Monday, March 21, 2011

Ask ASB: Why doesn't Andy Samberg seriously answer interview questions?

Why doesn't Andy Samberg seriously answer interview questions?



Andy usually tries to answer jokingly.

Sometimes he'll answer honestly (he does this on talk shows). But usually he tries to think of a way to answer with a joke (or a story that might be funny).

There are several reasons for this, but I think the first is expectations.

It's strange. People expect him to give great or interesting answers. And they expect him to be hilarious all the time. So he (like many comedians) has found that if he turns it on and answers with jokes, then that meets expectations well. But if he gets vulnerable and honest (as some comedians have) then he gets judged more, and he becomes the "unfunny comedian."

So it's almost like a defensive mechanism that comedians use. I even saw Aubrey Plaza go through this. For her first 6 months to a year once she was "discovered," she answered interview questions honestly and transparently. But then she started sounding a little uninteresting or whiny, some media folks pointed to it, and it probably frustrated her a little. Then she started showing up at interviews as her April character, being stone cold, emotionless, and saying silly and crazy things.

Essentially, Andy landed at the same place (trying to make people laugh in interviews), but it was natural for him to get there (he was always there).

Other more traditional actors "talk their craft" more, almost like politicians do, where their guard is bringing it back to their work as actors and actresses (because they're not expected to be funny). It's really quite interesting.

Andy tries to make the person asking the questions laugh. It's like a game he plays with himself, whether or not he can get them on the first question or how long it takes for him to get them.

In one interview, his interviewer asked her first question, "What's your favorite color?" Andy thought hard for a second or two, and then he said, "Blend." She laughed hysterically and Andy said, "Got you! Nailed you on the first question!"

It really is a game for him.

- TAE

4 comments:

Freya said...

http://fuckyeahandysamberg.tumblr.com/photo/1280/4006845725/1/tumblr_lif7lnSVhe1qi1b6k

was this ever posted? andy on the set of FWB

Anonymous said...

New news

It has been announced that Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg will be among the presenters at this weekend's Comedy Awards. They join an illustrious assembly that includes Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart Tracy Morgan, Matt Stone, Trey Parker, Ty Burrell, Louis CK, Stephen Colbert and Rob Corddry.

The Comedy Awards take place this Sunday March 26 and will be broadcast on April 10. Saturday Night Live is nominated in three categories including Best Actress in a Comedy Series (Kristen Wiig), Best Sketch Comedy/Alternative Comedy Series and Best Directing in a Comedy Series.

Old news? but i love it :)

Andy: Also, we don’t sleep, because sleep is the cousin of death. But we do nap. Which is kind of like the great-nephew of death.
Akiva: Nap is the cousin of life.
Andy: What happens if naps and sleep have a baby together; is that the Antichrist?
Akiva: I think that’s puking, right? Puking is the son of naps and sleep.

Can you explain each of your roles in the group? Is that even possible?

Akiva: It’s very easy, I can just tell you. Just rent Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and you’ll basically have it right there. In fairness, you could just watch the first movie as well, but The Squeakquel is kind of the Empire Strikes Back of the Chipmunk movies.
Andy: The impending triad.
Akiva: In case you need more explained, I’m clearly Simon. And then the little fat one, Jorm, is obviously Theodore. The hunky lead, the arrogant, cocky jerk stealing the spotlight, who’s clearly Alvin, is Andy.
Jorma: He even has a big A on his chest. For “Adultery.”
Andy: In a lot of ways, I like to think Lorne Michaels is Dave.
Jorma: I don’t think that me being the fat one is really a personality trait.
Andy: No, the sweet, fat one.
Jorma: Thank you! Thank you for that adjective.
Andy: I also really don’t want to wash over the fact that we all believe the A on Alvin’s sweatshirt is for “Adultery.”
Jorma: You find that out in the movie.
Andy: The classic tale of The Squeakquel.


What is it like to direct and be directed by your best friends?

Jorma: Awful.
Andy: I love it.
Jorma: What’s funny is that I think there’s very little difference in what we do now from what we did when we had no money and nobody helping us. It’s just that there’s a lot more super-skilled people around doing all the jobs we used to do, like making props. When it comes down to it, it’s just the three of us fucking around and trying to make comedy.
Andy: The honest answer is it’s great, because we have a shorthand with each other, we don’t have to babysit each other’s feelings, we can just say, “No, that’s wrong, do it this way,” and it gets done a lot faster and better.
Akiva: There’s no tiptoeing.

Anonymous said...

http://www.directcurrentmusic.com/dc-music-news-feed/2011/3/15/snls-lonely-island-return-may-10-with-turtleneck-and-chain.html

Anonymous said...

what is that interview from above from?

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