Transcript

David Duchovny | SmartLess

From SmartLess · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 1 h 8 min · 14,281 words · 392 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "David Duchovny | SmartLess", an episode of SmartLess published November 3, 2025 (1 h 8 min, about 14,281 words). It mentions 71 people, works and ideas, including Michelob, Dodgers, Hollywood Bowl, New Year's Day, The X-Files.

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 10:00: Hollywood Bowl, Dodgers, Golden Globe, Good Night Oscar
  2. – 20:00: Athens, Georgia, Michael Stipe, Radio Free Europe, Scotland
  3. – 30:00: American Revolution, James Arnett, Monmouth County, New Jersey, The Forward
  4. – 40:00: Michelob, New Year's Day, Charles Bukowski, Maggie Wheeler
  5. – 50:00: Bud Light, Bud Light, Los Angeles, Marlon Brando
  6. – 1:00:00: Ship of Fools, Aggregate Films, Netflix, Robert Plant
  7. – 1:07:44: SmartLess, Clean and Sober, Dodgers, Fletch

Notable quotes from "David Duchovny | SmartLess"

  • Hey,, you, know,, JB,, somebody, said, to me the other day, you've become like the Jack Nicholson of the Dodgers.
    about Dodgers · at
  • Ever in it reminded me Willie, of you I took you to the what was it? Game one of the World Series last year when Freddy Freeman hit that walk off grand slam.
    about World Series · at
  • Before we get into our guest who we want to talk to immediately tickets, to, the, Hollywood, Bowl,, November 15th.
    about Hollywood Bowl · at
  • But, the, first, one, I, got, paid, for,, I believe, was a Michelob beer commercial.
    about Michelob · at
  • Independent filmmaker. Yeah. And Maggie was going to be one of the three stars of this film called New Year's Day. And she asked Henry you, know,, can, you, David's, acting…
    about New Year's Day · at
  • Did, you, ever, Did, you, ever, write, any, of the X-Files?
    about The X-Files · at
  • I used to say this thing with do you are you aware of like the phenomenon of like a ship of fools? Do you remember that from the middle ages where it was a great Robert Plant song? Is that is, it, razor, song?
    about Ship of Fools · at
  • Double, D., Double, D, comes, D to, the, Smartless studio,, I, guess,, is, what, this, is.
    about SmartLess · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Jack Nicholson — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Hey,, you, know,, JB,, somebody, said, to me the other day, you've become like the Jack Nicholson of the Dodgers.
  • Louis CK — Person · 1 mention · first at
    No,, I, thought, it, was, David, Davany, or Louis CK.
  • Samuel Beckett — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Well, I, at, Princeton, I, majored, in, English literature and I wrote my thesis on Samuel Beckett's novels come Wow.
  • Michael Stipe — Person · 1 mention · first at
    You, know,, David,, when, we, we, had, Michael Stipe, our friend from on here a while ago, and he was talking about that wonderful song. It was so good. and that first record that he made when he was down in Athens, Georgia with those guys.
  • James Arnett — Person · 1 mention · first at
    My, My, dad's, name, is, James, Arnett., You sure?
  • Charles Bukowski — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Two, full, nights., Two, two, full, night., So you do so you do the Bukowski where you're as you describe making love to a inflatable doll in an SNM dungeon.
  • Maggie Wheeler — Person · 1 mention · first at
    An old girlfriend of mine whose name is Maggie Wheeler. That's her married name. She's a terrific actress. She was on You, want, to, give, an, address, or Friends, quite, a, lot.
  • Marlon Brando — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Well,, I, mean,, I, didn't, want, to, be Brando, but he was my north star.
  • Robert Plant — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Like a ship of fools? Do you remember that from the middle ages where it was a great Robert Plant song? Is that is, it, razor, song?
  • Michael Keaton — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Oh,, yeah., Yeah., It, was, too, good., That's That, guy, was, so, good., I, just, remember, what was the one he did with Michael Keaton? No. you know the great Clean and Sober and, he, was, also, in, Fletch.
  • Michael Grant Terry — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Smartless is 100% organic and artisally handcrafted by Rob Armjarf, Bennett Barbco, and Michael Grant Terry.
  • Anthony Edwards — Person · 1 mention
  • Arthur Schnitzler — Person · 1 mention
  • David Duchovny — Person · 1 mention
  • Henry Jaglom — Person · 1 mention
  • Jason Bateman — Person · 1 mention
  • M. Emmet Walsh — Person · 1 mention
  • Marcia Haufrecht — Person · 1 mention
  • Sean Hayes — Person · 1 mention
  • Tom Kapinos — Person · 1 mention
  • Wilford Brimley — Person · 1 mention
  • Will Arnett — Person · 1 mention

Books & papers

Companies & orgs

  • Dodgers — Company · 2 mentions · first at
  • The X-Files — Company · 2 mentions · first at
  • SmartLess — Company · 2 mentions · first at
  • Yankees — Company · 1 mention · first at
    Home run like and, then, the, series, continued, for, the, the Yankees to go ahead and they kind of dropped the ball on the whole series.
  • The Forward — Company · 1 mention · first at
    Say My father's my father's family his, his, father, wrote, for, the, forward which is the was the only Yiddish daily newspaper in America the longest running one and he wrote kind of in a Denzian way he wrote cliffhers for the.
  • Aggregate Films — Company · 1 mention · first at
    Black, Rabbit., Black, Rabbit, airing, now, on Netflix starring Jason and Juba production from Aggregate Films brings you Black Rabbit.
  • Lakers — Company · 1 mention · first at
    I, hear, the, Lakers, are, going to, be, good this year.
  • Knicks — Company · 1 mention · first at
  • The Unnatural — Company · 1 mention · first at
    XFiles that I wrote and directed that I want Jason to watch because it's called The Unnatural and it's a baseball Oh,, I, that., All, right.
  • Actors Studio — Company · 1 mention
  • Amazon Prime Video — Company · 1 mention
  • Fox — Company · 1 mention
  • Mellon Foundation — Company · 1 mention
  • MSNBC — Company · 1 mention
  • Paragon Sports — Company · 1 mention
  • Yale School of Drama — Company · 1 mention

Products & tech

  • Michelob — Product · 3 mentions · first at
  • New Year's Day — Product · 2 mentions · first at
  • Radio Free Europe — Product · 1 mention · first at
    First record that he made when he was down in Athens, Georgia with those guys, Radio, Free, Europe,, I, think,, was their first single, and, he, was, talking, about, he…
  • Bud Light — Product · 1 mention · first at
    What, were, they?, One, was, a, Bud, Bud Light commercial.
  • Married... with Children — Product · 1 mention · first at
    Know, across the board all day long really. And you know they had married with children and I can't remember you know they had made 9021 Tracy, man.
  • Clean and Sober — Product · 1 mention · first at
    What was the one he did with Michael Keaton? No. you know the great Clean and Sober and, he, was, also, in, Fletch.
  • Fletch — Product · 1 mention · first at
    Keaton? No. you know the great Clean and Sober and, he, was, also, in, Fletch.
  • Miller Lite — Product · 1 mention

Concepts & topics

  • Ship of Fools — Concept · 2 mentions · first at
  • World Series — Concept · 1 mention · first at
  • New York Times Bestselling Author — Concept · 1 mention · first at
    Guest who is get, this, award-winning, actor,, writer, director, New York Times bestselling author, podcaster,, singer,, songwriter, multiple albums, multiple Golden Globes, multiple Emmy nominations,.
  • Golden Globe — Concept · 1 mention · first at
    Author, podcaster,, singer,, songwriter, multiple albums, multiple Golden Globes, multiple Emmy nominations, SAG awards. He's known for his a an iconic TV show which was his sort of breakthrough even though he'd been doing.
  • SAG Awards — Concept · 1 mention · first at
    Multiple albums, multiple Golden Globes, multiple Emmy nominations, SAG awards. He's known for his a an iconic TV show which was his sort of breakthrough even though he'd been…
  • American Revolution — Concept · 1 mention · first at
    When caterpillars change into No,, it's, about, it's, about, it's, it's, sort of pre It's about the American Revolution in a way. Monmouth County New Jersey is a reference…
  • Emmy Awards — Concept · 1 mention

Places & events

  • Hollywood Bowl — Place · 2 mentions · first at
  • Athens, Georgia — Place · 1 mention · first at
    Wonderful song. It was so good. and that first record that he made when he was down in Athens, Georgia with those guys, Radio, Free, Europe,, I, think,, was their first single…
  • Scotland — Place · 1 mention · first at
    Is just comes from my parents. I think on my mother's side, she was a from a small town in Scotland and, the, only, way, to, advance, for, her family which were generations of…
  • Monmouth County, New Jersey — Place · 1 mention · first at
    No,, it's, about, it's, about, it's, it's, sort of pre It's about the American Revolution in a way. Monmouth County New Jersey is a reference about loyalist going, to, Canada…
  • Venice, California — Place · 1 mention · first at
    Acts and I decided to adapt this Charles Bowski short story called The Copying Mermaid of Venice, California.
  • Los Angeles — Place · 1 mention · first at
    Well,, I, loved, it, at, first.,, cuz, I didn't really have any roots in Los Angeles, you know. I just I had come here to try to get work. and, you, weren't, going, to, the, the, blowup doll wasn't going to start crying.
  • New York City, New York — Place · 1 mention
  • Santa Monica, California — Place · 1 mention

Sponsors

  • Michelob Beer — Sponsor · 1 mention · first at
    But, the, first, one, I, got, paid, for,, I believe, was a Michelob beer commercial.
  • Bud Light — Sponsor · 1 mention · first at
    What, were, they?, One, was, a, Bud, Bud Light commercial.
  • Netflix — Sponsor · 1 mention · first at
    Black, Rabbit., Black, Rabbit, airing, now, on Netflix starring Jason and Juba production from Aggregate Films brings you Black Rabbit.
  • Amazon Prime Video — Sponsor · 1 mention
  • Miller Lite — Sponsor · 1 mention
  • SmartLess.com/live — Sponsor · 1 mention

Full transcript with timestamps

Hey guys, uh this is Welcome back. This is the first time um this is the first time I've done this uh that we're doing the show since we uh did it last we made the Well, no, we made a Didn't we make a blood pact?

Did, we? I, mean,, I, did, not. Not, that, I, know, of. Did, we, not, make, a, blood, pack?, Who, did, I make a blood pact with?

Oh,, no. I'll, figure, it, out, later., All right., In the meantime, let's go to all news. Smart. Smart. Smart. Less.

Hey,, you, know,, um, JB,, somebody, said, to me the other day, you've become like the Jack Nicholson of of the Dodgers.

Oh,, yeah., Um,, you're, at, the, Dodger, you're on the broadcast. Uh, high compliment.

I, know., I, know., And, Shaunie,, you, were there with them and the guys were like somebody said that the guys were like "Hey, there's twothirds of the

the, Smart, List, crew.", And, um, where's, our, buddy? We, really, We, had, such, a, We, had, such, a joy, didn't I? I mean, Willie, if I had three tickets.

I, know., Sure., Sure. This, was, last, week, it, was, dinner., This week it's the game. I mean, you know most people would be like, "Hey

and, Sean, wor.", No,, no,, no., We're, still good for Rome, right, Sean? Oh,, this, is, what, it, is., This, is, a, You're getting me back for all the holidays that Sean and I went on.

I, mean,, the, stamps, on, your, passports. No,, you, we, missed, you,, Willie.

We, really, did, have, a, nice, time,, didn't we Shnie? Oh, my, god,, it, was, so, easy, breezy.

We, haven't, We, haven't, done, that, in, uh, in ever in you know, it reminded me Willie, of uh you I took you to the uh what was it? Game one of the World Series last year when Freddy Freeman hit that walk off grand slam.

How, good, was, that? We, were, jumping, around, like, contest. Uh, the, last, game, of

what? Is, that, where, is, that, is, that, the, famous last game last year where the last game I I believe it was the first game?

It, was, the, first, game, and, it, was, a whole, series where, he, just, like, got, a, bases, loaded home run like

and, then, the, series, continued, for, the, uh the Yankees to go ahead and they kind of dropped the ball on the whole series. Got it.

Yankee, fans, will, know, that, pun. Oh, gosh., Well,, you, know,, you, just, you alienated 50 million people. So

listen,, the, Yanks, are, going, to, get another chance. Well, who knows when this, is, going to, air,, but, this, seems like they might get another chance.

I, also, look, at, what, I, just, [ __ ], did like 5 minutes before we came on playing with the dog outside and I ran inside and I [ __ ]

tripped, over, him, and, to, break, my, fall,, I grabbed the door and my this finger went all the way back here.

Oh, god., Really?, Yeah., just, like, five minutes ago. I was like, "Ah wait., So,, you're, on, ice, right, now?"

Well,, just, in, case., Yeah. Well,, luckily, I'm, No,, no, joke., Luckily, you're you're done with the with the play.

I, know., Could, you, imagine?, Could, you imagine? No. No., Couldn't, play., Wouldn't, be, able, to play.

I, know. Oh,, that, Ricky. It, would, be, Good, Night, Oscar., If, that were the case, you know.

Incredible. Wait, Sean, why do you Sean,, why, have, you, asked, me, and, then, my wife separately if my dogs are good with other dogs? Are you

Because, I, want, to, bring, Ricky, O, over, but I don't want to bring him if your dogs are going to

Why, would, you, be, bringing, Ricky, over? Because, I, might, come, see, a, movie, this weekend.

Okay. But, but, you, you, spend, 3, hours, plus, over at Jen's every week. You don't you don't bring Ricky.

Look, at, the, judging, face., I, just, don't understand like what's going on. Is Ricky having separation anxieties lately?

No., No., It's, just, a, thing., And, as, a, dog owner, I just don't like to leave him alone for like 3 hours.

I, would, describe, your, face, as, a, scowl right now. It's a scowl. But, I, would, like, I, would, like, to, bring him over to Jensen's, but he they don't get along.

Well,, yeah., But so, I, was, like,, "Oh,, if, your, dogs, get along, it'll be great. I could just bring them over." And if not, by the way, that's fine, too. But I but the bigger issue is why why do you and Scotty feel like Ricky needs so much constant like dogs can be left alone? And by the way, you just spent almost a full year out of the country.

I, know., I, don't, know, how, he, fed, himself. He fed himself. I don't know how he

listen,, this, is, going, to, be controversial, but but we live in an era where people bring their dogs over to other people's houses a lot. And and I don't I'm not judging you, Sean, on this, but people do it. They just And they're like, "I got my dog with me." I'm like, "Yeah

what, do, you, mean, you, got, your, dog, with you? It's, not, okay." Yeah., And, I'm, a, dog., I, love, dogs., I've had lots of dogs. I have a dog. But you don't need to bring your dog with you when you go to somebody else's house.

I, like, I, like, the, dog. I'm, not, saying, that, you, don't. Then, then, continue, having, more, morning play time with them. Then

people, show, up., I, got, my, dog, with, me. Oh, you've got your dog with you. Everybody brought their dog everywhere. It would be mayhem.

This, is, what, I, love., This, is, what, I love. You're, like,, well,, I'm, a, dog, person., You must be You're a monster.

Oh,, sorry., He, peed., Where, are, your, paper towels? No,, this, is, what, I, love., I, love, I, love the I love the conversation that I know happened this morning and Jason's face as he was having it with Amanda.

It, was, a, couple, days, ago, and, I've, been really stewing on it. Sean, Amanda's, like,, "Sean, just, text, me if if our dogs are okay with other dogs." And you turn with your cup of coffee or just sludge your cup of sludge.

And, I, said,, "Fucking, what? What? By the way, he's you know where he is. He's he's in his chair in his little study with the wire going and he's watching MSNBC.

And, then, he, barely, moves, and, he, looks, at her and she's at the door cuz she's too scared to come in cuz she sees the prescal who knows what stage of gummy he's at.

You, know what, I, mean? Yeah., I, will, scratch. And, he's, afraid, of, dad. Yeah.

You, know, she, does, a, very, tentative, little Yeah., Little, knock. Yeah., Honey,

sorry., Are, you, sorry?, Are, you, not, on commercial? Is it not commercial? I, guess, I, I, tell, you, what, and, tell, you who's not tentative is our guest today. Nice.

Oh,, let's, get, into, it. Yeah., Uh,, hang, on, a, second. Check, the, check, the, chat.

Hang, on, one, second., What, does, that, say? Oh,, by, the, way, yes., Sorry., Before, we, before, we, go before we get into our guest who we want to talk to immediately

tickets, to, the, Hollywood, Bowl,, November 15th. November, 15th, for, Smart, List., Wait,, do, I need to buy tickets for that?

I'd, really, like, to, go, to, that., Do, I, need to buy tickets? No,, we're, giving, you, two, cops.

We're, going to, give, you, two, cops. One, for, you, and, then, plus, one., You, get, a plus.

I'd, love, a, stage, I'd, love, a, stage, seat. If you have a stage seat stage you, got, you, go, to, smartlist.com/live.

You, go, to, smartlist.com/live for the Hollywood Bowl show on the 15th of November. Guys, this is going to be it's going to be very nerve-wracking for us cuz what are we doing up there at the Hollywood Bowl?

We, can, barely, do, this., We, can, we're barely doing this this morning. I, will, tell, you, that, my, guest, is, is, one of our biggest stars in in in the movie industry.

So, is, my, guest. Really? Really? Yes., My, guest, also, is, one, of the, biggest stars out there.

Let's, have, a, little, side, bet., You, and, me and, I, really, I, can't, wait., I'm, going to have a single up on a on a camera. We're going to, we're, going, to, single, up, on you,

JB., When, when, my, guest, comes, out, gets announced. Oh,, and, you, think Oh,, yeah., It's, going, to, be, great., It's going to be great. Listen

it's, going, to, be, a, guest, that's, going, to make me nervous. It's, It's, going, to, be, It's, going, to, be so great on so many levels. I can't wait.

All, right,, Shaunie,, you, Shaunie,, you, can be the judge um between Will and I's guest. Will, let's you and I have a little side $10 bet of who is the bigger guest. And Shaunie, you get to decide. And then

we'll, just, do, like, we'll, do, 10, 10, a, big reveal. do a 10 1020 and presses automatics.

Automatic, presses., Okay., Um, All right., I tell you what, we are we're pressed for time because we want to get into our guest who is

get, this, award-winning, actor,, writer, director, New York Times bestselling author,

uh, podcaster,, singer,, songwriter, multiple uh uh albums, multiple Golden Globes, multiple Emmy nominations, uh uh SAG awards. He's known for his a a an iconic TV show which was his sort of breakthrough even though he'd been doing it for a long time. He's a he's got a he's got a degree from Princeton. He's got a masters from Yale in literature. He still has unfinished PhD that I want to ask him about. He's one of the alltime great guys. It's David Davney.

Oh,, David, Davney. Hey,, David., Was, that, not, who, you, were going to, guess,, Shnie?

No,, I, thought, it, was, David, Davany, or Louis CK. Oh,, wow., Wow., often., Often

I, don't, I, don't, think, Louis, has, a, degree from I don't think Louis has a masters in literature. All due respect to uh from you said Princeton. You said Princeton as well

and, Princeton, first., I, think is, that, true, David?, Welcome. Is, it, true?, Yes,, it's, true.

Thank, you., God, this, is, so, wonderful. David,, why, would, you, why, would, you you're such a You know, I remember the we we spoke about a year ago.

Let, me, just, say, I, don't, like, the, tone, of that. Why immediately? Why? Why, would, they, give, you, a, degree?, No, no, no. It wasn't that. It wasn't that.

Why? It, wasn't, that the why would you? Because you you you graduated, you were you were head of your class uh in high school and then you go to Princeton and then you go to Yale

and, I, feel, like, you, you, lowered, yourself to come into show business a little bit you know, a little bit. Why would you do that, David? the the

clearly, I, have, a, academia, gaping, hole, a gaping hole inside me but yeah he's, decided, to, slum, it

yeah, slummed, it, with, us, morons what, go, ahead no, that's, it well, no, I, want, I, just, wanted, I, I, want you to walk me through your academic prowess I'm I'm fascinated with all this stuff

well, I, at, Princeton, I, majored, in, English literature and I wrote my thesis on Samuel Beckett's novels

come Wow. Because, well,, let, me, tell, you, why, I wrote on the novels. Because uh nobody writes on the novels and I didn't have to do that much work in research cuz I could just make the [ __ ] up myself. All right. This is pretty

This, is, nothing, to, compare, it, to. Yes., No., Chad, GPT, cheating. It, was, an, open, field.

And, then, what, happened, at, uh, that, was Princeton or that was Yale? That, was, Princeton., And, then, I, took, a year off and I I traveled and I I didn't really know what I wanted to do at all. I I just knew I wanted to be a writer. Um then I thought I applied for a Melon fellowship which I got from uh the Melon Foundation which they were trying to lure people that might go into money-making businesses and steer them towards academia. So it was for people to get PhDs who might you know not be able to afford staying in school. So I got one of those and I went to Yale and I thought that I'd I'd become a professor of uh English literature and then write novels in my summer times.

That's the plan. Wow. Christ. And, and, and, forgive, me., Have, you, written like, a a, hundred, novels, and, I'm, an idiot?

Uh, I've, written, five, four, or, five novels. Wow. Yeah., And, I, just, had, a, book, of, poems come out.

Yeah., Oh,, that's, cool. David,, this, is And, then, And, by, the, way,, by, the, way, he's also he's admitting the fact that he's put out a a number of records. He just finished a tour. Am I right? You just finished a tour in Europe.

Yeah., Yeah. Oh,, no., This, was, in, the, States,, this one. But but go ahead. But last year you were on tour in Europe. Yeah. And and I listen to your records. By the way, your music is great. And you know, sometimes and I mean this with all your sometimes when you see people who do multiple uh disciplines, they're like, I'm going to put a record out. You listen. Yeah. Yeah. It's pretty good.

Your, records, are, really, good., I, mean, they're very these aren't just got musical tast I'm a music lover. Really really good stuff. I mean

thank, you,, Will. I, love, that, tune,, Heller, High, Water., I think that's a great tune. Yeah.

What, What, What, type, of, uh, Is, it, rock, and roll? Yeah,, I, guess, it's, I'd, say, it's, rock, and roll. Yeah, like 70s rock. Uh you know late60s rock.

Like, like, yacht, yacht, rock. Not, quite, like, yacht, rock., I'm, not, I'm not very jazzy. I stay off the water. I try to stay off the water.

No,, it's, kind, of, like, indie, rock, in, a way. I mean, sorry to forgive me for saying that, but I'm I'm a '9s indie rock dinosaur myself.

Yeah,, it's, Well, Well,, the, '9s, was, kind of like the garageification of 70s rock in my mind, you know. Oh, interesting.

And, so, I, I, think, 70s, and, 90s, have, a, lot in common. And, you're, playing, the, guitar, there, and you're singing as well.

I, don't, play, the, guitar, on, stage, because I'm I'm I'm kind of self-taught on on the guitar. So

I, have, an, inability, to, play, it, the, same way twice, which is not very nice for my band.

So, I, I, I, write, the, songs., I, write, and you sing them and, I, sing, in, my, in, my, fashion.

So, on, stage, you, don't, you, have, no, you have no guitar as a crush. Nothing to do with my hands. I think that's where you're going.

Yeah., So,, you, just, you, just, kind, of, work the mic and the and the You, hold, on, to, that, [ __ ], mic, stand for dear life is what happens. I wouldn't know what to do.

It's, like, a, life, jacket, out, in, the You're, like, You're, like, Liam, Gallagher does that, you know, with the

Oh,, Liam, is, amazing, because,, you, know, when I first when I first started performing live, I just thought, well I'm like the MC

right?, I, want, I, want, people, to, have, a good time, you know, and I I'm dancing around and making a fool of myself. And then it was actually my my my wife said to me, you know, you don't have to move around so much.

Oh,, no. And, then, I, and, and, then, I, saw,, you, know, then I saw Liam, and Liam is just still you know, he's just still. He's got his hands behind his back for the most part.

Yeah., Kind, of, leaning, up, in, a, way,, you know, and, it's, really, it's, really, powerful, to be still.

Yeah. Do, you, close, your, eyes, a, lot? Sometimes., Sometimes, I, close, my, eyes, and then I go, "This isn't good. There could be [ __ ] happening out there that I need to keep an eye on."

Do, you, ever, go, full, sea, and, just, turn your back to the audience? But, but but, David,, David,, I, just, want, to say, so you you were David, you were self-taught on guitar. I think you only started playing guitar a couple years before your first album. Is that true?

True., Yeah., So,, so, you, barely, you basically teach yourself how to play guitar for a couple years, then you have the audacity to be like, "All right well, I'm going to write a record." And how are you do you know how to read and write music? How did you do how did how was that process?

I, don't, know how, to, read, and, write music, but here's something that you guys might appreciate as actors. Uh when I decided I wanted to learn guitar I'm not I'm not 100% selftaught. When I decided I wanted to learn, I was doing Californication at the time and I said to the I said to Tom Kapan who's the producer, I think Hank Moody should learn how to play guitar so I can get so I could get the free lesson.

That's, amazing. The, intelligence, it, permeates, everything you do. I, know., I, know., He's, he's, playing fourdimensional chess if that's a thing.

So, I, I, uh, also, with, singing, I'm, not, uh I'm not like Sean. I can't I I'm I'm not that kind of a singer. I'm not either which is sad. Yes, you are. And uh how dare you?

It's, been, a, It's, been, a, journey, to, try and put over the song cuz I can hear melodies that I can't that I can't necessarily sing, which is weird. I never thought that was a possibility.

Well,, you, know,, just, really, quick,, some of sometimes the best singers are the quote untrained singing, you know because you don't think about it. You're not in your head about it.

You, know,, David,, when, we, we, had, uh Michael Stipe, our friend from on here a while ago, and he was talking about that wonderful song. It was so good. and that first record that he made when he was down in Athens, Georgia with those guys

um,, Radio, Free, Europe,, I, think,, was their first single, and, he, was, talking, about, he basically was singing gibberish and he didn't know how to sing. Do you remember that guys? And he was talking, he was like, I just kind of winged it.

Yeah. Because, he, didn't, know, what, and, he, kind of taught himself how to and he got better at

I, think, the, correct, term, is, wung., He wung it. He, w, it., Sorry., Sorry,, Jason.

I, don't, mean, to, embarrass, you., I'm, so sorry. Stickler., He, got, a, master, in, English from a school bus.

So,, hey,, hey,, Sean., Hey. Yeah. Okay. Really?, Speaking, of, music, struck, a, chord with you.

Now,, David,, this, this, is, I, don't, I, I don't read and I'm not I'm not proud to say that.

Um, you, strike, me, as, a, reader, though., I'm surprised. I appreciate that. He read scripts. He doesn't read.

A, lot, of, this, is, the, glasses., Um, it's, just, the, glasses., But to be an English major and to and to say you want to be a writer and you are a writer and to be a prof, it just it sounds like a lot of reading, a lot of sitting down.

Can't, get, anything, by, you. Nothing, else, going, on., There's, total silence in the house. Maybe there's a little bit of classical music or something. Nothing with lyrics because that'll distract you.

Exactly., Right. But, like And Will, I I wanted to ask you about this too at times and then I just said "Fuck it. I don't want to talk to Will." Um, how do you do that? How do you just say, "Of all the things I could be doing, I would rather just sit in this chair and shut out the world and stare at this stack of paper and go left to right, top to bottom, word after word after word after word."

So,, I'm, not, reading, Hebrew, at, all, is what you're saying. Yeah. I mean, I just I wish my I wish my parents for all the good that they did, I wish they had somehow tricked me into really loving that process because there's so much that I'm

Are, you, talking, about, writing, or reading? Reading. Reading. The, writing, I've, got,, but, it's, the reading that's

I, I, don't, know. Have, you, ever, Have, you, ever, loved reading a novel or or reading?

I, have., I've, had, I've, back, I, backed, into a couple of those, but it was, you know it it, wasn't, by, choice., I, do, not, read for pleasure. All the jokes JB that I make about you not reading, I will say of the of the the handful that I mentioned that you have read, you've always said you really enjoyed reading them. So that's what's surprising to me. I'm like, well, why don't you double

It, is, the, time, aotment., It, is, the decision to go sit in a chair in a quiet corner of a house and and shut everything out and do that. There's so much discipline and uh that I have for other things, but I just don't have for reading. I'm so envious of that.

Yeah., I, think, it's, just, it's, it, really is just comes from my uh parents. I think uh on my mother's side, she was a from a small town in Scotland

and, the, only, way, uh, to, advance, for, her family which were generations of uh I did that 20 I did that root finding your roots show. So I found out that that I come from a long line of fish mongers.

Oh, yeah. Oh, wow., That's, wild., So, the, only, way, out of the fishmongering business, in fact one of one of my ancestors occupation was um widow of fishmonger.

I, didn't, even, know, that, was, a, job. I, know., I, was, like,, how, does, that, pay? How does that pay?

Um, not, well, is, my, guess. Well,, you, need, the, person, to, die, first of all. So I mean that's

you, need, to, be, included, in, the, will. And so the only way out of uh the only way out of that place in society was education

for, my, mother., So my, mother, was, the, first, woman, first person in her family and a woman in in the 19

40s, to, go, to, college. And, so, she, was, very, much, just, somebody who believed in the power of education and of reading and writing as a social climbing tool. Is is it is is also is the appeal the appeal of reading sometime like the pure escapism of because I I do remember this one book I really enjoyed reading once was I was once on a job that I that I didn't I didn't enjoy. I wasn't I didn't like where I was. I was on location somewhere and I was lonely

and, it, was, great, to, just, like, I, I, was dying to get back into the book any chance I could because it would travel me from where I was.

That, feeling, is, amazing. Yeah., Well,, it, used, to, be, uh, you, know, I think the the place of books has has been taken by you know TV and movies you know that that that escape

but, before, there, was, that, technology, you know this this is what you had you, had, the, book, and, people, used, to, read books on set I think way back in the day you but JB I I would say that you as somebody who travels a lot you're on a lot of you're on planes a lot that's such a great time to to get that escape where you're not watching

can, I, send, you, one, of, my, books, I'll, send you one of my books for a plane It's It's baseball contingent. It's It's It's near baseball. It's called Bucky [ __ ] Dent. I made a movie of it. I made a movie of it, but I want you to read the book. I'll send you the book

now., Well,, that, sounds, like, non-fiction. No,, no,, it's, fiction. Is, it? It, just, uses, that, that, moment, in, time, as a

And, then, does, that, make, you, a, big, Yankee fan? I, am, a, big, Yankee, fan., And, I, heard, what you said earlier.

You, got, a, big, You, got, You, got, a, big, day today. Big, day, today. So,, David, So,, so, David,, all, of, this, to say My father my father's uh my father's family uh

his, his, father, wrote, for, um, the, forward which is the was the only Yiddish uh daily newspaper in America the longest running one and he wrote kind of in a Denzian way he wrote cliffhers for the paper he wrote you know stories about little Nell or whatever some you know somebody being tied to the train tracks that kind of a thing

so, and, my, father, his, entire, entire, life. My father had to work kind of a nineto-five job, but he always said he was a novelist. He always said he was a novelist. And at the age of 73 two years before he died, he published his first novel. So he was a hot young novelist at the age of 73. So I'm coming I'm coming out of that kind of history of respect for the word, respect for the efficacy of the word, respect for education, just it was all it was all that was part of my growing up. That was part of my foundation.

And, we, will, be, right, back. And, now, back, to, the, show. That, That's, funny., Dave,, my, my, dad, also who worked forever and and and but he's been retired for a while, but since co has written two novels.

Amazing. And, he, wrote, his, last, one., He, came, and came out when he was 86. He's just written last year. Yeah.

What, is, the, name, of, it, and, where, can where can purchasers find it? Yeah., Well,, uh,, his, his, latest, is, The Monmouth Manifesto, which is an interesting uh interesting novel. And uh, it's sort of historical fiction, if you will.

This, is, about, when, is, this, this, is, about when caterpillars change into No,, it's, about, it's, about, it's, it's, sort of pre It's about the uh American Revolution in a way. Monmouth County New Jersey is a reference about loyalist

going, to, Canada, based, on, one, of, my ancestors and about really at the heart of the revolution. And

I, was, just, trying, to, do, a, moth, joke. Okay., Sorry., You, didn't, want, to, get, into it.

Not, really. This, is, why, you're, Canadian. Let, the, readers, buy, it, and, discover, it.

What's, his, name? My, My, dad's, name, is, James, Arnett., You sure? Yeah. Emerson., James, Arnett,, if, you, will.

Oh,, yeah. My, dad, My, dad, wrote, My, dad, wrote, um, me off. Oh,, no., Sean, it would be so funny if it wasn't so true. Oh, he wrote me off.

He, wrote, a, goodbye, note, is, what, he wrote. See, you. That's, where, by, came, from,, by, the, way. It came from Sean's dad. Bye.

Wait,, wait., Dave,, David,, David,, David. So, you So, so I I do want to So, so you you get in, you you graduate. You go to

Kind, of, Sean,, but I, know, I, do., Well,, we, can, we've, done, a lot. Anytime you have a question on Sean, please interrupt me. Um, but you decide, you, you, and, and and, you're, and you're studying uh English lit and and you get a masters and then what's the moment you go like, "All right, I'm going to put this down for a second. I'm going to dip my toe." What was your first acting job and why did it come about?

I, was, at, I, was, at, Yale., I, was, I, was getting my PhD, or so I thought. And Yale is famous for its drama school, and they have a lot of they have a lot of productions going on all the time. So, I decided I was going to start trying to take classes over at the drama department, and they were very loose about it. They would just let me walk in and and do writing classes because I thought I maybe I'm going to write plays because the idea of writing novels or poems seems so very lonely to me, you know, and I was 20 22 23 years old and I was just sitting in a room

all, day, long, alone, trying, to, write. I, was, like,, "This, is, [ __ ], up,, you know. This is not

you, know,, I, like, people." Not, as, romantic, as, you, thought, it., No, but I I liked I I like collaborating. I like So I thought, okay, I'll write plays, and, that, way, at least, I'll, I'll get out into the world. And so I met these all these actors and they're always looking for bodies because there's so many productions going on around in Yale. And uh they said, "Hey you know, come and do this this thing this Arthur Schnitzer play, Schnitzler play we're doing um which name escapes me, but you can play the Count Data Tre or something." I had one or two lines and uh I liked it. It wasn't like, oh this is a revelation. In fact, I thought, oh, I'm comfortable. And I was so comfortable that in between the first and the second performances, I smoked a joint.

How', the, second, one, go? Yeah., Yeah. Not, so, good. Not, so, good. That's, really, funny.

I, got, I, was, so, cocky., I, was, like,, I, got this. And then I was like, oh, I don't have anything. Why are people looking at me? Did you then sign up for acting classes or or did you

I, started, taking, classes, in, um, in, New York with a woman named Marcia Halrect who taught Strawber method. She was associated with the Actor Studio

and, that, was, wonderful, cuz, she, was completely supportive uh you know was all about the interior world all the things that are so difficult to work on when you're actually a working actor.

But, were, you, thinking, about, it, in, terms of like informing your playwriting? Was that part of it? Yeah.

Yes., So, that's, what, I, was. So, it, wasn't, wasn't, like, this, is, going to be my this is going to be my future occupation.

No,, I, thought, if, I'm, going, to, write plays, I should probably know what it's like to say these whatever lines I'm going to write and see if they're sayable up on stage.

Yeah. And, uh, so, that, that, was, my, approach., And then at some point I was just like I I liked I'd played sports my whole life and I liked I liked the team aspect of acting and of

of, making, things., I, liked, the, highwire kind of, you know, put up or shut up feeling. Did it did it ever frustrate you that it didn't hold the same sort of academic rigor that that No, because it is not, with all respect to our our our colleagues that are actors, it it it's not the it doesn't have the sort of highbrow sophisticated um reputation that that that a playright would.

It's, just, a, different, game., It's, just, a different game. It's like baseball and basketball, whatever. It's just I I look at life as a series of of games or setups and this was just another game and I I knew it had different rules and I knew that that I would have to examine different strengths in order to to

Yeah,, you, probably, and, probably, probably less constraints too than writing and because it is such a different discipline. It probably started exercising a different muscle creatively that you're like oh this feels good.

Yes., It, was, the, emotional, emotional aspect of my life which had been neglected because I was you know I was in academia which doesn't really prize uh you know being volatile

right, so, the, emotional, side, of, it, and the teamwork side of it is is being satisfied but um uh do you feel like this [ __ ] academic superhero that you have inside of you has been uh satisfied and been utilized properly in your life thus far?

Yes., Now,, now, that, I, when, I, started writing novels about about 10 years ago now,

um,, and, you, know,, people, I, I, go, on, good readads and I'll read uh I'll read, you know, people's uh suggestions.

Yeah. Oh,, you, Oh,, you, will, you, will stupidly., Yeah., But, people, I, I, will

I, will, be, accused, of, showing, off, my learning when in fact I, don't, write, with, any, books, around. It's all in my head. you know, all if I'm quoting something or if I'm referencing another a great work of literature,

it's, coming, from, my, head., It's, coming from my memory. So,, I'm, not, doing, it, just, to, show, off, but it's part of me. And I really feel like I finally joined in the conversation

with, these, people, that, I, grew, up, reading and loving and feeling like this is the conversation I want to be involved with. And I'm sure you guys have had this as as actors where you're like, "Okay, now I'm in conversation with the with the people that I want to be in conversation with."

That's, true., That's, true. And, then, what, about, Did, you, ever, Sorry, Shnie. Did you Did you ever end up writing uh uh any plays or any screenplays? Have you kind of married the two? Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah., In, fact,, the, novel, writing, came out of not being able to make uh a screenplay. Uh, Bucky [ __ ] Dent I wrote as a screenplay probably in 20 2005 or six. Yeah.

And, then, I, couldn't, get, it, made., You know, these are usually my my soul goes goes towards like more independent kind of stories.

Yeah. And, uh, so, Bucky, I, couldn't, make., I, got close. I got close. I got close. I couldn't.

And, then, finally, did and, then, I, was, like, I'm, going to, write as a novel and then I made it as a movie.

So, you, flipped, it., You, went, the, other way. So you write a screenplay because, Will, always, talks, about, this, is IP now because now your book is IP.

So, they, love, that, right? I, don't, know, that reverse, engineering., I, mean,, no,, Holly Hollywood loves that. It's it's was it a book first then?

I'll, just, say, that, as, as, as, a, director, you know, writing the novel of the screenplay was the best preparation I could have done as a director because I just knew.

So, now, I'm, not, suggesting, that, you, have to do that next time you direct, guys.

No,, I'm, just, saying, for, me, that, worked. Yeah. Is, there, a, genre, of, of, that, you, like writing more of than not?

Oh,, I, mean,, I'm, just, of, the, I, guess,, you know, I go back to the movies when I started acting.

Um,, you, know,, like, James, Brooks,, just these movies that can live in a real in terms of a dearment, you know sobbing but also laughing.

Yeah., Great. David, O., Russell, stuff. Yeah., Yeah., just, like, real, emotional stuff that like

emotional, but, [ __ ], funny,, you, know, and flips, back, and, forth. Yeah., So, that's, that's, always, the balance that I'm looking for as an actor, too. It's always the balance I'm looking for. That's where I live.

So, what, ended, up, become, so, so, to, go, back to my what ended up becoming the first um professional acting gig that you had that you went up for and you got

Well,, professional, is, a, funny, word. Well,, you, know, that, you, got, paid, that you got a paycheck that you had to fill out a W4 or whatever, you know. Well, I'll tell you about two. One, the first one I got paid for, and then there's the first one I did, which was uh even better.

But, the, first, one, I, got, paid, for,, I believe, was a uh Michelob beer commercial.

Wow. And, um, I, uh, I, got, on, set, and, the, guy told me, "Okay, you're at the bar here." The guy, the director said, "You're you're at the bar here." And yeah, that guy, some guy said, "You're at the bar." I said "Okay, this guy says I'm at the bar." And uh you you run into an old professor of yours and you guys have a conversation and you know you're happy to see him

and, I, was, so, [ __ ], tight., I, was, so nervous. I, mean, I'm, 20 I'm, 26, years, old., I, mean, I'm, not, young young, you know? And and I had kind of staked my life on this path. Like I wasn't

I, wasn't, going, to, get, my, PhD., I, wasn't going to be a professor. And I just thought, okay, I'm gonna do this thing and I'm gonna be good at it. Now I get on set and I'm like I'm just tight

because, you, feel, like, you, needed, to, do so much. I, just, didn't, know., I, didn't, know, it, was going to be so [ __ ] tight.

I, know, exactly, what, you, mean,, man., I know. You needed that joint. It, wasn't, that, I, needed, that., It, wasn't It wasn't like, you know, oh, I'm in the right place.

It, was, like,, no,, I'm, in, the, wrong, place. I'm in the wrong place. Cameras, pointed, at, you., That, guy, comes in. Yeah.

I, can't, do, I, can't, go, on., I, can't, lie, on the ground and go right. So,, so, um, I, there's, pretzels, there, and, I start I toss one up, you know, catch it in my mouth and the director's like that's I love that. I love that.

Oh, no. And, I, just, remember, it, again, that, was, my lifeline and I was like so I did it for like 10 minutes and then I just remember the director going okay with the pretzels. We got the pretzels. I thought you were going to say you could never get it in your mouth again.

No,, I, was, doing, that, I, could, do. Yeah. Uh, so, that, was, the, first, paying, job, was was Michelob. The first job that I remember was my acting class went and uh my my acting class put on a night of one acts and I decided to adapt this Charles Bowski short story called The Copying Mermaid of Venice, California.

Sure. And, sure as one does. Sean's always referencing that. Yeah. It's, a, painting, Sean, has.

I, just, call, it, Mermaid., Yeah., Yeah., So, in this in this story, these two guys kind of unemployed guys watch the hearse unload at the Venice Morg. This is not a true kind of geographical thing, but they can see it from the beach and they know the timing of it. They know when the guys are going to come around. They know when the body's going to be unattended and they're going to steal a body.

So,, they, do., They, steal, a, body, and, they, you know, and here's where, you know it's Biki and it's like the logic kind of fails you, but they open it up and it's a beautiful woman and I decide I'm going to have sex with her and then I'm so ashamed of myself that I force my buddy to have sex with her and then you sure you have this on your wall Sean? I'm not sure.

No,, no,, no., It's, it's, how you, should, see, the, poster., It's, bizarre. So, then, I, I, said, we, go,, what, are, we going, to, do with, the, body?, I, don't, know. I swim her out to the ocean to get rid of the body and then I come back and I say, "She wasn't dead. She turned into a mermaid. She was beautiful. She swam away." So, it's this like be not beautiful after this. It's this gross horrible necrilia and then coupled with this high romantic. It's just Bcowski right?

So,, we, decide, we're, going, to, do, it and, I, asked, the, class,, you, know,, which which which of the women in the class is going to be the corpse? And everybody's like, "Yeah, it'll be me. It'll be me." But then when the time comes to do it nobody shows to be the corpse. And we're stuck. And we had been the place where we were making these plays was a a uh it was an SNM dungeon.

Sure. You, know,, of, course, they're, not, they're, not, used, during, the day and so

Well,, they're, not, used, during, the, day. And and uh we got to use it for two nights by cleaning up. We had to clean up and that was a whole other different story.

Yeah., But, um, there, was, the, the, uh, madam there was named Magda and she heard that we didn't have a body so she said why don't you use one of my blowup dolls.

Mhm. Oh, my, god. This, is, how, things, happen. So, said, oh, she, Yeah., Right., And, I'm thinking maybe I should have stayed at

Yale., This, is, so, I, um, I, I, put, up, a, I, had always put up like a bullwark on front of the stage to lay a body down so nobody could see the body. They couldn't see what was going on when I was supposedly making love to this uh

body., And, um, so, I, had, this, blowup, doll and uh what I I hadn't been able to rehearse with her.

Sure. And, she, wasn't, available., She, didn't know her lines or anything. As I was populating with her, her arms and legs started flying out

because, she's, only, made, of, air,, right? So,, the, audience, sees, this. Sure.

Like, like, a, used, like, a, used, car, lot. The things that you car lots I'm trying to do this most intense scene young actor like I'm really like I'm [ __ ] edgy,

you, know,, and, these, arms, are, and, the audience is laughing and laughing. And so in between performances, I went to Paragon. I hope you know it. It's a sporting goods store. And I got four ankle weights and I weighed down her wrists and her ankles. So the next time she she didn't she didn't have as much money,

but, she, still, had, the, squeaky. The other part of it was when I I walk through the audience and I I go I put a pale of water off stage where I was going to go cuz I swim around and I'm come I got to be wet. And so I walk through the audience and I'm sure the audience is like, "Oh my god, this is the worst thing I've ever seen." And I'm thinking, "Yeah, that's right. I'm an I'm an edgy motherfucker." And uh I go I go around the corner to and I realize it's totally quiet. There's no door. They can just hear me sponging myself down back then. They could just hear me.

Oh, my, god., So, that, was, that, was, my, first play. How long did it last? Uh, it, was, two, nights.

Okay,, great. Those, two, nights. Two, full, nights., Two, two, full, night., So So you do so you do the Bukowski um where you're as you describe making love to a inflatable doll in an SNM dungeon. Yeah, you do the

threw, away, a, PhD, at, Yale, for, this., I hear my mother saying "Yeah,, your, parents, Your, parents, must have at this point they're they're beaming with pride." And so then, but then what's the sort of the first because I'm I'm leading up to XFiles because I want to get into XFiles a little bit. We'd be remiss if we didn't get into XFiles because I was a fan of XFiles and I watched it.

Uh, so, you, so, you, get, that, and, that, leads to what you you because what was the first film you did? um an old girlfriend of mine whose name is is Maggie Wheeler. That's her married name. She's a terrific actress. She was on

You, want, to, give, an, address, or Friends, quite, a, lot. I, got, first, and, last., Okay.

She's, on, Friends., She, was, Janice, on Friends. Chandler's uh girlfriend. Yes., Oh,, yeah.

Yeah., So,, Maggie, was, doing, this, film with Henry Jagum who just passed uh last week. And Henry's this maverick independent filmmaker. Yeah. And uh Maggie was going to be one of the three stars of this film called New Year's Day. And she asked Henry

you, know,, can, you, David's, acting, now, can you can you see if you can put him in? So Henry did. And I had a couple scenes in the movie and they were they were good at they were kind of notable enough to kind of get me going here in LA and get an agent. And you know, at that point it was like it wasn't like get your SAG card. It was like how do I get film on myself? you know, how do I show people that I'm not a vampire and I don't disappear when I'm

Well,, people, didn't, have, they, didn't have phones and you couldn't put [ __ ] on YouTube the way kids can now and create their own stuff.

So,, it, was, really, this, one,, it, was, one long scene in uh New Year's Day that really kind of opened it up for me in LA. And then I, you know, I auditioned forever here and didn't get tons of stuff and would get, you know

So,, you, moved, to, LA. You, moved, to, LA, to, be, to, do, it, to, go, all in.

Exactly., What, were, you, doing, to, pay, the bills while you were uh swinging and missing?

I, was, doing, commercials. I, would, I, would, get, commercials., Yeah. So,, no, no, no, waiting, tables,, no bartending. No

I, bartended., Um, I, catered. Yeah. Where, did, you, Where, did, you, live, when you were here in LA?

Uh, I, lived, on, Fourth, Street, in, Santa Monica. I got a sublet there. Yeah., An, efficiency, apartment,, which means it didn't have a kitchen, which means I did my dishes in the shower when I shower.

Oh,, David., Wow., I, mean,, dishwashing liquid is is pretty good. Wait,, fourth., Fourth, and, what?, I, lived on Ocean Park in second for years.

H, uh, fourth, between, California, and Washington. Yeah., Right, there. Right, by, the, the, stairs,, you, know,, like that was my gym. I'd go to the stairs and

I, catered, to, I, catered, for, an, a, wedding at Anthony Edward's house when, I, just, moved, here, and, I, was, like, "Oh my god, it's the guy from ER and I'm in his kitchen."

It, was, so, wild., Yeah. And, then, and, then, you, were, shooting pretty much next door to him when you guys were doing Will and Grace, right?

That's, right., It, was, crazy., Yeah. Oh, my, god. And, you, did, a, lot, Sean, you, did, a, lot, of commercials too back in I remember.

Tons., Yeah., The, only, way, to, pay, the bills we, talked, about., Remember, you, had, those commercials that you were doing like when Will and Grace was on some of them came out.

Yeah., Yeah., Isn't, that, weird?, Yeah. That, Yeah, that, was, wild., I, had, two, I, had, two commercials two on the Super Bowl in 1998.

What, were, they?, One, was, a, Bud, um, Bud Light commercial. I, did, a, Bud, I, did, a, Bud, Light commercial.

Oh,, really?, When? 87, 88. Well,, you, did, Miller, Light, and, Bud Light. Yeah., Michelob.

Look, at, you. Michelob, and, Bud, Light., I, was, all, beers. I was king of beers.

Wait., So,, David,, so, so, when, did, you, I mean,, cuz, I, was a, I'm, a, big, sci-fi, nerd.

So,, so, X, Yeah., So,, X-Files,, how, did That's what you're getting to, right Johnny? How did that How did Xfiles

I, know, you're, sick, of, talking, about, it? And forgive us. Forgive us. We're just fans.

Um I, didn't, ask, but, I'm, ready, to, listen. Um Jason, read, the, books. Yeah,, it, was

it, was, just, an, audition, and, um, I remember at that point I was not wanting to do television.

You, know,, at, that, point, there, was, a, real divide between Yeah., television, actors, and, and, movie actors, which has been erased in the past few years or the past 20 years. So it was really um you know, I'm not a TV actor. That was my sense. I'm I'm

Who, was, your, north, star, in, film?, Who, did you want to be? Well,, I, mean,, I, didn't, want, to, be Brando, but he was my north star.

Okay., Gotcha., Right. Did, you, ever, Did, you, ever, write, any, of the X-Files?

Yeah,, I, did., I, wrote, I, wrote, and directed two or three of them. Yeah. One of them is a baseball one. Jason, I can't believe I can't believe we haven't made this.

I, know. We'll, be, right, back. And now back to the show. So,, wait., So,, you, get, this, gig, and, and you sign you sign the fiveyear or sevenyear standard thing before you go in and you test. Um, so you know that if you get this, you're stuck with something that you're not really kind of excited about, then you get it.

Was, your Yeah., Are, you, excited, when, you, get, it because of that? Yeah., Well,, you, know,, you, you're, not excited to think it's going to go forever, which is a blessing when it does but

you, you, get, competitive,, you, know, you're just like, if I'm going to do it I want it to I want it to win. I I want it to go. You do the pilot, you want it to get picked up and it gets picked up. Then it gets well received and you're like, "Well, all right. Now, can I just can I just stop for Tracy? Can I just say so the testing process so you don't know Jason just alluded to and David knows we all know you it used to be I don't, know if, it, still, is, the, way,, but what what would happen is you'd go in for a show whether it's X-Files or Will and Grace or whatever it is

and, you, get, the, audition, and, you'd, go through and then they'd get a call back and you'd read for producers. Then what they do is they sort of take for any given role they might have three or four people who they decide that they're going to as they call it bring to the network. Yeah.

And, that, means, that, they're, they're they're kind of their their select pick three or four people for each each role. And before you go and do this final audition, usually like in a in a conference room or something in an office building, the most uninspiring place you can imagine.

Before, you, do, that,, for, a, day, or, two before your agents and the and the show negotiate your contract, a five-year contract, and you sign it before you go in for the final audition in the lobby right before you walk, so you're broke and then your agent goes like, "Here's your contract. You've we've agreed you're, going to, get, $25,000, an, episode for the next five years.

Lottery, ticket. Yeah., And, you're, like,, "Oh, my, god,, I'm so broke and I'm going to get $25,000 an episode for the next 5 years." And you're doing the math and you're like "And then I'm going to buy it. I'm going to buy a new

If, you, weren't, nervous, before,, you're petrified." And, you, sign, it, and, then, you, go, once, you sign it, they take the signed executed uh uh contract

so, that, you, have, no, leverage., if, they give you the job, you've already they, go, in, and, you, then, audition, for, all the exacts at the network and then you're waiting and they decide whether or not you got the part. So they have you so over the barrel you never realize you're never not over the barrel in that in that uh process and it's really uninspiring and it's a very specific thing to get good at that to be able to block that part of it out to to then go and deliver at the final moment. It's you're you're kind of

torture. Yeah., You're, fighting, out, of, a, hole, right? What, What, if, after, that, David, was, like, "It was an offer." But anyway

but, that's, it., It, wasn't, an, offer. So, So So, David, So, David,, your, process, is you're kind of you're a little conflicted about doing a TV series, but you want to do and it's a great paycheck. So you go in, you sign the contract, you do the test, now you and then the you do the pilot

right?, And, so, then, now, they've, got, the ex executed thing and then the network sorry again for Tracy. Then they decide from all their pilots what shows are going to, make, it, on, the, air, next, year.

So, you're, waiting, for, a, month, or, two, for that. Yeah. And, then, they, go,, "Great,, your, show, is happening. You're in it and we've got you for 5 years." And and then what happens a lot is you go, "Oh my god this, is, so, great., I'm, going to, make, 20 or $25,000 an episode." And then two years in, if you're lucky enough that it's going, you're like, "Hey man, I deserve way more than 20

or, I, got, to, I, got, to, get, out, of, here., I got to stay available for all the feature opportunities I I think are out there waiting for

David., So,, you, know, that, process,, right? Like, so you're you're you're there and you're doing X Files and you guys come out of the gate pretty hot. It's a it's kind of a hit. Am I right or wrong?

It's, it's, a, hit, on, Fox, and, if, you, can remember that far back, Fox was really like not not a real network at that point.

It, just, started, like, 93, when 93., They, didn't, have, programming,, you know, across the board all day all day long really. And uh you know they had married with children and uh I can't remember you know they had made 9021

Tracy, man. Yeah., Okay. But, they, were, really, the, upstart network. So um they, didn't, have, a, big, drama, kind, of like

No,, not, at, all., And, we, didn't, need, to get like huge numbers to be a hit for Fox which was nice because we

Fox, wasn't, even, in, all, the, homes. Who, was, running, Fox, at, the, time, when, you guys were there? Do you remember?

Who, was, running, it? Gansier. Who, was, it?, Gansier., He, was, at, NBC,, I think was

he, was, one, of, the, starters, of, Fox. Yeah., I, can't, believe, you, remember, that name, Jay. Um

or, was, it, WB? He, didn't, want, me, for, a, gig, and, I, I, had to re audition. You ready for this? I for my buddy Michael Mali's show. We did the pilot. I get the pilot. We do it. We shoot it. It gets picked up to series and then he didn't want me.

And, I, had, to, go, back Sandy, two, months, later. It, might, have, been, Sandy.

I, had, to, go, back, two, months, later, and, re audition for a part and do a scene in a conference room. a scene holding up pages that I had already filmed. Terrible

that, existed, on, film, to, get, my, job. Terrible. That's crazy. In, a, conference, room, in, Burbank., And

I'm, like,, wait,, you, don't, need, to, see, me do this in the room. It's Do, you, remember, what, year, that, was, Will?

1999. That's, when, I, first, met, you. Yeah. I, met, you, at, the, upfront. Yeah,, that, year., That's, right.

Yeah. Did, you, get, it,, Will?, Did I, did, actually., Yeah,, again., Well, done.

Yeah,, I, got, it, again. You, imitated, yourself., And what, a, [ __ ], victory., Do, you, think, I had I think I count counted. I think I had a thousand beers that night.

That's, not, enough., That's, not, enough, for Wait,, David,, were, you, a, sci-fi, fan, when you got it or not? And are you now? Not Not at all.

No. Wow., How, about, that? No,, not, really. So, So, you, get, XFiles,, you, go up, to Vancouver, you guys start doing it. It's a hit for Fox and then it really starts to When's the moment you can feel that it's kind of pushed through to the general?

Probably, like, the, third, year, just globally. It felt just, huge,, you, know?, I, mean,, it, was, a global hit.

Yeah., Massive. How, did, you, like, relocating, up, into Vancouver for so long?

Well,, I, loved, it, at, first., Um,, cuz, I didn't really have any roots in Los Angeles, you know. I just uh I had come here to try to get work. Um

and, you, weren't, going, to, the, the, blowup doll wasn't going to start crying.

I, mean,, they, they, can, perform, a, lot, of duties, but tears are not one. I'm

not, going, to, speak, for, her., She, Yeah. Um, Jesus, Christ. But, I, will, tell, you,

so, I, hear, this, is, what, I, hear. Yeah., Oh, my, god. So, I,, you, know,, I, don't, know, how, you guys feel about Vancouver, but it's a beautiful part of the world and I just never park.

You've, never, been? I've, never, been., I, want, to, go, so, far. How, is, that, possible?

It's, the, greatest. So, beautiful. Uh,, so, I, loved, it., And, uh, yeah,, I, didn't, mind, being, out, of, LA, at all. Yeah, I I just loved being up there. And in a way

we, got, to, just, focus, on, doing, the, work. There wasn't any kind of LA around us. There wasn't any kind of that whatever heat that was happening, we were kind of cut off from in a in a really good way.

And, and and, in, many, ways,, it, was, my education as an actor having to go to work every damn day

for, 14, hours., I, mean,, these, were, really long days. And, I, really, taught, myself

Yeah. how, to, act., How, soon, into, the, run, of, it and the success of it did you start thinking all right good here ready to move on and and uh and and maybe parlay some of this into you know what did you have your eyes on was it still features

yeah, I, mean, that, was, really, you, know, I had that kind of bias you know that was kind of baked in from a a young age

you, know, the, the, the, TV, shows, that, I watched when I was a kid that was was quantitatively different the acting in it, you know, that it's not the way now.

But, you, were, you, you, so, I, just, remember the the the you you had very much a um a movie um style of acting. In other words, you you you're very subtle.

Well,, that's, how, I, would, not, get, that's why I didn't get I would audition and not get any roles in television. They would say he's a he's a movie star and I was like [ __ ] I can't I don't have a pot to piss in either. Can you get good that you didn't

Can, I, please, play, Puppet, Man?, Can, I, get that part? Puppet, man. Right., Um,, David,, I, want, to, ask, you about like time management because you're a musician. You're you literally write novels which is amazing. You you act, you do some other stuff. I'm sure you haven't mentioned. How do you some other stuff?

How, do, you, h, how, do, you, manage, all, of that on a daily basis or weekly or monthly, whatever? Do you pick a priority that you focus on or

whatever?, Whatever, is, like, in, front, of me um is is what I'll do. Songwriting can happen at at any time. Pick up a guitar. But uh with writing a novel everything has to stop and I have to work on that for a few months. I write really fast and and but it's an intense experience of like eight hour days doing that. And then of course I can't write when I'm acting. I can't write when I'm directing. Um, so that right

do, you, have, a, do, you, have, a, a, a, goal, in your in your mind that is louder than all the other goals and that then informs how you allocate your time?

That's, probably, the, problem, that, I, have is I don't really have a goal except to satisfy some kind of itch or

and, that's, a, daily, itch,, not, a, weekly, or a monthly or No,, it's, a, lifelong, kind, of, a, thing. It's just uh for instance like I want to make a a series out of one of the novels that I've written. Um and that's that's really my greatest ambition at this point. But there's there's also a movie I'm shooting in February that I wrote but I'm not directing. I'm just acting. And so

And, you've, got, a, new, series, airing, now. I think we're November. Yeah. Uh, really, thanks, for, not, having, me, on the live show.

I, mean, dude,, that's, for, movie, stars,, bro. I'm, pretty, good, on, my, feet. Yeah, Malice. It's a Amazon. Um, comes out. I'm not sure. November 3rd or something like that.

What's, it, called, again? Malice. Malice. Malice., Okay. Yeah,, it's, coming, out, November, on, on Amazon. And by the way, David, we'll get you a seat in one of one of the We have these new stage seats that we're going to do on the last show.

I, was, listening, to, uh, but, uh, I, I, you know, I've always wondered this. I we've had people on who have been part of something that's that's sort of really struck a chord. um you know culturally the pieces as Sean would say IP but but but part of and XFiles obviously over a number of years you know had this has this intense following and had a and and I was one of the followers I used to watch it religiously back in the 90s

and, I, saw, the, film, I, I, saw, the, first film I didn't see the second film

the, first, film, was, a, big, hit do, you, is, there, that, thing, when, you, run into people who are big fans of it do you ever feel a respons weirdly I'm just like a responsibility as as sort of the as the caretaker of that thing of XFiles. Is does that I'm not I don't want to say there's a burden, but like you're the guy you're the front-facing face person of of the

feel, that., Yeah. Well,, of, course,, there, was, a, time, when, I wanted to leave it behind, you know, and reinvent myself. But then over the years you you begin to uh respect the the kind of power of the show and the the size of the show

and, and, the, meaning, the, the, meaning that, it, has, for, people. You, know,, at, first, when, you're, younger, you think, "Oh, it's it's not because of me, but it's it's personal." And then you realize it's not personal. It's just that this thing has a place in people's lives and I represent that to them

and, I'm, an, [ __ ], if, I, don't, respect that. I, say, that, all, the, time., I

kidding. No,, I, do, it, a, lot., I, know, I, do, say, that all the time. I I I said it before on here where you become famous for playing a certain role or in a movie or whatever it is and then you spend several years trying to distance yourself that because you want to be able to play all these things and in doing so you alienate the fans that made you kind of because they are they are in love with you because of the thing that like you just said that you made them feel and you're doing a disservice and I always say that I'm an [ __ ] if I don't embrace the character Jack from Will and Grace and what it did for so many people. All that character is that exactly and you're also depriving yourself the the the treat that that that you deserve which is like how how lucky how rare it is to be a part of something that held Exactly. Yeah. It is rare and you and you get old enough to to appreciate that

you know that you got to do something that was that was great that did strike a chord with people and

and, when, you're, young, you, don't, you don't think like that. It takes a few years to go, "Oh, I need to appreciate that more." And, you know

No,, it's, funny., I, I, read, somebody, I, made the mistake, David, of reading your comment a while ago with somebody saying like, "He thinks that he doesn't uh that he should have had more of a thing or whatever about me." And I was like, "No [ __ ] I'm so grateful for any time that I was able to do anything that even anybody liked for a moment." What a joke.

Yeah., Right., Yeah., You're, And, I'm, don't even have my high school diploma. Like the fact that think the world doesn't owe me like the world doesn't owe me a living. We're so lucky that we've been able to do this at all. That's so not the way I think about

I'd, like, to, ask, a, question, that, Sean's too shy to ask. Did you ever learn anything doing the X Files that gives you any sort of confidence that we are not alone?

And, Sean, promises, not, to, tell, anybody, if you could just just, us, four, talking.

I, I, never, learned, anything., No,, but, I but I have the same kind of sense as when I went into it, which is it seems to me that the the impossibility would be that we are the only sensient life. I mean, there's just too many galaxies, too many planets, too many Goldilocks planets. Um

right. So,, the, odds, to, me, are, slanted, way, in favor of of the existence of extraterrestrials whether or not, you know, we we haven't we haven't advanced technologically enough to reach out to them. Yeah. And they

and, they, might, be, all, around, us, and, we just don't have the technology to see it.

Well,, they, don't, want, us, to., They're they're I always think look at it. You know, when you see all these things these congressional hearings and stuff about pilots who run into these shapes or things that are moving in ways that we can't understand. I always think I always think, "Oh, we're we're so dumb. We think that they want to that we need to connect." And they're like "No, no no. You guys you guys

We're, good., We're, good. Yeah,, we're, good., We're, watching, you. We're just watching you guys just

We, don't, want, to, have, anything, to, do with ripping, over, yourselves, like, a, bunch, of ding-dongs.

Didn't, Didn't, we, have, We, had, a, guy, on once that uh had and and I'm I'm I'm paraphrasing here. Um but he said something that would was really sort of interesting that it makes a lot of sense to me that that perhaps they are all around us in a way that we can't see just like our cell phone service or radio waves, you know, from like television with just flying all around. You don't see any of that that that the ones and zeros or whatever the hell it is that fly around that make our phones they they could be all in that stuff.

Yeah., They, they, live, in, the, space between the space. Yeah. Yeah., The, dark, matter. I used to say this thing with uh do you are you aware of like the phenomenon of like a ship of fools? Do you remember that from the middle ages where uh it was a great Robert Plant song? Is that

is, it, razor, song? It, could, be., Um,, but, the, idea, was, that they would take their deviants and criminals, their incourageable criminals, and they'd put them on a ship, you know, they didn't have space for them. They just put them on a ship out to sea

floating, Australia. And, sometimes, Well,, sometimes,, you, know, you'd encounter a ship of fools and it was it wasn't a fun thing, right? Well they weren't armed. They shouldn't be armed.

No,, no,, they, make, sure, they, weren't armed. But my theory about because because so much of uh alien abduction testimony has to do with being probed anally and having their teeth drilled.

My, theory, was, that, alien, civilizations were putting their deviants and dentists on a ship.

Oh,, I, see., Sending, it, out, into, the galaxy and somehow they've come We, can, cut, this., We, can, cut, this., But why why are aliens so obsessed with anal? Okay. So

why, would, you, want, to, cut, that? You, want, to, offend?, Don't, want, to, get any comments from all you do. So if you're not you're not reading and you're not writing and you're not writing music and writing screenplays and doing all this stuff. What is this is sort of the Sean question that what what are you doing in is there anything you do in your downtime that you're like what's your guilty pleasure?

Be, surprised, to, learn. What, do, you, do, in, the, space, between, the space? Is it gardening? Nice.

Anything, dumb, that, you, do,, you, go, like, "Oh man, I'd be embarrassed if people knew I did this stupid thing."

I, don't, really., I'm, I'm, I'm so bad with hobbies. I really should have a hobby. Not one. It's It's really a problem.

You, have, Do, you, do, 25, things? Are, you, playing, basketball?, You, playing golf? Cross country skiing or

I, wish, I, was, playing, basketball., Um Yeah. No, now I feel bad. I I do. And, you're, you're, And, when, when, people like me when dummies like me are watching television, you're you're reading. So you're not watching

I, watch, I, watch, TV., I'm, watching, Black Rabbit. Come on. Black, Rabbit., Black, Rabbit, airing, now, on Netflix starring Jason and Juba production from Aggregate Films brings you Black Rabbit.

So, it's, not, like, uh, you're, not, watching Below Deck or anything like that? And no, but I do watch I'll watch a Love Island uh Sure.

But, then, I, realize, 45, hours. Yeah. I, mean,, it's, not, like, a, 15hour, season.

No,, they, make, somehow, they, make, 45 [ __ ] hours. I got stuck in there. Uh, but, so, you, watch, baseball., Is, there another Is that your number one sport to watch?

Basketball, is, probably, not, my, sport. I, hear, the, Lakers, are, going to, be, good this year.

It, could, be. Who's, your, team?, Knicks. Oh,, the, Knicks., Yeah., Yeah. Now,, are, you, you're, not, the, in, New, York now. Where do you live?

I, live, in, I, I, live, in, LA. Okay., Why, the, Knicks? Cuz, I, grew, up, in, New, York, and, and, uh that's just

Were, you, not, Were, you, not, awake, when, we started the podcast? Well,, there, was, there, there, was, there was some doll [ __ ] and stuff like that that just puts you in kind of a state that I figured that was just like an hourly thing that you were doing in New York. Stayed with you, huh?

How, are, we, going, to, show?, This, is terrible. I'm just glad he's not live. What if the next time we watch Jason on TV at the Dodgers game, he's sitting next to a blowup D.

Oh, my, god, he, was, the, other, day, with, an, X, t-shirt on. Well,, wait,, David,, I, I, have, an, idea, for you.

Okay,, come, on. So,, because, you, write, novels, and, you're not a sci-fi thing, you want to sell a lot of copies of something, do like, you know, Bucky Funk [ __ ] Dent was baseball adjacent.

Do, whatever, you, do, brilliantly, and, just make a little sci-fi adjacent thing. Just a little bit. Right. Well, well this is well that episode of uh of the XFiles that I wrote and directed that I want Jason to watch because it's called The Unnatural and it's a baseball

Oh,, I, like, that., All, right. So,, you'll, have, to, I, I, I, did, that., Uh

Wilfr, Brimley, do, a, cameo, on, that. No,, but, uh Wilfr, Brimley, MMT, Walsh.

Wow. Well,, wow. That's, pretty, That's, a, That's, Wilford Grimly adjacent. I, love, MMT, Walsh,, by, the, way., just, as, a quick aside.

Yeah,, he, was, fantastic., And, he, uh Did, he, give, you, a, $2, bill? He, didn't.

No,, he, does, that., He, does, that, with, a lot of f or did uh I I had one and then

No,, we, just, made, David, feel, bad, again. This is This, was, before, $2, bills, were, being made.

Not, hard, to, make, feel, bad,, but, um, he replaced an actor who got ill. Um so he was a he was a he had short notice and it was a lot of dialogue. his his character was really the exposition man in this episode.

And, at, one, point, he, turned, to, me, because I only think he had a couple days with the the script. He go, you know, and he said, "This isn't writing, it's typing."

I, was, like, "Well,, I, did, the, typing,, so at one point he he [ __ ] up. It was so great. Instead of calling me agent Moulder, he called me agent MacGyver."

And, I, kept, it, in., I, kept, it, in., Did, you really? Oh,, yeah., Yeah., It, was, too, good., That's

That, guy, was, so, good., I, just, remember, uh what was the one he did with Michael Keaton? No. Uh you know the great uh Clean and Sober

and, he, was, also, in, Fletch. Fletch., He, was, the, doctor, in, Fletch. Great., Yeah., He's, a, fantastic, act., Um David, you're fantastic. You're fantastic. We've gone over. We rarely go over. We've gone over with you because we we love talking to you. Um, so, uh Malice is out. Amazon Prime. We would be remiss if we didn't mention that again.

Yes. And,, uh,, we, we, got Can, I, plug, uh,, Black, Rabbit, again? Should I do that

please? What, service, is, that, on?, And, we, have Where, do, we, find, that? Yeah.

Um,, very, very, nice, of, you, to, share, some of your time with. I'm sir. So, glad, we, did, this., I'm, so, thank, you for coming on.

You, know,, I, love, your, show, and, uh, thank, you., Thanks, for, having, me., You guys are great.

Thank, you, for, coming, on., ah, actor, writer screenwriter novelist academic, musician, an allaround great guy. David Dupany, thank you so much David, for your time.

Enjoy, having, you. Thank, you., Thank, you,, David. Thanks,, David., Bye,, bud.

Double, D., Double, D, comes, D to, the, Smartless um, studio,, I, guess,, is, what, this, is.

Oh,, yeah., Welcome, to, the, Smartless Studio. Yeah. Um, he Smartless, is, shot, in, front, of, a, live studio audience. He's real slick and cool.

He's, just, Well,, he's, confident., He's smart. When you're smart, you're confident. He's very confident. And uh

I, didn't, know, half, that, stuff., That's amazing. You're, not, smart., You're, not, smart.

Uncool. I, mean,, it, is, true., I, mean,, think, about it. He he graduated like head of his class in high school and you know, and then he goes to he goes to Princeton then he goes to Yale and he gets a masters in English literature and then he starts to work on his PhD. And while he's working on his PhD, he's like "It's a spot.

I, want, to, go, there., I, want, to, go, and start doing some acting lessons just to sort of see how that is acting.

But, what, could, you, imagine, being, his parents and you're like, "Oh boy, baby we hit the lotto. Look at this kid. We we can't wait to brag about this with our friends. Blah blah." And then they go see his first job. He's become an actor. Let's go see. And he's [ __ ] goddamn inflatable.

Yeah. Well,, I, mean,, there's, nothing, more disappointing than just going, I want to be an actor. And you're like

"All, right,, maybe, he's, good., Hopefully he's good." And then they go see banging this doll.

I, know., I, know., But, even, listen,, he landed on his feet. He, did, you, know.

Boy,, did, he, ever., He, landed, on, his, feet a few times. Yeah. He's such a We didn't even get into California fornication. We just He's just done so much. God damn.

And, he, did, some, movies,, too. He, did, a, bunch, of, movies, and, he's, just

He's, got, this, new, show., New, show, called Malice. Malice. What, do, you, think, it's, about?

What, do, I, think? What, do, you, think, Malice, is, about?, Um, is, it, about, is, about, is, about, a, guy, a guy's girlfriend who and her name is Alice and and it's like it's it's m apostrophe Alice.

Oh., Oh,, Alice. Yeah., No,, this, is, my, Alice. She This, is, my, Alice. This, is, my, Alice.

Yeah., Maybe, it's, about, that. It, could, be., Why, don't, we, throw everybody off?

Why, don't, we, Yeah., Uh, well,, Bennett suggested this is I'm going I'm calling Jason you said he landed on his feet maybe maybe on his byite

sesimoids sesimoids, which, is, um, the, symptoms, and treatment options are um it's from the Melbourne podiatrist no

you're, not, going, to, take, bipartite no, uh, have, you, have, you, by, the, way, have you seen in the no. Have you seen the new show by chance?

By, No,, we're, not, doing, that., How, are, you doing that? How are you overruling with that with just like a

I, tried, to, tee, you, guys, up, with,, you know, what do you think Malice is about? I thought maybe one of you ding-dongs had a bio

you, know., Well,, I, thought, you, Is, it, a biopic? About, a, guy's, girlfriend, named, Alice. Whose whistle was that?

The, whistle. That's, great. Really, good. Oh,, we, got, to, start, adding, the, whistle.

Yeah. Smartless. Smart less. Smartless is 100% organic and artisally handcrafted by Rob Armjarf, Bennett Barbco, and Michael Grant Terry. Smart less.

Questions about this episode

What is discussed in "David Duchovny | SmartLess"?

In order: 0:00 Hollywood Bowl, Dodgers, Golden Globe, Good Night Oscar; 10:00 Athens, Georgia, Michael Stipe, Radio Free Europe, Scotland; 20:00 American Revolution, James Arnett, Monmouth County, New Jersey, The Forward; 30:00 Michelob, New Year's Day, Charles Bukowski, Maggie Wheeler; 40:00 Bud Light, Bud Light, Los Angeles, Marlon Brando; 50:00 Ship of Fools, Aggregate Films, Netflix, Robert Plant; 1:00:00 SmartLess, Clean and Sober, Dodgers, Fletch.

What is mentioned in this SmartLess episode?

71 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Michelob, Dodgers, Hollywood Bowl, New Year's Day, The X-Files, Ship of Fools. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "David Duchovny | SmartLess"?

The episode runs 1 h 8 min; the transcript is about 14,281 words in 392 timestamped sections.

More from SmartLess

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated November 18, 2025.