Digest

This episode of WTF features Ed O'Neill, a renowned actor known for his roles in 'Married... with Children' and 'Modern Family.' O'Neill discusses his new FX limited series 'The Clipper Scandal,' which is now streaming on Hulu. He shares his perspective on the series, highlighting its engaging and entertaining nature, despite his lack of interest in sports. O'Neill also talks about his experiences in Vancouver, where he is currently filming the series. He describes the city's beauty and the challenges of navigating its realities. He recounts a particularly challenging hike with Owen Wilson and the showrunner Jason Keller, revealing his contrasting approach to goal-oriented activities. O'Neill then delves into his personal journey, recounting his upbringing in a working-class family in Youngstown, Ohio, where his father worked in the steel mills. He shares anecdotes about his time working in the mills, including the dangers and the segregated locker room. O'Neill then transitions to his path to Hollywood, detailing his experiences playing football in college and his brief stint with the Steelers. He candidly discusses his decision to leave football and his subsequent struggles with alcohol and drugs. O'Neill shares his journey into acting, starting with local playhouses and eventually moving to New York City. He recounts his experiences with acting classes, including a memorable encounter with Mira Rostova, Montgomery Clift's acting teacher. O'Neill concludes by reflecting on his career and the importance of embracing challenges and pursuing one's passions. O'Neill shares a story about his early acting days in New York, where he was cast in a play as a boxer despite not being a professional fighter. He talks about how he learned to box and how the experience helped him develop his acting skills. He also discusses his experience working on the FX limited series 'The Clipper Scandal,' where he plays Donald Sterling, the former owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. O'Neill talks about the challenges of playing a character with dementia and how he researched the role by studying Sterling's behavior and mannerisms. He also discusses the importance of finding the right balance between comedy and drama in the series. O'Neill concludes by reflecting on his career and the importance of embracing challenges and pursuing one's passions.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction and Ed O'Neill's New Series

This Chapter introduces the episode and features a conversation with Ed O'Neill, known for his roles in 'Married... with Children' and 'Modern Family.' O'Neill discusses his new FX limited series 'The Clipper Scandal,' which is now streaming on Hulu. He shares his perspective on the series, highlighting its engaging and entertaining nature, despite his lack of interest in sports.

00:02:08

Ed O'Neill's Vancouver Experiences

This Chapter delves into Ed O'Neill's experiences in Vancouver, where he is currently filming 'The Clipper Scandal.' He describes the city's beauty and the challenges of navigating its realities. He recounts a particularly challenging hike with Owen Wilson and the showrunner Jason Keller, revealing his contrasting approach to goal-oriented activities.

00:02:23

Ed O'Neill's Journey from Steel Mill to Hollywood

This Chapter delves into Ed O'Neill's personal journey, recounting his upbringing in a working-class family in Youngstown, Ohio, where his father worked in the steel mills. He shares anecdotes about his time working in the mills, including the dangers and the segregated locker room. O'Neill then transitions to his path to Hollywood, detailing his experiences playing football in college and his brief stint with the Steelers.

00:03:26

Ed O'Neill's Decision to Leave Football and Struggles with Alcohol and Drugs

This Chapter candidly discusses Ed O'Neill's decision to leave football and his subsequent struggles with alcohol and drugs. He shares his journey into acting, starting with local playhouses and eventually moving to New York City.

00:04:00

Ed O'Neill's Acting Classes and Encounters with Mira Rostova

This Chapter recounts Ed O'Neill's experiences with acting classes, including a memorable encounter with Mira Rostova, Montgomery Clift's acting teacher.

00:04:32

Ed O'Neill's Reflections on His Career

This Chapter concludes with Ed O'Neill reflecting on his career and the importance of embracing challenges and pursuing one's passions.

00:47:37

Ed O'Neill's Early Acting Days in New York

This Chapter delves into Ed O'Neill's early acting days in New York, where he was cast in a play as a boxer despite not being a professional fighter. He talks about how he learned to box and how the experience helped him develop his acting skills.

00:58:58

The Origins of 'Married... with Children'

This Chapter recounts the origin story of 'Married... with Children,' highlighting how Ed O'Neill landed the role of Al Bundy, a character he initially thought was terrible but ultimately embraced.

01:07:46

Reflecting on Life and Career

This Chapter explores Ed O'Neill's reflections on his life and career, particularly the transition from 'Married... with Children' to 'Modern Family' and the unexpected success of both shows.

01:15:22

Ed O'Neill's Experience with 'The Clipper Scandal'

This Chapter delves into Ed O'Neill's experience working on the FX limited series 'The Clipper Scandal,' where he plays Donald Sterling, the former owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. O'Neill talks about the challenges of playing a character with dementia and how he researched the role by studying Sterling's behavior and mannerisms. He also discusses the importance of finding the right balance between comedy and drama in the series.

01:27:48

Mavis Staples and the Civil Rights Movement

This Chapter features a brief discussion about Mavis Staples and her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting her collaboration with Martin Luther King Jr. and the impact of her music.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is Ed O'Neill's new FX limited series called, and what is it about?

  Ed O'Neill's new FX limited series is called 'The Clipper Scandal.' It tells the story of the 1980s Clippers scandal, a major controversy in the history of the NBA, focusing on the former owner Donald Sterling.

• What are some of the challenges Ed O'Neill faced while filming in Vancouver?

  O'Neill found that the realities of living in Vancouver, a city he had romanticized for years, diminished its shine. He also faced a challenging hike with Owen Wilson and the showrunner Jason Keller, which highlighted his contrasting approach to goal-oriented activities.

• What was Ed O'Neill's upbringing like, and how did he transition from working in a steel mill to Hollywood?

  O'Neill grew up in a working-class family in Youngstown, Ohio, where his father worked in the steel mills. He shared anecdotes about his time working in the mills, including the dangers and the segregated locker room. He then transitioned to Hollywood after playing football in college and a brief stint with the Steelers, eventually finding his way into acting through local playhouses and moving to New York City.

• What were some of Ed O'Neill's struggles with alcohol and drugs, and how did he overcome them?

  O'Neill candidly discussed his struggles with alcohol and drugs after leaving football, acknowledging that he knew it wouldn't end well. He eventually overcame these struggles and found his way into acting.

• What was Ed O'Neill's experience with acting classes like, and what was his most memorable encounter?

  O'Neill shared his experiences with acting classes, including a memorable encounter with Mira Rostova, Montgomery Clift's acting teacher. He described her as a respected figure in the acting world and her teachings have influenced generations of actors.

• What are some of Ed O'Neill's reflections on his career and the importance of pursuing one's passions?

  O'Neill concluded by reflecting on his career and the importance of embracing challenges and pursuing one's passions. He emphasized the importance of not giving up on one's dreams, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds.

• How did Ed O'Neill get his start in acting, and what was his experience like in a play where he had to portray a boxer?

  O'Neill got his start in acting through local playhouses and eventually moved to New York City. He was cast in a play as a boxer despite not being a professional fighter. He learned to box and found that the experience helped him develop his acting skills.

• How did Ed O'Neill land the role of Al Bundy in 'Married... with Children'?

  O'Neill was in Los Angeles for a failed pilot when he got a call about a new show called 'Married... with Children.' He initially thought the title was horrible and the script was terrible, but he found it funny in a weird way. He read the script in the locker room at the Hollywood Y and went to the audition, where he impressed the producers with his comedic timing.

• What was Ed O'Neill's experience like working on 'The Clipper Scandal'?

  O'Neill found the role of Donald Sterling challenging, particularly because of the character's dementia. He researched the role by studying Sterling's behavior and mannerisms and worked with the writer to create a scene that explored Sterling's background and his experiences as a Jewish man in a time of prejudice.

• What is Ed O'Neill's perspective on the importance of embracing challenges and pursuing one's passions?

  O'Neill believes that embracing challenges and pursuing one's passions is essential for a fulfilling life. He shares his own experiences as examples, highlighting how he overcame his struggles with alcohol and drugs and how he found success in acting despite facing numerous obstacles.

Show Notes