Transcript

Steve Buscemi | SmartLess

From SmartLess · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 57 min · 11,370 words · 262 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Steve Buscemi | SmartLess", an episode of SmartLess published September 1, 2025 (57 min, about 11,370 words). It mentions 93 people, works and ideas, including SmartLess, Reservoir Dogs, Tim Conway, Wednesday, Boardwalk Empire.

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 5:00: SmartLess, Boardwalk Empire, Golden Globe
  2. – 10:00: Wednesday, Brooklyn, East New York, Engine 55
  3. – 15:00: Brooklyn, East New York, Neighborhood Playhouse, Peter Miller
  4. – 20:00: Fiddler on the Roof, Nancy Green, Neil Simon, Parting Glances
  5. – 25:00: Reservoir Dogs, Chris Penn, Harvey Keitel, Mr. Pink
  6. – 30:00: Living in Oblivion
  7. – 35:00: Boardwalk Empire, Tales from the Crypt
  8. – 40:00: Armageddon
  9. – 45:00: Armageddon, Flaked, Sons of Anarchy, Three Sisters
  10. – 50:00: Tim Conway, 30 Rock, Adam Sandler, Betty White
  11. – 55:00: Adam Sandler, Airheads, Bird After Re, Happy Gilmore 2
  12. – 57:27: SmartLess

Notable quotes from "Steve Buscemi | SmartLess"

  • Listeners, this is our final episode of Smartless before. Right. Right.
    about SmartLess · at
  • He's done it all in television and film. Some of the great some of the great Boardwalk Empire. Steve, get him out here.
    about Boardwalk Empire · at
  • Wednesday. Wednesday. is the name of the show. It's not coming out.
    about Wednesday · at
  • My house and my apartment in East not my apartment in the apartment I lived in East New York Brooklyn yeah the little rascals you know and shows like that and then but also you…
    about Brooklyn · at
  • Like you do a bunch of different parts. I mean you do sort of like eight 10 movies maybe before Reservoir Dogs.
    about Reservoir Dogs · at
  • Yeah. I did, like I like Armageddon and Conair were my two like big movies that I did in the '9s, but I really haven't done stuff like that so much since. but I'm I don't care.
    about Armageddon · at
  • Cuz we were both nominated for 30 Rock and we were sitting next to each other and so was Tim Conway.
    about Tim Conway · at
  • Well, right now I'm working with Adam Sandler is producing a movie. He's producing two movies that his daughters are in. So Sunny is in one film that I'm that I'm doing called Don't Say Good Luck and Sadi is doing a film called.
    about Adam Sandler · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Tim Conway — Person · 4 mentions · first at
  • Neil Simon — Person · 2 mentions · first at
    That or maybe six months before that, she convinced me to go on an audition for it was a Neil Simon comedy and I don't remember I don't even remember what film it was for, but…
  • Adam Sandler — Person · 2 mentions · first at
  • Will Arnett — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Movies, you're right. Like one of the greatest voiceover artists next to Will Arnett. That's right. Oh, that's saying something. Thank you.
  • Joan Cusack — Person · 1 mention · first at
  • Molly Shannon — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Jennifer Culage. Molly Shannon. Yeah.
  • Peter Miller — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Yeah. And my dad he had a good friend growing up in East New York named Peter Miller who became an actor and he went to the neighborhood playhouse and he was in movies with Caveettes and he was in John Robert Alman's first film the.
  • Nancy Green — Person · 1 mention · first at
    So, the script came to me from an a from one of my early agents, Nancy Green, who has since passed away, but she was really great. And I have to back up the story because like a year before that or maybe six months before that,.
  • Harvey Keitel — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Opening doors for sure and it did a lot for my confidence. Just being cast being cast in a movie with Harvey Keitel and having scenes with Harvey was, that was like a dream. I…
  • Tim Roth — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Never thought that would be possible. And then getting to meet, and work with actors like Tim Roth and Michael Matson, who we sadly lost.
  • Chris Penn — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Runaway Train. And so it was just it was just exciting to be with these people and Chris Penn and, the whole cast. so just having done the movie was a huge confidence boost. And then, Quentyn did us all a big favor by that.
  • Betty White — Person · 1 mention · first at
    And I had just I had right before that I had introduced myself to Betty White who was there. And as I was walking away from her, I heard her say to a friend, Who was that? I think then I was All right, I'm not gonna say hi to.
  • Anton Chekhov — Person · 1 mention
  • Bertolt Brecht — Person · 1 mention
  • Bonnie Timmermann — Person · 1 mention
  • Burt Reynolds — Person · 1 mention
  • Charlene Miller — Person · 1 mention
  • Chevy Chase — Person · 1 mention
  • Coen brothers — Person · 1 mention
  • Harvey Korman — Person · 1 mention
  • Humphrey Bogart — Person · 1 mention
  • James Cagney — Person · 1 mention
  • Jason Bateman — Person · 1 mention
  • Jennifer Coolidge — Person · 1 mention
  • John Jesurun — Person · 1 mention
  • Kathy Kinney — Person · 1 mention
  • Mark Boone Junior — Person · 1 mention
  • Michael Madsen — Person · 1 mention
  • Peter Stormare — Person · 1 mention
  • Quentin Tarantino — Person · 1 mention
  • Robert Altman — Person · 1 mention
  • Robert Simonds — Person · 1 mention
  • Ronnie Yeskel — Person · 1 mention
  • Sadie Sandler — Person · 1 mention
  • Sean Hayes — Person · 1 mention
  • Simon McBurney — Person · 1 mention
  • Steve Buscemi — Person · 1 mention
  • Sunny Sandler — Person · 1 mention
  • Tom DiCillo — Person · 1 mention

Books & papers

  • Reservoir Dogs — Book · 4 mentions · first at
  • Wednesday — Book · 3 mentions · first at
  • Boardwalk Empire — Book · 2 mentions · first at
  • Armageddon — Book · 2 mentions · first at
  • 30 Rock — Book · 2 mentions · first at
    Do you remember when we were both nominated for 30 Rock as G? Do you remember we were sitting next to each other at the Was the Emmys that happened like before the creative Emmy?
  • Monsters University — Book · 1 mention · first at
    Saying very monster Monsters University.
  • The Wizard of Oz — Book · 1 mention · first at
    Before. When I was in fourth grade, my, teacher, Mr. Ricobono, he cast me in a production of The Wizard of Oz. I got to play the Cowardly Lion. And I thought, This is it. If I…
  • The Delinquents — Book · 1 mention · first at
    He was in movies with Caveettes and he was in John Robert Alman's first film the delinquents and then he you know but he did it for a few years and then he left and he became an investment banker. So,.
  • Fiddler on the Roof — Book · 1 mention · first at
    Was the English teacher, but he started the first acting class. And so I got to be in Fiddler on the Roof and just it was really fun.
  • Parting Glances — Book · 1 mention · first at
    Woodman Sherman Way. but I think it was on that I think it was on that trip because I had done a film called Parting Glances in New York and I went out to LA to try and meet…
  • Straight Time — Book · 1 mention · first at
    Ex-convict and, wrote the movie, Straight Time that was based on his book and, Runaway Train. And so it was just it was just exciting to be with these people and Chris Penn and,.
  • Runaway Train — Book · 1 mention · first at
    Straight Time that was based on his book and, Runaway Train. And so it was just it was just exciting to be with these people and Chris Penn and, the whole cast. so just having done the movie was a huge.
  • Living in Oblivion — Book · 1 mention · first at
    These huge Hollywood films and you've done these really small in fact you made the seminal independent film Living in Oblivion with our mutual friend Tom Dillo which is about making an independent film which is one of my favorites.
  • Tales from the Crypt — Book · 1 mention · first at
    There's some TV shows back in the day like Tales from the Crypt and there was a show called Monsters and but I've never done like a horror movie and but I don't know if I could. I don't I'm pretty squeamish and I don't like pro.
  • Sons of Anarchy — Book · 1 mention · first at
    He's you know he's done a lot of great work. He was and a lot of people know him from Sons of Anarchy. He played the character of Bobby.
  • Flaked — Book · 1 mention · first at
    Think I did. I did work with him. Yeah. He did Flaked. He did our show Flaked. Yeah.
  • Three Sisters — Book · 1 mention · first at
    We were going to do Yeah, we were going to do it was Three Sisters. Yeah.
  • Don't Say Good Luck — Book · 1 mention · first at
    Producing two movies that his daughters are in. So Sunny is in one film that I'm that I'm doing called Don't Say Good Luck and Sadi is doing a film called Roommates. And last night was the premiere for Happy Gilmore 2.
  • Roommates — Book · 1 mention · first at
    That I'm doing called Don't Say Good Luck and Sadi is doing a film called Roommates. And last night was the premiere for Happy Gilmore 2.
  • Happy Gilmore 2 — Book · 1 mention · first at
    Luck and Sadi is doing a film called Roommates. And last night was the premiere for Happy Gilmore 2.
  • Airheads — Book · 1 mention · first at
    And he's so smart. Like I've worked with him since Airheads, right?
  • Bird After Re — Book · 1 mention · first at
    Who was one of the producers on Airheads, took him up on it and produce Billy Madison and Adam asked me to do like a small thing in that and it was so much fun. But to watch Adam over the years, because his friends used to show up on.
  • Uncut Gems — Book · 1 mention · first at
    People started to see him in a different light and then of course with I mean uncut gems I mean come on yeah forgetcible But yeah.
  • Arturo Ui — Book · 1 mention
  • Con Air — Book · 1 mention
  • Fargo — Book · 1 mention
  • Igor — Book · 1 mention
  • Monsters (TV series) — Book · 1 mention
  • Punch-Drunk Love — Book · 1 mention
  • Saturday Night Live — Book · 1 mention
  • The Big Lebowski — Book · 1 mention

Companies & orgs

  • Engine 55 — Company · 1 mention · first at
    Yeah, I was at Engine 55 in Manhattan.
  • Neighborhood Playhouse — Company · 1 mention · first at
    Friend growing up in East New York named Peter Miller who became an actor and he went to the neighborhood playhouse and he was in movies with Caveettes and he was in John Robert Alman's first film the delinquents.
  • Sundance Institute — Company · 1 mention
  • The Wooster Group — Company · 1 mention

Products & tech

Concepts & topics

  • Golden Globe — Concept · 1 mention · first at
    Absurd that is. Al Puccini out of the blue that haven't even named. he's been nominated for Golden Globes. He's been spirit awards, critics awards, you oh my god, you know him. He you know him. He and he's done it all in television and.
  • The Three Stooges — Concept · 1 mention · first at
    Like all of us, I watched a lot of TV and it was everything, it was like the Three Stooges, which Sean, I have, again, I have to say, man, you played I can't believe you got to play Stoogge.
  • The Little Rascals — Concept · 1 mention · first at
    Apartment in the apartment I lived in East New York Brooklyn yeah the little rascals you know and shows like that and then but also you know like the afternoon u movie that was…
  • Mr. Pink — Concept · 1 mention · first at
    And this is I guess typical Quentin fashion. He tells me I got the part of Mr. Pink as we were in the bathroom. we're in the bathroom together.
  • Critics' Choice Awards — Concept · 1 mention
  • Emmy Awards — Concept · 1 mention
  • Golden Globe Awards — Concept · 1 mention
  • Independent Spirit Award — Concept · 1 mention
  • Popcorn Movie — Concept · 1 mention
  • Sundance Film Festival — Concept · 1 mention
  • The Addams Family — Concept · 1 mention

Places & events

  • Brooklyn — Place · 2 mentions · first at
  • East New York — Place · 2 mentions · first at
    My house and my apartment in East not my apartment in the apartment I lived in East New York Brooklyn yeah the little rascals you know and shows like that and then but also you…
  • Nevermore — Place · 1 mention · first at
    Second season. And I play the new principal of Nevermore. It's the boarding school that Wednesday attends.
  • Los Angeles — Place · 1 mention
  • Nevermore Academy — Place · 1 mention
  • New York City, New York — Place · 1 mention
  • Van Nuys — Place · 1 mention

Full transcript with timestamps

Okay. Uh, guys, we're going to do it. We're going to do one more episode. That's it. This is our last episode. Listeners, this is our final episode of Smartless before. Right. Right. Before we do the next one.

That's right. But this is it. This is the last one. The last four. Goodbye until the next one.

When does it start? It's going to start right now. So hello and goodbye. No hello

until the next one. It's an all new smartless. Until the next one smartless smartless smart.

Uh what time is it there, Sean? It's uh dinner. It's 5:30 p.m. 5:30. I just ate. I had a piece of cod and I had some potatoes and some asparagus.

So cod. That's uh that's British. That's what they do the fish and chips with, right?

That's right. I had cod. But before that, I had a cinnamon roll. Yeah. I'll bet.

Yeah, of course. That's that's British for American food. Hey, do you um are you just moving dinner earlier and earlier into the day? What's happening?

Well, yeah. Well, I do have It's funny because my day kind of starts now because LA is just waking up. So,

Meanwhile, you've done a full day of rehearsal already. Yeah. Yeah. And some interviews in the morning and radio like photo shoot.

But aren't you When you say your day starts, what are you doing? Yeah. So, after this then I go I'm writing some something for something and then I don't want to say it. So, are you trying your hand at screenwriting or writing a play or?

No, I'm just we're kind of talking it out and writing what the characters are, the development, like the outline and all that stuff.

Uhhuh. Okay. Yeah. Will, is it does it taste good? How does it sound? [ __ ] Sorry.

Sorry. I forgot the gum. It's We were doing a audio show. I know. Who was it? Who was the person who said Somebody said Somebody said to me once, "Hey, man. Can you turn your gum down?

That's a good one. That was so good. Oh my god. Um, sorry, I forgot. And Will, so and Will, you're just getting started over there. Um, well, no, actually, you're you're midday right now.

I'm midday. I was up this morning at 5:45. Don't need to brag. Isn't that wild? LA, New York, um, London.

So, yeah. What's What's wild? Tell me what's wild about it. Yeah. Different time zones.

Talked about how wild. Let's talk about it. Sean, wait. Sean, where? No, sorry. Uh, what is it? It's Oh, it's Will. Uh, what did you do? So, like since 5:30 that you're 7 hours into your day.

So, I woke up this morning. I did my octoal whle quiddle that you used to be a part of with our old buddies. And

you're still doing that? Still doing it every morning. And then uh I did a hot cold. I did a sauna and then I did a cold plunge for a few minutes.

Then I went to my morning uh my morning meeting gathering meeting with all my peeps. Uh, had a little coffee, came back, drove able to work, came back, worked out, and now I'm here. Had a little quickly something to eat, now I'm here. So, I've had a pretty full day.

When did you shower? Uh, oh, [ __ ] I knew there was something. Yeah, I knew I'm going to do it after cuz it's just me in this sticky little booth.

No, but you have you didn't have time. I didn't have time. I literally just finished. I went upstairs. I had some leftover uh uh uh chicken salad.

All I'm figuring out from this is that the workout was light. It was not It was not light. I I'll guarantee.

Well, then why haven't you showered? You weren't a sweaty [ __ ] mess. Of course I was. I didn't have time. I didn't want to be late because we have a great guest.

All right. Wait. Yes. Go ahead. Oh, no. No. Get into it. No. No. Get into it. I do have I do have a great guest. I do have a great guest. You guys are going to be really thrilled. And so is I mean our audience already knows because they looked at the thing when they logged on.

Sardino episode. Our audience already knows. Sardino. Is your hearing going with your hair? What's happening? So

that's what happens. And the knees and the hips. Our our guest today, he has built a career out of portraying uh some of the most unique and unforgettable characters in recent cinema. I mean, he's one of these guys who has

Aluccino. Bert Reynold Bert Reynolds. MCA is coming back. He literally just said one better. All better. I I I I think our guest is I think our guest is laughing uh at how absurd that is. Al Puccini out of the blue that haven't even named. Um he's been nominated for Golden Globes. He's been spirit awards, critics awards,

you oh my god, you know him. He you know him. He and he's done it all in in television and film. Some of the great some of the great Boardwalk Empire. Uh Steve, get him out here. Reservoir dogs.

God, you guys wouldn't let me finish for [ __ ] sake. Well, you've got a bury. You You should have started with

You can't name his stuff cuz once you start naming everything he's done, you're like start with some of the voiceover stuff, you you would have kept us in the dark.

Well, if I had started with the animated movies, you're right. Like one of the greatest voiceover artists next to Will Arnett. That's right. Oh, that's saying something. Thank you.

Saying very monster Monsters University. Oh yeah, there you go. I know. I know. He knows.

What about Eigor? Oh, Eigor, right? Eigor. Eigore. Come on. We've worked together a lot. I've never really

Wait, what? What was Eagor now? I don't know if I knew Eigor was. It was an animated film from 17,000 years ago.

Okay. John Cusack. Jennifer Culage. Molly Shannon. Yeah. And Sean, you played What a cast.

Brian, you you were the brain, but you spelled it wrong. No, I'm sorry. My name is Brian, right? Boy, if if he was the brain, you guys were in trouble. Um,

I always challenge myself on that. Yeah. Um, Steve, welcome to Smartless. God, it's good to have you here.

This is great. I'm such a massive have been like everybody else of what you do cuz you do so much different stuff. You are you're such a It's amazing. And so just to have you out here is is I got to say kind of a thrill.

Thrilled to be here. Not not bigger than me. I'm I'm I'm really a ghast right now. Fantastic.

I know. I'm a little But I'm not Aluccino. Where's the Sorry. Look, it was I was a shot in the dark. It was shot in the dark.

Um uh Steve, where do we find you? Where's that beautiful orange room you're in?

I'm I'm in the Netflix building in New York. Okay. Okay. Oh, hence the red background.

Yeah. Yeah. I'm in like adjust your sort of a soundproof room. Yeah. Either that or the or the set of Squid Game. You're I was going to get to this, but we can we can mention it early on. You're working on it. You got your your Netflix show is coming out soon, right?

Wednesday. Uh Wednesday. Uh is the name of the show. It's not coming out. That's the name of the the name of the It's the second season of uh the Adams Family Show. When Wednesday,

that's right. That's right. Uh which is which has been a huge success. Huge huge huge success.

I love the first season and I'm really excited that they cast me in the in the second season. And I I play the new principal of

Nevermore. It's the the boarding school that um Wednesday attends. Ah, I see. Nice. Well, you'd make a great principal. I don't know. Um I think I do.

Uh Steve, uh so I we always ask people like how they got started, whatever. I've always wanted to know what was a young Steve Bushi like. When you were a kid, were you like seven years old? you wanted to be an actor or

kind of because I know that you had you started with a different career professionally before you started acting. Can you walk us through that a little bit? Well, I mean, when I was a kid, I, you know, like all of us, I I I watched a lot of TV and and it was everything, you know, it was like the Three Stooges, which Sean, I have, again, I have to say, man, you played

I can't believe you got to play Stoogge. This guy was a perfect stoogge casting.

Three Stooges were big in my house. in my house and my apartment in East not my apartment in the apartment I lived in in East New York Brooklyn

uh yeah the little rascals you know and shows like that and then but also you know like the afternoon u movie that was on at like 4:00 you know like that would show all these gangster films you know so I was a big fan of Kagny and Bogart and all those films too

but did you see yourself doing this because like I like I alluded to you you kind of started in a different career And Jason's not aware of this, but but some people are. And so when was the moment that you allowed yourself and just walk us through what that career was briefly, if you don't mind, if it's okay.

I mean, I was a firefighter in um the early 80s. Wow. Really? But I had been But yeah, but I had been trying to be an actor and actually I tried my hand at st standup. So it's not like I, you know, was a firefighter who then decided to become an actor. I was already, you know, kind of god

a flailing standup and wannabe actor who uh you who had taken the fire department test when I was 18 and they didn't get to my name. Uh my name was on a list and they called me when I was like I was I was 22 I think when I was when I was called and then I was like I'm going nowhere with this show biz stuff. So I I I joined the fire department. And you fought firearms for four or five years.

Yeah, I was at Engine 55 in uh Manhattan. Little in New York. Yeah, in New York. Yeah.

Oh my goodness. And it should be noted that you also rejoined briefly after 9/11. Is that true? I heard that.

I Well, I didn't rejoin. I just I went down to my old firehouse uh on Broom Street because I knew that they were there, that they had been at the site and uh and I couldn't get any information. So I on the 12th I I I went there and I brought my my turnout gear, my my coat and helmet and and boots and gloves and

um and uh and I was brought into the site uh by another firefighter and um and he told me about the guys that were missing in the company and one was a good friend of mine and um and anyway, I went down to the site and I was able to find my company there because they had lost members. They were they had access to like the main pile that that was, you know still

Wow. burning, right? And um and this is the day after I got to work with them, you know, for the rest of the week. You know, this was on a

Wow, man. And were these were these guys you kept kept in touch with and you and were they still in the same? I mean there were some that yeah I mean there were some guys that I recognized who I used to work with

but by and large it was all new new guys and um I didn't know them and but I got to know them during the week and since then I've stayed in touch

and now every year on 911 um I attend the uh the breakfast at the firehouse with the families and then there's a mass service and then there's a lunch

and there's also bar time in their in their chat. Sure. Sure. We do do a We are They are firefighters. So we So there is a fair amount of uh drinking at Tony's bar. Yeah.

That's incredible. I mean that's And Sean, you've you've supported too. You bought a calendar every year, right?

Yeah. So Steve, um Steve, I never miss a year. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I do what I can. I do what I can.

Steve, how did how did firefighting find you at a young age? Was your was your dad involved with any of that stuff?

My dad was a sanitation worker. He worked um in uh in Brooklyn and he did that for 30 years. And so he was he just knew the civil service, you know, like like what like what that job meant, the benefits,

the whole apparatus that keeps that city moving. Yeah. Yeah. And you know, the pay is good and you get good benefits. And he always tell I mean he knew I wanted to become an actor but he would tell me you know just put in your 20 years and then you could do all the acting you want doesn't really work that way but but I tried it

because you're 20. Yeah. Put in your 20. Just put in your 20, retire at half pay and then do all the acting you want.

Right. Right. He was noticing that you were you were you were you were leaning towards acting. Um is that because you were taking classes as a young kid? Were you doing it at school?

I I mean, I think he kind of knew it that I had it in me since I was a little kid because when I was really little, I used to just uh make up stories and tell and tell jokes. If we were at a cousin's wedding, I would like stand up on a table and just do like a standup routine. I'm sure it was like

stupid, but I was like five or six, so they Yeah. Um, and then, uh, I talk about this, I've talked about this before. When I was in fourth grade, my, uh, teacher, Mr. Ricobono, he cast me in a production of The Wizard of Oz. I got to play the Cowardly Lion. And I thought, "This is it. If I never do anything else after this, I have I was so happy." And when I was on stage, I just it was that feeling of wow, people are enjoying this and they're laughing and I'm, you know,

that'd be a good role for you, JB. The cowardly lion. Yeah, I could do it. I could do it.

He's got the hair for it. Wait. Uh, so he does have the main Who was who was was mom or dad? Uh, somebody who was outgoing and and sort of a Who was who who who was leading for you at that moment? Like who was your north star? Was it mom or dad? I you know I in in their own ways both. I mean my mom was the one when we were young who used to take us to the movies and and see musicals and and comedies and um and then when I was a teenager, you know, a little bit even younger, my my dad would take us to the movies and we'd see things like Across 110th Street and Cotton Comes to Harlem and movies I just shouldn't have been seeing like that you and but but it was great.

Yeah. And um uh and my dad he had a good friend growing up in East New York named Peter Miller who became an actor and he went to the neighborhood playhouse and he was in movies with Caveettes and he was in John uh Robert Alman's first first film the

delinquents and then he you know but he he did it for a few years and then he he he left and he became an investment banker. So, by the time I, you know, was uh old enough to talk to him, he had left acting. But I still, you know, it was like, oh, Uncle Pete, and he lives in Kal. And I was like, someday I'm going to make it to California, and Uncle Pete's going to show me the ropes,

right? And, uh, so there was that, you know. So, there was that, but but really, you know, in junior high in high school, I didn't do any

theater. I I kind of became a jock and did and did sports. What were you playing?

I I played soccer and I um a little bit of track, but wrestling was my was my, you know, big sport that I that I really loved.

And um and then it wasn't until my senior year that I started to like do the plays in high school. And I had another great teacher, Lynn Lapen. He was the English teacher, but he started the first acting class. And so I got to be in Fiddler on the Roof and and you know, and just it was it was really fun. And then

that's cool. Yeah. What was what was that first trip out to LA like? Was there one?

Yeah. I My So, Uncle Pete and uh Charlene, his wife, they lived in Van Eis. Yeah.

And um Beautiful. I stayed with them, but I didn't have a car. I didn't have a car. And he would go off to work and and I'd just be like, I want to I want to like see LA. I didn't know. But I didn't know how to do it.

Oh, you like 115 degrees with no trees. So, no car in Van I. So, you just started hoofing it and enjoying,

you know, the fruits of Woodman Avenue and uh Woodman Sherman Way. Um, but I think it was on that I think it was on that trip because I had done a film called Parting Glances in New York and I went out to LA to try and meet casting people and and and my friend Kathy Kenny who was in that who was in that film. Uh, she was taking meetings and she would just bring me along like she would pick pick me up and bring me along to these meetings and some people were okay like, "Oh, you brought a friend."

Yeah. She's like, "But he's really good actor. You know, you should see him, too."

Yeah. But mostly, I think they were like, "Who is this guy? Like, why did you bring him?"

Yeah. That rarely goes down well. And they're like, "Oh, of course. Let's meet your friend."

And then and then So those those first few experiences, were they were you kind of freestyling or did were you coming with a certain amount of uh training that you were leaning on or or you more of an instinctual kind of guy?

Yeah, I had no idea what I was doing really. I just I just did not know. I I remember when I first got a manager and I was going out on meetings and the feedback that he was getting was, you know, he's kind of so dead pan and he's like he doesn't seem like he wants to be here.

He he just like is so quiet and like, you know, so then I went to I remember the first time I met Bonnie Timberman, you know, big casting

Oh, yeah. agent. I went in and I went in smiling and the first thing she said to me is what what are you smiling for? You know, I was like, "Well, now I don't know what to do." Like, right.

Right. Right. She thought I was like laughing at something. I was like, "No, I I was I was told to to smile." So,

I'll be there looking crazy. That's funny. And we will be right back. And now back to the show. So you you kind of figure it out though, like you do you do a bunch of different parts. I mean you do sort of like eight 10 movies maybe before Reservoir Dogs.

Yeah. And and you do you do a bunch of different varying degrees bigger roles and etc.

What was But that must have been kind of a seinal moment if if if I'm guessing you're right. And talk a little bit about how that came into your world and what it was like first meeting Quinton Tarantino. So, the script came to me from an a from uh one of my early agents, Nancy Green, who has since passed away, but she was she was really great. And I have to back up the story because like a year before that or maybe six months before that, she convinced me to go on an audition for um it was a Neil Simon comedy and I don't remember I don't even remember what what film it was for, but I I really didn't want to go. and she said, "No, just go. You can meet the casting director, Ronnie Escoll, and just, you know, I want to okay, I went and there were other actors there and they put us in like a group scene. we were improvising and it was fun and then but you know I left and I didn't get the you

know whatever part that I was auditioning for and uh forgot about it and then I got the script for Reservoir Dogs from Nancy and I loved it and um uh and I for the fir I didn't you know the first time I met Quentyn was on the phone and hearing his voice I was just shocked because I thought I was going to be talking to like an ex-convict who was like in his 50s or hunting,

right? And instead it was like, "Hey, man. Thanks for reading my script. Thanks a bunch. I'm really excit are you Quentyn Tarantino?" "Yeah, yeah, man." You know, I was like, "It just it didn't match up." And uh but he was so excited and so and and so enthused. And I auditioned for it twice. And then I did the workshop for it in Sundance. And it was Quentyn and I. And and this is I guess typical Quentin fashion. He tells me I got the part of Mr. Pink as we were in the bathroom. You know, we're in the bathroom together.

And he, oh, by the way, I cast you as Mr. Pink. I went, "Oh, what? What?" Oh, really? He says, "Yeah."

Wow. And he and he says, "Yeah." And it wasn't really based on your audition, you know. He said,

"But Ronnie Escoll showed me a tape of when you auditioned for that Neil Simon movie." I go, "But that was a comedy." like what did you see in me that you thought? He goes, "Well, cuz you had on like a vintage shirt and your hair was slick back and you look like a criminal."

And that was just how I dressed. That was just me. Yeah. Just rolling out of bed.

Yeah. No way. And so, thank God I went on that audition, you know? Yeah. Yeah. That's cool.

Isn't that amazing how those things kind of worked like that? You just never know.

It is. And was that was that would you um would you say that that film or any of the films around that started to solidify for you uh what what you um what you were confident in doing? And I guess the question is at what point did you start to really kind of just dig into your style quote unquote or or what what your confidence was? What I have is going to work. what I have is going to take me um into something that

I can make a living and also can be creatively fulfilled. Like when did you get that feeling of I I've I've got what I what I what I think it takes and I and I and I like that they're hiring me for this type of thing. I mean that film Reservoir Dogs had a lot to do with opening doors for sure and it did a lot for my confidence. Just being just being cast being cast in a movie with Harvey Keitel and having scenes with Harvey

was, you know, that was like a dream. I never thought that that would be possible. And then getting to meet, you know, and work with actors like Tim Roth and Michael Matson, um, who we sadly lost.

Yeah. Yeah. Um, and meeting Eddie Bunker, who was an ex-convict and, you know, uh, wrote the movie, uh, Straight Straight Time that was that was based on his on his book and,

uh, Runaway Train. And so it was just it was just exciting to be with these people and Chris Penn and,

uh, the whole the whole cast. Um, so just having done the movie was a huge confidence boost. And then, you know, Quentyn did us all a a big favor by that credit sequence of having us, you know, walk in the parking lot and our names were underneath our our faces like like as we're walking

because before that it was like, who's this guy? Who's, you know, like if my name was mentioned, you know, you couldn't put a face to the name. Sure. Now, at least people could. and uh and I had something to show, you know, like if if I was up for something and they wanted to see what I what I did, that was the film.

Yeah. And so that opened doors. But I, you know, as far as what my style is or anything, I'm I never know, you know, I feel like I've done so many different kinds of things and depending on like who I meet, you know, like on the street if I get recognized, I never know what they, you know, is it from a Cohen brothers, is it from Tarantino or is it from Adam?

Yeah. Sandler, you know, so some people only kind of know me in that comedic vein and other people know me from other things.

Well, that's a tribute to your career. Like I mean, you're able to do so many different things so well. Um it it must be you must have um a great number of choices in front of you uh at times and and and how do you how do you decide which way you're going to go? Um is it based on the people involved? Is it based on the the kind of character that being maybe different than the last one you just played? How are you making your decisions?

I guess it's different each time. Sometimes it's just such a wonderful script and and and and if it's an independent film and it's a young filmmaker that's starting to come up and you know and uh I love doing that type of work.

Oh wow. Um and and then other times it is you know it's the people who are involved but it it really is the material. I mean I try and you know go for the material first. Um

the script as a whole or your particular character as a whole as a whole. I mean it used to be when I there was a time when I would read a script and they'd say what character and I would just flip the pages to see when the character would be killed. I swear it was oh I made it to page 39. Okay. I think I'll I think

Would it be would it be like where the character was killed or would it also be like where the character can really score? Would you look at that and go like, "Oh, this is a good scene. This is you know what I mean?"

Oh, well, yeah. If I It was a Yeah. I mean, there's that stuff where like if it's a good dramatic part or there was like a like a good scene, but but yeah, mainly I would either get I would either get beat up or I would be chasing somebody with a knife or and then eventually get get killed. And

um it Yeah, it went that way for a while. you and and and so we touched on it and Jason you just said too you did so many different not just so many different characters but so many different kinds of you know uh size of films you've done these huge Hollywood films and you've done these really small in fact you made the seminal independent film Living in Oblivion with our mutual friend Tom Dillo which is about making an independent film which is one of my favorites

um and and then you just said that you like working with young upand cominging uh directors Is it is it that you like you like the feeling of being part of that vibe of somebody who's just finding their way and exploring? Is that exciting to you? Is that what it is?

It's Yeah. Yeah. I really love that, you know. Um and I'm so like happy that I was, you know, part of Quentyn's first film, you know, like he, you know, that was, I think, really exciting for all of us,

uh to see somebody like him. Um, and he had such confidence in what he was doing that that's what I think blew all of us away that he um,

it was such a clear point of view. So that that kind of energy is is contagious, you know. You just it just makes you feel good about being in this business. Yeah.

Yeah. you know, and and not knowing you very well, Steve, is is like I get a sense from you that you're and you correct me if I'm wrong, you're filled with gratitude and appreciation for working in where you are in life as an as an actor. Like I can't ever see you being a problem on any set ever or having an issue. Like there's certain, you know, there's many many types of actors and a lot of them can't wait to share all of their ideas and their back and come to set, you know, there's those types and then there's other types that are just like, yes, I've studied my role. I have a few ideas, but you're in charge. Like, where do you fall? I think yeah I think I fall in to I mean I I I've worked with so many direct different directors and I like to see what their style is and how I can be accommodating and since I've been directing I'm even more so because now I know what directors go through that you

know a lot of the times they're just trying to make the day right just like and you don't want to

yeah we talk with Jason about it all the time cuz he's I always ask Jason about the difference between being on either side. So, and you have that too now.

Yeah. I mean, you know, it's like, well, why would I come through this door? Like, don't you think I should? It's like, not okay, where do you want me to come through? You want Okay, good. Like, I could figure out my own motivation. like if you want or if you want me to do do this. And it's only when something really doesn't

feel right. Like if I can't find my way around like organically why I'm doing something or if the blocking feels off, Yeah. then I'll say something. But but generally, yeah, I just like to show up and and kind of do it. Yeah.

Right. As a director, do you as a director, have you had those moments where you've had to say, "Just come through the [ __ ] door, man?"

Yeah. Just right. Just be Why? Why the door? Cuz it's the only door that we have and you need to come into the scene. So, we need you in here to do this scene.

Right. Right. Have you had those moments? I really can't think of anybody who was like that way with me. And you know, I've I mean, I've had moments, but I I and you know, being an actor, I always like to see what the actor will come up with. you know, if I have time to like rehearse something properly, which you don't always,

I like to see what the actors do naturally and then try and, you know, and then and then block block the scene. Sometimes you don't have that luxury, you know, you just want to get in there and say, "Okay, the actors aren't here yet. Let's see if we can get them to be, you know, this one here, this one here, and then we can shoot it."

Right? So, you're like, "We're already set up for this, so this is how it's going to go." But JB, have you ever had that where you've had to kind of like just go [ __ ] just do it? Yeah. I mean, a thousand times cuz I I I Yeah, because I I personally I'm such a fan of what the camera can do to help the audience understand what the scene is about. So often times I'll have a huge plan already worked out about what the coverage is going to be. And that's

that means that people have to be in certain spots. And so I'll I'll try to encourage the actors to make a friend of that blocking. But if they if they don't if they aren't comfortable with it, I can pivot for sure. But, uh, Steve, uh, with all the the the incredible set experience that you have and and the number of fantastic directors that you've worked with,

um, it's interesting to me to hear you say that you are that you gravitate towards um, new directors uh, at times um, because it seems like you would you'd often be in a situation where, you know, that director might be uh, drowning in in the the the the unforeseen complications of any day and and you might get frustrated with like, oh my god, this is, you know, it it's frustrating for you to have been on so many sets that work so well uh to then be sort of extending your patience and your experience to help out a young director. I find that just so generous of you and and is it taxing? But I don't really find the frustration that that I I do sometimes feel with the person who is directing. I sometimes I' I've just been on so many sets over the years. I get frustrated with maybe like

why did they bring me in this early or why why are they shooting first ad you're yelling at? Why are they, you know, and so and especially on,

you know, Boardwalk Empire was the first time I had played a character like, you know, uh, repeatedly and for how however many seasons that we did, five. And towards the end, I think I did start to, you know, be the guy that wouldn't, you know, like they'd call me to set and I would just go, "All right, I'm just going to sit here for another 10 minutes until they really need me." But then that kind of like

then they're like, "Well, he's not coming out." So now they would call me even earlier, you know, like the next time. It just Yeah, it just Yeah.

Yeah. But I love doing that show. Yeah. Well, that must then you must really You must love Well, you tell me. Do you love directing? I'll bet you do.

In theory. I It's It makes me the most anxious. Like when I direct, I get so anxious that it's I'm beside myself and I don't do I don't do it enough. I just feel like I'm, you know, I'm insecure. I'm not really I don't really know what I'm doing. I don't know about camera stuff. See, that's my my weakness is that I'll come on set and I'll say, "You know what? I'm" and I'll say to the DP, "I'm thinking, how about if they we do this and that and the DP will say, "Uh, oh, well, you know, the light's coming in this way and we and this is and I would go, oh, yeah, right, right, right.

Okay. Yeah, yeah, you're right. That's uh and now I'm going to go talk to the actor

look to the DP and go what do we do? Like what do we yeah a lot and I I find eight out of 10 directors work like that. Don't don't don't you find that a lot of a lot of directors would just

sort of punt all the camera stuff to the DP and the operator and and and then they go and they work with the actors which is a great way to do it as well that there's so many different ways to do it.

Yeah, there are. But I get so jealous of directors when they say to the DP, so what do you think of 40? You think of 35? And then I'm like, what are they talking like this?

Why don't I Whatever you're doing, you're doing it just right. Keep going. Of all the genres you've done, is there any genre? Well, is is there a genre that you haven't done that you want to do, or is there a genre that you have done and that you will never do again?

Yeah. Yeah. Um, I mean, I really haven't done horror. I've done like a little bit. There's some TV shows back in the day like Tales from the Crypt and there was a show called Monsters and um but I've never done like a horror movie and but I don't know if I could. I don't I I'm pretty squeamish and I don't like pro prosthetic makeup like I've done that in the past. I

um and like sitting in the chair for 5 hours. Sitting in the chair. Yeah. Yeah. But your your your ability to uh to ground violence is uh is is awesome. I just I love watching you uh deal with

with the um the unsettling unpredictability of violence coming on someone that is just normal. uh that's a bit eccentric, but like living in our world like you you just you ground violence very well to a point where oh my god that that's really shocking because it seems like it's really happening to

uh someone in our real world. Uh I mean I I you know Fargo's top three films I've ever seen in my life. I've seen it more than any other film. and just just your way just not only just the the violence that you're that you deal with in that film, but even just your your line of work in that film, too. You know, that that there's a there's a grounded sense of here's a guy who's, you know, dealing with, you know, the underbelly uh of society, but he's not super comfortable with it, but, you know, he's just he's got to make a living and here we go. And I

it's kind of matter of fact almost. That's so exciting to to have to follow somebody like you through an eccentric storyline. Um because you just ground it all. You you know you know who we are. I love that.

Well, thank you. And that and that film was yeah that was another seminal one for me because I had you know worked with the Cohen brothers a few times before that. But then in that film they they they really gave me a part that was throughout the film and I loved it and I loved that character you know kind of

yeah you know thinking he's you know smarter than he really is but you know but he had a certain kind of confidence you know that he got so funny you know the way you you interrelate with your with your your cohort there Peter Strowar yeah um I just love that sort of alpha beta thing you guys had going where you you're just you're the smartest guy in the world when it's just the two of you guys,

you know, and then you get thrown out amongst the other characters and uh and you're in trouble. I I just

Yeah, you with a bloody face getting angry at everybody around you just made me peeing my pants.

How many How many films did you do with the Cohen brother? Because you I mean Yeah, you mentioned it. You worked with them before you worked with them you did Big Globowski was after that, right?

It was after Fargo. Yeah. Yeah. Which is weird. I I always think of it as being before, but it was

No, that was their followup to Fargo, which was kind of amazing because they had finally like broken into the mainstream because that because Fargo was nominated, right? So now like everybody was seeing this film

and were starting to really, you know, get to know the the Cohen brothers in a in a mainstream way. And then they follow up with this film that I remember when it came out, people really didn't know what to make of it. It took a good five years

for people to like catch on. Like could it have a bigger cult? I don't know if a film could have a bigger cult following than Big Labowski.

Yeah. We'll be right back. And now back to the show. And now actors are lucky enough if you're in one hit anything, one hit play, TV show. and you've had all of these things that you've been a part of that are like hit after hit after hit like just kind of extraordinary. Do you are you able to allow yourself to appreciate that and and be like I'm kind of proud of like I'm proud of what I've done. I mean of course you are. You don't have to say it out loud but but or are you one of the people that kind of deflects

say it out loud. I mean or can you absorb that because it's very rare for somebody to be in that many hit hit things.

Yeah. I mean, I I'm very proud of it and I feel very grateful for it. And at the same time, I feel like I haven't been in, you know, like I've I've never done like a Marvel movie. I've never done like I've I haven't done, you know,

popcorn things. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I did, you know, like I like Armageddon and Conair were my two like like big movies that I did in the '9s, but I really haven't done stuff like that

so much since. Um, but I'm I don't care. I mean, I'm very happy with Yeah, that's kind of what I'm saying. You know,

you lend you lend you lend so much credibility and artistic rigor to those films. Like, that was a that was a very nice thing you did for those couple of films. Um, and I'll bet you could do that a ton more if you wanted to. Um, I bet Marvel would have you in a second. Um, but you are you're just such actor and director, you know, catnip. Uh, it's I I I hope you're as proud as you deserve to be about,

you know, the the position that you hold in this community. It's so well earned, Steve. And u,

well, thank you. And coming from you and all you guys, it just means so much to me because I really

you you've had some pretty memorable deaths on screen. Yeah, it's true. Do you have a favorite? Is there a favorite Steve Bush man?

I think my favorite was in the big Labowski just literally being scared to death.

Yes, it made no sense. Like when I read the script, I was like, I think I'm going to make it through this one. I think, you know, it's like what? He's he's dead, you know.

Yeah. Um you also That's so good. Have you also mentioned um that you improvised in that in that in that audition that Quinton saw you in and I'm sure you've improvised a lot of movies and I know you know we you you've had the opportunity of working with so many great writers who've written and you mentioned so many great

uh pieces of material but has there has there ever been an improvised line? I've always wanted to know like is there something in a movie somewhere that you're like proud of that you that you improvised and that made it in the movie and you're like oh yeah.

Yeah. Well, actually in uh Armageddon, I mean, Michael Bay let us, you know, improvise a lot, you know, like, you know, I mean, we would we would do the scene, but then um the one thing I remember when I was sitting on the the nuclear weapon and I just and I said, I was like, "No, no." Like, that was just from me and it made it into the movie. God, that movie was so huge then. It was that was such a massive hit. Yeah.

Oh my god. So, Steve, what with again with all of the stuff that you've done and all the directors that you've worked with and the parts that you've played um aside from Marvel, is there something that you that you hope to to do uh sometime soon? And that could be as an actor or as a director. um uh you know, are are are you looking to maybe direct one of those one of those big sort of popcorn big pieces of business things or or or or act in one of those? Um

um you know I've never really had a plan for and and and I've been you know I mean we all get asked like what's your dream role or what would and or if you what your

work with somebody a director or to work with somebody and I I get superstitious about well I've never worked with so and so and I feel like if I say it out loud

sure that makes sense although sometimes you say it out loud and it happens. That's true cuz they hear it.

True. What about theater? Have you have you I apologize for not knowing but have you

take Sean and apologize for taking Sean's question but go ahead Jason ask Sean will have the followup about anything funny that happened on stage but um what uh are do you do you enjoy doing that or does it take too much time off of your availability?

Yeah, you know I mean I used to do in the 80s when I lived in these village which was like an amazing place and time to live. I had a um a partner Mark Boon Jr. who you guys may know. Um he was he's you know he's done a lot of great work. He was and a lot of people know him from Sons of Anarchy. He played the character of Bobby.

Oh yeah. Yeah. I know. Mark. Did you Didn't you work with Boon? I think I did. I did work with him. Yeah. He did Flaked. He did our show Flaked. Yeah. He's terrific. God. What a great actor. We used to write and perform our own like short sketches and and and some plays and um and that was you know I think

I I never felt more creative as when I was doing that you know uh working with him and then working with other uh I I worked a little bit with the Worster Group um another playwright director John Jezerin um and I did a lot of that stuff then and then I when I sort transitioned into film. I just felt like I was spoiled by like like all the great people and fun that I had doing that in the 80s. It was hard for me to make a transition into like they want me to do what how many how many shows a week? I think the eight shows a week thing is like

the dumbest thing in the world. Yeah. It's brutal. And and then I was just Yeah. I just I guess I just sort of kept myself open, you know, for like film and TV stuff. The last play that I did was um over 20 years ago, but it was amazing. It was Simon McBurnernney directed it and it was um Arturo Oie and Alpuccino played uh Arturo had amazing cast and it was a Yeah, it was a star-studded cast

and you were supposed to do something with Oscar Isaac, right around the pandemic.

We were going to do Yeah, we were going to do um it was Three Sisters. Yeah. Oh, three sisters, right? And um the pandemic

that was going to be the original title of our podcast. Yeah, it was taken. It was taken.

The pandemic put that on hold and then and then then it sort of it just kind of fell apart. But uh I've tried to do some things over the years but but it just never worked out.

So we mentioned that you know how much you work and again like how many roles you've done and and is it you know it's obviously it's you're busy a lot work you you just you work a lot. You must I don't know if it feels like you work a lot, but you do.

No, it does. Yeah. So, what what is what do you do? Are you East Coast based? Are you West Coast based most of the time?

I'm East Coast. Yeah. Yeah. East coast. New York. New York. Yeah. And then what's a what's a day? What's If you're not on set, you're not working on something. What's an average day for Steve Bushi? You wake up and you have a

you're a coffee, tea, matcha. What are you Definitely coffee, black coffee in the morning and black coffee and just read like you know the times or whatever news feed is on my phone and do that and then uh

the post I don't do you know like I do yoga. We do yoga on the weekends. Nice. For a little while I was working out but I'm not Yeah. I

But are you are you walking around? Are you going to lunch? You going to read books? You going to museums? Are you watching reality TV?

No, I don't watch reality TV. I mean, I catch up on shows and movies and I like doing that and I like hanging out with friends. Um, and visiting my mom who's 92 now and she lives now like a block away from me and and um Amazing.

I But it's a pretty sort of, you know, uneventful life that I lead. Sounds pretty good.

No, but that sounds like a power down. Like you need to have kind of like quiet time where you kind of do nothing a little bit.

What's your drink of choice? My uh wine. Yeah. Oh, wine. Red, white, rose. Red wine. Red wine.

Red wine. There you go. All right. Pretty classy. That's good to know. Hey, Will, I have to ask you this.

Yeah, please. Do you remember when we were both nominated for uh 30 Rock as G? Do you remember we were sitting next to each other at the Was the Emmys that happened like before

the creative Emmy? Yeah, the creative. Yeah, the creative Emmys cuz we were both nominated for 30 Rock and we were sitting next to each other and so was Tim Conway.

Oh wow. Wow. Wait a second. Do you remember this? And we I think and we didn't say a word to each other. I think we were both kind of like nervous to talk to each other.

I was nervous to talk to you. I Well, I was nervous to talk to you. And I had just I had right before that I had introduced myself to Betty White who who was there. And as I was walking away from her, I heard her say to a friend, "Who was that?" I think then I was like, "All right, I'm not gonna say hi to anybody." And we sat there and and so when they got to our category,

it's Tim Conway. I mean, we're up, you know, I think we both knew before they announced his name, he ran up on stage,

which I thought was such a brilliant move because win or lose, it was great. It was it was so, you know,

he he did that. You know what's funny, Steve? I do remember that. That's so crazy. I totally blanked on that.

Did he end up winning? He he did win. He did win. He did win. Of course he did.

He did win. But what he had done was, if you remember, in the 70s, he originated that bit that they that they kind of they tried to copy years later uh uh um for uh actress in a comedy. He originated the bit in 1975. I know it was that year because it was the year Chvy Chase was nominated for SNL. So it was like 7576

and they they started listing off the nominees and they go best supporting actor in a company Tim Conway and he walked up and then each nominee walked up as if they had won.

That's really just when they do the list of nominees and then they stood there and then Chvy Chase ended up winning but they were all standing on stage. So, I love that he years later extended that bit. And of course, I remember that. It was so

[ __ ] crazy. And then when he when he took his like he kind of like bowed and then pretended that he stabbed himself with the award and like kind of walked off holding his heart, you know? I was like, "Oh my god."

Was there any anybody funnier than Tim Conway? No, I know. Yeah. I was so excited to meet him. He he one time I saw a bit one time where he and in Harvey Corman Harvey Corman gets announced he either won or was announced to come to the stage and Tim Con he was wearing tails and Tim Conway went and jumped on his tails and literally rode his coattails down the the aisle.

It was such a brilliant just working on so many different levels. Oh gosh rock 30 rock

30 Rock every show. Yeah, that was so much fun to work on. Um, so, so your new show's coming out, uh, uh, next, well, whatever it is,

soon. I should know this. This is, this is my obligation. August 6th. August 6th, which is my son's birthday. So, now I really remember. It's one of one of my son's birthdays.

Um, and then, so what do we got in store for the rest of the summer, Steve? What are we looking for?

Well, right now I'm working with um, Adam Sandler is producing a movie. He's producing two movies that his daughters are in. So Sunny is in one film that I'm that I'm doing uh called Don't Say Good Luck and Sadi is doing a film called Roommates. And last night was the uh premiere for Happy Gilmore 2.

Happy Gilmore 2. I'm in that as well. And that was so much fun seeing you know that film. And uh we watched it again. Like I watched the the first one in the afternoon yesterday just so I would be up on all the references and they did it. It was like it was just so satisfying and so funny. Yeah.

I I'm sure and I think that people maybe and you can you can testify to this and we all can. There's almost not a nicer guy or better dude in the world than Adam Sandler.

See I differ. I I you know everybody this monster he I just he got everybody fooled.

I mean, he is he's the nicest man. He's the sweetest guy. And on top of being so funny and everything, so talented, he's such a good dude.

You really are. And he's so smart. Like I mean, I I've worked with him since Airheads, right? Like that was the first thing that we did together.

Oh my gosh. That's right. And then he, you know, he, you know, he was talking to us on set about how he wanted to like like do his own film and Robert Simons, who was one of the producers on Airheads, you know, took him up on it and uh produce Billy Madison and Adam asked me to do like a a small thing in that and it was so much fun. But to watch Adam over the years, because his friends used to show up on set, you know, and just hang out. And then each movie I've done with him, I notice, oh, those friends are now in the movies. Those friends are his writers.

Those friends are his producers. Yeah. Like he's so not only is he loyal to them, but and that's what I mean by smart. He knows what brings out

the best in him, and he knows that they will bring, you know, like gold. And so, and he makes movies that he wants to see.

You know, I don't think Adam ever makes something that he's trying to, you know,

find an audience for. It's stuff that he really like wants that he wants to see.

Yeah. That he thinks is funny. Yeah. Yeah. He He really does. He champions people. And also like you, he's a he's so diverse and can do so has so many different gears.

Oh, yeah. Uh it's it's unbelievable. I was so happy for him that when he started doing dramatic roles and I was so

pissed off at myself that I hadn't like you know like written something dramatic for him you know first you know because I because I could see it in in him and I used to tell him that you know like what was it first he's an amazing musician yeah punch love was the first one I think that really kind of you know where people started to see him

in a in a different light and then of course with I mean uncut gems I mean come on

yeah forgetcible But yeah. Yeah. Well, uh, Steve, what an absolute delight. I'm sorry that we never that you and I didn't speak to each other at the Emmy, all those today.

We we did exchange a few words. It was But we didn't really go deep, but we were both losers. We we weren't just losers that night.

And uh uh but what a thrill to have you, man. It just honestly just such an absolute

I'm so excited to have met you, Steve. Thank you so much. It's an honor for me to be with you guys. and Wednesday, Wednesday on Netflix, uh August 6. We'll look forward to it. Season two of of Wednesday, Steve, all just sending you lots of love and all the all the best of luck and uh uh and continued success. You're just the greatest.

Thank you. And sending love and all the success to you guys, too. Uh you love what you do. So, thank you. Thank you so much. Enjoy the rest of your summer.

The great Steve Bushi. Thank you, Steve. Bye, buddy. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. How about that guy? talking about a guy who's done it all.

Yeah. Yeah. That was that I I'm still I was a little a little kind of in shock there. I like that that's a guy just like such a enormous fan of his and I just

for some reason I he just seems like a guy I always thought I would never ever be able to meet,

you know? Just like one of those guys that like zero circles I know or that I'm in.

He just lives like in a cool zone like Yeah. He's not out there [ __ ] cutting ribbons at markets and premieres and [ __ ] like that. Like he's just like

cutting, you know, if I got lucky enough to maybe be in a project with him. But you know, what are the odds?

Wait, are you spending time with a lot of ribbon cutters? Oh, yeah. I'd bring my own scissors. You know, I don't much germaphobe. So, uh,

but Willie, when you when you announced him on when you when you were revealing and Jason guessed it, I was like right away and I was like, "Oh, yeah." and he came on as one of those people like Jay just said you're like oh my god it would be so cool to hang out with him and oh we're hanging out with him like

I know I know I know it's such a thrill what a [ __ ] talent and talk about yeah what he lends each project and you know he's in the cast list

I agree oh okay so they're not [ __ ] around on this film raises all boats right

and I didn't know he did standup like you know like I did you should have tried some of your standup

oh I have some Oh do you Anything you're workshopping? Yeah, let's do it. Yeah. Do you want What did this What did the sushi say to the bee?

What? Huh? Give me a second here. Oh, [ __ ] Wasab got JP with that one. Oh, cuz you know there's a lot in there that is is close to my heart.

You know, right? The the mock bro talk, right? Um, and uh the pun and and the underused sushi mustard, you know, I just don't think gets a a fair shake in this world.

Um, and then bees, of course. You know, they're my arch men nemesis. Bees. Bees.

Bees. Do you want one more? Do you want one more? Of course we do. Okay. What does an Irishman call 66% of a piece of poo?

Huh? Well, that's 2/3 of something. 2/3. That's right. Oh, that's good. There we go. Nice, JB. Thanks. Twitch.

Uh, well, that's like a that's like a combination. That's like a hybrid of a Here we go.

Hybrid. Wait, what's the opposite of a hybrid? I can't even think of it. Uh, gas burning.

No, that would be a hybrid. That would be a hybrid. Hybrid. No. No. Not at all. No.

Yeah, but that's No. What are you [ __ ] talking about? It's like a hybrid joke of two.

Well, how about maybe you were going towards like, you know, you know, you got those airplanes with the jets and then the the other planes that don't have the jets. Those are

those are like bye bye bye bye smart glass 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 "Steve Buscemi | SmartLess"?

In order: 0:00 SmartLess, Boardwalk Empire, Golden Globe; 5:00 Wednesday, Brooklyn, East New York, Engine 55; 10:00 Brooklyn, East New York, Neighborhood Playhouse, Peter Miller; 15:00 Fiddler on the Roof, Nancy Green, Neil Simon, Parting Glances; 20:00 Reservoir Dogs, Chris Penn, Harvey Keitel, Mr. Pink; 25:00 Living in Oblivion; 30:00 Boardwalk Empire, Tales from the Crypt; 35:00 Armageddon; 40:00 Armageddon, Flaked, Sons of Anarchy, Three Sisters; 45:00 Tim Conway, 30 Rock, Adam Sandler, Betty White; 50:00 Adam Sandler, Airheads, Bird After Re, Happy Gilmore 2; 55:00 SmartLess.

What is mentioned in this SmartLess episode?

93 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including SmartLess, Reservoir Dogs, Tim Conway, Wednesday, Boardwalk Empire, Brooklyn. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Steve Buscemi | SmartLess"?

The episode runs 57 min; the transcript is about 11,370 words in 262 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.