Idris Elba

[00:00] This episode is brought to you by Allstate. Checking Allstate first could save you hundreds on car insurance. Not checking your pockets before putting clothes in the washer? [00:09] Oof. Enjoy your freshly cleaned and completely destroyed earbuds. Yeah, checking first is a good plan. So check Allstate first for an auto quote. It could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Potential savings vary subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate North American Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. [00:29] Hi everyone, welcome to another episode of Good Hang. I'm very excited about our guest today. It is Idris Elba. Idris is in studio and we're going to talk about a lot of great stuff. We're going to talk about growing up in the 80s. We're going to talk about Stringer Bell, of course. We're going to talk about cringe comedy. He's going to try to convince me to go to Ibiza. [00:52] Um, so, uh, there's going to be a lot of fun to be had. And, uh, we always start our podcasts, uh, the same way. We ask somebody who knows our guest to zoom in and give us a question so, um, they can kind of help me get to know them. And we have a real big star. [01:10] Zooming in today, it is... [01:12] John Cena. [01:14] John? [01:17] Look at your suit. You look so nice. Can you hear me? This episode of Good Hang is presented by Walmart School Supplies. We all remember getting them. I remember Trapper Keepers and so many colored pens, but now I'm sure there's a million more things to get. And thankfully, Walmart has essential back to school supplies starting at 25 cents, plus all the latest tech starting at $9. Who knew? Hello Kitty pencil cases, Nintendo notebooks,

[01:47] keyboards and more at low walmart prices they even have lilo and stitch headphones who knew shop walmart.com to score their favorite back-to-school tech and supplies oh you got your beautiful background you got to spend so much money on this production i want to be able to see it it was just a dot corner i want you to be able to see my fake plants and my fake [02:17] John, it's so good to see you. What's in the fake mug? [02:21] This mug? [02:22] You know what's in this real mug is Real Berries Tea, a wonderful Irish tea, my favorite tea to drink. Awesome. Excellent. Not even a sponsor. What do you have? Drinking my own urine. [02:37] John's drinking a yellowy liquid. What do you got in there? What are you drinking? No, it's my own urine. I'm going through a Howard Hughes video. [02:45] Okay. [02:46] How are you? How's it going? [02:52] Well, we... [02:54] No, we bumped into each other. We did. That's right. Yeah, yeah. Some conversations among friends about wine and good stories and sunsets and all that, which I'm very grateful for. I loved working with you. I would love to do it again. You're constantly working and doing such great stuff. And I think of our time together very, very fondly. That was a really good time on the movie Sisters. That was a great time where you were busy, and I was kind of just playing Pazuzu in the background. So I had a lot of time to hang out, and it was really, really fun.

[03:24] the first time I'd been in a location because of course, this was a massive ensemble piece. So like you're in, you're doing work and I'm like in a lot of the shots, just fully tatted up. But a lot of my days weren't a lot of heavy lifting. So you kind of gave me my first vacation, like 15 years. I really, I'm grateful for that. I know. Cause no one works harder than you. You are [03:44] You work hard. Well, you're about to talk to somebody who I think wins that argument. Really? He beats you in the hard work category? Driss is a robot, period, end stop. Like, if you think you're working hard, you know, there's always somebody at the next level. Mm-hmm. [04:01] Idris is crazy. Like, he... [04:03] He goes, he goes, yeah. That's amazing to hear from you because I know – [04:09] how you approach your work. It's very professional, very serious. You love it. You have fun and everybody feels fun when they work with you, but you work really hard. So you're telling me that Idris is, [04:20] is even more of a machine. [04:23] Yeah, I need to shut down. When it's time to go, all right, cool. And I'm a nine to five person. Idris will work a full day and then fly to... [04:33] to Vegas to DJ for the whole night and then fly back to work the next morning and then go to the studio and make new music. Like, I need to be put in my lane and be like, okay, this is the day's work. Go out and get it. He's everywhere all at once. I don't know how he does what he does. That's one of my questions is literally how do you stay awake? Honestly, he does live...

[04:55] an a.m. and p.m. life like an a.m. p.m. a.m. life you know like he's doing his last set at 4 a.m. and then he's on on set and insane when the camera turns on like he's he's and he's a he's a great human being I I can't say enough good things about your movie heads of state is coming out on Amazon and thank you very much for that I appreciate it you're so welcome if everybody [05:25] and he plays the prime minister of [05:28] The UK? Yes. Never know if I should say England, the UK or Britain. So that's why I hesitated. [05:34] We got all three. So you're covered. Great. Covered. And I have to say, it's so it's it looks like such a satisfying. [05:42] um timely and fun and juicy film because i would like you to be president will you be president and i'm putting you on the spot uh they they don't let folks who wear coats like this that's true you did ruin your chances myself out of the position yes indeed you're wearing a very striped coat and they're not going to let you in um but um yeah that was your first time working together [06:06] We worked together on a movie called The Suicide Squad. Of course. Where we played superheroes that were like... [06:12] A buddy comedy almost, but he's got he's the head down guy. I'm the aloof, ignorant guy. And Peter Safran, the producer of that movie, was like, this is good. We need to do this again. And the thing about heads of state that's very fun. And you said, you know, you play a fictional president. He plays a fictional prime minister. You being a writer would know that it's the sooner you can define those characters.

[06:33] stand for, the more fun you can have. So basically what we have in Heads of State is a buddy comedy. It looks so fun. And also, I mean, the [06:43] Can Idris, I'm going to ask him about accents, but can he do a Boston accent? Because you're a Boston boy. Yeah, but my Boston accent sucks. It does? What, have you lost it, John? What, you think you're better than us? Yes, I do. I do think I, it's gone away. It's been, I don't know. You haven't watched the Karen Reed trial and gotten brushed up on that? My family was, my phone would not stop. Oh, God. You have no idea. [07:13] Every date by Sean. [07:17] Maybe if I stop drinking my own urine and start drinking some Sam Adams. It doesn't come back to you? Boston doesn't come back? It 100% comes back. Every time I go to West Newbury to see my family, my wife is literally like, what happened? You talk different. And it's just you go back and you just get into the vortex. There's just some friends who you can't say their name without having the accent. [07:39] You cannot. I try, but you cannot. Okay. So what question do you want me to ask Idris today? Is there anything you want to know about Idris that you didn't get a chance to ask him or something you think I should ask him? So that's a great question. Idris is somebody I respect and admire. And a lot of the driving force there is because he's still so motivated. Somebody who's been an on-screen performer and a great one for decades and literally has so many achievements. It would

[08:09] you, like, what keeps you going? And in the stories that Idris has shared with me, he comes from very humble beginnings. This is a former automotive assembly line worker who, you know, he was just talking the other day about how he moved to New York and worked the door at a club. And then we'd go after hours with all the club folks to a special place that they just lock the door and leave at seven in the morning. Like he's everybody in life has such an interesting story. And Idris is no different. [08:37] but to be where he's at and to still [08:41] go like he does. I just want to know. I don't I don't want to know the secret because everybody's story is different. But I really want to know what keeps him so driven. You know what I love about you, John? And by the way, I hope someday you come do this. Say this houndstooth jacket. I agree. It's this houndstooth jacket that you're wearing in the urine that you're drinking. No, no. What I love about you is you love people. [09:04] You are a curious person about people. You care and see, like in my experience with you, you're very interested in how – [09:12] All different types of people approach life. Everybody truly does have a story and you can learn from everybody. [09:19] Thank you so much for doing this. It really means a lot that you gave the time. And I can't wait to see your movie and see you in person. Let's like have a decant some wine somewhere. This is the soft open to an actual good hang. All right. Thanks so much, John. So good to see you. [09:36] Amy, thanks so much. Thanks, buddy. Talk to you soon. Bye.

[09:40] This episode is brought to you by Degree Cool Rush Deodorant. I'm a big fan of people owning their mistakes, like how last year Degree changed their Cool Rush formula and men were mad. One guy even started a petition. So Degree listened, admitted they messed up, and they're now bringing the OG Cool Rush scent back. It's clean, crisp, and fresh. No wonder it's been the number one men's antiperspirant for the last decade. [10:06] It's in Walmart, Target, and other stores now for under $4. Just look for the light blue one. Degree Cool Rush is back, and it smells like victory. [10:15] for everyone. [10:21] wait oh we're twinning wow we're cute a slow slow slow motion music you know there is a part of me that always tries to think about what the guest would wear and i do try a little bit unconsciously to just dress for my guests oh no way [10:40] You're joking. You did it. Look at us. We did it. I can take this off and do the T-shirt. No, I feel like we have to stay. We have to stay in this now. I'm so thrilled to talk to you today. Wow. Thank you. And, you know, we are the same age. I think I'm older than you. No. 1972, babe. 1971. [11:00] And we're both Virgos. And when's your birthday? September 16th. September 6th. And I saw that. And I want to ask and start asking you a question, which is, [11:10] be a Virgo what does it feel like do you do you identify as a Virgo do you see do you see qualities in Virgo that you feel are worse okay so if I'm really honest I have this weird statistic thing right let's just get this straight that's all I understand okay there's like how many billion people on the earth right yeah are we suggesting that everyone this is very Virgo I know

[11:33] But everyone that was born in that particular time period, around that time, has similar traits. I mean, this is the logic that I find myself wrestling with. I understand. You're a challenger. You're a Virgo. It makes sense. [11:47] Or is it that everyone you've met that says, hey, are you a Virgo? I'm a Virgo. Do you do? I do. And then that becomes the myth. Would this make you feel better? Beyonce is a Virgo. Do you want to be in the club now? Yep. Okay. That's what I thought. No, I knew she was a Virgo, actually. Yeah, yeah. [12:02] Well, Virgos see each other. They recognize each other. [12:05] Yeah, it is. Okay. We don't have to get into it. No, we can. But you are in your 50s. I want to ask you, what is it like being in your 50s? What do you think of this decade? [12:14] Um, really interesting, right? Because, you know, we were born, uh, when we were 10, 11, the 80s happened. Our consciousness was born at the same time under the coolest decades generationally ever. Yeah. [12:30] And we were born into that. Some of the coolest things are music, culture, some of the craziest world politics that set the dynamics where we are right now. All happened when we were sort of like our emotions were blossoming and our adolescence were growing. I mean, we're a very unique generation. OK, I agree. I love being Gen X. [12:50] I feel proud of it. Do you feel, I feel like, [12:53] Exactly what you said. I feel like we straddled these two different worlds. Our young world was like our parents, and now we're in future robot times. That's true, which partly we invented because it's like robots, toys, 2001. What was that going to be like? We got to see it. We got it, yeah. I know. We watched movies about flying cars, and it's going to happen. It's happening. Robots that talk and aliens. Do you believe in aliens?

[13:23] Yeah. Oh, but not astrology. Well, astrology is based on some weird alien science that has left us left behind. Aliens left behind. Yeah, yeah. Like, you know, did you know that these? Anyway, I was going to say that the other part about being 50 is that I don't love that at this age, the age of being wellness and consciousness is so upon us, yet our bodies fail us. Well, me. That's the biggest bummer. [13:53] you can get hurt just getting out of bed. That is the part that just feels like, well, I mean, what you have to do, what you have to use your body still a lot. You use it a lot in this movie that we're talking about head state. How do you, do you have to do, [14:08] Like, what do you do to stay full? [14:11] That's what we have to do is stay flexible. Yeah. Do you do yoga? Do you do – what do you do for your stretching? Because I'm trying to get more stretching. Really? I'm quite – [14:21] I'm not very flexible. Like, do you have tight hamstrings? Yeah. Tight hip flexors. Hip flexors. Yeah. So mine are my hamstrings, which is embarrassing because I'm so short. It's like to not be able to touch your toes. You ever say my head? Same outfit? [14:40] Same age. So do you do pigeon pose? [14:44] Ah, pigeon. No. What does that look like? It's the yoga pose where you get your, like, where you get, you stretch your hips, basically. Do you know that pose? So you're sitting on your bum and you got your legs out like that? Yeah, and you, like, put your knee up and you kind of lean over your knee. I don't do that. Okay, good. I do, well, it's the squat.

[15:02] Just squatting. Yeah. You know, like before we were homo sapien squat. You do. You can squat. Yeah. That's impressive. It is, actually. Your knees can handle that? No. Yeah. Getting down is easy. That's the thing. Getting up. You got a guy who helps you get up because once you get down, you're stuck. No, my pride is there's no guy helping me get up. Of course not. I'm like, I'm okay. And everyone's like, we're ready to shoot. [15:32] to get out of his squat. He's getting out of his squat. Good thing about squatting, though, not to be graphic, it's good for the... [15:38] Pooping. [15:39] I was going to say number two, but we can go. It's really good. A lot of people know that. But I mean, I feel I feel like my 50s, to your point. [15:49] Age-wise, like emotionally, mentally, spiritually, emotionally. [15:55] I feel great. So good. Yeah. Right. I feel finally like I'm figuring myself out in a way that's very real. And I have a lot. [16:03] a lot, enough wisdom and enough ahead of me. And you're kind of the oldest, youngest person and the youngest, oldest person. That's right. That's so true. And, you know, your influences change. You know what I'm saying? I think in my thirties and forties, like I was sort of like blown with the wind a little bit with what was influencing me, what my goals were. And in the fifties, I'm like, no, that wind have to pass around me. I'm not getting as easily influenced. Yes. You, yes, exactly right. You're like a steadier tree, but yeah,

[16:32] It does hurt to get out of a car after a long car. [16:38] You know what, though? Wellness. Yeah. So people were like, really, that doesn't work. It's like astrology. But grounding mats. I love a grounding mat. I have a bio mat. Do you have a bio mat? No, grounding. Oh, is that the same thing? What's a bio mat? Well, it's like a heated mat. Oh, no, this is not heated. This is just grounded. Okay, talk to me about this. [17:02] Magnetic frequency is a thing and it vibrates at a certain thing. You know, when you have a radio and it hasn't been grounded into the earth, it will have static. The moment you ground it, it stops that static and our bodies work in a similar way. And the inflammation just suggests that inflammation and blood circulation works better when you sleep on a grounding mat or if you're under a desk or you're barefoot. And by the way, you can do the same thing if you just stand in your garden in the grass for 20 minutes. [17:32] Well, have you heard the young people say touch grass? It's like a term basically, which is like get off your phones, get off the Internet and go outside and touch grass. I didn't think it meant that grass. I thought it was. No, it's a real grass. That's the Gen X in you. This is touch grass. Go touch pot. That's what they're saying. Go touch pot. OK, that whole touch grass thing. I was like, dude, this is a little much. My algorithm is all messed up. I didn't realize.

[18:02] It is. It's the idea of just like actually getting your feet on the ground. But it works. And it works for our age because inflammation is a real thing. That stiffness you're feeling. Do you cold plunge? [18:13] Mm. [18:14] You've got to get into that, too. I do it all the time. How often? [18:18] I try to do 11 minutes a week. What? Not all at once. Why do you do that? It really helps with inflammation. [18:27] It is a huge, it is, I don't, it's really helped with anxiety to be any anxiety, depression, inflammation, because you're like flooded with a serotonin, you know, you are like, it's like natural. Yes. I'm not going to run. I can't run. I'm not going to run. I've got to get some kind of feeling that I've like had this. [18:45] you know, like big bursts and the cold plunge does it for me. And like, I don't like to do it. It's not like, I don't like to do it. All right. Then, you know, it works with, you talk about shrinkage. [18:57] It's like, wait, what? Oh no. This is not only a very uncomfortable, but really killing my ego. What? Just do it on your own time. Just do it on your own time. Yeah. I'm not doing it like naked at the gym. No. I'm telling you, [19:15] It will change your life. I'm telling you. You know what? You're going to look back at this interview and you're going to be like, remember when I was in my 50s and Amy told me to call a punch and I said, what? And now it's going to change your life. Okay. You know what? I'll listen to you because I think we have a lot in common and there's some observations that you're making that is really making me think. Also, I imagine something about you, and tell me if I'm wrong, that you kind of like a forced austerity. Like you're not afraid of difficult things. Right. Yes. No.

[19:45] um, difficult things or challenges that make me uncomfortable. Yeah. And to choose your own discomfort is like a privilege at our age. I'm going to be uncomfortable. So, but I'm going to be in charge of it. Yeah. I agree. I agree with that. I agree. I actually, um, what I also enjoy about my fifties, I'm 52, 53 this year is that I really want to learn more. I want to learn. And [20:10] Oh, that's new, but how is it connected to what I already know? You know what I mean? And that cusp is really interesting to me. You know, like we talk about AI and all that stuff. I refer to it as like, wow, that's the future that we talked about as kids. That was just in our imaginations. And here it is. Well, I want to stay in the present and I want to talk about the future. But if you will indulge me a little bit of past because and I promise I'll make it fast. [20:36] But I'm such a huge fan of The Wire, and I know you talk about it all the time. It is many years ago, 20-plus years ago. You've talked about it over and over again, and I won't make you talk about it too much. But it's a series that changed my life. I watched it three times, the series three times. I could talk to you about it forever. And also, I feel like not to keep making comparisons, we are dressed the same. We are dressed the same.

[21:06] I was on a show that meant something to a lot of people still. And like, you know, almost 20 years later, they come up and they keep engaging in it. So you must get that too. You must all the time have people say to you what I'm saying to you. What is that like? [21:22] I mean, [21:24] The truth is that I actually don't speak about The Wire as much as people might think, even though I am definitely at least once a day someone says, bro, string a bell, The Wire, whatever it is. [21:36] And, you know, it really does... [21:39] It surprises me. [21:41] how much impact that show had in a good way. It surprises me continuously that, you know, multi-generationally it's still being talked to as people that are, weren't even born then. Yeah. Watching the wire and be like, yo, I saw that. That's incredible. I feel proud. I put a sense of pride. I feel a little bit though, if I'm really honest, like I didn't watch the wire. I've heard this, that you didn't watch it. I didn't watch it. [22:11] bad. It's not that I'm not a fan of it. I was there. I made a show that was, you know, so intense and so real, so important. And even though we didn't realize, I didn't realize the importance of the show while making it. Yeah. Rarely do we. Right. Yeah. But... [22:26] Um, um, [22:28] I didn't participate in its... [22:31] Celebration as a viewer As a fan And so I feel a little bit like Could you start celebrating it now? No man

[22:39] Why? You can't watch it now? No. I bet you have a feeling about it that might... [22:48] You might be kinder to yourself and it watching it now. It's not that. Okay, so why can't you watch it? It's more that – [22:57] Again, I felt the presence of it all my... [23:01] you know life since the wire right yeah in terms of its impact in terms of what and i also was there making it so to me it was almost a bit like i was stringer bell i'm not sure but i also feel like when stringer bell no spoilers well look at this point okay let's get ready if you're listening spoiler stringer bell dies dies yikes there are people still watching it [23:25] Well, they got to catch up. It's been. But when Shungabelle died, there was a part of me that died with that character. And it's weird for me to go back and watch it. I don't like being overly conscious of what my performance is like or whatever, because it makes me conscious about doing it. I like being in it rather than watching it. I hear you. That makes me sad that you can't enjoy how good you are in The Wire. You're so... [23:55] Good. Idris. OK, I know. OK, I'm going to turn into like from my twin. I'm taking this. OK, OK, because a few questions, which is Stringer Bells. Can you just tell me for the super fans that are listening?

[24:25] acting moment where you have to decide, where you have to realize that Avon has given you up. Like, it's just your brother. I mean, so Shakespearean, this entire show, but that relationship specifically, and you have the tiniest moment that flashes across your face where you... [24:45] you know, you're resigned to the fact that not only are you going to die, but you're going to die, you know, [24:49] by the hands of someone who you really love. And the acting with you and Wood Harris, [24:55] in that scene previously when you're on the rooftop and you're is such good acting and and [25:04] I just want to I have no question here. Yeah, no. But I guess the last line. What was on the crafty table is what you want to know. Yeah. But I think about Stringer's last line because it's such a it's such a testament to David Simon and the writers of that show. The writing was so incredible. When Stringer says, like, I guess there's nothing I can say to change your mind. [25:25] get on with it then. You know, paraphrasing, but [25:29] Thank you. [25:30] It's his entire arc as a character. He's spent the entire show. [25:34] trying to convince people... [25:38] like that there's another way of doing things. Can you just tell me about that scene and shooting it with rest in peace, Michael K. Williams? Yeah, man. I mean, it was a really interesting time. I mean, yes, testament to the writing, David Simon, and the poetry of what we're saying about beheading the man, the character that is offering a slightly different perspective on this chaotic town,

[26:08] situation for, you know, the residents, the people of Baltimore, but also the people, [26:17] the towns across America in this sort of, I would say, what's the word? You know, not culture, but that lifestyle, that this is a perpetual thing that keeps going. And then along comes a spider where he's like, hey, let's try something different. Let's turn this into this and crawl out of this hole. But we kill that character. That's why the wire is so good because the system – [26:42] is the... [26:43] The machine, people keep trying to get up out of the machine, and the system keeps pushing them down. But the system is also using puppets to do it to each other. Right. So the system isn't really prevalent. It's the strings, no pun, are holding Brother Imouzon, who has his reasons. You've got Omar, who has his reasons. But the system... [27:08] has made everyone blindfolded. And Stringer was like, no, no, no, no, no, take them off. I know. Right? I know, Stringer had a plan. And what do you ever think about, or did you guys ever talk about if Stringer stayed on, lived as a character, what he would go on to do? Yeah, we did. I mean, a lot, because Stringer is a real person who is still alive. [27:32] And Stringer went on to become a very successful businessman who, you know, will remain anonymous forever. But successfully built a lot of businesses and, you know, crawled out of the hole. So in dramatic terms on the wire, you know, it wouldn't have made sense for Stringer to get out. Although in reality, Stringer did get out. Wow. Okay. But that's not dramatic enough, you know. I mean, that.

[28:02] Not the story. No, and it was like a season three gut punch. [28:06] And it also, I mean, good shows do that, is they sacrifice. They sacrifice, yeah. And I was for it. I had, I've told the story, I had reservations about how Stringer was dying. Yeah. I mean, you know, there was various ways that David Simon wanted to depict that. And I was a little bit against some of that. But the actual beheading of Stringer was an important move, I think. You know, just to illustrate to the world that, hey, man, take the blinkers off. [28:36] soon. And, um, yeah. Okay. Last question. The character of Bodhi that played by JD and you are like mentorship with him. Uh, [28:45] uh is one of the of the many incredible relationships on that show like that is a heartbreaker it's a heartbreaker what happens to stringer and it's eventually a heartbreaker what happens to jd's character bode what was it like working with him like a young actor like that amazing man like you know we he was a he's a fly dude yeah he was a fly dude he was the fly young kid on the set um him and jit michael b jordan actually yeah um and um you know because he was [29:15] And he was like fresh and green. And he would hang out with his big brothers. And I remember one time he challenged me. He was like, yo, man, I could drink you under the table. I'm like, Jay, leave it, man. He's like, no, I'll drink you under the table. And literally I drunk him under the table. Like he sat under the table. He was like, no, I can't. I can't fuck with y'all no more. You were like, did you hear my accent? Like, do you know where I'm from? Like drinking is a little professional. I'm from London, man.

[29:45] You know what I'm saying? Like, again, he was a young guy. He lived in New Jersey as well. So we would travel up sometimes together on a train and whatnot. Okay. So mentoring is important to you. Like, you've done it a lot now. And before we move on to… How to say the movie that comes out on Prime. Thank you. July 7th. How to say with the great John Cena and Priyanka. [30:07] But… [30:07] Can you talk a little bit about the stuff you're doing with the King's Trust? I love the work that you're doing there, and that was an important thing to you when you were young. Yeah, yeah. I mean, basically I'm paying it forward, you know, like the King's Trust at the time, Prince's Trust, gave me an opportunity via a check and some resources. What did you do? You were how old and they were going to get a scholarship? I was around 14, 15 years old. I auditioned to get into the National Theatre's youth program, which is called the National Youth Music Theatre. [30:37] And they were doing a production of Guys and Dolls. And my drama teacher encouraged me to go for it. I went in and I got the audition. But I didn't realize you had to subsidize your board because they flew around the world. We were going to Japan. We went to Greenland. I mean, we were taking this production. It was a semi-professional production. But you had to pay for it. My parents couldn't afford it. And my drama teacher said, hey, you know, the Prince's Trust. I'm like, sorry, why? [31:04] Are you talking about Prince Charles? Well, you want me to audition for Prince Charles? No, not for Prince Charles, but he has a trust where he helps young people. And I was like, he's never going to help me. I'm a kid from East London, blah, blah, blah. Anyway, I auditioned.

[31:17] I got the gig. [31:19] and I got the money that he helped me with and the resources to help, you know, get me into this theater thing. And ever since, you know, I mean, without a doubt, that really structured how I thought of myself as an actor. You know, it was a professional theater. I was just singing around the world, and this was what I wanted to do, just at that point in my age where I wasn't sure. What made you think it, like, what was the thing? Were you watching movies, and what made you know you wanted to be an actor? [31:49] There's two things. Really, it was my teacher. Yeah. Miss McPhee. Mm-hmm. I went to a boys' school, okay? She was a lovely... [31:58] Blonde, blue-eyed teacher. See what's going on? But she was this really lovely, nurturing figure in my life at the time, at boy school where no one really took drama seriously. Sometimes it just takes one teacher man to change your life. Real focus, and she was like, you can go for it. It was mentorship, right? And also there was an actor called Paul Barber who was in a film called The Full Monty. Oh, yeah. Yeah, and he's a black actor in that film, [32:28] this school just to sit amongst the boys and say hey what do you think about acting and we were like aren't you the guy that takes your clothes off in the full monty but i was just like gassed i was so moved by his storytelling and the fact that he came he's famous he's on tv he came to our school to talk about acting so those are the two real like if i can remember junctions where i was like okay acting might be a thing crystallization of that and ever since you know i realized that you

[32:58] moment of just a young person who isn't sure. Yeah. Having a conversation and being like, let's examine what you want to do. I mean, sometimes it kind of scares me. [33:06] uh, uh, well, not sometimes it's, what is scary is that the slightest change, um, changes the direction of your life, especially around that age. And the positive version of that is what you talk about, right? Which is like, you see someone that you want to emulate and you just realize like, this is the way my life's going to be. And then in the same way, like the tiniest bit of nudge the wrong way and you're off on a track and then you're so true, you know, in our [33:36] sort of magic from TV. And those are unilateral moments where we all sat, watched the same shows, whatever they were. And those were our influences, right? All at the same time, whether it's America, Europe, we were all watching the same sort of thing. The Fonz, Happy Days, you know, whatever it was, right? [33:52] Now, [33:53] And if an uncle or an auntie spoke to you about what you want to do, you know, that conversation meant something because you weren't getting a phone. You weren't staring at a phone which has all these different influences. Now. [34:06] All right. Young kids are influenced by so much. They're just overstimulated. And a lot of it is negative. A lot of it's pitting themselves against things they'll never be able to afford or have this elevated sense of self where, you know, in our day, I think I hate to say in our day. Well, you were really feeling we're really sounding really old right now. We're going to talk about phones. We're screwed. We are. I mean, my phone is my best friend. Yeah. Yeah. Right. I mean, I don't want to talk about my best friend like that. I've got an AI voice. That's my best friend.

[34:36] You know, we're sucked in too. Yeah, we are. But the truth is, though, we at least had the benefit of the monoculture. We had human intervention that actually could have that ripple butterfly effect. But the monoculture, different in the UK and the US, and I'm constantly surprised by how [34:55] how comedy when we were growing up, we were not watching the same things. Really? You weren't watching the funds? Okay, I was watching Happy Days. But there must be American shows that you, comedy shows that you hear about that didn't make it over there. Because I know when we were watching British comedy, it was like contraband. Like it was given to us on VHS tapes. Like Benny Hill? [35:20] Well, Benny Hill. Oh, my God. That was what we got. We got Benny Hill nonstop, which is like, I guess, it was Monty Python, Benny Hill. But there were, like, so many shows, like – [35:32] What about MASH? [35:34] Okay, I loved MASH. You watched MASH? Did you watch the Norman Lear shows? Like... [35:39] All in the Family. No. See? All in the Family. Yeah, which was based off of the British show. [35:48] Huh. Yeah. That famous British show? What, the famous British show called something. All in the Family. I'll get it. But there was, like, all these, like, famous, like, the Jeffersons, Good Times. Do you know them? Yeah. I know. Later on in life. Yeah. They weren't, yeah. Did you get Desmond's? [36:05] No. Desmond's? I don't even know what Desmond's is. Desmond's is the barbershop show, man. It was a black show. It was comedy. It was like, I don't want to say the Cosby's, but it was a family that run a barbershop. It was hilarious. Yeah. So there were versions of each other's comedy at the time that we didn't know about each other, which I think is so interesting because we're so aligned. But there was something specific about UK and US comedy at the time in the 70s and 80s where you found out about people's stuff and it felt like you were seeing it for the first time. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[36:35] remember like, [36:35] Learning about, yeah, Steve Coogan, for example, and no one knowing who he was. Or like. I remember coming to New York. [36:44] New York City. Yeah. In the early 90s. Mm-hmm. And speaking with my accent and – [36:52] Black folk, black people were saying to me, wait, what? Why are you speaking like that? Yo, listen to this dude. They didn't know. No idea. [37:00] They didn't think that there were black British people? Yep. Wow, America continuing to really represent. No, but to your point about monoculture, like our shows, you know, our culture did not, you know, ABC was not picking up Desmond's. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, we did not. We had really flat versions of each other. It felt like Americans were like, you know, confident and loud and taking up too much space. [37:30] than us. I mean, and I do think that the accent gets you, the accent gets you, people think people with British accents are very smart. This is, this is a, this is true, actually. You're right. We somehow give a sense of that. The way we speak is, makes us more intelligent. You're right. I've dined off this for a long time. I would too. I'm not that smart. I was going to say that growing up is realizing that British people are not any smarter than [38:00] what that's what how did we get that's that's being an adult you're right you're right facing the truth because it's so hard easy to get sucked in but you have to i want to talk about your comedy you're you're like what you were watching as a young person and getting into comedy because you've done quite a bit of comedy and you know you're doing more of it now which i think is so cool but for a second about accents you have had to do a lot of accents a lot of different accents

[38:30] like, you know, African warlord and you're playing and you do them really well. Is there one that you can't do? American. [38:39] That is not true. Your American accent is no one knew you were British when we watched The Wire. No one. Idris. You know what it is? The truth is when I was doing The Wire that I was not British. [39:00] and, you know, [39:01] At that junction, you know, I'd live in America for four or five years. Like, my accent shifted. Yeah. And Alexa Fogel, the casting director of The Wire, she was like, by the way, don't come in here with that British accent. Now I see why you don't watch it. Now I get it. Yeah, I can't watch it. I think you don't watch The Wire because you're thinking about your accent. Of course. But also... I'm here to tell you. It's... And I... [39:21] I have a thing about Brits and her accents. You do? Yes. Okay. Because they win a lot of awards. And their accents are like, let me tell you something, sir. Like, you're like, you're on there. Everyone knows. And it's like, well, I like how you say HBO. You've said HBO a couple times. I said that, yeah. H. HBO. HBO. That's good. Thank you. I haven't done any sort of. [39:47] regional English or English accents like, you know, Wells or... [39:57] you know, Liverpudlian or any of those. I'd love to. Yeah. But boy, if I get them wrong. Let's try it right now. No. I'll go. You go first. Okay, Liverpudlian. I'm going to think about Paul McCartney. Just think about the Beatles.

[40:15] Right? That's all you need to do. Okay. Liverpool. [40:20] Hey, lad, what's going on? Oh, my days. See, you're too hard on yourself. No, because I'm going to get memed. [40:27] I'm asking you to do it. Anyone listening, no one's going to meme you. Okay. Do Welsh. Can you do Welsh? Tom Jones. Oh, yeah. [40:37] Hi, well, I'm Welsh. [40:41] They say that, right? Okay, yeah. Hello, boyo. Hey, boyo from Wales. Hey, boyo. That is so... I can't go back to Wales now. F-ah. [40:53] This episode is brought to you by Visible. How many of you are currently listening to this podcast on your phone? If you are chronically online, like we all are these days, your wireless network should be too. With Visible, you get unlimited 5G data and unlimited hotspot, all powered by Verizon's 5G network. The perks of big wireless for half the cost. Visible isn't just a wireless plan, it's unlimited wireless designed to always keep you connected and no contract holding you back. [41:23] Switch today at visible.com. Plans start at $25 a month. Or get our premium Visible Plus Pro plan and save $10 on your first month when you use promo code HANG, an exclusive offer for podcast listeners. Terms apply. See visible.com for plan features and network management details. [41:43] This episode is brought to you by Subaru. Most cars just stick to the asphalt, but hybrids can be found on dirt roads, back roads, and everything in between. Because the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid and Subaru Forester Hybrid were built for adventure. With up to 597 miles per tank in the Crosstrek Hybrid and 581 miles in the Forester Hybrid, love goes the extra mile in the Subaru Forester Hybrid and Crosstrek Hybrid. Visit Subaru.com slash hybrid to learn more.

[42:13] Maximum range based on EPA estimated combined fuel economy and a full tank of fuel. Actual mileage and range may vary. [42:20] So you're saying with Hilton Honors, I can use points for a three-night stay anywhere? Anywhere. What about fancy places like the Canopy in Paris? Yeah, Hilton Honors, baby. Or relaxing sanctuaries like the Conrad in Tulum? Hilton Honors, baby. What about the five-star Waldorf Astoria in the Maldives? Are you going to do this for all 9,000 properties? [42:42] When you want points that can take you anywhere, anytime, it matters where you stay. Hilton for the stay. This episode is brought to you by eBay. Lately, more and more people have been talking about selling on eBay, and we can see why. Everyone has stuff that no longer fits their lives. And selling on eBay is actually really easy. Just snap a few photos, write a description, and set a price. Suddenly, the stuff that's just been sitting around is in front of millions of buyers already searching for what's next. Find what you love. Sell what you don't. [43:12] eBay. [43:15] Okay, so talk about comedy, your relationship to it, because I think people probably... [43:23] think you're very serious. And I've learned that you're not. [43:29] So I bet people assume you're... [43:32] you're mad you're serious you're tough i'm an actor yeah and they come up to you and they and they take you and you probably were like i like to have fun like everybody i'm a little goofy i'm very goofy you are you're a little you're a goofball yeah a little bit but you know i like playing dramatic roles yeah i do i just also when it comes to comedy most of the comedy i've done has been the straight guy that isn't meant to be funny so when i did the office yeah tell us about

[44:02] John Kaczynski, he was a big Wire fan. He was like, we need that guy. We need that guy. Paul Feig. [44:08] Yes, Puffy, great director. Great director. [44:12] But it was a part of that casting process for me. And, you know, it was described as this guy who's a bit like a string of bells, real serious, as a businessman. But, you know, you don't laugh at anyone. You don't suffer fools. And I was like, OK. But first of all, the U.K. office. [44:29] Incredible. Oh. [44:31] He's the biggest fan. Better than the American office? No. What? Different. Not better. But in many ways, like I've talked about this with Mike Schur who created Parks and Rec and who went on to – who started working on the American office and did Parks and Rec and many other shows. And I remember when he was going to do the American office, I thought this is a terrible idea. Really? Because the British office was so good. It was a complete – [44:58] specific POV and we thought no way yeah but then we heard that Steve Carell was hired and I knew Carell from Chicago and I was like he's funny he's really good and suddenly it was like oh this is just going to be a different version so I would say I can't I can't compare the two but I do have a special place in my heart for the British version because it was the first one I saw me too and the cringe humor this is what is cringe humor and I think the Brits do cringe humor better not better [45:28] repressed. Totally. Because... Anything that's like embarrassing, we're like, oh my days. I know. And in America, where it's larger personalities... Well, America's embarrassing. Well, again...

[45:39] No. America's embarrassing. There, I said it. No, no. What I mean is that Americans are okay with big personalities coming in. That's part of the comedy fabric. However, I really loved working on The Office because I did get to be in a comedy, right? And the guys working on the show basically tried to make me laugh. [46:01] All the time. And the joke was that you're not going to get me. And the more silly they got, the more I stayed straight. And that became the comedy. It was amazing. It was a lot of fun. So you're good at keeping a straight face. No. [46:16] I'm a proper good. I want to be in the stupid side. I want to be doing stupid shit. But the gig was that I... [46:23] I stayed really serious. [46:26] Even just now, you got very serious. [46:30] It was a lot of fun. It was amazing. It was amazing. And then, since then, some of the comedy stuff I've done is really playing the straight guy. Yeah. Um... [46:40] in heads of state yeah you get to you get to get in there yeah but we're still playing on the trope of repressed british prime minister right doesn't like this big american personality and we're still playing with that so but yeah but but but like do you want to do more comedic stuff do you like it isn't it fun it is fun because i gotta say like your job a lot of the stuff you do it combines a lot of things i i don't want to do running shooting nights like yes so many night shoots

[47:10] Like I watched and I was like, oh, crying, crying, like jumping. But you've said that you like all this action stuff. You like doing stunts? I do. I do. What do you like about it? It's a choreography. It's a dance. I love learning a new fight. And I like I'm always convinced that I can make it look realer. You see someone is like kicking butt, but I want to make it look a little bit more real. I love it, though. [47:40] radicalities of it yeah yeah i like fighting do you well i mean i like to fight well it's painfully it i mean i i mean i think about like i i i do i do sometimes have fantasies about doing an action film that requires very little talking because that's the one thing i like about action films it's like your day is just walking like the born identity like like a shooting day is just him walking from one train station to the other like [48:10] this movie you're working with John Cena the great John Cena the great John Cena tell me about you and John work together first in Suicide Squad yeah yeah how do you guys get along what do you what do you think about you know [48:23] I think everyone had a bit of a crush on John Cena, right? The wrestler. You know, he's like this big personality, cool, big wrestling type. And then, you know, I watched him transition into acting and thought, wow. Like, yeah, you know, the wrestlers tend to be great at performance regardless. So they end up transitioning to acting in really cool ways. And I felt John was one of those.

[48:46] transitions that did really good. Yeah. I liked him. Then when I got to work with him in Suicide Squad, I mean, first of all, when you even met John Cena? I did. He was in a movie that me and Tina Fey were in called Sisters, and we spent like a couple weeks together. [49:00] He's a renaissance man. Dude. He loves wine and art. Classical piano. Yeah, he's a very sweet, like, artistic, tender guy. I find him to be very emotional and sweet. I agree. And it turns out that, you know, when I met him, I thought he was going to be this goofy, big character. And he's like, hey, Idris, how are you? Nice to meet you. I'm a really big fan of your work. And I'm like, what's going on? Are we acting? I'm more goofy than Jonas. Yeah, you did the thing that happens to you where people were like, Idris is very serious. [49:30] John is so funny and Tom was like I'm kind of serious yeah he's very serious and you were like I'm a goofball yeah when I first when I walked into his trailer one time we were going to just run some lines and then I was like oh there's a [49:42] There's a grand piano in here. [49:44] Why is that? He's like, oh, yeah, I'm teaching myself to learn classical piano. Anyway, so about these lines. I'm looking at him like, what now? First of all, he has fingers the size of like, you know, like one of John's fingers, you know. So playing the piano. Yeah. I was like, I was fascinated. Giant finger piano. But he's a really lovely guy. I think he and I knew that. [50:08] Working together, we can play into the dynamic of, you know, I'm not naturally comically funny, but I can play against someone that is really funny in that way. But what is naturally comically funny? I mean, like, it's kind of... But you bring up something very interesting, which is like,

[50:23] I think sometimes people don't realize that playing the scene is like pretty much the same if you're doing a comedy or a drama, like you just got to play it real. Yeah, that's true. Have you hosted SNL? [50:35] Yes. And how was that experience? It was a classic. Everyone talks about it. Yeah. Sorry. No. Who was the musical guest? Khalid. Oh, yeah. Khalid. Yes. What year was that? Sorry. What year was that? It was the year that I did that very famous film I was promoting. Yes. What year is that? Because we'll never be able to find out. I have a laptop here. We can never find it out. What year did Idris host? Can we find out? And what is the name [51:05] all the family was paid. You're going to come back. Jenna, please tell me. [51:11] That's what happens if you can't let things go. I know. Forget it. I know. Memory is, it's done. Because we have too much stuff to think about. This is true. The storage is full. Sometimes I like to think about, [51:22] Like dragging files in my brain to trash. Like I'm not going to need to know that anymore. I don't. Wow. Because I'm dragging it to trash to make some room. Don't you feel like all the lines you had to learn as an actor, like sometimes I'm like, it just has taken up too much space in my head. No, I don't. No. Are you good at learning lines? I'm good at learning the sense of things. Yeah. And then the lines will follow. Yeah. [51:52] okay, you have to go to this address at five o'clock to pick up that person. I'm like, what? But if I understand that you and I are having a debate about something, I'll remember the lines based on that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But SNL, which was… What year? The classic…

[52:06] Not that far, not that long ago. Oh, it was a seminal year. So in 2019, when you hosted SNL, what was that like? Was it fun doing it? Man. You had a good time? I had a most amazing time. It was really hard work, but I had the most amazing time. And I was a comedy giant, you know? But see, SNL growing up was not big in the UK when you were growing up, right? No, that's right. [52:29] it's it's really true it's really true and now they're i think they're starting one over there yes yeah i'm trying to be a main really character yeah is that weird you know no just go in there and say you know what if you showed up and set him in the cast everyone would be like okay i assume he is doing it and they'll see how goofy i am how the writer sessions how really funny i come up with the wackiest shit well that was always the toughest thing idris is when a when a host would come in [52:59] I'm really funny. And he'd be like, okay. [53:04] I did. And he'd be like, okay. They'd be like, I know I'm usually pretty serious, but I love to do characters. And I was like. Dude, let me tell you. I was that guy. I remember the first writing meeting I walked in, and everyone was like, hey, Idris, man, we love you, man. What's going on? Chicken dick over here. What's going on? What are you guys? What are you into? What are you thinking? You know, soft and hanging. They're like, okay, what do you want to do? [53:29] Football presenters. [53:31] And they're like, you mean football as in... [53:34] what kind of football i'm losing yeah man but they were kind yeah they were like idris thank you so much for your ideas you know what there's so much here to work with we're gonna you guys just say that we're gonna come back you take a break yeah you know what do less they were like you know what take a break this week have fun i had a great meeting with pete though in his office walked in what's up here man what's wrong that yo i love that bit that you was talking

[54:04] football. It was actually a really good week. People don't know that you walk around from office to office and you just kind of go into everybody's office. Yes. And you're just like meeting. It's like speed dating or something. And you're just like getting people's ideas. And I'm sure you got pitched a lot of like, I have an idea where you're a guy who, you know, [54:26] Yeah. You're a bouncer and you throw people out of a club. Okay, I have another idea where you're a boxer and you beat me up. I have another idea. I bet you got a lot of like. I got a lot of, what are we doing? Like a James Bond. Yeah, James Bond. I'm really trying to stay away from that. Like, come on, man. It's James Bond. No, I want to stay away from that. You're like, I just want to play like little giggly characters who are real goofballs. I want to be really unrecognizable. [54:56] He doesn't want to pitch his fastball. We want to do some stringerbell shit, you know, where you're like stringerbell on the hood, whatever. But before we wrap it up, I want to talk a little bit about your relationship to music because – [55:10] Um, [55:11] I feel like we've been talking a little bit about it today, but you know, like, [55:15] There's this musicality to the stuff that you do. And it's obviously influenced by your, your actual love of music. You talk about it a lot, how it, [55:25] you know, talk about acting coming at a certain time, like music came to you at a young point in your life. When did you start acting? [55:32] Like what, [55:33] Like, [55:34] Speak to how important music is to you, especially when you were a young person growing up in East London. Yeah, I mean, definitely music was my first love. First, first love. My dad, I have this record, a picture of me holding a Marvin Gaye album. I'm four years old and I'm about to put it on the turntable. That was like my earliest memory of music and listening and being able to put the record on. By the time I was like 14, I was convinced I wanted to be a radio host.

[56:04] to do i wanted to talk on the radio and play music and at the same time i was getting introduced to acting and what and the first show i did was a musical i was singing all right i wasn't musical i didn't play learn to play the guitar i could play the drums but i could i wasn't really a musical guy in the sense of you know making music okay i just loved music and at the same time i was doing uh acting i became a radio host on pirate radio and i was on pirate radio around 15 16 [56:34] 16 years old, shouldn't say that. Yeah, yeah. It was the 80s. Nobody cared. We had jobs at 12. You could go to jail, though, back in the day for being on Pirate Radio. Oh, really? Oh, yeah, man. The mean streets. [56:48] That'd be pretty funny if they were like, what are you in jail for? And you're like, being on the radio. And everyone's like, oh. Drive time, 6 to 8. What? Yeah, they got me. They got me on drive time. Hard times. But you could go to jail for Pirate Radio. [57:04] But the truth is, you know, I think the music, because I really leaned into playing music and then I started buying equipment, drum machines. This is the 80s. This is where the drum machines were growing and that electronic sound. You know, music and acting was like doing this at the same time. So music became my sort of. [57:24] uh my guilty pleasure yeah yeah and like for just for you just for me yeah yeah and and when i would dj i would love it i i you know actually coming to new york because the vinyl shops that's when i started to really come to new york late 80s early 90s at a time you talk about the spirituality of house me like house music is really important to you yeah yeah like it's that

[57:48] What is it about it that [57:50] hooks you and what do you think how does it hook people it's uh it's the mono moment that mono moment that you know everyone feeling that new instrument come in it's a bit like being at church i don't know if you're religious i'm not but that spiritual vibe of adding layers of a mono moment everyone can join into it it's like magic when i'm on the dj when i you know i just [58:14] played Coachella with Cascade, who's an amazing DJ. I think we have 15,000 people. [58:20] Wow. And we're doing a back to back. And it's it's a spiritual moment to have that many people going, let's go. Yeah. And how do you stay up so late? [58:30] yes because you have to stay up so late yes yes that's that's what djs do i know it's such a nighttime activity you gotta come out with me one time man i mean i would have to go to bed at 7 p.m and wake up at 4 a.m and meet you out like there's no way i could get to the other side at 4 a.m have you been to ibiza [58:50] No! [58:53] That seems... Okay, life begins at 50. Okay, first of all, I would only want to go with someone who knew Ibiza well. Yes, yes. [59:05] I'm already stressed thinking about how late I would have to stay up. Like, I'm already, even thinking about it, I'd have to take the longest power nap. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it's incredible. Do you think that whole power nap thing really works? No, I can barely nap. Yeah. I mean, truly, I would have to go to bed at 7 p.m. and then be like, I'll see you at the club at 4.

[59:25] But it is, I mean, I love to dance. I love music. But I just, I can't do the hours. [59:35] a DJ. It is not, no. I think there's a cell, there's an energy cell that gets awakened with the naughtiness. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? [59:45] Ibiza sounds very stressful. Ibiza. Ibiza sounds very stressful. No, you'd love it. Trust me. You know, flip-flop sunshine all day. Foam. You can have an ice bucket thing. An ice bucket thing? Why do I... No, you know, like the plunging thing. Oh, yeah. You know what? If I could cold plunge in Ibiza, I would be... You can do anything in Ibiza. Believe me. Ibiza. [1:00:15] Okay, so we're going to finish with two questions because we always start our... [1:00:23] our podcast with asking somebody to speak about our guest. I always talk to somebody who knows our guest to give me a question, ask them. And so we talked to John Cena before this. Yeah. And we just talked, we just zoomed with him and he wanted me to ask you. And it's such a John question, I think. And it's so indicative of what you talk about. Like both of you have such an incredible work ethic. You really, you really, [1:00:45] you know, you work hard, you're very professional. Both of you are, um, like for, for lack of a better term, like going for it, you really have a,

[1:00:55] a lust for life and learning, like you said. And his question was kind of like, basically... [1:01:01] You work really hard. What motivates you? It's such a straight male question. What motivates you? [1:01:10] Okay. I mean, look, I don't want to end on a low note, right? Okay. But I became successful around the age of 35 years old, okay? And up until that point, life wasn't always great. There were some very tough times. I've spoken publicly about some of the times I've gone through. Both my parents, working class, didn't have much at all, all right? So I've been reasonably... [1:01:39] I would say poor, just reasonably, you know, living a life that is very opposed to where I'm living for longer than I have been famous or successful. And there's part of it which is like, I want to let this go. Yeah. So I'll just keep chocking for it. Yeah. But the second thing is really and truly is that I used to work nights on the night shift at Ford Motor Company in Dagenham, East London. Okay. [1:02:06] That is grim. It's a grim job. [1:02:09] All right. Nothing compares to doing that. So when I get an opportunity to come and work with you, to come and work on a set, it doesn't even feel like work. Yeah. Now, to everyone else, it's like, you guys are working really hard. But actually. Yeah, it's not that hard. It's not that hard. I mean, it's not that hard. Compared to real, real hard jobs. No, exactly. It's not. I agree. And obviously, we get to do very different things. You know, in a job like that, I did the same thing every night.

[1:02:35] Every night. Yeah. For two straight years. My dad did the same job for 25 years. Yeah. So I consider this a privilege. Yeah. This ain't work. Yeah. So what motivates you is gratitude. Basically. Yeah. And what is making you laugh these days? How do you go? What do you watch, read, read? [1:02:53] you know, listen to that. Like, like where do you, where are you finding your comedy? what do you, the studio was really funny to me. Good. Self-referential, but I loved it. I thought it was really good writing. Um, yeah, [1:03:07] I'm laughing at myself letting go of some of my tough man shit and being a bit goofy. I actually enjoy when people go, what? Yeah. I enjoy doing that. I've seen you do, like, you're doing some really, like, I have a really fun TikTok idea I want us to do later. Oh, wow. I have to talk to your team about it. I didn't know. No, seriously? No, yeah, I do. And listeners, if you don't know this as we wrap up, but... [1:03:33] But Idris and I are wearing the exact same thing right now. We are. We're wearing, how would you describe this color? Petrol blue? Yep. I was thinking, you know, do you watch football, soccer? [1:03:44] Ish. Ish, right? At the end of a really great game, there's a tradition where the greatest players against each other, they trade. Okay, let's trade shirts. We're going to trade shirts. Let's do it, buddy. [1:04:00] We're trading shirts. Okay, this is exciting. This is exciting. And I have a feeling this is going to – This is not going to fit. Let's see how far you can get into my jacket. Technically, you don't have to wear it because usually it's full of sweat. By the way, the shirt smells great.

[1:04:14] It smells great. Oh, well, okay. Hold on. Oh, I like this look. He's just trying to get one sleeve in. Just one sleeve. Just one sleeve. [1:04:27] Tiny jacket. But tiny jackets are funny. [1:04:31] Tiny jackets are so funny. Look, we did it. We traded. Okay, this is funny. This would be a good comedy where like what? Yes, but I don't laugh. [1:04:40] Okay, very straight. [1:04:43] Yeah, play it very straight where you're in some kind of shrinking machine. You know what it is? It's a body switch comedy. It's really what it is. Okay. Let's go all the way, buddy. Let's go. [1:04:56] Idris, show the wire. [1:05:01] Well, I enjoyed working for HBO. Because, you know, I watched it nine times. [1:05:10] Watch it. I have to say, Stringer, when he did that scene, I'm just going to show you. [1:05:17] Oh, my God. Okay, sign us up. We're ready. We're ready. I love it. Thank you so much for this time together. Good times. This was so good. My jacket is completely ripped. Literally, he can't even get it over his wrist. He can't get it over his wrist. It's because I'm tired. [1:05:34] He's just. No, I really can't get it. [1:05:40] You're going to hear from my lawyer because it's a very expensive jacket. [1:05:44] Thank you. That was so fun. Thank you so much for doing this. I really, really appreciate it. And congrats on your movie. Thank you.

[1:05:53] Okay. Today's Polar Plunge is brought to you by Wayfair, here to help you make your home your happy place. So that was a great interview. Idris is so much fun. [1:06:05] I hope I wasn't too... [1:06:07] much of a wire geek when I was interviewing him, but I could have asked a million more questions and made the entire episode about that. But I tried to restrain myself, but we did talk about a lot of other things and we talked about British comedies. And so, uh, I thought I could use this polar plunge, um, [1:06:23] to talk about shows that maybe you didn't know about that you should try to find somewhere on your TV or your phone. Brass Eye, The Day Today, Alan Partridge, Look Around You, French and Saunders. We also realized that the show that All in the Family was based on was Till Death Do Us Part. [1:06:53] 50s. So, but yeah, there's a lot of British comedy. Oh, and Desmond's. I'm going to check out Desmond's now that Idris has brought it to my attention. So a lot of good comedy in the UK, especially in the 80s and 90s that didn't always come over here. So check it out. But you know what you really should check out is Wayfair because it makes you turn your home [1:07:23] essentials,

[1:07:24] Free shipping, easy setup. Head over to Wayfair.com. Find something that's just your style today. That's W-A-Y-F-A-I-R.com. Wayfair. Every style, every home. Okay, thanks for listening. Bye. [1:07:37] You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss-Berman, and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by The Ringer and Paper Kite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spillane, Kaya McMullen, and Alea Zanaris. [1:07:54] Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss-Berman. Original music by Amy Miles.