Summary
Highlights
The hosts recount Danny DeVito's difficulty finding the podcast studio despite detailed directions. Upon his arrival, a playful discussion ensues about Christmas music, with Danny expressing his dislike for it before December and commenting on the commercialization of Christmas, even questioning the historical accuracy of Jesus's birth date.
Danny shares his experience with 23andMe, chickening out due to privacy concerns. He then delves into his family's Italian and Albanian heritage, specifically mentioning his grandmother who spoke a unique language called 'Gig'. The conversation shifts to how he joined 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,' initially brought in by John Landgraf, and how watching the first episodes with his family convinced him to join if an 'organic' character could be created.
Danny discusses the importance of trusting his gut in career decisions, despite warnings from others about joining 'It's Always Sunny.' He credits the show's creators and FX for sticking with the series through its initial low viewership, leading to its long-term success. He draws a parallel to 'Taxi,' which was canceled despite critical acclaim due to network scheduling.
Danny recounts his memorable entrance as Louie De Palma in 'Taxi,' a character initially conceived as just a voice. He describes how the episode's massive viewership instantly changed his life, something he believes is impossible with today's fragmented media landscape. He also shares an anecdote about the unnerving experience of being swarmed by fans at a Yankees game with the 'Sunny' cast.
Danny reveals his goatee is for an upcoming movie with Chris Pine called 'Poolman,' where his character was inspired by Sha Na Na and 'Chacha.' He then talks about his animated series 'Little Demon,' a project that took four to five years to complete, where his kids Jake and Lucy essentially showran the series. He expresses his enjoyment of voice acting and the collaborative effort required for animation.
Danny shares a pivotal story about replacing William Dafoe in an Off-Broadway play, which led to meeting his wife Rhea Perlman. The play's unexpected closure due to bad reviews led him directly to another audition for 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' where he again found himself working with William Dafoe, securing the role of Martini and eventually leading to the film adaptation. He humorously reveals his first profession as a hairdresser, recounting his sister's influence and his initial reluctance turning into delight at the beauty school.
Danny tells a bizarre anecdote about a client dying in the hairdryer chair at his sister's salon, and her family asking him to style her hair for the coffin, which he did for several subsequent clients. He then describes how he discovered acting classes through a makeup instructor, an unexpected turn given his prior lack of interest in the profession beyond a non-speaking high school play role.
Danny expresses his immediate comfort and love for working on 'It's Always Sunny.' He discusses the evolution of his character, Frank Reynolds, noting a shift around the third or fourth season towards a more casual and extreme approach. He actively encouraged the writers to 'push the envelope' with Frank's outrageous actions, finding joy in scenes that involve physical comedy or bizarre situations.
The hosts transition to showcasing some of Frank Reynolds' most memorable moments, including the infamous 'man in the couch' scene during the Christmas episode, where Danny unexpectedly ripped through the couch naked. Other clips include Frank's philosophical spew about lemons, his 'ram-ham' on the raft, and his improvised 'go go for it' song from an episode. They discuss the unexpected virality of these moments, such as fans getting tattoos of Frank stuck in a coil or as 'Trashman'.
More Frank Reynolds highlights are shown, including his botched suicide attempt, his explanation of how he got stuck in a coil, and his 'mortician makeup' look. Danny shares his favorite alter egos, Man Spider and Mantis Toboggan, and recounts humorous stories behind scenes, like the genesis of the 'donkey brains' storyline. The discussion concludes with Danny expressing his love for playing despicable characters and the fun he has pushing boundaries on the show.