"RE-RELEASE: Kaley Cuoco"

13 Aug 2026 · 56 min · 35 chapters

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In short

The SmartLess “RE-RELEASE: Kaley Cuoco” episode mixes birthday/health banter with a long interview about Kaley Cuoco’s life and career—especially a near-amputation horse accident, her return to tennis, and her Big Bang Theory experience—plus her new motherhood.

Guests

Kaley Cuoco (American actress; stars in a new show she’s producing; former competitive tennis player; horseback rider; California native; Sagittarius; daughter of Lane and Gary). The other hosts are Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes (they discuss Sean’s Tony nomination and eye surgery).

Key claims

  • Cuoco nearly lost her leg in a horseback accident when the horse stepped on her; she had a compound fracture and signed consent acknowledging possible amputation.
  • She recovered faster than doctors expected: walking in a week with a boot; back to work in two weeks.
  • She still has pins/rods and was advised not to remove them.
  • She stopped tennis competitively around 16, then resumed doubles during COVID.
  • She joined Big Bang Theory after multiple pilot rewrites; Jim Parsons wanted to end after season 12.

Notable examples

  • The accident occurred around when Big Bang was beginning; she remembers hearing cracking and realizing it was her bones.
  • Her relationship with Tom Pelphrey began after an Ozark premiere; they got pregnant quickly and welcomed baby Matilda about five weeks before the interview.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

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Lighthearted Banter and Tony Awards

0:41 to 1:07

Hosts engage in playful banter about birthdays, Tony Awards, and personal anecdotes.

“The New York Times declares the series from comedy director Emmy nominee Christopher Storer a masterpiece.”

Lighthearted Banter and Tony Awards

1:53 to 4:40

Hosts engage in playful banter about birthdays, Tony Awards, and personal anecdotes.

“Dear Will or Nat, happy birthday to you.”

Golfing Stories and Personal Struggles

4:40 to 10:40

The hosts share amusing stories about their recent golf experiences and personal challenges.

“So Sean's got a partially detached retina.”

Upcoming Docuseries Announcement

10:40 to 11:13

Hosts discuss their docuseries 'Smartless on the Road' and its premiere.

“By the way, what you don't hear in there is any nutrition going in.”

Introduction of Guest Kaley Cuoco

11:13 to 14:02

Hosts introduce actress Kaley Cuoco, highlighting her career and personal life.

“But if you're interested, it's on Max there, our little docuseries called Stylos on the Road.”

Kaley Cuoco's Leg Injury Story

14:02 to 17:46

Learn about Kaley Cuoco's harrowing experience with a severe leg injury during her early acting career.

“and we've been probably, I don't know, 12, 13 years ago.”

Recovery and Resilience

17:47 to 19:11

Discover Kaley's unexpected recovery journey after her serious injury and her determination to return to work.

“I mean, you know, they always say the worst.”

Tennis Aspirations and Choices

19:12 to 20:24

Explore Kaley's past as a competitive tennis player and her decision to pursue acting instead.

“And I'm like, you asshole, because now I've got to eat it.”

Tennis Aspirations and Choices

20:28 to 21:53

Explore Kaley's past as a competitive tennis player and her decision to pursue acting instead.

“with season four now nominated for eight Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series.”

Tennis Aspirations and Choices

21:57 to 23:05

Explore Kaley's past as a competitive tennis player and her decision to pursue acting instead.

“I love Halloween and Thanksgiving, and I love decorating for that kind of stuff.”
Show all 35 chapters

Tennis Aspirations and Choices

23:09 to 26:51

Explore Kaley's past as a competitive tennis player and her decision to pursue acting instead.

“You know, when I do theater in New York, which I love doing, it sometimes gets me out of my comfort zone and I miss family and friends and my routine that I'm so used to back in Los Angeles in my home.”

Game Night Rivalries

26:52 to 28:00

Hear about Kaylee's intense personality during games and her competitive nature with friends.

“and like entered tournaments since it was hysterical.”

Competitive Spirit in Game Nights

28:00 to 28:26

Kaley Cuoco shares her intense competitiveness when it comes to games.

“To this day, you don't want to play Scrabble with me.”

Meeting Tom Pelfrey

28:26 to 29:13

Kaley recounts her chance meeting with Tom Pelfrey at an Ozark premiere.

“Do you have a game night going right now?”

First Year of Parenthood

29:13 to 31:39

Kaley discusses her experience of becoming a mother just weeks ago.

“I'm sure you've heard this story a million times.”

Support Systems in Parenting

31:39 to 32:49

Kaley emphasizes the importance of having family support while parenting.

“If a man could, honestly, Tom would carry the baby.”

The Big Bang Theory's End

32:49 to 33:38

Kaley reflects on the conclusion of The Big Bang Theory and the factors behind it.

“I had something I had to do so she could hang out with the baby for an hour.”

Memories from a Live Audience

33:38 to 36:49

Kaley shares her fond memories of performing in front of a live audience.

“now Big Bang is something that was a Big Bang, right?”

The Journey to Acting

36:49 to 38:03

Kaley discusses her path to acting and the decision to pursue it seriously.

“Now, when we're a kid and we're at home, we're playing tennis, where did the whole thing for acting come from?”

Education and Career Choices

38:03 to 39:34

Kaley talks about her decision to leave school for acting and her GED journey.

“They weren't comfortable with me just doing the acting thing.”

Family Background and Influence

39:34 to 40:38

Kaley discusses her family's influence on her career in acting.

“My mom stayed home with us since the minute we were born.”

Learning CPR for Parenthood

40:38 to 41:14

Kaley shares her experience of learning CPR in preparation for becoming a parent.

“Now, with Gary's history in medicine, do you know CPR?”

Humor in CPR and Acting

41:14 to 42:01

A light-hearted discussion about CPR and its portrayal in movies and TV.

“Like, I'd be like, ow, ow, ow, ow, every time.”

Behind the Scenes of Movie Making

42:01 to 43:10

Explore the surprising realities of on-set movie and TV production.

“when you guys are shooting a movie, is it real?”

Behind the Scenes of Movie Making

43:13 to 44:06

Explore the surprising realities of on-set movie and TV production.

“Investing with Schwab might remind you of one of your friends.”

Behind the Scenes of Movie Making

45:30 to 46:20

Explore the surprising realities of on-set movie and TV production.

“Protein, it's all anyone's talking about, right?”

Kaley Cuoco on Big Bang Theory's Success

46:23 to 47:36

Kaley Cuoco shares her unexpected journey with the massive hit show.

“Kaylee, were you prepared for the uber success of Big Bang?”

Fame and Its Evolution

47:37 to 48:49

Kaley reflects on her gradual rise to fame and its impact on her life.

“And what was it that they believed in so much?”

Launching Based on a True Story

48:50 to 50:22

Kaley discusses her new show and its unique concept involving true crime.

“I've always done a million things and I've, it never affected me that, like, I never felt that moment of, oh my God, I knew when Big Bang hit.”

Creating a New Role with Pregnancy

50:23 to 51:52

Kaley shares how her real-life pregnancy influenced her role in the show.

“Tom Palfrey, he had this script in his hand.”

Working with Chris Messina

51:53 to 53:06

Kaley talks about her dynamic working relationship with co-star Chris Messina.

“So the general concept of - Sounds like a good job.”

Chemistry on Set

53:07 to 57:20

Discussion on the importance of good chemistry between actors in a show.

“And then, like, after we had, I had signed on, we got everything going, I came to LA to do some chemistry reads, and Jason wasn't there, but there was, the producers were there, and I was talking to everyone.”

Directing and Acting Styles

57:21 to 59:00

Discussion on different approaches to directing and the challenges of acting.

“I think I would be a good director because I like to get in and get out.”

Golf and Personal Insights

59:01 to 1:00:55

A light-hearted conversation about golf and personal insights on performance.

“I learned so much about what I did wrong by looking at what I do.”

Kaylee Cuoco's Charm

1:00:56 to 1:02:14

Reflections on Kaylee Cuoco's personality and her impact in the industry.

“Well, you said Josh is a ball guy, and I'm a ball guy.”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

0:00This message is brought to you by Apple Card. Shaved ice by the beach, a trip to the state fair, and a throwback flick at the local drive-in. They're more than just items to check off the summer bucket list. There are also opportunities to earn 2 % daily cash back when you use your Apple Card with Apple Pay. Apply for Apple Card now and use in minutes with Apple Pay. Subject to credit approval, Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City branch. Terms and more at applecard.com. This episode is brought to you by FX's The Bear, with season four now nominated for eight Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series.

0:46The New York Times declares the series from comedy director Emmy nominee Christopher Storer a masterpiece. The fourth season of the acclaimed series features Emmy-nominated performances from Iowa Debery, Rob Reiner, and Jamie Lee Curtis. For your Emmy consideration, all episodes of FX's The Bear are now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney Plus for bundle subscribers.

1:16Sean Hayes:Now I can do anything. I like my friends. I like my podcast. I like my Jason. I like my Sean. I like my Smartless. I like everybody. Let's go. It's an all-new Smart List. Smart List.

1:36Smart List.

1:42Smart List.

1:46First of all, though, I would just like to say really fast, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Oh, Will, happy birthday. Dear Will or Nat, happy birthday to you. And it's on May the Fourth Be With You.

2:01Sean Hayes:Which is one of my biggest regrets that somebody came up with that. Are you kidding? It's the first time I've heard of it. No, because it's just completely, you know, taken my birthday hostage forever. Not for me.

2:14Will Arnett:You're lucky you're not born on 420, right? Isn't that what all the kids like to smoke their weed on the 420?

2:22Sean Hayes:Hey man, I've been looking for ways for you to sound older. Yeah. And I think we just found it. You know what I mean? How about this? Does this sound older? How about... It's also, but Jason, for you and me, it's also, more importantly, it's Cinco de Cuatro.

2:42Will Arnett:It's Cinco de Cuatro. Very big day in the people that know about Arrested. In the Arrested Development canon, Sean, so thank you. Sean, thank you for following the show. Speaking of Sean, let's take a moment to celebrate Sean's Tony Award nomination. I know. Don't wave it away. It's a big deal. Thank you. And very well deserved. Good Lord, is that show good. Again, just to repeat, anybody going through the tri-state area, stop in New York City. It's a fun town, and there's a great show there called Good Night Oscar at the Belasco Theater. Tabasco. Some people call it Tabasco, but that's just so they can remember it.

3:20Sean Hayes:Jason, do you know what the Tony Awards are short for? Do you know what the actual name of the award is? Anthony's? Close. No. Sean, you know, right? Antoinette. Antoinette Perry Award. Really?

3:31Will Arnett:Yeah. Yeah. And, you know, listener, are you shocked as me at how smart Will every once in a while is? I am. You'd also be shocked to know he's actually 67 today. I wish. He does have a, you do have like an endless well of just knowledge and stuff. I got a lot of time. I got a lot of time on my hands.

3:55Sean Hayes:Jason, I said to Jason yesterday, I said, hey, do you want to read this thing that I just wrote? And he said, please don't. Please don't.

4:01Will Arnett:No, he said, oh, I'm going to send you that script. I said, please don't. He says, what do you mean? I go, I don't even read my own texts. He's like, well, thank you for your honesty. I just thought, you know, it's just a fun script. I said, there's nothing fun about reading. He did say that. Yeah, my parents really screwed me. Now, I'm watching Sean there itch his eye. Sean just had what we call it, ocular surgery. Laser surgery. We don't call it that, but he had a...

4:27Sean Hayes:And I can't read. I'm not supposed to read. He's not supposed to read. And I said, Sean turned to the doctor and said, you can't read, and Sean said, boy, do I have some good news for you. But he does have a detached retina. So Sean's got a partially detached retina. Jason's got a detached personality. So we have, hey, hey-o. Detachless. But Sean, you're still doing seven shows this week after laser surge. Yeah, on my eye. I'm not supposed to read or dart my eye around a lot.

5:00Will Arnett:That was the direction from the director? Or from the doctor said, don't dart your eyes?

5:05Sean Hayes:Wait, that was his note from the director and the doctor.

5:12and I said to both of you guys I'm slowly turning into my mother I'm going to lose my eye

5:17Will Arnett:I mean you better knock on wood your mom lost her eye from cancer you said not from a detached retina thing she was two years old she was two years old she was two years old when she lost her eye we're still looking for it so wait so I went in and I I get vasovagal do you guys get that Excuse me. Hey, man, we're trying to keep it clean over here, dude. It's when you get nauseous and faint from, like, you know, needles or poking at your eyeballs. That happened to me once. Oh, I get it all the time. That happened to me once. So you just go out if you get nervous about it. I am like, I have to lay down.

5:54I need a fan. I need coolness. I'm going to throw up.

5:57Sean Hayes:We all feel better with a fan around, let's be honest.

6:02Will Arnett:What about doing the show? Do you ever feel it coming on just with nerves for the show? No, no, that's different. This is all doctor health-related stuff. Like if I'm in, I passed out getting contact lenses once. I passed out like, I tried like 10 years ago to get Botox and I passed out. But you're trying to get, in fairness, you were trying to get it directly from the cow, right?

6:28Sean Hayes:Give me a second.

6:32Sean Hayes:Sean, what would have been amazing is if you passed out going in for Botox and you fell and cut yourself and then you had to get stitches and then you passed out while trying to get stitches from the passing I do, I get it so bad you guys don't get that? no man

6:49Will Arnett:it just occurred to me we're doing a full talk show we do a talk show and right now we're doing the Regis and Kathy Lee patter beforehand, right? what are you talking about? I used to watch that show and I'm like how do they come up with this stuff? or he just comes in with his coffee, talks about his weekend, and it covers as full national entertainment for 20 minutes. I could talk about 9 ,000 things for an hour. I don't think people are interested, right?

7:15Sean Hayes:I mean, what are we doing here? What Jason's trying to say is he's not interested in your life. I'm not interested in myself. He's not interested in himself. Let's get to somebody who's interesting. We are going to get somebody interesting, but I do want to say Jason was so grumpy yesterday. Oh, my God. I was embarrassed. Jason and I played golf the last three days. And then yesterday, none of us played particularly well. Tuesday, we got to play with football great legend Gareth Bale, who is just an absolute... Soccer for the Americans. Yeah. I mean, just an absolute... Oh, you had to be like freaking out.

7:48Sean Hayes:This guy's a real prince. God, he's unreal, right? Yeah, you were a little nervous.

7:53Will Arnett:It was like you were playing with Charlize Theron.

7:54Sean Hayes:I was so... Yeah. Hey, man. Wait, how does it come about you guys just play golf with all these people. They just randomly show up.

8:03Will Arnett:We host a talk show, bro. Yeah. I know, but I'm just saying, like, how do you organize that? Well, we met this guy up at some celeb golf tournament. And then that's what happens. Hey, let's play golf. And then we swap numbers. He's a good guy.

8:15Sean Hayes:We do. We swap numbers. We go like, hey, man, we want to play golf with you, Gareth Bale. So if Charlize wanted to play golf, you would let her play golf? I don't know. I'm not answering this. Listen, I'm now pleading the fifth. So anyway, I was a real moody girl.

8:27Will Arnett:So he was a grump.

8:28Sean Hayes:He sped out of the parking lot to the point that 30 seconds after he left, I had to call him and go, hey, man, are you okay? Why?

8:36Will Arnett:He did call me as I was getting out of the parking lot. I was like, oh, no, maybe I pissed him off because I didn't really say goodbye to anybody. I just had to get out of there before I embarrassed myself by, like, going into some sort of I played a bad golf round rage. No, but here's what happened. He went like this.

8:52Sean Hayes:I was putting my stuff in the back of my car, and his window was open, and then as he's putting it up and his car, he's now in drive, he looks over. I'm not exaggerating. He goes like this. I will. And then zip up the window and peeled up. And I was like, fuck, he went dark. All because you played a bad game?

9:11Will Arnett:Yeah, I just, I play too much to play that badly. And I just need to be more disciplined and I need to actually really, if I'm going to be upset about not playing well, I need to have a reason. But I thought about this. I need to start like really training or something. Jay, I thought about it.

9:26Sean Hayes:I thought about this. And this is not a joke. We joke about this a lot. We're going to get to your guests. I feel badly for them. But I just want to say this. You, yesterday, as he does this a lot, did this the last two days. Oh. We're going to, everyone's like, hey, do you want a little bit of food? They got a little snack shack. And I get like a, you know, a little chicken salad, maybe a thing. And Jason, the last two days goes, yeah, just get me a cup of sliced apples. That's all he had. No way.

9:51Will Arnett:And I'm like, he's starving to death.

9:53Sean Hayes:That's what's going on.

9:54Will Arnett:But I still can't shake these five or ten pounds Dude, Jason

Read the full transcript

9:58Sean Hayes:I told Jason if he loses ten pounds I'm taking him to the fucking hospital Yeah, you don't need to lose any more weight Sean, he ate a cup of sliced apples That's it I'm like, that's not enough when you're watching seven months With a cup of nuts on top of them

10:12Will Arnett:Don't you get tired during the day from not eating? Yes, tired I came home, you know what I did well? Here's the sickness I came home, I saw Amanda in the kitchen She's like, hi, what's wrong? I go, nothing, I'm a disaster I'm embarrassed because I'm in a bad mood because of golf. She goes, really? I go, yeah. She goes, we want to talk about it? I said, you don't want any part of me. I'm going to the gym. So I put on my gym clothes and I went and I ran on the elliptical for an hour and then sweated out in the hot box for an hour. So for two hours, I just had to get into a deep sweat to get all the rage out of me.

10:41Sean Hayes:By the way, what you don't hear in there is any nutrition going in. I know. That's what I'm saying. His blood sugar is plummeting. That's what I'm saying.

10:48Will Arnett:Your body is like screaming at you for like, fuck up. Both of you just shit. There we go. You don't know what the hell you're talking about.

10:54Sean Hayes:Let's get to your guest, huh? Yeah. Unless you got some other.

10:58Will Arnett:Right. Yes, no, I do. I want to get to the great guest. But I want to remind anybody, if you're interested in what you're hearing, we have actual pictures of us doing this too. Moving pictures there on Max. Smartless on the road. The doc that me, Will, and Sean are enjoying, but we're a little biased. We're in it. But if you're interested, it's on Max there, our little docuseries called Stylos on the Road.

11:24Sean Hayes:You know, May 23rd on Max was the day that that's, right? Yeah, yeah. And they all came out at the same time. And you can get all six episodes at the same time. Yeah, if you're a binger, binge away.

11:36Will Arnett:Yeah. All right, all right, all right. Okay. My guest. Fellas, listeners, do you like funny people? Sure do. Talented people, kind people. What if you manage to pack that into one woman? Add two scoops of charm and a couple conversation skills, and what do you get? You get our next guest, gang. She's an American actress starring in a new show, which I'm very lucky enough to be a producer on. She's a new mom, an ex-tennis player, and horseback rider. She's a native Californian, a proud Sagittarius, and the daughter of Lane and Gary. Please welcome pure sunlight wrapped in skin, Miss Kaylee Cuoco.

12:12Look at her go. Look at her Cuoco.

12:15Will Arnett:Have you ever been called sunshine wrapped in skin? No, that was so sweet. That was a first. I was literally very much enjoying your guys' comments. I was trying to hold my hand over my mouth because I was dying laughing. I'm so embarrassed. You're the only one. Sean, at your disorder, which I think I have, the fainting disorder with the needles. That's really? Yes, 100%. Then that gets me into my first question. During my deep research, because I'm a crack journalist, You had a horse riding accident where you almost lost your leg. I'm not exposing anything big here. This was already out. Oh, yeah.

12:51Will Arnett:How did you deal with all...

12:52Sean Hayes:You're never exposing anything big. Don't worry.

12:56Will Arnett:So, hey, Will, that sounds like a sexual insult. No, that's good. Now, I'm going to let you correct that for a second because it really sounded like a sexual insult. No, I just wanted to interrupt and just say, hi, Kaylee.

13:05Sean Hayes:How are you? Hi, Kaylee. Hi, guys. I feel like we've only met once before at something that you were hosting. you were backstage and you were like in a complete blackout it seemed like. Oh, I was? No, you had to do a bunch of stuff. She was probably focused. She's professional. I've never been focused in my life. That is shocking. But I'm so glad to be here. I'm nervous. You guys, this is like one of the best podcasts and my sister, it's her favorite one and she's like, if you mess this up, come on. There's nothing to mess up. There's nothing to mess up. This is the best it gets. We're not going to let you get a word in edgewise.

13:33Sean Hayes:Don't worry about it. Jason's got a big question for you so settle in. I hope you packed a lunch.

13:39Will Arnett:so so so you're riding a horse you're riding a horse you're jumping over gates and going around barrels whatever the fuck you do and then you get and then and then then the horse falls or you fall the horse falls on you lands on the leg is stuck on the leg broke broken the leg did you ask the horse to get off did the horse get off immediately wait how long ago was this this was a while ago This was, let's see, it was beginning of Big Bang, and we've been probably, I don't know, 12, 13 years ago. Oh, my God. Okay. So, guys, she almost lost her leg.

14:11Sean Hayes:I once asked a horse to get off during a Big Bang.

14:18Will Arnett:This is a family show, Will. It's his birthday. He's on fire. You really almost lost your leg on this. Well, yeah, no, it was a bad accident. It was a very bad accident. And, yeah, he, I had fallen. The fall didn't hurt me. He ended up stepping on me. And I remember, I know. And the crazy part is I remember when I fainted. Sean's down. And he can't dart his eyes, so he's just screwed. Scotty! Scotty, get the paddles. So he's done. Don't faint.

14:48Sean Hayes:Kaylee, how old were you when this happened? I was, my God, I can't do math. Early 20s? I was probably 22. Yeah, yeah. Wow.

14:55Will Arnett:Okay, so now, but you had to sign something before surgery that gives the doctor permission that once they get in there and they see that maybe we might not be able to save the leg, that you won't sue them if you wake up without the leg. Yes. It was that serious? It was really serious. So I had to go under. I had to sign something. Yeah, that's exactly right. And luckily I came out and I was... So, but wait, wait. Talk, do you remember? You probably don't remember because you were so under anesthesia, but when you first woke up, was your first look down to see if the leg was still there? Yes. You remember that?

15:24Yes, totally. Oh, my God. Oh, yeah. No, I have a very... Yeah. How, what are we talking about? We're talking about it's separated from your body? I had a compound fracture. So for those who don't know, it's the bone that comes out of your leg. Out of the skin.

15:39Sean Hayes:Wait, which bone? Oh, that's what I've got. My tibia fibula, so it's near my ankle and my knee. Because my bone's always coming out. Will, this is family. Will's always caught with his bone out. Yeah, no, right. That's what it's called. Okay, sorry. Oh, thank God. I'm going to have to update my... That was almost my first spit take in 150 episodes. I'm going to have to update my dating profile.

16:02Will Arnett:Oh, my God. That's what it's called. So, I woke up and it was dead. You're creating a compound fracture.

16:10Sean Hayes:Yes. Okay, so wait. Don't come in here. I've got a compound fracture. So, wait. So, your bone is sticking out of the top part of your thigh or your bottom part of your knee? No, no, no. Ankle, ankle, knee. Okay. So there was two.

16:29Will Arnett:Yep. Yeah, and so it just was a horrible, horrible, horrible break. And I had been in the - Why did you say it didn't hurt? No, it - Oh, no, it - It did hurt. Oh, my God. I was going to say, when I fell, the fall didn't break my leg. My fall wasn't a big deal. He stepped on me, and I remember clear as day. Because it takes a second when something is that bad. I was like, did I just fall on a whole thing of leaves? Because I heard all the cracking. Yeah. So I was like, are there leaves? And it took me like five or 10 seconds to actually realize it wasn't just 400 leaves. It was my bones. Yeah. So what do you have pins and rods in there now?

17:06Will Arnett:Yeah, I do. Do you set off metal detectors? No. I always thought I would, but it never happened.

17:12Sean Hayes:Oh my God. What was the recovery like for that? You know what's crazy? So I was shooting Big Bang. It was on a Friday after work. And so I was supposed to go to work on Monday. They put you behind the bar, right?

17:23Will Arnett:They gave you like a bar job. Oh my God. Yes. I'm like, I have to call Chuck Lorre and tell him right now. The great Chuck Lorre. Yes, the great Chuck Lorre, but you don't want to make that call. And so they literally didn't think I would, like, walk for three months. They thought I would not walk for three months. I was walking in a week with a boot. I was back to work in two weeks. It was, like, miraculous. Wow. Yeah. I mean, you know, they always say the worst. And then I ended up being okay, but, like, they were very good. So wait, but you still now have, because listening to the story, I'm on pins and needles.

17:57So you actually have pins in there for real? Yes, I do. They didn't take those out?

18:01Will Arnett:They're not planning on taking those out? No. I went back in years later and I was like, it's just bad to have in there. And they said, honestly, the surgery would be such a pain for you. Like if they're not bothering you, leave it. So I'm, I know. So can you run and jump and do anything? Oh, yeah. Do you have fun scars on the bottom of your leg? Yeah, I do. That's cool. I got some good scars. I don't have any good scars. You guys have any good scars? No. I do. Makes you feel like a badass. I fell off the bunk bed when I was a kid, and I have it on the side of my head. Oh, bless your heart. Oh, the bunk bed.

18:34Will Arnett:I've never met a guy that fell off the top bunk. You know, they usually have little bars up there to help. I had a bar online.

18:40Sean Hayes:Although you just confirmed something that I've long suspected. What? That you're a top. Yeah. I mean, I was going to say it, and I was like, you know what? We'll say it. I do have this scar.

18:52Will Arnett:Wait, Sean E. Wait, there it is. Yeah, that's called a belly button. Sean, you have lost so much fucking weight. I'm not kidding. Yeah, you really have lost a lot of weight. I know, but I'll gain it right away. Will, what did I get you for your birthday, Will?

19:02Sean Hayes:Sean sent me today this fucking asshole. He sent me four large things of ice cream. And he said, this is what I use to get fat. To stay fat. This is what I eat to get fat. Happy birthday. And I'm like, you asshole, because now I've got to eat it. If it's calling me, if it's in the freezer. What kind of ice cream was it? It's the best. Hagen-Dazs. Chocolate and coffee and vanilla. Yeah. It's the best. So creative. It's the best.

19:30Will Arnett:You either go with the best or you don't. You've gotten into it since then, right, Will? You opened it up?

19:37Sean Hayes:Not this morning. Not this morning. I had cake last night with the kids. We had ice cream cake, because that's my favorite, and yellow cake with chocolate frosting. That's exactly right. Did you use the cake lady? No. No. Mercy made it, who is here, and she's a great cake. The cake lady's great, but Mercy makes an incredible cake. And so I will say, because we talked about it earlier, Jason, you going in, I ate the cake. I ate early with the kids, and about 45 minutes after eating two pieces of cake, because one of each, I went, no, motherfucker, and I went down. I came down into the gym, and I worked there for an hour.

20:13Sean Hayes:Oh, you did? You have to. Did you zip into the rubber suit? Yeah, of course. I always wear the rubber suit, as you know. We'll be right back. This episode is brought to you by FX's The Bear, with season four now nominated for eight Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series. The New York Times declares the series from comedy director Emmy nominee Christopher Storer a masterpiece. The fourth season of the acclaimed series features Emmy-nominated performances from Iowa Debery, Rob Reiner, and Jamie Lee Curtis. For your Emmy consideration, All episodes of FX's The Bear are now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney Plus for bundle subscribers.

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24:40All right, back to the show. Kaylee, you always look so thin. Do you go crazy with junk food at all, ever? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Do you? I mean, you know, I definitely do.

24:53Sean Hayes:You know what else? Kaylee, you've got great skin. I've always noticed that about you. Thank you. Yeah, you've got really nice skin. Well, that's so nice. Thank you. I know, it's really nice to have a work thing this morning and not have to do any hair and makeup whatsoever. I was very excited. You know, that's on purpose.

25:09Will Arnett:You know, while we get to look at each other, you know, it's like I don't want anyone to have to go, ah, your hair and makeup and the whole, it's the best. I mean, you guys have to look at me, but other than that, no one else. Why do you have such good skin? Do you stay out of the sun? No, I don't stay out of the sun. I've got quite a skin regimen on my little products. But you were very good about putting on sunblock when you were almost a semi-pro tennis star when you were a youngster, yes? Wait, what? Let's get into this. She decided at 16, I could go this way or we could try acting. You were a tennis pro?

25:45Will Arnett:I did. I played tennis my whole juniors when I was younger. Yeah, that's all I did. And I really thought I was going to be a professional tennis player when I was much younger.

25:52Sean Hayes:Where was that? Here. Camarillo. Yeah, in Camarillo and then Southern California. But I traveled all over the country and I loved it. And then realized, oh my God. And I was auditioning and working. And then I got my first show. and I was like, to be a professional tennis player, you've got to really just do that. I thought, I don't know if I can give myself to both. So I was like, I'm never going to play again. And I put my rackets down at like 16. But I played very competitively for years and years as a young teen. Wow. And traveled all over and I loved it. Yeah, I loved it. That's so hard. That takes so much training and so much dedication.

26:30I loved it.

26:30Sean Hayes:Do you still play a tiny bit? So I stopped for years. You know, I think when you're competitive in any sport, it's not fun. The fun kind of leaves a little bit. So to play for fun was not something I wanted to do. So over COVID, my girlfriend, who is my oldest friend, who is my doubles partner when we were really young, she's like, let's start playing again. So we started playing doubles together during COVID and like entered tournaments since it was hysterical. And I loved it.

26:57Will Arnett:Because it's socially distant, right? That's why you could do it during COVID. That's why Will got me back into golf, son of a bitch. yeah I heard that you had some rage but that was an interesting story

27:07Sean Hayes:which time did you hear about? you talking about the time the guy didn't charge his Tesla? that's one of the greatest stories ever

27:18Will Arnett:now see now that's a perfect example of me two years ago versus now I exit myself from the situation before I I'm accountable for my mood I will separate myself from people and just deal with it

27:33Sean Hayes:I will say that he did approach all of us who were playing with him yesterday and said, one by one, I'm not joking. And he said, hey, man, I'm really sorry that I've been kind of grinding and cranky today. And he went and I heard him say it to the other guys. And I thought, fuck, this is a new Jason. That's sweet.

27:48Will Arnett:My beautiful wife, Amanda, is teaching me how to be a better man. Kaylee, so did you, when you played? Guys, don't fight. We want to talk to Kaylee so bad.

27:57Sean Hayes:I just want to know if she had rage when you played, when you. Yes. It was your worst moment.

28:01Will Arnett:Did you ever say you can't be serious? Oh, my God. Are you kidding? I broke so many rackets. I had a real bad attitude, actually. Did you really? To this day, you don't want to play Scrabble with me. I am the worst. I am the worst. You don't want to play Scrabble. I'll kick your ass in Scrabble. Exactly. That's how I get to. I lose my shit. I love to win. I don't fuck around. It's not a joke to me. Game night is not... No one wants to let me participate in game night because I don't make it fun for anybody. Do you have a game night going right now? Like in this moment? No. I don't know. In general.

28:32Will Arnett:Because, Shawnee, sometimes you do game nights. I like games. We love game nights. We are obsessed. But again. When you say we, we're talking about Tom Pelfrey. Are we not? Me and Tom Pelfrey. We love game nights. Easy on the eyes. What a guy. Like Tom Pelfrey.

28:45Sean Hayes:I love that. Is that your guy? Is Tom Pelfrey your guy? Is that your guy? Tom Pelfrey's my guy. We love game nights. Okay. I met him because of, it's really, I have to thank Jason.

28:57Will Arnett:They met at the Ozark Rap Party, if you can believe that. Oh, really? You're the reason I met him. Yes. Yeah. Now, walk us through this story. Did he know you were coming or did you know he was going to be there? Was there any sort of setup there at all? I don't remember. I knew. So we have the same. I'm sure you've heard this story a million times. But we have the same manager. And she, the December, that past December, she had said, I want to set you up with someone that I know. And I said, it was too soon after my last relationship. I was like, no, I'm not ready. She goes, noted, fine. So in April, I was going to New York to promote Flight Attendant, and my manager, Andrea, was like.

29:36Yeah, so terrific. You're so great, Matt.

29:38Will Arnett:You can edit the applause in later. That would be great. It's in. Yep. And we put a little in for Big Bang earlier. Go ahead. Thank you. No, thank you. These are great shows. These are, thank you. Please continue. So she decided to come with me to New York to just hang out, and she goes, actually, I'm going to see my other client there, and she didn't even really say it was Tom, but she said, I'm going to go to the Ozark premiere, and it's during the week, and do you want to come with me? And it wasn't...

30:03Sean Hayes:And you were like, what's Ozark? Nobody knows what that is. A hundred percent. I never heard of the show. I didn't want to go. And so she said, come with me, and I was like, okay. And I went with her and got all dolled up. I knew I would meet him, of course, but it didn't occur to me about anything else. And when I got there, we were a little late, and so everyone was piling into the theater. I didn't have a minute to meet him, and I was actually standing near, waiting in the line in the restroom. I was faced away and I overheard, you know, he's got a very sexy voice, Mr. Tom Pelfrey. Yeah, he does.

30:36And I overheard him say to our manager, where is this Kaylee? And I turned around and it was like.

30:44Will Arnett:She's right in front of you waiting to take a dump.

30:49Will Arnett:And you were like, don't. That's what I said. Yeah. That's what I said to him. And he thought it was really cool that I was so open. But no, I saw him and it was like this very strange, like the world kind of stopped. Really? Yeah, it was really wild. And he gave me this huge bear hug. And like I said, there were so many people piling and it wasn't a moment to really talk. And so we all just, I was like, nice to meet you. Yeah. I mean, he did real easy with that quick smile, right? He's got a nice, that laugh. Come on. Infectious. And so how many years has that been going on? We've been together for one year.

31:23We got pregnant two months in. We have a baby. We were like, boom, boom, boom. Wow. We're insane. Let's go back to my room. You know, we're not 20 anymore. We were like, we doing this or not?

31:33Will Arnett:So Matilda is a full month? Two months. She's five weeks old today, you guys. We have a five-week-old. Oh, my gosh. Congratulations. Thank you.

31:40Sean Hayes:Wait, you had a baby five weeks ago? Can you believe that? No, I can't. It's crazy. I know. And look at you. You don't look like you had a baby. You look great. Tom. Tom actually carried it. Oh, no kidding. No kidding. Yeah, yeah, yeah. If a man could, honestly, Tom would carry the baby. He is that obsessed. But how do you have energy? Like, aren't you exhausted? Or do you have one of those good babies that sleeps all the time? No, she's pretty awesome. Look, I'm not going to lie. We have some very nice help. Yes. I'm a big advocate for that. I feel even guilty saying it. But we have very nice help, which is why I can, like, our relationship is so survived because we have all this help with this baby.

32:23Sean Hayes:Listen, why not?

32:25Will Arnett:Oh, my God. I mean. Yeah, I mean, if you can, if you've got in-laws or whatever. Yes, anything. I'm just such a big, big fan of life. It makes you a better parent. Think about this.

32:33Sean Hayes:In the old days, it used to be people all lived with their families in the olden times. Yes. And you had family around, and family would help out, and you'd have siblings and parents and grandparents and stuff, and it would all.

32:43Will Arnett:So you're not at the end of your rope. Yeah. No, exactly.

32:45Sean Hayes:And now it's different. And it's great. I mean, my mom was here this morning, and she was, like, so excited. I had something I had to do so she could hang out with the baby for an hour. So it's like, it's the best.

32:54Will Arnett:Now, does she mom Matilda like you would? Or do you guys have like a little bit of tension? Don't start trouble. No, honestly, my mom is the best. And actually, so is Tom's mom. They are like, they come in, they help, they don't overstep. Do they get along? Do the moms get along? Oh, my God. We're so lucky. They all oddly look like each other too. And they've become very close. We're just like really lucky. Yeah, you're very lucky. We're very lucky. That's great. I know. I know. Five weeks old. I can't believe it. Do you want more kids? Yeah, we do. Sean, are you moving a couple? Yeah, I'm moving a couple.

33:32Will Arnett:Do you have any links you could send her? Yeah, the dark web. All right, so let's start with, now Big Bang is something that was a Big Bang, right? It was. That was a phenomenon.

33:45Sean Hayes:Nine, 10, 12 seasons? 12. 12 seasons. 12 seasons. I mean, that's incredible. Now, could you have kept going? Or was it like, you know, this is the right time to end this? You know, I'll be honest with you, and I've talked about this before. We truly, our group of actors, we thought we were 100 % doing the 13th season. We thought, we'll do a 13th. It'll be the last one, you know. And this story is not new. I'm not giving anything away. I mean, Jim really did. Jim Parsons really wanted to be done, and he was kind of the first person to call it. And we were not, we didn't know that was happening.

34:19we kind of all thought we were going to do another season. But we heard it at the beginning of season 12, basically after like our second table read, we were told this was going to be it. And it was actually kind of, I mean, as sad as we all were and like kind of a little bit shocked, it was cool because then we had like a whole season to really be in the moment, play. Yeah, it was cool. We could kind of like slowly. It was Jim's show. Was it Jim's show? Originally, yeah. Then it kind of became more of an ensemble. An ensemble show? Yeah, he just was, he was done. Okay. And we were all just, oh my God.

34:49It was so shocking. But then I think over the few weeks, it was like, okay, maybe this is the right thing. And honestly, I mean, for me, I wouldn't have even done, I don't know, flight attendant would have happened. Like the timing was actually amazing.

35:00Will Arnett:Everything happens for a reason, yeah. Totally. So we were, it was fine. But that routine of in front of a live audience sitcom, that is a, do you miss that? I mean, it's so good, right? I loved it. I loved the audience. I thought it was, I loved, obviously, loved the schedule. It was great. I'm happy now not doing it, but it was such incredible memories. I mean, some of those live shows were some of the best nights of my life for sure. I mean, my dad never missed a tape. He was in the audience every week. Every single evening. He had his own chair at the back of the audience. Yes. Couldn't sit in it.

35:38Will Arnett:The angel could not even sit. He was standing the whole time. And what would you do before each show with a little thumbs up? He gave me a thumbs up for Kurt and Paul every time I came out. And the whole cast would do it too. Yes. The crew started obviously with my dad. So everyone would do this like thumbs up for my dad. I mean, he was there, I'm not kidding, every show night for 12 years. My dad came to, none of them. He didn't come to any of them. He didn't go to anything. Yeah. No, he went to Kaylee's shows.

36:05Sean Hayes:Sean, your dad went to every one of Kaylee's shows. He was so wonderful. He drove her dad. He had a chair. He was so into it. Kaylee, how many episodes did you guys do of Big Bang? Oh, my God. You know what? It was something like that. I actually don't remember the number.

36:20Will Arnett:22 times 13, quick. We did 24. I'm sure there were some years there was 24. 250, something like that. It was up there, yeah. It was up there.

36:28Sean Hayes:300, oh yeah, yeah. Yeah. That's so impressive and it's so, and I am jealous. Yeah, it's like once in a billion. Not just of the schedule, but of like kind of what Jason was saying, like being able to go and do that every week in front of the audience, that's so, what people don't understand is how much fun. Yeah, a live audience.

36:46Will Arnett:It really is so fun.

36:48Sean Hayes:Yeah, it's so fun.

36:49Will Arnett:Now, when we're a kid and we're at home, we're playing tennis, where did the whole thing for acting come from? Was Gary or Lane? Lane, am I saying that right? Yeah, Lane. Yeah, lovely. Yes. Were they into acting at all? Like, how did this come about? No, it was kind of great. No, I did a lot of different things when I was younger. You know, I would go on auditions. Like I said, I would play tennis. I went to these camps that I loved. Like it was, I had a million things I was doing. So, and I, it was just, it was smart because nothing ever really got me down. Like I wasn't like a child actor who was just acting.

37:29Like I just, it was another thing that I did. And then if that didn't, I had a tennis lesson or I went away for the weekend. Like they just constantly had me in all these different things. And until it got a little bit more serious. And I remember very clearly they sat me down. I was pretty young. I probably was not even eight or nine years old. And they sat me down. They're like, this is a real job. Like, do you want to keep doing this? And there was like not a doubt in my mind. I was like, this is what I want to do. Tennis. They're like, are you sure?

37:56Will Arnett:Yeah. You're talking about tennis? No, sorry. I wanted to be an actor. Oh, yeah, yeah. So keep playing tennis. Keep doing both. Have the second thing. They weren't comfortable with me just doing the acting thing. What was the first real gig? Were the first real paying like Cheerios, something like that? I mean, I did do all those commercials. I was the Barbie girl for like two years. I did like a handful of Barbie commercials. I was in every single one. Do you still have them on tape? Oh, yeah, somewhere. My mom does for sure. I want to see those. I was the Oscar Mayer. I sang the Oscar Mayer song.

38:25Give us a little. Yeah. Well, I don't know how to spell anymore. I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener. Exactly. Yes. You sang that in the commercial? Yeah, I had to do the whole thing and play against a fake little wiener.

38:42Sean Hayes:Anybody? Anybody? I was tossing that up for you, Will. I know. No, no, no.

38:47Will Arnett:All right. So then you're acting along and was there a thought, well, maybe I should go to college too to make sure I have like a backup or something? Did you go to college? Hated school. So that was the one thing. I just was not – grade school, seventh, eighth, into early. I said I asked my parents if I could get my GED and I was very clear. I'm like, guys, this is not for me. Like, I know my future is not going to be, I don't, I hated school. I don't need trigonometry. Yeah, exactly. It wasn't for me. Even when I had to do set school, like the devastation that I had to like leave set to go do school, it just killed my soul.

39:25Sean Hayes:Sure. So they let, they were like, I can't believe they listened to me. It's kind of amazing. They let me get my GED. Gary's very permissive. He was like, go ahead. That's always been the bump on him. They were so cool about it. Wait, were you, I'm such an idiot. Were your parents actors too? No. Oh. No, they were not. My mom stayed home with us since the minute we were born. Jay, how do you know their names, Gary?

39:49Will Arnett:I'm just, you know, doing bits. You know, I did a little bit of research. I know their names and I'm acting as if I know them. It's funny. Okay, okay, okay. Gary was a realtor. Yes, he was a realtor. Gary was in residential real estate. Oh. Yes, good job. Mostly in the Camarillo area. Yes. Yes? Wow. These are guesses. These are guesses. He was a paramedic firefighter actually for a very long time. Wow. Yeah, went into real estate, and my mom stayed home. I mean, my mom truly drove me all around. Like, that's all she did was drive me to auditions. Brothers and sisters? My sister, yeah, my sister's three years younger.

40:21My sister, Bree. Want to do the same thing or no? She did. She loved school, though. She went to high school. She was like a, you know, a little social butterfly. But she's an actor, too. She has an amazing voice. She's incredible.

40:32Will Arnett:Yeah, she was on Masked Singer. The Voice. The Voice, yeah, she did. Oh, wow, really? She was on The Voice. Got through a couple rounds. Now, with Gary's history in medicine, do you know CPR? What's funny is we just learned CPR because of this baby. Right. So we had these private CPR sessions, which, by the way, was terrifying. I don't know if they're showing you how to do the CPR on the baby. I'm like, I'm never going to remember this, by the way. I'm so traumatized by even doing it on the fake baby. So we did technically learn. but I learned it too but I think I need a refresher because I think I may have forgotten maybe because like you forget one little component it's useless it's crazy right Sean and Will do you guys know CPR no I don't but I can guess but wait how to do it but wait in a pinch yeah in a pinch I can probably just guess what to do you just plug the you plug the nose make out with the person and then pound on the show it's a Saturday yeah but wait I always thought it was so crazy in like movies and TV shows when people you know are passed out or whatever, dying, and people have to do CPR, and they're pounding on their chest, how does the actor not, like, moo?

41:40Like, I'd be like, ow, ow, ow, ow, every time.

41:44Will Arnett:You know what I mean? You're the worst actor. God. Well, I think they, I remember we had to do CPR in a scene in Flight Attendant. I mean, they're pretty padded. I don't think we're just socking people in the chest to think that they're real. Sean, do you want to just,

41:56Sean Hayes:this is like a question, hey, we got a question from the audience over here for showbiz. when you guys are shooting a movie, is it real? What are you doing, dude? I always wondered that. I always wondered that because it looks like you're pounding. And also when you're breathing, when you're breathing into their mouth in a TV show or movie and how are you not going, like, you know, how do you like?

42:19Will Arnett:I went down to give you mouth to mouth on Murderville and you just, I thought you were going to let me and then you didn't and then I was like, wait, you're going to let me and you didn't. I was too embarrassed.

42:29Sean Hayes:You guys, that was so good. Jason, I had to give you, oh no, I had to put it I had to put a pill in your mouth. You had to put a pill in my mouth, and I would arrest him. And I kept telling you that I hadn't washed my hands. But, but, uh... This is about Kaylee. I know, this is about Kaylee, so... Wait, so they put pads on? They put padding on the sermon? Oh, yeah. Can we please escort this guy out of the audience? I know. This is... They put padding on, and then you push on the pad? That's right. Uh-huh. Oh, I didn't know that. Yeah, and then they'll cut to, you know, his chest, and they'll take the pad out.

42:58Sean Hayes:Sean, you know, Star Wars, you know, they don't shoot that in space, right?

43:02Will Arnett:Yeah, and the lightsabers are not, they won't really cut you in half.

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46:20And now, back to the show.

46:23Will Arnett:Kaylee, were you prepared for the uber success of Big Bang? Like all the fame, the notoriety, the money, everything changed and sort of exponentially every year for 12 years. Notoriety means something bad. Notoriety means it's bad. Didn't you shoot the pilot like a couple times or something? Yes, I was actually the third actress to join Big Bang Theory. Really? Jesus. Wow. They did, I believe, two pilots. Old Chuck had the thinning shears out, huh? 100%. Y 'er out. Yeah.

46:53Sean Hayes:Do you know who did it? Do you know the people? You don't have to say their names, but do you know the people who did it before you, the pilot? I knew one of them. Yeah. I knew one of them. Awkward, huh? Weird. Well, yeah. Well, I knew her later. So it was like, it wasn't like she was my friend at the time. I'm like, oh, you got a show. And then I went and took it. But no, I did know her later. And she actually ended up guest starring. She was still friends with everybody. It was all fine. Oh, good. I know. So they shot one pilot, trashed it, two second pilot, trashed it. And then the third pilot, you were in the pilot from the get go.

47:26They kept rewriting it and revamping it. I mean, it was totally changed when I joined. Like it wasn't what it was at all. And so what is it about, like, this is fascinating to me. What is it about that particular show that they kept throwing money at it and redoing it? And what was it that they believed in so much? Just the concept and the actors in it? or like why? Whereas as opposed to other shows, you shoot a pilot, it didn't go, they throw it out. Like bye, right. I think, I remember Chuck did a couple, I know he's talked about this before, but he just like really believed in it and the studio believed in Chuck and he kept saying, give us another chance, give us another chance.

48:02Like I can make, I think I'm going to make this work. And you know, he's Chuck and he does. So they just kind of -

48:07Will Arnett:He single-handedly kept sitcoms alive for the last 15 years. 100%, yeah. 15 years, yeah. But he kept saying, I'm going to get this right, I'm going to get this right. Wow. And so what about all the fame and the money and the being recognized on the street? Were you prepared for all that? Because the show was enormous. You know what's so crazy? I feel like my sort of, I hate him in this word, whatever, this fame or whatever. I was such on a slow, like uphill climb. I feel like there are actors who get, like maybe they do, I don't know, they do some huge film or something, then all of a sudden, right, it's overnight fame and they're like, oh my God.

48:43I don't really feel like it was like that for me. Like, I've kind of, I've been doing this since I was five years old. Right. Like, not that I was famous back then, but like, I've always been in the business and I've always done a million things and I've, it never affected me that, like, I never felt that moment of, oh my God, I knew when Big Bang hit. Because it was what you did for a living.

49:03Sean Hayes:Yeah, but Big Bang Theory had, it got like 30 million viewers a week. Like, it was insane. I know. We were, I mean, it was awesome. We were thrilled and. Sean and I did, when we did that show, The Millers, and especially the first season, we were on Behind You Guys. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Behind Big Bang Theory for a year. Yeah. And you single-handedly, like, kept us on the air because we had the lead-in of Big Bang Theory. We were like, sweet, we could just air some dial tone if we wanted.

49:30Will Arnett:But then you can't drop off a lot, right? Then you got the pressure of trying to hold that number.

49:35Sean Hayes:We did drop off. Yeah, and then they moved us, and then we were like, oh, we're screwed. It was a little phenomenon, man. I don't know. It was just massive. And I know who I know. I knew a few people, but I certainly know Johnny a little bit. Such a nice guy. Oh, he's the greatest. He's the best. He's such a nice guy. He's such a nice soul. He's like doing his thing now. Where did he move to? Did he move to like Tennessee or something? He's in like Nashville. Loving it. Yeah. That's so great. He's such a good guy. I got to tell him. I saw you talk to you guys. Yeah, please say hi to him for me.

50:04Sean Hayes:I totally love him. He's such a sweet person. I know. I know. All right.

50:07Will Arnett:So now what you've done is you've somewhat combined your passion for acting and your passion for tennis, although you're letting Chris Messina do the tennis part. But tell us about this incredible new show called Based on a True Story. Produced by Aggregate. Jason, do you know that, you probably know this, but when I met Mr. Tom Palfrey, he had this script in his hand. He was reading it like three weeks into dating him. And I go, what are you reading? And he goes, I'm reading this based on a true story. I can't do it because I've got this other show. I didn't know that. Yes. I don't think I know that.

50:41And I read it. And I was like, give me that. Let me read it. He goes, it's so funny. This is obviously a year ago.

50:47Will Arnett:Yeah, yeah. And I go, oh, my God, this is hilarious. He goes, I know, it's so funny. It's Jason doing it and all this stuff.

50:53Sean Hayes:I stole it from Jason's trailer. He'll never read it. He'll never get around to reading it. Well, he was going to play the plumber. He was looking at maybe playing the plumber.

51:04Will Arnett:After working with him on Ozark, like anything and everything I heard about or thought about, you know, and people were talking to me about him. It's like, yeah, what about Tom for this? What about Tom for that? He loves you so much, man. Chances are high that maybe that was something I was aware of, but it was one of many. He probably had a bunch of stuff. Isn't that crazy that I was like, let me see that. And I like whipped through it. I said, this is brilliant. Obviously, that was months before I even ever got the call for it. And things were written very differently. The couple, you know, had older kids.

51:33the story was a little bit different. So once I got the call and I was kind of talking about it with you guys, I was like, I love this so much, but I don't know if I would have teenagers. Like we started talking and then Craig, our showrunner was like, we'll take away the kids. Like they were kind of helping me figure out how this could be. I loved it so much. Plus I love true crime. I love tennis. I love working in LA. I was like, I need all these things. This is great.

51:56Sean Hayes:So the general concept of - Sounds like a good job.

51:59Will Arnett:Yeah. So the general concept is that you and Chris Messina are married. The great Chris Messina. The best. We'll hold for applause there. The best. He plays an ex-tennis star. You play a realtor that is obsessed with true crime podcasts. You have a plumber come to the house to fix a toilet played by, ironically, Tom Bateman. Yes. Fabulous. Isn't that weird? Yes. and this guy turns out to maybe be a serial killer and you guys decide, well, we're not going to turn him in if he agrees to do a podcast with us about his serial killing. I got to see that. And we'll keep his name away from the authorities.

52:45No more killing. That's great.

52:46Will Arnett:There's probably a better way to describe it, but that's the bones of it, right? That sounds great. Wait, when is this on? This is coming. June 8th. June 8th on The Peacock. Absolutely. Wait, this is streaming on the cock? It's streaming on the cock. Of course. Yep, yep, yep.

53:01Sean Hayes:Wow. That's what we always say on the, anything for us. Wait, but that sounds really great. Yeah, I know. It does sound really, really good. I was so, it was such a quirky, it was so insane, the story. I thought it was so brilliant. I said, I have to be part of this. And then, like, after we had, I had signed on, we got everything going, I came to LA to do some chemistry reads, and Jason wasn't there, but there was, the producers were there, and I was talking to everyone. And I sat them down. I'm like, guys, because they had written it and it was done and ready to go. I was like, guys, what if this character was pregnant?

53:31Will Arnett:Just spitballing. And Craig goes, I'm like, now think, think hard about this. Think about your answer first. Yeah, really think hard because this could really be. And they were like, well, I'm like, no, really. And they're looking at me and they're like, what? I'm like, surprise. Yeah. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. We were like a month out from shooting, maybe a little longer. But I said, do you think you could write it in? And how many months were you? When we started shooting, I was five months. I mean, we shot three weeks before I gave birth. Yeah. About up until three weeks before I gave birth. Yeah, so I was five months when we started.

54:07So let's say I was like four. Oh, my God.

54:08Will Arnett:And didn't they say, well, Kaylee, we can delay start a production. Like, have your kid enjoy. And you were like, no, no, no, no, no. I want, right? I want to do it now. Because I also, not only did I want to do the show and I was so ready to do it. But I actually not – and also I wanted to – for them to write in the pregnancy, I actually thought it worked for the show. And once we all talked it out, it actually worked. I don't remember it not being about this couple being pregnant. Plus, the way they wrote it in was so brilliant. Like it never focused on the pregnancy. It just was – I was just pregnant.

54:38Will Arnett:It's the jeopardy too that you're basically working with the serial killer and you can see this big, huge baby bump the whole way through. Yeah. Bananas. Fully pregnant. That's cool. So you were five months pregnant and through till what being eight months pregnant by the time we wrapped? Four weeks before I gave birth was my wrap day. Yeah. But it was awesome because I got to, I mean, what job? I got to eat what I wanted. I was treated like a freaking queen. I was the best. I wore what I wanted. I felt very empowered. And also like. Comfy shoes all the way in. I've been in this business for so long.

55:11Yes, comfy shoes. I've been able to like play my eight. I've been in this business for so long that I thought it was cool. Like, okay, now people are seeing me. Like, I'm going to be real about this. And I'm going to show that this is exactly what I am. And I'm pregnant and it's fine and I'm working. And I thought it was like a good thing to do. I don't know. It just felt right. That's cool. I would have killed to play that killer. I want to play a killer. I know. He's great. He's really great at it. He is great. I can't wait to see it. I've seen it. They're all great. It's a really cool, weird show and very funny.

55:39Will Arnett:Now, you're very lucky because it's shot in Los Angeles. So you're going to be able to bring Matilda to the set if and when there's a second season. Yes. Have you thought about like how that's all going to kind of play out? I mean. Dude, I would do a second season in a heartbeat. Let's get it done. Let's get this done today. It was one of the most fun experiences I have ever. I really mean that. That Christmas scene is just a real joy. We laughed. And that's what's fun. Not to, we move on after this. But that is real. I mean, the writing is fantastic. Concepts fun and all that stuff. but the chemistry between you two guys, I don't know.

56:12Will Arnett:It's just, I do stuff sometimes when people say, hey, boy, how did you guys get such great chemistry? Well, when you have two really nice people, it's pretty simple. Thanks, man. Chris, or Sean, Will, don't you guys agree? Like, chemistry's not a mystery if you're not working with a dickhead. Yeah, yeah. Exactly. It's simple. Chris is just awesome. People are like, well, they had great chemistry. Yeah, because they're normal, nice people. Right. Exactly. It's good. And it's infectious and it works for the characters too because you guys are kind of aw shucksing while working with a serial killer.

56:44It's pretty great.

56:45Will Arnett:No, we had a blast, man. It was awesome. I can't even tell you. I had a question about...

56:50Sean Hayes:I just want to say it out loud. What's it called again? Based on a true story. Based on a true story. June 8th, streaming on the cock. Just so we can say it. Just so I can... Because neither of you can say it, but I can say it. I can see it.

57:04Will Arnett:Will has set his calendar. You're ready to do it. Are we having a viewing party at your house? We're going to do a viewing.

57:08Sean Hayes:We're doing it. Are you kidding? Are you kidding? Are you fucking kidding? Would you? I want to know. I have something. Go ahead, Sean. Do you have like, do you have any kind of desire to write and to be a writer and to write scripts? No. Direct. What about direct? I think I could direct. I think I would be a good director because I like to get in and get out. Like, I don't waste a lot of time. I'm also not every like it was funny working with Messina who is very likes to prepare and likes to rehearse and watch every You know playback. I that is not my jam At all you're in your own. Yeah, I would like to get in there.

57:45Why are we talking about this? Let's just shoot it and then Chris is like, but we have to what are we gonna do now? Like he's hysterical So the two of us together kind of balance those like me with Laura Linney

57:55Will Arnett:Laura was very, very prepared, very sort of the notes and the script and the lines always learned. And like it was very admirable. But I just my brain doesn't work. Me too. Very admirable. I mean, my brain does not work that way either. It's just not for me. I know. But it makes a great partnership.

58:13Sean Hayes:Yeah, I'm not a playback watcher as an actor. I can't watch playback.

58:17Will Arnett:So, Tracy, what happens here is that you shoot a scene and then you can go to the monitor, a little TV next to where you just shot. and they'll play it back for you so you can see what you did good, what you did bad, what the technical things are you need to look out for. Then you go and you shoot it again.

58:30Sean Hayes:And it really was initially, it's not for the actors, it's generally for the director so the director can watch maybe the producer.

58:37Will Arnett:See what the camera's seeing.

58:38Sean Hayes:Yeah, see what the camera's seeing and be like, hey, let's get that again. Maybe there's a bump on the camera move. Maybe the light wasn't right. Maybe the wrong line, whatever. By the way, you know who invented or created the playback? Who's that show? Jerry Lewis. Is that right? Really? What? Huh. Yeah. Huh.

58:54Will Arnett:Now, some actors will not look at playback, and they won't even see the film once it's all done, cut together. And I don't get that. I learned so much about what I did wrong by looking at what I do. Like watching the end product. Yeah, it's like shoot it and go home and then go to the next job. That's me, too. Otherwise, you're just obsessed. You're obsessed about like, you know, I can't do it. I'm the same way. Maybe I should do that with golf, Will. Maybe I should care a little bit less.

59:19Sean Hayes:Well, let me just tell you, I was going to say to you, I talked about you at great length with Josh last night. Oh, boy. This is true. And I did bring up that you're not. You know Josh. Oh, Josh. He's a friend of ours that we play golf with. And so Josh, he's a friend of ours. He's a bald fella. And I keep saying that I want him to start wearing a different wig every day. And I said it would be amazing. Because he keeps his head shaved. And I'm like, if he showed up every day with a different wig. With a different wig. Oh, my God. I never. That is so fun. Yeah. So anyway, we were saying, apart from the fact that, Jason, I think you're malnourished and your blood sugar is abnormally low.

59:54Sean Hayes:And that's what makes you cranky all the time in everything you do, not just golf. I think on top of that, you need to stand over the ball and hit it. And you have too many thoughts. And Jason is known as one of the slower golfers in the Los Angeles Southern California. I was so slow yesterday.

1:00:10Will Arnett:I was so slow. I was so slow yesterday.

1:00:11Sean Hayes:And he thinks about way too much. and Kaylee, you know, as an actual competitive athlete that sometimes you just have to let your instincts take over. You just got to go. Yeah. Maybe Kaylee needs to be the person to come play with you and walk with you and be your kind of sports psychologist. Yeah, be my whisperer. I would be so bad at golf. That sport would make me insane. Like, it would make me insane. But you could talk him through. You could be like, Jay, speed it up. Hit it. Hit the ball. What about bowling?

1:00:40Will Arnett:Do you guys like to bowl?

1:00:42Sean Hayes:All right, Kaylee, this has been great.

1:00:44Will Arnett:Yeah, thank you for joining us today.

1:00:46Sean Hayes:Sorry, unfortunately, somebody decided to capsize the whole thing with some bullshit about bowling.

1:00:53Will Arnett:That's a Tony Award-nominated actor. Well, you said Josh is a ball guy, and I'm a ball guy. And then you went to bowling. And I went to bowling, and I like to bowl.

1:01:05Sean Hayes:Antoinette Perry just rolled over.

1:01:08Will Arnett:Kaylee, all right, Kaylee, listen. Love you. Thank you. I love you, too. You crushed this. You crushed this.

1:01:15Sean Hayes:Thank you. This was so great. You guys are a delight. Thank you. You got real good chat on your girl. If I was a girl, I'd wear a scrunchie in my hair like you do right now. What do you think of the scrunchie? I always do. This is my bit I always do with scrunchie because it's old school. I always go like, listen, guys, the thing is that I think that what we need to. And I always do my scrunchie. I'm doing this all the time. I always do my scrunchie bit. I've never seen the scrunchie bit, Willie. Oh, I've seen the scrunchie bit for 20 years. Yeah, I'll be like, guys, I think the problem is, look, if we go over there, can we, and I scrunch you in my hair.

1:01:49Sean Hayes:He's gathering his hair. He's doing a faux, he's gathering his hair and putting a faux fake scrunchie in his hair. It's my favorite. I love a scrunchie. Because I have a big 80s scrunchie in my hair. I love it. I love it. Super cute. You guys are awesome. Thank you for having me. All right, Katie.

1:02:02Will Arnett:We love you. You're the best. Thank you for being here. You guys are amazing. Thank you. Have a great rest of the day. Bye, guys. See you, honey. Bye, Kaylee. Thank you. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye-bye-bye.

1:02:14Will Arnett:You guys, that's just, she's just, that's a real spirit. She's got a great vibe, huh? I said sunshine wrapped in skin, but maybe it's spirit wrapped in skin, huh? And some sunshine. She's one of those personalities, too, that's like a phenomenal actress, but you can tell is a fun person and doesn't take life serious, like she does her work serious, too.

1:02:34Sean Hayes:Kaylee was, you know, I've often thought you... Bubbly Cuoco. Sorry? That sounds like a great beverage. Her name should be Bubbly Cuoco. On ice. Bubbly Cuoco. But Kaylee, she's so great. She was so great on Big Bang Theory and so funny and fun. Yeah, just like a, yeah, just had so much life to her. And then you think like, well, maybe that's sort of the character. She's like, nope, she is that person. She has great energy, great vibe. Yeah, all the time. You want to hang out with her immediately. You know, by the way, have you ever exited a plane when the flight attendant, when you're leaving?

1:03:08It is too early, but go ahead.

1:03:12Will Arnett:Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, sweet, sweet Willie Arnett. Happy birthday to you.

1:03:39Bye.

1:03:45Silky. That was a good one. Smart. Nice.

1:03:53Smart.

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From the publisher

A haiku for Kaley Cuoco:

Comedy's delight,

Kaley's wit ignites laughter,

Podcast joy takes flight.

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This episode was originally released on 6/3/2023.

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