The New Yorker had a festival this weekend, giving readers access to book readings and one-on-one's with authors and actors. I jumped at the chance to see if Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow are naturally funny. Not to mention, the honor of seeing the great film critic David Denby.
First off, I'd like to say that as an entertainment journalist I often test my ability to be inches away from a celebrity and not go into cardiac arrest. I've managed to spot Ru Paul (LOL), Kristen Johnston from "3rd Rock from the Sun" (smiled kindly), Joan Allen from Bourne Ultimatum (at the airport), Sarah Michelle Gellar (on my b-day...yay Buffy), Griffin Frazen from "Grounded for Life" (did a double take since he was in an NYU building...facebook him), and Sam Rockwell from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (also in an NYU building chatting up some lucky bastard...didn't want to go back to class). And I think I may have imagined seeing Heroes' star Milo Ventimiglia, but that didn't stop me from spazzing out and being pissed that my cell phone died earlier that day.
Nonetheless, I really needed to use the restroom when I got to the event and as I was rushing towards the door, there was Seth Rogen being interviewed by a news crew. He's much skinnier in person, but that laugh is undeniably genuine. I did not spot Judd Apatow, but after the event I really wanted to. He is not only hilarious, but he sounds surprisingly like Paul Rudd--same comic timing and speech rhythm.
First off, I'd like to say that as an entertainment journalist I often test my ability to be inches away from a celebrity and not go into cardiac arrest. I've managed to spot Ru Paul (LOL), Kristen Johnston from "3rd Rock from the Sun" (smiled kindly), Joan Allen from Bourne Ultimatum (at the airport), Sarah Michelle Gellar (on my b-day...yay Buffy), Griffin Frazen from "Grounded for Life" (did a double take since he was in an NYU building...facebook him), and Sam Rockwell from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (also in an NYU building chatting up some lucky bastard...didn't want to go back to class). And I think I may have imagined seeing Heroes' star Milo Ventimiglia, but that didn't stop me from spazzing out and being pissed that my cell phone died earlier that day.
Nonetheless, I really needed to use the restroom when I got to the event and as I was rushing towards the door, there was Seth Rogen being interviewed by a news crew. He's much skinnier in person, but that laugh is undeniably genuine. I did not spot Judd Apatow, but after the event I really wanted to. He is not only hilarious, but he sounds surprisingly like Paul Rudd--same comic timing and speech rhythm.
Despite Judd's very kind demeanor, he has many stories of spontaneous and retrospectively funny moments of muted rage. My favorite Judd line was given when Mr. Denby asked him if the same network executive canceled both "Freaks and Geeks" and "Undeclared." Judd then admitted that the day before they canceled "Undeclared," the New York Times had printed the top 10 best shows of that season and his show was on it. So he framed the list and mailed it to the executive with a post-it saying, "I don't understand how you can fuck me in the ass if you still have your penis in me from the last time." I'm pretty sure I've heard that quote before, but the fact that he said it to a network exec--who probably hates himself right now--makes it even funnier. Judd also spoke of his idol Steve Martin. He once drove to Martin's house and asked him for an autograph while he was cleaning his car. Even though Martin kindly rejected him Judd still wrote him an angry letter that told him he was shitty to his fans. And Steve sarcastically wrote back saying: "Sorry, I didn't realize I was taking to THE Judd Apatow." I, personally, would have shit myself. (Briefly listen to Judd's journey towards stand up.) He also admires Catherine Keener, who played the love interest in 40 Year Old Virgin. He believes she's a reputable actress and he was terrified she wouldn't find the script very funny, so he worked extra hard to make her part amazing. Rogen revealed that Steve Carell was not really into the raunchiness of the script, and made him rewrite a PG-13 version of it to see if it was still funny. Seth proved that a PG-13 version would've sucked ass.
Judd and Rogen also told behind-the-scenes stories about Knocked Up and Superbad. Everybody knows that Judd's wife Leslie Mann, who played Paul Rudd's wife in Knocked Up, was the inspiration for the female portion of the film. She really did kick him out of the car on the way to the gyno. She also inspired a really heartfelt moment that happened after her character discovers her husband is cheating on her with fantasy baseball. Judd believes that his wife is an overly emotive actress and he's a geeky Jew, so it was necessary that she inform him--just like her character does to Paul in the movie--that: "You think because you don't yell, you're not mean. This is mean."
One of the clips shown was a controversial and ultimately deleted abortion discussion that was hilarious. Jonah Hill was explaining to Jay Baruchel that sperm isn't alive and that it's not like after he jacks off, he tries to blow life back into his gym sock. Now imagine Jonah doing CPR to sperm, pumping the chest with one finger. Also, Rogen explained that--in case you didn't notice--his friends in the movie have their real names because they're playing themselves. As for Katherine Heigl, Rogen admitted to being initially terrified of her, because she was statuesque and "she killed 7 terrorists in Under Siege 2." They weren't expecting her to be funny on cue, but she did come up with: "Don't talk to me in that voice," completely confusing Rogen mid-scene and making Judd not envy her boyfriend. When they wrapped up discussing that film, Judd explained that its real purpose was to illustrate how a new father suddenly realizes that his friendships don't work anymore and that he's all alone. Hmmm.
During the production phase of Superbad, one studio referred to it as "fundamentally unmakeable." When casting, Jonah was their ultimate choice because everyone else just wasn't funny enough. When Cera was mentioned, Evan Goldberg, Rogen's bff, said he refused to watch "Arrested Development" because of him. Seth now admits that Evan is stupid. Originally Cera's character was supposed to be the straight-man, but his verbal rhythm turns almost everything into a joke. Christopher Mintz-Plasse, who plays Fogel, was found after an ad was put out in high schools for a kid to play a "loser who thinks he's cool." Christopher's friends immediately told him "That's you man!" That was mean, but he got the part.
Towards the end of the event, they allowed audience members to ask questions. A professor wanted to know if Jonah's character was actually in love with Cera's, but since Jonah plays a kid named Seth, it sounded like the man asked Rogen if he was gay. And Rogen pretended to be shocked for a second then responded with: "Everybody's a little gay after a few beers." Critics were saying that even though these boys were trying to sleep with girls, in the end they slept with each other. A college student came up after the professor and he kind of looked like a shorter, pudgier version of Rogen, so naturally he said, "Yes, me?" and everyone laughed.
Interesting fact about Rogen: He wants to write scifi next.
Helpful advice from Judd to aspiring comedy writers: Start from a real emotional experience, then make it funny.
One of the clips shown was a controversial and ultimately deleted abortion discussion that was hilarious. Jonah Hill was explaining to Jay Baruchel that sperm isn't alive and that it's not like after he jacks off, he tries to blow life back into his gym sock. Now imagine Jonah doing CPR to sperm, pumping the chest with one finger. Also, Rogen explained that--in case you didn't notice--his friends in the movie have their real names because they're playing themselves. As for Katherine Heigl, Rogen admitted to being initially terrified of her, because she was statuesque and "she killed 7 terrorists in Under Siege 2." They weren't expecting her to be funny on cue, but she did come up with: "Don't talk to me in that voice," completely confusing Rogen mid-scene and making Judd not envy her boyfriend. When they wrapped up discussing that film, Judd explained that its real purpose was to illustrate how a new father suddenly realizes that his friendships don't work anymore and that he's all alone. Hmmm.
During the production phase of Superbad, one studio referred to it as "fundamentally unmakeable." When casting, Jonah was their ultimate choice because everyone else just wasn't funny enough. When Cera was mentioned, Evan Goldberg, Rogen's bff, said he refused to watch "Arrested Development" because of him. Seth now admits that Evan is stupid. Originally Cera's character was supposed to be the straight-man, but his verbal rhythm turns almost everything into a joke. Christopher Mintz-Plasse, who plays Fogel, was found after an ad was put out in high schools for a kid to play a "loser who thinks he's cool." Christopher's friends immediately told him "That's you man!" That was mean, but he got the part.
Towards the end of the event, they allowed audience members to ask questions. A professor wanted to know if Jonah's character was actually in love with Cera's, but since Jonah plays a kid named Seth, it sounded like the man asked Rogen if he was gay. And Rogen pretended to be shocked for a second then responded with: "Everybody's a little gay after a few beers." Critics were saying that even though these boys were trying to sleep with girls, in the end they slept with each other. A college student came up after the professor and he kind of looked like a shorter, pudgier version of Rogen, so naturally he said, "Yes, me?" and everyone laughed.
Interesting fact about Rogen: He wants to write scifi next.
Helpful advice from Judd to aspiring comedy writers: Start from a real emotional experience, then make it funny.
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