of great work. He was, and a lot of people know him from Sons of Anarchy. He played the character of Bobby. Oh yeah, yeah, I know Mark. Didn't you work with Boone? Yeah, I did. I did work with him. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, he did flay. He did our show, Flay. Yes, yes, yes. He's terrific. God, what a great actor. We used to write and perform our own like short sketches and some plays and that was, you know, I think I never felt more creative as when I was doing that, you know, working with him and then working with other. I worked a little bit with the Worcester group, another playwright director, John Jezarin, and I did a lot of that stuff then. And then I, when I sort of transitioned into film, I just felt like I was spoiled by like, like all the great people and fun that I had doing that in the 80s. And it was hard for me to make a transition and see like, they want me to do what, how many, how many shows a week? I think the eight shows a week thing is like, right. The dumbest thing in the world. Yeah. It's brutal. And then I was just, yeah, I just, I guess I just sort of kept myself open, you know, for like film and TV stuff. The last play that I did was over 20 years ago, but it was amazing. It was Simon McBurney directed it and it was Arturo Ui. Which, you know, played Arturo Ui. There you go, there you go, Sean. It was an amazing cast and it was a, yeah, it was a star studded cast. And you were supposed to do something with Oscar Isaac, right? Run the pandemic? We were going to do, yeah, we were going to do, it was three sisters, yeah. Oh, three sisters, right. And the pandemic. That was going to be the original title of our podcast. Yeah. It was taken. It was taken. The pandemic put that on hold and then it sort of, it just kind of fell apart. But I've tried to do some things over the years, but it just never worked out. So we mentioned that, you know, how much you work and again, like how many roles you've done in it. And it's, you know, it's obviously, it's, you're busy a lot where you just, you work a lot. You must, I don't know if it feels like you work a lot, but you do. Yeah, no, it does. Yeah. So what is, what do you do? Are you East Coast based? Are you West Coast based for most of the time? I'm East Coast. Yeah. Yeah. East Coast. New York. Yeah. And then what's a day, what's, if you're not on set, you're not working on something, what's an average day for Steve Buscemi? You wake up and you have a, you're a coffee tea matcha. What are you doing? Definitely coffee, black coffee in the morning. Black coffee. I just read like, you know, the times or whatever news feed is on my phone and do that. And then the post. I don't do, you know, like I do yoga. We do yoga on the weekends. Nice. For a little while I was working out, but I'm not, yeah, I... But are you, are you walking around? Are you going to lunch? Are you going to read books? Are you going to museums? Yeah, yeah. Are you watching reality TV? No, I don't watch reality TV. I mean, I catch up on shows and movies and I like doing that. And I like hanging out with friends and visiting my mom who's 92 now and she lives now like a block away from me. And I, but it's a pretty sort of, you know, uneventful life. Sounds pretty good. No, but that sounds like a power down. Like you need to have some kind of like quiet time where you kind of do nothing a little bit. What's your drink of choice? My wine. Oh, wine. Red, white, rosé. Red wine, red wine. Red wine, there you go. All right. It's pretty classy. It's good to know. Hey, Will, I have to ask you this. Yeah, please. Do you remember when we were both nominated for 30 Rock as... Yeah. Do you remember we were sitting next to each other at the... Emmys? With the Emmys that happened like before... The creative Emmys. Yeah, the creative Emmys. Yeah, the creative Emmys. Because we were both nominated for 30 Rock and we were sitting next to each other and so was Tim Conway. Oh, wow. And I think... Wait a second. Do you remember this? And we, I think, and we didn't say a word to each other. I think we were both kind of like nervous to talk to each other. I was nervous to talk to you. I was nervous to talk to you and I had just tried right before that I had introduced myself to Betty White who was there. And as I was walking away from her, I heard her say to a friend, who was that? Then I was like, alright, I'm not going to say hi to anybody. Steve. And we sat there and so when they got to our category, it's Tim Conway. I mean, we're up, you know, I think we both knew. Before they announced his name, he ran up on stage. Which I thought was such a brilliant move. Because Win or Lose, it was great. It was so, you know... He did that? You know, it's funny. Steve, I do remember that. That's so crazy. I totally blanked on that. Did he end up winning? He did win. He did win. Of course he did win. He did win. But what he had done was, if you remember, in the 70s, he originated that bit that they kind of, they tried to copy years later for Actress in a Comedy. He originated the bit in 1975. I know it was that year because his year Chevy Chase was nominated for SNL. So it was like 75, 76. And they started listing off the nominees and they go, Best Supporting Actor in the Comedy, Tim Conway. And he walked up. And then each nominee walked up as if they had won. That's really great. Just when they do the list of nominees and then they stood there and then Chevy Chase ended up winning. But they were all standing on stage. So I love that he years later extended that bit. And of course I remember that. It was so fucking crazy. And then when he took us, like he kind of like bowed and then pretended that he stabbed himself with the award and like walked off, holding his heart. Was there anybody funnier than Tim Conway? No, I know. I was just, yeah, I was so excited to meet him. He one time, I saw a bit one time where he in Harvey Quirman, Harvey Quirman gets announced. He either won or was announced to come to the stage and Tim Conway, he was wearing tails. And Tim Conway went and jumped on his tails and literally rode his coattails down the aisle. It was just working on so many different levels. Oh, God. Love it. 30 Rock. 30 Rock. 30 Rock. I know. I miss that show. Yeah, that was so much fun to work on. So your new show is coming out next. Well, whatever it is. I should know this. This is my obligation. August 6th, August 6th, which is my son's birthday. So now I really remember it's one of my son's birthdays. And then so what do we got in store for the rest of the summer, Steve? What are we looking to? Well, right now I'm working with Adam Sandler is producing a movie. He's producing two movies that his daughters are in. So Sunny is in one film that I'm doing called Don't Say Good Luck. And Sadie is doing a film called Roommates. Wow. And last night was the premiere for Happy Gilmore 2. Happy Gilmore 2? That's right. Oh, right. And that as well. And that was so much fun. Oh, that's great. Seeing, you know, that film. And we watched it again. Like I watched the first one in the afternoon yesterday just so I would be up on all the references. And they did it. It was just so satisfying and so funny. Yeah. I'm sure. I think that people maybe, and you can, you can testify to this and we all can. There's almost not a nicer guy or better dude in the world than Adam Sandler. See, I differ. I, you know, everybody, this monster, he, I just, he got everybody fooled. I mean, he is, he's the nicest man. He's the sweetest guy. And on top of being so funny and everything so talented, he's such a good dude. You really are. And he's so smart. So smart. I mean, I've, I've worked with him since airheads, right? Like that was the first thing that we did. Oh my gosh. That's right. And then he, you know, he's, you know, he was talking to us on set about how we wanted to like, like do his own film. And Robert Simons, who was one of the producers on airheads, you know, took him up on it and used Billy Madison and Adam asked me to do like a, a small thing in that. And it was so much fun. But to watch Adam over the years, because his friends used to show up on set, you know, and just hang out. And then each movie I've done with him, I noticed, oh, those friends are now in the movies. Those friends are his writers. Those friends are his producers. Yeah. And he's so not only is he loyal to them, but, and that's what I mean by smart. He knows what brings out the best in him and he knows that they will bring, you know, like gold. And so, and he makes movies that he wants to see. I don't think Adam ever makes something that he's trying to, you know, find an audience for. It's stuff that he really like wants, that he wants to see. That he thinks is funny. Yeah. He really does. He champions people and also like you, he's, he's so diverse and can do so, has so many different gears. Oh yeah. And it's unbelievable. I was so happy for him that when he started doing dramatic roles and I was so pissed off at myself that I hadn't like, you know, like written something dramatic for him, you know, first, you know, because I could see it in him. And I used to tell him that. I, you know, like, he's an amazing musician. Yeah. Yeah. Punch Drunk Club was the first one I think that really kind of, you know, where people started to see him in a, in a different light. And then of course with, I mean, uncut gems. I mean, come on. Yeah. Forget it. Yeah. Yeah. Well, Steve, what an absolute delight. I'm sorry that we never, that you and I didn't speak to each other at the Emmy and all those people that you met up for today. We did exchange a few words. It was like, yeah. But we didn't really go deep, but we were both losers. We were just losers that night. And, but what a thrill to have you, man. It just honestly, just such an absolute thrill. I'm so excited to have met you, Steve. Thank you so much. It's such an honor for me to be with you guys. And Wednesday, Wednesday on Netflix, August 6th, we'll look forward to it. Season two of Wednesday, Steve, just sending you lots of love and all the, all the best of luck and, and continued success. You're just the greatest. Thank you. And sending love and all the success to you guys too. I love what you do. So thank you. Thank you. Enjoy the rest of your summer. Great Steve Buscemi. Thank you, Steve. Bye, buddy. Thank you. Bye, bye, bye, bye. How about that guy? What's good about a guy who's done it all? Yeah. Yeah, that was that. I'm still a little, a little kind of in shock there. I like that. That's just like such an enormous fan of his. And I just, for some reason, he just seems like a guy I always thought I would never, ever be able to meet. You know, it's just like one of those guys is like zero circles I know or that I'm in. He just lives like in a cool zone. Yeah. He's not out there fucking cutting ribbons at markets and careers and shit like that. Like, he's just like, if I got lucky enough to baby be in a project with him, but you know, what are the odds? Wait, are you spending time with a lot of ribbon cutters? Oh yeah. I bring my own scissors, you know, I'll, I'll, I'll, my germaphobe. So, but it's good. Well, when you, when you announced him on, when you, when you were revealing and Jason guessed it, I was like, right away. And I was like, oh yeah. And he came on. It's one of those people like Jada say, like, oh my God, it'd be so cool to hang out with him. And oh, we're hanging out with him. Like, I know, I know. I know it's just a thrill. What a fucking talent. And talk about, yeah, what he lends each project and you know, he's in the cast list. I agree. Oh, okay. So they're not fucking around on this film. Raises all boats. Yeah. And I didn't know he did stand up like, you know, like I did. You should have tried some of your stand up. Oh, I have some. Oh, do you? Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, really? Sean, do you want to, anything you're workshopping? Yeah. What did this, what did the sushi say to the bee? Huh? Give me a second here. Oh, shame. Wasabi. That you're really got to be with that one. Oh, because you know, there's a lot in there that is close to my heart. Right. You know, the mock bro talk. Right. And the pun. And the underused sushi mustard, you know, does, don't think gets a fair shake in this world. And then bees, of course, you know, they're my archmen at Nemesis. Bees. Bees. Do you want one more? Do you want one more? Of course we do. Okay. What does an Irishman call 66% of a piece of poo? Huh. Oh, that's two thirds of something. Two thirds. That's right. Oh, that's good. There we go. That's JB. Two thirds. That's the time. Two thirds. Well, that's like, that's like a combination. That's like a hybrid of a hybrid. What's the opposite of a hybrid? I can't even think of it. Gas burning? No, that would be a hybrid. That would be a. Vibrate. Vibrate. No, no, not at all. No. What are you fucking talking about? It's like a hybrid joke of two. How about what maybe you were going towards like, you know, you know, you got those airplanes with the jets and then the other planes that don't have the jet. Oh, those are like. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Smart. Less. Smart. Less. Smart. Less. Smart. Less. Less. Less. Less. Less. Natural product. Natural product. Natural product. Natural product. Natural product product product product product product product product product product product Burger King, kids eat free between the 27th of March and 20th of April only on the BK app. So you can enjoy a moment's peace this school holiday. Just don't forget them. Get one free King Junior meal with one selected adult burger meal only available on the BK app at selected restaurants. Can't be used with other promotions. Full TNCs at burgerking.co.uk forward slash kids dash offer.