Bob Balaban is so perfect that the first movie I did with him, I couldn't talk to him because I was so intimidated by him.
I have great respect for the authorities.
I've never crossed over to be a big star. I'd like to be in a big $100 million movie, though. 'Cause I was in an 'Austin Powers,' I think I had two lines, and every once in a while, I get a check, a really nice check, for that movie.
'Field of Dreams.' Definitely one of the best baseball films of all time. When Kevin Costner spoke to his dad, and his dad answered, I, um, I mean a lot of guys I know couldn't help crying.
I love working with Ty Burrell.
Comedy always came easier for me. But I would have loved to have been an action hero.
My stepfather was a military man: he was in the Air Force. Reserve. You thought he'd seen front-line action, but he was stationed in Cleveland.
I guess it's from going to Virginia Military Institute. I'm a good person to follow orders.
When I started, there was a phase where I wanted to be a cowboy star. I didn't want to do deep, serious parts.
Suddenly you're like a pirate, you're 65 years old and you've got an earring.
Getting those parts in the Christopher Guest movies was the second biggest helper to my career after 'Fernwood.'
It's not a bad typecast: the goofy guy.
It's more fun in a way to do ensemble scenes, where you know your background, you know the scene, but you can't prepare because someone else is going to say something that is going to lead you off.
The witch in 'Snow White' is a very scary image.
One of the first shows I ever did was 'Laverne & Shirley.' I played this sleazy guy that came into town with a friend and was going to date Laverne and Shirley, but we really wanted to get into the bowling alley because it was next to the bank we wanted to rob.
Someone I've always admired is Catherine O'Hara... I think she's one of the best actresses in the country, not only comedy. I just think she's just a step aside from everybody, she's just wonderful.
I guess the essence of my comedy is to get into a very abnormal situation but act like it's normal.
Tobe Hooper - he did my favorite horror movie, 'Texas Chain Saw Massacre.' It's still one of my favorite horror films.
As an actor, and as you get to a certain level... and it's pilot season and you read the trades, you could have a nervous breakdown. 'So-and-so's signed for a pilot. Why aren't I?'
I'll go in a minute to see a sketch show.
I never got any advice in acting.
Looking back, I was a very good kid, very studious and all. But I would always come out with a quip - and I was sent to the principal's office several times.
I think my wife saw a picture of the rock group Journey, and they're kind of aging, and the one guy had dyed blonde hair with black roots, and... my idea was to get a little earring, I wanted to have a dangling earring.
I really enjoy working on 'Modern Family.'
When you think about accountants, who would want to be an accountant? But, what would we do without accountants? Whether it's soldiers or garbage men or doctors, everyone has the thing that they love.
I am re-collecting the baseball cards my mom had thrown out when I went away to school. You know you are an adult when you can buy a whole set of baseball cards instead of two packs at a time.
I've been in a lot of shows, I will say that. Every once in a while, I'll look at a tape of something I've done, and I won't even remember having done it.
A great director is someone who makes you feel like you're moving forward.
I first became interested in 'great moments' when I read about the famous Feller-to-Boudreau pickoff play in the 1948 World series.
If you're a cheerleader, people see you. If you're a mascot, you're just helping out.
Comedy relieves you. A lot of times, we think we're the only people bothered by certain things. Then you hear a comic say, 'Don't you hate it when...' And it's, 'Oh, my God! Of course!'
Because I started my career in improv, performing with Second City and the Ace Trucking Company, I always enjoy being in situations where - as an actor - you have to think fast & be light on your feet.
If I have to play an obnoxious character, try to find a redeeming feature of him. The most obnoxious people in the world were people, and they had had a reason for doing what they did. So you try to find that and let the obnoxiousness come out.
Let me say this: I have said, any time, if it's Martin Mull, I will say yes. If it's Christopher Guest, I will say yes.
If you're not doing something right, you can feel it on stage, and if it isn't going well, the audience will tell you. A teacher can teach you sense memory and this and that, but until you get in front of an audience, you don't really feel it.
'Fernwood 2-Night' didn't help me too much when it was first on.
If I like a movie, I see no reason not to go back for Parts 2, 3, 4, etc.
One of the great things about kids is they haven't heard a lot of the old jokes. You can get away with the corny ones.
Some of the Christopher Guest movies, when I'm not really like myself, when I have my hair dyed blonde or had a faux-hawk haircut. Those I like to watch because it takes you away from your real self.
I always loved comedy growing up - Bob Hope, Red Skelton and Danny Kaye.
I had just done a movie called 'How to Beat the High Cost of Living,' and it didn't get a good review. And the same people sent me the script for 'Airplane!' for the Robert Hays part. I read it, and there were a lot of plays on words, and I said, 'I don't like this kind of comedy.'
All America is familiar with the Yankee-Dodger-Giant trivia, but so many other teams had great moments.
Kids can relate to having some scary person living near their house. They can relate to, 'Hey, don't go near that house.' We all can.
I just admire everybody and sit in awe and watch them.
Everybody I run into goes, 'Hey, 'Best in Show!'' Or, 'Hey, that dog movie!' which I don't mind because I'm not too good on titles.
I think if you have a funny thought, and you want to get off a funny point, try to do it as realistically as you can. If you try to act it funny and accent the funny points, or do it in a funny style, you kind of lose it.
Martin Landau in 'Crimes and Misdemeanors' - he gave me chills.
I just love everything that Disney and Pixar do. Not only do they do beautiful films, but they have great messages for kids.
Comedy is harder, because if there's no laughs, it's pretty bad. But drama, if there's no reaction, you can say, 'Well, it's not their cup of tea. Maybe it's too heavy for the audience.'
