Life Is Short Re-Run: Max Greenfield 🙌🙏

Update: 2024-07-23

Digest

This episode of the podcast features actor Max Greenfield, best known for his role as Schmidt in the popular sitcom "New Girl." Justin Long, the host, begins by sharing a funny anecdote about a restaurant manager mistaking him for his brother, who has lost weight. He then introduces Greenfield and they discuss the character of Schmidt, including the real-life inspiration behind him. Greenfield shares his childhood experiences, his early career struggles, and the pivotal moment when he landed the role of Schmidt. He reflects on the enduring popularity of "New Girl" and how it has impacted his career, discussing the importance of improvisation in comedy and his experience working with Jake Johnson. Greenfield also shares his experiences with auditioning and the challenges of navigating the entertainment industry, recounting a memorable audition for a multi-cam show that led him to "New Girl." He discusses the casting process for "New Girl" and the importance of diversity in the show's representation, sharing his experiences working with Lamorne Morris and the evolution of his character. Greenfield discusses his rediscovery of television and his desire to work on multi-cam shows, sharing his perspective on the unique challenges and rewards of this format. He also discusses his experience working on "The Neighborhood" and his collaboration with Cedric the Entertainer, sharing his initial hesitation about the show's premise and how he came to appreciate the project. Greenfield shares his experience auditioning for the role of Winston on "New Girl," revealing his unusual requests for the character, including a bull cut and braces, and how the casting director sent him a picture of the camera test. He discusses his most used emojis, his childhood experiences with sports and theater, and his transition to acting in Los Angeles. Greenfield reveals his favorite snack, trail mix, and his favorite movie, "Dog Day Afternoon." He also discusses his ideal dinner guests and his experiences with famous directors, sharing anecdotes about his interactions with Michael Winslow, Rob Reiner, and Francis Ford Coppola. Greenfield discusses his dream city, Nashville, and his preference for super hearing over super vision. He explains his reasoning based on his personal experiences with hearing challenges. Greenfield reflects on his ideal age, choosing 31, and his struggles with body image, acknowledging the pressure to maintain a certain physique in Hollywood. He recounts an awkward dinner with Francis Ford Coppola where he inadvertently embarrassed himself by making inappropriate comments about a concentration camp. Greenfield expresses his preference for genuine interactions with people he admires, emphasizing the importance of authentic conversations over superficial ones. He answers quickfire questions about his preferences, including his choice between the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, dogs and cats, and camping. Greenfield discusses how having children has changed his perspective on time and mortality, reflecting on the preciousness of time and the inevitability of death. He analyzes Chris Jericho's lack of confidence in his early career, contrasting it with the confidence of other guests. He suggests that Jericho's self-deprecating humor stems from his past struggles. Greenfield discusses the importance of opportunity in physical comedy, using John Ritter as an example. He also highlights the connection between Jericho's past struggles and his commitment to his "New Girl" character. Greenfield expresses his desire to see Exhibit's audition for "New Girl," highlighting Exhibit's charm and personality. He also discusses his own experience being offered the role and his decision not to tell Max. Greenfield humorously discusses Cedric the Entertainer's name, finding it audacious and arrogant. He suggests that the name is almost greater than "The Great." Greenfield reflects on his short-sighted decision to request a bull cut for his audition, acknowledging that it would have been a major regret if the show had been successful. Greenfield analyzes the common thread of modesty in the comedy of Jewish comedians, comparing his own sensibilities to those of Jesse Eisenberg. He reads and praises an email from Carolyn, a former Mormon who found happiness outside the church. He connects her message to the importance of living in the present moment. Greenfield shares a story about a friend who had a funeral while still alive, connecting it to Carolyn's message about living in the present moment. He also expresses his desire to be a fly on the wall at his own funeral. Greenfield discusses his weight loss journey and his desire to remember the movie where he was fat. He jokes about his current skinny physique and his past "fat face." The episode concludes with advertisements for the podcasts "Guilty by Design" and "And Away We Go."

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