In short
Natasha Lyonne discusses her re-release episode “Just One More Thing,” promoting Russian Doll’s new season and reflecting on her creative partnerships, recovery, and time/existential themes. She also talks about the subway as a storytelling “portal” idea (credited to Amy Poehler), and highlights a standout Russian Doll episode involving an “unsanitary birth” and time travel.
Guests
Natasha Lyonne is the main guest. Interviewer/host is Rob Lowe. Other figures mentioned: Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph (co-creators/close collaborators), Fred Armisen (her husband/partner in a separate Netflix project discussion), and directors Paul Thomas Anderson and Robert Eggers (via Maya’s husband connection). She also references Dennis Franz (Detective Sipowitz), David Caruso, and Alan Alda.
Key claims
Russian Doll’s subway portal idea was a “genie” once proposed; she’s been in recovery for about 15 years; she feels therapy and honesty help people facing existential dread; she’s excited for her Netflix comedy with Fred and her son.
Notable examples
her “Old Soul” failed NBC show leading to Russian Doll; her Dennis Franz obsession; David Caruso sunglasses “supercut” and a CSI Miami “wraith” anecdote.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VONatasha's Background and Friendship
2:00 to 4:15
Natasha discusses her friendships and early experiences in showbiz.
“fishing company it's uh reels and rods and lines my son is uh a major in fact he's out my son is out defending his title having won the fishing tournament at catalina last year so he's out defending his title.”
Creative Collaborations with Amy Poehler
4:15 to 6:11
Natasha shares her experiences working with Amy Poehler.
“I was sitting at home watching NYPD Blue because I'm in love with Dennis Franz because I think he's a real cutie.”
The Dynamic Duo: Natasha and Amy
6:11 to 8:29
Natasha reflects on her deep bond and creative partnership with Amy.
“But I think it's almost like an inner child thing of like, I just feel so safe with them.”
Comedy and Its Impact
8:29 to 10:08
Discussion on the addictive nature of comedy and its role in their lives.
“If she says something is brilliant, I believe her.”
Life with Fred Armisen
10:08 to 12:28
Natasha describes her fun and humorous relationship with Fred Armisen.
“And, you know, the other thing about Maya, which is great, is the added bonus of Maya is that you get to sometimes talk to one of our great living directors, her husband, Paul Thomas Anderson.”
Endurance Tests of Relationships
12:28 to 14:01
Natasha reflects on the nature of long-term relationships and partnerships.
“But just know that I'm probably going into the afterlife with this guy.”
Navigating Long-Term Relationships
14:01 to 14:58
Explore the dynamics of long-term friendships and commitments.
“We had a very funny, funny relationship going.”
Natasha's Early Life and Acting Career
16:33 to 17:42
Natasha Lyonne discusses her upbringing and early career in acting.
“I just got a new pair of shorts for the summer.”
Working with Woody Allen
17:43 to 19:10
Insights into Natasha's experiences working with Woody Allen.
“And I had just come off of working with Woody Allen, who back then was incredibly trendy.”
Experiences Among Icons
19:11 to 21:09
Natasha shares her feelings about working with iconic figures in Hollywood.
“I've always heard like he'll shoot things and come in and go, you know what?”
Show all 22 chapters
The Sound of Small Talk
21:10 to 21:48
Discussion on the superficiality of small talk in social settings.
“other at these you know things it's like these you know like uh frothy you know events that we Give me the sound.”
Reflections on Time and Experience
21:49 to 24:52
Exploring perceptions of time, aging, and personal growth.
“So, to me, I don't think I had necessarily the vocabulary experience to articulate the soul sickness that was creeping up from being around that.”
Navigating Recovery and Personal Struggles
24:53 to 28:00
Natasha opens up about her journey through recovery and challenges.
“And time is conceivably an illusion, but it's our perception of it that makes it, I guess, real.”
Navigating Recovery and Empathy
28:00 to 32:27
Natasha discusses her journey of recovery and how it shapes her empathy for others.
“I'm kind of like, where are those videos?”
Navigating Recovery and Empathy
32:28 to 33:18
Natasha discusses her journey of recovery and how it shapes her empathy for others.
“Like it's too expensive or it's too overwhelming figuring out where to even start.”
Navigating Recovery and Empathy
33:25 to 34:44
Natasha discusses her journey of recovery and how it shapes her empathy for others.
“Spring is also the perfect time to refresh your outdoor space.”
Creative Process and Show Insights
36:44 to 42:01
Natasha and Rob discuss the creative process behind their shows and the industry dynamics.
“So, yeah, we already had, like, the idea of a sort of portal device, and we already had the subway to go visit the character of Ruth.”
The Iconic Fonzie Jacket Controversy
42:01 to 43:30
Learn about the network's bizarre restrictions on Fonzie's leather jacket.
“And the network gets concerned that the leather jacket will signify to everybody that he is involved in drugs.”
The Wild World of Russian Doll
43:31 to 45:44
Discover the psychedelic highlights and unique moments from Russian Doll's new season.
“I really, I really hope that people watch it.”
Obsession with Dennis Franz
45:45 to 48:44
Explore Natasha's fascination with Dennis Franz and his impact on storytelling.
“I love how like kind of down and out he feels.”
The Wraith Character of David Caruso
48:45 to 50:14
Uncover the myth about David Caruso's character and his unique portrayal in CSI.
“And the lines, we've got a sinking crime scene and the tide glasses is coming up.”
Last Looks and Columbo's Legacy
50:15 to 52:55
Delve into acting quirks and the significance of iconic catchphrases in TV history.
“So don't ever write him entering or exiting.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Rob Lowe:Great news for comedy TV fans. Every episode of the Hulu original series Alice and Steve is streaming on Hulu. From the producers of Baby Reindeer, best friends Alice and Steve see their world implode when Steve starts dating Alice's 26-year-old daughter. When the once rock-solid friendship turns sour, these best friends make the best enemies. Watch every episode of Alice and Steve on Hulu and Hulu on Disney Plus for bundle subscribers. Terms apply. When you're a maintenance engineer in a beverage manufacturing plant, you keep production lines moving and quality on track because there is no room for slowdowns.
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1:19Rob Lowe:ladies and gentlemen it is literally with your humble servant rob urt low middle name is urt uh natasha leone is i mean what there's no description that can come close just wait if you've seen russian doll you know if you've seen oranges the new black you know if you remember her from peewee's playhouse as like i think an eight-year-old i mean they broke the mold ladies and gentlemen after they created this wonderful woman let's get to it
1:59Rob Lowe:what is what does your hat say mustad mustad is that like a mustard type of hat it is a um a fishing company it's uh reels and rods and lines my son is uh a major in fact he's out my son is out defending his title having won the fishing tournament at catalina last year so he's out defending his title. So I'm supporting my boy. That's what he's doing. That's nice. Yeah. You know what I mean? So we've never, I don't think we've ever really had the pleasure of crossing paths in, in the flesh. Have we? I don't think so. I know we have lots of mutual friends in common. Ms. Poehler. We should have met.
2:36Rob Lowe:Yeah. But it hasn't come up. No. Amy Poehler, Maya, Rudolph. I mean, lots of, lots of your peeps. Those are my favorite people. Those are my, that's my whole lifeblood. That's how I'm functioning. I don't blame you. I always think that it says a lot about somebody who their people are. And you have found the mother load, I think. The heaviest of heavy items. Literally the mother load, right? They told me I'm not even allowed to have children because of their combined total. Yeah, it's kind of a lot. Maya, I've known since, I always call it the 90s, but it's probably the early 2000s. Right. So way before everybody had babies, and little Amy was a wild thing.
3:21I was what you call a hellcat. Yes, hellcat. But Amy and I, so Maya and I were always super tight. And then I even met Fred back then. I think Maya brought him over to the house one day. I gave him a copy of Please Kill Me to try to explain to him, Class of 77 music, which turns out he knew quite a good deal about and then forgot. But he kept that book, which is sweet. And then Amy and I were always sort of pals in passing, but really she called me like, maybe it's a decade ago now. So maybe this is going back, I guess, like 20, 25 years, which is weird because I think I just turned 29 this past September.
3:59And about 25 years ago is when Maya and I, I think, first became friends. And then Amy called me about a decade ago to say, hey, as long as I've known you, you've always been the oldest girl in the world. And I was like, why is she calling and insulting me? I'm not doing great, right? out. I was sitting at home watching NYPD Blue because I'm in love with Dennis Franz because I think he's a real cutie. And I love Detective Sipowitz very much, which is what we should spend most of our time talking about, Detective Sipowitz.
4:28Rob Lowe:And he also had one of the great sex scenes in television history. He did with that butt. He did. Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum. Yum, yum, yum. Yeah, Dennis Franz, I mean. You know, he's doing that thing that I think guys like that like to do, like Peter Fogg late in Columbo life. They get into watercoloring. Like they find a house somewhere. Yes. And they get into watercolors. Anyway, so she called me up and she said that. And she said, why don't we make a TV show about that? I said, great. I have absolutely nothing going on. I'm all washed up. Nobody at this point, Amy, thank you for this phone call.
5:03It was probably on a landline. And so that obviously became a failed NBC show called Old Soul. But that led us to co-create Russian Doll. And I have a production company now with Maya called Animal Pictures. So we're deep in. These are my two major people.
5:23Rob Lowe:I love, though, that the first try to succeed, the first thing didn't work and you didn't go, eh, this isn't a good partnership. Because a lot of people, when you do something together and it doesn't work, you're kind of like, even if it's unconscious, you're kind of like, I don't know. And I love it that you guys didn't. I am a little bit running my showbiz life like the mafia. I would say I'm like, I'm in it for life. I would happily like walk in front of a car for those two women. I just love them in such a deep, complete way. And I would just do anything. I'm so grateful and moved that they're in my life and they make me feel like, you know, even if everything else is wrong, I must be doing something right that those two ladies see me and I see them back.
6:08Rob Lowe:No, for sure. It's almost like a little bit, not to be too emo about it, because I do try to project toughness, and I'm not sure if it's working. But I think it's almost like an inner child thing of like, I just feel so safe with them. Like, I just feel our little girls playing together and like, my little curly hair and Maya's little curly hair. The two of us are just out there. And it's like, if we're holding hands, we're safe together, you know? I can totally picture you guys as little girls out in the woods exploring shit together. 100%. And they're smart as shit. I mean, they are deep. 100%.
6:48Rob Lowe:Not only do I concur, I was going to ask you, let's take it on a case-by-case basis. If you could only pick one thing for Amy to do with you, would it be write, act, direct, or produce? I'm just saying she's so good at all of it. It's another way of saying what do you think she's best at? For me, I guess, honestly, I think it would be producing just because she's, you know, that is basically what we do together. And she's just, she's extraordinary at it. She really is. So she holds it down. You know, I think I'm, I'm very like arty. And I think I need, I need someone to really, you know, I think that so is Amy, but she's very good at being a tether.
7:31and she's like a brilliant dreamer. Like when we just sit in my apartment and just think of ideas and it's like, I can feel us both getting chills. Like we really love riffing together. There's sort of a jazz musician quality to her and she's just such a deep, deep human being and so funny. But then also when we're actually in the thick of it, like out in the fucking apocalypse now, you know, jungle and the budgets and everything. I just feel so safe that Amy is this kind of, producing Captain on Deck is like, I know she's got me in that. She has such a great, you know, I'm a little bit like fracked from psychedelics and surrealism and, you know, like too many John Lennon albums.
8:13I'm very much, I want to like live the dream all the time. And Amy is so grounded in this way that she's like, if she's kind of co-signing it, I know it's completely legit, if that makes sense. Like, I know it's not just a, you know, a pipe dream. It's necessary. If she says something is brilliant, I believe her. If she says something is unnecessary, I trust her. She's like, cut this whole alpha, beta, Nadia Allen storyline to save COVID costs and it's too complex. The show is too dense. The audience won't be able to follow. I'm like, all right, buddy. I trust you.
8:50Rob Lowe:It's very well said. It's very true. She trained with some of the best of them. I loved having her as a director when she would direct on Parks. It was super fun. And the laugh. Let's talk about the laugh. How great is that polar cackle? Making Amy laugh is so satisfying. It's like, it's addictive. Yes. And I know, I know we love things that are addictive. Yes, we do. And it is fun. I mean, I would say, I don't know if you experience it this way, but I'm like, Jokes are almost as close to anything that you can touch in that sphere of a legal altered state. And obviously, that's no small reason why Amy and Fred and Maya became these crucial figures in my life for almost survival.
9:38It's just the actual air changes where you just can't even remember what you were so pissed off about that seemed so important just moments ago. So you're in some third space where when you come back from it, it's like your whole perspective has shifted on all things.
9:55Rob Lowe:Totally. So, yes, that cackle is heaven. I want the cackle to be my ringtone. I just have to get Amy to, she should license it. She should. I think we figured out a way to make Amy some even more money. Yeah. And I like it. Amy would have been good at anything. Do you know what I mean? She could make money doing anything. Yeah, 100 % true. And, you know, the other thing about Maya, which is great, is the added bonus of Maya is that you get to sometimes talk to one of our great living directors, her husband, Paul Thomas Anderson. He's, I mean, he, Robert Eggers, probably my two favorite directors.
10:34Rob Lowe:And Daniel. You mean living? Living, yes. Probably. Probably. Probably. And they're like, they're so suburban and nice and like normal. And then they both make this insane cutting edge art. It's kind of cool to see that. I've never met Robert Eggers in person. What's he like? Never met him. I assume he looks like the scream, like Munch's the scream, if you saw him in person. Right? That would be a good face to walk around with. Right? Yeah. Somebody should get that face. Because I feel like people are doing plastic surgery wrong. Like, how great would it be if people were walking around, it was really like fucked up crazy, like, you know, scream faces and just like weird, like a third eye.
11:16Well, think about it.
11:17Rob Lowe:Like bringing a Picasso and be like, I want that face. I want that. Why wouldn't you do that? People bring in pictures of the Kardashians on a yacht. They go, I want that. Right. Why do they want those crazy butts when they could get like crazy eyeballs on their cheeks? That's what I'm saying. They're doing it wrong. And listen, the butt is equally as misshapen as anything Picasso did. Absolutely. Why not a butt right on your face where it counts? Yeah. Everybody can see it. But it's so cool. Put your butt in your face. What are you scared of? Robert Eggers? Yeah. Come on, Robert Eggers. Scream face.
11:50I'm like, this guy has so much plastic surgery. He's running around making movies. He's like, I know why you're behind the camera behind me. You're not fooling me. You got a butt in your face. At the doctor's office.
12:01Rob Lowe:With my luck, this will be the podcast that finally makes its way to Robert Eggers. And he's like listening, going, wait a minute. How did I get taken down by these two nuts? I'm just trying to make my great movies. You know, anyone that's not working with us, I'm like, you know what? I mean, snooze your moves. Okay, fair game. Not my baby, not my problem, like I always say to Robert Eggers. Yeah, as you do. So Fred is doing my new show That I'm doing on Netflix Oh that's right He told me this And I am so excited And he was so sweet I let the record show I'm single But let's continue talking about this please Honey I'm looking better than ever And I'm ready to rumble But we do have plots together So I need somebody who's like Open or whatever Like a couple of decades A month however your clocks work.
12:59Amen. But just know that I'm probably going into the afterlife with this guy. So if you're cool with that, hit me up at roblo.com.org.
13:08Rob Lowe:Yeah, Armisen is, you know, he's one of, I think he's the funniest person alive, I think. Right? It's very possible. Yeah, he's so funny. He's so funny that his mom is. No, he's so funny. Yeah, that's right. that one of my favorite things about my shared life with baby freddie i call big baby freddie after big baby jesus the old dirty bastard song now that's not true but is if like we would wake up in the middle of the night because we thought we heard a burglar obviously we're two people that are deeply ill-equipped to handle or navigate a burglar but then something would happen like half asleep and the next thing I know would be laughing hysterically while sleeping and then fall back asleep.
13:53One time I remember waking up from a dream and something funny happened and we were just, I think we were both laughing in our sleep. We had a very funny, funny relationship going. We really, we really and we're still so, so tight and I'm just, I love that guy. I think that's what having a husband is like. I just can't imagine that people are actually doing these many-decade endurance tests. But I feel like he's my husband, and I love him. I'm faithful to the idea of us. You know what I mean?
14:29Rob Lowe:Yes, I love that. I love that. I'm faithful to the idea of us, but I'm out there. And the thing is, we live and we die. So reconcile this, who can, not I.
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17:05Rob Lowe:I'm guessing you're a downtown girl. I don't picture you in the Upper East Side or Upper West Side. In fact, I actually was raised in the Upper East Side private school. Wait, really? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wow, that's an interesting contradiction. But I was a scholarship kid. Okay. And they didn't like me very much. Yeah, and then I was sort of like the class pot dealer, got expelled. Then I was on Letterman, so they asked me to come back because they wanted me to be alumni. But then I skipped my senior year by NYU, by Tisch. I was going to be a double major in film philosophy. And I was like, oh, I'll be able to make funny Bergman movies.
17:46And I had just come off of working with Woody Allen, who back then was incredibly trendy.
17:52Rob Lowe:It's so funny. People today cannot really imagine what Woody... By the way, my phone never rang from Woody. So I'm perfectly happy to let him twist in fucking obscurity. Thank you. He's your Robert Eggers. He, he, you know what I, like when you're around long enough, like I got a couple of, well, no, you've been a child actor. So you've been around. Okay. So, okay, good. We can talk as peers. How about the people like your phone never rings from? You're like, I'm sorry. What the fuck? How about that's most people? Yeah, I know. But still, it's like Woody Allen made 5 ,000 movies. Yeah. He should have called you.
18:30Rob Lowe:I mean, you'd think there would have been something somewhere. It's not too late to go back. Listen, now's the time to work with him. Now's the time. Get him on discount. You could get in there. But no, it's, but he was, boy, was he the man. He was the man. What was that like? That was a big, was that Julia Roberts was in that movie with you, right? Am I right? Yeah, it was everybody. Julia Roberts. Everybody. Goldie Hawn and Woody Allen were my parents. And now in Portman and Gabby Hoffman and Lucas House were my siblings. And Alan Alda was his stepdad. and Tracy Ullman was maybe a stepmom. Maybe she got cut.
19:05I feel like Liv Tyler got cut from the movie. She was great. Drew Barrymore was my stepsister too.
19:10Rob Lowe:Tell me, give me a little Woody Allen. What was his process like? I've always heard like he'll shoot things and come in and go, you know what? I didn't like any of it. And then go back and reshoot. Like, what was it like? It was, well, it was interesting because I was playing his daughter, but I was also the narrator. So it's like almost traditionally what his role would be. and yeah so there were all these yeah i got i mean i've been doing this in some five i'm 43 i don't look a day over one um but it was big i guess i'd been in peewee's playhouse that was my big you know six-year-old claim to fame and now i was like 15 16 doing this uh witty out movie and but just to say that they were all super and i was yeah i was like this uh reject kid from private school but on the Upper East Side.
19:56So I think part of how I got the job is it was very much about private school, Upper East Side. So I sort of was talking like that. I didn't have this deep voice yet that came later. So I think I tricked him in the meeting into thinking I was indeed one of those girls because I was going to one of those schools. There was three of them and I was in one. But then they were all so famous. And I remember that was... I'm not sure if you're familiar with this Fellini film. It's based on a... I think they're all based on Edgar Alan Poe short stories maybe and uh anyway it's called um the bigger film is called Spirits of the Dead and the other there's another one that's Roger Vadim and the third one is Louis Maul but the Fellini one is called Toby Dammit and it's with uh Terrence Stamp and he's kind of like this screwed up you know actor who's going to some weird Fellini-esque version of like a dancing Italian Oscars but he's seeing like sights of the devil and stuff and I think that my early experience of showing up like number one on the call sheet with all of these famous people everywhere was i very much experienced it like that yeah toby dammit short film which is like who are these people they're just all they all seem to have a sound a sound that most disturbing part is i now recognize in myself like i can hear that sound that we all make when we all see each other at these you know things it's like these you know like uh frothy you know events that we
21:20Rob Lowe:Give me the sound. Give me the sound. Oh my God. Hey Rob. Yeah, I know. That was so great. We did another thing. I know because I know Zoom, right? Oh, COVID. Okay, great. Good luck with Rots and Reels. Okay. I know Robert Eggers. And like that sound of in passing, like small talk that really rots your soul. I think it's a danger zone. That's what that song is about. And that is what it's about. So, to me, I don't think I had necessarily the vocabulary experience to articulate the soul sickness that was creeping up from being around that. I mean, when you see Alan Alda, you think soul sickness.
22:03Rob Lowe:Let's just be honest. I mean, I think everybody knows that. Alan Alda, two guys that have played versions of my dad that I love to death are Alan Alda and Alan Arkin. I love those dudes. Oh, my God. They're amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. I mean, I know Alan Arkin a little bit. I got to be on the set of Glenn Gary, Glenn Ross, and watch Alec Baldwin do the famous Always Be Closing. I was there watching it because my wife was his makeup artist. That's sick. Yeah, he was like, he's an amazing man. So funny and so, you know, that's great. I love that dude. I recently turned down Pacino's part on Broadway in Glenn Gary.
22:43Rob Lowe:No way. Yeah, it was going to be me and Patti LuPone. Can I ask you a question about that? I have a lot to ask. I'm assuming you, did you read it or did you just know it so well that you know what it is and didn't have to read it? Because my question is this, is the always be closing part, which was written only for the movie and is not traditionally a part of the play, was that in the play? Oh, I don't remember. Maybe not then. I think it was just the actual raw dog play, which is what it's called. Yeah. Which I think people, if they go to that, they're going to be like, waiting for that scene.
23:19Where's always be closing.
Read the full transcript
23:19Rob Lowe:And it's not there. Alan Alda is in part so great because he loves science so much. So I would find him, that should have been sort of, in many ways looking back, that was probably an early wake-up call to that I find science very soothing. Like when they always are talking about this idea of find something bigger than yourself to hold on to. Yeah. For me, I really use the scope of that. I read this Bill Bryson book called Short History of Nearly Everything or something. I was just like, ah, I love concepts, you know? And they were separate from anything. Like I was so bad at science in school.
23:59But Alan Alda, I remember, he would be the only person I would find really relaxing because he was... And I was buddies with the kids like Natalie and Gabby and Lucas. but anyway the point of the story to your question is that i actually spent like a very close year with what year maybe two years because at the end of the whole movie i actually had to go back and um do all the voiceover stuff so i was like in the uh you know i was with him at his office every day sort of like recording and re-recording as he would change the narration as he was editing and soon he would always be there with the new york times like reading out
24:35Rob Lowe:the obituaries reading out the obituaries that's amazing yeah it was like a real like woody allen stick they had going but i do think that on some level that was my sort of like aspirational goal goal going into um uh to tish is i was like oh i guess i'll be like that's what you do you sort of you do a decade of child acting then you work with woody and then you go and you learn how to write and direct movies and read a bunch of philosophy and then you know you get these great cinematographers like carlo de palma and all these you know you have to make these uh i mean his movies are pretty you know gorgeous all things considered for kind of comedies and and then instead i just i bought an apartment out of the back of the new york times and then yeah just went on a rump springer none of those things happen and now now i'm 40 it's all happened does it feel like you woke up one day and like you're you are who you are and you go where did it because i don't know i look back because i started young too and it feels like it's when this is how you know like quantum physics is the real thing and and and that time isn't linear because it feels like it was yesterday and it also feels like it was forever yeah i know it isn't anything it's just yeah what's weirder still is how seriously we're supposed to take it all i guess and um yes i it does it does often feel weird and thank you so much for segwaying me so nicely into the show but i was similarly uh curious about that concept of sort of like what they call time's arrow you know um And this idea that you can remember the past, but you can't remember the future, when in fact it is sort of being proven, like you're saying empirically, from a scientific standpoint, that there is some sort of block universe happening.
26:12And time is conceivably an illusion, but it's our perception of it that makes it, I guess, real. And I guess in some way that's what the show is trying to straddle is a question around, you know, would this sort of anarchy of non-time actually be preferable? Or is it, you know, the nature of finite time that seems to give life meaning?
26:35Rob Lowe:Right. And I don't know. I would personally be fine with, I think, I think I'd be quite a happy vampire. I think I'm an anxious person and I, I would love to, uh, you know, take more breaks. I think I always feel like I lost a whole decade in there from, you know, being a junkie. And I would love to, I think I'm so scared of kind of time running out and I still smoke cigarettes and it really stresses me out. So I would love, yeah, I'd love to become a vampire or a mammal on the cyborg and fix that. How, because I'm in recovery now 32. Wait, hang on. Let me do the math. Good news is it's long enough that I have to do the math.
27:19Rob Lowe:30, 32 years. So when you exited your junkie era, did you, did you get into proper recovery? Do you do the California sober thing, which is always, you know, California sober, by the way, is I do, I still smoke pot and I drink, which works for some people. It didn't work for me. How did you navigate it? well to be honest i'm always sort of like reluctant to uh you know talk about this stuff in great detail i'm always you know curious how you do it because i always heard a thing about like you know you don't want to be um oh yeah personal stuff with too much transparency like if you're you know driving um and you have road rage and you got some weird bumper sticker that says like hey i'm in recovery and then everyone's like oh i guess that doesn't work so i'm not gonna try it that's right so like a sort of measure of uh yep so i always try to be like a little bit you know i mean i think it's uh in in my case it's sort of such a kind of uh you know public outing whatever this is i guess like 15 years ago uh that i mean thankfully i guess there wasn't really internet yet or it would have been a lot more chaotic uh although i sort of wish i had some videos i wish i had like the teenage videos i would have made just like i've got an iphone Burning your apartment down, just Sid and Nancy type shit going on?
28:41I'm kind of like, where are those videos? Yeah, so it's sort of, you know, I mean, it's obviously pretty evident that that's not my lifestyle anymore. But I always do try to be somewhat vague about it. But just to say, I'm obviously, I'm not a junkie anymore. And I guess it's been about, you know, 15 years. And I do take it all pretty seriously. I'm not really you know this and that I know what you're talking about I'm like the sort of exception to the rule type of recovery stuff but I do wonder about the by cigarette smoking and if that should be legal I feel like they should have made that illegal or something because I use those things like crazy and I would not say that I'm like a fully as you know I'm sure that you're still a very sick person And I would not qualify myself as particularly well, but what's so funny about getting your life together is almost outwardly, I no longer live a life where other people are being punished as a result of my inner life.
29:55Like even if my inner life sometimes feels similar or familiar to me, it's like, you know, I show up, I'm where I say I'm going to be. It's like, I do my best. I'm like lead a life of deep transparency for better or worse. You know, I'm always telling the truth and I, and I do really believe in, in trying to kind of contribute in some way to, you know, I think, you know, just like reading the news is so, overwhelming and I think I'm very empathetic to what it feels like to be a person because I've seen such a large swath of humanity and experienced my own road that's been high and low and so when you see all this stuff and like I remember we were editing the first season and it was like that wave of almost like Twitter suicide was kind of like first happening like Anthony Bourdain had just killed himself and it was shocking it felt like every day there was a new person that was and people were just dropping like flies like extraordinary people just couldn't hack it and uh then of course we all lived through this pandemic in season two and i think on some level for me making this show is very much uh my response to that of saying you know on a deep level as best as i can like hey i know what all this stuff feels like and we're in this thing together so let's get really honest about the fact that it feels weird because it is weird and the setup of the game is off and like you're not nuts for feeling like life doesn't make a ton of sense or how how are you supposed to get this sort of um you know gusto to go on and and want to play this game with this riddle where you die anyway and you're supposed to be in a rat race your whole life.
31:47And, you know, all these kind of big sort of existential questions and, you know, monogamy and career and like self-image and perfectionism and compare and despair. And like, I just think my heart really goes out mostly to young people and like young weirdos. I think that's mostly where, that's like a lot of where my recovery lives. And then in essence, yeah, just like, yeah, I show up in a big way, even if I don't, even if I'm not dying to. Like if I say I'm going to do something, you know, I'm there and I'm all the way present for it.
32:27Rob Lowe:Therapy is one of those things a lot of people talk themselves out of without even realizing it. Like it's too expensive or it's too overwhelming figuring out where to even start. But RULA is one way to make that first step a lot more doable, offering accessible, affordable therapy that fits your needs. Sign up in just a few minutes and get matched with a therapist who fits what you're looking for. You need to talk to somebody quickly. Appointments are often available as soon as the next day. And with insurance, sessions average around$15 copay. You can see estimated costs up front, so there's a lot more clarity going in.
33:07Rob Lowe:And in terms of outcomes, 93 % of RULA patients report symptom improvement. If therapy has been sitting in the back of your mind, RULA is a pretty simple way to take that first step. So turn off the talk track that's keeping you from progress and head to RULA.com. That's R-U-L-A.com to find a therapist the easy way. Spring has arrived. Spring is also the perfect time to refresh your outdoor space. And Paragold is a destination for luxury home bringing design's best brands together in one place. Paragold offers its largest ever selection from ready-to-ship outdoor furniture to weatherproof lighting, accents, and serveware for every style and space.
33:59Rob Lowe:It is the first to bring design's best brands together in one place, making it easy to shop, enduring all-weather pieces. Many of these brands have been around for decades and prioritize quality materials, solid construction, and traditional craftsmanship. Paragold also offers free, fast, full-service delivery on most items and complimentary design services, making the whole process easy. I've been checking it out and everything looks super fun. There are many great options, particularly some outdoor chairs that look great. There's lots of great stuff. So go shop in-store and online at Paragold.com.
34:43Rob Lowe:Guys, let's face it. As we get older, we can't just skip sleep and eat whatever we want and still feel great the next day. But if you're entering your men's health era, you know it can feel complicated. Sprouts Farmer's Market makes it easier. Not only do Sprouts have the high-protein foods, nutrient-dense organic produce, and innovative snacks your body craves, it's also got the newest supplements, vitamins, joint support, even creatine to help get you feeling more like you used to. Whether it's men's health or any other health journey, it's easier at Sprouts Farmer's Market. Dads find one version of things they like and they stick with it for decades.
35:28Rob Lowe:A wallet, sneakers, even the haircut. From watches to cologne, Macy's Father's Day online gift guide makes it easy to upgrade dad's go-to favorites. Same vibe, better version. Give his wardrobe a refresh with a Tommy Hilfiger printed floral linen shirt or level up his signature scent with a Rabanne 1 million elixir gift set. Does dad basically live at the grill all summer? Set him up with a Cuisinart Deluxe Stainless Steel 14-piece grill set. For the watch collector, ooh, yes. Macy's has instant favorites like a Casio Men's Digital Vintage Gold Tone Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch. And for dads who never met a sport he didn't love, that'd be me, shop at an Adidas World Cup fan jersey or an Under Armour golf polo.
36:23Rob Lowe:Plus, you don't have to splurge to make dad feel appreciated. Macy's has a whole lineup of gifts for$50 and under, including Perry Ellis dop kits and Levi Chino shorts. This Father's Day, give him something he'll actually use, something that feels unmistakably him. Let Macy's be your guide to gifting for Father's Day. Shop now, online, or in store.
36:52Rob Lowe:so in this season of russian doll it's the subway right is is a big is is basically the the storytelling engine that's i heard that was amy poehler's idea is that is that a fair assessment yeah now she's trying to backpedal it now she's trying to say it wasn't but it was i know because I was a showrunner, so I managed the budget of it. Yeah. And it's a brilliant idea, you know. So, yeah, we already had, like, the idea of a sort of portal device, and we already had the subway to go visit the character of Ruth. And she said, oh, why not make up one thing? And it was a very classic Amy sort of stroke of genius of, like, once you've heard it, you can't put the genie back in the bottle.
37:37Rob Lowe:Yep. It seems like it was sitting there all along. So it's out right now. It's out. And do you know if they've renewed you for more or have you been renewed? Are we getting a season three? We don't have that information yet. At what point do they tell you? I'm only curious because I'm about to go through it with Netflix. Oh, is your new show the one with Fred for Netflix? Yeah, it is. But you guys haven't shot your first season yet, right? No, I start Monday. Literally this Monday. I start literally Monday. Did you create it? I co-created it with my son and Victor Fresco, who did Santa Clarita Diet and Better Off Ted.
38:14Rob Lowe:So it's very similar to what you guys did. It's three of you co-creating. Yeah. It's horror? Horror genre? No, it's comedy. Oh, good. It's comedy. I play a larger-than-life, increasingly unhinged father who is a tech genius, very renowned. And my son plays. The son is trying to get out of that orbit. any way he possibly can. And Fred is playing a psychiatrist that the board of my company has forced me to see because they think I'm losing it. Ooh, like the Sopranos. But funny and you and Freddy. Well, I've kidnapped him and he's now living in my basement. Ah, why would you do that to him? Well, no, now he wants to live there.
38:56Rob Lowe:He doesn't want to leave. Because my basement's so fun. And we make forts and have hot chocolate together. It's very insane. I literally cannot wait to start working with him. but I'm so curious because you're doing this with your show. It's very much the same thing. Do they go, well, looking good. People like it. Maybe there's a season three. You're like, just tell me. And it is, it is sort of like that. And I mean, it's a little, you know, I think what's weird when you get into kind of like these O'Toole whatever shows that are happening now is, you know, it's never really, you're not really on the same sort of like network timeline of, oh, we've got to make this and we've got to churn it out for the next cycle.
39:35Like more likely you're doing something almost like, okay, when this idea is like totally together and we've got all like the writers and all the elements that we kind of want to do. And it feels like now is the window to do this because, you know, it takes really a year to do it.
39:51Rob Lowe:Yeah. But since you've got to take a year to, you know, Blue Sky and get an idea and do a writer's room and you've got to staff everything and hire everyone and pre-production and shooting and editing and like the mix. And then, you know, the publicity of the thing, like marketing it, it really, it's a pretty big gig. So it doesn't, I don't know. In my experience, it doesn't really, this year, obviously we took three years between seasons. So, I mean, a lot of that is obviously pandemic, but even still, Right, right. That's true. I would say it's a little bit less traditional than, you know, you're set up to kind of get back so you can get back on the, you know, primetime schedule for the next season.
40:31But I guess they're all different and they're doing it, you know, more, you know, it's getting more different all the time.
40:38Rob Lowe:And you have how many episodes a season? Is it up to you guys? So season one is eight and season two is seven. Did they ever ask for more? By the way, you're walking past a Peter Falk picture. So you've mentioned Peter Falk, and there's a picture of Peter Falk. He clearly occupies something very special to you. Ryan Johnson gave that to me. We're doing a show together now. And one day this showed up in my house. So now it's here. I just moved in here. I was a big Columbo person. Did you like Columbo? We're different ages. It was on TV when I was a kid. I do. I like Columbo very much, and I like all of it.
41:15I like Wings of Desire, and I like his whole cast of Eddie's scene. And then, yeah, I really, I do love Peter Falk.
41:22Rob Lowe:You know, he couldn't think of it. You wouldn't, today he wouldn't be able to smoke if he was on a network TV show. That cigar was a big part of Columbo. Couldn't do it today. Yeah, I know. And how would he even solve those cases without it? I know. And the other thing the network would be like, we're a little tired of the overcoat. Yeah, they'd be like, maybe like a little leather motorcycle jacket or something would be sexier. Just to break it up, I had Ron Howard on the podcast. This is my all-time, all-time network note story ever. So on Happy Days, if you go back and look at Happy Days, Fonzie makes his splash entrance.
42:00Rob Lowe:He's the breakout character of breakout characters with his leather jacket. And the network gets concerned that the leather jacket will signify to everybody that he is involved in drugs. so they tell Gary Marshall that Fonzie cannot wear a leather jacket on the show because leather jacket means drugs and so Fonzie if you look at some of the early episodes is in a like a madras cloth jacket and eventually Gary got around it because the network agreed that if he was on his motorcycle or near his motorcycle he could wear the leather jacket so if you look at Happy Days he is always in his leather jacket but the motorcycle is in the Cunningham house.
42:45Rob Lowe:It's in the diner. It's literally on the set. And that was only so that the network would let them wear the leather jacket. I mean, it's insane. The things that they, that they, that they get in their heads. Insane. Oh, it seems almost like anything that's sort of a trouble spot is what later becomes iconic. And it's weird that nobody's figured that out yet or something like you would think that they'd be able to see that coming a mile away. Like, Oh, we don't like it. Well, that's what it's going to be known for. Boy, it's so true. We had, we're going through that a little bit now on the show.
43:17Rob Lowe:Like the things that worry people have the, you're right. The things that worry people have the very, you know, DNA to pop, make, make people notice. So true. Russian doll is out the new season. What are, do you have any highlights? Do you have any favorite episodes? Have any favorite moments? Yeah. I mean, it's, it's, it's pretty wild. It's like a psychedelic adventure show. It's, uh, it's dense. I really, I really hope that people watch it. We put everything we had into that show and it means everything to me. There is some very, very silly things that happen. I would say that the top of episode six is pretty insane.
43:58Uh, involves a very unsanitary birth. So if that is your bag,
44:04Rob Lowe:boy, will you love it? The unsanitary birth demographic, is because i know i know what the people like um yes you know yeah it's uh if you love liminal spaces unsanitary births and uh trips through time my god this is this is your bag if you want to hear someone kick out the hits oh we got you gonna get a hot playlist uh i uh i can't i mean And I can't think of anything that's more descriptive that makes me more excited. Tell me about Dennis Franz. Tell me a little bit about your obsession with Dennis Franz. I'm very curious about this. I just think he's such a good actor. I think I just really, I go in big for the real deal.
44:53That's my shtick. So I really like heavy-duty people who are, I take things very seriously. I'm a ridiculous person, but I'm obsessed with the work, you know? Yeah. And I like seeing like the true content of a person's soul reflected on screen. I think that Dennis France does that beautifully as Detective Sipowitz. There's just something about him that just feels so deeply human. And yeah, I'm really, I'm a sucker for humanity. I really sort of like, I guess maybe that's even part of why I'm never like, you know oh these are the things that i do to you know um not get high as i actually you know i've absolutely no judgment on anybody that gets high i totally understand that in fact i'm like i'm so blown away i think it's so wild that we live in a world that um you know even have has those things available i'm like you know why shouldn't everybody be allowed to take them because it makes so much sense that people would need a way to kind of like soften the load or make things more fun or you know just make sense of things and anyway Dennis Franz really doesn't do any of that but somehow it seems like he's a container for you know all those feelings that people have in a real sort of normal dude way that has nothing to do with like like of course I love of Lou Reed or whatever, you know, or Salvador Dali or something like, uh, these are a certain kind of people, but there's something about Dennis Fran sort of like grounded dude that has nothing to do with, um, yeah, I just, I, I, yeah, I love his person.
46:33I love how like kind of down and out he feels. Uh, and it feels like, you know, I mean, it's a whole thing, right. There's also, you've got David Milch in there, I guess.
46:42Rob Lowe:And now David Caruso kind of a genius. I mean, like, yeah, I'm a big David Caruso CSI guy. I did a little, well, with Maya. Maya and I did a show called The Grinder. And she played my psychiatrist. All your friends are playing my psychiatrist. What does that mean? And I'm secretly the psychiatrist. That's the plot twist. See? I mean, so when we did The Grinder, I did a lot of Dennis, sorry, of David Caruso channeling. I'm a big fan of him and CSI. Well, every time I take my sunglasses on or off of the situation, in my mind, I'm just doing Carissa. Now, you've seen, I'm sure, the supercut, the famous supercut on YouTube of him doing the one-liners, taking the sunglasses off one after another.
47:32Rob Lowe:Please send me this. I have not seen it. Oh, my God. You haven't seen this? No. Oh, you are going to, when we're done with this, you are going to look at that. It is absolutely the most enjoyable three minutes. It goes on and on and on. And each one liner is more ridiculous than the next. It's the best thing ever. It's already my favorite thing. No, no, it is. Trust me. I stake my entire reputation on it. So if people are listening, you have to go YouTube. It's davidcarusosunglasses.edu. supercutedu.gov.com, AOL, whatever the hell, however you find it. It's my favorite thing ever. Yeah. And you know what it is also?
48:16Rob Lowe:It's like as an acting thing. It's like, it's such a bold, because it's a bit much. It's more than a bit much. It is much. It's actually much. Well, it's actually insane. And it's funny when crazy things become normalized through repetition. Yes. That's what it is, I think. and that you just become immune to them and you just start to accept them even though the first time you see it, you're like, oh, that's a crazy thing to do. And the second and the third time, you're like, now it's getting crazier because he's doing it more than a few times. And suddenly you're just like, that's what he does.
48:46That's who he is.
48:47Rob Lowe:And the lines, we've got a sinking crime scene and the tide glasses is coming up. Cue the who. It's the greatest. Do you know the David Caruso ghost story? Has anybody ever told you this? No, please, please. And I'm going to tell a story and you're going to think, oh, yeah, that's an apocryphal showbiz story that may or may not be true, but it's genius. I've now had it confirmed by multiple writers. It's true. David Caruso on – so I have a friend who's a writer on CSI. He comes in in like season three of CSI Miami. And you're like, hey, welcome to the show. Thank you. Thank you. How's it going?
49:29Rob Lowe:Great. Great to have you in the stuff. Hey, has David had to talk with you yet? and he's like no what david's gonna talk about what he is well you'll see so david eventually has this young writer you know and and says listen so you know my character um horatio crane is that i think the character's name um is a wraith he's like i'm sorry you know he's a wraith so he He is a spirit of problem solving, of good versus evil. He is the embodiment. Okay. So don't ever write him entering or exiting. He doesn't do that. He materializes. So if you look at CSI Miami, he does not enter or exit ever. In any scene.
50:30No way. And I,
50:32Rob Lowe:this sounds in so insane as to not be true. And I've had it confirmed multiple times. This is. I told you. One of the craziest things I've ever had my whole, whole life. He's a wraith. I'm, I'm so happy I came here. This honestly, this changes many things in my life. It's a star move. Like scenes going on and they're talking all of a sudden you're, Hey, what are you talking about? And you cut and the person's already in the room. but here's my question if you don't let people shoot you coming and going out of doors right how do you find your in memoriam clip oh why because that has to be like you entering no it's entering it's exiting it's always like every time every time i every time i go through a door and turn around and look at somebody go that was it that's my in memoriam weird i'm weird that's a specific trip you're having isn't that isn't that a dark dark thing you know fred always says that his um deathbed line is going to be last looks that's amazing it's incredible that's that's i'm stealing that i am going to i'm going to call my my co-creator son johnny low and say i got a good fred fred story yeah and now every time they call last looks uh i'm set i immediately picture a deathbed it's like all that jazz and it's just last looks well how about now when you leave a scene and turn around.
51:56Rob Lowe:Like Columbo. That's all he did was exit and turn and go, he goes, one more thing. One more thing. I will bet you if you look at Peter Fox in memoriam, it was that. How could it not have been? There's a lot of YouTubing to be done after this. I mean, it's a busy, busy day. I was going to take a load off, but not now. No. Fingers are going to get busy. You're going to do the David Caruso and you're going to thank me. I was gonna do the crossword but no no no but no no will you please tell the lovely polar lots of hugs coming her way and the lovely Maya as well and we all need to figure out a way to see each other one of these days and it was lovely talking to you exactly as I imagined you to be in my fantasy of you thank you so much Rob I'm so happy to do this see you in the flesh
52:55Rob Lowe:that my friends is what a roller coaster ride is like so many interesting things that she's talking about and i can't keep up i can't i can't keep up there's so many i want to go back and talk to her again because the nuggets of interesting stuff that she throws away just unbelievable that was that was great um ring ring what's that oh it's the lowdown line Hello, you've reached literally in our lowdown line, where you can get the lowdown on all things about me, Rob Lowe. 323-570-4551. So have at it. Here's the beep. Rob, Joe calling from San Diego. Loving the podcast and just finished your book, Stories I Only Tell My Friends.
53:51Rob Lowe:So good. Avoiding any spoilers, I'll just say that your stories about your interactions with future megastars before they were stars and the inside scoop stuff that changed the course of Hollywood history are just awesome. Questions from my wife. She asked about your cover photo for stories I only tell my friends. How did you select it? Is there a story behind it? It looks like you're looking out at something and shading your eyes from the sun. Thanks. Hey, Joe. And hello, Joe's wife. Didn't tell me what your wife's name was, but hello to her too. I love that you're asking about the book cover.
54:27Rob Lowe:A lot of time and effort went into it. I treated that book like it was an album. Like if I was a rock star in the 70s or 80s when albums meant something, the cover was a big deal. And I wanted an image that, as someone who's a picture taken a lot, would be a picture you've never seen before. And then when you saw it, you would go, oh, that's from the book. as opposed to, oh, is that a still from a movie? So I did a big photo shoot, tons of different poses. And I did that one pose, one image, that was it out of all of the other ones. And that's what we chose because it was different and weird, still looked good, you know, and then the subtext of it is, you know, looking out, observational, all that stuff.
55:18Rob Lowe:A lot of people wanted just a big, pretty shot of my stupid mug. And I wanted something a little more interesting. So I'm glad it caught your attention. Thanks for listening. We're going to be back here. We're going to do this again. I've decided we're going to do it again next week. Okay, it's on. So please don't forget, as usual, to subscribe to the entire plethora and five-star view on Apple. And don't forget Parks and Rec election if you're a Parks and Rec fan. And all of that good housekeeping I've done and I've done it and now go on with your day and go forward into the world. And I'll see you next week on Literally.
55:55Rob Lowe:You've been listening to Literally with Rob Lowe, produced by me, Rob Schulte, with help from associate producer Sarah Begar. Our coordinating producer is Lisa Berm. Our research is done by Alyssa Grahl. The podcast is executive produced by Rob Lowe for Low Profile, Adam Sachs, Jeff Ross, and Joanna Solitaroff at Team Coco, and Colin Anderson at Stitcher. All of the music you hear is by Devin Bryant. Thanks for listening. We'll see you next week on Literally with Rob Lowe.
56:30Rob Lowe:This has been a Team Coco production in association with Stitcher.
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From the publisher
This week, we're looking back at Rob's conversation with the great Natasha Lyonne! Hear why Natasha feels safe around Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler, how her love has grown for Detectives Sipowicz and Columbo, and how when you gain fame you need to avoid the dangerous "celebrity vocal sound." This episode originally aired in August 2022.
Make sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube at YouTube.com/@LiterallyWithRobLowe! Got a question for Rob? Call our voicemail at 323-570-4551. Your question could get featured on the show!
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