Will Arnett and Amy Poehler could be the funniest couple today, but Arnett says family life is a lot more mellow than one would assume. While in the middle of shooting his new show 'Running Wilde' with Keri Russell and David Cross on FOX, Arnett spared some time for PopEater to talk about being a dad, his obsession with Howard Stern and news on the highly anticipated 'Arrested Development' movie.
You're a big fan of Howard Stern. Do you think he's going to re-sign with Sirius?
I sure hope so but I just don't know if he will. It seems that Howard is very unpredictable in that way. I don't mean like crazy, I mean he's a man of conviction, but I hope he doesn't leave because I love listening to him.
Did you hear Artie Lange was doing stand-up last weekend?
Was he? That's good. I've known Artie for many years and I'm a big fan. I also have tremendous regard for him on a personal level. He really is a wonderful guy. I wish him nothing but the best. I hope he gets back out there because he's a good guy.
How's 'Running Wilde' going?
The show's going great actually. We're firmly in the middle of shooting our initial order of 13. I feel like the episodes are just getting better and better. I'm just so excited about it.
God forbid your show doesn't get picked up and Amy's does. Is it going to be uncomfortable around the dinner table?
I don't think so. We both understand the nature of this particular business that we're in and that's the way it goes. We just understand that those are the rules of the game.
Your dad went to Harvard on a scholarship and your sisters have college degrees. Ever feel like the clown in your family?
(Laughs) Well no but are you implying that I should?
One of your sisters went to Yale. That's pretty impressive.
To be honest when I was younger I felt like, wow I better amount to something or I'm going to feel like a major loser but I started to go to college and I knew that's not what I wanted to do with my life. I've known enough people, not my dad and my sisters who have all been successful, but I've know enough people who went to college because that's the thing that you're supposed to do and they weren't happy. I knew that I had to pursue something that was going to make me happy and I'm so happy that I did do that because I am happy.
Your character Gob on 'Arrested Development' used a Segway. How about that accident with the owner ...
Yeah, I was so sorry to hear that. I felt so badly for the family, such a tragic loss. Evidently he was a really great guy, was extraordinarily generous when it came to charity and that sort of thing and my heart just goes out to his family. I had a bunch of requests to comment on it and give it a spin but I just felt nothing but sadness.
What's going on with the 'Arrested Development' movie?
It's actually happening and Mitch [Hurwitz, creator of the show] is writing the movie as we speak. Well maybe not right this minute, because it's a little early in the morning, but we're all very excited for it to happen. Hopefully by the time it comes out people will just be sick enough about hearing about the potential 'Arrested Development' movie. We don't have a start date yet.
You shoot in NY, Amy shoots in LA. When do you see your kids?
She just went back to LA a couple of days ago and in a couple of days I go out to LA for three days. The thing is like a lot of families where both parents work, even when we are both in the same city and working during the week, often times you leave early in the morning and get back late at night and don't see the kids, like a lot of other working Americans. So I feel very fortunate that I'm able to go back and forth and see them most weekends.
How's it going with the two kids?
We have a 2-year-old and an 8-week-old so we've really got our work cut out for us. It's certainly a tiring time but it's also so exciting that it overrides any fatigue that you have. My 2-year-old wakes up in the morning and just springs out of bed, spinning like a top. Within two seconds he's got two baseball bats and he's chasing the dog.
Do you and Amy try and make each other laugh at home?
We don't come in with an agenda in the mornings to make each other laugh but she definitely makes me laugh just by being herself. We keep things pretty jovial at home.
You know you two are like the coolest couple.
I don't think so. I strongly refute that. We are so uncool. I'm just kind of lame. I don't really do anything. I don't go anywhere. I just go to work and play with my kid, that's it.
You've talked about having had a drinking problem and that you were once an a**hole. How much of an a**hole on a scale of one to ten?
(Laughs) I don't know. It's not really for me to determine. Let's just say enough of my friends were like, 'Hey why don't you lay down the Bacardi for a while?' You're 30 years old and you think, 'Maybe I shouldn't be partying like a madman. It might be time to mellow out...'
Watch a clip of Will Arnett's new show, 'Running Wilde':